← 17 September 2026's Current Affairs · Polity GS-2 Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★★★★
Debate over extending Article 371-type protections to Ladakh
Why in News?
Ladakh wants Article 371 cover: the Kalyana Karnataka precedent every Polity answer must know
Demands for Ladakh to get Article 371-type constitutional safeguards on land and jobs are gaining attention after its 2019 reorganisation as a Union Territory.
Why it matters: asked in KPSC 2023; GS-2 core
What you need to know
2 min read
There is renewed debate on whether Ladakh should get special protections under Article 371, following demands from Ladakh's Hill Councils for constitutional safeguards on land and jobs after its reorganisation as a Union Territory in 2019.
Article 371 and its variants (371-A to 371-J) grant special provisions to certain states, covering matters like land transfer restrictions, local body powers and reservation in jobs and education.
Ladakh's demand echoes provisions such as Article 371-F for Sikkim and 371-J for the Kalyana Karnataka region, which protect local land and employment rights.
Any new special provision for Ladakh would require a constitutional amendment under Article 368.
Sources: Indian Express · Topper IAS editorial
Key facts
Remember these
- Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019 after Jammu and Kashmir's reorganisation
- Ladakh's Hill Councils are demanding Article 371-type safeguards on land and jobs
- Article 371 has state-specific variants from 371-A to 371-J
- Article 371-F gives special provisions to Sikkim; Article 371-J covers the Kalyana Karnataka (Hyderabad-Karnataka) region
- Adding a new special provision requires a constitutional amendment under Article 368
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- Article 371-A grants special provisions to Nagaland, not Sikkim
- Article 371-F grants special provisions to Sikkim
- Article 371-J grants special provisions to the Kalyana Karnataka region of Karnataka
- A constitutional amendment under Article 368 is required to add a new special provision for a region
Mains
GS Paper 2 - Polity: Ladakh's post-2019 UT status has fuelled demands for Article 371-style protections on land and employment, similar to Sikkim's 371-F and Karnataka's 371-J. Any such safeguard would need a formal constitutional amendment under Article 368, raising questions about balancing local land/identity concerns with Ladakh's current UT administrative structure. The way forward lies in examining Sixth Schedule-type protections or a dedicated statutory/constitutional mechanism tailored to Ladakh's demographic and ecological sensitivities.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
Under Article 371-J, the Governor have special provisions with respect to the state of
- Karnataka
- Maharashtra
- Assam
- Andhra Pradesh
Show answer
Answer: A
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Consider the following statements:
- Article 371-J grants special provisions for the Kalyana Karnataka (Hyderabad-Karnataka) region.
- Article 371-F grants special provisions for Nagaland.
- Any new special provision on the lines of Article 371 for a region like Ladakh would require a constitutional amendment.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Show answer
Answer: B — Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect - Article 371-F covers Sikkim, not Nagaland; Nagaland's special provisions are under Article 371-A.
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