Jammu Bags 72% of Reservation Certificates in 2025, Kashmir Only 28%: Inside J&K’s Growing Regional Imbalance
By: Javid Amin | 31 October 2025
A Statistic That Sparks a Debate
In 2025, official data revealed a striking divide in Jammu & Kashmir’s social welfare landscape: out of 2,15,863 reservation certificates issued between January and September, Jammu region accounted for nearly 72%, while Kashmir received just 28%.
On paper, these certificates are meant to ensure that socially and economically disadvantaged communities—such as Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Actual Line of Control (ALC), and International Border (IB) categories—receive equitable opportunities in jobs, education, and welfare.
But when one region dominates the issuance by such a large margin, questions naturally arise:
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Is the distribution truly fair, or does it reflect deeper structural and administrative biases?
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Are eligibility criteria excluding deserving applicants from Kashmir?
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And most crucially, does this pattern risk widening regional mistrust in an already sensitive Union Territory?
This article investigates the numbers behind the disparity, the policy framework governing these certificates, and the human and political implications of this imbalance.
The Numbers Tell a Story: A Region Divided
According to official data tabled in the Legislative Assembly and confirmed by Social Welfare Minister Sakina Ittoo, between January and September 2025, the figures stand as follows:
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Total Reservation Certificates Issued: 2,15,863
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Jammu Region: 1,54,992 certificates (71.8%)
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Kashmir Region: 60,871 certificates (28.2%)
Rejected Applications
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Total Rejections: 32,671
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Jammu: 25,354
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Kashmir: 7,317
The primary reason for rejection, as the minister clarified, was failure to meet asset-based eligibility criteria—a condition that assesses an applicant’s income, property, and social indicators to verify backwardness or economic disadvantage.
At first glance, Jammu’s higher numbers could be interpreted as a reflection of greater eligibility or more proactive administration. But the gap is too large—and the underlying socioeconomic realities too complex—to accept such a simple explanation.
Understanding Reservation Certificates: A Primer
Reservation certificates in Jammu & Kashmir are issued under the J&K Reservation Act and the J&K Reservation Rules, which provide social and economic safeguards to various disadvantaged groups.
The certificates act as proof of eligibility for reserved quotas in:
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Government jobs
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Professional college admissions
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Skill development programs
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Welfare schemes
Each certificate is linked to a specific category such as:
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Scheduled Castes (SC)
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Scheduled Tribes (ST)
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Other Backward Classes (OBC)
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Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)
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Residents of Actual Line of Control (ALC)
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Residents of International Border (IB)
Historically, these policies were introduced to bridge historical inequities, especially in a region marked by both ethnic diversity and geographical fragmentation.
However, post-2019—after the revocation of Article 370 and the reorganization of J&K into a Union Territory—the administrative framework and reservation policies have undergone substantial changes. These transformations appear to have favored Jammu, where demographic composition and administrative access differ sharply from Kashmir.
Why Jammu Dominates the Numbers
Several factors explain Jammu’s overwhelming 72% share. While some are demographic, others are bureaucratic, political, and structural.
1. Higher Representation of SC and IB Categories
Jammu’s population includes a significant Scheduled Caste (SC) population, which forms a considerable part of the reservation pool. Additionally, Jammu houses most of the International Border (IB) belt—areas entitled to special reservation benefits.
This naturally increases the number of eligible applicants.
2. Administrative Accessibility
The process of obtaining a reservation certificate involves:
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Document verification by Tehsildar or SDM offices
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Field inquiries
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Income proof and domicile verification
In Kashmir, where administrative processes are often slowed by unrest, internet shutdowns, or security-related restrictions, access to documentation and verification is far more challenging.
Jammu, with more stable connectivity and infrastructure, thus witnesses faster processing and higher application success rates.
3. Asset-Based Criteria
Post-2019 reforms introduced asset-based income and property checks, aligning J&K’s system with central norms.
However, Kashmir’s informal economy—characterized by unregistered incomes from crafts, agriculture, and tourism—makes it difficult for many genuine applicants to produce the required proofs.
This has led to higher rejection rates and lower application confidence in the Valley.
4. Political Influence and Awareness
Local governance in Jammu is often perceived as more politically aligned with the ruling establishment, leading to better coordination between local bodies and district administrations.
Furthermore, awareness campaigns about welfare entitlements have been more consistent in Jammu’s rural districts, particularly among OBC and border communities.
5. Migration and Post-Conflict Realignment
After decades of migration and displacement, many communities in Jammu—particularly refugees from Pakistan-administered areas and border districts—fall under special reserved categories. Their formal documentation and settlement patterns make them more likely to apply and qualify for certificates.
Why Kashmir Lags Behind
While Jammu’s dominance is often defended as “demographic logic,” the reality is far more nuanced. Kashmir’s low share—just 28% of total certificates—signals deeper administrative and socioeconomic constraints.
1. Documentation Deficit
Many families in rural Kashmir lack formal land records, income certificates, or digital access. This documentation gap disqualifies them despite genuine economic need.
2. Conflict and Governance Gaps
Frequent shutdowns, strikes, and curfews disrupt bureaucratic work cycles. Unlike Jammu, which enjoys relatively uninterrupted administrative functioning, Kashmir’s governance is often episodic and reactive. This affects both outreach and verification processes.
3. Informal Economy Complexity
A significant share of Kashmir’s economy operates informally—especially in handicrafts, horticulture, and tourism. Applicants working in these sectors find it difficult to provide tax or income documentation, a requirement under asset-based criteria.
4. Limited Awareness and Outreach
Compared to Jammu, awareness campaigns about reservation benefits, application procedures, and category updates are less visible in Kashmir. Many rural applicants are unaware of new norms post-2019.
5. Political Alienation and Institutional Trust Deficit
Post-Article 370, many Kashmiris perceive administrative institutions as detached or biased, leading to low participation and distrust in state-run welfare programs. This sentiment directly impacts application numbers.
Socioeconomic and Political Implications
The 72:28 divide is not merely statistical—it has far-reaching implications for social cohesion, representation, and political trust in Jammu & Kashmir.
1. Erosion of Public Trust
Kashmiris view the data as another example of institutional favoritism toward Jammu. This perception, if unaddressed, could deepen existing regional rifts and undermine confidence in post-370 governance promises of “equal development.”
2. Regional Disparities in Opportunities
Reservation certificates are the gateway to jobs and education quotas. If fewer Kashmiris receive them, the imbalance extends into:
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Fewer government jobs for Valley youth
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Reduced representation in state services
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Skewed educational admissions
3. Political Sensitivities
MLA Sajad Gani Lone raised the issue in the Assembly, calling it an indicator of policy imbalance and systemic neglect of the Valley’s poor. His intervention reflects the issue’s growing political weight, with opposition leaders framing it as a case of institutional marginalization.
4. Reinforcement of Regional Narratives
For years, Jammu and Kashmir have existed in narrative contrast—one seen as neglected and the other as privileged. Ironically, post-2019, these narratives have inverted. Jammu feels empowered, while Kashmir perceives itself as administratively sidelined.
The Human Face of the Disparity
Behind these numbers lie thousands of personal stories—students unable to claim reserved college seats, job aspirants missing cut-offs due to missing certificates, and families disillusioned by bureaucratic hurdles.
In Pulwama, Shazia Bano, a 23-year-old applicant from an OBC family, was rejected twice because her family’s income was derived from unregistered apple trade. “We are poor,” she says, “but we can’t prove it on paper.”
In contrast, Sunil Kumar from Kathua’s border belt received his IB category certificate within 15 days. “The process was smooth,” he said. “The Patwari and SDM office helped me throughout.”
These anecdotes reflect the administrative asymmetry more vividly than any data chart could.
Policy Questions That Need Answers
Experts argue that the issue is not just about who gets more certificates, but how fair and transparent the process is.
1. Are Eligibility Criteria Regionally Sensitive?
Asset-based assessments may not accurately reflect poverty in conflict-affected or informal economies like Kashmir. The government needs context-specific parameters.
2. Is There Adequate Administrative Parity?
The number of functioning welfare offices, verification officers, and public service centers per district vary sharply between Jammu and Kashmir. Equal distribution of resources could reduce the gap.
3. Should There Be Regional Quotas in Certificate Issuance?
Some policy experts propose district-based proportionality, ensuring that certificate distribution aligns with population demographics and socioeconomic indices.
Government’s Response
Social Welfare Minister Sakina Ittoo, while confirming the numbers, dismissed allegations of bias. She emphasized that the criteria are uniform across the Union Territory and that variations reflect “regional differences in eligibility and documentation.”
The administration maintains that technological improvements, such as online application portals and integrated verification databases, will gradually reduce regional disparities.
However, civil society groups argue that technology cannot substitute ground realities—especially where trust and accessibility are uneven.
Way Forward: Toward Equitable Access
If the government truly seeks to uphold the spirit of social justice, it must act decisively to address these imbalances.
1. Simplify Documentation Norms
Introduce flexible verification for income and property in informal sectors—especially for conflict-affected families.
2. Launch Awareness Campaigns
Use local media, radio, and community programs in rural Kashmir to raise awareness about reservation entitlements and digital application processes.
3. Strengthen Local Administration
Deploy more social welfare officers and verification staff in under-served districts to ensure timely processing.
4. Transparency and Public Audit
Publish district-wise monthly data on issued and rejected certificates to ensure accountability.
5. Independent Review Commission
Constitute a bipartisan review body to examine disparities in welfare certificate distribution and recommend corrective measures.
Conclusion: Bridging the Divide
The 72:28 reservation certificate divide between Jammu and Kashmir is not just about numbers—it’s about equity, governance, and the social contract that binds a divided land.
For Jammu, these certificates represent inclusion and recognition. For Kashmir, their scarcity signals exclusion and neglect.
Bridging this gap requires more than data-driven defenses—it demands empathetic governance, region-sensitive policies, and political sincerity. Only then can the promise of equal opportunity across J&K move from rhetoric to reality.
