Did abrogating special status for J&K make a difference?, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Seven years ago, on August 5, 2019, Article 370 and Article 35A were abrogated, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government projected these changes as a solution for J&K's economic backwardness and terrorism.
• An analysis suggests that promises of wide-ranging transformation in the economy, education, employment, and security have largely not been met.

Detailed Insights:

• The abrogation was implemented through legislations introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on August 5, 2026, that lives in J&K and Ladakh have been transformed by growing opportunities.
• Data from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) indicates J&K's economy contracted in 2019-20 and 2020-21, with growth dropping sharply in 2024-25.
• Capital outlay for J&K did not significantly increase and contracted in the two years post-2019, according to CAG reports.
• Higher education enrollment and Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in J&K declined in 2022-23 and 2023-24, as per All India Survey on Higher Education reports.
• The Periodic Labour Force Survey shows that while male unemployment did not improve, female unemployment rose, particularly in 2023-24.
• RBI data indicates a marginal drop in the number of factories in J&K between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
• Terrorism incidents and deaths of civilians and soldiers have not dropped below 2012-2016 levels.
• Cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the number of undertrials and detenues have sharply increased.
• J&K's Freedom House score for civil liberties and political rights has declined since 2019.
• The government's promise of restoring J&K's statehood remains unfulfilled.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 370: A provision in the Indian Constitution that granted special autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Article 35A: An article that empowered the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define "permanent residents" and provide them special rights.
• Union Territory: An administrative division in India directly governed by the central government, unlike states which have elected governments.
• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA): An Indian law aimed at preventing unlawful activities, often used to combat terrorism and insurgency.
• Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG): The supreme audit institution of India, responsible for auditing all receipts and expenditure of the Union and State governments.