The Centre announced on Monday the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh: Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang. Ladakh currently consists of just two districts, Leh and Kargil, each governed by its own autonomous district council. With the formation of the new districts, Ladakh’s total number of districts will increase to seven. Before 2019, Ladakh was part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP-led government revoked the state’s special status and split it into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh in August 2019.
This move aims to bolster governance and create abundant opportunities for the people of Ladakh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah shared this on social media, reiterating the Modi government’s commitment to the region. “In pursuit of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s vision to build a developed and prosperous Ladakh, the MHA has decided to create five new districts in the union territory. The new districts, namely Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang, will take the benefits meant for the people to their doorsteps by bolstering governance in every nook and cranny,” Amit Shah posted.
Ladakh was bifurcated from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir when the Centre revoked Article 370 in August 2019. This special status change led to the formation of two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Meanwhile, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is preparing for its first elections since the abrogation of Article 370. Polling will occur in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with vote counting scheduled for October 4. These elections are the first in the region after a decade, with the last assembly elections held in 2014.
The previous PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir fell in June 2018 after the BJP withdrew its support for then-Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. In December last year, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024.
“The Modi government is committed to creating abundant opportunities for the people of Ladakh,” reiterated Amit Shah in his social media post.
The creation of these five new districts is seen as a significant step towards the development and prosperity of Ladakh, ensuring that administrative benefits reach every part of the region.
