Ladakh: The Centre's Draft for a Legislature Under Article 371 and a New District, Sankoo
A sub-committee of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) gave a detailed draft proposal to Ladakh's two main civil society groups, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), during talks held in Leh in mid-October 2026.
The draft offers Ladakh a legislature (an elected law-making body) while it stays a Union Territory (UT). This body would have financial, executive and administrative powers over land, culture, language, forests, natural resources and the environment.
These protections would be given through a new special provision under Article 371 of the Constitution (reported as "Article 371K"), described as a sui generis model (one of its own kind, not copied from any other region). This would need a constitutional amendment passed by Parliament.
LAB and KDA said there is a big gap between this offer and their demands. Their demands have been statehood, protection under the Sixth Schedule, a separate Public Service Commission and a second Lok Sabha seat. The next round of talks is fixed for 22 October 2026 in New Delhi.
Separately, on 16 October 2026, the Ladakh administration approved Sankoo (carved out of Kargil district) as Ladakh's eighth district, along with five new tehsils (taking the total to 37). In April 2026, five new districts (Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass) had already been notified.
The two steps together show a two-level approach: a bigger constitutional package for the region, and smaller administrative units so that government offices come closer to people living in remote areas.
Article 371: Special Provisions for Certain States
Article 371 and its sister articles, 371A to 371J, are special rules in the Constitution made for particular states or regions. They give these places extra protection or special arrangements that other states do not have. These may protect tribal customs and land, create development boards for backward regions, or reserve local jobs and college seats for local people. Today, these articles cover 12 states, from Maharashtra and Gujarat to Nagaland and Sikkim.
The Centre's draft offers Ladakh a legislature with powers over land, culture, language, forests and resources, protected by a new Article 371 provision (reported as 371K). This would be the first time Article 371 is used to protect a Union Territory. Ladakh's groups, however, still prefer the stronger shield of the Sixth Schedule or statehood.
Sixth Schedule: Autonomous District Councils
The Sixth Schedule is a part of the Constitution that gives self-rule to tribal areas in four north-eastern states: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. It creates Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), which are elected local bodies. These councils can make laws on land, forests, customs, marriage and inheritance, run their own village courts and collect some taxes. In simple words, the Sixth Schedule lets tribal people largely govern their own areas under the umbrella of the state and the Constitution.
Ladakh's groups have long asked for Sixth Schedule protection, which would give elected councils real power over land and customs. The Centre's new draft does not offer the Sixth Schedule. It offers a UT legislature protected under Article 371 instead, which is why LAB and KDA say a big gap remains before the 22 October talks.
Constitutional Framework for Union Territories (Part VIII, Articles 239–241)
A Union Territory (UT) is an area governed directly by the Central Government through an Administrator (called Lieutenant Governor in some UTs), appointed by the President. The rules are in Part VIII of the Constitution, Articles 239 to 241. Some UTs have their own elected legislature (Delhi, Puducherry, Jammu and Kashmir), while others, like Ladakh, do not. Parliament can create a legislature for a UT by law under Article 239A.
Today Ladakh is run directly by the Centre through the Lieutenant Governor, with no elected legislature. The Centre's draft would give it a legislature while it stays a UT, which could be done through a law of Parliament (as with Puducherry) combined with a new Article 371 shield. The new Sankoo district is a separate administrative step taken by the UT administration under its existing powers.
- Ladakh: UT without a legislature since 31 October 2019 (J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019)
- Districts: Leh and Kargil (original 2); Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, Drass (notified April 2026); Sankoo (October 2026); total 8
- Tehsils in Ladakh after October 2026: 37
- MHA draft: UT legislature with powers over land, culture, language, forests, natural resources and environment; new Article 371 provision (reported as 371K)
- Talks: in-principle understanding on a UT legislature with Article 371 safeguards on 22 May 2026; MHA proposal on 9 September 2026; next round on 22 October 2026 in New Delhi
- LAB and KDA demands: statehood, Sixth Schedule, separate Public Service Commission, two Lok Sabha seats
- June 2025 Ladakh regulations under Article 240: 85% reservation cap in government jobs (excluding the 10% EWS quota); Bhoti and Purgi among official languages; one-third Hill Council seats for women
- Sixth Schedule: 4 states, 10 ADCs; Article 371 series: 12 states