Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced J&K Electric Vehicle Policy-2026 to promote electric vehicles. The policy, brought after the approval of the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has prepared a roadmap for electric mobility for the next 6 years. The government has set a target of putting 1.40 lakh electric vehicles on the roads in Jammu and Kashmir by 2032.
The objective of the policy is to create a clean, economical and weather reliable electric transport system in Jammu and Kashmir. Under this, the use of electric vehicles will be promoted in all 20 districts of the state. For this, demand based incentives, charging infrastructure, better integration with the electricity grid, private sector participation and employment opportunities for trained youth in the EV sector will be created.
900 public charging sites, 140 fast charging hubs
The government plans to set up 900 public charging sites in Jammu and Kashmir in six years. There will be 140 fast charging hubs. These will be developed in urban areas as well as on major highways and transport corridors.
Provision has also been made for changes in building byelaws to promote EVs. In the new parking system, there will be a provision to keep at least 20 percent of the parking capacity EV-ready, so that charging facilities for electric vehicles can be made available there in the future.
The EV will also be tested in cold and snowy conditions
Special provisions have been made in the policy considering the geographical and climatic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir. A specific winter validation protocol for electric vehicles will be initiated.
Under this, the capability of the vehicles will be tested in areas with snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. In particular, battery performance, low temperature charging and the impact on the battery due to cabin heating in winter will be investigated.
Interest relief on EV purchase
An interest subsidy of 3 to 5 percent has been provided to provide financial incentive to buyers of electric vehicles. Eligible beneficiaries can avail this concession on EV loan for a maximum period of 36 months.
Scrapping of old vehicles and purchase of electric vehicles will also be encouraged. For this, the government has made a budget provision of 50 crore rupees every year.
Additional incentives for early buyers
The policy also has a separate top-up incentive for early adopters of EVs. Under this, the first 15,800 eligible buyers will get additional benefits.
- For the first 300 e-bus buyers, Rs. up to 15 lakhs
- For the first 1,500 private electric car buyers, Rs. up to 1 lakh
- For the first 10,000 electric two-wheeler buyers, Rs. up to 5,000
- These benefits will be provided on the basis of eligibility and other conditions laid down in the policy.
Emphasis on electrification of government and private vehicles
The policy also plans to convert the fleet of government and other large vehicles to electric vehicles in a phased manner. Along with this, private sector participation in expansion of charging network will be increased.
The government’s emphasis is not just on selling electric vehicles, but on building the entire ecosystem required for it. These include charging stations, connectivity to the electricity grid, trained manpower and employment opportunities.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Transport Minister Satish Sharma and the Transport Department on the notification of the policy. He said that the policy provides a structured framework for promoting clean transport system keeping in mind the geographical conditions and cold climate of Jammu and Kashmir.
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