JAMMU, J&K – February 03, 2026During a high-profile Question Hour at the Jammu and Kashmir Budget Session 2026, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary detailed a significant shift in the region’s labor policy, confirming that while minimum wages were last updated in October 2022, all future enhancements will now be governed by the National Floor Wages under the Code on Wages 2019.
This transition, which became fully operational in J&K on November 21, 2025, replaces the old Minimum Wages Act of 1948 and introduces a more dynamic system where wages are periodically adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index and Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA).
The Deputy CM assured the Legislative Assembly that the UT is prepared to implement the higher central standards as soon as the Government of India issues the next notification, providing a much-needed safety net for unskilled, semi-skilled, and highly skilled workers against rising inflationary pressures.
The session further highlighted a major push for tribal welfare and disaster resilience across the Union Territory. Tribal Affairs Minister Javed Ahmed Rana announced the successful completion of Gujjar & Bakerwal hostels in Kupwara and Handwara, which are slated to open for admissions in the upcoming academic session with fully funded dietary and bedding provisions.
Simultaneously, the government addressed environmental and fiscal accountability, revealing that 128 brick kilns in Budgam have successfully deposited their royalties through a new digital monitoring portal designed to curb illegal mining.
On the disaster management front, the Deputy CM revealed a massive financial outlay of ₹289.39 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and an additional ₹100 crore under the UT Capex budget to facilitate urgent flood restoration works, ensuring that critical infrastructure remains protected as the region enters the new financial year.
