Author: The Dispatch Staff

The recent recruitment exercise conducted by the Ladakh administration marks a significant moment in the Union Territory’s evolving governance landscape. Beyond the ceremonial handing over of selection letters, the process itself signals a deeper shift towards efficiency, transparency and institutional credibility in public administration—an area where remote and newly formed regions often face skepticism. The most striking aspect of the exercise was the speed and clarity with which it was executed. Declaration of examination results within 48 hours is not merely an administrative statistic; it reflects the emergence of systems that prioritise fairness, predictability and accountability. For aspirants, particularly in…

Leh: Senior IPS officer Mukesh Singh (IPS: 1996, AGMUT cadre) has been appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP), Ladakh with immediate effect, according to the latest official order. The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for the Union Territory at a time when security management and border coordination remain critical. Singh’s elevation comes close on the heels of his appointment by the Ministry of Home Affairs as Additional Director General (ADG) in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). However, with his appointment as DGP, Ladakh, Singh is set to take charge of the UT’s top police post with immediate…

Leh : Cold and cloudy weather conditions continue to prevail across Ladakh, with fresh snowfall reported over several higher reaches, including key mountain passes, officials said on Saturday. According to the latest weather update, 2 to 3 inches of snowfall has been recorded over Zojila, Drass, Sankoo Zanskar, Shinkula, Khardongla and other higher altitude areas. The prevailing weather conditions are expected to persist today, with cold and cloudy skies dominating most parts of Ladakh. The forecast indicates that similar weather conditions are likely to continue during December 14 and 15, with snowfall expected over peaks and high-altitude passes. From December…

Leh: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta on Friday inaugurated the newly expanded B-3 helicopter services to improve connectivity, promote tourism and strengthen emergency support in remote areas of the Union Territory. Noting Ladakh’s vast geographical spread, harsh terrain and extreme weather conditions, Gupta said enhanced air connectivity was not a luxury but a necessity for many residents. The revised subsidised fares and expanded routes, including Leh–Kargil, Leh–Padum, Leh–Lingshad, Leh–Dibling, Leh–Nyerak, Leh–Diskit and Leh–Turtuk, will offer faster and more affordable travel options for locals and tourists, officials said. The LG said that the upgraded services would serve as a lifeline during…

Leh: The Flowering Dharma Trust has requested the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, to allow the Union Territory to host the sacred Buddha Relics during a suitable month of the Buddhist calendar. https://youtube.com/shorts/LMlCv8EKqeo?feature=share In a formal communication, Trust Director Tashi Namgyal said the people of Ladakh, along with the region’s spiritual institutions, would be deeply honoured to welcome the revered relics. He said the relics hold immense spiritual significance in Buddhist tradition as symbols of the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom, and their presence inspires devotion, strengthens community harmony and promotes peace. Namgyal stated that Ladakh is fully prepared to…

Leh ; Former Member of Parliament and ex-CEC of LAHDC Leh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (JTN) has urged the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, to reserve all tender works up to ₹20 crore exclusively for contractors registered under the Union Territory. JTN met the LG at the Secretariat in Leh and submitted an official representation on behalf of the Ladakh Contractors Association and other stakeholders, highlighting growing concerns over local contractors being edged out by outside bidders. The representation points out that the Gazette Notification issued on 18 September 2025, which limits contractor registration certificates to UT Ladakh, has…

The Watershed Mahotsav celebrations across Basgo, Chemday, and Saspol offer a powerful reminder of how community-led natural resource management can reshape Ladakh’s fragile terrain. What stood out this year was not just the impressive list of completed works—water reservoirs, I-khuls, greenhouses, land development, crop diversification, and livelihood units—but the visible ownership shown by villagers, students, and local institutions. https://youtube.com/shorts/i-9aF2wsl_A?feature=share These watershed interventions are doing more than conserving soil and water; they are reviving barren land, improving irrigation, creating livelihood avenues for women-led SHGs, and strengthening local food security. The presence of officials—from ACD to SDMs and Tehsildars—signals a governance model…

Leh: Ladakh Member of Parliament Mohmad Haneefa Jan today met Union Home Minister  Amit Shah and presented a comprehensive memorandum highlighting the pressing political, administrative and developmental concerns of the people of Ladakh. The extensive discussions covered multiple critical issues requiring immediate government intervention. The MP urged the immediate convening of the High Powered Committee to deliberate on the formal proposal submitted by Apex Leh and KDA Kargil representatives requesting full Statehood for Ladakh, constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, and other vital protections. Mohmad Haneefa emphasized that a prompt and transparent resolution would restore confidence among Ladakh’s residents and…

Leh: The University of Ladakh has postponed the interviews for Associate Professors and Assistant Professors, originally scheduled for December 5 and 6, 2025, following persistent pressure from the Ladakh Research Scholars Forum (LRSF). The official notice from the Office of the Registrar cited “unavoidable circumstances” and stated that the revised schedule would be announced later. The interviews were part of Advertisement No. 6 of 2023, issued on December 21, 2023. The postponement follows a Facebook post by LRSF Chief Coordinator Dr. Mutasif Hussain, who warned that the forum would be compelled to protest outside the Vice Chancellor’s office and residence…

The renaming of Ladakh’s Raj Niwas to Lok Niwas marks more than a change in signboard — it signals a shift in administrative philosophy. With the Union Home Ministry directing all Raj Bhavans anz̄d Raj Niwas across the country to adopt people-centric nomenclature, https://youtube.com/shorts/QVpZMQ2NDV4?feature=share Ladakh has embraced the transition with a message rooted in accessibility and inclusion. Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta’s decision underscores an important principle: governance must feel closer to the people it serves. Names matter in public institutions; they reflect intent. Lok Niwas conveys that the seat of power is not distant or exclusive, but an open space…

The Ladakh Pollution Control Committee (LPCC) convened a key review meeting in Leh on 26 November to strengthen Plastic Waste Management and accelerate the transition towards a Single-Use Plastic (SUP) free Ladakh. https://youtube.com/shorts/WB2aJMQGWGA?feature=share The meeting, chaired by Rajesh S., IFS, Additional PCCF/Chief Wildlife Warden and Member Secretary LPCC, brought together government departments, NGOs, market bodies, women’s groups, recycling operators and community stakeholders. District Officer LPCC Leh, Ruksana Parveen, presented the latest status of plastic waste generation, existing collection mechanisms, regulatory compliance under PWM Rules 2016, and identified critical gaps and challenges across both urban and rural areas. Discussions focused…

Leh: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has appointed senior IAS officer Ashish Kundra as the new Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh. His appointment will take effect from 1 January 2026, or from the date he assumes charge. https://youtube.com/shorts/Kq1T-oWLLDw?feature=share According to an order issued by the Ministry’s Union Territory Division, Kundra—an officer of the 1996 IAS batch—is currently serving as the Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Over the past two decades, he has held key administrative positions across Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli,…

Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta’s call for expanding Ladakh’s indoor sports infrastructure is timely and necessary. For years, young athletes across the UT—whether from Leh, Kargil, Zanskar, Nubra or Changthang—have struggled with limited facilities, unfinished stadiums and a lack of all-weather training spaces. In a region where harsh winters restrict outdoor activity for months, indoor sports infrastructure is not a luxury; it is essential. https://youtube.com/shorts/tTq9I0ztvdA?feature=share The concerns raised by sports associations reflect a long-standing gap between promises and delivery. The multipurpose hall in Leh remains underutilised, and athletes preparing for national events often train in substandard conditions. The Administration must ensure…

The recent visit of the Sheep Husbandry Department’s senior officials to Beema reflects a timely push to strengthen Ladakh’s shrinking livestock sector. Director Sheep Husbandry UT Ladakh Dr. Iftikhar Hussain, along with DSHO Leh Dr. Tsewang Morup and Deputy Director Pashmina Goat Project Upshi Dr. Tundup Namgail, inspected the upcoming prefabricated Sheep and Wool Development Centre and interacted with breeders from Dha, Beema and Sanit. The outreach highlighted both progress and persistent gaps. Breeders raised concerns over recurring skin infections, limited access to timely treatment and the urgent need for winter sheds at high-pasture sites. While the officers assured support…

Leh: Ladakhi cinema achieved a major breakthrough as the film project “Kakthet” (Idiot), directed by Stenzin Tankong, won the top prize in the Co-Production Features category at the NFDC Waves Film Bazaar, held alongside the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Produced by Ritu Sarin, Tenzing Sonam and Rajesh Thanickan, Kakthet secured a grant of USD 10,000, emerging as the leading project in its category. Paromita Dhar’s film “Ulta” (Madam) won the second prize with a USD 5,000 grant. Calling the win a “landmark moment for Ladakhi cinema”, producer Ritu Sarin said the project reflects a story…

Jammu:  Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday chaired a high-level security review meeting here, directing officials to take the “strongest possible action” against terror sympathisers and those trying to radicalise youth. He also asked officials to intensify intelligence-led operations against terrorists and concerted efforts to monitor digital platforms used by terror outfits for radicalisation and funding. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DGP Nalin Prabhat, Special Director General (Coordination), Police Headquarters, S J M Gillani, Principal Secretary (Home) Chandraker Bharti, and ADGP, CID, Nitish Kumar attended the meeting, an official spokesperson said. Addressing the meeting, the…

Jammu:  Union Minister G Kishan Reddy will lead the first-ever auction of limestone mineral blocks, which will be formally launched here on Monday with a roadshow, an official said. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary are also scheduled to attend the event, reflecting strong Centre-state partnership and the strategic importance of the initiative for the region, the official said. He said the milestone marks a significant step in advancing mining reforms introduced under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR Act) in 2015. It is also the first mining block auction…

Jammu:  A targeted strategy is needed to convert the rising pilgrim footfall in Jammu into longer tourist stays by promoting the region’s wider leisure, heritage, adventure and spiritual attractions beyond the main pilgrimage route, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has said. He stressed on proactive use of digital platforms and social media, including collaboration with influencers, to expand outreach and attract national as well as international tourists. Dulloo was chairing a meeting to review the works and initiatives undertaken by the Tourism Department for promoting and strengthening tourism across Jammu region here, an official spokesman said. He said the review focused…

Jammu:  Expressing concern over the underutilisation of the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) and Intelligent Traffic Light System (ITLS), a senior Jammu and Kashmir government official directed the traffic department on Sunday to make effective use of the technology in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said these systems were introduced to modernise traffic management through minimal human intervention and improve efficiency in enforcing traffic regulations. Dullloo said this while chairing a high-level meeting to review the implementation and status of the electronic enforcement systems for road safety across the Union Territory, with an…

Jammu:  Two landlords have been booked for allegedly failing to provide details of their tenants for their verification here on Sunday, police said. According to a police spokesperson, R S Pura police station received information that two house owners had accommodated tenants in their premises without ensuring their mandatory police verification. He said this act was in clear violation of the directions issued by the Jammu District Magistrate Rakesh Minhas, mandating all landlords to verify their tenants at the concerned police station before allowing them to stay. During preliminary inquiry, it was found that accused Mehmood Ahmed and Lekh Raj…