Article 371(K) Proposed for Ladakh

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs proposed a new constitutional provision, described as Chapter K under Article 371, for Ladakh on 9 September 2026 in a sub-committee meeting in New Delhi. The proposal relates to a directly elected Union Territory-level governing body for Ladakh and to subjects such as land, culture, language, forests, environment, and other matters linked with Article 240 of the Constitution.

Article 371 in the Constitution of India

Article 371 is part of the Constitution of India and contains special provisions for certain States and regions. The article has multiple clauses, including Article 371A for Nagaland, Article 371B for Assam, Article 371C for Manipur, Article 371D for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and Article 371G for Mizoram.

Constitutional Provisions for Union Territories

Article 240 of the Constitution empowers the President to make regulations for certain Union Territories. The proposed Ladakh body was linked to subjects reserved under Article 240, which includes administrative control over local matters in Union Territory arrangements.

Ladakh’s Political and Administrative Demands

Leh Apex Body, Kargil Democratic Alliance, and Ladakh representatives attended the meeting with officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ladakhi delegation sought safeguards before any major administrative change or land transfer, and it continued to demand full Statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for tribal areas.

Important Facts for Exams

• Article 371 contains special constitutional provisions for selected States and regions in India.
• Article 240 deals with the President’s power to make regulations for certain Union Territories.
• The Sixth Schedule provides for autonomous district councils in tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
• Ladakh became a Union Territory on 31 October 2019 after the reorganisation of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Negotiations and Pending Issues

The Ministry of Home Affairs deferred decisions on executive, financial, planning, and law-and-order powers for the proposed body. The next round of talks between the Ministry and the Ladakh sub-committee is scheduled in Kargil in the first week of October 2026.

Recent Meeting-Related Developments

UT Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra described the meeting as positive, while Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance leaders described it as very disappointing. The Ministry also agreed to prepare a compensation package for persons killed or injured in the 24 September 2025 violence in Leh and to review the withdrawal of criminal cases against 80 protesters.