Jammu, March 8 -- Though chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday presented a zero-deficit budget in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, announcing an outlay of Rs.1.12 lakh crore for fiscal year 2025-2026, HT takes a closer look into the fiscal indicators of a cash-strapped region, which had been plagued by several ills, including Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and spiraling unemployment.

Total expenditure in 2025-26 (BE) is less than what it was in 2024-25 (BE). To be sure, marginally higher than 2024-25 (RE), to be precise by Rs.1,186 crores. The total expenditure for 2025-26 (BE) is Rs.1,12,310 crores while it was Rs.1,18,390 crores in 2024-25 (BE). The difference was calculated at Rs.6,080 crore.

A major shortfall in revenue sp...