SRINAGAR: The government has, for the first time, released district-wise data on caste and category certificates issued across Jammu and Kashmir, revealing a deep regional imbalance that places Kashmir far behind Jammu in the reserved category population. The figures, tabled in the Assembly in response to a question by PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, have reignited the debate over the new reservation policy, which has already been challenged in the High Court.
The data reveals that a total of 8,21,755 reservation certificates have been issued across Jammu and Kashmir during the last two years under various categories — Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Residents of Backward Areas (RBA), and Actual Line of Control (ALC). Of these, a major share of around 678570 certificates were issued in the Jammu region, while just over 145085 went to Kashmir — a distribution that clearly reflects the imbalance between the two regions.
Overall, the Jammu division dominates in Scheduled Caste, Tribe, OBC, and EWS certifications, controlling over 85 per cent of all reserved category beneficiaries. Kashmir, by contrast, leads only in RBA certificates with 67 per cent of the total.
According to the Revenue Department, a total of 6,02,434 Scheduled Tribe (ST), 70,268 Scheduled Caste (SC), 76,664 Other Backward Class (OBC), 21,386 Economically Weaker Section (EWS), 47,399 Residents of Backward Area (RBA) and 3,280 Actual Line of Control (ALC) certificates were issued during the past two years. The overall data shows that Jammu accounts for nearly 90 per cent of all reserved category certifications, leaving Kashmir with a small share in almost every segment except the RBA category.
In Jammu district, 29,445 Scheduled Caste and 3,561 Scheduled Tribe certificates were issued, along with 16,863 for OBCs and 5,211 for the Economically Weaker Section. Jammu also recorded 853 RBA and 1,978 ALC certificates, underscoring its dominance across all categories.
In Samba, 7,962 SC certificates were issued, along with 1,117 ST, 4,882 OBC and 3,560 EWS certificates. The district’s contribution remains largely in the SC and OBC categories, reflecting the demographic character of the plains adjoining the Kathua belt.
Kathua saw 9,124 Scheduled Caste and 4,588 Scheduled Tribe certificates, with 6,774 OBC and 5,919 EWS certificates issued. The district also accounted for 1,385 RBA and 324 ‘other’ category certificates, placing it among the highest certificate-issuing districts in the Jammu region.
In Udhampur, 6,834 SC and 3,599 ST certificates were issued, in addition to 3,340 OBC and 4,052 EWS certificates. The RBA count stood at 1,731, showing moderate representation in backward area reservations.
Reasi recorded 2,189 SC and 8,583 ST certificates, alongside 2,497 OBC and 902 EWS certificates. The district’s high ST numbers reflect the Gujjar and Bakerwal population concentrated in the hilly belts.
In Ramban, only 1,974 SC and 930 ST certificates were issued, but the district recorded 1,781 RBA certificates, highlighting its inclusion under the backward area classification.
Doda stood out with 3,893 SC and 3,803 ST certificates, along with 3,273 OBC and 1,534 EWS certificates. Notably, 6,155 RBA certificates were issued here, among the highest in the Union Territory.
In Kishtwar, 3,672 SC and 1,403 ST certificates were issued, together with 1,303 OBC and 472 EWS certificates. The district also had 1,550 RBA certificates, consistent with its hilly and remote geography.
Rajouri showed a large Scheduled Tribe population, with 30,690 ST certificates issued, along with 4,670 SC and 2,548 OBC certificates. The district also accounted for 221 ALC and 87 RBA certificates.
Poonch had the highest number of Scheduled Tribe certificates in the Union Territory — 1,87,554 — along with 31 SC and 2,407 OBC certificates. The border district also reported 247 ALC and 197 RBA certificates, reaffirming its dominant tribal composition.
In sharp contrast, Anantnag issued 4,146 ST and 6,260 OBC certificates, but none in the SC category. The district recorded 437 EWS and 4,967 RBA certificates, with no ALC presence.
Bandipora issued 2,200 ST and 2,138 OBC certificates, 103 EWS and 896 RBA, showing modest representation across categories.
In Baramulla, 28,085 ST certificates were issued — the highest in Kashmir — along with 5,366 OBC and 2,890 RBA certificates. No SC certificates were issued in the district.
Budgam accounted for 795 ST and 3,536 OBC certificates, along with 186 EWS and 1,784 RBA, underscoring a limited distribution across categories.
Ganderbal recorded 3,112 ST, 1,683 OBC and 68 EWS certificates, besides 1,846 RBA, showing a modest presence of backward area residents.
In Kulgam, 1,505 ST and 1,537 OBC certificates were issued, along with 67 EWS and 1,845 RBA, indicating a relatively balanced distribution within small numbers.
Kupwara issued 31,875 ST and 3,405 OBC certificates, along with 117 EWS, 5,056 RBA and 484 ALC certificates. The district remains the strongest contributor to the tribal population share within Kashmir.
In Pulwama, 1,222 ST and 3,305 OBC certificates were issued, while 194 EWS and 2,651 RBA certificates were distributed.
Shopian issued 391 ST and 1,205 OBC certificates, 194 EWS and 3,915 RBA certificates, showing that backward area benefits dominate in the south Kashmir region.
Finally, Srinagar accounted for 291 SC and 3,025 ST certificates, along with 192 OBC and 95 EWS. The RBA count stood at just 321, reflecting minimal representation of reserved categories in the urban capital district.
The reservation policy has been challenged in the High Court, with petitioners claiming that open merit has been reduced to a minority. The Omar Abdullah government has constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to review the new reservation framework, whose report is still awaited. The fresh data, showing Jammu’s overwhelming dominance in reserved category certifications, is expected to add further heat to an already contentious debate.
