Jammu, March 8 -- 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 the fiscal year 2025-2026 with focus on key sectors, including industry, health, education, digital governance and tourism.

In his 1.36-hour speech, the chief minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, also emphasised upon youth, food security, sports, power and women empowerment through a slew of welfare and development measures.

It was the first J&K budget in seven years since 2018 when the erstwhile PDP-BJP government tabled the then state's document of annual finances. Omar, who began with his speech with a Persian couplet - My entire body is cover...