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.
It asks 2 things — 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 and applied Article 239A, the Puducherry provision, to J&K; the Assembly elected in 2024 is a UT legislature, not a State one.
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 · Restoring statehood, as assured before the Supreme Court in the Article 370 case (2023), 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”
- Section 13 extends Article 239A, the Puducherry model, to the UT of J&K.Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 (PRS) ↗“the provisions contained in article 239A, which are applicable to “Union territory of Puducherry”, shall also apply to the “Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir”.”
- Section 57 abolished the Legislative Council of the former State.Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 (PRS) ↗“Legislative Council of the existing State of Jammu and Kashmir shall stand abolished”
- The UT Assembly has a five-year term.Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 (PRS) ↗“shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer”
- The former State's Governor became the Lieutenant Governor.Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 (PRS) ↗“the Governor of the existing State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be the Lieutenant Gove”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2025, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 219words · Minimalist IAS
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 split the State into two Union Territories, J&K with a legislature and Ladakh without. Its Section 13 applied Article 239A, the Puducherry provision, to J&K, so the Assembly elected in 2024 is a UT legislature, not a State one.
Nature of the Assembly after the 2019 Act
| Feature | Former State | UT of J&K |
|---|---|---|
| Houses | Assembly and Council | Assembly only |
| Head | Governor | Lieutenant Governor |
| Police, public order | State subjects | Outside Assembly's power |
- Unicameral: Section 57 abolished the Legislative Council.
- Composition: 114 seats; 24 stay vacant for the area under Pakistan's occupation (PoJK), which is Indian territory; SC and ST seats reserved.
- Subordinate: a five-year term (Section 17); Parliament may still legislate for the UT, and its law prevails.
Powers and functions of the Assembly
- Legislative: State List subjects except 'Public Order' and 'Police' (Section 32), plus the Concurrent List.
- Financial: votes the budget and demands for grants; money bills need the LG's recommendation.
- Executive control: a Council of Ministers under the Chief Minister, capped at ten per cent of the House, answers to it.
- Limits: the LG acts in his discretion on police, All India Services and anti-corruption; some bills are reserved for the President.
Restoring statehood, as assured before the Supreme Court in the Article 370 case (2023), would complete democratic normalisation.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
