The Union Government on Tuesday notified English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi as official languages of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The notification said English would be used for all official purposes. Also 33 % seats have been reserved for women in Hill Councils.
The President of India promulgated the Ladakh Official Languages Regulation, 2025 to declare English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi as official languages of the Union Territory of Ladakh.As per the notification, English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union Territory for which it was being used before the date of commencement of this Regulation.
It also states that the Administrator of UT may take such necessary steps as may be provided by rules to be made by him to strengthen the institutional mechanisms for the promotion and development of other languages in the Union territory and the establishment of the Academy of Art, Culture and languages.
According to the Regulations, the institutional mechanisms shall make special efforts for the promotion and development of other native languages of Ladakh: Shina (Dardic), Brokskat (Dardic), Balti and Ladakhi.’The President of India has also promulgated Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2025 to reserve 1/3rd seats in Hill Councils of both Leh and Kargil for women. This assumes quite significance in context of political implications as also empowerment of women in the Union territory.
As per amendments carried out in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, not less than one-third of the total number of seats in the Council shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different territorial constituencies.The rotation of constituencies reserved for women shall be made on the basis of serial number allotted to each constituency by notification in the official gazette, the notification state.
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