Home Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is finalizing a special framework under Article 371 for the Ladakh territory, which will receive a special constitutional shield.
Rijiju announced during an event at Druk Padma Karpo School in Leh district that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ladakh to discuss the proposed structure with local residents.
He noted that existing mechanisms, such as autonomous mountain development councils, are not strong enough. Therefore, the special provision for Ladakh under Article 371, recently announced by Home Minister Amit Shah, will be implemented with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Unlike Article 370, which granted Jammu and Kashmir a high degree of autonomy until its abrogation in 2019, Article 371 provides for special, temporary, and transitional provisions to ensure balanced regional development, protection of tribal cultures, customary law, and local employment.
The proposed model for Ladakh is being formed as a unique ('sui generis') governance system. It is expected to provide administrative flexibility and protect indigenous land rights, the environment, traditional practices, and jobs, without granting state status or directly including the region in the Sixth Schedule.
Rijiju specified that the provisions will include seven councils corresponding to the expanded map of Ladakh districts. He recalled that previously there were only two districts in Ladakh—Leh and Kargil—and now there are seven, to which seven councils will be added.
Representatives from Ladakh, from the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance, the two main political groupings in the region, have been negotiating with the MHA since 2023 regarding constitutional protection of land, jobs, culture, and ecology. The next round of discussions is scheduled for September in New Delhi.
Rijiju added that Modi has long believed that Ladakh requires special attention and has worked on its development since assuming office in 2014. He emphasized that the transformation of the region has been impressive, citing the development of road networks, electricity supply, water supply, mobile communication, and telecommunications, which were absent decades ago.



