The correct answer is Option 2- Article 370
Article 370 of the Indian Constitution granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, providing it with a unique status compared to other states in India.
Jammu and Kashmir was one of the large princely States, which had the option of joining India or Pakistan or remaining independent. However, immediately after independence in October, 1947 Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators from its side to capture Kashmir. This forced the Maharaja Hari Singh to ask for Indian help and acceded to the Indian Union. Many of the Muslim majority areas in the Western and Eastern parts joined Pakistan but J&K was an exception. Under these circumstances, it was given much greater autonomy by the Constitution under Article 370.
At present, the special status given under 370 no longer exists. By the Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation Act 2019, the State has been bifurcated into two Union Territories viz., (i) Jammu and Kashmir and (ii) Ladakh. The new arrangement has come into effect from 31 October, 2019. |
