Special status of Jammu & Kashmir and its recent changes

Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) was granted special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
Article 370 allowed J&K to have its own Constitution and autonomy over internal matters except for defense, foreign affairs, communications, and ancillary matters.
Article 35A, incorporated via a Presidential Order in 1954, empowered the J&K legislature to define "permanent residents" and grant them special rights and privileges.
The special status meant that Indian laws were not directly applicable to J&K unless ratified by the state's legislature.
J&K had its own flag and could make laws in areas excluded from the Union List.
On August 5, 2019, the Government of India announced the abrogation of Article 370.
The abrogation was executed through a Presidential Order and a resolution passed by the Indian Parliament.
Along with Article 370, Article 35A was also repealed, removing the special privileges of J&K residents.
J&K was bifurcated into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without a legislature).
The bifurcation was formalized through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.
The abrogation of Article 370 ended J&K's autonomous status and brought it on par with other Indian states.
The changes aimed to integrate J&K fully into the Indian Union and enhance development and governance.
Post-abrogation, Indian citizens from other states can now buy property and settle in J&K.
All Indian laws are now applicable to J&K and Ladakh, including progressive laws such as the Right to Education Act and Domestic Violence Act.
The abrogation faced both domestic and international reactions, with debates about its constitutional and political implications.
Supporters argue that the move promotes equality, national integration, and economic development.
Critics view the move as undermining federalism and the autonomy guaranteed to J&K under the Instrument of Accession.
Security measures, including communication lockdowns, were implemented to prevent unrest following the decision.
The abrogation has led to new opportunities for investment and development projects in J&K and Ladakh.
J&K now follows the same reservation policies and constitutional amendments as the rest of India.
The bifurcation made Ladakh a separate Union Territory to focus on its unique cultural and geographic needs.
J&K's reorganization brought an elected legislature under central control, similar to Delhi and Puducherry.
The move has increased political participation through the conduct of elections for local bodies and District Development Councils (DDCs).
The central government announced various schemes and infrastructure projects to boost the economic growth of the region.
Special focus has been placed on tourism, agriculture, and industrial development in J&K and Ladakh.
The abrogation has sparked a legal debate over the use of Presidential Orders to amend Article 370 without the concurrence of J&K's Constituent Assembly.
The Supreme Court of India is hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the abrogation.
Several states and political parties expressed concerns about the precedent set by the unilateral abrogation of special status.
J&K's administration now falls under the direct control of the Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the President of India.
The revocation of Article 370 marks a significant shift in India's constitutional and political history.