The government of Jammu and Kashmir has officially designated the Blue Pansy butterfly (Junonia Orithya) as the official butterfly of the Union Territory. The declaration was made through an order issued by Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Government for the Department of Forest, Ecology, and Environment.

According to Suresh Kumar Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden, the order was issued on Wednesday evening, confirming the Blue Pansy as the butterfly of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Blue Pansy is a vibrant blue butterfly species found in various Southeast Asian countries, Australia, and Africa. It is commonly referred to as the Blue Pansy in India. This butterfly is territorial in nature and has 26 local subspecies across its range. It has a preference for sunlight and can often be observed sitting on open ground, basking in the warmth of the sun’s rays.