J&K poverty data shows stark divide: 92% poor in Jammu, 8% in Kashmir

Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota data from Jammu & Kashmir reveals a striking imbalance in poverty distribution, with 92% of identified poor households concentrated in Jammu and only 8% in Kashmir. The figures have raised questions about the methodology used to identify and classify economically disadvantaged populations across the union territory.

The disparity has prompted scrutiny of data collection processes and whether regional factors, administrative practices, or socio-economic conditions adequately account for the distribution. Officials and analysts are examining whether the EWS classification accurately reflects ground-level poverty across both regions.