Centre weighs Article 371(K) for Ladakh with elected UT body to protect land and culture

The Central Government is weighing the introduction of Article 371(K) to grant the Union Territory of Ladakh enhanced constitutional safeguards and a dedicated elected body with legislative and financial powers. This proposal emerges as a potential compromise to address long-standing demands from the region's political leadership for greater autonomy and protection of local interests. Currently, the Indian Constitution includes special provisions under Article 371 through 371J for various states. Article 371(K) does not yet exist; its creation would require a formal constitutional amendment. The proposed provision aims to secure Ladakh’s land, culture, heritage, and natural resources, effectively shielding them from external interference. Since the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019 stripped Ladakh of its legislative assembly, the region has been administered directly through the Lieutenant Governor and the UT administration. This structural shift triggered widespread protests, with groups like the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) demanding statehood or protection under the Sixth Schedule.