Ladakh (Union Territory)
The high, cold desert that became a separate Union Territory in 2019, with two divisions and eight districts.
What the paper can ask
- Union Territory since 31 October 2019, without a legislative assembly; headed by a Lieutenant Governor.
- Largest UT by area (about 59,146 sq km) and second least populous; the black-necked crane is its state bird.
- Five new districts (Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, Drass) were approved on 27 April 2026, taking the count from two to seven. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- A September 2025 protest led by Sonam Wangchuk demanded full statehood.
Latest
Sankoo in the Suru valley was notified as Ladakh's eighth district on 16 October 2026; on 21 October the Hill Council constituencies were raised from 52 to 100 across eight councils; the first High Court bench in Ladakh opened at Leh on 18 October 2026.
Why exams ask
The UT date, the number of districts, the newest district, the High Court bench city and the Hill Councils are asked.
The full story
Ladakh became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019 under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, without a legislature; a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President runs it. Leh and Kargil are its two divisions and both serve as capitals, each with an elected Autonomous Hill Development Council.
In the news
Test yourself
1.The Hemis festival in Ladakh honours which Buddhist teacher?
Correct. The Hemis festival at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh is dedicated to Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche).
Not quite. The Hemis festival at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh is dedicated to Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche). It goes into your error book.