Author: The Dispatch Staff

Leh: Ladakh is set to become an even bigger hub for astronomy in India, with the government approving two new state-of-the-art telescopes and the upgrade of an existing observatory in the region. The move comes in this year’s Union Budget and is expected to strengthen India’s position in observational astronomy, both nationally and globally. The National Large Solar Telescope (NLST), planned in the Merak region near Pangong Tso, will be a 2-metre aperture solar telescope. Operating in visible and near-infrared wavelengths, NLST will allow scientists to study solar dynamics, magnetism, and energetic solar events, while also tracking space-weather processes that…

Leh: The 13th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Mountain Rescue Team carried out a detailed inspection of ice conditions at Pangong Lake, Leh, in preparation for the upcoming Frozen Marathon. The exercise, conducted jointly with the Union Territory Disaster Response Force (UTDRF) and local civil administration authorities, aimed to assess the stability and safety of the proposed marathon route across the frozen lake. Officials focused on measuring ice thickness and identifying any potential hazards to ensure the safety of participants. Authorities said that such inspections are critical for extreme winter events in high-altitude regions like Ladakh,…

Leh :In a significant development for unemployed youth in Ladakh, the Central Government has assured priority action on recruitment-related issues, particularly the long-pending gazetted posts, during talks held under the High Powered Committee (HPC). https://youtube.com/shorts/FsnDSlspNRk?si=NjQoL3ueJCJciApP Representing the gazetted aspirants, Phuntsog Targais informed *The Earth News* that the Centre, including senior officials such as the Home Secretary, gave a patient hearing to concerns regarding rising unemployment among educated youth in the Union Territory. “Over the past six years, there has been no recruitment to gazetted posts in Ladakh, creating widespread uncertainty and frustration among aspirants,” Targais said. “The officials assured us…

Leh: A special medical camp was organised in the remote and largely inaccessible village of Dipling, with a medical team led by Dr Shamim Ahmad delivering healthcare services to local residents under challenging conditions. Special medical camp at village Dipling organised today . Inaccessible area .. fabulous job by medical team led by Dr Shamim Ahmad . 2 helicopter sorties. Cases of Chronic Pulmonary diseases, Respiratory Tract infection. 3 elderly patients evacuated to Leh. pic.twitter.com/HgVaDA8fsh — Ashish Kundra (@ashishkundra) February 9, 2026 Information shared by the Chief Secretary of Ladakh on X stated that the camp catered to patients suffering…

Leh  A group of specially-abled children from Ladakh called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of a National Integration Tour, offering the young participants a unique opportunity to visit the country’s highest constitutional residence and interact with the Head of State. The visit was organised under a national integration initiative that seeks to expose children from remote regions to India’s cultural, institutional and historical landmarks. During their visit, the children learned about the heritage and functioning of Rashtrapati Bhavan and the constitutional role of the President. Officials said the interaction served as a source of motivation and…

New Delhi:  The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was in a “perfectly good” condition and was getting the best of the treatment from AIIMS, Jodhpur while in custody. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale was informed by Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, that no progress has been made as of now regarding the review of Wangchuk’s detention. At the outset, Justice Kumar asked Nataraj whether any progress had been made at the court’s request to review Wangchuk’s detention in view of his deteriorating health.…

The recent multi-stakeholder conference in Leh on strengthening women support systems is a reminder that women’s safety and empowerment cannot rest on one department alone. It requires a web of support — police, legal services, welfare agencies, community groups, religious institutions and families — all working in convergence. Mission Shakti and the One Stop Centre (OSC) model represent an important shift from fragmented responses to integrated care. Legal aid, counselling, medical help and temporary shelter under one roof can make a decisive difference for a woman in distress. Yet, the real measure of success lies not only in services offered,…

The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has firmly denied any link between the Tibetan spiritual leader and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as political leaders in India spoke out against what they described as misinformation and malicious speculation surrounding the so-called “Epstein files.” The clarification came after media reports and social media posts claimed that the Dalai Lama’s name appeared multiple times in documents released by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) as part of records related to Epstein. https://x.com/DalaiLama/status/2020350986683052473?s=20 In a statement posted on X, the Dalai Lama’s office said attempts were being made to draw…

Leh : A student from Ladakh, Padma, got a chance to interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latest edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha, sharing her thoughts on dreams and ambitions of young people from the region. Introducing herself as a student from Ladakh, Padma asked how children of her age should dream big and where they should begin to turn those dreams into reality. Reflecting on her experience, she later said she was initially nervous as it was her first such interaction, but her nervousness turned into excitement when the Prime Minister came in front of her. Responding…

Leh : Ladakh has witnessed “unprecedented change” since becoming a Union Territory, with major improvements in infrastructure, public services and administrative outreach, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said in an interview with Indus Dispatch, while underlining that the region’s long-term future must carefully balance development, ecology and people’s aspirations. Reflecting on his recent visits across Ladakh, Kundra said ground-level feedback from villages and remote areas points to visible progress, particularly in road construction, water supply schemes and electrification. He noted that electricity networks have expanded to far-flung areas and that power connectivity is expected to reach even up to the Siachen…

Leh: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Kavinder Gupta on Sunday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and discussed key issues concerning public welfare, infrastructure development and governance in the Union Territory. During the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor briefed the Prime Minister on major developmental initiatives and flagship welfare schemes being implemented in Ladakh. He highlighted progress on critical infrastructure projects, including road and air connectivity, aimed at improving access and service delivery in the region’s difficult terrain and strategic border areas. Gupta also apprised the Prime Minister of efforts to promote sustainable tourism while safeguarding Ladakh’s fragile ecology and…

New Delhi: Advocate Tashi Gyalson, former Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital to discuss key developmental and administrative priorities of the Union Territory of Ladakh. At the outset, Gyalson extended New Year greetings to the Home Minister and expressed appreciation for the recent delegation of enhanced financial powers to the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. He described the move as a significant step towards improving administrative efficiency and streamlining governance in the Union Territory. During the meeting, Gyalson underscored the importance of expediting the…

Leh: Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, IAS, undertook his first official visit on Friday to review key developmental initiatives and strengthen public outreach across Likir, Alchi, and Leh, reaffirming the administration’s focus on participatory governance, heritage conservation, and sustainable development. The visit began at Likir Sub-Division, where villagers accorded a warm welcome to the Chief Secretary. During a Public Darbar, the Nambardar highlighted Likir’s distinct identity as a village known for its traditional pottery art and crafts. Residents raised issues including the extension of abadi land in view of population growth, making the SDM office…

Leh: Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta on Saturday launched the Union Territory’s sports policy, which seeks to establish a Sports Council for focussed talent identification and infrastructure development. A key feature of the policy is the establishment of the Ladakh Sports Council, which will provide a strong institutional framework for coordinated development of sports, an official spokesman said. He said the council will work closely with sports associations on infrastructure development, coaching support, financial assistance and long-term planning. Launching the Ladakh sports policy in presence of chief secretary Ashish Kundra, the Lt Governor said it provides a clear and structured…

Leh: The NHRC has issued a notice to the Leh civil administration and its police authorities over charges that a minor Ladakhi girl belonging to a tribal Buddhist community who had gone missing from her home late December, was subsequently “found in Srinagar with a Muslim boy,” according to the proceedings of the case. Presently, the girl is under the supervision of a Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and is suffering from “mental trauma,” the proceedings dated January 2 said. The complainant is Sagar Bhante, from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, it said. “The complainant alleged that on December 26, a minor…

Leh: Murgi village in Nubra Valley organised its Annual Archery Tournament along with the inauguration of the Zimshung Project, valued at ₹25 lakh, reflecting a blend of traditional sporting culture and local development initiatives. The event was held under the guidance of the Guru Sarjang Committee and witnessed enthusiastic participation from across Nubra Valley. Around 35 archery teams from different parts of the valley took part in the tournament, highlighting the region’s strong sporting spirit and deep-rooted tradition of archery. Tsering Sandup, District President BJP Nubra and former Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and…

New Delhi: Bhikkhu Sanghasena participated in the inauguration of the Grand International Exposition of the Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Bhagwan Buddha, titled “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One”, held at the historic Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in the national capital. The exhibition was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the return of the sacred Piprahwa relics to India after more than 125 years—an event described as historic and spiritually significant. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister termed the occasion deeply auspicious, stating that the return of the relics symbolised the return of India’s civilisational heritage.…

Leh: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Kavinder Gupta on Friday flagged off and felicitated a 33-member Ladakh delegation proceeding to Delhi to participate in the “Viksit Bharat – Young India Dialogue” under the National Youth Festival 2026, reaffirming the Union Territory’s commitment to youth-led nation building. Congratulating the selected participants, the Lieutenant Governor said the delegation would represent not only Ladakh but also the aspirations, talent and potential of its youth on a national platform. He underlined that the participation of Ladakhi youth reflects growing confidence, intellectual strength and readiness to contribute meaningfully to the country’s development. Highlighting the significance of…

New Delhi:  Mukesh Singh, a 1996-batch IPS officer, was on Friday appointed Ladakh’s director general of police, replacing S D Singh Jamwal who has been moved to Arunachal Pradesh, officials said. According to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Singh, presently posted in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), has been asked to take over the police establishment in Ladakh. Singh was originally from the Jammu and Kashmir cadre before it was merged with the AGMUT cadre after the abrogation of Article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile state, and its downgrading into two Union territories…

Leh: Chief Secretary of Ladakh Ashish Kundra on Thursday chaired a comprehensive review of the Union Territory’s education and skill development sectors, calling for stronger entrepreneurship models, future-ready skills and stricter monitoring of schools, particularly in remote areas. The review meeting covered School Education, Higher Education, Technical Education and Skill Development Departments, with a focus on assessing progress, identifying gaps and setting a clear roadmap to strengthen Ladakh’s education and skill ecosystem. The School Education Department presented an overview of the current status of schools, teachers and student enrolment across Ladakh. The review included government school enrolment trends, budget…