Overview
- Ladakh’s lieutenant governor, who announced the change Monday, carved Sham, Nubra and Changthang from Leh and Zanskar and Drass from Kargil, taking the total to seven districts.
- The plan, cleared by the Home Ministry in August 2024, is billed as decentralisation that will cut trips that can top 300 km, bring services closer in remote areas, and create jobs through new administrative offices.
- Kargil Democratic Alliance leaders call the new map discriminatory, citing 2011 Census shares to argue it yields five Buddhist‑majority districts and only two Muslim‑majority ones.
- The notification lists 44 revenue villages in Leh and 80 in Kargil, with Nubra at 30, Changthang 24, Sham 27, Zanskar 26, and Drass 19.
- Leh and Kargil groups are pressing for talks on statehood and Sixth Schedule status, with a Centre meeting set for May 22 and Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled to visit Leh on May 30.