J&K Budget Session 2026: Government Announces Major Funding for Sports, Education, and Infrastructure Across Constituencies
JAMMU, April 04, 2026 — The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly’s Question Hour today saw a flurry of developmental announcements, with a primary focus on boosting sports infrastructure in the Ramnagar and Marh constituencies.
Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, revealed that ₹45.824 lakh has been allotted for sports activities in Ramnagar, alongside the ongoing transformation of the Raja Ram Singh Stadium into a multipurpose facility, expected to be completed by October 2026.
Similarly, Marh constituency is seeing a massive upgrade with the ₹1 crore renovation of the Marh playfield and the completion of new volleyball courts and school grounds. Minister Sharma emphasized that these initiatives, guided by the J&K Sports Policy 2022, aim to nurture talent through over 9,000 localized coaching camps and tournaments conducted recently across the Jammu district.In the education sector, Minister Sakeena Itoo clarified the government’s strategic shift toward “consolidation over expansion.”
Responding to queries regarding school upgrades, she stated that the School Education Department (SED) is currently prioritizing the strengthening of existing infrastructure and ensuring adequate teaching staff in already upgraded institutions.
While a feasibility report for upgrading High School Jawahirpora Lam has been submitted, the Minister noted that further elevations of schools to Higher Secondary levels will strictly depend on enrollment data and distance norms.
This approach ensures that current schools are fully functional and well-staffed before the administration takes on new projects.Infrastructure and land rights also dominated the proceedings, with Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana providing updates on vital irrigation and power projects.
Minister Rana confirmed the installation of pumping machinery at six tube-well locations in Hiranagar, though he acknowledged that some distribution work remains stalled due to land disputes.
Furthermore, the government detailed a comprehensive Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) plan for the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project, which spans Ramban, Udhampur, and Reasi districts. With Ramban being the most affected by submergence, the Minister assured the House that compensation and developmental benefits are being distributed equitably across all three districts based on technical and economic feasibility.
Finally, the House addressed the sensitive issue of land compensation. Minister Javed Rana, speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister, affirmed that all proprietary land acquisitions are governed strictly by the Land Act 2013 and the National Highways Authority Act.
Addressing discrepancies in land classification—where agricultural land was converted to orchards without official updates—the Minister noted that revenue records are being regularly updated through biannual harvest inspections.
The government maintained that while legal frameworks dictate compensation, no additional relief provisions are currently envisioned beyond the existing statutes, ensuring a standardized approach to land acquisition across the Union Territory.