Author: The Dispatch Staff

Leh, September 26, 2026: As part of Ladakh Festival 2026, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance Department, UT Ladakh, Shri Tsewang Tharchin, today inaugurated the Handicrafts, Handlooms, Local Cuisine & Chang-Khang Exhibition at Municipal Committee Park, Leh Market.He was accompanied by Secretary, Tourism & Culture, UT Ladakh, Shri Sanjit Rodrigues; Director Tourism, Smt. Tashi Dolma; Deputy Director Tourism, Shri Mohd Taqi; Deputy Secretary Culture, Shri Tsewang Paljor, besides other officers and officials.The Commissioner/Secretary, along with the other dignitaries, visited the exhibition stalls and interacted with exhibitors, reviewing a wide range of traditional handicrafts, handlooms, local cuisine and cultural products showcasing the rich heritage of…

Leh, September 26, 2026: As part of Ladakh Festival 2026, a three-day Traditional Archery Tournament commenced today at Shenam Gongma Ground, Leh, bringing together archers from all seven districts of Ladakh.The tournament was inaugurated by Smt. Bhanu Prabha, IAS, Administrative Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, UT Ladakh, along with Smt. Tashi Dolma, JKAS, Director, Tourism & Culture, UT Ladakh. Shri Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Culture Department, UT Ladakh, and Shri Mohd Taqi, JKAS, Deputy Director, Tourism & Culture, UT Ladakh, were also present.The dignitaries lit the traditional lamp and participated in an introductory archery session, marking the…

Nubra, September 26, 2026: The second quarterly meeting of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) was held today under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Nubra, Shri Mukul Beniwal, IAS.The meeting discussed various issues related to the functioning of the RKS, with particular focus on the availability and sources of RKS funds, utilisation of funds and expenditure proposed for the upcoming quarter.Block Medical Officer (BMO), Nubra, delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation covering the agenda items and proposed expenditure. The Deputy Commissioner reviewed the proposals and emphasised the need for prudent, transparent and effective utilisation of RKS funds to strengthen healthcare services and…

Leh, September 26, 2026: A one-day training session on the filling of the Village Directory (VD) and Town Directory (TD) Schedules under the District Census Handbook (DCHB) for Census 2027 was conducted at the DC Office, Leh.The training was imparted by Shri Jatinder Kumar, AD & Nodal Officer for UT Ladakh, and Shri Tashi Otsal, District Census Coordinator, UT Ladakh. The session was attended by District Census Charge Officers from various tehsils, field functionaries and Technical Assistants.During the training, detailed presentations were delivered on key concepts and requirements of the District Census Handbook. The Nodal Officer emphasised the importance of…

Leh, September 26, 2026: As part of the ongoing Ladakh Festival 2026, a grand Cultural Parade was organised from historic Karzu Zing, culminating at the historic Leh Polo Ground, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and vibrant traditions of Ladakh.The colourful procession featured traditional music, folk dances, traditional mask dance (Cham) and diverse cultural representations from different parts of Ladakh. Artists, cultural groups and local communities came together to showcase the region’s unique cultural identity through vibrant performances, traditional costumes and music.Administrative Secretary, Tourism & Culture, UT Ladakh, Shri Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, also participated in the parade, joining artists and community…

Leh, September 26, 2026: As part of the ongoing Ladakh Festival 2026, an astronomy experience and stargazing session was organised at Shanti Stupa, Leh, offering tourists, astronomy enthusiasts and visitors an opportunity to explore the night sky under the guidance of expert astronomers.The session featured guided stargazing and interactive insights into celestial objects, constellations and other astronomical phenomena. Participants observed the spectacular night sky while learning about the unique astronomical significance of Ladakh’s clear, high-altitude and pollution-free skies.The event attracted tourists and stargazing enthusiasts, providing them with an engaging and memorable experience of observing and understanding the wonders of the…

Leh/Jammu, Sept 25 : Ladakh Traffic Police has adopted a new white uniform, replacing its earlier sky-blue attire, following approval from Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, officials said.The change has been introduced to improve the visibility of traffic personnel and give the force a smart, neat and uniform appearance while performing duties on roads across the Union territory, officials said.The earlier sky-blue attire closely resembled the uniform of several local schools, at times making traffic personnel less distinguishable from the crowd, they said.The white uniform is expected to provide the traffic police a more distinctive visual identity and enhance their…

Leh/Jammu, Sept 25: Ladakh Festival 2026, to begin Saturday, will showcase the region’s rich cultural heritage alongside traditional and contemporary art forms from across the country, with preparations for the three-day event completed, officials said on its eve.Briefing mediapersons, Secretary Tourism and Culture, Ladakh, Sanjit Rodrigues said the festival has been designed to provide a wider national platform to Ladakh’s cultural traditions while bringing together artists and cultural troupes from different parts of India.”Our annual Ladakh festival begins tomorrow. The festival will be inaugurated at 7:00 pm by the Lt Governor. This time, we have expanded the cultural component of…

LADAKH’S BIG EDUCATION LEAP!Leh, September 25: A major step towards expanding quality higher education in Ladakh has been announced with the UT Administration signing an MoU with IIM Jammu to establish a Satellite Campus in Leh.Highlighting the development, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, described it as a significant milestone that will bring world-class management education closer to the youth of Ladakh.The response from students has already been strong, with more than 600 registrations received for 60 BBA seats in the first phase.According to the LG, the entire process of setting up the campus has been completed in just…

Director School Education Reviews CBSE Expert-Led Classes at DIET LehLeh, September 25: Director School Education Tsering Paldan (JKAS) inspected the CBSE expert-led classes being conducted at the DIET Leh Centre, reviewing the academic support being provided to students ahead of the Board examinations.The Director interacted with students attending classes in Economics, Physics and Chemistry and sought their feedback on the sessions. He urged students to make full use of the specialised guidance being provided by CBSE subject experts.During the interaction, Paldan stressed the importance of conceptual clarity, active classroom participation, regular revision and consistent practice for effective Board examination preparation.He…

LG Yuva Internship Programme “Zhabstok Ladakh” Orientation Held at DIC LehLeh, September 25, 2026: An Introductory-cum-Orientation Programme for youth interns under the LG Yuva Internship Programme “Zhabstok Ladakh” was held today at the Conference Hall of the District Industries Centre (DIC), Leh.Launched by the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh, the programme aims to provide young interns with practical exposure to government functioning, public administration and implementation of government schemes and programmes.The programme was chaired by Director, Industries & Commerce, UT Ladakh, Sh. Sonam Norbo, JKAS, in the presence of General Manager, DIC Leh, Sh. Jigmet Raftan, JKAS, OSD…

LEH, September 21, 2026: Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, today interacted with students of EJM College and the University of Ladakh at EJM College, Leh, in a comprehensive session focused on emerging technologies, career opportunities, skill development, entrepreneurship and leadership in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.The programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by a welcome address by Principal, EJM College, Stanzin Yangdol, who highlighted the institution’s contribution to higher education and youth development in Ladakh. She also briefed the gathering on the college’s academic legacy, newly introduced programmes, academic initiatives and hostel facilities.The…

ZANSKAR, September 21, 2026: Administrative Secretary for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Social & Tribal Welfare and Civil Aviation, UT Ladakh, Nidhi Malik, today visited Government Degree College (GDC) Zanskar during her maiden visit to the institution and interacted with students and faculty members.The programme was organised under the guidance of Principal, GDC Zanskar, Dr Amjad Ali Abassi. On her arrival, In-charge Principal Dr Mohammad Hussain, Senior Assistant Professor, welcomed Nidhi Malik with traditional khataks.The programme commenced with a detailed PowerPoint presentation highlighting the college’s academic activities, achievements, skill-based initiatives and ongoing programmes. Dr Mohammad Hussain also briefed the Administrative…

KHALTSI, September 21, 2026: A two-day State-Level Archery Competition commenced today at the Cricket Ground, Khaltsi, with young archers representing seven districts of Ladakh participating in the event.The competition is being organised by the Youth Services & Sports Department, Leh, as part of National Sports Day 2026 and Youth Engagement Month, being observed from August 29 to September 29. The event aims to promote sports, encourage youth participation and provide emerging athletes with competitive exposure at the state level.The competition was inaugurated in the presence of Sh. Ataullah Khan, I/C SDM Khaltsi, who attended the event as Chief Guest. He…

KARGIL, September 21, 2026: The Finance Department, UT Ladakh, today commenced a week-long Training-cum-Orientation Programme for newly appointed Accounts Assistants at the Conference Hall, Baroo. The programme is being conducted simultaneously in Kargil and Leh to familiarise the new entrants with government accounting, budgeting and financial procedures.Addressing the inaugural session, Joint Director Finance Iftikhar Hussain welcomed the newly appointed Accounts Assistants and highlighted the crucial role of the Finance Department in the functioning of the Administration. He stressed that delays in financial processes can affect the functioning of the entire system, making accuracy, efficiency and timely disposal of financial matters…

LEH, September 21, 2026: Ladakh Police organised a UT-level Training-cum-Workshop for banks and financial institutions at the Conference Hall, Police Headquarters, Ladakh, to strengthen coordination and improve the response to cybercrime and financial fraud cases.The workshop was organised following an interaction between Ladakh Police and bank representatives, during which officials sought dedicated training on cybercrime-related mechanisms and portals.Around 22 bank officials participated physically at Police Headquarters, Leh, while more than 20 officials from Kargil, Drass, Zanskar and Nubra joined through video conferencing from respective District Police Headquarters.Addressing the workshop, Shri Anand Jain, IPS, Director General of Police, Ladakh, stressed the…

ZANSKAR, September 21, 2026: ICDS Project Zanskar, under the Social and Tribal Welfare Department, organised a Nutrition Awareness Programme as part of the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah, being observed from September 9 to October 8, 2026.The programme was held under the guidance of Ms. Nidhi Malik, IAS, Administrative Secretary, RDD/STW, who attended the event and interacted with Anganwadi Workers. The programme focused on strengthening awareness about balanced and nutritious food for children and promoting healthy dietary practices at the community level.All Anganwadi Workers of ICDS Project Zanskar participated in the programme and showcased a variety of nutritious and traditional local…

Leh, September 19, 2026: The Prison Department, UT Ladakh, in collaboration with Fairgun Foundation NGO, organised a two-day anti-drug awareness programme at the Multipurpose Hall of District Jail Leh under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.Students and teachers from Government Higher Secondary School Boys, Leh; Government Higher Secondary School Girls, Leh; Lamdon School; and Ladakh Public School participated in the programme, which focused on sensitising young people about the dangers and consequences of substance abuse.A key feature of the programme was the participation of inmates of District Jail Leh, who shared their personal experiences and spoke about the damaging impact of…

Leh, September 19, 2026: Work has commenced to pave unpaved stretches along major roads and footpaths in Leh city, following directions issued by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh V.K. Saxena during his initial visit to the city.The initiative is being undertaken alongside the ongoing redevelopment of Old City Leh, with the objective of improving the overall appearance and functionality of important urban stretches.The paving of unpaved areas is expected to help reduce dust generation, improve pedestrian movement and contribute to a cleaner and healthier urban environment for residents, visitors and tourists.Officials said the initiative will also complement the broader efforts to…

Leh, September 19, 2026: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena has described the performance of five innovative rock check dams constructed along the Sindhu River and its tributaries as encouraging, terming the pilot initiative a potential long-term solution for strengthening water security and agricultural sustainability in Ladakh.According to the Lieutenant Governor, construction of the five cost-effective and eco-friendly rock check dams began on May 27, 2026, when water flow in the river was around 20 cusecs. The structures were completed within four months using locally sourced boulders from the riverbed, without the use of cement, concrete or steel.During peak…