Leh: In a first in the country, Ladakh has introduced a fixed 4% horizontal reservation for Outstanding Sportspersons in direct recruitment to Group ‘C’ non-gazetted government posts.
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved the reservation under the Ladakh Sports Policy, 2026, making Ladakh the first Union Territory to provide a specified 4% reservation for sportspersons in government jobs.
The Ladakh Administration has subsequently notified the Union Territory of Ladakh Outstanding Sportspersons (Horizontal Reservation in Direct Recruitment to Group ‘C’ Non-Gazetted Posts) Rules, 2026, laying down the eligibility and selection framework.
The reservation will cover sportspersons who have represented a State or the country in recognised national or international competitions, besides medal winners at Senior and Junior National Championships, Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India Winter Games, Khelo India Para Games and Khelo India University Games.
Eligible sportspersons representing universities in recognised Inter-University competitions will also be covered, along with qualifying chess achievers under prescribed DoPT provisions.
4% Quota Across All Categories
The reservation will operate horizontally across existing vertical reservation categories. A candidate selected under the sports quota will be adjusted against the social category to which he or she belongs.
The quota will apply to direct recruitment to Group ‘C’ posts under the UT Administration, except posts specifically excluded through notification.
Medal Winners Get Higher Weightage
A separate Sports Merit List will be prepared for eligible candidates. Higher weightage will be given to higher-level achievements, with international medal-winning performances carrying the highest score.
This will be followed by achievements in Senior National Championships and National Games, Junior Nationals, Inter-University and Khelo India University Games, and Khelo India Youth, Winter and Para Games.
At every level, medal winners will rank above candidates who have only represented their team or country.
Three-Member Panel to Verify Certificates
To ensure transparency, the Department of Youth Services and Sports will constitute a three-member committee to verify the genuineness and recognition of sporting certificates, competitions and achievements submitted by candidates.
Only the highest sporting achievement of a candidate will be considered for the Sports Merit List, with no additional weightage for multiple medals or positions.
LG Saxena said the initiative would ensure that talented youth in Ladakh are not forced to abandon sports because of financial concerns or uncertainty over future employment.
He said the Administration was creating an ecosystem combining government job opportunities, scholarships, cash incentives, modern infrastructure and scientific coaching so that sporting talent could be recognised, nurtured and rewarded.
