Srinagar, Jan 20 — Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday began a series of pre-budget consultations with administrative departments ahead of the presentation of the Jammu and Kashmir Budget for 2026–27, officials said.
Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio, will chair meetings with 24 departments over January 20, 21 and 22, according to an itinerary issued by the Finance Department.
“Eight departments directly headed by the Chief Minister are scheduled for consultations on January 20, while the remaining departments under cabinet ministers will be taken up over the next two days,” an official said.
The Finance Department has directed cabinet ministers, the Adviser to the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and administrative secretaries to attend the meetings.
The Budget for 2026–27 will be presented by Omar Abdullah in the Assembly on February 6. This will be the second budget presented by him as Chief Minister. He had presented the Budget for the current financial year on March 7, 2025.
Pre-budget consultations are meetings where departments place their funding needs and priorities before the finance minister. Proposals cleared at this stage are consolidated by the Finance Department and later approved by the Cabinet before being voted on by the Assembly during the budget session.