NationalThursday, 15 October 2026·Hindu Tamil Thisai
Jammu and Kashmir’s Darbar Move: winter capital shifts from Srinagar to Jammu, a 150-year-old tradition
Jammu and Kashmir has revived the Darbar Move, shifting the capital from Srinagar to Jammu for winter in a 150-year-old administrative tradition.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In October 2026, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the Darbar Move arrangement and confirmed the winter shift of the capital from Srinagar to Jammu, reviving a tradition that dates back to 1872.
Key specifics
- The Darbar Move was first started in 1872 by Dogra ruler Maharaja Gulab Singh.
- During winter, the administration shifts from Srinagar to Jammu, and after winter it returns to Srinagar.
- About 10,000 employees travel between the two cities every year for the move.
- The distance between Srinagar and Jammu is about 300 kilometres.
- The seasonal transfer begins in the first week of November and ends in the first week of May.
Exam lens
Question type: polity and administration chronology; remember 1872, Maharaja Gulab Singh, 10,000 employees, 300 km, and the November-to-May cycle. TNPSC may ask which Indian Union Territory follows the Darbar Move and why it is linked to winter conditions.