The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, June 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet is scheduled to meet in Srinagar today at 12 noon, with the Government expected to deliberate on the Social Welfare Department’s (SWD) response to queries raised by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the reservation report prepared by the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC).
The meeting, to be chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, is the first Cabinet meeting in nearly one-and-a-half months. Sources said the reservation report is likely to dominate the agenda, although several developmental projects and administrative matters have also been placed before the Cabinet.
According to official sources, the MHA had earlier sought clarifications on the data and methodology used by the CSC while recommending a reduction in reservation under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category from 10 per cent to 3 per cent and the Resident of Backward Areas (RBA) category from 10 per cent to 7 per cent.
Following the Centre’s observations, the Social Welfare Department undertook a detailed review and prepared a comprehensive response to the queries. The department has since submitted its reply through the General Administration Department for Cabinet consideration.
If approved, the response will be forwarded to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and subsequently sent to the MHA for further examination.
Sources said the Omar Abdullah-led Government is treating the reservation issue as a priority matter, and discussions on other agenda items may take a back seat during the meeting.
The Cabinet had approved the CSC report on December 4, 2025. The committee, headed by Social Welfare Minister Sakeena Itoo, had recommended increasing the share of Open Merit seats and jobs by reducing reservation in certain categories. The panel also included Ministers Javed Rana and Satish Sharma.
The recommendations sought to increase Open Merit representation to 40 per cent in government jobs and 50 per cent in educational admissions under vertical reservation, compared to the existing 30 per cent.
At present, reservations in Jammu and Kashmir account for 70 per cent of seats and jobs, leaving 30 per cent under the Open Merit category. The existing reservation framework includes 10 per cent each for Scheduled Tribe-I, Scheduled Tribe-II, RBA and EWS categories, 8 per cent each for Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, and 4 per cent for Actual Line of Control/International Border residents. In addition, there is a 10 per cent horizontal reservation, including quotas for ex-servicemen and persons with disabilities.
Besides the reservation issue, the Cabinet is also expected to consider several developmental proposals and administrative matters, including promotions of officers, though the final agenda will be determined during the meeting.
