LEH: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has issued a comprehensive Office Memorandum (OM) directing all departments to strictly follow the revised procedures for submitting direct recruitment proposals to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The directive follows a communication from the UPSC dated 25 November 2024 and lays out a clear timeline, reservation norms, and procedural requirements to be followed for recruitment cycles beginning in 2026.
According to the memorandum, the UPSC will accept requisitions for direct recruitments—complete in all respects and submitted in the UPSC-33 proforma—from 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2026. Departments will be required to book slots for submission through UPSC’s Single Window System, with online slot reservations opening on 15 December 2025. The Administration has stressed timely preparation and submission to avoid delays in recruitment processes across the UT.
A key highlight of the memorandum pertains to guidelines on reservations. While the UPSC checklist refers to reservation norms under the central DoP&T OM of 1997, the Ladakh Administration clarified that reservation in the UT continues to be governed by the J&K Reservation Act, 2004, as adapted for Ladakh through the Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025, along with the J&K Reservation Rules, 2005, as amended via S.O. 77 dated 27 June 2025.
Departments are therefore required to strictly compute reservation percentages according to these statutory provisions and prepare rosters as per the laid-down procedure.
To assist departments, the memorandum includes a reference copy of the requisition submitted by the Health & Medical Education Department for Medical Officer posts earlier in 2025. This sample contains completed documentation and certificate formats, intended to serve as a model for other departments preparing similar proposals.
Further guidance is to be sought from three officers Ms. Kaneez Fatima (JKAS), Ms. Sumera Shafi (JKAS) and Jigmet Angchuk (JKAS), who successfully handled UPSC submissions during the 2025 calendar year.
Departments have been encouraged to consult these officers for clarifications, vetting of draft proposals, and procedural assistance.
The memorandum also sets a strict internal timeline. Departments must obtain approval from the Competent Authority and ensure that slot bookings on the UPSC portal are completed by 20 December 2025. Additionally, the respective Under Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, or Special Secretaries designated for submission must compile complete formats with all required enclosures and route these documents through the General Administration Department (GAD) on or before 12 December 2025.
This early submission window enables the Administration to secure timely appointments on the Single Window System.
In its concluding direction, the Administration urged all departments to identify vacancies, prepare requisitions in the prescribed UPSC proforma, and adhere to the UPSC-33 checklist.
Departments must ensure that draft requisitions are finalized and submitted well before 10 January 2026, thereby ensuring smooth processing during the designated UPSC window.
With these streamlined instructions, the UT Administration aims to bring greater accountability, efficiency, and uniformity to the recruitment process for Group A and B posts, strengthening the institutional framework as Ladakh continues to build its administrative structure as a Union Territory.
