Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary stated today that addressing unemployment remains a top priority for the Jammu and Kashmir Government, with a strong focus on creating sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship, skill development, and institutional reforms, so that young people become job creators rather than job seekers. Choudhary was responding to a question raised by legislator Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi in the Legislative Assembly.
Highlighting the impact of Mission YUVA, Choudhary said that over 1.71 lakh young people have registered on the platform, resulting in around 70,000 formal enterprise applications, reflecting growing confidence in the program. He informed the House that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for nearly 52,875 candidates have been professionally prepared through Small Business Development Units (SBDUs), ensuring both technical and financial viability.
He further stated that so far, 16,141 applications have been successfully completed, leading to bank sanctions of nearly ₹1,000 crore, of which more than ₹700 crore has already been disbursed. "These figures translate into thousands of enterprises being established on the ground," he said, adding that structured capacity-building is being ensured, with 7,339 entrepreneurs having completed training and another 5,000 currently undergoing training.
Referring to unemployment data, the Deputy Chief Minister said that according to an extensive survey conducted in January 2025, about 4.73 lakh individuals in the 18–60 age group, out of a total of 64.8 lakh surveyed, reported that they were not working but willing to work. This includes 1.79 lakh individuals from the Jammu Division and 2.94 lakh from the Kashmir Division.
Providing an update on pending cases, Choudhary said that out of around 37,000 applications currently with banks, nearly 15,000 cases are at an advanced stage and pending completion of procedural documentation, and are expected to be sanctioned by March 31, 2026. Another 22,000 applications have been assessed as credit-worthy and are likely to be sanctioned progressively over the next three to four months, indicating a strong and active pipeline.
The Deputy Chief Minister clarified that Mission YUVA is not a subsidy-driven or indiscriminate loan distribution scheme, but a rigorous, transparent, and credibility-based entrepreneurship program.
