Lt Governor allocates portfolios to ministers

Srinagar, Oct 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday allocated portfolios to eight ministers in the Omar Abdullah-led Jammu and Kashmir government, assigning key departments, including Revenue, Power Development, Finance, Education and Rural Development, following the recent cabinet reshuffle.
According to Government Order No. 1690-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued on October 28 by the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary has been assigned Public Works (Roads and Buildings), Industries and Commerce, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development departments.
Senior National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar has been entrusted with Revenue, Power Development, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR), and Election departments.
Sakeena Masood Itoo has been assigned Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare departments, while Javed Ahmad Rana will handle Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Tribal Affairs and Transport.
Javid Ahmed Dar has been allocated Agriculture Production, Finance, Mining and Cooperatives, placing the government’s financial administration alongside key sectors of the rural economy under his charge.
Among the ministers assigned portfolios following the reshuffle, Mir Saifullah has been given Planning, Development and Monitoring, Culture, Youth Services and Sports, and Administrative Reforms, Inspections and Trainings (ARI & Trainings).
Shamim Firdous has been entrusted with School Education, Higher Education and Jal Shakti departments, giving her responsibility for both the education sector and water supply administration.
Altaf Ahmad Wani has been assigned Forest, Ecology and Environment, along with Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
The allocation places several major departments under ministers inducted into the government during the recent reshuffle, while redistributing responsibilities across the Council of Ministers.
Significantly, the order specifies that all departments and subjects not allocated to any minister shall remain with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The Lieutenant Governor issued the order under Rule 4(2) of the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019.
The order, signed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, was published for general information by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo.
The portfolio allocation formally defines the responsibilities of ministers following the cabinet reshuffle and sets out the distribution of government business among members of the Omar Abdullah-led Council of Ministers. (KNS)