India, Feb. 6 -- Chief minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented a growth-oriented budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the 2026-27 fiscal on Friday.

Terming the budget a "fiscal compass", Abdullah emphasised a balance between aggressive infrastructure development and targeted social welfare, despite significant fiscal constraints.

Addressing the assembly, the chief minister noted that the previous year was marked by challenges, including geopolitical tensions, the Pahalgam terror attack, and devastating floods in parts of the Jammu region. These factors, he noted, dealt a blow to the core sectors of tourism, handicrafts, and agriculture.

"This budget is not merely a ledger of figures; i...