SRINAGAR: Revenue from existing wine shops across Jammu and Kashmir has continued to climb, with excise collections increasing by nearly Rs 79 crore in a single year and touching over Rs 1,118 crore in 2024–25, even as the government informed the Assembly that no new liquor licences will be issued in 2026-27.
In a written reply to MLA Arjun Singh Raju, the Finance Department said there is no proposal to open new JKEL-2 wine shops in the coming financial year. However, figures tabled in the House show that receipts from the current network of outlets have recorded a steady rise across all districts.
Combined revenue from the 15 districts stood at Rs 1,038.78 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 1,118.16 crore in 2024–25, taking the two-year total to Rs 2,156.94 crore. The year-on-year increase works out to Rs 79.38 crore, reflecting growth of around 7.6 per cent.
The Jammu division accounted for the overwhelming share of collections. The 10 Jammu districts together generated Rs 954.74 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 1,013.56 crore in 2024–25, taking their two-year combined revenue to Rs 1,968.30 crore and recording a yearly rise of Rs 58.83 crore.
In comparison, the five Kashmir districts earned Rs 84.05 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 104.60 crore in 2024–25, totalling Rs 188.65 crore over two years, with a sharper year-on-year jump of Rs 20.55 crore.
Jammu district remained the single largest contributor by a wide margin. It generated Rs 483.50 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 509.14 crore in 2024–25, taking the two-year total to Rs 992.64 crore, with an increase of Rs 25.64 crore in one year.
Among other Jammu division districts, Udhampur recorded Rs 113.22 crore and Rs 120.62 crore, totalling Rs 233.84 crore, up Rs 7.40 crore. Kathua earned Rs 106.53 crore and Rs 112.72 crore, totalling Rs 219.25 crore, an increase of Rs 6.19 crore. Samba reported Rs 91.38 crore and Rs 97.40 crore, totalling Rs 188.78 crore, up Rs 6.02 crore.
Rajouri posted Rs 48.06 crore and Rs 53.37 crore, totalling Rs 101.43 crore, an increase of Rs 5.31 crore. Reasi generated Rs 33.71 crore and Rs 34.51 crore, totalling Rs 68.22 crore, up Rs 0.80 crore. Doda earned Rs 23.54 crore and Rs 24.48 crore, totalling Rs 48.02 crore, an increase of Rs 0.94 crore. Kishtwar recorded Rs 16.82 crore and Rs 18.88 crore, totalling Rs 35.70 crore, up Rs 2.06 crore. Ramban posted Rs 23.00 crore and Rs 24.77 crore, totalling Rs 47.77 crore, an increase of Rs 1.77 crore, while Poonch earned Rs 14.98 crore and Rs 17.69 crore, totalling Rs 32.67 crore, up Rs 2.71 crore.
In the Kashmir division, Srinagar led collections with Rs 54.90 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 65.58 crore in 2024–25, taking the two-year total to Rs 120.48 crore, with the largest increase of Rs 10.68 crore in the region. Anantnag recorded Rs 14.04 crore and Rs 19.99 crore, totalling Rs 34.03 crore, up Rs 5.96 crore. Baramulla generated Rs 8.72 crore and Rs 11.40 crore, totalling Rs 20.12 crore, an increase of Rs 2.68 crore. Kupwara posted Rs 4.16 crore and Rs 4.43 crore, totalling Rs 8.59 crore, up Rs 0.27 crore, and Ganderbal earned Rs 2.23 crore and Rs 3.20 crore, totalling Rs 5.43 crore, an increase of Rs 0.96 crore.
The figures show that nearly every district registered growth in revenue over the year, indicating higher sales as well as improved compliance and monitoring by the Excise Department.
Addressing concerns raised in the Assembly, the government also said it has received no complaints regarding benami liquor licences, adding that all licences are issued strictly to Jammu and Kashmir domiciles under the Excise Act, 1958, and the excise policies notified from time to time.
While revenue continues to rise, the administration has made it clear that expansion of outlets is not on the agenda, signalling a focus on strengthening collections from existing shops rather than increasing their number.
