LEH, July 14, 2026 — In a significant move aimed at empowering local communities and ensuring balanced regional growth, the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh has announced the establishment of an Autonomous Hill Development Council (AHDC) in each of its seven districts.
The announcement was made on Monday by Ladakh’s Chief Secretary, Ashish Kundra, who highlighted the decision as a major milestone for the region’s political and developmental landscape.
Until now, elected representation in Ladakh has been entirely concentrated within two existing councils—one in Leh and one in Kargil. However, the administrative map of the region shifted drastically in April 2026, when the Union Territory was expanded from two districts to seven. The newly notified districts include Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass.
“The Ladakh Administration has decided to constitute an Autonomous Hill Development Council in each of the seven districts,” Chief Secretary Kundra told reporters in Leh. “It is a major step towards democratic decentralisation and grassroots governance.”
According to the Chief Secretary, the legal foundation for this expansion is already in place. He noted that Section 3(1) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act includes provisions that allow for a council to be formed in every district. These new councils will be officially constituted from a date notified by the government in the official gazette.
Before the new councils can hold elections and begin operations, the administration must complete the delimitation of new constituencies and process any necessary amendments to the existing LAHDC Act.
Once implemented, the creation of these five additional councils will give localized political representation to the newly formed districts, allowing local leaders to have direct control over grassroots governance and regional development funds.
Published by True Roots Media Network