Budget to be finalized following LG’s nod
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 3: The Cabinet today approved various proposals to be included in the budget to be presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Legislative Assembly on March 7. The Cabinet also discussed upcoming Khelo India Winter Games being held in Gulmarg following fresh snowfall in the hill resort.
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The Cabinet met in the Civil Secretariat here for about an hour in the afternoon under the chairmanship of Omar and took up various proposals to be incorporated in the budget which will be first of the present National Conference Government. It will be after seven years that J&K’s budget will be presented in the Legislature.
Sources told the Excelsior that various promises and guarantees made by the National Conference Government in its election manifesto will be part of the budget. At least a beginning has been made and the assurances will be fulfilled in a phased manner.
Following approval by the Cabinet, the proposals will be sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for his nod.
The budget, as per sources, will have various welfare measures for the people which were discussed and approved during the Cabinet meeting.
This will be maiden budget to be presented by Omar Abdullah in the Legislative Assembly. He has been holding charge of the Finance Department.
The Cabinet also discussed in detail the financial scenario of J&K.
Sources said besides the budgetary proposals, the Cabinet also discussed holding of 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) scheduled from March 9 in Gulmarg, following fresh snowfall in the region. The games were initially scheduled to be held from February 22 to 25, but had to be put on hold as key ski slopes at Affarwat and Bowl lacked sufficient snow.
However, with the region recently receiving fresh snowfall, the games will now take place from March 9 to March 12.
Around 700 participants, including 650 technical staff, delegates and local athletes are competing across six disciplines, including alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ski mountaineering, and snowboarding.
The first leg of the games was successfully held in Ladakh from January 23 to 27, 2025, where ice hockey and ice skating events took place at NDS Sports Complex and Guphuk Pond.
In a post on X, the CM wrote: “Delighted to launch the official website for Khelo India Winter Games 2025! This platform will serve as a one-stop destination for all event updates, schedules, athlete insights, and more. Looking forward to an exciting celebration of winter sports in Gulmarg”.
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