JAMMU: In his budget speech, Finance Minister Omar Abdullah unveiled key reforms aimed at making Jammu and Kashmir’s education system more transparent, industry-oriented, and globally competitive. A major highlight of his announcement was the streamlining of the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BoPEE), aligning it with a Pan-India schedule for seat allocation. A newly developed e-counselling module, created in collaboration with NIC JK, will fully digitise the admission process from registration to allotment. This initiative aims to ensure fair, merit-based admissions with real-time updates for applicants, enhancing efficiency and transparency.
To bridge the gap between higher education and industry, the government will actively facilitate apprenticeships and internships through strategic collaborations with businesses. Recognising the need for research-driven governance and policy innovation, the budget allocates Rs 5 crore to strengthen the Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CITaG) at IIM Jammu. This centre will play a pivotal role in shaping economic strategy, driving public-private partnerships (PPPs), and introducing governance reforms, particularly in tourism, employment, and revenue generation.
Jammu University’s recent achievement of an A++ accreditation status was celebrated as a significant milestone in the region’s academic progress. Similarly, the Islamic University of Science and Technology is emerging as a hub for skill development and innovation, reflecting the government’s broader push to create an industry-ready skilled workforce. Omar Abdullah reiterated his administration’s commitment to acting as a facilitator, ensuring that higher education institutions in Jammu and Kashmir align their curricula with evolving market needs.
Reflecting the government’s prioritisation of education, the budget for 2025-26 earmarks Rs 1,388.97 crore in capital expenditure for the School and Higher Education sectors—an increase of Rs 242.75 crore over the revised allocation of 2024-25. With these measures, the government aims to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a centre of academic excellence, fostering innovation, employability, and global competitiveness in the education sector.
