When Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory in 2019, many believed it would usher in a new era of development. Five years later, the reality is starkly different. The youth of Ladakh are left in despair—no jobs, no Public Service Commission, and no roadmap for their future. Job opportunities are scarce, and the region’s demand for constitutional safeguards remains unheard.

Five years since Article 370’s abrogation, Ladakh is at a crossroads—not of advancement, but of uncertainty. The promise of development and jobs is still out of reach for Ladakhi youth, living with unemployment and a questionable destiny. The greatest loss has been borne by the people of Ladakh in shape of lack of political representation, no Ladakh Public Service Commission, and no reservation policy.

The bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh saw a mixed reaction from the people of Ladakh. The move was greeted with enthusiasm by many in Leh district who viewed it as a chance to resolve long-standing issues, including neglect by the Jammu and Kashmir government, a step toward greater autonomy and development. Meanwhile, it was met with protests and opposition in Kargil district. However, there was optimism for more autonomy for local administration, protection of cultural identity, and quicker decision-making under the new political setup of Union territory.

* Click to Follow Voice of Ladakh on WhatsApp *

With Ladakh becoming a UT, residents expected better administration, representation in Parliament, access to enhanced government funds and resources, and a heightened focus on development. But soon after the central government declared Ladakh a UT without a legislature, voices in the region began to rise in protest demanding autonomy, jobs, and safeguards for their land and culture. Rather than autonomy, Ladakh has witnessed power centralization. The absence of a Legislative Assembly has left the region without elected representatives, leading to disempowerment.

Before 2019, Ladakh was a region of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) with four elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the J&K Legislative Assembly.  As of now, Ladakh is governed directly by a Lieutenant Governor (LG) who is nominated by the central government and all policy decisions, therefore, are implemented by the bureaucratic officers with no elected representatives to voice local interests. This centralized structure has led to a sense of disempowerment among Ladakhi, who feel their voices are not heard in the decision-making process.

The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) are expected to act as local governing bodies, but they lack real financial and administrative autonomy.  They can make recommendations, but the final authority still rests with the LG and central government. There is no mechanism for holding the administration accountable for delays in development projects, job creation, or policy implementation. The ineffective local councils that lack financial and administrative authority fail to address major issues like unemployment and this has resulted frustration, particularly among youth.

According to the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Ladakh has registered the sharpest rise in the number of unemployed graduates in India between 2021-22 and 2022-23. In the last two financial years, at least 26.5 percent of graduates in Ladakh have been unemployed. In the past 5 years since Ladakh attained Union Territory status, there hasn’t been any recruitment for Gazetted posts, and to this day, no new notifications have surfaced.

One of the biggest obstacles to employment in Ladakh is the absence of a Public Service Commission (PSC).  Unlike Jammu & Kashmir, which has a domicile law and recruitment agency, Ladakh has none, leading to a haphazard and irregular job hiring process. Currently many vacancies in Ladakh remain unfulfilled or take too long to be filled due to reliance on outside agencies for recruitment. Therefore, a local PSC is needed to streamline the process, reducing delays and ensuring merit-based transparent recruitment.

In an interview, Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Mohd Haneefa Jaan stated that in the five years after Ladakh was turned into a Union Territory  without a Legislative Assembly, not a single recruitment for a gazetted position has been completed. Public Service Commission ceased to exist in Ladakh. Due to this, no recruitment has taken place. He said that the Ladakh Resident Certificate (LRC) should be mandatory for jobs, but there has been no clarity from the government so far. The Scheduled Tribe quota was kept open for J&K residents also, whereas in J&K, Ladakhis cannot apply for jobs under the quota. This disparity has fueled resentment, as locals feel they are being denied fair employment opportunities in their own region.

The crisis of unemployment has impacted the mental and emotional health of Ladakh’s youth. They feel frustrated and demotivated having worked for years to prepare for competitive examinations only to find no vacancies.  The absence of opportunities has resulted in alienation, some youths believing that their concerns and voices are not heard by policymakers. Lieutenant Governor B D Mishra in a statement made it clear that his priority is creating adequate jobs for the locals, however, recruitment remains slow, unstructured and uncertain. 

The government needs to understand that job creation and economic stability are needed for any region to develop. If Ladakh is to move ahead, it has to empower its youth with opportunities, not just promises. The government should understand that without creating jobs and economic stability, no place can really develop. If Ladakh is to progress, it has to empower its youth with opportunities, not just mere assurances. Despite repeated protests, student-led movements, and appeals from Ladakhi leaders, the government has remained silent. How much longer must Ladakhis wait? Ladakhis have demonstrated resilience and optimism, but their patience has its limits. The people of Ladakh are still waiting. The youth deserve jobs, a future, and a government that listens to them. Will the government act before it’s too late?

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Voice of Ladakh or its editorial team.