Despite tall claims of progress after the abrogation of Article 370, thousands of educated Kashmiri youth remain jobless, trapped between rising unemployment and fading hope.
The ideal of development that the Indian government assured upon repealing Article 370 has become the nightmare of the people in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The region was once reputed in terms of its talented young generation and brilliance in education, but today, it is plunged in unemployment, poverty and an increasing level of desperation. There is a dark secret behind the propaganda of development and integration, which official data reports: thousands of highly educated Kashmiris seeking employment, and yet there is no vacancy available in the government, and the economic prospects are being tightened every day. According to official data, more than 3.61 lakh educated unemployed youth were registered in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir as of September 2025, reflecting the growing unemployment crisis in the region. There are 2.08 lakh registered unemployed in Kashmir Valley, while 1.52 lakh are registered in the Jammu region. Islamabad district tops with 32,298 unemployed, while Pulwama has 671,286, Kathua 26,798, Srinagar 23,826, and Kulgam 21,446 registered educated unemployed youth. The lowest number of unemployed is in Kishtwar at 8,870 and Reasi at 12,376. The data shows that out of the total registered youth, 233,845 are males and 127,301 are females.
Despite the Indian government's loud claims of progress and prosperity following the abrogation of Article 370, the unemployment rate in occupied Jammu and Kashmir is the highest of any state in India.
Contrary to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims of economic growth and prosperity, unemployment is rising rapidly in occupied Kashmir. The unemployment rate has risen to 18.3 percent, more than double that of India. Employment Director Nisar Ahmed Wani says that the number of unemployed graduates and postgraduates increased by 10,000 in the last quarter of 2023. Despite having more than three lakh vacancies in sectors like education and public administration, the problem of unemployment persists, with eligible candidates waiting for these vacancies for a long time. 1,335 posts are said to be vacant in the Home Department of the occupied territory, 415 in Health and Medical Education, 314 in the Water Department, and 292 in the Electricity Department. These posts have been vacant for a long time, due to which unemployment in the area is taking a serious form.
Highly educated Kashmiri youth like Maqsood Ahmed Ganai, a doctorate holder in botany, are forced to sell juice on the streets to survive. The economic crisis has been exacerbated by decades of unrest in the Muslim-majority region of occupied Kashmir, where resistance to India's illegal occupation has been ongoing for more than three decades.
After the BJP came to power, a new story of human rights violations emerged in Kashmir. After the Modi government abrogated Article 370 in 2019, life became difficult for the people of occupied Kashmir.
Currently, unemployment is on the rise in occupied Kashmir, but the restrictions imposed by the Modi government continue. According to international reports, poverty is increasing in occupied Kashmir with every passing day. According to authentic statistics, the poverty line is currently touching the dangerous level of 49 percent, and the people of the occupied valley are forced to commit suicide due to poverty. According to a recent survey, there is currently 23.09 percent unemployment in occupied Kashmir, which is increasing every day. Due to increased unemployment, the people of the occupied valley have been protesting against the Modi government for some time.
After the abrogation of the special status of occupied Kashmir, sources of employment have decreased in occupied Kashmir because non-locals are being brought in to upset the population balance in the state, who are dominating employment and business. Due to state support, the number of unemployed youth in occupied Kashmir has increased by 12 percent. According to a report, about 1 million educated youth are currently unemployed and are addicted to drugs or committing suicide due to mental stress. In order to further tighten the economic grip on the already poverty-stricken Kashmiri people in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian occupation authorities have approved a 15 percent increase in electricity tariffs, which will put an additional burden on about 1 million consumers. The increase in electricity tariffs has been approved by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission. Initially, a 30 percent increase in tariffs was proposed, while a 15 percent increase was later approved.
Despite abundant local power generation, Jammu and Kashmir suffers from power shortages, as most of the electricity is exported to India, leaving the locals facing frequent power outages and disruptions.
The situation worsens during the winter months when demand for electricity peaks, raising concerns about the management of the region’s energy resources. The occupying authorities say that the Chenab River, which is the source of major hydroelectric projects, has seen a sharp decline in water levels, affecting power generation. The river has the capacity to generate 16,000 MW of electricity. An official of the Baglihar Hydropower Project said that the decline in water levels has affected our power generation. In summer, we generate 900 MW at full capacity, but in winter, the output is reduced to about half. This decline is particularly problematic in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Due to the transmission of locally generated electricity to northern India, unannounced power cuts often occur, leaving the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir facing power outages.
The unemployment crisis, which has been worsening in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, is not just a no-job problem; it is a lack of political, social and human rights of a whole population under siege. All the vacated positions, all the closed-off prospects, and all the youth that has been thrown into despair are narratives of a systemic disregard and a wanton marginalization. The silence of the international community regarding this deteriorating situation poses questions about urgency as to whether the world is accountable and whether or not the people of Kashmir have been given justice as they keep on paying the price due to their demand for dignity and identity as well as being able to live with hope.
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