Public Administration Education in Jammu and Kashmir: Issues and Challenges

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir comprises two major regions, Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu region has long experienced grievances of discrimination from Kashmir-centric policymakers over the decades. Since 1947, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was predominantly governed by political parties whose constituency base was primarily confined to the valley. The Union Territory of Ladakh also has its own set of grievances, which led to its separation from J&K. This paper aims to explore the introduction of Public Administration education in both regions, taking into account the influence of political power and administrative will. Additionally, it will address the challenges faced by the Jammu region due to the denial of introducing Public Administration-related courses on par with those offered in the Kashmir region. The status of Public Administration education in the UT of Ladakh will also be examined. It is essential to note that prior to the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, J&K and Ladakh were part of a single state.