Ministry of Home Affairs announces the creation of five new districts in Ladakh UT

New Delhi: In a significant step towards transforming Ladakh into a developed and prosperous region, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the creation of five new districts within the Union Territory (UT).
The newly established districts--Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang--aim to bring governance and development directly to the people's doorsteps, ensuring that the benefits of progress reach every corner of this remote and diverse landscape.
Shah took to X to announce the groundbreaking initiative which is part of a broader effort to enhance development and governance throughout the Union Territory, ensuring that the benefits of progress reach every corner of 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," Shah posted on X.
Shah further said that the Modi government is committed to creating abundant opportunities for the people of Ladakh.
The decision was taken almost five years after Ladakh was established as a union territory of India on October 31, 2019, following the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.
Ladakh currently has only two districts, Leh and Kargil, each managed by its autonomous district council. The creation of the new five districts will raise the total number of districts in Ladakh to seven. Before 2019, Ladakh was a part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. In August 2019, the BJP-led government removed the state's special status and divided it into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
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.