Contex:
In a significant move toward addressing the long-standing demands of Ladakh’s civil society, recently, multiple regulations were notified by President Droupadi Murmu, covering key aspects of governance: reservation in government jobs, official languages, domicile criteria, and the functioning of the region’s autonomous hill councils.
Key rules and regulation:
1. Domicile Criteria:
According to the new policy:
- Non-native individuals, including the children of Central government employees, must prove 15 years of continuous residence in Ladakh since October 31, 2019 (the UT's foundation day) to qualify as domiciles.
2. Job Reservation: Up to 95% for Locals
The Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025, brings in some of the most generous job reservation quotas in the country:
- 85% of government job vacancies are now reserved for Ladakh residents, with a further breakdown to be clarified in subsequent Rules.
- Scheduled Tribes (STs), which make up nearly 80% of Ladakh’s 2.74 lakh population, are expected to receive 80% of the job quota.
- Other categories include:
- 4% for residents along the Line of Actual Control/Line of Control
- 1% for Scheduled Castes (SCs)
- 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)
- With these allocations, the total reservation could reach 95%, making it one of the highest in India, surpassing even states like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
3. Gender Inclusion:
For the first time, one-third of seats in Ladakh’s Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) have been reserved for women:
- The reservation will apply on a rotational basis, ensuring representation from across constituencies over time.
- This aligns with broader efforts across India to increase women’s participation in politics and governance, especially in tribal and remote areas.
4. Official Languages:
In recognition of Ladakh’s cultural and linguistic mosaic, the Ladakh Official Languages Regulation, 2025 declares five official languages for administrative use:
- English
- Hindi
- Urdu
- Bhoti (a classical Tibetan language)
- Purgi (spoken in Kargil and surrounding regions)
Background:
The new regulations come against the backdrop of massive public mobilization and civil society activism in Ladakh following the 2019 reorganization:
With four primary demands:
1. Statehood for Ladakh
2. Sixth Schedule inclusion (granting special tribal status)
3. Reservation in employment
4. Parliamentary seats for both Leh and Kargil
The recent reforms address the third demand substantially but stop short of statehood or Sixth Schedule inclusion—which continue to be key demands of civil groups like the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).
Conclusion:
The Union government’s move to legislate domicile and reservation rules in Ladakh is a landmark step in administrative devolution and tribal empowerment. By prioritizing employment for local communities and acknowledging Ladakh’s linguistic diversity, it attempts to respond to grassroots concerns.
