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Ladakh Replaces Jammu & Kashmir in Aadhaar Records After LG's Push

The Union Territory administration of Ladakh has successfully updated Aadhaar records to show "Ladakh" in the State field, replacing the erstwhile "Jammu & Kashmir." This correction, directed by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, resolves a long-pending issue that caused residents significant inconvenience in accessing services. The update was executed centrally by coordinating with UIDAI, using Ladakh-specific PIN codes to avoid requiring individual visits to Aadhaar centres. This move ensures Ladakh's distinct identity is accurately represented in official documents and eases procedural hurdles for its people.

Key Points: Ladakh Now in Aadhaar State Field, Replacing Jammu & Kashmir

  • Aadhaar records updated for Ladakh UT residents
  • Resolves identity and access issues post-2019 reorganisation
  • Central update via PIN codes, not individual visits
  • LG Vinai Kumar Saxena directed the resolution
3 min read

'Ladakh' replaces 'Jammu and Kashmir' in Aadhaar records for UT residents

Ladakh UT residents' Aadhaar records updated to reflect "Ladakh" instead of "Jammu & Kashmir," ending post-2019 identity and access hassles.

"Ensuring that the identity of Ladakh is accurately reflected... is not only an administrative necessity, but also a matter of the identity and convenience for our people. - Vinai Kumar Saxena"

Leh, April 11

In a significant move to uphold the regional identity of the residents of Ladakh, the Union Territory administration has successfully updated Aadhaar records to reflect "Ladakh" replacing "Jammu & Kashmir" in the State field, following the intervention of Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena.

Despite the formation of the Union Territory of Ladakh in 2019, after being carved out of Jammu and Kashmir, the Aadhar records of the people of Ladakh continued to reflect the erstwhile State name - J&K, instead of Ladakh - causing widespread concerns and hassles.

According to a press release, the LG, taking a serious note of the prolonged pendency in this important matter, directed the UT Administration to resolve the issue at the earliest.

Subsequently, the Administration took up the matter with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) at higher levels.

This long-awaited correction has now been successfully implemented, ensuring that Ladakh's distinct regional identity is accurately represented in Aadhar, the release said.

The release said that the continued reflection of "Jammu and Kashmir" in Aadhaar records of Ladakh residents had been causing considerable inconvenience to the people. Residents were facing difficulty in using Aadhar as a valid document for identity and address, while availing various services, as the "State" field in Aadhar did not correspond to the post-reorganisation status of Ladakh.

The issue not only created hardship for citizens but also affected the proper representation of the Union Territory in Aadhar-linked records and progress reports.

The Lt. Governor said the development would greatly benefit the residents of Ladakh by removing procedural hurdles and enabling seamless access to services.

"Ensuring that the identity of Ladakh is accurately reflected in official records is not only an administrative necessity, but also a matter of the identity and convenience for our people. The successful resolution of this long-pending issue reflects the UT Administration's commitment to responsive governance, ease of living, and ensuring that the unique identity of Ladakh is properly represented across all official platforms," Saxena said.

The release further added that to resolve the issue, the UT Administration, in coordination with UIDAI, devised an innovative mechanism to update the State field centrally. Instead of requiring each resident to individually visit Aadhar centres for correction, the updation of records was carried out on the basis of PIN codes specific to Ladakh. These PIN codes were verified in coordination with the Department of Posts and shared with UIDAI.

The release said this development has brought significant relief to the people of Ladakh, as they no longer need to visit Aadhar centres individually for updating their records.

Residents can now easily download their updated e-Aadhaar from the official UIDAI portal, and those wishing to obtain a PVC Aadhaar card may order it online by paying a nominal fee, the release added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally! My cousin in Leh was facing so many problems with bank paperwork because his Aadhaar said J&K. It's a small but very important correction for the people living there. The PIN code-based update is a smart move, saves everyone a trip to the centre.
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Aman W
Good work by the LG's office. But it took 5 years after becoming a UT? This shows how slow our systems can be for basic administrative updates. Hopefully other such pending issues across new UTs are resolved faster.
T
Tanya I
As someone who values regional identities, I think this is a positive move. Ladakh is not Kashmir. It has its own language, culture, and landscape. Official documents should reflect that correctly. Better late than never!
D
David E
Interesting to see the logistical fix using PIN codes. Streamlining like this is crucial for a country as large as India. A practical solution to a real problem faced by citizens.
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Shreya B
This is about more than just convenience, it's about dignity and recognition. The people of Ladakh deserve to have their homeland correctly named on their most important ID. A step towards responsive governance, as the LG said.

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