Discuss the nature of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. Briefly describe the powers and functions of the Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Approach · directive: “discuss / describe”
What it asks · Characterise the J&K Assembly under the 2019 Act as a Union Territory legislature (not a State legislature), then outline what it can and cannot do.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Discuss: the nature of the J&K Legislative Assembly after the Reorganisation Act, 2019 — a Union Territory legislature, not a State legislature
- Describe briefly: the powers and functions of the Assembly of the Union Territory of J&K
Open with · The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 split the State into two Union Territories — J&K with a legislature, Ladakh without one; the first Assembly under it was elected in 2024.
Cover
- Nature: a unicameral UT legislature on the Puducherry model; the Lieutenant Governor is the administrator; the Legislative Council was abolished.
- Composition: 114 seats, of which 24 (areas under Pakistan's occupation) stay vacant; seats reserved for SCs and STs; LG may nominate women, Kashmiri migrants and displaced persons.
- Law-making: on State List and Concurrent List subjects except 'public order' and 'police'; Parliament's laws prevail in case of conflict.
- Finance: passes the budget and demands for grants; money bills and bills with financial implications need the LG's recommendation.
- Executive link: Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister, collectively responsible to the Assembly and capped at 10% of its strength.
- Limits: the LG acts in his discretion on specified matters (police, All India Services, anti-corruption); some bills must be reserved for the President.
- Debate: restores elected government but with diluted powers; the Supreme Court (Article 370 case, 2023) recorded the assurance of restoring statehood.
Close with · The Assembly revives representative government, but with a strong LG and trimmed powers — restoration of statehood, as assured, would complete democratic normalisation.
Add value (verified)
- Section 32 of the Act keeps 'public order' and 'police' outside the Assembly's law-making power. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 (Bill No. XXIX of 2019, as introduced in Rajya Sabha) — text hosted by PRS Legislative Research, clause 32 ↗“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”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2025, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 243 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 split the State into two Union Territories — J&K with a legislature, Ladakh without — and applied Article 239A, the Puducherry provision, to J&K. The Assembly elected in 2024 is therefore a Union Territory legislature.
Nature of the Assembly
- Unicameral: the Legislative Council is abolished; the Lieutenant Governor, not a Governor, is the administrator.
- Composition: 114 seats after delimitation, 24 kept vacant for Pakistan-occupied territory; reservation for SCs and STs; the LG may nominate women, Kashmiri migrants and displaced persons.
- Term of five years, replacing the six-year term under the former State constitution.
- Subordinate: Parliament's power to legislate for the Union Territory is untouched, and a central law prevails in conflict.
Powers and functions
- Legislative: State List subjects except 'public order' and 'police' (entries 1 and 2), and the Concurrent List as applicable to Union Territories.
- Financial: votes the budget and demands for grants; money bills and bills involving expenditure need the LG's prior recommendation.
- Executive control: a Council of Ministers led by the Chief Minister, capped at ten per cent of the Assembly's strength, is collectively responsible to the House.
- Limits: the LG acts in his discretion on police, All India Services and anti-corruption matters; specified bills are reserved for the President.
The Assembly restores elected government within a Union Territory frame that keeps security, services and residual power with the Centre; the statehood assured in the Article 370 case (2023) would complete democratic normalisation.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.