Ladakh has begun preparations for its upcoming Panchayat elections, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra announced during a press conference in Leh on August 20.
Addressing the media, Kundra outlined several key developments and government priorities, emphasising the Administration’s focus on transparent governance, institutional strengthening and greater engagement with citizens.
The announcement comes as Ladakh continues to expand its administrative infrastructure following the creation of additional districts and efforts to take governance closer to the people.
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1,340 Government Posts Already Filled
Giving an update on recruitment, the Chief Secretary said that 1,340 of the 1,609 posts advertised under the administrative recruitment process have already been filled.
Another 314 vacancies have been filled through the Departmental Promotion Committee process.
The Administration has also advertised recruitment for 302 Group B and Group C posts, while the process for around 1,205 additional posts is expected to move forward in the coming weeks.
Recruitment for 40 Sub-Inspector posts has already begun, with notifications for Teachers and Police Constables expected shortly.
224 Gazetted Posts Notified
The recruitment drive also extends to gazetted and professional positions.
According to the Chief Secretary, 224 gazetted vacancies have been notified through UPSC, including 125 Medical Officer posts. Interviews for these positions are expected to begin next month.
The Administration is simultaneously working on appointments in the education and higher education sectors, including Lecturers, Assistant Professors and Associate Professors. Several appointments have already been completed, while additional recruitment is scheduled in the coming months.
Ladakh Strengthens Its Seven-District Administrative Setup
Kundra said Ladakh now has seven districts, with efforts underway to strengthen administrative infrastructure, manpower and institutional arrangements across the Union Territory.
He also said new tehsils have been created in place of 17 Sub-Tehsils in several areas.
Requests from other regions seeking tehsil-level administrative arrangements will also be examined, with the stated objective of ensuring more equitable access to government services.
New Land-Use Mechanism on the Way
The Administration is also moving ahead with recently approved provisions allowing eligible landowners to use agricultural land for permissible non-agricultural purposes.
These include industrial and other productive activities.
To make the process easier and more transparent, a dedicated online portal is being developed through which eligible applicants will be able to submit their requests.
Nautor Land Rights to Be Regularised
Another significant announcement concerns long-pending Nautor land tenancy rights.
The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh has decided to regularise such rights, including cases involving unauthorised allotments, the Chief Secretary said.
The move is expected to address long-standing land-related issues and provide greater clarity to eligible beneficiaries.
Administration Signals Focus on Wider Public Engagement
The Chief Secretary reiterated that Ladakh’s Administration remains focused on transparent governance, timely implementation of reforms and continued engagement with citizens and stakeholders.
With Panchayat election preparations now underway alongside recruitment drives, administrative restructuring and land reforms, Ladakh is moving through a significant phase of institutional expansion and governance reform.
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