Ladakh to set up Autonomous Hill Development Councils for all 7 districts

📌 Summary:

• Ladakh administration announced setting up of Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDCs) for each of the 7 districts of the UT
• Until now LAHDCs existed only in Leh and Kargil; 5 new districts — Drass, Sham, Nubra, Changthang and Zanskar — were notified in April 2026
• Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra called it a major step towards democratic decentralisation and grassroots governance
• Section 3(1) of the LAHDC Act allows constitution of a council in each district by government notification — being extended to all new districts
• A Centre team visited Ladakh; consensus emerged that a UT-level body would be created under Article 371, a "new and customised model" drawing best provisions from other states
• The proposed body would exercise legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers (framework under review)
• LAHDCs are empowered to decide on land and employment — key local concerns; council elections are keenly contested

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — federalism, democratic decentralisation, Article 371 special provisions, and local self-government; ties to Ladakh statehood/Sixth Schedule demands.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• LAHDCs currently function in Leh and Kargil under the LAHDC Act (Section 3(1))
• 5 new districts notified April 2026: Drass, Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar
• Proposed customised model to be created under Article 371

🔑 Key Term: Autonomous Hill Development Council — a statutory elected body for local governance with powers over land, development and employment in hill/tribal regions.