Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir administration is intensifying preparations for the upcoming 2025-26 Budget Session. The Finance Department is in the final stages of drafting departmental proposals.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Finance portfolio, is expected to discuss key financial matters with stakeholders before presenting the budget. The government plans to prioritize election promises, focusing on public welfare schemes.
The Budget Session is tentatively scheduled for March 3, marking the first full-fledged budget presentation in six years. In a recent Cabinet meeting, a proposal to convene the session in early March was sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather will convene a Business Advisory Committee meeting to finalize the session’s duration, and CM Omar Abdullah will determine the date for the budget presentation.
This will be Omar Abdullah’s first budget presentation as Finance Minister. Previously, as Chief Minister, he managed key portfolios like Home, General Administration, and other departments. The budget needs to be approved by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly before March 31. While budget sessions in Union Territories are typically brief, this session might last for several weeks.
Assembly’s Role and Legislative Discussions
The J&K government currently consists of six ministers, and the Legislative Business Advisory Committee will allocate time for debates on:
- The Lieutenant Governor’s address
- Ministry budgets and grants
- Private members’ resolutions and bills
- Government affairs and policymaking
Jammu & Kashmir last had its state budget presented in January 2018 by then-Finance Minister Dr. Haseeb Drabu, amounting to ₹80,313 crore. However, after the fall of the coalition government in June 2018, the Assembly was dissolved. Following this, the State Administrative Council (SAC) approved a ₹88,911 crore budget for 2019-2020.
From 2020 to 2025, in the absence of an elected Assembly, the Union Government presented and passed J&K’s budget in Parliament. The 2024-25 budget stood at ₹1,18,728 crore, with the 2023-24 budget being ₹1,18,500 crore.
Uncertainty Among Legislators
Despite the proposed March session, legislators have not received formal communication. Bishnah MLA Dr. Rajiv Kumar confirmed that no official notification has been issued. Jammu East MLA Yudhvir Sethi acknowledged the tentative session date but stated that members are yet to be informed.
Omar Government’s Focus on Election Promises
- The J&K administration aims to incorporate major election promises in the budget, including:
- 200 units of free electricity for eligible households
- ₹5,000 monthly aid for economically weaker women
- 12 free LPG cylinders per year
- Employment generation with 3 lakh new government jobs
- Boosting agriculture, horticulture, tourism, and industry
Request for ₹20,000 Crore Special Package
As per reports, CM Omar Abdullah has urged the Union Finance Minister to approve a ₹20,000 crore special package for J&K. If granted, this allocation may be integrated into the upcoming budget under specific financial components.
Additionally, the J&K Finance Department has advised administrative secretaries to implement cost-cutting measures, aiming to curb unnecessary expenditures by government officials and employees.
The 2025-26 budget session will be crucial for Jammu & Kashmir, setting the financial roadmap for the newly elected government while addressing economic challenges and development goals.
