Srinagar: In a significant move aimed at addressing long-standing demands from local stakeholders, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday announced a comprehensive policy overhaul for the Union Territory of Ladakh. The changes cover government job reservations, domicile eligibility, official languages, and political representation in the region’s hill councils.
As part of the new recruitment framework, 85% of government job vacancies in Ladakh will now be reserved for members of Scheduled Tribes (STs). This includes 80% reservation for STs, 4% for residents near the Actual Line of Control (ALC)/Line of Control (LoC), and 1% for Scheduled Castes (SCs). The new policy explicitly excludes quotas for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) under the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act.
In terms of domicile status, only those who have resided continuously in Ladakh for 15 years since October 31, 2019, will be eligible. The MHA has notified “The Ladakh Civil Services Decentralization and Recruitment – Grant of Domicile Certificate (Procedure) Rules, 2025,” which lays out five categories of eligibility. These include:
Individuals with a Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC) and their children,
Children of Ladakh residents living outside the UT for work or business,
Persons who have studied in Ladakh for at least seven years and appeared for Class 10 or 12 exams from a local school since 2019,
Children of central government officials who have served in Ladakh for 10 years post-2019,
And long-term residents who meet the 15-year criteria.
Residents who moved to Ladakh after the abrogation of Article 370 will only become eligible for domicile status in 2034, once they meet the 15-year requirement.
Further, in a first for the region, one-third of all seats in Ladakh’s hill councils will be reserved for women.
The notification also establishes five official languages for the Union Territory: Hindi, English, Urdu, Bhoti, and Purgi.
These policy decisions were finalized during a High-Powered Committee (HPC) meeting held on May 27, 2025, between MHA officials and representatives from the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance.
According to MHA sources, these measures are intended to protect the unique identity, culture, and employment rights of Ladakh’s indigenous population while ensuring fair administrative procedures in recruitment and governance.
