As Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) government completes its first year in office, there is not much that it can celebrate. Rather, the mood in the party and in Jammu and Kashmir is that of quiet disappointment. When the NC came out with the much-touted 2024 election manifesto termed “Dignity, Identity, and Development”, there was hope that J&K will usher in a new era of efficient governance, economic revival and restoration of regional pride. Yet, a year down the line, the government’s record reads like a ledger of unfulfilled promises and political hesitancy. Of the twelve flagship commitments that the NC had proudly showcased on Page 10 of its manifesto, only one - introduction of resolution in assembly against the 370 decision - has shown any tangible progress. The rest have either been stalled in files, diluted into token gestures or disappeared from the government’s priorities. The talk of Article 370 restoration, free electricity for all and one lakh jobs remain largely unkept. The government’s economic vision, too, has faltered. The pledge to attract private investment and boost tourism has fallen victim to poor coordination, policy inconsistency and an uptick in terrorism. Tourism sector which was once touted as the cornerstone of revival of J&K’s economy continues to limp post Pahalgam terrorist attack. The much-publicized “Green J&K” initiative to promote sustainable livelihoods and environmental protection too has been reduced to a series of photo opportunities rather than a coherent policy drive. What has led to growing public frustration is the government’s apparent lack of urgency in fulfilling its promises. The Chief Minister’s initial promise of transparency and accountability seems to have vanished into the fog of political complacency. Administrative logjam has deepened confusion. The large perception is that the government is caught between ambition, self-gratification and indecision and this perception has only grown stronger over the last 12 months. Worse still, the government has continued to sidestep the issue of youth unemployment which is the single most pressing concern in Jammu and Kashmir. The government’s social welfare measures have neither generated sustainable jobs nor built confidence among the younger generation. There is no doubt that CM Abdullah inherited a complex political and economic landscape but the ability to rise above them was a test of his leadership. Sadly, the party’s first year in power has exposed a distressing gap between the government’s rhetoric and reality on the ground. If the government does not quickly recalibrate its direction, it risks losing both public trust and political credibility which may prove costly in the future.