The abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 has opened a new chapter in the Jammu & Kashmir more particularly in Kashmir valley. The historical step paved way for the complete integration of J&K into the India’s legal and administrative framework. Thus, it opened and unlocked various schemes, initiatives, programs, and reforms in governance, security, infrastructure, and social policy earlier which was denied to the people due to the existence of special status. Over the five years since this pivotal change, the valley has witnessed an unprecedented change in the mindset of the common people, seeing through transformation, pivoting from violence and stagnation toward peace, prosperity, and progress. All this has brought a real change in the ground.

Post-2019, valley has witnessed a significant improvement in the security situation. Terror-related incidents have declined and civilian deaths have completely stopped. Stone-pelting, once a daily feature of life in the Valley, has virtually disappeared and not single case of street protest took place. The separatist’s amalgam Hurriyat Conference has lost relevance and many of them have embraced the peace. Though the initial expectation was a violent backlash to the constitutional changes, swift administrative and security action pre-empted any large-scale resistance. Instead, the Valley has witnessed the return of peace, reflected in the continuous functioning of schools, bustling marketplaces, and the re-emergence of tourism. Even border areas of valley are open and promoted as tourist destinations.
Tourism in Kashmir is not just an economic pillar, but also a politically sensitive sector. The adversary has persistently targeted this sector to spread unrest, the recent one in Pahalgam. That decisive blow came with the abrogation of Article 370, which not only crushed the ideological lifeline of militancy but also severely weakened the separatism, to the extent that it may never recover. Considering it as backbone of Kashmir, In 2022, Kashmir received a historic 18.88 million visitors. This momentum surged further, with 21.1 million tourists in 2023 and 23.5 million in 2024. These numbers mark a 2525% increase compared to the pre-insurgency peak of 1987. A noteworthy return of international tourists has also been observed. In 2021, just 1,614 foreign tourists visited; by 2024, this figure rose to over 43,000, aided by events such as the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar. Festivals like the Tulip Festival, Winter Carnival, and Khelo India Games have become annual fixtures, boosting both revenue and regional pride. According to the Economic Survey Report 2024–25, tourism contributed ₹18,550 crore—7% of the UT’s GSDP—making it a keystone of the post-abrogation economy.
Post abrogation bifurcated the previous laws and made direct contact with the central government which has accelerated in infrastructure projects. Over ₹6,358 crore has been spent on Smart City projects in Srinagar and Jammu. Notable achievements include the world’s highest railway arch bridge, part of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), completed in 2023, Zojila and Banihal Tunnels enabling all-weather road connectivity to Ladakh and reducing travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, completion of flyovers in Nowgam, Bemina, and Sanat Nagar to reduce congestion. Rural and urban digital infrastructure has also expanded with e-governance platforms, smart waste management, and real-time traffic monitoring systems, ushering in a culture of modern, responsive urban management. Post-2019, women’s empowerment became a core focus of policy in Jammu and Kashmir. Multiple flagship schemes saw exponential growth in outreach and impact which include UMEED (Self-Help Groups). Under this scheme over 5.5 lakh women are enrolled, with SHGs generating over ₹500 crore in cumulative income. Under Ladli Beti Scheme beneficiaries increased from 16,000 in 2017 to 1,61,552 in 2023–24, with total financial support exceeding ₹847 crore. Tejaswini Scheme covered over 1,162 women supported with startup funding; ₹6.86 crore disbursed under Mission Youth. Women’s political representation surged, with over 14,000 elected women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. The sex ratio at birth improved from 922 (2011) to 965 (2018), and participation in education and skill training reached new heights., all these efforts are improving the quality of life of the citizens.
Also, healthcare system underwent a strategic overhaul. Key developments include: Establishment of 7 new Government Medical Colleges, 2 AIIMS campuses, and 15 nursing colleges, MBBS seats increased from 500 (2014) to 1,347 (2023), Under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT, over 80 lakh residents now receive ₹5 lakh health insurance per family per year. Over 7 lakh hospitalizations have been covered, worth ₹1,200 crore. Health Infrastructure expanded rapidly, with 900 Sub-Health Centres and 200 Primary Health Centres upgraded to Health & Wellness Centres. Digital platforms like e-Sanjeevani facilitated 3.5 lakh teleconsultations, making healthcare accessible in remote areas.
Employment generation became central to the post-abrogation development model. The government launched a series of interventions to address the challenge and 9.5 lakh livelihoods stand created through PMEGP, Mumkin, and Tejaswini schemes. This has led unemployment rate that has been reduced from 6.7% (2019) to 6.1% (2024). Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased to 64.3%, a major achievement in a previously low-participation region. Schemes like Parwaz Coaching, Super-75, and Mission Youth have made skill development aspirational for both rural and urban youth, offering coaching for NEET, UPSC, and JEE, besides vocational training in digital and service sectors.
The post-2019 education push focused on access, digitalization, and equity. New institutions like IIT Jammu and IIM Jammu have created regional excellence hubs. Medical and engineering colleges rose from 96 to 147; MBBS seat capacity grew 2.5x. Over 450 ICT smart classrooms, 13 new KVs, and 21 Smart Schools modernized primary and secondary learning. Schemes like PMSSS helped over 10,000 J&K girls study in premier institutions across India. Initiatives like e-Vidya, DIKSHA, and tablet distribution to students bridged the digital divide during and after the pandemic.
While restoring and resettling the honour and dignity of women in Kashmir was a challenging task, the prevailing mindset of the Kashmiri people towards gender roles posed an additional hurdle. In order to address this, the government has implemented policies aimed at changing the mindset of students through schemes like PM Ujjwala Yojana (Over 12.43 lakh LPG connections issued in women’s names) , PM Matru Vandana Yojana (1,09,260 women received DBT benefits of up to ₹6,000) State Marriage Assistance Scheme (Over 1.24 lakh girls assisted with ₹394 crore in marriage support) along with dedicated One Stop Centres, women police stations, and improved legal aid delivery, which have created safer environments for reporting crimes and accessing justice. These efforts have transformed the valley into a true paradise after more than three decades, and it would now be apt to say: 'Agar firdaus bar rooy-e zameen ast, hameen ast o, hameen ast o, hameen ast.'
(If there is a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this)

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