Present Day Scenario Of J&K

The Modi government made a historical change in Jammu and Kashmir’s status two years ago with a declaration and a bill. On August 5, 2019, Home Minister Amit Shah submitted to parliament a proposal to terminate Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and divide the state into 2 Union Territories.

Only two months after the BJP’s subsequent victories in the Lok Sabha election, the Modi Government repealed constitutional provisions that granted Jammu and Kashmir special status and created the Union Territory of Ladakh ostensibly to protect the strategically important region owing to the Kashmir Valley’s political compulsions. This article will discuss the facts about Jammu Kashmir and its geographic and political facts. 

Details of Jammu and Kashmir 

Jammu and Kashmir was a state ruled by India from 1954 to 2019, encompassing the southern and south-eastern portions of the broader Kashmir region, subject to a conflict between India, Pakistan, and China since the mid-twentieth century. Parts of the ancient princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, whose western regions, including northern areas, now recognized as Gilgit-Baltistan, and controlled by Pakistan, formed the basis of this state. Since 1962, China has controlled the Aksai Chin region within the east, which borders Tibet.

After the Indian government repealed Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Indian constitution in 2019, the Indian parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, which absorbed the state and restructured it into two different union territories – Jammu & Kashmir in the west and Ladakh in the east, with effect from October 31, 2019. As a result, Jammu and Kashmir have been the only state in India with only a Muslim majority at its disintegration.

In 1956–57, China built a road through the contested Aksai Chin region in Ladakh. India’s late finding of this road sparked the Sino-Indian War in 1962, and China has governed Aksai Chin since then. After the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War, Pakistan and India signed the Simla Accord, which established a Border of Control in Kashmir and committed to a peaceful resolution through bilateral negotiations.

Discussion on the geographical facts about Jammu and Kashmir 

• The facts about Jammu and Kashmir include that only two Indian states border J&K: Himachal Pradesh in the southeast & Punjab in the southwest. It shares international borders with Pakistan in the west, Afghanistan in the northwest, and China in the northeast. This state is separated from Pak-controlled Kashmir by a line of control.

• The international border with Pakistan is 1222 kilometres long, whereas the border with China is 1954 kilometres long. Among all Indian states with international boundaries, JK has the longest international boundary, 3176 km.

• Kashmir Valley, Chenab Valley, Tawi Valley, Sindh Valley, Poonch Valley, and Lidder Valley are among the valleys found in Jammu & Kashmir; the Pir Panjal range separates the major Kashmir Valley from the huge lowlands of north India and closes it off from the west and south.

• Zoji La is the state’s most important pass.

• The biggest district of Jammu & Kashmir is Leh, covering 45110 square kilometres in the Ladakh region. In terms of area, the district of Leh is India’s second-largest. Kerala, Haryana, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, and Goa are larger districts than Leh.

• In terms of population, the Jammu district is the most populous in the state.

• With an elevation of 8,611 metres, K2 is the tallest point in the state and India. After Mount Everest, this peak is the world’s second-highest (8,648 m). This is in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and is effectively under Pakistani authority.

Discussion on the recent facts about Jammu Kashmir 

Since October 31, 2019, Jammu & Kashmir has been a part of the Union. As a result, the JK’s overall territory as a UT has been decreased to just 42,241 km2. Jammu and Kashmir would be divided into 29 districts. The legislature will be unicameral, with 114 seats in the assembly, four seats in the Rajya Sabha, and five seats in the Lok Sabha.

According to the fact file on Jammu and Kashmir, It has become a popular tourist attraction due to its natural beauty and scenic surroundings. The temples of Jammu are well-known, whereas the lakes and gardens of Kashmir Valley are well-known.

Horticulture and floriculture thrive in J&K’s agro-climatic settings. Horticulture is the backbone of the regional livelihoods, employing many people in the area. Between 2015-16 and 2020-21, the Gross State Domestic Product or GDP expanded at an annual rate of 8.51 per cent, reaching Rs. 1.76 trillion.

J&K had a total installed electricity generation capacity of 3482.11 MW as of April 2021, with 1866.08 MW within central utilities, 1535.98 MW, and 80.05 MW, respectively.

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has an economic policy that includes lucrative incentives and a single-window clearance procedure. The Indian government adopted new land rules in Jammu and Kashmir on October 27, 2020, allowing land to be exchanged for the advantage of an individual or organisation to promote healthcare, senior secondary, further, or specialised education. In addition, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, known as CCEA, authorised a new industrial development scheme for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir in January 2021, with total spending of Rs. 28,400 crore from 2021 to 2037.

Conclusion

The Presidential order from August 2019 said that Jammu and Kashmir were subject to the provisions of the Indian Constitution. It effectively meant that Jammu and Kashmir’s unique constitution was repealed, and a single constitution now extended to all Indian states. The current situation has vastly improved as outsiders are provided rights to trade real estate in J&K. Moreover, JK’s total territory as a UT has shrunk to only 42,241 km2. These were some interesting facts about Jammu Kashmir’s post-presidential order.