Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)
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| Jammu and Kashmir (union territory) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Type | Union territory |
| Established | 31 October 2019 |
| Capital | Srinagar (summer), Jammu (winter) |
| Area km2 | 42,241 |
| Population | 12,267,013 (2011 census) |
| Languages | Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, English |
| Time zone | Indian Standard Time |
Jammu and Kashmir (union territory) is a union territory in northern India administered as two divisions, Jammu division and Kashmir division. The territory was created by the reorganization of the former State of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and contains internationally disputed borders with Pakistan and China. Its landscape ranges from the Himalayas and Pir Panjal to fertile valleys such as the Kashmir Valley, and it is home to diverse communities including Kashmiris, Dogras, Gujjars, and Paharis.
History
The region has a long recorded past involving ancient polities like the Kushans and Gupta Empire and medieval dynasties including the Karkota dynasty and the Shah Mir dynasty. From the early modern period, it was ruled by the Mughal Empire and later the Durrani Empire before the rise of the Dogra dynasty under Gulab Singh after the Treaty of Amritsar (1846). During the 20th century, the territory became a princely state under the British Raj; the accession episode after the Partition of India led to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 and the UN Security Council mediation that followed. Subsequent conflicts include the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and the Siachen conflict; the Simla Agreement and later accords influenced the Line of Control. In 2019 the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 revoked Article 370 and bifurcated the state, creating the current union territory and the union territory of Ladakh.
Geography and climate
The territory spans mountain ranges including the Zanskar Range, Kishtwar and the Great Himalayas, with major glaciers such as the Siachen Glacier (disputed area nearby) and river systems like the Jhelum River and the Chenab River. Notable lakes include Dal Lake and Wular Lake, and passes such as the Banihal Pass and Zojila Pass connect divisions. Climate varies from alpine tundra in highlands near Drass to temperate conditions in the Kashmir Valley and subtropical zones in Jammu city; weather patterns are influenced by western disturbances and the Indian monsoon.
Governance and administration
Following the 2019 reorganisation, administrative structures are centered on a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President of India and a unicameral legislature subject to national law; law enforcement includes the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and central deployment involves units such as the Indian Army and Border Security Force along contested frontiers. The region is divided into divisions, districts, and tehsils; major civil institutions include the Srinagar High Court (historically the Jammu and Kashmir High Court precedents), police headquarters in Jammu, and administrative bodies for tourism and resource management.
Demographics
The population comprises multiple ethno-linguistic groups: Kashmiris, Dogras, Gujjars, Bakarwals, Paharis and minorities including Kokna and various migrant communities. Religious communities include adherents of Sunni Islam, Shia Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism particularly in border and highland areas; historic communities also include Jainism presence. Urban centers such as Srinagar, Jammu, and Anantnag concentrate population, while rural districts maintain agricultural livelihoods. Census data and electoral rolls reflect dynamic migration, displacement episodes linked to events like the Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and population shifts after policy changes.
Economy
Economic activity involves horticulture (notably apple cultivation in Srinagar and Jammu division), agriculture along the Jhelum and Chenab basins, and handicrafts such as Pashmina shawls, Kashmir carpets and Kashmiri papier-mâché. Tourism centers include Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and religious sites like the Amarnath Yatra and Vaishno Devi. Hydropower projects harness rivers via initiatives such as excluding specific project names, while trade links historically passed through routes like the Silk Road corridors. Economic challenges include infrastructure constraints, conflict-related disruptions, and dependence on central transfers.
Culture and society
Cultural heritage features classical traditions like Sufism in shrines such as Khanqah-e-Moula and Aasar-e-Sharief (notable shrines), craft traditions including Kangri baskets and Kashmiri shawl weaving, and classical music associated with Sufiana Kalam. Festivals include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Navaratri celebrations at Vaishno Devi, and seasonal fairs in Srinagar and Jammu city. Literary figures and poets such as Habba Khatoon and Agha Shahid Ali are part of regional canon; modern institutions include universities like University of Kashmir and University of Jammu. Cuisine features dishes like Rogan josh, Kahwa, and Gushtaba.
Infrastructure and transportation
Transport corridors include the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH44), the Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel, and rail links like the Srinagar Railway Station developments connected via the Jammu–Baramulla line; air connectivity is served by Srinagar International Airport and Jammu Airport. Energy infrastructure comprises thermal and hydroelectric installations and grid links to the Northern Grid; communication networks include terrestrial and satellite services and national programs for connectivity. Strategic passes and border crossings interface with military logistics along sectors such as Line of Control and India–Pakistan border zones, and development projects aim to expand roads, rail and urban utilities.