Bengaluru: The Union home ministry has informed that as many as 32,31,353 applicants have been issued domicile certificates in Jammu and Kashmir as on December 31 last year. 

Union minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy, citing information provided by the J&K government, said these applicants were among the 35,44,938 people who filled applications for issue of domicile certificates have been received till December 31.

"As on December 31, 2020, a total of 31,08,682 Domicile Certificates have been issued to the dependents or holders of erstwhile Permanent Resident Certificates in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. 

Adding more to it, he said, “The applications which lack the prescribed documents are rejected”. 

Why domicile certificates are required: 

The domicile certificates are necessary for the purpose of applying for local jobs in the J&K, the erstwhile state which was reconstituted into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The reorganisation took effect from 31 October 2019.

Abrogation of articles 35A and 370: 

The abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A was effectively carried out by the Narendra Modi-led Union government. It was a part of the manifesto for Lok Sabha 2019 elections.

On August 5, the Indian Parliament ratified the Presidential Order on the same, thereby making it a law.

The abrogation also paves way for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. Presently, the Jammu and Kashmir has been granted UT status.

Investments in Jammu and Kashmir: 

As per a report in Economic Times, J&K received investments of Rs 3,325 crore in healthcare and medical education sectors.