Ladakh declared India's first '100% organic' Union Territory; complete ban on chemical fertilisers

26 October 2026 · English Environment & Ecology

Topics: Environment, Rural Development & Economy · 26 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

On 25 Oct 2026 (Sunday), at Leh, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena declared Ladakh (Leh and Kargil) 'India's first 100% organic Union Territory'. In July 2026 a complete ban was imposed on the procurement, distribution, sale and use of chemical and synthetic fertilisers in farming; in March 2026 organic manure was supplied to villages before the sowing season. Apricot, sea buckthorn, buckwheat, barley and vegetables are the main crops. (Note: in Dec 2020 the whole of Lakshadweep was declared an organic agricultural area under PGS-India and called the 'first organic UT'; the 'first' here is the Ladakh administration's claim.)

Key facts

Background

• Sikkim: by an Assembly resolution in 2003 (Pawan Chamling government) it decided to go organic; about 75,000 ha became certified organic. On 18 Jan 2016 PM Modi declared it India's first fully organic State at Gangtok.
• Lakshadweep: in Dec 2020 its entire land area (about 32 sq km) was declared an organic agricultural area under PGS-India through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) – then called the 'first 100% organic UT'.
• Central schemes: PKVY (2015) – cluster-based organic farming with PGS certification and marketing support; Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER, 2015–16); National Mission on Natural Farming (Cabinet approval, Nov 2024).
• Certification: PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System) – Agriculture Ministry; farmer groups assess one another; for the domestic market. NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production, 2001) – Commerce Ministry, run by APEDA; third-party certification; for exports. FSSAI's 'Jaivik Bharat' logo marks organic food.

Tamil Nadu link: the State released the 'Tamil Nadu Organic Farming Policy 2023' in March 2023 – promoting chemical-free farming, integrated organic farming systems, millets and farmer producer organisations. Tamil Nadu's organic-farming pioneer G. Nammalvar (born 6 Apr 1938, Elangadu, Thanjavur district; died 30 Dec 2013) founded 'Vanagam' at Karur and opposed the methane project in the Cauvery delta.

Source: The Tribune, Greater Kashmir, Swarajya (26 Oct 2026); Srinagar Observer (25 Oct 2026); Drishti IAS (Lakshadweep, Dec 2020); India Water Portal (TN Organic Farming Policy, Mar 2023)

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