J&K Darbar Move 2026: Srinagar offices to close Oct 30-31, reopen in Jammu on Nov 2
Synopsis
The J&K government has formally triggered the 2026 Darbar Move — the seasonal shift of its administrative capital from Srinagar to Jammu. Offices close on 30-31 October and reopen in Jammu on 2 November, reviving a 150-year Dogra-era tradition that was halted in 2019 and restored by CM Omar Abdullah's government after the 2024 elections.
Key Takeaways
The J&K government announced the Darbar Move 2026 on 20 October 2026 via a General Administration Department (GAD) order.
Srinagar offices close after hours on 30 October (five-day week) or 31 October 2026 (six-day week), and reopen in Jammu on 2 November 2026 .
Moving offices will carry only 33 per cent of staff strength or 10 officials , whichever is lower.
Employees will receive October 2026 salaries on 29 October ; a Special Move T.A. of ₹25,000 per employee will be paid.
JKRTC buses will be available on 31 October and 1 November ; J&K Police will escort convoys through the Banihal-Qazigund and Dr.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnels .
The practice was suspended in 2019 and restored by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah 's National Conference government after the 2024 assembly elections .
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, formally announced the annual Darbar Move, directing that government offices will shut in Srinagar on 30-31 October 2026 and reopen in the winter capital Jammu on 2 November 2026. The move marks the seasonal transfer of the seat of government — a practice rooted in more than 150 years of administrative tradition.
Key Dates and Office Timings
An order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) specifies that offices observing a five-day week will close at Srinagar after office hours on Friday, 30 October 2026, while those on a six-day week will close after hours on Saturday, 31 October 2026. All moving offices are scheduled to reopen at Jammu on Monday, 2 November 2026.
On reopening at Jammu, the Civil Secretariat and Heads of Departments located within its premises will observe timings of 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Moving Heads of Departments outside the secretariat premises and observing six days a week will work from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Staffing, Transport and Logistics
The order stipulates that offices moving in camp shall carry only 33 per cent of their staff strength, or 10 officials, whichever is the minimum, unless otherwise specifically indicated. The J&K Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC) has been directed to deploy a sufficient number of buses in good condition for employee transportation on 31 October and 1 November 2026, with tickets to be issued in advance from 27 October 2026.
The JKRTC must also ensure that each convoy is accompanied by one crane, two empty buses, and mobile workshop facilities. J&K Police will escort the convoys and ensure precedence at the Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel and the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel — the two critical road links on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
Pay and Administrative Arrangements
Employees in moving offices will receive their October 2026 salary on 29 October 2026, ahead of the transition. A Special Move T.A. of ₹25,000 per move employee will be paid at a uniform rate. The GAD will establish a Winter Secretariat at the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, retaining one Gazetted and four Non-Gazetted employees per department to maintain continuity of services in the summer capital through the winter months.
A 150-Year Tradition, Briefly Interrupted
The Darbar Move traces its origins to the Dogra Maharajas of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, who instituted the practice over 150 years ago to follow favourable climates — summers in the Kashmir Valley and winters on the plains of Jammu. The tradition continued uninterrupted until 2019, when it was suspended by the Lieutenant Governor following the reorganisation of the state into two Union Territories.
The practice was restored after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) came to power following the 2024 assembly elections, fulfilling a specific promise from the party's election manifesto. This is the first Darbar Move under the elected government since restoration, carrying both administrative and symbolic weight for the Union Territory.
Point of View
Signalling a return to pre-2019 normalcy after years of central rule. Yet the practice remains genuinely contested: critics argue it costs the exchequer hundreds of crores annually in transport, infrastructure duplication, and administrative downtime, with negligible gain over a model where digital governance could eliminate the need for physical relocation altogether. The fact that the move was suspended between 2019 and 2024 without any measurable breakdown in governance is a point that proponents of discontinuation will continue to press. Whether this restoration is a long-term fixture or a political bridge-building gesture ahead of electoral consolidation remains an open question.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the J&K Darbar Move?
The Darbar Move is the biannual transfer of the Jammu and Kashmir government's seat of administration between its two capitals — Srinagar in summer and Jammu in winter. The practice dates back over 150 years to the Dogra Maharajas of the erstwhile princely state.
When will offices close in Srinagar and reopen in Jammu for the 2026 Darbar Move?
Offices observing a five-day week will close in Srinagar after hours on 30 October 2026 , and those on a six-day week will close on 31 October 2026 . All moving offices will reopen in Jammu on 2 November 2026 .
Why was the Darbar Move stopped in 2019 and when was it restored?
The Darbar Move was suspended in 2019 by the Lieutenant Governor following the reorganisation of the state into Union Territories. It was restored after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah 's National Conference government came to power following the 2024 assembly elections , fulfilling a manifesto commitment.
How many staff members travel during the Darbar Move?
Moving offices are permitted to carry only 33 per cent of their total staff strength, or a minimum of 10 officials , whichever is lower, unless otherwise specified in the order. A Winter Secretariat with skeletal staff will remain operational at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar .
What financial benefits are employees entitled to during the Darbar Move?
Each employee participating in the move will receive a Special Move T.A. of ₹25,000 at a uniform rate. Salaries for October 2026 will be paid in advance on 29 October 2026 to ensure employees have funds before the transition.
