Srinagar, Oct 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has assigned departmental charges to ministers in the Omar Abdullah-led Jammu and Kashmir government, formally outlining the distribution of government business through an order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) on Wednesday.
According to Government Order No. 1690-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated October 28, the allocation has been made under Rule 4(2) of the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary has been assigned the Public Works (Roads and Buildings), Industries and Commerce, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development departments, placing key infrastructure and employment-related portfolios under his charge. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has retained the Tourism portfolio.
Senior National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar has been given Revenue, Power Development, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR), and Election departments.
Health and Medical Education, along with Social Welfare, have been assigned to Sakeena Masood Itoo, while Javed Ahmad Rana will oversee Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Tribal Affairs, and Transport.
Javid Ahmed Dar has been entrusted with Agriculture Production, Finance, Mining and Cooperatives. His Finance portfolio places him at the centre of the government’s fiscal management, while Agriculture Production remains a key department for a region where horticulture and farming are major sources of livelihood.
Mir Saifullah has been assigned Planning, Development and Monitoring, Culture, Youth Services and Sports, and ARI and Trainings. Shamim Firdous will handle School Education, Higher Education and Jal Shakti, bringing the education sector and water resources under her charge.
Altaf Ahmad Wani has been allocated Forest, Ecology and Environment, along with Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. These departments carry particular significance for Jammu and Kashmir amid growing concerns over environmental degradation, pressure on forests and water bodies, and the need to strengthen rural infrastructure.
The order specifies that all departments and subjects not allocated to any minister will remain with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, allowing him to retain direct charge of the unassigned portfolios.
The allocation formalises the distribution of departmental responsibilities across the council of ministers following the latest ministerial changes.
The order was issued by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and published for general information by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo.
