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Darbar Move: Kashmir government staff prepare for the annual shift to Jammu
Why in News?
Which city is J&K's winter capital? The Darbar Move facts for Prelims and GS-II
The civil secretariat and offices of Jammu and Kashmir prepare to move to Jammu for winter.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 min read
Employees of the Jammu and Kashmir government are getting ready for the Darbar Move, the twice-yearly shifting of the civil secretariat and several offices between Srinagar and Jammu.
Srinagar serves as the summer seat and Jammu as the winter seat of the administration.
The practice, begun in the Dogra period, was suspended in 2021 and has since been restored.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- Darbar Move is the twice-yearly shifting of the civil secretariat and several offices between Srinagar and Jammu.
- Srinagar is the summer seat and Jammu the winter seat of the J&K administration.
- The practice began in the Dogra period, traditionally credited to Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1872.
- The Darbar Move was suspended in 2021 and has since been restored.
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- The Darbar Move in Jammu and Kashmir involves the biannual shifting of the civil secretariat and offices between two capitals.
- Srinagar serves as the summer capital and Jammu as the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The Darbar Move is an administrative practice that dates back to the Dogra rule.
Mains
GS-II (Governance; Union Territories): The Darbar Move is a unique two-capital system inherited from Dogra rule that balances the regional aspirations of Kashmir and Jammu, but it carries costs in money, record-handling and disruption of services. Its suspension in 2021 and restoration show the debate between e-governance efficiency and regional symbolism. The way forward lies in digitised records and e-offices that retain the integrative role of the practice at lower cost.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
In Jammu and Kashmir, the 'Darbar Move' refers to the:
- Seasonal migration of Gujjar-Bakarwal herders to higher pastures
- Twice-yearly shifting of the civil secretariat and offices between Srinagar and Jammu
- Annual procession that carries the Chhari Mubarak to the Amarnath cave
- Yearly reopening of the Mughal Road for summer traffic
Show answer
Answer: B — The correct answer is the twice-yearly shifting of the civil secretariat and offices between Srinagar and Jammu. Srinagar is the summer seat and Jammu the winter seat of the administration.
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