Ladakh has notified amended rules enabling autonomous hill councils in all eight districts. The changes widen grassroots representation through revised seat limits and inclusive nominations.
Ladakh has notified amended rules enabling autonomous hill councils in all 8 districts.
Jammu,Oct 20, 2026 13:18 IST
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday notified a regulation allowing Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils to be set up in all eight districts of the Union Territory, including the newly created Sankoo district, the Press Trust of India reported.
The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, was promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu after the Union Cabinet approved the amendments on October 14.
Saxena said the regulation was implemented in a record six days. It was promulgated by the President on October 16 and notified with effect from October 19, 2026.
“I am pleased to announce that upon the promulgation of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, by the Hon'ble President of India, I have notified the regulation with effect from October 19, 2026,” Saxena said in a post on X, according to the Press Trust of India.
The amended regulation changes the number of constituencies in each Hill Development Council. The councils, which earlier had 26 seats, will now have a minimum of seven and a maximum of 24 seats.
It also allows four members from among women and communities without representation to be nominated to the councils, with the aim of increasing inclusion and public participation in local governance.
Saxena thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the regulation. He said it would strengthen grassroots democracy, improve local representation and promote inclusion.
The move follows the expansion of Ladakh's district structure. Saxena approved the creation of five districts — Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass — on April 27, increasing the number of districts from two to seven.
The five districts were formally inaugurated on April 30, while Sankoo was announced as Ladakh's eighth district on October 16.
Saxena had also announced the creation of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for every district in the Union Territory.
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