It has been seven years since the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir was transformed. It was on this very day in 2019 that Article 370 and Article 35A were abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir. This is considered the most significant achievement of the BJP government’s tenure.
Just months after the NDA government began its second term under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Article 370 and Article 35A—which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir—were revoked. This is regarded as one of the most secretive strategic missions in the history of Indian politics. Knowledge of the entire operation was confined to a select few—including PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval—and no one else got wind of it.
What is Article 370?
Article 370 was a temporary provision of the Constitution that granted Jammu and Kashmir a special autonomous status compared to other Indian states. This provision came into effect on October 26, 1947—shortly after India gained independence—and remained in force until August 5, 2019. Under this article, Jammu and Kashmir had its own separate constitution and flag. Except for matters concerning defense, foreign affairs, finance, and communications, the approval of the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly was mandatory for the implementation of central laws. Furthermore, non-residents of Jammu and Kashmir could not purchase movable property, land, or houses in the region, nor were they eligible for state government jobs. Certain provisions of the Indian Constitution—such as the Right to Education (RTE) and the Right to Property—were not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir under this article.
Changes after the abrogation of Article 370
With the abrogation of Article 370, the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir came to an end. Post-2019, the Indian Constitution became fully applicable in the region. The provisions for a separate constitution and flag for Jammu and Kashmir were also abolished. Non-residents can now purchase land in Jammu and Kashmir, subject to certain conditions. Additionally, citizens of Jammu and Kashmir became eligible to apply for jobs in other states. Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, with a legislative assembly, and Ladakh, as a Union Territory without one. While incidents of stone-pelting were previously common in the region, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir began joining the Indian Army following the abrogation of Article 370. Terrorist incidents in the region also declined.