Context

• The Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the creation of 5 new districts in the Union Territory (UT) Ladakh.
• New districts: Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang
• Ladakh was made a Union Territory on August 5, 2019, after the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was split into two union territories. 

Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019:

• Articles 370 and 35A were repealed through the Act.
• The state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two union territories:
  • Jammu and Kashmir: This union territory will have an assembly, giving it some autonomy.
  • Ladakh: This union territory will be completely union-governed and have no assembly.

What was Article 370?

• Special Status: Article 370 distinguished Jammu and Kashmir from other states of India. Under this article, Jammu and Kashmir had its own constitution, and many central government laws did not apply to this state.
• Autonomy: This article provided greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. The state government could make its laws and was independent of interference by the central government.
• The subject of controversy: Article 370 has always been a subject of controversy. Some people believed that this article was leading to separatism in Jammu and Kashmir, while others believed that this article was necessary to protect the special identity of the state.

What was Article 35A?

• Rights of permanent residents: Article 35A provided special rights to the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Only permanent residents could buy property in the state, get government jobs and participate in the state assembly elections.
• Restrictions on outsiders: This article prevented outsiders from buying property or getting government jobs in the state.

Reasons behind the reorganisation:

• End of special status: Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed special status under Article 370 of the Constitution of India. Due to this special status, many laws of the central government did not apply to Jammu and Kashmir. With this reorganization, this special status was abolished.
• Accelerating development: The government believed that development in Jammu and Kashmir was being hampered due to the special status. Through this reorganization, the central government will be able to speed up development work in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Reducing regionalism: The problem of regionalism has been going on in Jammu and Kashmir for a long time. The government believed that this reorganization would reduce the problem of regionalism.

Important effects of reorganisation:

• Political change: This reorganization has completely changed the political scenario of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Booming development: The government has started many development projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Improvement in security situation: The government claims that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has improved after this reorganization.

Recent major demands of Ladakh:

• Statehood: The people of Ladakh want to be given the status of a full-fledged state instead of a Union Territory. This will give them more autonomy and more control over local issues.
• Inclusion in the Sixth Schedule: The tribes of Ladakh are demanding inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. This will help them protect their land, resources and culture. Inclusion in the Sixth Schedule will promote local self-governance in Ladakh and give rights to tribal communities.