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.

February 2026 — Budget Session & Statehood Debate

• 2–3 February: 27-day J&K Assembly Budget Session 2026 commences. Assembly calendar released with sittings scheduled through early March.
• 6 February: CM Omar Abdullah presents the J&K Budget 2026–27 — first full-year budget by an elected government since 2018. Allocations emphasise tourism revival post-Pahalgam, border-area development, and employment generation.
• Mid-February: LG Manoj Sinha’s address to the Assembly notably omits the word statehood, reigniting political debate. CM Omar Abdullah responds: The biggest promise made to the people was the restoration of statehood — why has it not been delivered?
• Late February: Treasury and opposition benches clash over Waqf (Amendment) Act implementation in J&K and pace of statehood restoration. Earlier Assembly resolution recalled: House had already resolved that special status under Article 370 — which continues to remain on the statute books — should be restored.

March 2026 — Restoration Rallies & Security Posture

• Early March: Budget session concludes. Several private-member resolutions on statehood and Article 370 referenced but not put to vote.
• March: Cross-regional rally in Jammu led by Mission Statehood demands restoration of statehood and Article 370 special status; participants from Jammu, Kashmir Valley, and Ladakh.
• Security: Counter-infiltration grid intensified along the LoC ahead of summer tourist season; J&K Police expand the post-Pahalgam de-radicalisation programme and tourist-area hardening.

April – May 2026 — Pahalgam Anniversary & Restoration Discourse

• 22 April 2026: First anniversary of the 2025 Pahalgam attack observed at multiple memorial sites. Operation Sindoor commemorations highlight the strategic doctrine shift on cross-border terror response.
• 26–28 April: Srinagar MP and senior NC leaders publicly reaffirm that the 2024 popular mandate is for restoration of constitutional rights including Article 370, not statehood alone. NC President Farooq Abdullah states restoration of Article 370 remains the party’s core agenda.
• April–May: Tourism rebound — Amarnath Yatra preparations expanded; pilgrim registration crosses pre-Pahalgam projections. USBRL and PMGSY road/rail phases progress.
• May: Domicile policy debate continues — J&K parties build consensus on extending the residency requirement for non-locals, citing Ladakh’s 2034 eligibility framework as comparator.