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ASIA SPEAKS NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has formally notified the Jammu and Kashmir Electric Vehicle Policy 2026, setting a target of bringing 1.40 lakh electric vehicles onto the roads of the Union Territory by 2032.
The six-year policy seeks to promote electric mobility, expand charging infrastructure and develop an EV ecosystem suited to Jammu and Kashmir’s diverse geographical and climatic conditions.
Under the policy, 900 public charging locations will be established across all 20 districts, including 140 fast-charging centres along key urban locations and highway corridors.
The government has also provided for amendments to building bye-laws, requiring charging facilities for electric vehicles in 20 percent of the total parking capacity of buildings.
Given the cold and snow-prone areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the policy introduces a “Specialised Winter Validation Protocol” to assess the performance of electric vehicles in snow and sub-zero temperatures.
The policy also provides for integrating EV charging demand with the power system, while encouraging private-sector participation and public-private partnerships in charging infrastructure.
To encourage EV purchases, eligible buyers will be offered an interest subsidy of 3 to 5 percent on loans of up to 36 months. Incentives linked to scrappage will also be available for replacing old vehicles with new electric vehicles. An annual budgetary provision of Rs 50 crore has been proposed for the incentives.
Additional incentives have been earmarked for the first 15,800 eligible buyers. These include Rs 15 lakh for the first 300 electric buses, Rs 1 lakh for the first 1,500 private electric cars and Rs 5,000 for the first 10,000 electric two-wheelers, subject to prescribed conditions.
The policy also envisages the phased electrification of government and other vehicle fleets, expansion of the charging network and skill-development programmes to create trained manpower for the EV sector.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Transport Minister Satish Sharma and the Transport Department on the approval and notification of the policy.
He said the policy would promote clean transportation while taking into account Jammu and Kashmir’s unique geographical and cold-weather conditions.
The policy will remain in force from 2026 to 2032 and is aimed at increasing EV adoption, developing charging infrastructure and creating employment and investment opportunities in the electric mobility sector.
