Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, July 31

The cabinet will meet in Srinagar on Aug. 4 under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, according to officials familiar with the schedule.

The meeting is scheduled for 4 pm.

The agenda has not yet been circulated.

The meeting comes amid speculation over a possible expansion or reshuffle of the council of ministers.

Abdullah had earlier indicated that such a move could take place around the National Conference’s July 20 statehood protest in New Delhi, but no announcement has followed.

The cabinet could also consider the pending file relating to the Jammu and Kashmir business rules, officials said.

Abdullah said on July 27 that the government was awaiting clearance of the file and could approach the central government if further delays continued.

At its previous meeting on June 23, the cabinet approved the Social Welfare Department’s response to queries raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding a Cabinet Sub-Committee report on reservations.

The response was subsequently sent to the ministry through Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, officials said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had sought clarification on proposed changes to reservations for Residents of Backward Areas and the Economically Weaker Section.

The cabinet had approved the reservation report in December 2025 following recommendations by a three-member Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Minister Sakina Itoo.

The ministry had questioned the proposed reduction in the RBA quota from 10 percent to 7 percent and the EWS quota from 10 percent to 3 percent.

The government’s response reportedly argued that areas of Ladakh, which were separated from Jammu and Kashmir, were no longer part of the RBA category and that some areas covered by the category were also eligible for other reservation benefits.

On EWS reservations, the government cited the smaller size of the eligible population in Jammu and Kashmir compared with other states, according to officials.