Jammu Kashmir Constitutional Changes

• Sections 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution abrogated.
• Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh received equal federal rights.
• Established One Constitution, One National Flag, One Prime Minister.
• End to ‘Two Darbar tradition’; Rs 400 crore saved by having a single capital.
• Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi, Urdu and English were declared official languages.
• Integration of Central Administrative Officers with AGMUT cadre.
• Judgment of Constitution Bench of Hon’ble Supreme Court on Article 370-
• Up held the Government’s decision to abrogate Article 370.
• Three significant bills related to Jammu and Kashmir were passed by both Houses of Parliament.
• Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 passed by Parliament

➢ Includes provision for the nomination of two members from the displaced Kashmiri migrants,

➢ One of which will be a woman, and

➢ One from persons displaced from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

• Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed by Parliament

➢
Changed the designation of “weaker and underprivileged classes (social caste)” to Other Backward Classes in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.

• Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed by Parliament

➢
This includes a provision for reserving one-third of all elected seats for women in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

• The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

➢
Provides reservation for “Other Backward Classes” in the Panchayats and Municipalities in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

• The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024

➢
Included the term “Valmiki” in the list of Scheduled Castes in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

• The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024:

➢
Includes the communities of “Gadda Brahmin,” “Koli,” “Paddari Tribe,” and “Pahadi Ethnic Group” in the list of Scheduled Tribes in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

• All the progressive laws of the country now applcable in UT of J&K:
• Abolition of constitutional discrimination: By ending the secondary treatment that some citizens received under Article 35A, all rights have been restored to them.

Now applicable in education and Jobs Reservation

Reservation for ST community in Assembly for the first time

• Right to Education, 2009
• Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, 2013
• Forest Rights Act, 2006
• SC-ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1954
• Whistleblower Protection Act, 2014
• Juvenile Justice Act, 2015
• National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 Big changes
• Out of the 3000 additional Government jobs, 2720 appointments have been allocated to Kashmiri migrants.
• Celebration of festivals by Kashmiri Migrants at major Religious Sites:

-     Reconstruction of temples has been carried out.

-     Diwali was celebrated at Mata Sharda Devi Temple in Kupwara after decades.

-     A record number of Kashmiri Pandit devotees participated in the Tulmulla Yatra.

• Domicile certificate in place of permanent resident certificate (PRC)

-     1 lakh 61 thousand domicile certificates have been issued.

-     Registration of 13 thousand certificates is ongoing.

• Grievance redressal system relating to properties of Kashmiri migrants:

-     Online complaint platform for issues related to Encroachment, Title Change and Distress sales

-     10,000 complaints were registered on the portal, out of which

➢ 8 thousand have been resolved.

-     3 thousand kanals and 20 marlas of land were reclaimed.

• Outreach Programs and Grievance Redressal Camps were initiated across various locations in the country for the convenience of Kashmiri migrants living in other parts of the country and for the delivery of services.
• Lakhanpur toll tax booth has been abolished.
• The region’s economy was integrated with unified national market.

Strengthening of the Panchayati Raj System:

• The Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act, 1989 has been amended to-
• Establish District Development Councils (DDC) in each district.
• Establish a three-tier Panchayat Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir .
• 74% voter turnout in Panchayat elections which were conducted in November- December 2018 in 9 phases
• Record 98% turnout in the Block Development Council elections in October 2019.
• Elections for DDC members were conducted in 8 phases between November and December, 2020.

(Gram Panchayat-Municipal elections were scheduled to be held in November- December this year, but delayed due to Delimitation Commission and OBC reservation issues)

• A total of 34,260 public representatives are representing at the local level, including
• 4,026 Sarpanch,
• 28,624 Panch,
• 1,068 Councillors,
• 264 Block Development Council Members
• 278 District Development Council members.
• No incidents of violence were reported in these local elections.
• Urban bodies have completed 3500 projects and 1600 projects are in progress.
• Completed projects have been verified through geo-tagging.
• Rs 1500 crore has been provided to urban local bodies in the last t wo years .
• Rs 25 lakh financial security provided to the families of Sarpanchs, Panchs, BDC members, and Chairpersons in the event of their death due to terrorist incidents.
• Two new unique initiatives, namely “Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme” and “Aspirational City Development Programme,” were launched for the holistic development of selected 285 panchayats (one panchayat per block). These initiatives aim to provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh for their overall development during FY 2022-23
• The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
• Provides reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the panchayats and municipalities in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir

Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP):

• Construction of 63 projects worth Rs 80 thousand crore under Prime Minister’s Development Package.
• Out of these, 9 projects worth Rs 21 thousand crore have been transferred to the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• Out of the remaining 53 projects worth Rs 59 thousand crore, 35 projects have been completed.

➢
Out of the Rs 49 thousand crore released for 53 projects, Rs 48 thousand crore has been spent till June 2024.

Emphasis on Infrastructure:

Power Generation:

• For the next 5 years with a target of 5000 MW work is in progress.
• Met the highest ever demand of 3050 MW in January 2023,
• Last year, the peak demand of 2800 MW was met.
• 1000 MW Pakaldul Hydro Project worth Rs 8100 crore under construction.
• Shahpurkandi dam irrigation and power project worth Rs 3,000 crore is to be completed by March 2024.
• 850 MW Ratle Hydro Project worth Rs 5300 crore under construction.
• 540 MW Kwar Hydro Project worth Rs 4500 crore under construction.
• 624 MW Kiru Hydro Project worth Rs 4300 crore under construction
• 1900 MW Sawalkot Hydro Project work started.
• Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed for the first time to achieve 1600 MW of solar power.
• Capacity addition was carried out in a big way in the transmission and distribution sector.
• Construction of 38 Grid Stations
• 467 kilometers of new transmission lines were laid.
• Construction of 266 sub-stations
• New high-tension-low-tension lines of 11 thousand circuit kilometers were laid.
• Commissioning of 9 thousand distribution transformers.
• 5 lakh 63 thousand smart meters were installed.

Irrigation Schemes:

• Main Ravi canal completed worth Rs 62 crore.
• Flood Management Plan of Jhelum and Tributaries
• The first phase of work has been completed, increasing the carrying capacity of Jhelum from 32 thousand cusecs to 41 thousand cusecs.
• The work of the second phase of Rs 1600 crore is underway.
• The work on the third phase of Rs 400 crore completed.
• Tawi Barrage Project – Rs 65 crore worth work resumed after 08 years.
• Plan to construct an artificial lake from tourism point of view.
• Work begins on Shahpur Kandi Dam Project:
• Paving way to get 1150 cusecs of water from Ravi river for Jammu and Kashmir;
• The case stuck since 1979 was resolved.
• Tral Lift Irrigation Scheme : Rs 170 crore project completed.
• This created irrigation potential for 5 thousand hectares.
• Renovation of Ravi Canal completed in March 2021 with a cost of Rs 60 crore.
• In the year 2022-23, desilting and other repair works of major canals of Jammu province were completed in a record time of 59 days.

Road – Rail Network

• Expansion of rail network: Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, work in progress.
• Construction of 9 kilometres long twin tube Qazigund-Banihal tunnel at an estimated cost of Rs 3 thousand crore
• The average time to go from Jammu to Srinagar has come down from 8-10 hours to 5-6 hours
• In the valley, the logistics cost of goods and services also came down.
• 52 km construction Out of 58 km of Jammu Semi-Ring Road completed.
• Double laning of Akhnoor-Poonch road at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore began.
• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana:
• In the last 4 years, 8086 kilometers of road constructed

▪     Ranked third nationally.

• 276 road and bridge proje cts worth Rs 2,000 crore approved during 2022-23 and 2023-24 with a length of 1,600 km.

Air Traffic:

• Air traffic from Jammu and Kashmir has doubled since 2019.
• Night landing facilities have been provided in Jammu and Srinagar.

Industrial Development:

• New Policies:

1. Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021-30
2. Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Land Allotment Policy 2021-30
3. Jammu-Kashmir Private Industrial Estates Development Policy 2021-30
4. Jammu-Kashmir Wool Processing, Handicrafts and Handlooms Policy – 2020

• Rs 28 thousand crore package announced, which will create 4.5 lakh expected jobs.
• Increase in Investment:
• Investment of Rs 1 lakh 19 thousand crore from 6851 proposals.
• 4 lakh 61 thousand potential jobs included.
• 2022-23: Rs 2200 crore invested (highest in last decade)

▪     22 thousand direct and indirect jobs creation.

▪     1 lakh jobs created through Employment Guarantee Program.

• 2023-24: Rs 2493 crore received till February 2024.

▪     31 thousand jobs are likely to be created.

• Investment of Rs 6626.96 crore received from the year 2019 to 2024.
• Land is being acquired for executing the proposals.
• MoU for development of 6 industrial estates worth Rs 1800 crore.
• An indent of 20 thousand Kanals has been kept for the new land,
• 1700 kanals of land has been identified and indented.
• Development of 4400 kanals of land under private industrial estate.
• Jammu and Kashmir Single Window System Launched: 183 Services Online.
• Expected Rank in Ease of Doing Business Ranking – Top Achievers or Achievers.
• Srinagar was selected among the 49 cities selected by UNESCO as part of the creative city network under the ‘Crafts and Folk Art category’.
• 2022 Export Ranking: J&K has emerged the No. 1 UT in India.

Promoting Local Products:

• The world’s first QR code-based mechanism for GI authentication of Kashmir carpets has been introduced.
• 10 crafts from Jammu and Kashmir already registered under GI tag - Pashmina, Carpet, Sozni, Walnut Wood Carving, Kashmir Paper Mache, Kani Shawl, Khatamband, Basholi Painting, Basholi Pashmina and Rajouri Chikri Wood.
• Doda’s Gucci mushroom was also GI tagged.
• Basmati rice of R.S.Pura was issued organic certificate.
• Samagra Krishi Vikas Yojana: Rs 5,000 crore approved for 29 project proposals.
• Revised High Density Plantation has been undertaken by the UT Government.
• National Saffron Mission: Increase in crop yield from 1.88 kg per hectare to 4.50 kg per hectare ensured.
• One District One Product (ODOP) list notified.
• PM Kisan: 13 lakh farmer beneficiaries.
• PM Fasal Bima: Extended to all 20 districts. Educational Facilities and Employment Opportunities for Youth:

Government Medical College

• 2 AIIMS, 7 Government Medical Colleges, 5 Nursing Colleges and 2 State Cancer Institutes have been approved.
• AIIMS in Vijaypur, Jammu is under construction for Rs 1700 crore.
• Construction of AIIMS in Awantipora at a cost of Rs 1800 crore.
• IIT Jammu is being built at a cost of Rs 1182 crores.
• IIM Jammu is being constructed at a cost of Rs 561 crores.
• New campus of NIFT, Srinagar in Ompora is under construction with Rs 325 crores.
• Construction of Unani Hospital and College in Ganderbal at a cost of Rs 32 crores, inaugurated in 2021.
• Construction of 08 new college buildings post-2019
• Construction of 24 college buildings is in progress.
• 59 colleges recognized: 30 colleges in Kashmir division and 29 colleges in Jammu division.

Employment Opportunities:

• From August 2019 to 2024, 36370 vacancies were filled in the Government sector.
• 10 thousand posts have been sent to recruitment agencies.
• 8 lakh self-employment / Livelihood opportunities have been generated under various self-employment generation programmes.
• 5184 Youth Clubs have been established.
• Assistance to 18 thousand youth in the transportation sector under ‘Mumkin.
• 15 thousand young women received assistance under ‘Tejaswini’.
• 22 thousand youth were provided with respectable livelihoods.
• 27 thousand youth were given market-driven customized skill training.
• 55 thousand youth covered under LG’s Rolling Trophy as a part of the Mission Youth Sports initiative Games
• Development and revival of sports by 02 international level stadiums, 24 district level indoor sports halls and 92 small Khelo India centers.
• The UT has hosted 26 National Games and 4 National Level Events under the School Games Federation of India in the last 2 years.
• 25 thousand athletes have represented Jammu and Kashmir in national / regional competition.
• Performance of Jammu and Kashmir at the International Level:

• Performance of Jammu and Kashmir at National Level:

• Jammu and Kashmir is emerging as the India’s winter sports capital and Gulmarg has special place in it, which has hosted three events since March 2020.

Development of Tourism:

• In the year 2022, Jammu and Kashmir received 1 crore 88 lakh tourists and between January-December, 2023, the number increased to 2 crore 11 lakh.
• The tourism sector has been given industry status.
• This has attracted a private investment of Rs 250 crore.
• Hosted the 3rd G-20 Tourism Working Group Summit.
• Identified 75 off-beat sites.
• Opened 75 new adventure circuits in unexplored areas
• Identified 75 heritage sites.
• Identified 75 new pilgrim/Sufi circuits.
• Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Policy-2020: Goal of the Policy

o    To make Jammu and Kashmir a destination whose environment is natural,

o    Which is global in standards,

o    Be modern in outlook,

o    Be traditional in hospitality,

o    Be entertaining in experience and thrilling in adventure.

o
To make Jammu and Kashmir the most preferred tourist destination in all seasons for domestic and foreign tourists;

• Home Stay Policy, Film Policy, Houseboat Policy:

o    Under the film policy, 300 movies, web series, have been permitted to be shot.

• Shooting of 102 movies completed.

o    To facilitate the tourists, under the , 1,942 home stays, 14,180 bed strength have been added.

• Jammu Ropeway Project: Jammu Ropeway has been completed at a cost of Rs 75 crore.
• Development of Tourist Facilities at Pan ch eri .
• Cruise boat launched in Dal Lake.

Social Welfare

• SC/ST, women, children and senior citizens, guarantee equality and fairness to all
• 4% reservation to Hilly communities.
• Reservation for residents of villages near international border
• 10% reservation implemented for economically weaker sections
• Sanitation worker eligible for domicile certificate
• Achieved 100% targets in old age, widow, disabled schemes, providing Rs 1000/- per month to 10 lakh pension beneficiaries.
• Transgender citizens covered under social security schemes for the first time.
• 5 lakh 50 thousand Minorities, SC, OBC, PSP students covered under various scholarship schemes.
• Due to changes in domicile laws, sanitation workers became eligible for all Government jobs and other benefits in the State.
• One-time financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh 50 thousand per family to 36 thousand displaced families migrating from PoJK, Chhamb and Niabat.
• So far, Rs 1500 crore has been distributed to 34 thousand beneficiaries.
• The deadline for the scheme was also extended to March 2024.
• Indian government gave financial assistance of Rs 5.50 lakh per family to 6 thousand families for West Pakistan refugees.
• So far Rs. 7 crores have been disbursed to 2600 beneficiaries.

100% target achieved in individual beneficiary oriented schemes:

• Housing Scheme: 2 lakh houses built.
• Swachh India Mission: J&K declared ODF.
• National Health Mission: 92% institutional deliveries, 96%, immunization
• Ayushman India: 1 crore beneficiaries eligible.
• E-cards issued to 85 lakhs.
• Listed 239 hospitals.
• 10 million patients were treated.
• Jal Jeevan Mission: 99% villages covered under piped water supply.
• Mudra Scheme: Rs 2 thousand crore direct deposits. The goal of the scheme was fully achieved.
• The goal of 4 schemes of Gram Swaraj – Ujjwala, Ujala, Indradhanush and Saubhagya – was fully achieved.
• Smart Cities Mission: 233 projects completed and 23 projects under process.
• Eco-Friendly Transport: Jammu and Srinagar e-bus service launched.
• Inaugurated by Hon’ble Home Minister in January 2024.