Demographic Advantage

As per the 2011 census, the population of the state is 1,25,41,302 which represents 0.93% of the country's total population with a male-female ratio of 892 females per thousand males. Out of the total population, 27% of the population live in urban areas. The literacy rate of J&K stands at 68.74% as per Census, 2011.
Jammu & Kashmir is, thus, fortunate enough to have the largest generation of young people ever seen with about 69% of the population below the age of 35 years.

The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) of the UT for 2022-23 was 60.7% (as on Dec 2023).
Unemployment Rate on usual status in J&K has declined from 6.7 % in 2019-20 to 5.2 % in 2021-22. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in J&K is 61.5% in 2021-22 as against 56.3% in 2019-20.

Healthcare Facilities

J&K has a robust public health infrastructure with the presence of more than 4100 health institutions broadly conforming to the Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) norms in terms of geographical coverage. Around 350 health infrastructure projects worth more than INR 7000 Cr are being established for the strengthening of district and sub-district level institutions. The upcoming mega projects include two AIIMS, seven government medical colleges, 15 nursing colleges, two state cancer institutes, and two bone & joint hospitals. The health sector has an allocation of 6.97% of the UT budget during 2022-23 in comparison to 6.50% during 2021-22.

The neonatal mortality rate has decreased to a single digit of 9.8 per 1000 live births, a decrease of 13.3 points; the infant mortality rate has decreased to 16.3, a decrease of 16.1 points; and the sex ratio at birth has significantly improved from 923 to 976. The percentage of fully immunised children against vaccine-preventable diseases has increased to 96.5%. Institutional births have increased from 85.6% to 92.40%. Life expectancy at birth in the UT has reached 74.3 years, which is the highest in the country after Kerala and Delhi, while the national average is 70 years.

According to the Rural Health Statistics 2021-22, the UT has 2,429 Sub Centers (Rural), 891 Primary Health Centers (Rural), 82 Primary Health Centers (Urban), 56 Community Health Centers (Rural), 23 Community Health Centers (Urban), 15 District Hospitals, and 3,538 Health and Wellness Centers.

Educational Facilities

The literacy rate has witnessed substantial growth from 11% in the census of 1961 to 68.74% in 2011, particularly among females. J&K jumped to the 8th rank in 2021–22 from the 17th rank in 2017 in the National Achievement Survey, which assesses the level of learning outcomes of the students. Similarly, the school dropout rate has decreased from 5.86 to 4 at the primary level, 5.14 to 2.99 at the upper primary level, and 18.48 to 5.96 at the secondary level from 2019-20 to 2021-22. J&K has a network of 28,805 schools and a total enrollment of over 27.18 lakh students from pre-primary to class XII. The enrollment ratio has increased from 93.15 to 111.92 at the primary level and from 58.66 to 60.54 at the secondary level from 2019-20 to 2021-22, while it has marginally decreased from 65.63 to 66.55 at the upper primary level during the same period.

The state's 55 colleges have already been granted NAAC accreditation; 30 colleges are in the process of starting research activities by establishing research hubs, and 50 colleges have been identified to start skill courses of level 4 of NSQF. Five autonomous degree colleges are being upgraded to multidisciplinary education and research universities.

29 polytechnics functioning in the UT of J&K offer three-year diploma programmes in engineering, non-engineering, paramedical and tourism-related courses. The Directorate of Skill Development has accredited 85 Industrial Training Institutes having 71 designated trades with an intake capacity of 15,416 seats.

Technology & Advancement

Information communication technology labs, computer-aided learning centers, and vocational labs in different kinds of trades are being established in government schools for improving quality and inculcating technological and vocational skills in students in their early years of learning.

The government is strengthening the power systems in the UT. Over 4.25 Lakh smart pre-paid meters have already been installed, leading to remarkable improvements in billing and collection. 100% smart pre-paid metering is targeted to be achieved by 2025-26.

The UT government is committed to accelerating Digital J&K in the larger interest of digital governance for the welfare of citizens using digital technologies and also to improving efficiency in government departments through connected government. Over the past two years, the number of online services has increased from around 70 to 450 e-services being provided to citizens, along with provision for getting feedback from citizens.

Infrastructure

Over the years, UT has developed a road network of about 41,140 Kms, out of which 1,735 Kms are National Highways, 695 Kms are State Highways, 1,359 Kms are major district roads, and 37,351 Kms are other district roads and village roads. Out of a total road network of 41,140 km, 30,326.47 Km is black-topped, 6,264.41 Km is metalled, 4,511.43 is fair-weathered, and others are 38.27 Km. About 8.75 Km of ropeways have been constructed in J&K.

The Jammu-Baramulla Railway link connects the Kashmir Valley with the Jammu Railway Station and the rest of the country. The project has been declared a national project. Institutions like IIT Delhi, IIT Roorkee, the Geographical Survey of India, and DRDO are providing expertise in project planning and implementation. This route will also see the construction of the world’s highest railway bridge and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.

There are daily flights to Srinagar, Jammu and Leh. There are 24 flights between Delhi, Srinagar and Jammu every day. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, JetLite, Deccan, Go Air and SpiceJet operate in this sector. The Government of India has upgraded the Srinagar Airport to an international airport. The expansion of Jammu and Srinagar Airports is in progress.

Sustainability Initiatives

J&K has a total Renewable Energy Capacity of 3624.08 MW, comprising of 189.93 MW of Small Hydro Power, 74.15 MW of Solar Power, and 3360.00 MW of Large Hydro Power. The estimated hydropower potential of the UT of J&K is 18,392 MW, of which about 14,867 MW has been identified. Out of the identified potential, only 24.44% has been harnessed so far. More than half the potential is targeted to be tapped in a decade. The hydel power capacity in J&K will double by 2026 and triple by 2030. Similarly, J&K has installed capacity of 36.4 MW rooftop solar energy which is being scaled up to 300 MW. As per the data released by the Minister of Heavy Industries, Jammu & Kashmir witnessed a sale/registration of 2,187 electric two-wheelers till Feb 2024.