Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena described the decision as “historic,” stating that it will ensure better delivery of government services at the grassroots level while addressing long-standing demands of residents in remote and far-flung areas.
April 27:
In a major administrative overhaul, the Union Territory of Ladakh has been expanded from two to seven districts, following the notification of five new districts approved by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday.
The newly created districts—Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass—have been carved out of the existing Leh and Kargil districts. Nubra (headquartered in Diskit), Sham (Khaltse) and Changthang (Nyoma) will fall under Leh, while Zanskar (Padum) and Drass (Drass-Ranbirpura) have been formed from Kargil.
Officials said the move aims to strengthen governance, improve service delivery, and bring administration closer to people living in remote and far-flung regions. The decision follows approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs in August 2024 and is based on extensive consultations and field assessments.
A historic day for Ladakh.
I have approved the notification for creation of five new districts in Ladakh, fulfilling the aspirations and long pending demand of the people of Ladakh.
With creation of five new districts – Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass – Ladakh will…
— LG Ladakh (@lg_ladakh) April 27, 2026
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a developed and prosperous Ladakh. He added that decentralisation would reduce travel distances—often exceeding 300 km for basic services—and ensure faster implementation of government schemes.
The restructuring also defines new territorial limits, with Leh now comprising 44 revenue villages, Kargil 80, and the newly formed districts ranging between 19 and 30 villages each. Authorities expect the move to generate employment through new administrative setups and infrastructure development, while boosting local economic opportunities.
Additionally, officials noted that the creation of new districts is likely to enhance coordination between local administration and central agencies, enabling faster disaster response, better infrastructure planning, and more targeted welfare delivery. Given Ladakh’s difficult terrain and scattered population, this step is expected to significantly improve last-mile governance and strengthen the region’s overall administrative resilience.
