•Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena ne June 1, 2026 ko Ladakh mein naya liberalised liquor policy approve kiya
•Policy hard liquor ki retail sale allow karti hai aur UT mein liquor outlets 2 se badhakar 20 kar deti hai
•Aim hai narcotics aur drugs par dependence kam karna, tourism ko support karna aur excise revenue optimise karna
•Naye outlets Nubra, Changthang, Sham, aur Zanskar jaise areas mein allow kiye gaye hain; pehle sirf Leh city tak limited the
•Annual wholesale license fee ₹3.5 lakh se badhakar ₹5 lakh kar diya gaya hai; retail vends ka base price Leh mein ₹60 lakh aur doosre areas mein ₹30 lakh set kiya gaya hai
•Policy civil society, religious groups, aur medical experts ke saath extensive consultations ke baad banayi gayi hai, taaki rising drug abuse ke concerns ko address kiya ja sake
•District Administration ke “Opinion” requirement ko license grant ke liye remove karne se licensing process streamlined ho raha hai
Ladakh Union Territory ne apne excise regime ka ek bada reform launch kiya hai ek naya liberalised liquor policy ke saath. Is policy se hard liquor ki retail sale badh rahi hai, outlets 2 se badhakar 20 ho gaye hain, aur Nubra, Changthang, Sham, aur Zanskar jaise remote tourist areas mein bhi availability badhi hai. Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena ne June 1, 2026 ko is policy ko approve kiya tha. Is policy ka main goal hai narcotic substances par increasing dependence ko kam karna, regulatory oversight ko strong karna, aur region mein tourism-led economic growth ko support karna.
Lok Niwas se ek official statement ke according, Lieutenant Governor Saxena ne kaha ki policy ka main objective yeh hai ki logon ko low-alcoholic-content liquor ka wider choice mile. Saxena ne highlight kiya ki purani restrictive policy ki wajah se “artificial scarcity” paida hui thi, jisse tourists ko UT ke bahar se liquor lana padta tha aur revenue losses hote the.
Administration ne kaha ki yeh naya policy recent months mein civil society groups, NGOs, religious bodies, public representatives, aur government officials ke saath extensive consultations ke baad banaya gaya hai. Ladakh Gompa Association aur medical experts ne liquor vends ko badhane ki recommendation ki thi taaki drug abuse ke rising menace ko control kiya ja sake. Iske response mein, Lieutenant Governor ne officers ki ek committee banayi thi jo revised policy draft karne ke liye public convenience, illicit liquor trade prevention, social impact, aur excise revenue augmentation jaise factors ko consider kar rahi thi.
Revised policy ke according, ab liquor guesthouses aur homesteads mein bhi becha jaega, sirf Leh city tak limited nahi rahega. Pehle sirf 2 liquor outlets the, woh bhi sirf Leh mein. Naya policy Nubra, Changthang, Sham, aur Zanskar jaise designated areas mein bhi availability permit karta hai. District Administration ke “Opinion” requirement ko license grant ke liye remove kar diya gaya hai, jisse licensing process streamlined ho raha hai.
Excise revenue ko optimize karne ke liye, wholesale licenses ka annual fee ₹3.5 lakh se badhakar ₹5 lakh kar diya gaya hai. Retail vends ka base price bhi revise kiya gaya hai: Leh municipal wards mein ab ₹60 lakh hai, aur doosre areas mein ₹30 lakh fix kiya gaya hai. Policy liquor, beer, aur wine ke duty structures ko rationalise karti hai, taaki ek balanced aur accessible pricing framework mile.
Administration ka argument hai ki yeh liberalised approach market ko regulate karne, smuggling aur spurious liquor ko reduce karne, aur transparent aur accountable tareeke se higher excise revenue generate karne mein help karega. Alcohol ki legal access ko badhakar, policy consumer preference ko narcotics aur illicit substances se hata kar public health aur economic development ko support karna chahti hai.
Yeh move Ladakh ke excise policy mein ek significant shift hai, jo governance ko local needs aur tourism potential ke saath align karne ki broader strategy ko reflect karta hai.
