Ladakh, Oct, 16 : Ladakh is set to get another district with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena announcing the creation of Sankoo district, taking the Union Territory’s total number of districts to eight.
The announcement marks a significant administrative development for the region, where people have long sought better governance and easier access to public services.
The LG said the decision aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah under the guiding principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”He described the creation of Sankoo district as the culmination of the long-standing aspirations of the local population.
In his announcement, Saxena acknowledged the constructive role played by Anjuman-e-Sahib Zaman under the leadership of Chief Patron Syed Mohammad Razvi (Aga Migi Outh) and Chairman Sheikh Sadiq Balaghi. He also recognised the contributions of Dr Jaffar Akhoon, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil; Ladakh MP Haneefa Jan; and former Leh CEC Tashi Gyalston.
The LG extended congratulations to everyone who contributed to the initiative, highlighting the importance of public participation and collective efforts in fulfilling long-pending regional demands.
With Sankoo added to the list, Ladakh’s eight districts are Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, Drass and Sankoo. The expansion follows the notification of five new districts in April 2026, which had increased the number of districts from the original two to seven.
Alongside the announcement of Sankoo district, Saxena also approved the creation of five new tehsils in another move aimed at strengthening local administration.
The newly approved tehsils are Aryan Valley in Sham district, Sodh in Kargil, Phey in Zanskar, Thasgam in Drass and Himya in Changthang. Following the creation of 17 new tehsils in July this year, the latest approvals will take the total number of tehsils in Ladakh to 37.
In a further administrative decision, the powers of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Durbuk, have been entrusted to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Durbuk, to improve administrative accessibility and make public services easier to reach.
According to the LG, the measures are intended to improve public service delivery, speed up the implementation of development programmes and ensure that residents, particularly those living in remote and border areas, have easier access to government services.
Saxena said the decisions are aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an inclusive and developed Ladakh and seek to fulfil the long-standing aspirations of the people.
