Ladakh Expands Governance with New Tehsils and Hill Councils
The Ladakh administration announced the creation of Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDC) for each of its seven districts, expanding local self-governance beyond Leh and Kargil. The new councils will include Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass. These councils will have legislative, executive, financial, and administrative powers, overseeing land ownership, recruitment, and development plans. The initiative aims to strengthen local governance and provide constitutional safeguards under Article 371 of the Indian Constitution, which recognises the unique needs of different regions. The move follows ongoing discussions about constitutional protections for Ladakh since it became a Union Territory in 2019.
Published 1 day ago • 13 Jul 2026, 10:37 PM IST