In a significant move to reshape the reservation framework in Ladakh, President Droupadi Murmu has promulgated an ordinance on June 3, 2025, amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act as it applies to the Union Territory. The amendment, now officially known as the Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025, allows for 85% reservation in government jobs and professional education seats in Ladakh, excluding the 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
This ordinance follows a notification from the Law Ministry on June 2, which confirmed that the changes had been formally adopted after the Union Home Ministry made the necessary amendments to the J&K Reservation Act, 2004 in the context of Ladakh.
What Does the Ordinance Say?
The ordinance clearly states:
“Provided that the total percentage of reservation shall in no case exceed 85 per cent, excluding reservation for Economically Weaker Sections.”
This means that while 85% of seats or job posts can be reserved across various social groups, this figure does not include the 10% EWS reservation, making the total potential reservations up to 95% in practice.
This amendment is not limited to job quotas. It also extends to promotion reservations and admissions in professional institutions, while introducing a cap of 85% for all these categories—again, not accounting for the EWS quota.
Who Gets What: The Reservation Breakdown
According to a report by local daily Greater Kashmir, the current reservation distribution in Ladakh is structured as follows:
- Scheduled Tribes (STs): 80%
- Residents near the Line of Control (LoC): 4%
- Scheduled Castes (SCs): 1%
This leaves very limited room for unreserved or general category applicants, especially those not qualifying under EWS or other reservation criteria.
Background: Why Was the Amendment Needed?
The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 originally provided quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in both employment and education sectors. However, with the bifurcation of the former state into two union territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—there was a growing demand to tailor policies specifically for Ladakh’s unique demographic and social landscape.
The new regulation acknowledges the tribal majority population of Ladakh, ensuring that local communities, especially Scheduled Tribes, are prioritized in government hiring and educational opportunities.
What About Unfilled Vacancies?
As per PRS Legislative Research and the Ministry’s notification, if there aren’t enough eligible candidates from the reserved categories during a recruitment cycle, the vacancies will be carried forward to the next cycle. These posts can only be de-reserved if they remain unfilled for more than three consecutive years.
The ordinance also confirms that the amended reservation rules will apply to all jobs and admissions under the control of local or other authorities in the Union Territory—excluding cantonment boards.
Political and Social Implications
This move has stirred discussions among political commentators and civil society in the region. On one hand, the ordinance is being seen as a positive step towards empowering indigenous and tribal communities of Ladakh. On the other, some concerns are being raised about the shrinking space for open merit candidates, particularly from the general and non-tribal sections of society.
Moreover, by excluding EWS from the 85% cap, the government has signaled a distinct approach to uplift economically disadvantaged sections across all castes, even if it means total reservations could effectively touch 95%.
President Murmu’s ordinance brings a historic shift in the way reservations are structured in Ladakh. It reaffirms the government’s intent to cater to Ladakh’s tribal-dominated society, but also invites fresh dialogue on balancing social justice with meritocracy.
As Ladakh continues to evolve post-UT formation, this ordinance may well become a template for localized policy-making in other sensitive regions of India.
