The changes in the policies of the reservation in jobs, autonomous councils and domicile will come into effect immediately, according to multiple notifications issued by the government.
New Delhi:
The central government has announced new reservation and domicile policies for the Union Territory of Ladakh, reserving 85% of government jobs for local residents and ensuring greater representation for women in local governance. The new rules, aimed at addressing long-standing concerns among Ladakhis over their cultural and territorial identity, will come into immediate effect, according to official notifications issued on Tuesday.
As part of the changes, the government has amended job reservation policies and provisions in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) Act, 1997. At least one-third of the total seats in both the Leh and Kargil Hill Councils will now be reserved for women, with constituencies rotating based on their official serial numbers.
The domicile policy defines eligible residents as those who have lived in Ladakh for at least 15 years or studied there for seven years and appeared for Class 10 or 12 board exams in institutions located within the UT. Additionally, children of central government employees, All India Services officers, employees of public sector undertakings, banks, autonomous bodies, and research institutions who have served in Ladakh for 10 years will also qualify for domicile status.
The reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) will continue at the existing 10% quota.
These steps come amid ongoing demands from the people of Ladakh for constitutional safeguards following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which led to the formation of the Union Territory. Residents have consistently voiced concerns over the protection of their land, culture, language, and employment rights.
A high-level committee led by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai was formed in January 2023 to address these concerns. The committee has since held multiple rounds of dialogue with local stakeholders. The issue gained further national attention in October 2024, when climate activist Sonam Wangchuk launched an indefinite fast in Delhi, pressing for constitutional safeguards. This was followed by meetings between civil society leaders from Ladakh and the central government on December 3, 2024, January 15, and most recently, May 27, 2025.
The newly notified rules are seen as a significant step toward addressing local anxieties and strengthening Ladakh’s political and cultural framework within the Indian Union.
