J&K Notifies EV Policy 2026, Targets 1.4 Lakh EVs by 2032

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has notified the J&K Electric Vehicle Policy 2026, following approval by the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The policy establishes a six-year roadmap (2026–2032) to accelerate electric vehicle adoption, expand charging infrastructure and develop an EV ecosystem suited to the region’s terrain and climatic conditions.

The policy targets 1.4 lakh electric vehicles by 2032 and covers all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Its key provisions include demand incentives, public charging infrastructure, cold-weather performance requirements, power-grid integration, public-private partnerships, skill development and employment generation.

The policy proposes establishing 900 public charging sites, including 140 fast-charging hubs, across urban areas and highway corridors. It also introduces mandatory EV-ready parking provisions, requiring 20% of parking capacity in new buildings to be EV-ready under applicable building bye-laws.

Considering Jammu and Kashmir’s terrain and winter conditions, the policy introduces a Specialized Winter Validation Protocol. Under this framework, EVs will be required to undergo winter-performance validation to assess their suitability for operation in snow and sub-zero temperatures. The policy also prioritises charging infrastructure suited to the region’s climatic conditions.

The policy provides several financial incentives to encourage EV adoption, including:

• Interest subvention: A 3–5% interest subvention on eligible EV loans for up to 36 months.

• Early-adopter incentives: Additional financial support for the first 15,800 eligible EV adopters.

• Scrappage-linked incentives: An annual budgetary allocation of ₹50 crore to encourage the replacement of older vehicles with cleaner electric alternatives.

The early-adopter top-up incentives are structured as follows:

EV Category	Top-Up Incentive	Eligible Vehicles
Electric buses	₹15,00,000	First 300
Personal electric cars	₹1,00,000	First 1,500
Electric two-wheelers	₹5,000	First 10,000

These incentives will be available subject to the eligibility criteria and conditions prescribed under the policy.

The policy outlines plans for the phased electrification of vehicle fleets and the development of EV charging infrastructure, including 24×7 charging hubs, managed integration of charging demand with the power grid and private-sector participation. It also focuses on skill development, employment generation and public-private partnerships to support EV adoption and infrastructure development across Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Transport Minister Satish Sharma and the Transport Department on notifying the policy. He stated that the framework aims to advance cleaner transportation while addressing Jammu and Kashmir’s specific terrain and cold-weather requirements.

Also read: Maharashtra Approves EV Policy 2025-2030 | Allocates ₹1,993 crore