J&K LG says govt formulating AI strategy, PDP asks why was statehood promise missing in assembly speech

New Delhi: Lieutenant governor of J&K Manoj Sinha on Monday said the government is formulating a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence strategy to drive innovation and efficiency across priority sectors including healthcare, agriculture, mobility, education and law enforcement.

Addressing the J&K assembly on the first day of the budget session in winter capital of Jammu, Sinha said the government is going to introduce a major project for sustainable development of emerging tourist destinations with funding from the government and private sector.

The opposition People’s Democratic Party legislators said the LG’s speech was prepared by the ruling National Conference government and didn’t mention ‘restoration of statehood’ which means the NC-led government has buried the issue along with restoration of Article 370 and 35 (A).


Sinha said the AI strategy will complement the efforts made by the government in the e-services sector. The Union Territory has recorded 82 crore e-transactions, averaging over 22 lakh transactions per day, while 128 services have been integrated with DigiLocker.

“Complete Aadhaar seeding of welfare beneficiaries has enabled seamless Direct Benefit Transfer, under which Rs 9,000 crore has been credited directly to the accounts of 80 lakh beneficiaries through 77 DBT-based schemes in the current financial year,” Sinha informed.

The LG said digital transformation has imparted new momentum to development and reinforced corruption-free governance, with over 1,500 public services available online and 391 services integrated with the auto-appeal system to ensure timely delivery.

Sinha said the government has put in efforts to revive pilgrim tourism in Jammu, adventure tourism in Kashmir and eco-tourism in tribal and border areas, ensuring equitable regional growth. “My government is going to introduce a major project for sustainable development of emerging tourist destinations with investment from the government and private sector participation to broaden the tourism footprint in J&K,” he said adding, “This will generate employment opportunities and ensure that the benefits of tourism reach remote and unexplored areas.” The programme will focus on developing new tourist destinations, promoting homestays, rural and border tourism, and encouraging community participation in tourism activities.

Sinha informed that 172 Atal Tinkering Labs have been established and 500 more are being established under the Atal Innovation Mission of NITI Aayog. “Around 1,420 Computer Aided and Learning Centres and 1,588 Information and Communication Technology Labs were established. 1,512 ICT Labs and 4,000 smart classrooms are in the process of establishment,” he said.

The LG’s address will be followed by vote of thanks by the MLAs and the annual financial statement of expenditure for 2026-27 and the supplementary statement of expenditure for 2025-26 will be taken on February 6. Two first-time MLAs –– Devyani Rana of BJP and Aga Muntazir of PDP –– who won the by elections in November 2025, will attend this session. Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Doda, Mehraj Malik, who is in jail is likely to miss this assembly session as well.