Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the establishment of five new districts in Ladakh today, emphasising the government’s commitment to developing the region. In a post on X, Shah highlighted that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the creation of Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang districts to improve governance and bring services closer to the people.
“Ladakh, a vast Union Territory, currently comprises just two districts—Leh and Kargil—and is one of the least populated areas in India. Due to its challenging terrain and inaccessibility, the district administration has struggled to reach the grassroots level. With the creation of these new districts, the public welfare schemes of both the Central government and Ladakh administration will now reach residents more effectively, allowing more people to benefit. This significant decision by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is expected to greatly contribute to the comprehensive development of Ladakh,” an MHA spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson further explained that the MHA has granted “in-principle approval” for the formation of five new districts and has requested the Ladakh administration to establish a committee to assess various factors, including headquarters, boundaries, structure, and staffing, among other aspects related to the formation of these districts. The Union Home Ministry has asked for a detailed report from the Ladakh administration within three months.
An MHA official noted that Ladakh had been lagging in development due to differences in social structure and perceived neglect by state governments. The region was designated as a Union Territory after the former state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two UTs on August 5, 2019, with the other being Jammu and Kashmir.
The MHA has also tasked the Ladakh administration with forming a committee to evaluate the logistics of this decision, with a report due in three months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the move, calling it a step towards better governance and prosperity for Ladakh.
