In an apparent trust-building exercise ahead of the two-day visit of Home Minister Amit Shah to Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory (UT), Vinai Kumar Saxena, on Monday signed a notification creating five new districts in Ladakh. The UT will now have seven districts.
The Home Minister had, in August 2024, announced the creation of five new districts in Ladakh, but the notification was delayed as the geographical areas and boundaries of the new districts were being finalised.
Shah is scheduled to reach Leh on April 30 to participate in the exposition of the holy relics of Buddha on May 1. He is also likely to meet top Ladakhi leaders during his visit.
An official announcement stated, “In a historic decision to meet the aspirations of the people of Ladakh and to fulfil their long-pending demand, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, today approved the issuance of a notification for the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh.”
With this, Ladakh will now have a total of seven districts, up from the existing two. The five new districts are Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, had approved the formation of five new districts in August 2024.
The decision to create five new districts is expected to significantly enhance administrative efficiency, improve service delivery, and fulfil the long-standing aspirations of the people, particularly those residing in remote and far-flung areas.
The move, the Lieutenant Governor said, is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed and prosperous Ladakh, as envisioned when Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019.
Three districts—Nubra (Headquarters: Diskit), Sham (Headquarters: Khaltse), and Changthang (Headquarters: Nyoma)—have been carved out of Leh district, while two districts—Zanskar (Headquarters: Padum) and Drass (Headquarters: Drass-Ranbirpura)—have been carved out of Kargil district.
Consequent to the notification, the territorial limits of all seven districts have also been defined. Leh district will now have 44 revenue villages, Nubra will have 30, and Changthang will have 24. Similarly, Kargil district will have 80 revenue villages, while Sham will have 27, Zanskar 26, and Drass 19.
Lieutenant Governor Saxena described the move as “historic,” stating that it would usher in a new era of inclusive development in the Union Territory by ensuring effective and efficient delivery of services at the doorstep. “This transformative decision underscores the Government of India’s commitment to unlocking Ladakh’s immense potential and ensuring balanced, inclusive, and sustainable development across the Union Territory,” he said.
Ladakh, one of India’s largest Union Territories in terms of geographical area, has long faced administrative challenges due to its difficult terrain, sparse population and remote habitations. The creation of five additional districts is expected to decentralise governance, reduce travel distances for citizens—often exceeding 300 km—and ensure faster and more effective delivery of public services.
Importantly, the creation of new districts is also expected to generate significant employment opportunities through the establishment of new administrative offices, supporting infrastructure, and allied services. This is likely to further boost local employment, skill development, entrepreneurship, and overall economic growth.