Jammu and Kashmir Specific Knowledge
What J&K Specific Knowledge tests
History, geography, culture, polity and economy of Jammu and Kashmir, and of Ladakh where the pre-2019 state is concerned: rulers and treaties, the 1947 accession, Article 370, the 2019 reorganisation, rivers, lakes, passes, districts, festivals, crafts and institutions.
Core facts
- 1846 Treaty of Amritsar: after the First Anglo-Sikh War, Gulab Singh became ruler of Jammu and Kashmir under Dogra rule, which lasted until 1947.
- 1947: Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession; the state's special status was later formalised through Article 370.
- 2019: the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act split the state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, effective 31 October 2019; J&K has a Lieutenant Governor and a Legislative Assembly.
- Geography: the Jhelum, Chenab, Tawi and Ravi drain the region; the Pir Panjal and Karakoram ranges frame it; Wular Lake in Bandipora is India's largest freshwater lake and a Ramsar site; Dachigam National Park protects the Hangul.
- Culture and economy: Wazwan, Kangri, Pashmina and Kani shawls, Namda, Basohli painting; apples, saffron, walnuts and handicrafts; Amarnath and Vaishno Devi pilgrimages; Dogri and Kashmiri among the recognised languages.
Worked example
Which is India's largest freshwater lake and where is it? Reasoning: Dal Lake lies in Srinagar but is smaller; Pangong is in Ladakh and brackish; Wular Lake, Bandipora is the correct match - the largest freshwater lake, fed by the Jhelum.
Traps
- 1846 (Treaty of Amritsar) is confused with 1947 (Instrument of Accession) and 2019 (Reorganisation).
- Kashmir was annexed by Ranjit Singh in 1819, before Dogra rule - not the same event.
- Districts were reorganised in 2007 and again after 2019; learn current names.
- Basohli painting belongs to Jammu, not the Kashmir Valley.