Protests in Leh and Kargil have pressed for statehood, Sixth Schedule status, a Public Service Commission and greater representation for Ladakh. Ladakh became a Union Territory without a legislature under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, creating a 'representation deficit'. About 97% of its people are tribal and seek safeguards for land, culture and the fragile ecology. The Sixth Schedule, under Article 244(2), provides Autonomous District Councils and now covers tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Border security concerns with China and Pakistan add complexity. The Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025 provides 85% reservation and domicile safeguards for locals.