Author: The Dispatch Staff

Leh: In a major development that could redefine Ladakh’s political future, the Centre on Friday moved closer to addressing some of the region’s most important demands after productive talks with representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in New Delhi. The high-level meeting between officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ladakhi leaders and elected representatives ended with what participants described as a broad understanding on creating a governance structure tailored specifically for Ladakh’s unique administrative, cultural and strategic requirements. At the centre of the discussions was the proposal for a democratically elected…

Leh:  The Centre has approved inter-cadre deputation of Ladakh Police chief Mukesh Singh to Manipur, according to an official order. Singh is a 1996-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories) cadre. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the inter-cadre deputation of Singh to Manipur for a period of three years as a special case in public interest, an order, dated May 21, by the Personnel Ministry said. He is likely to be appointed as Manipur Police chief, officials said. The vacancy was necessitated following the appointment of Manipur DGP Rajiv…

Leh: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)-led sub-committee meeting with representatives of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Leh Apex Body (LAB) will be held as scheduled on May 22 in New Delhi, despite recent speculation over a possible deferment. Confirming the development to Indus Dispatch, Chief Secretary of Ladakh Ashish Kundra said the meeting “is still on 22nd,” indicating that the Centre’s dialogue process with Ladakh’s representative bodies remains on track. The clarification comes amid uncertainty following the resignation of senior leader and former Member of Parliament Thupstan Chhewang from the Leh Apex Body and the controversy linked to…

Leh: Drug addiction cases in Ladakh have shown a concerning rise, with 101 new cases reported over the past year and 237 follow-up cases currently under treatment, officials were informed during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra. The meeting reviewed the status of drug addiction, rehabilitation measures, awareness initiatives, and enforcement actions across the Union Territory, with a focus on strengthening coordination between health institutions, police, education department, social welfare agencies, and civil society organisations. Consultant psychiatrist Padma Angmo informed the meeting that opioid-related cases are increasing in the region. She noted that while awareness programmes…

Ahmedabad: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, today addressed the graduating class of 2026 at the 25th Convocation of the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, where he urged young students to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to address modern-day challenges. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized the importance of creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills in shaping the future of the Indian economy. He encouraged the young generation of entrepreneurs to make maximum use of technology and innovation to contribute to the ongoing restructuring and transformation of India’s economic landscape. Highlighting the role of institutional support in nurturing…

Leh: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has issued an order constituting the Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council under the provisions of the MSME Development Act, 2006, aimed at strengthening institutional support for micro and small enterprises across the region. As per Order No. 07–I&C of 2026 dated May 18, 2026, the Council has been formed under Sections 20 and 21 of the MSME Development Act, 2006, read with the Ladakh Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council Rules, 2024. The Council will be chaired by the Director, Industries & Commerce, UT Ladakh, and will include the Convenor…

Dehradun, May 14: National Coach Mohd Abbass Nordakh and his student skater Skarma Tsultim are representing Ladakh at the prestigious Team India Elite Camp being held at Himadri Ice Rink in Dehradun from May 12 to 26. The elite camp, organised by the Ice Skating Association of India, has brought together some of the country’s top skaters for an intensive training programme, seminars and a Bio-Mechanics Master Class aimed at improving technical skills and performance standards ahead of upcoming national and international competitions. A major highlight of the camp is the participation of Frédéric Blackburn from Canada, a double Olympic medallist and internationally renowned coach, who is mentoring…

Leh, May 13: The 46th Three-Day All India Official Language Training Camp and Conference commenced in Leh on Tuesday with a focus on strengthening the implementation of the Official Language Policy of the Government of India and promoting India’s linguistic and cultural heritage. The conference, organised by the Bhartiya Bhasha Evam Sanskriti Kendra, is being held from May 13 to 15 at Hotel Singge Palace and Hotel Northern Singge in Leh. Former Member of Parliament and former Chairman-cum-Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal attended the inaugural session as the chief guest. Addressing…

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Thursday announced Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 16 states and three Union Territories, while excluding Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh from the current schedule. The poll body said the electoral roll revision exercise in the three regions will be conducted separately at a later stage after completion of Phase II of the national Census and in view of weather-related challenges in high-altitude and snow-bound areas. According to the ECI, the rollout in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh has been deferred due…

Kargil: A political crisis has erupted in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil after Congress and the National Conference (NC) on Thursday announced a no-confidence motion against Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon for refusing to step down after completing his agreed two-and-a-half-year term. Addressing a press conference in Kargil, senior Congress leader Asgar Ali Karbalai said the Congress and NC had entered into a pre-poll alliance ahead of the 2023 LAHDC-Kargil elections under a rotational power-sharing arrangement. “As per the memorandum of understanding signed between both parties, the five-year council term was to be shared equally, with…

Leh, May 13: In a proud moment for Ladakh, Kulwinder Parhi, serving as Sub-Inspector and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife at Frontier Hospital Leh, has been conferred with the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award 2026 by President Droupadi Murmu for her exceptional contribution to healthcare services in the region. The award was presented during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on International Nurses Day in the presence of Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav. Kulwinder Parhi was recognised for her nearly 28 years of dedicated service in some of the toughest…

Leh, May 12: In a landmark move aimed at transforming Ladakh into a global centre for premium Pashmina production and luxury textile products, the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has approved the formation of the Ladakh Pashmina Development Board (LPDB), a specialised institutional body dedicated to the holistic development of the region’s iconic Pashmina sector. The approval was conveyed through an official notification issued by the Cooperative Department with the sanction of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. The notification was issued by IAS officer Bhanu Prabha, Administrative Secretary, Cooperative Department. The newly-created Board will function as an autonomous…

Leh:  The Union Territory of Ladakh reported a total of 460 cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) during calendar year 2024, according to the latest ‘Crime in India 2024’ report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). With a mid-year projected population of 3 lakh, Ladakh’s crime rate stood at 152.3 per lakh population, while the charge‑sheeting rate for IPC/BNS cases was 75.5%. Including offences under Special & Local Laws (SLL), the UT logged 498 cognisable crimes, resulting in an overall crime rate of 179.1 per lakh. The total number of violent crimes…

Leh, May 11: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has constituted a UT-Level Committee to oversee and recommend measures for the operationalisation of five newly created districts, marking a major step towards decentralised governance and improved administrative reach in remote areas. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the formation of the committee following the notification of five new districts last month. The new districts include Changthang, Nubra, Sham, Zanskar and Drass. The committee has been tasked with preparing a detailed roadmap for establishing and operationalising key district-level offices, while also addressing administrative, financial and logistical requirements arising…

Leh: Reinforcing the region’s centuries-old textile legacy, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena has underlined a renewed push to transform Ladakh into a global hub for premium Pashmina production after reviewing operations at the Pashmina Dehairing Plant in Leh. During the inspection, the LG Vinai Kumar Saxena closely assessed multiple stages of raw Pashmina wool processing and directed officials to make optimal use of modern infrastructure, including the newly installed scouring machine, to enhance efficiency and ensure output meets global quality benchmarks. Emphasising value addition at the grassroots level, the LG also called for expanding livelihood opportunities by promoting hand-spinning…

Leh, May 11: In a significant boost to India’s human spaceflight ambitions, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to help upgrade the ‘Hope Habitat’ in Ladakh to support future training missions for astronauts linked to the Gaganyaan programme, according to reports. The high-altitude analogue habitat, located in Ladakh’s remote Tso Kar valley and developed by space research company Protoplanet, is being expanded to simulate the extreme conditions astronauts may face during long-duration space missions. As per reports, the project is being carried out in collaboration with ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre following the successful completion of the Hope…

Leh, May 10: Nearly six and a half years after Ladakh became a Union Territory, the long-pending demand for the creation of the Ladakh Subordinate Administrative Services (LSAS) is finally close to becoming a reality, with an announcement from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) expected shortly. As per reports published in daily newspaper quoting sources claimed the Ladakh administration has submitted a detailed proposal to the MHA for establishment of the LSAS, including recruitment rules, vacancy details and the proposed selection mechanism through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The move comes days after the Centre announced creation…

Leh, May 9: Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, on Saturday chaired a meeting with tourism stakeholders to discuss key challenges and policy issues concerning the tourism sector in the region, with a strong emphasis on sustainable and responsible tourism development. The meeting focused on issues related to tourism regulation, rationalisation measures, infrastructure augmentation and improvement of tourism services in Ladakh. Detailed deliberations were also held on matters concerning the EFFRO portal, registration procedures, centralisation of Form-C, the Ladakh Tourism Development Society and other issues affecting tourism stakeholders. The interaction provided a platform for representatives from…

Leh, May 9: A conference on the theme “Past, Present and Future of Buddhism in Ladakh” was organised at the Dharma Centre in Leh on Friday as part of the ongoing 15-day Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Gautama Buddha in Ladakh. The conference was jointly organised by the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh and the Ladakh Gonpa Association under the chairmanship of His Eminence Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche. The event witnessed participation from monks, scholars, students, officials and members of the public. The programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Chief Secretary of UT…

Leh: Thousands of devotees from across Ladakh gathered at Jivetsal on Saturday as the public exposition and veneration of the sacred relics of Gautama Buddha entered its eighth day, turning the venue into a major centre of spiritual devotion and prayer. Nearly 7,000 devotees, including a large number of visitors from the Kargil region, participated in the holy occasion throughout the day to pay homage and seek blessings from the sacred relics. The site remained crowded from morning till evening, reflecting the deep spiritual significance attached to the relics among the Buddhist community. The day’s religious prayers and ceremonial offerings…