Leh, September 3, 2026/ VOL News Desk/ In a landmark step towards strengthening grassroots democracy and decentralised governance in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has issued a notification for the establishment of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) in all seven districts of the Union Territory.

The notification, issued by the Revenue Department, UT Secretariat, Leh, on September 3, 2026, bears S.O. 259 and has been issued in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997 (Act No. XXII of 1997), as amended from time to time.

As per the notification, the following Autonomous Hill Development Councils will function for their respective districts:

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Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh – District Leh
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil – District Kargil
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Sham – District Sham
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Nubra – District Nubra
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Changthang – District Changthang
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Zanskar – District Zanskar
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Drass – District Drass
The notification further states that these Councils shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as are conferred or assigned to them under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, as amended from time to time.

Elections to Follow
The notification marks an important administrative milestone and provides that elections to the seven Councils shall be held in due course, following a separate notification under Section 8 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997.

The move follows the creation of five new districts—Sham, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass and Changthang—in April 2026, and the subsequent decision of the Centre on July 13, 2026, to extend the LAHDC system to all seven districts.

The decision has been described as a major step towards bringing governance closer to the people of Ladakh and strengthening local institutions at the grassroots level.

Welcoming the development, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh said the notification represents a historic moment for the Union Territory. The expansion of the LAHDC framework is aimed at decentralising decision-making, strengthening local governance and empowering local bodies to play a greater role in the development of their respective regions.

The Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that the new institutional framework would empower the people of Ladakh to chart a path of inclusive, locally driven and sustainable development, while strengthening the Union Territory’s commitment to responsive and participatory governance.