Ladakh’s Unfilled Gazetted Posts and Funding Worries

Ladakh’s Unfilled Gazetted Posts and Funding Worries

Gazetted Posts in Ladakh Remain Empty

After Ladakh became a Union territory in August 2019, none of the 1,275 gazetted posts have been filled, as reported by the Centre to a parliamentary panel. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs shared this information with the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in a report presented on March 10.

Non-Gazetted Posts and Recruitment Efforts

Besides the gazetted posts, 3,596 non-gazetted posts were vacant across various departments. Recruitment for 3,172 posts was carried out through the Staff Selection Commission, Autonomous Hill Development Subordinate Services Recruitment Board, Leh and Kargil, and the Ladakh Police Board.

Union Territory Status and Job Protests

Ladakh’s change in status and the lack of a legislature have raised concerns among residents about their land, resources, and cultural identity. Protests over jobs and insufficient employment opportunities have occurred in the past five years.

Sonam Wangchuk’s Fast and Demands

In October, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk began an indefinite fast, calling for statehood for Ladakh, its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, job reservation for locals, and two Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha seats for the region. He ended his fast after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs pledged to resume talks with Ladakh representatives in December.

Ladakh Subordinate Service Staff Selection Board and Funding

The Ministry informed the parliamentary panel that a staff selection board named the “Ladakh Subordinate Service Staff Selection Board” had been set up. However, the panel observed that fund allocations for Ladakh were decreased for the financial year 2025-’26 to Rs 4,692.15 crore from Rs 5,958 crore in 2024-’25.

Budgetary Allocation Reduction Concerns

The Committee expressed concerns that the reduction in budgetary allocation could impede ongoing works and schemes in the Union Territory. They advised the Ministry of Home Affairs to seek additional fund requirements from the Ministry of Finance if necessary.