Kargil, October 16: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has announced the creation of Sankoo as a new district, marking a major administrative development for the Kargil region and fulfilling a long-standing demand of local residents.
The announcement was made by the Lieutenant Governor during a public rally in Sankoo. He said the decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”
Saxena acknowledged the contributions of Anjuman-e-Sahib Zaman, led by Chief Patron Syed Mohammad Razvi, also known as Aga Migi Outh, and Chairman Sheikh Sadiq Balaghi. He also credited LAHDC Kargil Chief Executive Councillor Dr Jaffer Akhoon, Member of Parliament Mohammad Haneefa Jan, and former CEC Tashi Gyalson for their efforts towards the demand.
Congratulating those who had worked for the creation of the district, the LG described the announcement as an important step towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Sankoo and surrounding areas.
The demand for a separate Sankoo district has been raised for years, with residents and local representatives highlighting the region’s population, geographical spread and distance from existing administrative headquarters. They believe a separate district will improve access to government services, strengthen local administration and make governance more accessible to the public.
Earlier, in March 2026, a delegation from Kargil met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought the creation of Sankoo and Shakar-Chiktan districts as part of Ladakh’s proposed administrative reorganisation.
In April 2026, Ladakh announced five new districts — Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass — as part of a major administrative restructuring.
With Sankoo becoming the sixth new district announced under the reorganisation plan, Ladakh’s total number of districts is expected to rise from two to eight once the new districts are formally notified and operationalised.
The development is expected to bring administrative services closer to residents and strengthen governance across the region.
Ladakh Announces Sankoo as New District; Kargil Set for Administrative Reorganisation
