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The ‘Yatra of Development’ that began in 2019 is reshaping Ladakh into a model of connectivity, sustainability, and opportunity at the nation’s strategic frontier
The Modi government has shown its commitment to inclusive governance in Ladakh. (PTI)
For decades, the people of Ladakh aspired for Union Territory status to ensure their unique developmental and geographical challenges were addressed.
Their demand, first placed in 1949, was repeatedly overlooked by successive governments. This historic aspiration was finally realised in 2019 when the Narendra Modi government, fulfilling a core constitutional promise, enacted the J&K Reorganisation Act and granted Ladakh its long-awaited UT status on 31 October 2019.
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Since then, Ladakh has witnessed an unprecedented wave of transformation. The ‘Yatra of Development’ that began in 2019 is reshaping Ladakh into a model of connectivity, sustainability, and opportunity at the nation’s strategic frontier.
Governance and justice
The Modi government has shown its commitment to inclusive governance in Ladakh by engaging directly with the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance on demands for Sixth Schedule protections and statehood.
This dialogue has been institutionalised through a High-Powered Committee, a Sub-Committee, and multiple consultations, ensuring Ladakh’s voice is firmly anchored in national decision-making.
This structured process of dialogue has produced landmark outcomes:
In June 2025, Modi Govt passed Ladakh Official Languages Regulation, 2025, formally recognising Bhoti and Purgi as official languages of Ladakh alongside English, Hindi and Urdu, a decisive step in preserving linguistic heritage and enabling inclusive governance.
The government in June 2025 announced new reservation and domicile rules for the Union Territory of Ladakh, providing 85% job reservation for local residents and reserving one-third of the seats in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) for women
Education, institutions and human capital
In February 2019, PM Modi inaugurated the University of Ladakh, the region’s first university. With this Ladakh now has the first cluster university comprising degree colleges of Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass and Khaltsi.
In 2023, Sindhu Central University was established in Ladakh, offering 3 significant post-graduate level programs, including MTech Energy Technology & Policy, MTech Atmospheric & Climate Sciences, and MA Public Policy.
For the first time ever in Ladakh, a separate UPSC/Civil Services exam centre was established at Leh, enabling the Preliminary exam to be held locally in October 2021.
Additionally, incentives normally reserved for Northeast cadres were extended to IAS officers in Ladakh, and SSC exams for local B & C posts will now be conducted in Leh too.
Easing Ladakhis’ access to technical education, 5% seats have been allocated for Ladakh students in the UG programmes of the NIT, Srinagar.
In 2025, the Centre approved the establishment of Ladakh’s first Medical College with an intake of 100 MBBS seats, fulfilling a long-standing demand. Ladakh was declared fully functionally literate on 24 June 2024, achieving over 97% literacy under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
September 29, 2025, 15:05 IST
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