Mohd Ishaq
|Ladakh | June 3, 2025
In a landmark decision aimed at strengthening regional identity and inclusive governance, the Union Government has officially recognized five languages—Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti, Purgi, and English—as the official languages of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The move comes under the newly notified Ladakh Official Languages Regulation, 2025, signed by the President of India. The regulation formalizes the multilingual character of Ladakh and affirms English as the working language for all administrative purposes that used it prior to this law.
The regulation also paves the way for the creation of an Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages in Ladakh, with a focus on preserving and promoting indigenous languages. Special attention will be given to Shina, Brokskat, Balti, and Ladakhi, with dedicated institutional support to safeguard these native tongues.
Women Empowerment in Local Governance
In another progressive move, the President has also cleared the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2025, which mandates one-third (33%) reservation for women in both Leh and Kargil Hill Development Councils.
The amendment ensures that a minimum of 33% of seats in each Council will be reserved for women candidates, with the seats rotated across constituencies as per a schedule to be notified in the official gazette.
Cultural and Democratic Milestone
These twin announcements are being widely seen as a step forward for Ladakh’s cultural preservation and gender-inclusive governance. With formal recognition of native languages and increased representation of women in local decision-making, Ladakh is poised to embrace a more diverse, democratic, and inclusive future.— Gulistan News Tv
