Ladakh: Ladakh Article 371 framework is set to become a major step in the Union Territory’s governance. The Ladakh Administration has announced that every one of its seven districts will get an Autonomous Hill Development Council. Along with this, a new UT-level governing body has been proposed under a customised Article 371 framework. Officials say the move aims to improve grassroots democracy, balanced development, and local decision-making across Ladakh.
Ladakh Article 371 Framework: Ladakh to Get Hill Councils in All Seven Districts
The announcement was made by Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra during a press conference in Leh. Until now, only Leh and Kargil had elected Autonomous Hill Development Councils. After the creation of five new districts—Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass—in April 2026, the administration decided to establish hill councils in all seven districts.
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What Is the New UT-Level Body
The administration has also proposed a Union Territory-level institution above the seven district councils. According to officials, this body will function under a customized Article 371 framework and will have legislative, executive, financial, and administrative powers. The government says this governance model is unique and has no direct parallel anywhere else in India.
What is the Importance of Ladakh Article 371 Framework
Officials say the move is designed to strengthen democratic decentralisation by giving more power to local elected bodies. The government believes that decisions made closer to the people will improve governance, speed up development projects, and ensure balanced growth across all regions of Ladakh.
How Will the New Councils Be Created
The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Act already allows the creation of a council in every district. To implement the plan, the administration will notify the councils, make necessary amendments to the Act where required, and complete the delimitation of constituencies before elections are held.
Connection With Article 370 and Article 371
The announcement comes nearly seven years after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which led to the creation of the Union Territory of Ladakh. Unlike Article 370, Article 371 provides special constitutional safeguards to certain states and regions to protect local identity, land rights, employment, and administrative systems. The proposed Ladakh model is expected to be specially designed for the region rather than copying existing arrangements.
Background of the Ladakh Article 371 Framework
Special constitutional safeguards have been one of the major demands raised by Ladakh civil society groups and activist Sonam Wangchuk. Representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been holding discussions with the Union Government on issues related to constitutional protection, governance, and local representation.
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