Centre Allocates ₹9,325 Crore to J&K Police in Latest Budget
SRINAGAR: The Government of India has allocated Rs 9,325 crore for the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which operates under the administrative control of the Union Home Ministry, in the Union Budget for 2025-26.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) demands for grants for 2025-26, Rs 9,325.73 crore has been allocated to the JK Police. Of this amount, Rs 8,897.72 crore has been earmarked for revenue expenditure, while Rs 428.01 crore is designated for capital expenditure.
These budgetary provisions are meant to cover the administrative expenditures of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which is responsible for maintaining law and order and managing traffic in the region.
Since 2024-25, the J&K Police budget has been integrated into the Union Budget. While the Union government has described this move as an act of financial support, opposition parties argue that it signifies continued central control over J&K for an extended period.
In 2019, the Union Government assumed legislative authority over the J&K Police through the J&K Reorganisation Act. Section 28 of the law, which bifurcated J&K into two Union Territories, states: “Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Legislative Assembly may make laws for the whole or any part of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State List except the subjects mentioned at entries 1 and 2, namely ‘Public Order’ and ‘Police’ respectively, or the Concurrent List in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India in so far as any such matter is applicable in relation to the Union Territories.” (KNO)