Sixth Schedule
Tribal Area Protection
The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (Articles 244(2) and 275(1)) provides for the creation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. These councils have legislative, executive, and judicial powers over tribal matters (land management, forests, use of waterways, social customs). Ladakh's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule would grant similar autonomy to protect tribal land rights and cultural identity.
- Sixth Schedule currently applies to: Assam (Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Chakma), Meghalaya (Garo, Khasi, Jaintia Hills), Tripura, Mizoram (Chakma, Mara, Lai)
- Provides for Autonomous District Councils with powers to make laws on specified matters (subject to Governor's approval)
- ADC laws override state legislation in specified matters
- Ladakh is home to Schedule Tribe (ST) communities (Scheduled Tribes since 1989); Ladakhis argue Sixth Schedule would protect tribal land rights from outside encroachment
- Fear: Without Sixth Schedule protection, Ladakh's land and demographic character could be altered through migration from rest of India (no "domicile" protection since Article 35A was also abrogated with Article 370)
- Article 35A (pre-2019): protected J&K residents' exclusive rights to property — its abrogation removed the key protection Ladakhis had
● Tracked since March 12, 2026 · last seen May 24, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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