 Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, Aug 12: A significant picture of Jammu and Kashmir industrial expansion, investment support and employment potential has emerged in Parliament, with the Centre informing the Rajya Sabha that industrial units in the Union Territory received a cumulative Rs 949.77 crore under various central industrial schemes during the last five financial years. The figures were disclosed in a written reply by Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana. The government said the disbursements were made under Special Package-I and II, the Industrial Development Scheme (IDS) 2017 and the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS) 2021, aimed at strengthening industrial activity, attracting investment and generating employment in Jammu and Kashmir.
NCSS 2021 accounts for bulk of Rs 949.77 crore
According to the official figures, Rs 41.28 crore was disbursed under Special Package-I and II, while Rs 104.49 crore was released under IDS 2017. The largest share, Rs 804 crore, went under NCSS 2021.
Together, the three schemes accounted for Rs 949.77 crore in payments, with NCSS 2021 alone accounting for nearly 85 per cent of the total.
The pace of disbursement under NCSS 2021 has also accelerated sharply. Payments stood at Rs 44.10 crore in 2022-23, rising to Rs 160.15 crore in 2023-24, Rs 200.09 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 399.66 crore in 2025-26.
918 applications registered, 292 units commence production
The Centre informed Parliament that 918 applications have been registered under NCSS 2021, while 292 industrial units have commenced commercial production.
These units are estimated to generate around 29,000 employment opportunities, according to the government. However, the reply also brought out a significant data gap: district-wise information on industrial units, investment and employment under these schemes is not maintained by DPIIT. The absence of consolidated district-level data could make it difficult to assess the precise geographical distribution and impact of industrial investment and employment generated under the central schemes. |
