Athletes in Ladakh to get 4% reservation in government jobs; find out who will benefit..
There is great news for athletes from Ladakh. Now, outstanding performance on the sports field can also pave the way for government employment. The Ladakh administration has approved a 4% reservation for outstanding athletes in direct recruitment to Group 'C' non-gazetted government posts. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has sanctioned this reservation under the new Ladakh Sports Policy 2026. The administration states that the objective of this decision is to provide future job security to talented youth alongside their sporting pursuits, ensuring that no athlete is forced to quit their sport due to financial concerns or the need for employment. According to the Ladakh administration, it is the first and only Union Territory in the country to make a provision for a fixed 4% reservation in government jobs for athletes.
To implement this new system, the administration has notified the 'Union Territory of Ladakh Outstanding Sportspersons (Horizontal Reservation in Direct Recruitment to Group 'C' Non-Gazetted Posts) Rules, 2026'. However, availing the sports quota does not exempt athletes from the standard recruitment process; candidates must still meet all the prescribed eligibility criteria for the respective post and pass the necessary recruitment examinations.
Which athletes will benefit?
Under the new rules, athletes who have represented the state or the country in recognized national or international competitions are eligible for this reservation. Medal winners in senior and junior national championships will also benefit. Additionally, eligible medal winners from the Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India Winter Games, Khelo India Para Games, and Khelo India University Games are included. Eligible athletes representing their universities in recognized inter-university competitions also fall within the scope of this policy. Chess players who meet the prescribed criteria will also be eligible for the sports quota benefits.
Highest weightage for international medals
Not all sporting achievements will carry equal weightage. Under the new system, athletes who win medals in international competitions will be given the highest weightage. Subsequently, priority will be given to achievements in the Senior National Championship, National Games, Junior National Championship, Inter-University competitions, and the Khelo India University Games.
Performances in the Khelo India Youth Games, Winter Games, and Para Games will also be assigned weightage based on a defined scoring system. Athletes who have won medals at any level will be ranked higher than those who merely participated or represented the team. A separate sports merit list will be prepared for eligible candidates.
Will winning multiple medals yield more points?
If an athlete has multiple achievements to their credit, points from all medals will not be aggregated to provide additional weightage. Only the athlete's highest sporting achievement will be considered when preparing the sports merit list; in other words, securing multiple medals or positions will not result in extra marks.
What is Horizontal Reservation?
This 4 percent reservation for athletes will be implemented as 'Horizontal Reservation.' Simply put, this does not create a new category distinct from the existing SC, ST, or other reservation categories. For instance, if an athlete selected under the sports quota belongs to the SC category, their selection will be adjusted within that SC category. The same arrangement will apply to candidates from other categories.
This reservation will apply to direct recruitment for Group C posts under the Ladakh administration. However, the administration may exclude specific posts from its scope through a notification.
Verification of Sports Certificates
Certificates and sporting achievements submitted to avail the benefits of the sports quota will also be verified. The Department of Youth Services and Sports will constitute a three-member committee to assist the recruitment agency or appointing authority in verifying candidates' documents. This committee will examine the authenticity of the submitted sports certificate, the recognition status of the relevant competition, and the validity of the achievement claimed by the candidate.
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena stated that no talented youth from Ladakh should have to abandon their dream of pursuing sports due to financial constraints or concerns about future employment. He stated that the 4 percent reservation for sportspersons in government jobs is a step towards providing long-term institutional support to the youth. The Ladakh administration is working to integrate various measures for athletes, such as government job opportunities, scholarships, cash incentives, modern sports facilities, and scientific coaching.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from NDTV India. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
