Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)

Jammu and Kashmir[lower-alpha 2] is a region administered by India as a union territory, and constituting the southern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947, and between India and China since 1962.[13][14] The region of Jammu and Kashmir is separated by the Line of Control from the Pakistani-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in the west and north respectively. It lies to the north of the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and to the west of Ladakh, which is also subject to the dispute as a part of Kashmir, and administered by India as a union territory.

This article is about the union territory. For the former state, see Jammu and Kashmir (state). For the former princely state, see Jammu and Kashmir (princely state).

Jammu and Kashmir
Region administered by India as a union territory
Lidder Valley, Akhnoor Fort, A map of the disputed Kashmir region showing the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir
Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in India (lighter shade indicated claimed but not controlled territories)
Map showing the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir
Administering CountryIndia
Union territory31 October 2019
CapitalSrinagar (May–October)
Jammu (Nov–April)[1]
Districts20
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Jammu and Kashmir
 • Lieutenant GovernorGirish Chandra Murmu
 • Chief MinisterVacant
 • LegislatureUnicameral (114 seats)[2]
 • Parliamentary constituencyRajya Sabha (4)
Lok Sabha (5)
 • High CourtJammu and Kashmir High Court
Area
 • Total42,241 km2 (16,309 sq mi)
Highest elevation
[3] (Nun Peak)
7,135 m (23,409 ft)
Lowest elevation
(Chenab River)
247 m (810 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total12,258,433
 • Density290/km2 (750/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-JK
Vehicle registrationJK
LanguagesKashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi, Pahari, Gojri,[4] Bhadarwahi,[5] Bateri,[6] Shina,[7] and Burushaski[8]
Hindi (Official[9]), Urdu[10][11], English (administrative)
Websitehttps://www.jk.gov.in

Provisions for the formation of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir were contained within the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which was passed by both houses of the Parliament of India in August 2019. The act re-constituted the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir as two union territories, 'Jammu and Kashmir' and 'Ladakh', with effect from 31 October 2019.[15]

Terminology

Jammu and Kashmir is named after the two regions it encompasses – the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley.

The Government of Pakistan and Pakistani sources refer to Jammu and Kashmir as a part of "Indian-occupied Kashmir" ("IOK") or "Indian-held Kashmir" (IHK);[16][17] The Government of India and Indian sources in turn, call the territory under Pakistan control "Pakistan-occupied Kashmir" ("POK") or "Pakistan-held Kashmir" ("PHK").[18][19] "Indian-administered Kashmir" and "Indian-controlled Kashmir" are often used by neutral sources.[20]

History
For the 1954–2019 history, see Jammu and Kashmir (state) § History.
For the pre-1954 history, see Kashmir § History.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir was accorded special status by Article 370 of the Constitution of India. In contrast to other states of India, Jammu and Kashmir had its own constitution, flag and administrative autonomy.[21] Indian citizens from other states were not allowed to purchase land or property in Jammu and Kashmir.[22]

Jammu and Kashmir had three distinct areas: Hindu-majority Jammu region, Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley and Buddhist-dominated Ladakh.[23] Unrest and violence persisted in the Kashmiri Valley and, following a disputed state election in 1987, an insurgency persisted in protest over autonomy and rights.[23][24]

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the 2014 Indian general election and five years later included in their 2019 election manifesto the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, in order to bring Jammu and Kashmir to equal status with other states.[23]

A resolution to repeal Article 370 was passed by both the houses of the Parliament of India in August 2019. At the same time, a reorganisation act was also passed, which would reconstitute the state into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.[25] The reorganisation took effect from 31 October 2019.[15]

Geography

Topography
Topographic map of Jammu and Kashmir, with visible altitude for the Kashmir valley and Jammu region.

Jammu and Kashmir is home to several valleys such as the Kashmir Valley, Tawi Valley, Chenab Valley, Poonch Valley, Sind Valley and Lidder Valley.[26] The Kashmir valley is 100 km (62 mi) wide and 15,520.3 km2 (5,992.4 sq mi) in area.[27] The Himalayas divide the Kashmir valley from the Tibetan plateau while the Pir Panjal range, which encloses the valley from the west and the south, separates it from the Great Plains of northern India.[28] Along the northeastern flank of the Valley runs the main range of the Himalayas.[29] This valley has an average height of 1,850 metres (6,070 ft) above sea-level,[27] but the surrounding Pir Panjal range has an average elevation of 10,000 feet (3,000 m).[30] The Jhelum River is the major Himalayan river which flows through the Kashmir valley.[31] The Tawi, Ravi and Chenab are the major rivers flowing through the region.[32]

Administrative divisions
Jammu and Kashmir union territory (J and K) is bordered in carmine color. Ladakh union territory (L) is bordered in blue color.

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir consists of two divisions: Jammu Division and Kashmir Division, and is further divided into 20 districts.[33]

DivisionNameHeadquartersArea (km²)
JammuKathua DistrictKathua2,651
Jammu DistrictJammu3,097
Samba DistrictSamba904
Udhampur DistrictUdhampur4,550
Reasi DistrictReasi1,719
Rajouri DistrictRajouri2,630
Poonch DistrictPoonch1,674
Doda DistrictDoda11,691
Ramban DistrictRamban1,329
Kishtwar DistrictKishtwar1,644
Total for divisionJammu26,293
KashmirAnantnag DistrictAnantnag3,984
Kulgam DistrictKulgam1,067
Pulwama DistrictPulwama1,398
Shopian DistrictShopian612.87
Budgam DistrictBudgam1,371
Srinagar DistrictSrinagar2,228
Ganderbal DistrictGanderbal259
Bandipora DistrictBandipora398
Baramulla DistrictBaramulla4,588
Kupwara DistrictKupwara2,379
Total for divisionSrinagar15,948

Government and politics

The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is administered under the provisions of Article 239 of the Constitution of India. The Article 239A, originally formulated for the union territory of Puduchery, will also be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.[34]

Executive branch

The President of India appoints a Lieutenant Governor for the union territory.[34]

A Council of Ministers led by a Chief Minister is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from the membership of the legislative assembly. Their role is to advise the Lieutenant Governor in the exercise of functions in matters under the jurisdiction of the legislative assembly. In other matters, the Lieutenant Governor is empowered to act in his own capacity. [34]

Legislative branch

The legislative branch is of government is a unicameral legislative assembly, whose tenure is five years. The legislative assembly may make laws for any of the matters in the State List of the Constitution of India except "public order" and "police", which will remain the preserve of the central Government of India. The Lieutenant Governor also has the power to promulgate ordinances which have the same force as the acts of the legislative assembly. [34]

Elections for the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly are to be held following the implementation of new constituency boundaries which is expected to be completed in 2021.[35]

Judicial branch

The union territory is under the jurisdiction of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, which also serve as high court for Ladakh.[34] Police services are provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.[36]

Parties

The main political parties active in the region are the Bharatiya Janata Party (State President: Ravinder Raina), the Indian National Congress (State President: Ghulam Ahmad Mir, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (President: Farooq Abdullah) and the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (President: Mehbooba Mufti) . Other parties with a presence in the region parties include the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (President: Altaf Bukhari).

Jammu and Kashmir in the Parliament of India

Jammu and Kashmir sends five members (MPs) to the lower house of the Indian parliament (the Lok Sabha) and four members to the upper house (the Rajya Sabha).

Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir
Constituency
No.		ConstituencyReserved for
(SC/ST/None)
1BaramullaNone
2SrinagarNone
3AnantnagNone
4UdhampurNone
5JammuNone

Tourism

Jammu and Kashmir is home to several valleys such as the Kashmir Valley, Chenab Valley, Sindh Valley and Lidder Valley. Some major tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir are Srinagar, the Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop and Jammu. Every year, thousands of Hindu pilgrims visit holy shrines of Vaishno Devi and Amarnath which has had significant impact on the state's economy.[37]

The Kashmir valley is one of the top tourist destinations of India.[38] Gulmarg, one of the most popular ski resort destinations in India, is also home to the world's highest green golf course.[39] The decrease in violence in the state has boosted the state's economy, specifically tourism.[40]

Jammu and Kashmir is also famous for its scenic beauty, flower gardens, apple farms and more. It attracts tourists for its unique handicrafts and the world famous Kashmiri Shawls.

Notes
  1. Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir has 42,241 km2 of area administered by India and 13,297 km2 of area controlled by Pakistan under Azad Kashmir which is claimed by India as part of Jammu and Kashmir.
  2. Pronounced variably as /ˈdʒæmuː/ or /ˈdʒʌmuː/, /ˈkæʃmɪər/ or /kæʃˈmɪər/.[12]

See also
  • Jammu and Kashmir (princely state), for the entity that existed till 1952

References
  1. Desk, The Hindu Net (8 May 2017). "What is the Darbar Move in J&K all about?". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  2. "Jammu and Kashmir transitions from a state into 2 federal units". 31 October 2019.
  3. "Saser Kangri – AAC Publications – Search The American Alpine Journal and Accidents". Publications.americanalpineclub.org. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  4. Khan, N. (6 August 2012). The Parchment of Kashmir: History, Society, and Polity. Springer. p. 184. ISBN 9781137029584. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  5. "Bhadrawahi". Ethnologue.com. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  6. Bateri.
  7. Crane, Robert I. (1956). Area Handbook on Jammu and Kashmir State. University of Chicago for the Human Relations Area Files. p. 179. Shina is the most eastern of these languages and in some of its dialects such as the Brokpa of Dah and Hanu and the dialect of Dras, it impinges upon the area of the Sino-Tibetan language family and has been affected by Tibetan with an overlay of words and idioms.
  8. "Pakistan's "Burushaski" Language Finds New Relatives". Npr.org. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  9. Chandigarh, UNI (31 October 2019). "Hindi to be official language as J&K and Ladakh will get UT status on Oct 31 : Tarun Chugh". United News of India.
  10. Department of Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir
  11. https://sg.inflibnet.ac.in/jspui/bitstream/10603/90065/8/08_chapter2.pdf
  12. Jones, Daniel (2003) [1917], Peter Roach; James Hartmann; Jane Setter (eds.), English Pronouncing Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-3-12-539683-8
  13. (a) Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannia, Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent, Encyclopaedia Britannica, retrieved 15 August 2019CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories. China became active in the eastern area of Kashmir in the 1950s and has controlled the northeastern part of Ladakh (the easternmost portion of the region) since 1962.";
    (b) "Kashmir", Encyclopedia Americana, Scholastic Library Publishing, 2006, p. 328, ISBN 978-0-7172-0139-6 C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947";
  14. Jan·Osma鈔czyk, Edmund; Osmańczyk, Edmund Jan (2003), Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: G to M, Taylor & Francis, pp. 1191–, ISBN 978-0-415-93922-5 Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute between India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China."
  15. Ministry of Home Affairs (9 August 2019), "In exercise of the powers conferred by clause a of section 2 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act." (PDF), The Gazette of India, retrieved 9 August 2019
  16. Zain, Ali (13 September 2015). "Pakistani flag hoisted, pro-freedom slogans chanted in Indian Occupied Kashmir – Daily Pakistan Global". En.dailypakistan.com.pk. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  17. "Pakistani flag hoisted once again in Indian Occupied Kashmir". Dunya News. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  18. Snedden, Christopher (2013). Kashmir: The Unwritten History. HarperCollins India. pp. 2–3. ISBN 978-9350298985.
  19. "The enigma of terminology". The Hindu. 27 January 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015.
  20. South Asia: fourth report of session 2006–07 by By Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee page 37
  21. K. Venkataramanan (5 August 2019), "How the status of Jammu and Kashmir is being changed", The Hindu
  22. "Article 370 and 35(A) revoked: How it would change the face of Kashmir". The Economic Times. 5 August 2019.
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