New Districts in Ladakh

Current Context : The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the creation of five new districts in Union Territory of Ladakh.

• These districts are Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang.
• Ladakh was a part of Jammu and Kashmir before 2019.

CREATION OF NEW DISTRICTS :

• The power to create new districts or alter or abolish existing districts rests with the State governments.
• This can either be done through an executive order or by passing a law in the State Assembly.

ABOUT LADAKH

• Situated in the northernmost region of India
• Bordered by Tibet (China) to the east, Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan to the northwest, and the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir to the west.
• Established as a Union Territory on October 31, 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Two districts: Leh and Kargil.
• Adminstartion : Lieutenant Governor is the administrative head.
• The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) manages local governance, development activities, and cultural preservation in the region.

Climate :  extreme cold desert climate with harsh winters and mild summers.