Paper: GS – III, Subject: Internal Security, Topic: Security forces and their Mandate, Issue: Ladakh Statehood Protest.
Context:
The recent protest in Leh, Ladakh, demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards like inclusion under the Sixth Schedule turned deadly on September 24, 2025.
Key Takeaways:
- Initiated by a hunger strike led by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, the agitation escalated after the hospitalization of some hunger strikers, leading to violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
- The situation marks one of the most severe outbreaks of violence in the region’s recent history, highlighting deep socio-political fissures and demands for greater autonomy in this strategically critical Union Territory.
Sixth Schedule:
- Article 244(2): Makes special arrangements for the administration of Tribal Areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.
- Special Provisions under 6th Schedule: Creation of Autonomous district Councils which have Legislative, Judicial and Executive powers.
- District Councils are empowered to prepare a budget for their respective Council.
- The councils derive all their powers and functions directly from the Constitution. Acts passed by Parliament or state legislatures do not apply to autonomous districts and regions, or they apply with certain changes and exceptions.
- Each autonomous district has an Autonomous District Council (ADC).
- Membership: ADCs have up to 30 members 4 are nominated by the governor
- The remaining 26 are elected on the basis of adult franchise.
- Term: 5 years
| Fact: According to a 2019 report from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), 97% of Ladakh’s population is tribal. |
Ladakh Statehood Protest:
- Thousands returned to Leh’s streets demanding full Statehood for Ladakh and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule to safeguard land, culture, language, and environment.
- Protests in Ladakh have been ongoing, with calls for constitutional safeguards.
- Local groups ABL and KDA seek job security, land rights, and cultural protection.
- They demand the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
| Criteria: Criteria for declaring an area as a Scheduled Area: (Recommended by Dhebar Commission) The predominance of the tribal population Compactness and reasonable size of the area A viable administrative entity such as a district, block or taluk Economic backwardness of the area as compared to the neighbouring areas. |
Ladakh Statehood Protests: Causes, Concerns, and Demands:
The Leh protest tragedy highlights the challenges of governance, regional aspirations, and ethnic identities in Ladakh. Local demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards are genuine, but violence threatens peace and development. Resolving the crisis requires sustained dialogue, responsive governance, inclusive growth, and careful security management to ensure long-term stability and prosperity.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
â—‰ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
â—‰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
â—‰ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
