Chief Minister Omar Abdullah presented the 2026-27 budget for Jammu and Kashmir in the Assembly. The total budget size is around ₹1.14 lakh crore (net), with about ₹80,640 crore going to daily running costs like salaries and pensions, and ₹33,127 crore for building new things like roads, schools, and hospitals.
He called it a “fiscal compass” – basically a guide map for the future. The journey is long (“Safar Taveel Hai”), he said, meaning no quick fixes or big miracles overnight. J&K earns only about 25% of its money on its own. The rest comes from the central government – grants, schemes, and help. Our own taxes and other income are low, and a big chunk of spending goes to salaries, old pensions, and loans. So, we depend heavily on Delhi’s support.
The budget focuses on practical things. It pushes for better power supply (aiming 24/7 in low-loss areas), fixes in farming like more high-density orchards and storage, health upgrades (new emergency hospitals in Uri and Poonch, cancer care push), education changes following new national policy, and tourism growth with eco-friendly spots.
For people, there are helpful steps: free fee waivers for poor families, monthly help for orphans, six free LPG cylinders a year for Antyodaya card holders, fast-tracking 23,800 government jobs, support for women self-help groups to become “Lakhpati Didis”, and youth schemes where ₹800 crore has already reached many.
The ruling side is happy and cheering – they see it as balanced, caring for youth, women, farmers, and poor people, while keeping spending in check.
Opposition isn’t pleased. They say it lacks big new ideas, doesn’t cut dependence on centre enough, and doesn’t solve unemployment or bring fast industrial growth properly.
Look, folks in J&K, we have to face facts. With limited local money, tough geography, and past troubles hitting tourism, farming, and handicrafts hard, expecting sudden big changes isn’t realistic. A whole new budget magic in a short time won’t happen on its own.
This plan is about steady progress – more jobs, better services, cleaner energy, and helping the needy – without wild promises. If we all work together, follow through, and stay patient, things can slowly get stronger. Let’s understand our limits and build from there.
