Jammu and Kashmir General Knowledge
The post-2019 map you must know
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 came into force on 31 October 2019, converting the State into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without a legislature). The UT of J&K now has 20 districts: ten in the Jammu division (Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban) and ten in the Kashmir division (Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian). Srinagar is the summer capital and Jammu the winter capital, and the Secretariat moves between them.
Physical and economic anchors
- Rivers: Jhelum (rising at Verinag), Chenab (formed by the Chandra and Bhaga at Tandi), Tawi, Ravi and Indus.
- Lakes: Wular (the largest freshwater lake in India, in Bandipora), Dal, Mansar and Surinsar.
- Passes: Banihal (with the Jawahar Tunnel on NH-44), Zoji La (Srinagar to Leh via Kargil), Khardung La in Ladakh; Nathu La belongs to Sikkim and is a standard distractor.
- Crops: saffron at Pampore, apples in Shopian and Sopore, walnuts and rice.
Institutions
Jammu and Kashmir shares a High Court with Ladakh, with benches at Srinagar and Jammu; the University of Jammu and the University of Kashmir are the two oldest universities; SKIMS is at Soura, Srinagar.
Worked example
'Which pass connects the Kashmir Valley with Jammu?' Reasoning: Zoji La links the Valley to Ladakh, Khardung La lies in Ladakh, and Banihal lies on the NH-44 route towards Jammu, with the Jawahar Tunnel running beneath it. Answer: Banihal.
Traps
- Saying J&K has 22 districts, which is the pre-2019 figure that included Leh and Kargil.
- Describing Ladakh as a Union Territory with a legislature.
- Confusing Wular (freshwater, Bandipora) with Dal (Srinagar).