The creation of Sankoo district marks a significant step in Ladakh’s administrative reorganisation. Saxena announced the decision at a public gathering, assuring residents that appointments and administrative arrangements would be made soon.
BY PC Bureau
October 16: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has announced the creation of Sankoo as the Union Territory’s eighth district, along with five new tehsils, in a fresh push to decentralise administration and bring government services closer to residents of remote and far-flung areas.
Sankoo has been carved out of the existing Kargil district and will comprise the tehsils of GM Pore, TSG and Taisuru. The administration described the area as one of the most populous regions of Ladakh and said the new district would address a long-standing demand of local residents.
The announcement follows the earlier decision to create five additional districts—Changthang, Drass, Nubra, Sham and Zanskar. With Sankoo’s elevation, Ladakh’s total number of districts has risen to eight.
Saxena made the announcement during a public gathering in Sankoo, where residents assembled in large numbers to welcome the decision and thank the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor for fulfilling their demand for a separate district.
Overwhelmed by the massive gathering and jubilant celebrations in Sankoo today, on declaration of Sankoo as Ladakh’s 8th district, followed by the announcement to constitute Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), as in all other districts of Ladakh.
The immense joy and gratitude of the people, braving the icy winds on a chilly evening, is truly heartwarming. This historic milestone fulfils their long-standing demand and brings the administration right to their doorstep, in one of the most populous regions in Ladakh.
Deepest gratitude to Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji and Hon’ble HM Shri @AmitShah Ji, for consistently guiding Ladakh on the path of progress and inclusive development.
I assure the people of Sankoo that all administrative requirements, including the posting of officials, will be addressed at the earliest, so that the benefits of development reach every single household.
— LG Ladakh (@lg_ladakh) October 16, 2026
Addressing the gathering, Saxena said the decision reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”.
“The creation of Sankoo district fulfils a long-standing aspiration of the people of the area and marks another important step towards bringing administration closer to citizens. Our objective is to ensure that people in every part of Ladakh can access government services more easily and that the benefits of development reach every village and household,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also thanked the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for their continued support for Ladakh’s development. He assured residents that the administrative requirements of the new district would be addressed at the earliest and that necessary appointments would be made soon to ensure its effective functioning.
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Five New Tehsils Announced
In a parallel move, Saxena announced five new tehsils across Ladakh as part of the administration’s wider effort to strengthen local governance and improve access to public services.
The new tehsils and their constituent areas are:
- Aryan Valley, Sham district: Dha-Beema, Hanu, Garkone and Darchiks.
- Sodh, Kargil district: Yourbaltak, Akchamal, Apatee, Tumail, Barchey, Silmoo, Lalung and Chulichan.
- Phey, Zanskar district: Rangdum, Phey, Emala-Shagan, Hamiling, Abran, Akshow, Atting, Rantaksha and Tungri.
- Thasgam, Drass district: Thasgam, Jasgund, Kharboo and Shimsha.
- Hemya, Changthang district: Tukla, Liktse, Tarchit, Kungyam, Teri and Hemya.
The new administrative units are expected to reduce the distance residents must travel to access government offices and essential services, particularly in geographically remote settlements.
Ladakh’s Administrative Reorganisation Gathers Pace
The latest announcements build on the broader administrative reorganisation launched in Ladakh. On July 12, Saxena had announced the creation of 17 new tehsils. With the addition of the five announced on Thursday, the Union Territory’s total number of tehsils has risen to 37, according to the administration.
The reorganisation is intended to strengthen the administrative infrastructure of the newly created districts, improve coordination and make public services more accessible to residents.
By bringing administrative institutions closer to communities, the administration says it aims to make governance more responsive, inclusive and citizen-centric across Ladakh.
