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Ladakh to elect hill councils on December 4 in first polls since six new districts were created
Why in News?
Ladakh has Hill Councils but no legislature: the Leh-Kargil polity point Prelims statements test
Ladakh's hill council elections are set for December 4.
Why it matters: GS-2 core
What you need to know
2 min read
Ladakh will elect its Autonomous Hill Development Councils on December 4.
These are the first council polls since six new districts were created in the Union Territory.
The Leh and Kargil councils are the local self-governing bodies of the region, while Ladakh itself has no legislature.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections are set for December 4
- These are the first council polls since six new districts were created in the Union Territory
- Leh and Kargil each have an Autonomous Hill Development Council
- Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature in October 2019
- The Leh council was set up in 1995 and the Kargil council in 2003
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- Leh and Kargil each have an Autonomous Hill Development Council, the local self-governing body of the district.
- Ladakh is a Union Territory without a legislature, so it has no legislative assembly of its own.
- The Hill Development Councils are the elected local bodies through which Ladakh's districts govern local development.
Mains
GS Paper 2 (Polity and Governance): Ladakh is a Union Territory with no legislature, so the Hill Councils are its only elected self-governing bodies. Their powers come from statute, not from the Sixth Schedule, and the creation of six new districts raises questions about how their jurisdiction and funds are organised. The way forward is clear devolution of powers, adequate finances and a settled arrangement that protects local representation.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Consider the following statements about Ladakh:
- Leh and Kargil each have an Autonomous Hill Development Council.
- Ladakh is a Union Territory with its own elected legislative assembly.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: A — Correct: 1 only — The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils exist for Leh and Kargil; Ladakh, however, has no legislature. • 2 only — wrong: '2 only' fails: statement 2 is wrong because Ladakh is a Union Territory without a legislature, and statement 1 is correct. • Both 1 and 2 — wrong: 'Both' fails because statement 2 is wrong: Ladakh has had no legislature since becoming a Union Territory. • Neither 1 nor 2 — wrong: 'Neither' fails because statement 1 is correct: both Leh and Kargil have Hill Development Councils.
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