Question

Separatist movements have been one of the major factors contributing to militancy and instability in Jammu & Kashmir. Bring out actions taken by the Government to bring J&K into the national mainstream. Discuss pre and post abrogation status of Articles 370 and 35A along with positive impacts of the changes.

Detailed Solution

Through the Constitutional Order and J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 the Union altered Jammu&Kashmir’s special status underArticles 370 and 35A. The Supreme Court upheld these changes in December 2023, shifting focus towards peace, democracy and socio-economic mainstreaming.

Actions taken by the Government to bring J&K into the national mainstream.

Constitutional and Legal Integration: Central laws and constitutional protections were extended uniformly.
1. Example: : Laws relating to Right to Education, child marriage, social justice and welfarebecame fully applicable.
Deepening Grassroots Democracy:Panchayat, Block Development Council and District Development Council elections strengthened local political participation.
1. Example: A three-tier Panchayati Raj structure was established; Block Development Councils elections in 2019 recorded98.3% turnout.
Counter-Terror and Law-and-Order Measures: Security operations, intelligence coordination and terror-financing action have curbed organised street violence.
1. Example: Organised stone-pelting fell from 1,328 incidents in 2018 to zero in 2023
Development-Led Integration:Infrastructure, connectivity, education and health investments seek to reduce the developmental deficit that can feed alienation.
1. Example: ₹80,000-crore PM Development Package, PMGSY expansion and new higher-education/medical institutions
Welfare and Financial Inclusion:Centrally sponsored schemes are now implemented more uniformly across J&K.
1. Example: By March 2026, J&K had 24.37 lakh Jan Dhan accounts, 12.79 lakh Ujjwala connections and 25.09 lakh MUDRA loans.
Tourism and Cultural Normalisation: Improved law and order has supported tourism, cinema and public-cultural activity.
1. Example: J&K recorded2.11 crore tourist visits in 2023

Articles 370 and 35A: Pre and Post-Abrogation Position

Pre-Abrogation Status

Post-Abrogation Status

Special Constitutional Status: Article 370 granted J&K a separate Constitution, flag and autonomy, except in defence, foreign affairs and communications.
Article 35A: Empowered the J&K legislature to define permanent residents and grant them exclusive rights to property, jobs and settlement.
Limited Parliamentary Reach: Extension of Union laws to J&K generally required the concurrence of the state government/legislature under the applicable constitutional framework.
Restricted Economic Access: Special property and residency rules limited land ownership and outside investment.
Distinct Institutional Framework: J&K had a separate constitutional and administrative framework.

Article 370 Inoperative: Special constitutional provisions were withdrawn, bringing J&K under the full constitutional framework of India.
Article 35A abrogated permanent-resident privileges were removed; domicile rules now govern specified rights, including public employment.
Uniform Legal Framework: Central laws apply directly to J&K, subject to applicable constitutional and statutory provisions.
Greater Economic Integration: Changes to land and investment regulations enabled wider participation and investment, subject to applicable laws.
Reorganisation (2019): J&K became a Union Territory with legislature, while Ladakh became a Union Territory without legislature under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Positive Impact of the Changes

Economic Growth: J&K recorded its highest-ever annual investment of ₹5,824.42 crore in FY 2025–26.
Tourism Boom: Improved stability and perception attracted 1.78 crore tourist visits in 2025.
Social Justice: Valmiki, Gorkha and Pahari communities gained greater access to reservations and land rights.
Transparency:Digitised land records and the BEAMS portal have strengthened transparency and reduced scope for corruption.
Employment Generation:405 new industrial units created 11,396 jobs in FY 2024–25.
Uniform Welfare Reach: National schemes in housing, health, financial inclusion, LPG, credit and social justice now operate on a more uniform footing.

J&K’s integration must be judged byinstitutionalised peace, trusted democracy and locally owned development achieving security with participation and integration with dignity.

Latest UPSC Exam 2027 Updates

Last updated on Sep, 2026

→ UPSC 2027 Notification will be released on 13 January 2027 at upsconline.nic.in.

→ Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October.

→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus here.

→ Download UPSC Model Answers for Mains 2026

→ UPSC Mains Question Paper 2026 is out now for Essay & GS Paper 1, 2, 3 & 4.

→ UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.

→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2027 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.

→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mentorship Program 2027 for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.

→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.

→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.

→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India

Yogendra Singh

Yogendra Singh is an SEO Strategist with 2+ years of experience in On-Page, Off-Page, and Technical SEO, driving organic growth through search-optimized content. He specializes in creating accurate, well-researched, and SEO-friendly content on UPSC, Current Affairs, and competitive exams to help aspirants prepare with confidence.