Budget debate set to continue till Feb 19; voting after CM’s reply
BuzzBytes News Desk
Jammu | Feb 18, 2026
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday moved 13 Demands for Grants and 19 Supplementary Demands in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, seeking approval of funds for key departments under his charge for the current and next financial years.
The Demands were formally placed before the House for discussion by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, marking a crucial stage of the Budget session.
“I move that a sum not exceeding the aggregate amount mentioned in Demand Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 19, 20, 24, 31 and 33 be granted to the Government to defray charges during the year ending March 31, 2027,” Omar Abdullah told the House.
The Demands for Grants pertain to departments directly held by the Chief Minister, including:
General Administration
Planning, Monitoring and Development
Information
Power
Finance
Parliamentary Affairs
Law and Justice
Revenue
Housing
Tourism
Hospitality and Protocol
Estates
Culture
Disaster Management
Moving the Supplementary Demands, the Chief Minister said:
“I also move that a sum not exceeding the aggregate amount mentioned in Supplementary Demand Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 30, 32, 35 and 36 be granted to the Government to meet expenditure during the year ending March 31, 2026.”
According to the Assembly Secretariat, the discussion on Demands for Grants will continue on February 18 and 19, with members from the treasury benches and opposition expected to raise issues related to governance, development priorities, financial discipline and sector-wise allocations.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will reply to the debate on February 19 afternoon, following which the Demands for Grants will be put to a voice vote for approval.
The passage of Demands for Grants is a key step in the Budget process, allowing the government to draw funds from the Consolidated Fund of the Union Territory for departmental expenditure in the coming financial year.
