Following the initial announcement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2024, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh[1] Vinai Kumar Saxena, gave his approval for the creation of five new districts i.e., Drass, Nubra, Zanskar, Sham, and Changthan on April 27, 2026.[2] Of these, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang were carved out of Leh, whereas Zanskar and Drass were carved out of the existing Kargil district. Prior to the creation of five new additional districts, Ladakh consisted of only two districts, namely Leh and Kargil. With the addition of five new districts, the total number of districts now stands at seven. This is termed as the biggest administrative arrangement since India, in violation of international law, relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, and bilateral agreements, bifurcated the state of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) into two Union territories i.e., Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
While announcing the creation of new districts, the Lieutenant Governor said that it was a historic day for Ladakh, as creating five more districts is aligned with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a developed and prosperous region. He went on to say that the decision will strengthen grassroots governance and decentralise administration, which will ensure effective delivery of public service. He opined that the decision will open new avenues for growth and employment for the local population.[3] However, behind this hyped narrative, there is growing dissatisfaction and resentment among the local population of Ladakh, particularly the Muslims of this region.
