Ladakh's Governance Shift: Hill Councils to be Established in All 8 Districts
LG Vinai Kumar Saxena notifies the LAHDC Amendment Regulation 2026, expanding Hill Councils to all 8 districts of Ladakh, including Sankoo.
In a significant move toward democratic decentralization, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has notified the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) (Amendment) Regulation, 2026. This landmark decision paves the way for the establishment of Hill Councils across all eight districts of the Union Territory, including the newly formed Sankoo district.
Rapid Implementation of the New Regulation
The process moved with remarkable speed. The Union Cabinet first approved the amendments on October 14, followed by the promulgation of the regulation by President Droupadi Murmu on October 16. Within just six days of the Cabinet's approval, LG Saxena notified the regulation, which officially came into effect on October 19, 2026.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Lieutenant Governor described the regulation as "historic," expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for a move he believes will strengthen grassroots democracy and promote inclusivity.
What Changes Under the New Amendment?
The amended regulation introduces key changes to the structure and composition of the councils to ensure better governance and representation:
- Rationalized Seats: The number of constituencies per Council has been revised. While previously there were 26 seats in each Council, the new regulation sets a minimum of 7 seats and a maximum of 24 seats.
- Inclusive Nominations: To ensure a more diverse voice in local governance, the regulation allows for the nomination of four members specifically from among women and unrepresented communities.
Expanding Democratic Reach Across Ladakh
Until now, elected representation in the region was concentrated within the two existing Councils in Leh and Kargil. However, Ladakh's administrative landscape evolved as the region expanded from two districts to eight, with the notification of Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, Drass, and Sankoo.
Under the existing LAHDC Act, Section 3(1) already provided for a Council in every district, pending government notification. With this new amendment, each of the eight councils will now wield the full powers outlined in the LAHDC Act—the same authority that Leh has exercised since 1995 and Kargil since 2003.
The Road Ahead
While the legal framework is now in place, the next critical step will be the delimitation of constituencies to finalize the electoral boundaries for the new councils. Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra had previously highlighted that this transition is a major leap toward grassroots governance and the decentralization of power in the Union Territory.