Ladakh's first medical college to open in Leh in 2027-28, centre approves recruitment

Ladakh's first medical college is set to open in Leh in the 2027-28 academic year after the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare approved plans to make it operational, news agency Press Trust of India reported, citing officials.

The ministry has granted a one-time relaxation allowing the Union Territory administration to begin phased recruitment for 103 sanctioned regular posts before 80 per cent of the college's infrastructure is completed. The posts include faculty and support staff.

Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena welcomed the approval on Monday and thanked Union Health Minister J P Nadda for considering his request for the relaxation. The recruitment process will proceed alongside the construction of the Government Medical College's academic infrastructure at Stipuk Pharka.

"I sincerely thank Health Minister J P Nadda ji for taking cognisance of my



request and granting a one-time relaxation from 80 per cent completion of the infrastructure before initiating recruitment of faculty and support staff," Saxena said in a post on X.

The approval was conveyed in a letter dated October 13, 2026, to the commissioner-cum-secretary of the Ladakh Health and Medical Education Department. Saxena had written a two-page letter to Nadda seeking the relaxation to ensure timely recruitment and allow the college to open as scheduled.

Saxena described the approval as an important step in Ladakh's efforts to establish its first medical college and fulfil a long-standing aspiration of the region's people, according to PTI.

"This crucial intervention allows us to initiate staggered, preparatory recruitment for 103 sanctioned regular posts, right away, even as the construction of our dedicated academic infrastructure progresses," he said.