The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was carved out from the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019), passed by the ______.

The correct answer is Parliament.

Key Points

• The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir was created following the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 by the Parliament of India.
• This Act bifurcated the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• The Act was passed on 5 August 2019 by the Rajya Sabha and on 6 August 2019 by the Lok Sabha.
• The reorganization came into effect on 31 October 2019, marking the formal division of the state.
• The move was aimed at better governance and development of the region by bringing it under direct control of the central government.

Additional Information

• Article 370:
  • Article 370 granted special autonomy to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, allowing it to have its own constitution, flag, and administrative autonomy.
  • On 5 August 2019, the Government of India abrogated Article 370, removing the special status of the state.
• Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019:
  • The Act reorganized Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir (with a legislative assembly) and Ladakh (without a legislative assembly).
  • This was the first instance of a state being reduced to Union Territories in India.
• Union Territories:
  • Union Territories are regions that are directly governed by the Central Government of India.
  • Jammu and Kashmir became the first Union Territory in India with its own legislature.
• 31 October:
  • The date of reorganization, 31 October, is observed as the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, who played a key role in the integration of Indian states.