The administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has officially notified specific villages as “Areas Adjoining the Actual Line of Control (ALC)” under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, as amended by the Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025. This declaration, published in the Official Gazette of Ladakh, will enable residents of these designated areas to avail reservation benefits as per the revised Ladakh Reservation Rules.
According to the notification, 18 revenue villages in Leh district located along the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC), and 34 revenue villages in Kargil district situated along the LoC, have been notified as ALC areas. Officials stated that this long-awaited move addresses a key concern for many border residents, who have been seeking official recognition and support through reservation benefits.
The decision follows a detailed process initiated by the Ladakh Administration, which appointed a One-Member Commission under the chairmanship of Justice (Retired) Bansi Lal Bhat, former Judge of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The Commission was tasked with identifying villages and hamlets situated along the ALC for the purpose of inclusion under the reservation policy. After submitting its final report in December 2024, an Internal Committee reviewed the findings and recommended the list of areas, which has now been officially accepted by the UT administration.
A day prior to this notification, the Ladakh administration also introduced a fresh recruitment and reservation policy through the issuance of the Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Rules, 2025. These amendments restructure the reservation quotas and recruitment procedures to align with central legislations, particularly the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal highlighted that the revised rules aim to update outdated legal terminology, streamline the recruitment process, and ensure that reservation quotas reflect contemporary socio-economic realities. Under the amended rules for direct recruitment, the reservation quotas include one percent for Scheduled Castes (SCs), 80 percent for Scheduled Tribes (STs), four percent for residents of ALC areas, and 10 percent for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
Horizontal reservations have also been restructured to provide six percent reservation for ex-servicemen and four percent for persons with benchmark disabilities, subdivided in accordance with definitions under the Disabilities Act.
Michael D’Souza, Secretary of the General Administration Department, announced further procedural reforms. The preparation of select lists will now follow a structured three-list approach to ensure transparency, incorporating unreserved and reserved categories, horizontal reservations, and merit-based seniority. Additionally, unfilled EWS vacancies will be converted into unreserved slots, and backlogs in reserved categories will be maintained and monitored.
The amended rules also revise the roster management system, introducing a 100-point running roster for every service, cadre, and grade. For promotions, amended Rule 9 now provides one percent reservation for SCs and 84 percent for STs.
These measures, the administration claims, mark a significant milestone in redressing long-pending demands of Ladakh’s youth and ensuring that recruitment and reservation policies are equitable and legally robust.
