Strategically located Jammu and Kashmir State constitutes the northern most extremity of India situated between 32.17 degree and 36.58 degree north latitude and 37.26 degree and 80.30 degree east longitude. The total area of the State is 2, 22,236 sq. kms including 78114 sq kms under occupation of Pakistan and 42,685 sq kms under that of China, of which Pakistan handed over 5130 sq kms to China. The State is bounded by Pakistan, Afghanistan and China from the West to the East.

 The State is well connected with rest of the country by air, rail and road. The Indian Airlines and private airlines operate regular flights to Srinagar, Jammu and Leh.

The National Highway 1-A connects the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu with rest of the country. There are daily passenger trains connecting Jammu with most of the major cities of the country. A railway project connecting Kashmir with rail is presently in progress. However there are some areas which remain cut off from rest of the country during winter. This includes the districts of Kargil and Leh and some parts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Doda districts.

 The State ranks 6^th in area and 19^th in population among the States and the Union Territories of India. The State consists of 22 districts.

 All India Level of 74.0% as per 2011 census, the Literacy rate of the state is 68.74%. The male literacy rate is 78.26% and the female literacy rate is 58.01%. There is a large gap in the male female literacy. The literacy rate of district Ramban is the lowest with 56.90%, the male literacy rate being 71.97% and female literacy rate 40.04% only. Jammu district has the highest literacy rate of 83.98% with 89.77% in males and 77.41% in females. The lowest female literacy rate is 40.04% in District Ramban. And the highest female literacy rate of 77.41% in Jammu district. There are 7 districts where female literacy rate is even below 50%. There is a huge gap in male female literacy ratios also.