Ladakh

The Union Territory Administration of Ladakh has announced that each of the region's seven districts will have its own Autonomous Hill Development Council (AHDC), marking a significant move towards greater decentralisation and stronger local self-governance.

Addressing a press conference in Leh on July 13, 2026, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said the decision would expand democratic representation and ensure that governance is driven more effectively at the grassroots level. Under Section 3(1) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act, a Council can be established for every district through a government notification. With the creation of five new districts, only the necessary amendments to the Act and the delimitation of constituencies remain before the new Councils can be constituted.

Ladakh was reorganised from two districts to seven in April 2026 with the formation of Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass. However, elected local governance has so far remained limited to the existing Hill Councils in Leh and Kargil.

The key announcements made during the press conference include:

1. The Union Territory Administration has approved the establishment of a Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in each of the seven districts, a move aimed at strengthening democratic decentralisation and local governance.

2. Every new Council will enjoy the same statutory powers granted under the LAHDC Act. This means the five newly created districts will receive the same level of authority currently exercised by the Leh Council since 1995 and the Kargil Council since 2003.

3. The Councils will have jurisdiction over matters related to land ownership and land allotment within their respective districts. Accordingly, Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass will independently manage land-related issues within their boundaries.

4. Authority over recruitment and promotions for district cadre posts will also rest with the Councils, allowing employment decisions to be made by elected local institutions.

5. Each Council will maintain its own dedicated Council Fund and will have the power to impose taxes and collect fees, providing every district with an independent source of revenue.

6. The Councils will prepare and implement district-specific development plans, enabling local priorities to shape policy instead of relying on decisions made by Leh or Kargil.

7. They will also oversee key sectors such as healthcare, education, tourism, local infrastructure development and the implementation of social welfare programmes at the district level.

8. In addition to the district Councils, the administration has proposed creating a Union Territory-level institution under a customised framework based on Article 371. This body is expected to exercise legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers. According to the Chief Secretary, the proposed arrangement would be unique and would incorporate the most effective features of existing governance models in other parts of the country.

9. The exact composition and powers of the proposed UT-level institution will be finalised through consultations between Ladakh's representatives and the Government of India. As part of this process, the distribution of powers between the district Councils and the UT-level body may be revised. The establishment of the seven Hill Councils, however, has already been confirmed as the first step in the new governance framework.

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10. Panchayati Raj institutions will continue to function alongside the Autonomous Hill Development Councils, ensuring elected representation at the village, district and Union Territory levels.