• Ladakh was reorganized in 2019 as a Union Territory without a legislature after the abrogation of Article 370, resulting in direct central administration without adequate local constitutional safeguards.
• Local groups like the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been demanding statehood, Sixth Schedule inclusion, more parliamentary representation, and protections for local culture, land rights, and employment.
• Protests escalated through hunger strikes, with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk leading a 35-day fast starting September 10, 2025, to press these demands.

• Sixth Schedule Inclusion: Protesters want Ladakh to be brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which grants tribal areas administrative and financial autonomy, protects land rights, and preserves cultural identity.
• Statehood for Ladakh: They demand full statehood status instead of Union Territory status without a legislature, to gain more local governance powers and political representation.
• Greater Parliamentary Representation: Additional seats in the Parliament to ensure Ladakh's interests are represented effectively.
• Protection of Land and Employment Rights: Safeguards for tribal land ownership and local employment, to shield indigenous people from influx and economic marginalization.
• Preservation of Culture and Environment: Constitutional and statutory protections to preserve Ladakh’s unique cultural heritage and fragile ecological balance.
• Implementation of Autonomy and Local Governance: Enhanced powers for local bodies like the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council to administer the region’s affairs.

• The Sixth Schedule provides autonomous governance structures to tribal areas (currently mainly northeastern states) protecting tribal identity, land rights, administrative and financial autonomy.
• Ladakh’s population is over 90% Scheduled Tribes, and locals seek this framework to protect their fragile ecosystem, cultural identity, and provide local control.
• The Central Government has been reluctant, arguing that the Sixth Schedule was designed specifically for northeastern tribal areas and that extending it to Ladakh would require constitutional amendments and could impact security considerations due to Ladakh’s strategic location.

• On September 24, 2025, protests demanding Sixth Schedule inclusion and statehood turned violent in Leh: clashes with police, arson including the BJP office, and at least four deaths occurred.
• Curfew was imposed, internet services were cut off, and educational institutions were closed.
• Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike following the violence and appealed for peace while being detained under the National Security Act.
• Protest leaders and local bodies continue calls for an independent inquiry into police action and for constitutional guarantees for Ladakh.

• The protests highlight the ongoing political and social discontent in Ladakh regarding governance and local rights after the 2019 reorganization.
• The demand for the Sixth Schedule is about securing constitutional protections like autonomy in land and resource management, cultural preservation, and employment.
• The unrest reflects rising tensions among Ladakh’s youth and activists pushing for faster, result-oriented negotiations with the Union Government.

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