Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Centre Seeks Details on Proposed Ladakh Governance Body
The Centre and Ladakh representatives are discussing how Ladakh should be governed.
The Centre asked what a new Union Territory-level body should be called.
It also asked who would be part of it and how representatives would be chosen.
The proposed body could have executive and financial powers.
Officials are also discussing how its powers would be shared with Ladakh’s existing hill development councils.
The Centre has suggested adding a new constitutional provision called Article 371(K).
Under the proposal, Ladakh would not become a state.
It would also not become a Union Territory with its own legislature.
The constitutional change would need Parliament’s approval.
The Ministry of Home Affairs asked Ladakh representatives about a proposed Union Territory-level legislative and governance body.
Questions covered the body’s name, composition, representation and division of powers with the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils.
The proposed body would have executive and financial powers, according to the ministry’s questions.
The discussions took place during a September 9 meeting between ministry officials and Ladakh representatives.
The Centre has offered a new constitutional provision, Article 371(K), while ruling out both statehood and a Union Territory legislature for Ladakh.
- Who
- Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and representatives from Ladakh.
- What
- They are negotiating a proposed Union Territory-level governance body and possible constitutional protections for Ladakh.
- When
- The questions were raised at a meeting held on September 9.
- Where
- The meeting concerned governance of the Union Territory of Ladakh; the article does not specify the meeting location.
- Why
- The discussions are focused on governance, land rights and constitutional protections for Ladakh.
- Proposed constitutional provision
- Article 371(K)
- Proposed body
- A Union Territory-level governance body with executive and financial powers
- Issues under discussion
- Name, composition, representation and distribution of powers
- Existing institutions
- Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils
- Meeting date
- September 9
- Statehood proposal
- The arrangement would not grant Ladakh statehood
- Legislature proposal
- The arrangement would not give Ladakh the status of a Union Territory with a legislature
- Approval required
- The proposed constitutional amendment would require Parliament’s approval