Ladakh's first medical college to open 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.IMPROVE AVAILABILITY OF TRAINED MEDICAL FACILITIESThe college is expected to give students from Ladakh greater access to medical education closer to home and strengthen the region's healthcare system over time. Officials told PTI that it is also expected to improve the availability of trained medical professionals in the Union Territory, where geographical and climatic conditions often make access to specialised medical facilities difficult.Saxena said the administration would make all necessary arrangements to welcome the first batch of medical students and ensure that the institution is ready to begin academic activities in the 2027-28 session. Recruiting staff while construction continues is expected to reduce the risk of delays in opening the college.According to the ministry's communication, the Department of Expenditure examined and approved the proposal subject to specified conditions.103 POSTS SANCTIONED"The 103 posts were sanctioned through a Department of Expenditure note dated November 27, 2024. Their recruitment will be undertaken in a staggered manner, in accordance with academic requirements from the 2027-28 academic year onwards, as identified by the UT administration in its communication dated August 5, 2026," the letter said.The ministry has stipulated that all posts must be filled on a regular basis and in strict accordance with the approved recruitment rules. It has also directed the administration to ensure that any interim arrangements for the college remain temporary.Once the infrastructure at Stipuk Pharka is completed, all facilities and arrangements must be shifted there. The administration has also been asked to set reasonable timelines for the infrastructure to be ready and inform the Department of Expenditure when the transition to the permanent campus takes place.The letter was issued by Under Secretary Anurag Tiwari with the approval of the competent authority, following the Ladakh administration's request to ensure the timely opening of the college.The ministry's relaxation will allow Ladakh to recruit faculty and support staff in phases while construction continues, with the Union Territory's first medical college scheduled to admit students from the 2027-28 academic year.- Ends