Author: The Dispatch Staff

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated five development projects covering airport infrastructure and strategic road connectivity in Ladakh worth around Rs 3,350 crore. The projects include a new passenger terminal at the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, built for Rs 640 crore. Spread over 23,800 square metres, the modern terminal is designed to handle 35 lakh passengers annually, officials said. It incorporates geothermal energy to enhance energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, reflecting the importance of sustainable infrastructure in Ladakh’s ecologically sensitive environment. Blending modern passenger amenities with elements of Ladakh’s rich cultural heritage,…

Kargil, October 13: Deputy Commissioner Kargil Rakesh Kumar, IAS, on Tuesday reviewed the implementation of e-Office, digitisation of old records, Aadhaar-based biometric attendance and disposal of scrap materials in the district. At a meeting held at the Conference Hall, Baroo, the DC directed officers to ensure effective implementation of e-Office, adopt digital signatures and maintain official records digitally to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in government functioning. He also called for strict monitoring of Aadhaar-based biometric attendance, which is operational in all government offices across the district. Reviewing the disposal of scrap materials, Kumar sought details of pending e-auctions…

Leh: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday chaired the first meeting of Ladakh’s Advisory Council, focusing on water security, glacier protection, agricultural sustainability, local employment and the development of key economic sectors. The meeting also reviewed tourism promotion, heritage conservation, sea buckthorn production, major infrastructure projects and administrative reforms, with the Lieutenant Governor calling for innovative solutions to address Ladakh’s developmental challenges and fragile ecological conditions. Emphasising long-term water security, Saxena highlighted Project Him Sarovar, which envisages the creation of water storage ponds to harness glacial and snowmelt runoff. He urged council members to suggest innovative measures to strengthen…

Leh: Ladakh recorded 4,60,667 tourist arrivals between January and September 2026, surpassing the total footfall for the whole of 2025 by 37.16%, with three months still remaining in the year, according to figures shared by the administration. The Union Territory received 55,582 tourists in September this year, against 34,610 during the corresponding month in 2025, registering a rise of 60.6%. The administration attributed the growth to improved connectivity and new tourism initiatives, including high-altitude Lilium flower fields and the introduction of what it described as India’s first high-altitude wildlife safari in Ladakh. Cultural and adventure tourism events have also contributed…

Leh: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu has released the first admission list for its four-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) (Hons.) programme at its Leh campus in Ladakh, with an initial intake of 60 students for the 2026–27 academic session. The programme marks IIM Jammu’s entry into undergraduate management education in Ladakh, opening a new avenue for students seeking professional education in business, entrepreneurship and management within the Union Territory. The Leh campus has been established in collaboration with the Ladakh Administration to expand access to higher education and strengthen the region’s academic ecosystem. The initiative is also…

Leh/Jammu, Oct 12 (PTI) Ladakh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rahul Sharma on Monday urged eligible residents of Leh and Kargil to verify their names in the draft electoral rolls and submit claims and objections by October 15. Sharma chaired a meeting with representatives of recognised political parties in Leh to review the ongoing revision of electoral rolls for the municipal committees of Leh and Kargil, officials said. The CEO briefed the representatives on eligibility criteria, disqualification provisions and procedures for inclusion of names, correction of particulars and filing of objections. He stressed the importance of accurate and inclusive electoral rolls…

Kargil, Oct 13: District Police Kargil intercepted a truck transporting nine cattle at Khangral Check Post after the driver allegedly ignored a stop signal and drove rashly during routine checking near Moundik Danga. The truck, bearing registration number HP72A-3997, was subsequently intercepted by police personnel at Khangral Check Post under the jurisdiction of Police Station Wakha. On inspection, police found two oxen and seven cows inside the enclosed vehicle, with vegetable containers loaded on its rooftop. A preliminary inquiry revealed that the animals had been transported from Punjab to Kargil without adequate arrangements for their care, including water and fodder,…

Leh, October 7: The Seva Jyoti Yatra, marking 25 years of public service by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was launched from Leh on Wednesday during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha, with BJP national and Ladakh leaders joining party workers in the district-level programme. BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh joined BJP Ladakh president Tashi Gyaltson Khachu, Ladakh in-charge Rajkumar Bhatia, former CEC LAHDC Leh Tashi Gyalson and former MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal at the event, where the Seva Jyoti was lit before being taken out in a procession through Leh. The procession began from Eco Park, passed through the…

Leh: Ladakh has launched its first high-altitude wildlife safari, with six specially designed open-back vehicles being flagged off in Leh during the Wildlife Week 2026 celebrations, opening up a new model of wildlife tourism centred on guided experiences and community participation. Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh V. K. Saxena said the Ladakh Snow Leopard Safari will initially operate in Rumbak, Shang and Uley, offering visitors an opportunity to explore high-altitude habitats known for snow leopards and other Himalayan wildlife. The safari routes are designed to provide guided wildlife experiences featuring snow leopards, Himalayan brown bears, wolves and more than 340 bird…

Leh: Ladakh is set to strengthen its financial security architecture, with the administration reviewing both the growing threat of digital fraud and vulnerabilities linked to bank branches, ATMs, Currency Chests and cash movement across the Union Territory. The issues came under detailed review at two separate meetings chaired by Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra at Hotel Zen, Leh—the 5th Union Territory Level Coordination Committee (UTLCC) meeting and the 6th Union Territory Level Security Committee (UTLSC) meeting. At the UTLCC meeting, held under the aegis of Prabhakar Jha, Regional Director, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh,…

Leh: The Ladakh administration will conduct the REWA 2.0 screening test on October 25 to select 80 civil services aspirants for financial assistance towards UPSC coaching, Administrative Secretary, Higher Education, Bhanu Prabha said on Tuesday. The screening test will be held at centres in Leh and Kargil, with 40 candidates to be selected from each of the two erstwhile districts. Two seats in each district have been earmarked for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Under the scheme, each selected candidate will receive ₹1 lakh for UPSC Civil Services Examination coaching, besides ₹18,000 towards accommodation, taking the total assistance to ₹1.18 lakh…

Drass: A team of experts from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) visited Drass on Tuesday to assess the potential for expanding high-value cold-water fisheries and aquaculture in Ladakh, with a focus on trout farming, improved production and better market access. The team, comprising MPEDA Deputy Director Dr P. Jayagopal and MPEDA-RGCA Consultant Dr S. Kandan, held discussions with Deputy Commissioner Drass Imteeaz Kacho and officials of the Fisheries Department on strengthening the local fisheries sector. During the interaction, the Deputy Commissioner highlighted the existing fish production, growing interest among residents in fish farming and the scope for creating…

Leh: Nearly two months after his transfer from Jammu and Kashmir to Lakshadweep amid questions raised over the registration and functioning of the Looms of Ladakh Women Cooperative Ltd, IAS officer Prasanna Ramaswamy has been removed as chairman of the cooperative’s governing body, officials said on Tuesday. Leh Deputy Commissioner (DC) Romil Singh Donk will now take charge as chairman in accordance with the Articles of Association of the cooperative, which provide for the deputy commissioner to serve as its ex-officio chairman, the officials said. The development comes amid an ongoing controversy over the cooperative’s registration and functioning, with the…

Leh:  Ladakh Police on Tuesday inducted 114 Special Police Officers (SPOs) for deployment in the newly created districts, while 99 personnel completed pre-promotional courses aimed at enhancing their supervisory and operational capabilities. The developments were marked by a valedictory-cum-passing-out parade of Sub-Inspectors, Head Constables, followers and SPOs at the Police Training School, Stongsar, which was attended by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. Saxena also inaugurated 24 two-BHK police family quarters and launched the emblem, flag, logo and badges of the Ladakh Fire and Rescue Service. He also inaugurated the Service’s official website and released its Comprehensive Fire Safety Handbook to…

Leh:  The Defence Research and Development Organisation has conducted the maiden live jump of the Advanced High-Altitude Parachute (AHAP), a static line parachute system for mass drop of paratroopers, at one of the highest-altitude drop zones, Nyoma (Mudh DZ) in Ladakh, officials said on Tuesday. The jump was executed at 16,000 ft above mean sea level (AMSL). The parachute was deployed at 15,500 feet AMSL and landing was undertaken at Nyoma (Mudh DZ), which is at 13,700 feet, the defence ministry said in a statement. The jump proved the efficacy and tactical employability of the AHAP parachute at extremely high-altitude…

Leh, September 23: In a move aimed at promoting peace, public tranquillity and social harmony in Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the withdrawal of criminal cases against 20 individuals in connection with the violence that erupted in Leh on September 24, 2025. The decision follows a comprehensive review of the cases, after which the Ladakh Police recommended submission of a closure report in respect of the 20 individuals in FIR No. 144/2025, registered at Police Station Leh. The action has been taken under Section 360 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which provides for withdrawal from…

Leh: Ladakh is witnessing a sharp rise in tourist arrivals this year, with the Union Territory recording 4.05 lakh visitors in the first eight months of 2026, surpassing the total tourist footfall recorded during the whole of 2025. According to tourism figures shared by the Ladakh administration, the Union Territory recorded 3.35 lakh tourist arrivals in the entire year 2025. In comparison, 4.05 lakh tourists visited Ladakh between January and August 2026, exceeding last year’s annual figure by 20.61 per cent. The latest figures indicate a strong recovery and continued expansion of Ladakh’s tourism sector, with both domestic and international…

Leh: Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati was on Wednesday sworn in as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at a ceremony held at the Shalimar Auditorium of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena administered the oath of office to Justice Bhati in the presence of senior members of the judiciary, the elected government and the civil and police administration. The ceremony commenced with the rendition of the national song, followed by the National Anthem. The Registrar General of the High Court then read out the warrant…

Kargil: Police Station Kargil has worked out a shop theft case within approximately 10 hours of receiving information, recovering cash and other articles allegedly purchased with the stolen money. According to a police press release, the case came to light after Mohd Ibrahim, a resident of Naqtoo Baroo, reported that some persons had entered his shop and decamped with cash amounting to Rs. 90,000. Police registered a case and launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the shop and surrounding areas, including possible exit routes, was examined. During the investigation, certain individuals were noticed in the footage and were subsequently identified…

Leh: The 25th anniversary of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan was celebrated with enthusiasm and a renewed commitment to the spirit of service under the leadership of BJP State President Tashi Gyaltson Khachu at Sheynam Community Hall, Leh, Ladakh. The silver-jubilee programme brought together senior office-bearers, representatives, coordinators and grassroots functionaries associated with the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan to commemorate 25 years of dedicated service and social engagement. Shri O. P. Dhankar, National Coordinator of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, Shri Dhankar congratulated the organisers, office-bearers and volunteers on completing 25 years of the…