52 Ladakh Villages Near Border Declared Reserved Areas
The administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has officially designated 52 villages located near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Leh and Kargil districts as “reserved areas,” bringing them under the ambit of enhanced benefits in public employment and education. This step follows the implementation of the Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Rules, 2025, under the broader Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Act provisions that are now aligned with central legislation.
The newly designated villages include 18 in Leh district and 34 in Kargil district, all of which are situated in border zones that have long faced geographic and infrastructural disadvantages. By declaring these as reserved areas, the Ladakh government has enabled the residents to avail of 4% reservation in government jobs meant for people living near the border.
Expanded Quota Matrix for Inclusion
The updated reservation policy for Ladakh now includes:
- 80% reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs)
- 1% for Scheduled Castes (SCs)
- 4% for residents of border villages
- 10% for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)
Additionally, horizontal reservations include 6% for ex-servicemen and 4% for persons with benchmark disabilities, ensuring that underrepresented sections across categories are accommodated.
Recommendations and Implementation
The restructuring of the reservation framework follows recommendations submitted by a one-member commission headed by Justice Bansi Lal Bhat, which completed its review in December 2024. The implementation will follow a 100-point roster system across departments, ensuring transparency and fairness in recruitment and promotions.
Bridging Development Gaps in Border Regions
Ladakh’s move comes with significant strategic and social implications. Many of these villages face extreme weather, challenging terrain, and limited access to public services. The reservation designation is aimed at uplifting these communities by offering improved access to jobs, education, and state benefits, thereby addressing both social equity and national security considerations.
With the notification now in effect, administrative departments have been instructed to apply the new reservation rules across public service recruitments, reflecting Ladakh’s efforts to bring its local policies in line with central norms like the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
