Ladakh to create autonomous hill councils in seven districts

In a major administrative overhaul, the Union Territory of Ladakh will establish autonomous hill development councils in all seven of its districts, a move officials describe as a significant step toward democratic decentralization. The announcement was made by Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra at a press conference in Leh on July 14, 2026.

The decision expands the existing system of local self-governance beyond the two districts of Leh and Kargil, which have had their own elected councils since 1995 and 2003, respectively. The five newly created districts-Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass-will now receive councils with the same powers. Kundra stated that each new council will carry the full authority set out in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act, including control over local land ownership and allotment, recruitment for district-level posts, district development planning, and the administration of sectors like health, education, and tourism.

The legal basis for the expansion already exists in Section 31 of the LAHDC Act, which provides for a council in every district. Officials said only necessary amendments to the act and the delimitation of...