# Government of Jammu and Kashmir

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir is the principal administrative authority responsible for the governance of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Established on 5 March 1948 as the Government of Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the reorganization of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir in October 2019, the government operates under the framework of the Indian constitution. The union territory comprises two divisions—Jammu and Kashmir—with different cultural and geographical characteristics.
Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory in India under the terms of Article 239A (which was initially applied to Puducherry and is now also applicable to the union territory as per the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019) of the Constitution of India. Jammu and Kashmir has executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. Srinagar and Jammu are the summer and winter capitals of Jammu and Kashmir respectively.

## Executive

The head of state of Jammu and Kashmir is a lieutenant governor, appointed by the president of India on the advice of the central government. His or her post is largely ceremonial. The chief minister, is the head of government and chairs a council of ministers.

### Council of Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir

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.
The council of ministers formed after the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election is as follows:
| S.No | Name | Constituency | Department | Assumed office | Party |
| Chief Minister |||||||
| 1 | Omar Abdullah (Chief Minister) | Ganderbal | All other remaining Departments not Allocated to any Ministers shall remain to cm | 16 October 2024 | JKNC |
| Deputy Chief Minister |||||||
| 2 | Surinder Kumar Choudhary (Deputy Chief Minister) | Nowshera | Labour &Employment, Skill development , Public Works (R&b) , Mining, Industries and commerce | 16 October 2024 | JKNC |
| Cabinet Ministers |||||||
| 3 | Sakina Itoo | Damal Hanji Pora | Health and Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education, Social welfare | 16 October 2024 | JKNC |
| 4 | Javid Ahmad Dar | Rafiabad | Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative &Election | 16 October 2024 | JKNC |
| 5 | Javed Ahmed Rana | Mendhar | Tribal Affairs, Forest Ecology&Environment, Jal shakti | 16 October 2024 | JKNC |
| 6 | Satish Sharma | Chhamb | Food, Civil Supplies & consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, Ari and Trainings | 16 October 2024 | Independent |

#### Previous ministries

* First Mufti Mohammad Sayeed ministry
* First Omar Abdullah ministry
* Second Mufti Mohammad Sayeed ministry
* Mehbooba Mufti ministry

## Legislative

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.
The most recent election for the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was held in September and October 2024. The membership of the assembly by party is as follows:
| Party | Party | MLAs |
| | JKNC | 42 |
| | BJP | 29 |
| | INC | 6 |
| | JKPDP | 3 |
| | AAP | 1 |
| | CPI(M) | 1 |
| | Independent | 7 |
| | Nominated | 5 |
| Total | Total | 95 |

## Judicial

The union territory is under the jurisdiction of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which also serves as high court for neighbouring Ladakh. Police services are provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

## Local government

Jammu and Kashmir is divided into two divisions, Jammu Division and Kashmir Division which are further divided into 20 districts. The districts elect 14 member District Development Councils.

## Agencies

In 2018, Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC) was set-up to speed up languishing infrastructure development in the union territory.