Amit Shah announced creation of 5 New Districts in Ladakh

Home Minister Amit Shah announces creation of 5 New Districts in Ladakh

Amit Shah announced five new districts — Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang — would be created in the union territory of Ladakh for “bolstering governance in every nook and cranny.

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Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the creation of five new districts in Ladakh to enhance governance and bring services closer to its remote populations.

New Districts in Ladakh

Ladakh has recently been divided into five new districts: Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthang, in addition to the existing Leh and Kargil districts. This change is intended to improve governance and provide more localized services to the residents of this remote region.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the decision, and it is seen as a step towards fulfilling the long-standing demands of the local population for better administrative reach and development opportunities. Five new districts are:

Zanskar,
Drass,
Sham,
Nubra, and
Changthang.

Inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule

People of Ladakh are demanding UT’s Inclusion in the Sixth Schedule.
6th Schedule provides for the Administration of Tribal Areas.
Special Provisions under the 6th Schedule:
- Create autonomous district councils that have legislative, judicial, and executive powers.
- District Councils are empowered to prepare a budget for their respective Council.
- The councils derive all their powers and functions directly from the Constitution.
- Acts passed by Parliament or state legislatures do not apply to autonomous districts and regions, or they apply with certain changes and exceptions.
Presently 4 states have Sixth Schedule Areas: Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura

Delhi March Call

The decision comes just ahead of the Leh Apex Body’s (LAB) planned march to Delhi from September 1 to October 2. The LAB, along with the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been advocating for Statehood, inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, job reservations for locals, and representation in Parliament.

The region has seen multiple protests, with people demanding safeguards for their culture, identity, land, and employment opportunities against external influences.