Ladakh celebrated the 10th edition of dPal rNgam Duston 2026 at the historic Leh Palace on August 5, marking the seventh anniversary of the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The celebrations showcased Ladakh's rich cultural heritage through traditional performances and reaffirmed the region's identity, unity and aspirations.
Congratulating the people of Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena described the occasion as the fulfilment of the long-standing aspirations of the people under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor announced the conferment of the dPal rNgam Award 2026 on His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa Rinpoche in recognition of his outstanding contributions to health, education, gender equality, environmental conservation and heritage preservation.

He also announced the dPal rNgam Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 for Late Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, Maha Vir Chakra, honouring his exceptional courage, distinguished military service and enduring contribution to the nation.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor described August 5 as a defining moment in Ladakh's history and said dPal rNgam Duston has evolved into a celebration of Ladakh's identity, culture, resilience and collective aspirations while symbolising unity among its people.

"The journey of Ladakh as a Union Territory has been one of transformation, resilience and collective progress. Our endeavour has been to build an inclusive, sustainable and future-ready Ladakh while preserving its unique cultural identity and fragile ecology. The remarkable achievements across governance, infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, education, environment and sports reflect the collective efforts of our people and the unwavering support of the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As we move towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, we remain committed to building a prosperous, peaceful and self-reliant Ladakh that offers equal opportunities to every citizen," the Lieutenant Governor said.

Highlighting Ladakh's transformation over the past seven years, Saxena said the UT Administration has focused on decentralised governance, sustainable development and improved public service delivery. Lieutenant Governor highlighted the development in various sectors/areas in Ladakh after becoming the Union Territory:

The Lieutenant Governor further stated that Ladakh has emerged as one of the country's leading examples of environmentally sustainable development. He highlighted the ban on chemical fertilisers as part of the vision to make Ladakh India's largest certified organic region, the launch of Project Him Sarovar for water conservation, the Green Ladakh Campaign, restoration of degraded land and the promotion of renewable energy through solar and geothermal initiatives.