{"id":84598,"date":"2026-09-10T18:23:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T12:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=84598"},"modified":"2026-09-10T18:23:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T12:53:53","slug":"article-371k-ladakh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/10-09-2026\/article-371k-ladakh","title":{"rendered":"MHA Proposes New Chapter \u2018K\u2019 Under Article 371 For Ladakh\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity &amp; Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) discussed a proposed <strong>Article 371(K)<\/strong> to provide <strong>Ladakh with constitutional safeguards<\/strong> and a directly elected governing body.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is Article 371 relevant to Ladakh?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The proposed <strong>Article 371(K)<\/strong> would be significant because the existing <strong>Article 371<\/strong> framework primarily provides special arrangements for <strong>States<\/strong>, whereas Ladakh is a <strong>Union Territory without a legislature<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thus, a <strong>new 371(K)<\/strong> could represent a <strong>sui generis constitutional model<\/strong> for Ladakh, potentially giving an elected UT-level body legislative powers over <strong>land, culture and language, forests, environment and natural resources<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Background: Why Does Ladakh Seek Safeguards?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir and made a <strong>Union Territory (UT) without a legislature in August 2019<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The absence of an elected Assembly led to growing political alienation while this initially generated enthusiasm in Leh.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ladakh had earlier been represented by <strong>four MLAs in the J&amp;K Assembly<\/strong>, but its post-2019 administration has largely been bureaucratic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Concerns were further intensified by changes in <strong>domicile rules in Jammu and Kashmir<\/strong>, raising apprehensions regarding <strong>land, employment, demography and cultural identity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The UT has two Hill Councils i.e. the <strong>Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council and Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council<\/strong> but they are not covered by the Sixth Schedule and have limited powers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Leh Apex Body (LAB)<\/strong> and <strong>Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA)<\/strong> have therefore demanded <strong>statehood, tribal status\/Sixth Schedule protection and greater democratic control<\/strong> over land and infrastructure decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td colspan=\"3\"><strong>Articles 371, &amp; 371-A to 371-J<\/strong><br><strong>Part XXI<\/strong> of the Constitution of India: \u2018Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions\u2019.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Articles<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>State<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Broad Focus<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371<\/strong><\/td><td>Maharashtra and Gujarat<\/td><td>Separate development boards for regions like Vidarbha and Marathwada&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371-A<\/strong><\/td><td>Nagaland<\/td><td>Naga customary law, religion, land\/resources<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371-B<\/strong><\/td><td>Assam<\/td><td>Committee for tribal areas<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371-C<\/strong><\/td><td>Manipur<\/td><td>Hill Areas Committee<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371-D\/E<\/strong><\/td><td>Andhra Pradesh &amp; Telangana<\/td><td>Local opportunities\/education; Central University<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371-F<\/strong><\/td><td>Sikkim<\/td><td>Special constitutional arrangements<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371-G<\/strong><\/td><td>Mizoram<\/td><td>Customary law, religion, land<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371-H<\/strong><\/td><td>Arunachal Pradesh<\/td><td>Governor&#8217;s special responsibility for law and order<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371-I<\/strong><\/td><td>Goa<\/td><td>Special provision concerning Assembly<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>371-J<\/strong><\/td><td>Karnataka<\/td><td>Special provisions for Hyderabad-Karnataka\/Kalyana Karnataka region<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Has the Centre Proposed?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The MHA has proposed a <strong>sui generis governance model under Article 371, through a new Chapter K<\/strong>. The proposed body would:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>be <strong>directly elected<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>possess legislative powers over <strong>land, culture and language, forests, environment and natural resources<\/strong>; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>potentially legislate on other matters reserved for the UT under <strong>Article 240<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The proposal follows an <strong>\u2018in-principle understanding\u2019<\/strong> reached during discussions in May and July 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, the <strong>MHA has not yet provided a detailed draft<\/strong>. Representatives have consequently described the proposal as incomplete.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Unresolved Issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The major questions concern:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Executive powers<\/strong> of the elected body;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>control over <strong>finances, budgets and planning<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>control over the <strong>bureaucracy<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>authority over <strong>police and law and order<\/strong>; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the extent of the <strong>Lieutenant Governor\u2019s powers<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ladakh representatives have demanded that the L-G should not take major administrative, bureaucratic or land-related decisions until the new arrangement is finalised.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sixth Schedule vs Article 371(K)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Sixth Schedule under Article 244<\/strong> provides constitutionally protected <strong>Autonomous District Councils (ADCs)<\/strong> with legislative, judicial and administrative powers over subjects including land, forests, water, agriculture, village councils, health, sanitation, inheritance, social customs and mining.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It currently applies to tribal areas of <strong>Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) <\/strong>recommended in <strong>September 2019<\/strong> that Ladakh be brought under it, citing its overwhelmingly tribal population and distinct cultural heritage.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, no area outside the Northeast has so far been included in the Sixth Schedule.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Article 371 and <strong>Articles 371-A to 371-J<\/strong> provide special arrangements for specific States.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For instance, <strong>Article 371-A<\/strong> protects Naga customary practices, religious and social matters, and ownership\/transfer of land and resources; similar protections exist for Mizoram under <strong>Article 371-G<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>proposed Article 371(K)<\/strong> would create a <strong>tailor-made UT-level constitutional arrangement<\/strong>, rather than simply extending the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Additional Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Insertion of a New Article in the Constitution of India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>new Article<\/strong> can be inserted into the Constitution only through a <strong>Constitutional Amendment<\/strong>, provided under <strong>Article 368<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>Constitution Amendment Bill<\/strong> may be introduced in <strong>either House of Parliament<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It generally requires a <strong>special majority<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>majority of the <strong>total membership<\/strong> of each House, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>two-thirds of the members present and vote<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ratification by <strong>at least half of the State Legislatures<\/strong> is required for certain matters affecting the <strong>federal structure<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Bill is presented to the <strong>President<\/strong>, who gives assent after Parliament completes the required procedure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The new provision then becomes part of the Constitution and is assigned an <strong>Article number<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parliament&#8217;s amending power is <strong>subject to the Basic Structure doctrine<\/strong> laid down by the Supreme Court.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/ladakh\/mha-proposes-new-chapter-k-under-article-371-for-ladakh\/article71448710.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) discussed a proposed Article 371(K) to provide Ladakh with constitutional safeguards and a directly elected governing body. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Why is Article 371 relevant to Ladakh? <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The proposed Article 371(K) would be significant because the existing Article 371 framework primarily provides special arrangements for States, whereas Ladakh is a Union Territory without a legislature. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Thus, a new 371(K) could represent a sui generis constitutional model for Ladakh, potentially giving an elected UT-level body legislative powers over land, culture and language, forests, environment and natural resources. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/10-09-2026\/article-371k-ladakh\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84598"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84601,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84598\/revisions\/84601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}