Kargil, June 4: In a landmark move to strengthen women’s participation in local governance, the President of India has promulgated the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2025, reserving one-third of the total seats in both Hill Development Councils of Ladakh for women.

As per the notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the amendment to Section 4 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997 introduces sub-sections (1A) and (1B), ensuring mandatory reservation of at least one-third seats for women, with rotation among territorial constituencies as per serial number in the Official Gazette.

The announcement has been welcomed with enthusiasm across the Union Territory, especially among women.

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In Leh, a group of prominent Ladakhi women leaders and activists held a press conference, expressing their heartfelt gratitude to the Central Government for what they called a “bold and visionary decision.” They said the move will empower women politically, enable them to raise community-specific issues more effectively, and ensure their participation in decision-making processes.

“This is a historic day for Ladakhi women. We thank the President of India and the Central Government for this progressive step. It will pave the way for a more inclusive and representative council,” said one of the speakers during the press conference.

The regulation is expected to significantly reshape the democratic landscape of the region by bringing more women into leadership roles.