J&K Current Affairs: Post-Article 370 Timeline

August 2019

• 5 August: Parliament passes J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. Article 370 provisions effectively revoked through Presidential Order C.O. 272. Communication blackout begins.
• 5-6 August: Lockdown imposed across Kashmir Valley. All mobile, landline, and internet services suspended. Section 144 enforced.
• 6-12 August: Approximately 4,000 people detained including former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, 200+ local politicians, 100+ Hurriyat leaders.
• 9 August: PM Modi addresses nation, defends decision citing terrorism, corruption, and development concerns.
• 15 August: Independence Day observed under heavy security. Some restrictions eased in Jammu region.
• Late August: 144 minors (including children as young as 9) reported among those detained under Public Safety Act.

September 2019

• Early September: Government confirms ~4,000 arrests; mostly young men. Partial landline restoration begins.
• 14 September: Postpaid mobile services partially restored in some areas.
• 30 September: Supreme Court begins hearing petitions challenging Article 370 abrogation.

October 2019

• 4 October: US Senator Chris Van Hollen denied permission to visit Kashmir.
• 14 October: Government announces limited 2G mobile internet restoration for whitelisted websites.
• 24 October: Village council (BDC) elections held despite boycott by major parties.
• 31 October: J&K Reorganisation Act comes into force. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh officially become Union Territories.

November-December 2019

• November: Some restrictions eased in parts of Kashmir. Prepaid mobile services remain suspended.
• December: Internet shutdown continues - reported as longest in any democracy. Several petitions filed in Supreme Court.
• 31 December: Human rights groups report 69 deaths in Kashmir since August 5.

January-March 2020

• 10 January: Supreme Court rules indefinite internet shutdown illegal, orders review.
• 25 January: 2G mobile internet restored for whitelisted sites (300+ sites approved).
• March: COVID-19 pandemic reaches India. Additional restrictions in J&K. Internet access limited to 2G.
• 24 March: Omar Abdullah released after 7+ months of detention.

April-June 2020

• 1 April: New domicile law notified. 15 years residence or 7 years study qualifies for domicile certificate.
• 18 May: New land laws introduced - non-residents can now purchase agricultural land in J&K.
• June: Security personnel authorized to check phones for VPN usage.

July-September 2020

• 4 August: Full curfew imposed on 1st anniversary of abrogation. Kashmir observes "black day".
• 16 August: 4G LTE restored in Ganderbal and Udhampur districts on trial basis.
• September: Gupkar Declaration signed - major regional parties form People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).

October-December 2020

• October: District Development Council (DDC) elections announced - first since abrogation.
• 28 November - 22 December: DDC elections held in 8 phases. 51% turnout recorded.
• 22 December: DDC election results: PAGD wins 110 seats, BJP 75 seats, Independents 50 seats. BJP emerges as single largest party.
• 26 December: 75 political leaders/activists arrested preemptively after election results.

January-March 2021

• January: 19,000 tourists visit J&K - significant increase from 3,750 in January 2020.
• 5 February: 4G internet fully restored across J&K after 18 months of restrictions.
• 25 February: India-Pakistan announce ceasefire reaffirmation along LoC - first since 2003 agreement.
• March: Tourism sector begins recovery. Investment proposals cross ₹10,000 crore.

April-June 2021

• April: Second COVID wave hits. New restrictions imposed.
• June: PM Modi chairs all-party meeting on J&K - first since abrogation. Statehood restoration discussed.
• 24 June: Delimitation Commission begins work on redrawing constituencies.

July-September 2021

• July: 10.5 lakh tourists visit J&K. Tourism sector shows strong recovery.
• August: Srinagar Airport becomes first in India to surpass pre-COVID passenger arrivals (8,000+ daily).
• 1 September: Syed Ali Shah Geelani, veteran separatist leader, dies at 91.
• 2-4 September: Brief lockdown imposed following Geelani's death. Internet temporarily suspended.
• 7 September: Situation normalizes. Internet restored in all districts.

October-December 2021

• October: Multiple terror attacks in Srinagar target civilians. Security heightened.
• November: Investment proposals in J&K cross ₹25,000 crore.
• December: 627 persons detained since August 2019 (Lok Sabha data). Winter tourism records new highs.

January-March 2022

• January: Delimitation Commission's draft proposals published. Jammu gets 6 additional seats.
• February: Opposition parties criticize delimitation as favoring BJP.
• March: "The Kashmir Files" film released, sparks nationwide debate on Kashmiri Pandits.

April-June 2022

• April: Article 370 (2024 film) announced - based on abrogation events.
• 5 May: Final delimitation order issued. J&K Assembly to have 90 seats (47 Kashmir + 43 Jammu). 24 seats reserved for PoK.
• June: Amarnath Yatra resumes after 2-year COVID break. Enhanced security deployed.

July-December 2022

• 8 July: Amarnath Yatra cloudburst kills 16 pilgrims, injures 40+.
• August: 3rd anniversary of abrogation. Opposition renews demand for restoration of statehood.
• October: Supreme Court constitution bench formed to hear Article 370 petitions.
• December: J&K Apni Party formed by Altaf Bukhari gains prominence. Political realignment continues.

January-June 2023

• January: Parliament passes J&K Reservation Bill - 7 seats reserved for SCs, 9 for STs.
• March: Supreme Court begins final hearing on Article 370 petitions. 5-judge Constitution Bench.
• May: Tourism records broken - 1.62 crore tourists visit J&K in first 5 months.
• June: G20 Tourism Working Group meeting held in Srinagar. Pakistan protests.

July-August 2023

• July: Supreme Court hearings continue. Government argues Article 370 was always temporary.
• 2-16 August: Final arguments in SC. Petitioners argue procedure was unconstitutional.
• 5 August: 4th anniversary of abrogation. Restrictions in some areas.

September-October 2023

• September: Supreme Court reserves judgment.
• October: Speculation over verdict timing. Political parties prepare for elections.

November-December 2023

• 11 December: LANDMARK VERDICT: Supreme Court unanimously upholds Article 370 abrogation. Key findings:

• Article 370 was a "temporary provision" that had "eroded" over time
• President's power under Article 370(3) could be exercised even without J&K Constituent Assembly
• Court orders elections by 30 September 2024
• Recommends restoration of statehood "at the earliest"
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission suggested

January-March 2024

• January: Political parties begin election preparations. NC-Congress alliance negotiations start.
• 23 February: "Article 370" film releases. Becomes box office success.
• March: Election Commission begins preparatory work for J&K Assembly elections.

April-June 2024

• April-May: Lok Sabha elections held in J&K (5 seats). NC wins 2, BJP 2, Independent 1.
• June: Tourism boom continues. 2.35 crore tourists projected for 2024.
• Late June: J&K Assembly election dates announced for September-October.

July-August 2024

• July: Amarnath Yatra concludes successfully. Over 4.5 lakh pilgrims visit.
• 16 August: Election Commission announces schedule: 3 phases on September 18, 25 and October 1.
• August: NC-Congress alliance confirmed. BJP to contest independently. PDP allies with smaller parties.

September 2024

• 18 September: Phase 1 voting - 24 constituencies in south Kashmir and Jammu. 61.38% turnout.
• 25 September: Phase 2 voting - 26 constituencies. 57.31% turnout.

October 2024

• 1 October: Phase 3 voting - 40 constituencies including Srinagar. 65.48% turnout.
• 8 October: ELECTION RESULTS:

• 63.88% overall turnout - highest in 25+ years
• 12 October: NC-Congress-CPI(M) alliance (part of the INDIA bloc) stakes claim to form government.
• 16 October: Omar Abdullah sworn in as Chief Minister for his second term. Surinder Singh Choudhary appointed Deputy CM.
• Significance: First elected government in the Union Territory of J&K; marks a return to representative governance after 6 years of central rule.

November-December 2024

• November: Omar Abdullah cabinet expansion. Focus on governance reforms, statehood demand.
• December: J&K government's first budget session. CM reiterates statehood demand.
• Year-end: 2.35 crore tourists visited J&K in 2024. Record investment of ₹52,000 crore received. 83,000+ domicile certificates issued.

January-March 2025

• January: J&K government presents first full budget. Focus on tourism, employment.
• February: Union Budget allocates record funds for J&K development.
• March: Chenab Rail Bridge nears completion. Major infrastructure push continues.

April 2025 - Pahalgam Attack & Crisis

• 22 April: PAHALGAM TERROR ATTACK: Militants attack tourists at Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam. 26 killed, 20+ injured. Victims identified by religion before being shot. All but one victim were Hindus.
• 22-23 April: The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claims responsibility (later retracts).
• 23 April: India suspends Indus Waters Treaty, expels Pakistani diplomats, closes Attari-Wagah border, cancels all Pakistani visas.
• 24-26 April: Pakistan closes border, suspends Simla Agreement. Cross-border firing begins along LoC.
• Late April: Security forces launch massive operation. Top LeT commander Altaf Lalli killed.

May 2025 - Operation Sindoor & Ceasefire

• 1-6 May: Continuous firing along LoC. Pakistan fires on International Border for first time.
• 7 May: OPERATION SINDOOR: India launches missile strikes on Pakistan. Pakistan responds with Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos.
• 7-9 May: Poonch witnesses heaviest shelling since 1971. 16 civilians killed. 27 Indian airports closed. 430+ flights cancelled.
• 10 May: CEASEFIRE ANNOUNCED: India and Pakistan agree to immediate, full ceasefire.

June-December 2025

• June-July: Recovery efforts in border areas. Diplomatic tensions continue but military situation stabilizes.
• 29 July: PM Modi in Parliament states India's actions were "non-escalatory" and ceasefire followed Pakistan's request.
• August-September: Tourism slowly recovers. CM Omar Abdullah focuses on rebuilding border area infrastructure.
• October-December: J&K GDP projected at ₹2.88 lakh crore for 2025-26. Focus on economic recovery.

January 2026

• Early January: Budget session of J&K Assembly underway. Focus on post-crisis recovery.
• Key priorities: Statehood restoration, tourism revival, border area development, employment generation.
• CM Omar Abdullah: States statehood, tourism recovery, and budget will be major challenges for the year.
• Infrastructure: AIIMS Kashmir expected to be operational by end of 2026. Jammu gets separate rail division.