Why Is It Advised Not to Eat Before Surgery and What Happens If You Dont Fast for 6 Hours?
If you or someone in your family has ever had surgery, youd know that doctors ask you to fast for at least six hours before admission. Not many people know the reason behind this. So, in this article, we will tell you why fasting is necessary to prevent complications.
Highway worker killed, truck conductor injured in Ramban accident
Ramban, Oct 18: A worker associated with a highway construction company was killed and a truck conductor injured after a truck ran over the worker near Seri on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district on Sunday morning. The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Azam (30), son of Showkat Ali, a resident of Bonzwa, Kishtwar. The injured truck conductor was identified as Mohammad Irfan, son of Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Kupwara. According to reports, a truck had broken down on the highway last night. Mohammad Azam was reportedly engaged in removing the faulty vehicle when another truck ran over him, leaving him critically injured. Soon after the incident, locals, police personnel and Civil Quick Response Team (QRT) Ramban volunteers rushed to the spot and shifted both men to District Hospital Ramban, where doctors declared Azam brought dead. Police have registered a case and initiated further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Video: American Woman Tries Fire Paan For The First Time In India, Reaction Goes Viral
The moment caught the American woman off guard as she tried the fire paan experience for the first time.
J&K govt takes up bus attack with Haryana, seeks action: CM's office
Srinagar, Oct 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Office has taken up the reported attack on a J&K-bound bus with the Haryana Government, expressing concern over the safety and well-being of the passengers. In a statement, the Chief Minister's office said the Haryana administration had assured prompt and stringent action in accordance with the law. The J&K Government stands with the affected passengers and is closely monitoring the situation, the statement said. The development comes after a Delhi-Srinagar luxury bus was reportedly attacked near Kurukshetra in Haryana late Saturday night, leaving an elderly Kashmiri passenger injured. The incident has drawn condemnation from political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, who have called for action against those responsible and measures to ensure the safety of passengers.
CRPF jawan commits suicide in J-K's Ganderbal
Srinagar, Oct 18: A CRPF jawan allegedly committed suicide inside a camp in Manasbal area of Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said here. Constable Ranjit Das allegedly committed suicide by using a nylon rope to hang himself inside the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp at Manasbal, the officials said. Das hailed from Hajo Tehsil in Kamrup district of Assam, they said, adding the body has been sent for medico legal formalities. The officials said it was not immediately known as to why Das took the extreme step.
Dry weather likely in J&K till Oct 23, rain and snow forecast for Oct 2425
Srinagar, Oct 18: The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast mainly dry weather across Jammu and Kashmir till the evening of October 23, with light rain and snowfall over higher reaches likely at a few places on October 24 and 25. According to the latest forecast issued by the MeT Centre Srinagar, weather is expected to remain generally dry on October 18, although a brief spell of light snow may occur at a few higher-altitude locations. Mainly dry conditions are likely to continue from October 19 to the evening of October 23. The forecast indicates generally cloudy weather on October 24 and 25, with light rain at some places and light snowfall over higher reaches. Thunderstorms and gusty winds are also possible at a few locations during this period. Weather is expected to remain mainly dry again from October 26 to 29, the MeT Centre said.
AIIMS doctors identify Red Alert Zone to reduce risks in complex cancer surgery
AIIMS doctors have recognized two critical anatomical zones during complex cancer surgeries in women. These zones help reduce bleeding and prevent injuries to vital organs. One zone, known as 'Ray's Zone', is crucial for surgeries involving the pelvic area. The other, 'Ray's Hepatocaval Triangle', assists during liver mobilization near major vessels. Identifying these zones enhances surgical precision and patient outcomes in oncological procedures.
Can Certain Foods Boost Your Sexual Stamina? 5 Diet Additions That May Help
If you are experiencing low libido, certain natural aphrodisiac foods might help boost it. We have curated a list of five food items with the help of a clinical dietitian that can help you recover your lost stamina.
14 killed, 28 injured as truck ploughs into devotees outside temple in Gwalior
Gwalior, Oct 18: Fourteen persons were killed, and at least 28 others suffered injuries when a speeding truck ploughed into several devotees before crashing into a temple's entry gate in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district in the wee hours of Sunday, police said. A wall of the temple crashed under the impact of the collision, they said, adding that two to four of the injured persons were critical. The incident, which occurred around 1.30 am outside the Sheetla Mata temple near a slope on Chinor Road, raised concerns about security arrangements at the shrine, as the truck, with a Punjab registration number, entered the no-entry zone, officials said. The truck crashed into several devotees and roadside shops before hitting the temple's entrance gate, an official said. An investigator said the trucks brakes may have failed, forcing the driver to swerve left in a desperate attempt to control the vehicle. Had it continued straight, he said, it would have ploughed into at least 600 to 700 devotees. Fourteen persons were killed and 28 injured, acting Inspector General of Police, Gwalior range, Asit Yadav told PTI. The impact brought down a temple wall on the structure's left side, he said. Earlier, a senior police official had said that nearly 40 persons were injured in the incident. The truck driver fled from the spot, and police teams were searching for him. Asked how the truck entered the no-entry zone, Yadav said the lapses will be investigated. After the incident, the bodies and injured persons were shifted to different hospitals, including Gwalior's trauma centre. Relatives of victims gathered near the post-mortem facility at the trauma centre and expressed anger over the incident, with many questioning how a heavy truck could enter an area where, they claimed, even a bicycle could not pass. Lokendra Singh Tomar, nephew of the deceased Sarla Tomar, asked how the truck was allowed to enter the temple premises despite security arrangements. His aunt was on her way to offer prayers at the shrine, he told reporters and demanded answers from those responsible for the accident. Pawan Rathore (23), a resident of Gadaipur in Gwaliors Hazira area, was among those killed. His family took the body away amid inconsolable grief. He had gone to the temple to offer prayers when the accident occurred. Sandeep, a relative of injured devotee Nikesh, said the family received a phone call around 5 am informing them that Nikesh had been hurt at the temple. When they reached the hospital, he was in critical condition with both legs fractured and was placed on a ventilator, he added. Savitri, a relative of the deceased Divyansh, said the family realised he was missing after the group came out of the temple following prayers. Despite searching for him and alerting the police, they could not locate him at first. Later, they went back inside and identified him, she said. Gajendra Prajapati, the brotherinlaw of an injured man, said his relative, who ran a shop at the temple, was admitted to hospital after the accident. He added that his relative told the family he could not comprehend what had happened, as smoke had engulfed the area.
Srinagar, Oct 18: An elderly Kashmiri passenger was reportedly injured after a luxury bus travelling from Delhi to Srinagar was attacked in Haryana late Saturday night, with claims that the vehicle was targeted over its Jammu and Kashmir registration number. According to accounts circulating online, the incident took place around 10:45 pm on October 17 near Divine Star Dhaba. The bus, operated by Star World Ventures, reportedly suffered damage to its windowpanes and tail lights. Videos purportedly showing broken windows, debris inside the bus and the injured passenger with blood on his face have circulated on social media. Several Kashmiri politicians, including J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, condemned the incident and called on Haryana Police to take action against those responsible. This unfortunate incident should never have taken place. I hope the Haryana government catches the culprits & take action to ensure these things dont happen again, said Omar, in a post on X. This unfortunate incident should never have taken place. I hope the Haryana government lead by @NayabSainiBJP ji & @police_haryana catch the culprits & take action to ensure these things dont happen again. https://t.co/7syQ37P2oP Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 18, 2026 PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said 'hate is making ordinary Kashmiris unsafe while condemning the attack. A DelhiSrinagar sleeper bus was attacked with bricks in Kurukshetra while passengers slept. An elderly Kashmiri was left bleeding. Disturbingly, reports suggest police targeted passengers instead of the attackers. Hate is making ordinary Kashmiris unsafe. We demand arrests and Waheed Ur Rehman Para (@parawahid) October 18, 2026 The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the alleged motive and reports concerning police action, could not be independently verified. National Conference leader Imran Nabi Dar condemned what he descibed as a murderous attack on innocent people. Stones and bricks pelted on Kashmir bus (JK number), on Delhi to Srinagar route, near Kurukshetra Haryana in an alleged hate crime. One elderly Kashmiri man injured in the attack, families left helpless and terrified. We condemn the murderous attack on innocent people and Imran Nabi Dar (@ImranNDar) October 18, 2026 The bus had stopped at Divine Star Dhaba when some unidentified persons allegedly began abusing the driver before pelting stones at the vehicle, damaging its window glass, reported news agency GNS. When contacted by GNS, Star World Ventures confirmed the incident, stating that the bus was on its way from Delhi to Srinagar when the incident occurred in Haryana.
Fire at military base in Alberta: Canadian defence minister says fatalities, injuries reported
Edmonton, Oct 18: Canada's defence minister said that people were killed and injured in an incident at a military base in Alberta that caused a major fire. I'm saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base, Defense Minister David McGuinty said on Saturday. A serious incident creating a major fire has occurred at CFB Wainwright, in Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier in a social media post. Our thoughts are with all the brave women and men affected, he said. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as significant and tragic and said it was affecting many military personnel. The base is near Wainwright, Alberta, a town about 180 kilometres southeast of Edmonton. Carney said the federal government was working closely with Alberta officials and local authorities. He said he and Smith were in close contact, as were their ministers and officials. Smith thanked first responders and those providing care and support to those affected. Canadian Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken with Carney and the defence minister to offer support to those affected by the fire. Pray for Wainwright, everyone, Poilievre said in a social media post. He urged people in the area to follow emergency instructions and keep roads clear for first responders. Neither Carney nor Smith provided details about what caused the fire or whether anyone was injured. The fire came days before the province is set to vote on beginning a process that could lead to its seeking independence from Canada.
Drinking Green Tea Right After Meals: Can It Block Iron Absorption in The Body?
Green tea is considered one of the healthiest drinks for its rich antioxidant profile. However, you should not drink it with or close to your meals. A dietitian has flagged that it might affect iron absorption in the body.
Do You Sleep Next To Your Phone? 5 Potential Health Risks You Should Know
Many people keep their phone on the bedside table or under the pillow. While this is convenient, doctors dont recommend it. Here are some health issues that you may experience because of this habit.
CEO SSCL inspects Smart City infrastructure
Srinagar, Oct 17:Chief Executive Officer, Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL), Dr. Basharat Qayoom, today conducted a comprehensive review of key Smart City infrastructure at Souq Market and Craft Centre, Batamaloo, the under-construction Electric Bus Charging Station at Batamaloo, and the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at HMT. The review focused on construction quality, timely completion of ongoing works, infrastructure maintenance, effective utilisation of technology and strengthening sustainable urban mobility across Srinagar. During his visit to Souq Market and Craft Centre at Batamaloo, the CEO inspected the facilities and reviewed their operational status, maintenance requirements and overall upkeep. He stressed the importance of maintaining these public infrastructure assets in a functional, orderly and well-maintained condition, ensuring that the facilities serve their intended purpose efficiently and contribute to the citys urban development objectives. At the under-construction Electric Bus Charging Station at Batamaloo, Dr. Basharat reviewed the progress of ongoing works and took stock of the construction status, execution quality and associated infrastructure requirements. He stressed the importance of maintaining prescribed quality standards, ensuring proper coordination among the executing agencies and adhering to the stipulated timelines. He directed the concerned officers to closely monitor the pace and quality of construction, address bottlenecks promptly and ensure timely completion of the project so that the facility can be made operational to support Srinagars electric bus fleet and strengthen sustainable urban mobility. Highlighting the importance of sustainable urban transportation, the CEO emphasised that the development of reliable electric bus charging infrastructure is essential for strengthening Srinagars public transport system and promoting cleaner mobility. He directed the concerned officers to ensure that all essential components of the charging facility are executed in accordance with prescribed standards, with due attention to quality, functionality, safety and long-term operational requirements. At the ICCC, the CEO reviewed its functioning, monitoring mechanisms and technology-enabled operational activities. The review reaffirmed SSCLs focus on ensuring the timely completion of ongoing infrastructure projects, maintaining existing Smart City assets and promoting technology-driven urban governance, sustainable public transportation and responsive civic service delivery for the people of Srinagar. The CEO was accompanied by the Joint Commissioner, Administration, SMC; Chief Engineer, SSCL; Joint Commissioner, Works, SMC; General Manager ICCC, SSCL; concerned Executive Engineers from KPDCL, Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) and other line departments; and officers of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL).
Chief Secretary lays foundation stone for restoration of historic Vittal Bhairav Temple at Rainawari
Srinagar, Oct 17:Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the revival and restoration of the historic Vittal Bhairav Temple at Motiyar, Rainawari, in Srinagar district, marking a significant step towards preserving Kashmirs rich cultural and architectural heritage. The restoration project is being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 2.84 crore under the Governments heritage conservation initiative. The project aims to preserve the temples historical, religious and cultural significance. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Dr Basharat Qayoom, Director Archives, representatives of the Kashmiri Pandit community and other concerned officials were present on the occasion. During his visit, the Chief Secretary reviewed various components of the proposed restoration project and directed the concerned officers to expedite the work while ensuring strict adherence to prescribed timelines and quality standards. Emphasising the importance of the project, Atal Dulloo said the restoration and conservation efforts were aimed at reviving the temples decades old glory and preserving its architectural and cultural heritage. He said the initiative reflected the Governments commitment to conserving the regions heritage while recognising the cultural contributions of different communities of Kashmirs diverse social fabric. The Chief Secretary observed that the temple holds considerable historical, cultural and religious significance and represents an important part of Kashmirs shared heritage. He expressed hope that the restoration work would help preserve its aesthetic appeal, heritage value and social significance for future generations. Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Mir Imtiyaz Ul Aziz, Chief Planning Officer Fayaz Ahmad Dar, Joint Commissioners of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation Syed Abu Qasim and Nuzhat Qureshi, Superintending Engineer R&B Tatheer Manzoor, along with Officers from the R&B, PHE, KPDCL, SMC, Police, Revenue and other concerned departments, were present on the occasion.
Groundwater planning must be based on science, says ACS Shaleen Kabra
Srinagar, Oct 17:Underscoring the importance of scientific assessment and coordinated action for safeguarding Jammu & Kashmirs groundwater resources, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, ShaleenKabra, today chaired a Union Territory-level Coordination Committee (UTLCC) meeting to review the assessment of groundwater resources across J&K under the Groundwater Resource Assessment (GWRA-2026). The meeting focused on strengthening inter-departmental coordination, streamlining data sharing and leveraging scientific expertise to ensure reliable assessment, informed planning and sustainable management of this vital natural resource. Emphasising the need to translate scientific knowledge into actionable interventions, the Additional Chief Secretary, JSD, ShaleenKabra directed CGWB to share its technical reports, scientific publications and relevant resource documents with the concerned UT departments. This, he termed, will facilitate informed planning and decision-making, strengthen groundwater conservation measures and enable departments to formulate interventions based on reliable scientific evidence. The ACS while highlighting the significance of the exercise also called for close collaboration among all stakeholder departments and agencies to ensure the long-term sustainability of groundwater resources and strengthen water security across Jammu & Kashmir. He underscored the need for a well coordinated, data-driven and science-based approach to groundwater management, with due emphasis on conservation, efficient utilisation and the long-term protection of available resources. Earlier, Dr. M. Sivakumar, Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) outlined the agenda, highlighting the importance of scientific groundwater assessment, coordinated data sharing and institutional collaboration for effective groundwater resource management. On this occasion Dr. Owais Ahmad, Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, emphasised the need for harmonisation of data between CGWB and the concerned UT departments to ensure consistency, reliability and accuracy in the assessment process. During the meeting, PirRayees Ahmad, Senior Scientist, CGWB, made a detailed presentation on the Boards ongoing activities in Jammu & Kashmir, covering groundwater resource assessment, aquifer mapping, groundwater management studies and other related technical interventions. The presentation highlighted CGWBs role in providing scientific inputs, technical guidance and expert recommendations to support the UT Government in assessing groundwater resources, characterising aquifers and formulating sustainable groundwater management strategies for the times to come. Various issues concerning groundwater management were discussed during the meeting, with CGWB officers offering technical recommendations and suitable management measures for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of groundwater. Detailed deliberations were held on the methodology and analytical framework for GWRA-2026, inter-departmental data sharing and the implementation of the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM). The committee reviewed the proposed assessment of dynamic groundwater resources across 149 assessment units in Jammu & Kashmir, emphasising the need for timely, accurate and reliable data on groundwater recharge, extraction and associated water conservation structures. The members stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among all concerned departments, backed by CGWBs scientific expertise, to ensure a robust and credible assessment of groundwater availability and utilisation across the Union Territory. The exercise is expected to provide an important scientific basis for identifying groundwater management priorities and supporting evidence-based interventions for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of this precious resource. The meeting also reviewed the findings of aquifer management studies undertaken by CGWB in Anantnag, Rajouri and the Jammu Urban Agglomeration. These studies offer valuable scientific insights for identifying area-specific groundwater management challenges, strengthening conservation measures and developing targeted strategies for sustainable groundwater utilisation. Concluding the Regional Director, CGWB also responded to queries raised by the committee members and assured the concerned departments of continued technical support and scientific assistance from the Board throughout the assessment and management process to culminate it successfully across the length and breadth of J&K.
DC Ganderbal visits Wandhama Transit Camp; reviews basic amenities
Ganderbal, Oct 17: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Shreya Singhal, today visited the Wandhama Transit Camp and interacted with employees appointed under the Prime Ministers Package, listening to their demands and grievances and reviewing the availability of basic amenities at the camp. During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner took stock of the existing infrastructure and reviewed the status of drinking water supply, electricity and sanitation facilities. She listened to the concerns raised by the employees and assessed the requirements for improving the living conditions at the transit camp. The DC directed the concerned Executive Engineer, R&B, to ensure immediate repairs and maintenance of the infrastructure wherever required. She also directed the concerned officers to ensure proper sanitation arrangements and adequate availability of drinking water at the camp, stressing that essential facilities must be maintained and deficiencies addressed promptly. Emphasising the need for responsive administration and regular monitoring, the DC directed the concerned departments to take necessary measures to address the issues highlighted during the visit and ensure the availability of essential amenities for the employees residing at the transit camp. The Deputy Commissioner was accompanied by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Chief Planning Officer Ganderbal, Executive Engineer R&B, concerned Block Development Officer and other officers and officials.
Govt caps trade margins on 137 anti-cancer drugs at 30%; retail prices likely to fall 70%
New Delhi, Oct 17:Drug pricing regulator NPPA on Saturday capped trade margins on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer formulations at 30 per cent, according to an official statement. The move, effective November 9, is expected to slash retail prices of these critical life-saving medicines by up to 70 per cent depending on their current price structures, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers statement said. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), functioning under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, implemented the Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) mechanism under Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013, following a gazette notification issued on Saturday. The intervention stems from recommendations by an expert committee constituted under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), comprising leading oncologists, medical specialists, hospital experts from across the country, and government officials. The committee recommended 137 drugs for margin rationalisation, and the list will be updated periodically. The exercise builds on the success of NPPA's 2019 pilot TMR initiative, in which trade margins on 42 anti-cancer medicines were capped at 30 per cent, leading to an MRP reduction of up to 90 per cent across 526 brands. The measure broadens that framework to cover a significantly larger basket of cancer medicines, the statement said. Drugmakers are mandated to publish revised price lists on their official websites and disseminate widely among retailers and hospitals. Furthermore, retailers and hospitals must charge reduced rates from November 9 and display the revised prices in their pharmacies. Hospitals, which directly procure a substantial share of oncology medicines, are also required to prominently exhibit the new rates on their websites and will bear direct responsibility for ensuring the revised prices are implemented on the ground, it said. Consumers can verify and check the updated drug rates through the NPPA website and the 'Pharma SahiDaam' mobile app. To ensure strict adherence, state drug controllers have been directed to enforce compliance across manufacturers, dealers, retailers, hospitals, and medical institutions. Addressing supply-chain concerns, NPPA underscored that the rationalisation seeks to curb excessive margins in the distribution and retail channels without denting legitimate manufacturing revenues or causing artificial shortages. Pharmaceutical companies have been directed to maintain their current production and supply levels for the notified formulations to guarantee uninterrupted and timely access to vital medicines for patients across the country, the statement added.
Rotten apples leave a stench in hail-hit orchards of Shopian
Shopian, Oct 17:An overpowering stench of rotting apples hangs over orchards in south Kashmirs Shopian district, where piles of decayed fruit lie beneath the trees after repeated hailstorms damaged the crop. Growers in villages including Dangam, Wangam, Kachdoora and Amshipora said a significant portion of the hail-damaged apples rotted on the trees before they could be harvested. Several hailstorms this season caused extensive damage across Shopian, one of Kashmirs major apple-producing districts. The hailstones bruised the fruit, making it prone to decay, and by the time harvesting began, much of it was unfit for sale. There was no option but to discard such apples, said Showkat Ahmad, a grower from Dangam. He said hail damaged more than 60 per cent of his crop, and a substantial portion of the affected fruit rotted on the trees. The smell in some orchards is so strong that walking through them has become difficult, he said. In densely planted orchards spread over hundreds of kanals, mounds of rotten apples lie on the ground. Fruit that would normally have been picked, sorted and sent to markets has become waste. Growers must now spend extra time and labour clearing the orchards, even as they absorb the financial loss. There is now additional work. We have to clear our orchards of these rotten apples, said Mushtaq Ahmad, another farmer. The damage has come at a crucial stage of the horticulture cycle, when growers depend on the harvest to recover the costs of maintaining their orchards through the year. With large quantities of fruit unmarketable, they have far less produce to sell. For many growers, the decaying fruit beneath the trees is a reminder of the crop they could not save.
3,000 cancer patients registered at GMC Anantnag, but none can get radiotherapy there
Anantnag, Oct 17:Around 3,000 cancer patients have registered with Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnags Radiation Oncology Department since 2019, including 800 this year, but patients who need radiotherapy still have to travel to Srinagar for treatment. The department provides only chemotherapy and palliative care from a cramped, makeshift space inside the hospital. A dedicated two-storey oncology block is under construction, but it cannot offer radiotherapy without specialised equipment. GMC Anantnag has already submitted a proposal worth Rs 40 crore to the government for the required equipment. We hope to shift to the new block by March next year, but the department can become fully functional only when the necessary equipment is available, said DrShahid Bashir Wani, head of the Radiation Oncology Department. The proposal includes a linear accelerator for radiation treatment, a CT simulator for radiotherapy planning, a PET scanner and other equipment required to expand cancer care. The equipment cost is separate from the building expenditure. Rs 5 crore has been sanctioned under the CAPEX budget for the block, construction of which has been underway for about a year. Syed Ishfaq Ahmad, Superintendent Engineer of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, said the building would take another six months to complete. It will take another six months to complete the building, after which it will be handed over to GMC Anantnag authorities, he said. DrWani said that even after construction, radiotherapy services will depend on procuring, installing, and commissioning the equipment. For now, patients from Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian, as well as parts of the Chenab Valley and PirPanjal region, must travel to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS) or Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, in Srinagar. Radiotherapy often requires treatment five days a week for four to five weeks, making repeated journeys costly and physically exhausting, a medic said. He said the burden was difficult for some patients to sustain. Medical experts estimate that 60% to 65% of cancer patients require radiotherapy at some stage. Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently allocated Rs 2 crore to GMC Anantnag for two breast cancer projects. The college is among four medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir selected for the initiative. One project focuses on early detection through screening, while the other will assess whether standardised treatment, coordinated care and timely follow-up can improve survival. Under this, GMC Anantnag and GMC Baramulla will be linked with SKIMS, Soura, through a hub-and-spoke model to coordinate treatment and follow-up. The projects aim to strengthen breast cancer screening and care, but radiotherapy remains unavailable at GMC Anantnag. Until the required equipment is installed and commissioned, patients will continue to travel to Srinagar for treatment.
Two Years of Omar Abdullahs Government
From the promise of restoring Jammu and Kashmirs political dignity to the everyday failures of governance, the National Conference (NC) government sits on a question, it keeps running away from: what was the mandate for if it was not meant to be used? Two years into the NC government, the burgeoning gap between the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the politics pursued after a resounding mandate has become increasingly difficult to ignore. The popular government has often taken refuge in the limitations that the Union Territory (UT) framework offers as an excuse for its failures. Yet the question remains: if the absence of statehood is the principal obstacle to delivering on the manifesto, why has the government failed to utilise the political leverage of its mandate more forcefully to demand it? The NC did not assume power in an ordinary political setting. The emergence of mandate was rooted in the political disenchantment following the unilateral abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent loss of statehood. The vote of 2024 did not reflect endorsement of NCs political legacy, rather for many, it was expression of anger against the BJP and the political will imposed on Jammu and Kashmir. That distinction matters. The mandate was an opportunity to articulate the political aspirations of the people and to negotiate from a position of relative strength. Instead, the government increasingly appears to have been co-opted into the larger project of disenfranchisement that ensued on 5th Aug 2019. It appears the govt of J&K and the one in Delhi have made peace with each other, and the latter being particularly happy the way it's unfolding. This is not to deny the constraints of the UT setup. But constitutional limitations cannot become an all-purpose explanation for political timidity, nor can the absence of statehood explain every failure in welfare delivery or the treatment of public dissent. Therefore, the moot point is not whether Omar Abdullah has all the powers of a state Chief Minister. He does not. It is whether he has used the political mandate he was given, to challenge the arrangement that limits him. Political promises reduced to statehood The NC manifesto promised the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, alongside the implementation of the Autonomy Resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in June 2000. These were not incidental electoral commitments. They spoke to the political question at the heart of Jammu and Kashmirs relationship with the Union. Yet, after coming to power, the NCs public posture increasingly appears concomitant with the mere restoration of statehood. Statehood may be part of a larger pie, but it is not an entire pie itself and therefore cannot replace the commitments concerning special status, autonomy and the political consequences of August 2019. The danger is that a promise to challenge the post-2019 political settlement has been reduced to a demand for administrative restoration within that very settlement. In principal the handling of the Assemblys statehood resolution also raised questions about the governments willingness to make its position unambiguous. Legislators sought amendments intended to strengthen the resolution, but those amendments were withdrawn. Whatever the procedural circumstances, the episode reinforced the impression that the government was unwilling to push its political demands to their logical conclusion. The subsequent September 2 march towards the BJP office in Srinagar, followed by a counter-protest by the BJP, did little to dispel the perception of political theatre. The later plan for a protest at Jantar Mantar, which shifted to the Constitution Club, similarly invited questions about whether these actions were designed to exert pressure or merely an exhibition that pressure was being exerted. Omar Abdullahs conduct towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi has further sharpened this contradiction. At the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel in Sonamarg on January 13, 2025, Omar praised Modi for visiting despite the harsh weather, saying that not a single cloud was in the sky, the sun was shining brightly and there was no lack of warmth in peoples hearts. Praise for a Prime Minister in itself, is not an evidence of surrender. Nor is engagement with New Delhi inherently objectionable. But political language acquires meaning from its context. The concern is not courtesy. It is the apparent absence of a corresponding assertion of political interests. Jobs: from a promise of one lakh to the uncertainty of recruitment For Jammu and Kashmirs young people, employment was among the most tangible promises in the NC manifesto: a comprehensive job package for one lakh youth and the filling of government vacancies within 180 days. The scale of unemployment makes this commitment particularly consequential. However, the recruitment figures raise serious questions about the governments progress in fulfilling this promise. Figures placed before the Assembly show that JKPSC advertised 2,586 posts in 2023-24, 1,400 in 2024-25 and only 357 in 2025-2026. JKSSB, meanwhile, advertised 4,228 posts in 2023-24, 5,044 in 2024-25 and 1,731 in 2025-26. This sharp decline in advertised posts is alarming, particularly when viewed against the promise of filling vacancies within 180 days. More concerningly, during the same period, JKPSC and JKSSB collected 113.91 cr in application fees. Taken together, these figures raise an important question: if the government promised to create employment opportunities on such a scale, why has the number of advertised posts declined so sharply, even as aspiring candidates continue to pay substantial sums to participate in the recruitment process? Why should applicants continue investing in a system that offers neither predictable recruitment nor clarity over when vacancies will be filled? The concerns are compounded by allegations of irregularities involving outsourced recruitment, including claims that application links were circulated without formal notifications from the relevant government agencies. These allegations warrant a transparent inquiry and should not be allowed to remain unanswered. Electricity relief and the everyday economics of governance The promise of 200 free units of electricity to every household, relief from the electricity and water crisis, and the transfer of hydropower projects to Jammu and Kashmir was another commitment with direct consequences for household budgets. The government has pointed to the constraints of the UT arrangement and the regions historical power deficit. Yet the question of free electricity cannot be separated from the governments own policy choices. In October 2025, Omar Abdullah said the promised 200 free units would be implemented after the comprehensive rollout of smart meters, arguing that precise measurement was necessary to deliver the benefit. That explanation does not settle the matter. It raises further questions about sequencing, affordability and whether the people who were promised relief should have to wait indefinitely for the governments chosen mechanism to be completed. The governments defence of smart meters has also exposed a communication problem. In October 2025, criticism of Omars position included the contrast between his earlier objections to smart meters as a burden on poor and middle-class households and his subsequent defence of their installation. In the bizarre defence, Omar drew parallels between his relatives and the poor people of J&K. He cited his own relatives, including his aunties, as examples of people who had installed smart meters. A similar dismissiveness was evident in the Chief Ministers response to questions about liquor shops. In May 2026, Omar asked whether anyone was forcing people to drink, saying that people visited liquor shops by choice and that his government had not increased their number. The issue was not simply whether anyone was being physically forced to drink. Answering a broader policy question by pointing out that consumption is voluntary risks trivialising the concerns being raised. Taken together, these episodes reveal a troubling pattern in political communication: citizens raise questions about policies affecting their daily lives, while the Chief Ministers responses can sound less like an attempt to engage with those concerns and more like an attempt to dismiss them. Welfare promises and the gap between announcement and delivery The manifesto also promised 12 LPG cylinders annually for economically weaker sections. The governments approval of six free cylinders a year for Antyodaya Anna Yojana families after a year or two appears to be a meaningful step for eligible households, but it does not amount to the full promise as presented in the manifesto. The government must explain the criteria, coverage and implementation, rather than allowing a partial measure to stand in for a broader commitment. The promise to raise widow pensions to 3,000 also remains a point of concern. The Social Welfare Department told the Assembly there was no proposal to raise the pension further. Why was a specific commitment made if the government did not have a credible plan to fund it? These are not minor administrative discrepancies. For a widow, an elderly person or a household struggling to afford fuel and transport, the difference between a promise and an implemented benefit is material. Welfare policy must be judged by what reaches people, not by what appears in a manifesto or a press release. The details of each dispute differ, but the larger question is the same: are the governments welfare commitments being translated into reliable public services, or are they being treated as electoral promises whose implementation can be deferred? Waqf, reservation and the limits of political symbolism The Waqf Amendment Act controversy exposed another contradiction between the NC governments political messaging and its conduct in office. The Act was passed by Parliament in early April 2025. On April 7, Omar Abdullah and his father, Farooq Abdullah, were photographed with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at Srinagars Tulip Garden. The image became controversial because Rijiju was associated with the legislation and the photograph emerged amid strong opposition to the Act among sections of the Muslim community. Omar explained that the meeting was a coincidence during a visit to the garden with his father and asked whether he should have been rude and refused a photograph. The controversy was about what the image symbolised at a moment when many people expected a stronger political response to legislation they regarded as deeply consequential. Ironically the Assembly Speaker disallowed a debate on the Centres Waqf law, citing procedural and sub judice concerns. The question is whether the government used its institutional position to facilitate a meaningful discussion of the concerns raised, and whether its opposition to the law translated into a clear legislative and political strategy. Reservation policy is another issue where the governments response must be judged against its promise to review the existing arrangements. The lopsidedness in the reservation system which stands close to 70% has fuelled discontent among sections of the open-merit student community and unemployed aspirants. The government has a responsibility to rationalise scheme of reservation proportional to the existing population structures. But there appears no resolution whatsoever in sight, and unfortunately, NC led govt has exhibited no intent to initiate a process of dialogue with aggrieved students, leave alone the resolution itself. The file according to them is swinging between offices, while recruitment persists with the existing scheme of reservation. A review promised in a manifesto must mean a review that is transparent, evidence-based and open to public scrutiny. Workers, local livelihoods and the question of priorities The manifesto promised regularisation for daily wagers, CIC operators, contractual employees, Rehbar-e-Khel workers, home guards and other categories of temporary employees. These workers have spent years providing services under insecure conditions. Their demand for regularisation is not merely a demand for higher wages; it is a demand for recognition, dignity and a predictable future. The government has cited budgetary constraints in responding to such demands. Fiscal limits are real, and regularisation cannot be responsibly promised without a plan for costs, eligibility and implementation. But the governments priorities become harder to defend when workers are told that the budget cannot accommodate their claims while legislation is introduced to enhance the salaries or allowances of legislators. The comparison does not automatically establish that the two expenditures are equivalent or could be directly substituted for one another. It does, however, raise a legitimate question of political priorities. If the government can find room to improve the position of elected representatives, it must explain why long-serving temporary workers remain without a credible, time-bound roadmap. The promise to protect land, jobs and contracts for the natives raises similar concerns. The outsourcing and the entry of larger external firms risk weakening local employment and contractors. It also points to mining restrictions and shortages of construction material that can disadvantage local businesses. Nevertheless, the broader policy question is important. Inviting investment is not inherently at odds with protecting local interests. Jammu and Kashmir needs capital, expertise and employment opportunities. But investment policy must ensure that local workers and enterprises are not pushed to the margins by firms with greater access to finance, supply chains and institutional networks. The government should publish clear figures on local hiring, procurement, contracts and the outcomes of major investment initiatives. Otherwise, the language of development risks concealing a familiar imbalance: the public bears the disruption, while the benefits accrue elsewhere. The politics of political prisoners and the PSA The promise to release political prisoners and youth detained unjustly, and to repeal the Public Safety Act (PSA), was another major commitment. Omar Abdullah had pledged that the law would be repealed on the first day his party assumed power. The promise carries a historical irony. The PSA was enacted in 1978 under Sheikh Mohammad Abdullahs government, ostensibly to curb timber smuggling. Decades later, the same party promised to repeal it, recognising the laws significance in the political and human rights landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. But the government has since linked repeal to the restoration of full statehood. Omar Abdullah and members of his government have argued that policing, public order and prison administration remain under the control of the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor in the UT arrangement. These constraints are real. Yet they do not absolve the elected government of the responsibility to pursue the issue with urgency. If the government considers the PSA a serious instrument of injustice, it must do more than explain why it cannot repeal it immediately. It must publish a clear position, press for the release of those it believes are unjustly detained, seek reviews of cases and use every available institutional and political avenue. A government cannot campaign on a promise as though it were an immediate priority and then turn it into a conditional objective after taking office. The people are entitled to ask what changed between the campaign and the governments first two years. The same principle applies to the repeated invocation of the Lieutenant Governors authority. The division of powers may explain why a decision cannot be taken unilaterally. It does not explain why the issue should lose its urgency, nor why the elected government should not use its mandate to create sustained political pressure. Beyond the excuse of statehood The central weakness of Omar Abdullahs government is not simply that it has failed to fulfil every promise. Governments routinely encounter constraints, and Jammu and Kashmirs constitutional arrangement makes governance unusually complicated. The problem is the growing tendency to invoke those constraints without demonstrating a sustained political effort to overcome them. The government cannot be held solely responsible for powers it does not possess. But it can be held responsible for its political choices, its priorities, the clarity of its commitments and the manner in which it responds to criticism. The contrast between deference towards New Delhi and impatience towards ordinary citizens has become particularly damaging. Whether it is the response to concerns over smart meters, the remarks on liquor shops, the handling of the Waqf controversy or the repeated invocation of the Lieutenant Governors powers, the government too often appears to expect patience from the people while offering explanations in place of results. The NC must also recognise that its mandate was not a blank cheque. Voters who rejected the BJPs political project did not necessarily give the NC permission to accommodate that project in practice. They expected the party to use its electoral strength to defend Jammu and Kashmirs interests, even within a constrained constitutional framework. The governments own record on jobs, electricity relief, pensions, temporary workers and recruitment must be assessed through verifiable outcomes, not simply through announcements. Where promises have been only partially fulfilled, it should say so. Where the Centre has obstructed a decision, it should identify the obstruction and explain what steps it took in response. Where the government itself has failed to act, it should accept responsibility. The absence of statehood is a genuine political problem. But if it is invoked to explain every failure, it risks becoming an all-purpose shield behind which accountability disappears. The people of Jammu and Kashmir did not vote merely for a change of administration. They voted in the expectation that an elected government would restore political agency, defend public interests and make the machinery of government answerable to them. Two years on, the question is not whether Omar Abdullah has all the powers he wants. It is whether he has used the powers, mandate and political credibility he already has. That is the test the government must now face. Zuhaib Yousf Mir is a PDP youth leader. He holds a Masters Degree in Economics from the University of Edinburgh and writes regularly on politics, economics, ecology and youth affairs.
NC and Congress: History of political misadventures
The history of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 is not merely a story of Pakistani aggression, separatism and terrorism. It is equally a history of political miscalculations, shifting loyalties, personal ambitions and repeated betrayals of democratic principles by the two political parties that dominated its political landscape for decadesthe National Conference and Congress. Their relationship, oscillating between political friendship and bitter hostility, created recurring crises of legitimacy and governance. While Pakistan bears direct responsibility for sponsoring cross-border terrorism, the political misadventures of Congress and the National Conference deserve serious scrutiny for creating conditions of alienation and instability that hostile forces subsequently exploited. The fundamental question is uncomfortable but unavoidable: could the tragic history of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir have taken a different course had Congress and the National Conference placed democratic institutions above political convenience? Friendship of Convenience The political relationship between Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Jawaharlal Nehru established a pattern that would haunt Jammu and Kashmir for generations. Initially portrayed as an ideological partnership rooted in secularism and democracy, their relationship gradually exposed serious differences concerning political authority, constitutional integration and Kashmirs future. Nehru supported Sheikh Abdullah as a central figure in Kashmirs politics following accession to India. Yet the relationship deteriorated as disagreements emerged over constitutional arrangements and Sheikh Abdullahs political intentions. The dismissal and arrest of Sheikh Abdullah in August 1953 represented an extraordinary political reversal. The leader who had enjoyed Nehrus confidence was suddenly removed from power. The episode raises serious questions about political judgment on both sides. If Sheikh Abdullahs political positions were considered dangerous in 1953, why had they previously received such substantial political support? Equally, why did Sheikh Abdullahs political approach generate such profound uncertainty about Kashmirs constitutional future? The consequences extended far beyond two political personalities. The episode became a lasting source of political grievance and distrust. Democracy Subordinated to Power The removal of Sheikh Abdullah initiated a prolonged period in which the legitimacy of successive governments became a recurring controversy. Congress increasingly exercised political influence over Kashmirs governmental arrangements, while the National Conferences internal divisions shaped the struggle for authority. Rather than consolidating democratic confidence, political interventions encouraged the perception that governmental survival depended upon political approval from New Delhi. The damage was institutional. Political competition increasingly revolved around access to power instead of stable democratic principles. Such developments provided separatist elements with arguments against the credibility of constitutional politics. The responsibility for this deterioration cannot be assigned exclusively to one party. Congress and the National Conference both participated in political decisions whose consequences extended beyond their immediate interests. Principles Sacrificed for Power? The Indira GandhiSheikh Abdullah Accord of 1975 was another dramatic example of the changing political relationship between Congress and the National Conference. After more than two decades of confrontation, Sheikh Abdullah returned to power through an arrangement with the Congress leadership. Political reconciliation is not inherently objectionable. Indeed, accommodation can strengthen democratic stability. However, the accord exposed the striking transformation of political positions that had previously appeared irreconcilable. The same political establishment that had supported Sheikh Abdullahs removal facilitated his return. What had changed so fundamentally that yesterdays political adversary became todays indispensable partner? The accord restored Sheikh Abdullah to office but did not permanently resolve the underlying tensions concerning constitutional identity, regional aspirations and political trust. Instead of creating enduring institutional reconciliation, Kashmirs political stability remained excessively dependent upon understandings between powerful individuals. Another Assault on Democratic Credibility The dismissal of Farooq Abdullahs government in 1984 represented another damaging chapter. Following Sheikh Abdullahs death, Farooq Abdullah emerged as the principal leader of the National Conference. His relationship with Congress deteriorated, eventually culminating in a political rebellion led by G. M. Shah. The formation of a rival government with Congress support was widely criticised as an exercise in political manipulation. The episode reinforced the perception that elected governments could be destabilised through political manoeuvring. For a sensitive border region already experiencing political uncertainty, the consequences were particularly serious. Congress pursued immediate political advantage, while the National Conferences internal divisions exposed weaknesses within its own political organisation. The larger casualty was public confidence in democratic stability. A Historic Failure The 1987 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections constitute perhaps the most consequential political episode in the history of CongressNational Conference cooperation. The two parties contested the elections in alliance against opposition forces, including the Muslim United Front. Widespread allegations of electoral manipulation, intimidation and irregularities seriously damaged the credibility of the electoral process. Several political observers and historical studies have identified the disputed elections as an important factor contributing to the alienation of sections of Kashmiri youth and the subsequent growth of militancy. The precise relationship between individual electoral grievances and decisions to join armed organisations requires careful historical examination. Nevertheless, the broader political consequences were profound. A democratic system that fails to convince citizens of the fairness of electoral competition risks losing its most important source of legitimacy. The National Conference and Congress must face political accountability for their conduct during this critical period. The tragedy was that Pakistan-backed terrorist organisations subsequently exploited the disillusionment arising from domestic political failures. The 1987 elections remain a powerful reminder that manipulating democratic institutions for short-term political gain can produce consequences far beyond the immediate electoral contest. Political Leaderships Failure Pakistans responsibility for sponsoring, training, financing and supporting terrorist organisations operating in Jammu and Kashmir is central to any honest account of the insurgency. The emergence of militancy also reflected regional developments, radicalisation, cross-border networks and the consequences of the Afghan conflict. However, external aggression becomes more dangerous when domestic political institutions are weakened. The recurring conflicts between Congress and the National Conference contributed to an environment in which constitutional politics was frequently viewed with suspicion. Their repeated political confrontations, followed by opportunistic accommodations, weakened confidence in the consistency of governance. Pakistan exploited these vulnerabilities to promote separatism and armed violence. It would be historically inaccurate to claim that Congress and the National Conference alone caused terrorism. Yet it would be equally irresponsible to ignore the role of their political decisions in weakening democratic legitimacy during crucial periods. Pakistan must answer for the terrorism it sponsored; Congress and the National Conference must answer for the political failures that helped create opportunities for its exploitation. The Human Cost The consequences of terrorism devastated Jammu and Kashmir. Thousands lost their lives. Security personnel, civilians, political workers and public officials became victims of violence. Kashmiri Pandits suffered targeted killings, intimidation and mass displacement. Ordinary Muslim families also endured terrorism, coercion and prolonged insecurity. Economic development suffered, tourism declined, educational opportunities were disrupted and generations grew up amid violence. The political leadership cannot escape historical scrutiny by treating this tragedy merely as an unfortunate consequence of external aggression. The central issue is whether earlier political decisions could have strengthened democratic institutions sufficiently to reduce the vulnerabilities exploited by militant organisations. For Congress and the National Conference, that question remains unanswered. The Politics of Contradiction Another striking feature of National Conference politics has been its alternating emphasis on autonomy and cooperation with national political establishments. The party has repeatedly presented itself as the guardian of Kashmirs regional identity while entering alliances with Congress at different historical stages. Congress has similarly adopted changing positions concerning Kashmirs constitutional and political arrangements. Constitutional demands and political alliances are legitimate democratic activities. The criticism arises when contradictory political narratives are used to secure electoral advantage without offering clarity about long-term governance. Such inconsistency encouraged political uncertainty and allowed competing forces to exploit public confusion. Kashmir needed constitutional stability and credible democratic institutions. Instead, it frequently witnessed political bargaining over questions that demanded responsible and consistent leadership. Accountability Cannot Be Avoided Political responsibility does not require proof of criminal involvement in terrorism. Those who commit, finance and sponsor terrorist violence bear criminal responsibility for their actions. Political accountability concerns something different: whether decisions taken by those exercising power strengthened or weakened the institutions entrusted to them. Congress must answer for controversial interventions in Kashmirs democratic processes and its role in destabilising elected governments. The National Conference must answer for its own political contradictions, internal power struggles and participation in the disputed electoral process of 1987. Neither party can claim the moral authority to lecture others about Kashmirs political history without confronting its own record. The tragedy is that both parties repeatedly portrayed their decisions as necessary for Kashmirs welfare, even when their political arrangements produced instability and distrust. Conclusion The political relationship between Congress and the National Conference has been characterised by extraordinary reversalsfrom the Sheikh AbdullahNehru confrontation to the 1975 Accord, from the 1984 political crisis to the controversial 1987 elections. These were not isolated political disagreements. Collectively, they contributed to the erosion of democratic confidence at critical moments in Jammu and Kashmirs history. Pakistan exploited political vulnerabilities through terrorism, but its culpability does not eliminate the responsibility of domestic political leadership. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve an honest reckoning with this past. Congress and the National Conference cannot seek credit for every achievement while disclaiming responsibility for the consequences of their political misadventures. The lasting lesson of Kashmirs history is that when political power becomes more important than democratic integrity, the resulting damage can endure for generations. Jammu and Kashmir has paid an enormous price. History demands accountability, not convenient explanations. Advocate Sunil Sethi, Chief Spokesperson BJP J&K.
Starlink: The Promise and the Risk
India should welcome new technology, foreign investment and competition in telecommunications. But it must also recognise that some commercial services can become matters of national security. When communications networks are used by the armed forces, emergency services and critical public institutions, their availability cannot be left entirely to commercial considerations. The controversy surrounding Elon Musks Starlink satellite internet service has brought this question into focus. Musks public clash with Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani is ostensibly about competition, market access and consumer choice. But the larger issue is whether India can afford to become excessively dependent on a critical communications network controlled by a foreign private company. Ukraines experience offers an important lesson. According to Reuters, Ukrainian military operations faced disruption in October after restrictions were imposed on satellite communications supporting drone missions. A Reuters report on October 15 said the reported order to limit access to the military-oriented Starshield system had come from within the White House. The service was subsequently restored following discussions between the US and British defence leadership. An important distinction must be made here. Starlink provides satellite broadband services, while Starshield is a separate, military-oriented system developed by SpaceX for government and defence applications. Nevertheless, the episode raises a serious question: what happens when a country becomes dependent on a communications network whose operations are controlled by a private company based abroad? The fact remains, Ukraine has benefited enormously from Starlink since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The service helped keep hospitals, government offices and emergency services connected when conventional communications infrastructure was damaged. It also became important for military communications and drone operations. Starlink has played an important role in helping Ukraine withstand the crisis. But its recent experience also shows that over-reliance on a privately run network can pose a security risk when circumstances change. India needs to learn from this. It does not mean that Starlink is unsafe or that American technology should be avoided. The point is simple: no country should depend so heavily on a foreign-controlled communication network that its national security is at risk if that service is disrupted or restricted. India must have reliable alternatives of its own. Elon Musk has accused influential Indian business interests of trying to obstruct Starlinks entry to protect their existing market positions. In a sarcastic remark, as national media reported, directed at Ambani, he used the expression Prime Minister Ambani, arguing that competition would give consumers more choices and encourage companies to offer better services at affordable prices. Reliance, in its October 16 statement, said it had never feared competition and welcomed satellite communications services, including Starlink. It also said its own satellite services were awaiting government clearances and maintained that Indian and foreign operators should be governed by the same rules. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that three operators Starlink, Reliance Jios satellite venture and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb, have received licences, subject to the remaining requirements for commercial operations. There are important, legitimate questions about the pace of regulatory clearances and whether established companies are trying to protect their market positions. These issues should be examined on the basis of facts and transparent rules, rather than through public exchanges between wealthy businessmen. But the debate must not end there. Even if every allegation of commercial lobbying were proved wrong, New Delhis security concerns would and should remain. Similarly, even if Starlink offered the most attractive prices, affordability alone would not settle the question of strategic dependence. Satellite internet can bring benefits to a country as geographically diverse as India. It can connect remote Himalayan villages, islands, border settlements, ships and disaster-hit areas where laying fibre-optic cables is difficult or uneconomical. We agree that people living in remote regions need better connectivity to improve access to education, healthcare, banking and government services. Businesses can also benefit from more reliable communication. Starlinks established technology and extensive satellite constellation could help expand connectivity in underserved areas. India should not deny these advantages merely because the service is foreign-owned. However, satellite networks differ from conventional telecom infrastructure. A terrestrial internet provider relies substantially on infrastructure located within the country. Satellite broadband depends on spacecraft in orbit, ground equipment, specialised terminals, software and a network operated by a company headquartered abroad. Indian authorities can regulate services offered within the country, but independently verifying every aspect of a complex satellite network presents a different challenge. The first concern is continuity of service. What would happen if a foreign operator restricted connectivity during a military confrontation, border emergency or diplomatic dispute? Would hospitals, emergency services and security agencies be able to continue their work? The second concern is data security. Satellite networks can generate information about users, terminals, locations and network activity. Some of this information may be commercially valuable, while other data could have security implications. India must establish enforceable safeguards governing the collection, storage, processing and sharing of such information. The most important issue is operational control and compliance with Indian law. It cannot be taken in a lighter way. Authorities, in all circumstances, should be able to address unlawful use, enforce legitimate restrictions and ensure that satellite services meet the countrys regulatory requirements. These safeguards become particularly important in sensitive border areas and strategically significant locations. These are genuine policy questions, not arguments for protectionism. The country should also not be dependent on a single point of dependence Indias digital transformation has made communications infrastructure essential to banking, commerce, public services, defence and disaster management. A disruption that once affected a limited number of users can now have consequences for entire systems. Consider a major earthquake, flood or other disaster that damages terrestrial networks. Satellite internet could become invaluable when conventional communication lines fail. But if the satellite service itself becomes unavailable, or its capacity is restricted at the very moment it is needed most, the country could face another crisis. The answer is not to reject satellite technology but to ensure that no single network becomes the only option. The same principle applies to national security. India cannot assume that a commercial service will remain available under every geopolitical circumstance. Equally, it should not presume that a foreign company will necessarily act against Indian interests. National planning must be based on safeguards and alternatives, rather than either assumption. This concern is not just about Elon Musk or the United States. The same questions would arise if a company from any other country controlled a communication network on which India depended for its critical needs. Allowing a foreign company to provide a service is one thing; depending on it for essential national functions is quite another. The first gives people more choices and improves connectivity. The second calls for much greater caution. India, now one of the leading global powers, should neither shut its doors to Starlink nor let a dispute between two business leaders decide the countrys technology policy. The government must encourage new technology and investment while ensuring that national interests are not compromised. First, there should be clear rules for all satellite service providers on data protection, security, access to information by lawful authorities and accountability. Indian and foreign companies should follow the same standards. Second, the government must ensure that essential communication services continue to work during emergencies. Defence establishments, disaster management agencies and other critical services should have access to alternative networks. These arrangements must also be tested regularly so that the country is not caught unprepared if one service is disrupted or restricted. Third, India needs to strengthen its own satellite technology and infrastructure. Indian companies and research institutions should get the support needed to develop local expertise and capabilities. Depending too much on a single foreign provider can limit the countrys options during a crisis. A mix of domestic and foreign services would give India greater flexibility. Finally, all decisions on satellite services must be foolproof and based on complete national security, technical needs and the public interest. They should not be influenced by pressure from technological giants, powerful business groups, or political considerations. Competition is important, but companies must also be held accountable for their services. Ukraines experience shows that technology can be a great help during a crisis, but it can also create new problems. A communication network that works well in normal times may become a source of concern when political relations change, or a conflict intensifies. The lesson for New Delhi is clear. India should neither shield domestic companies from competition nor reject foreign technology without reason. It must, however, ensure that dependence on any one company does not put the country at risk at a crucial moment: man-made or natural disaster. India should welcome new technology, guard completely against its risks and protect its strategic independence. Author is National Editor, Greater Kashmir
Michigan engineers use adjustable golf-ball dimples to cut drag by 50%
Javid Dar attends review meeting on nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan
Srinagar, Oct 17: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Saturday participated virtually in a review meeting held to discuss implementation of the nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan (Save the Farm Campaign), scheduled to commence on October 22 and continue until November 30, 2026. The meeting was chaired by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who reviewed the campaign's implementation framework. He stressed the need for coordinated efforts to ensure its effective execution at the grassroots level, with a focus on reaching farmers in every village. During the meeting, the Union Minister directed the concerned Ministers and departments to put in place a robust implementation mechanism to ensure effective outreach and tangible benefits for the farming community. He underscored that soil conservation is not merely an agricultural priority but is fundamental to the country's long-term sustainability and the nutritional security of future generations. Briefing the meeting on Jammu and Kashmir's preparedness, Javid Dar reiterated that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, remains committed to extend all necessary support and facilities to the farmers and strengthen the agricultural sector across J&K. Dar stated that Jammu and Kashmir had achieved its targets during the previous Kharif season in accordance with the directions of the Union Government.
Sakeena Itoo lays foundation stone for Rs 10.44 Cr Govt Model HSS building at Banihal
Srinagar, Oct 17:Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Masood Itoo on Saturday laid the foundation stone for Government Model Higher Secondary School (Boys), Banihal building, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 10.44 crore. The project is being executed by the Public Works (R&B) Department, Banihal Division. The minister was accompanied by MLA Banihal Sajad Shaheen, Director School Education Jammu Naseem Javaid Chowdhary, Director Health Services Jammu Poonam Sethi, Joint Director Education Doda Mohammad Ashfaq, SDM Banihal Mohammad Naseeb Bajraan, Executive Engineers and other senior officers. Addressing a public gathering on the occasion, the Minister said the Government is committed to strengthen the educational infrastructure, expanding access to higher education and improving healthcare services, particularly in remote and rural areas. Responding to developmental issues raised by the MLA, Sakeena Itoo assured that several initiatives will be taken in the education and health sectors in Banihal. She said the Government is taking necessary measures to fulfil the long-pending demand for a University Campus at Banihal to facilitate students of the hilly district, especially girls, in pursuing higher education closer to home. The minister announced 10 additional Smart Classrooms for the Banihal constituency, supplementing the existing network of 76 Smart Classrooms and 104 ICT Labs. Highlighting the scale of educational infrastructure development, she informed that 543 developmental works have been executed or taken up in the district, including 113 additional classrooms, 34 computer labs, 112 girls toilet units, 33 libraries, 18 science laboratories, 18 resource rooms and 58 solar power units. On demands for degree colleges and a Nursing College in Banihal, the Minister assured that the request for development of Degree Colleges would be considered while establishment of a Nursing College would be pursued subject to availability and finalisation of suitable land.
Sabarmati-Jammu Tawi Express extended up to Katra with 3 new halt points
Jammu, Oct 17: The Ministry of Railways has approved the extension of Sabarmati BG-Jammu Tawi Express up to Katra with effect from October 18, 2026 from Sabarmati and from October 20, 2026 from Katra. The extension has been approved with three new halting points i.e., Samba, Bari Brahmana and Udhampur railway stations. Thousands of passengers, Railway officials stated, would get direct benefit from this decision. However, due to operational reasons, consequent upon its extension, the timings of around two dozen trains passing through Jammu Railway Division, originating or terminating at Katra have also been partially revised. The extended train will ensure direct train connectivity from Gujarat to Vaishno Devi. After the extension, lakhs of pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi coming from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab will get the facility to reach Katra directly without transhipment, said Raghvender Singh, Public Relations Inspector, Jammu Railway Division of Northern Railway. Additional halts of train numbers 19223/19224 approved at Samba, Bari Brahmana and Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur railway stations will facilitate the passengers, providing direct long-distance train facility to the local people, students, traders and military personnel of these areas. It will be especially beneficial for the people connected with the Bari Brahman industrial area, Singh said. He asserted that in terms of tourism and economy also, the extended daily train would connect Katra via Sabarmati, Bathinda, Firozpur, Jalandhar, Pathankot, boosting religious tourism as well as trade and employment. With regard to the extended trains schedule, according to Singh, the train number 19223 will depart from Sabarmati at 10.25 am and will reach Jammu Tawi at 15.35 pm on the second day and Katra at 18.55 pm. On its return journey, train number 19224 will depart from Katra at 4.50 am and reach Jammu Tawi at 7.40 am, which is convenient for onward journeys. Jammu Division appeals to all passengers to avail maximum benefit of this extended facility. For detailed information about the train, information can also be obtained from the official website of Railways and NTES, Singh said. Giving a detailed account of the revised schedules of trains following extension of Sabarmati BG-Jammu Tawi Express up to Katra, Singh informed that train number 22478 - Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra - New Delhi Vande Bharat would depart from Katra at 5.40 am, from Udhampur at 6.08 am, from Jammu at 7.08 am and from Martyr Captain Sunil Kumar Choudhary Kathua railway station at 8.01 am with effect from October 20, 2026. Train number 14503 Kalka-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra will depart from Jammu Tawi at 3.20 am, from Udhampur at 4.12 am and arrive at Katra railway station at 4.47 am, effective from October 20. Train number 15656 - Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Kamakhya will depart from Katra at 3.40 am, from Udhampur at 4.06 am, with effect from October 21. Train number 14612 - Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra - Ghazipur City will depart from Katra at 3.40 am with effect from October 22. Train number 19415 Sabarmati-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra will depart from Jammu at 4.15 am, from Udhampur at 5.16 am and reach Katra at 6.25 am, with effect from October 25. Train number 74909 - Jammu Tawi-Martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan DMU will depart from Jammu at 8.10 am, reach Udhampur at 10.10 am, with effect from October 20. Train number 22318 will depart from Jammu at 6.50 am with effect from October 21. Train number 16031 will depart from Jammu at 8.42 am, from Udhampur at 10.38 am and reach Katra at 11.50 am with effect from October 18. Train number 16317 will depart from Jammu at 8.30 am, from Udhampur at 10.02 am, reach at Katra at 11.50 am with effect from October 23 and train number16787 will depart from Jammu at 8.42 am, from Udhampur at 10.38 am, reach Katra at 11.50 am from October 19. Similarly, time schedules have been partially revised for around over a dozen other trains passing through Jammu Railway Division, originating or terminating at Katra.
Govt approves 671 kanal in Samba for Plug and Play Industrial Park
Srinagar, Oct 17:I n a major push to strengthen industrial infrastructure and accelerate investment in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has approved the transfer of 671 kanals of land in Samba to the Industries and Commerce Department for the development of a state-of-the-art Plug and Play Industrial Park under the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA). The initiative aims to provide ready-to-use industrial infrastructure, reliable services and streamlined approvals, enabling enterprises to establish operations faster and with greater ease. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the initiative would give a significant boost to industrial growth in Jammu and Kashmir by attracting fresh investment, strengthening local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and promoting entrepreneurship. He said the development would support balanced regional growth and create new employment opportunities for the youth, while further strengthening Jammu and Kashmirs industrial ecosystem.
Govt sets fiscal-year-end deadline to finalise Master Plans for 25 cities, towns
Srinagar, Oct 17:The government has set a target of finalising GIS-based master plans for 25 cities and towns during the current financial year, but the exercise is moving at markedly different speeds across Jammu and Kashmir. Only the Anantnag-Bijbehara-Mattan plan has reached the draft stage, while Bandiporas preliminary draft is under scrutiny. Being prepared or reviewed under AMRUT 2.0, the plans are meant to give towns a structured framework for urban growth, land use and future development. The Housing and Urban Development Department has indicated that all are expected to be finalised this financial year. The Anantnag-Bijbehara-Mattan Master Plan-2044 is the most advanced. After the inception report, base-map vetting, data analysis and pre-draft proposals were approved, the draft plan was placed in the public domain, and objections and suggestions are now being scrutinised. The Bandipora Master Plan-2046 has cleared its approach and methodology, revised work plan, base map and field-vetted existing land-use plan. Its preliminary draft has been submitted and is under scrutiny. Pulwama-2046 and Kupwara-2046 have completed their base maps and existing land-use plans, which were examined and returned to the consultants with remarks. The departmental statement lists no draft stage for either town. Kulgam, Baramulla, Sopore and Pattan, all with a 2047 horizon, have had their data-analysis reports and proposals on projected requirements, issues and development potential approved. Budgam-2047 has only its inception report and base maps approved, while Ganderbal and Awantipora have had data-analysis reports examined, with remarks sent to consultants. For Shopian, only the inception report and base maps are listed as approved. In Jammu division, inception reports have been approved for Akhnoor, Reasi, Ramban, Banihal, Kathua, Samba, RS Pura and Doda. The reviews of the Katra Master Plan-2031 and Udhampur Master Plan-2031 are also at the inception-report stage. The review of the Jammu Master Plan-2032 is at its final stage. Four master plans are already notified: Srinagar Master Plan-2035 (SRO 160 of 2019), Jammu Master Plan-2032 (SRO 90 of 2017), Udhampur Master Plan-2032 (SRO 91 of 2017) and Katra Master Plan-2031 (SRO 125 of 2016). Plans for Rajouri, Poonch and Kishtwar are being handled separately because their Development Authorities fall under the Tourism Department, which is expected to float tenders shortly. Government Order No 1152-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated July 1, constituted high-level vetting, steering and implementation committees to oversee master plans for 10 Tourism Development Authorities in the first phase. Kanwar Surjit Singh Institute for Spatial Planning and Environment Research is listed as consultant for Anantnag-Bijbehara-Mattan, Bandipora, Pulwama and Kupwara. The School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Bhopal, is listed for Budgam, Kulgam, Sopore, Akhnoor and Reasi, while SPA Delhi is listed for Ganderbal and Awantipora and SPA New Delhi for the Katra review. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, is listed for Ramban, Banihal, Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, RS Pura and Doda. The statement does not name a consultant for every town.
Infiltration bid foiled in Keran sector: Army
Srinagar, Oct 17: Army foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keran sector of Kupwara district in north Kashmir early on Saturday, triggering exchange of fire near Jumgund village. Search and sanitisation operations continued through the day in the sensitive border area, with additional troops inducted to thoroughly comb the terrain. According to Army, terrorists tried to sneak into the Valley under the cover of darkness. Troops noticed suspicious movement near Jumagund in the early hours and challenged the infiltrators, leading to exchange of fire around 3 am. The bid was thwarted, after which the Army launched an intensive search to check for any possible terrorist bodies or further presence in the area. Keran sector in north Kashmir has long been a sensitive infiltration corridor along the roughly 740-km LoC. The Army maintains a multi-tiered anti-infiltration grid, including fencing, surveillance, and patrols, in the sector and other forward areas of Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipora. While overall infiltration attempts have seen a marked decline in recent years, security forces remain on high alert, particularly ahead of the onset of winter when high passes become less passable. The incident follows recent counter-infiltration successes, including the elimination of four terrorists including a Lashkar-e-Toiba commander - in a mine blast in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch while attempting to cross the LoC days earlier. Officials have repeatedly underlined that any attempt to disturb peace in the region will be met with a firm response.
SC panel seeks complaints over July violence
Srinagar, Oct 17:A High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC), constituted by the Supreme Court of India to investigate incidents of violence at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and other places during July 2026, has launched a dedicated portal to receive complaints and representations from affected persons and other stakeholders. According to a statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Saturday, the portal, http://hpec.nic.in, has been launched to facilitate submissions from those affected by the violence, including police personnel. The committee will examine issues outlined in paragraphs 12 and 13 of the Supreme Court's order dated August 18, 2026, and paragraph 5(i) of its order dated September 10, 2026. Priority will be accorded to complaints concerning the use of pellet guns, targeted violence and harassment of female protesters, and allegations of excessive violence and destruction of property by either side, the statement said. The portal has been designed to provide protection to vulnerable witnesses and allow affected persons to keep their identities confidential, if they so wish. The HPEC has encouraged affected persons and other stakeholders to submit their complaints and representations online using the prescribed formats. Individuals wishing to share information or suggestions relating to the issues referred to the committee may also do so through the portal. Those seeking to submit complaints, representations or supporting material physically can approach the HPEC office at Shiksha Sadan, 17, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, New Delhi, between 2 pm and 4 pm on working days. Submissions can also be sent by post to the committee's office or via email at hpec2026.enquiry@nic.in, the PIB statement said.
CM Omar thanks PM Modi, Union Minister forRs 475.41 crore approval for J&K ITI clusters
Srinagar, Oct 17:Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary for approving Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs) worth Rs 475.41 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme for upgrading key Industrial Training Institute (ITI) clusters across Jammu and Kashmir. Under the initiative, the Jammu ITI Cluster, with ITI Jammu as the hub and ITIs at R S Pura, Nowshera, Samba and Kathua as spokes, will be upgraded with an approved investment of Rs 240 crore. Similarly, the Srinagar ITI Cluster, with ITI Srinagar as the hub and ITIs at Ganderbal, Kangan, Budgam and Charar-e-Sharief as spokes, will be modernised with an investment of Rs 235.41 crore. The initiative will follow a hub-and-spoke model to modernise training infrastructure, introduce contemporary courses and align curricula with evolving industry requirements and domestic and global skill demands. The Chief Minister said the initiative would strengthen industry linkages, promote outcome-based training and equip the youth of Jammu and Kashmir with industry-ready skills, enhancing their employability and access to better livelihood opportunities. He said the investment would help transform ITIs into modern skill development hubs, ensuring that vocational training remains responsive to changing economic needs and emerging employment opportunities.
Sopore hosts North Kashmir literary conference
Sopore, Oct 17: Bazm-e-Sher-o-Adab North Kashmir organised a one-day literary conference and Naatia Mushaira at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Sopore, bringing together prominent literary figures, poets, writers and admirers of Urdu literature to celebrate the regions rich literary and cultural heritage. The event provided a platform for intellectual exchange, literary discussion and poetic expression, highlighting the enduring significance of literature in preserving cultural identity, promoting linguistic heritage and strengthening social and moral values. During the conference, speakers emphasised the need to promote literary and cultural activities across North Kashmir, particularly among the younger generation. They stressed that languages and literature are vital components of a societys identity and called for collective efforts to preserve the regions rich linguistic traditions, encourage creative expression and cultivate a lasting interest in reading, writing and poetry among young people. The speakers also underlined the importance of organising literary gatherings, Mushairas and conferences to provide emerging poets and writers with opportunities to showcase their talent, interact with established literary personalities and contribute to the growth of Urdu and other regional languages. A special felicitation ceremony was also held during the programme in honour of Yousuf Samim, President of Bazm-e-Sher-o-Adab North Kashmir, in recognition of his association with the literary organisation and his contribution to promoting literary and cultural activities in the region. The ceremony reflected the gatherings appreciation for individuals dedicated to preserving and advancing the literary traditions of North Kashmir. The Naatia Mushaira added a spiritual dimension to the programme, with the gathering reflecting the reverence, devotion and literary beauty associated with Naatia poetry. The proceedings created an atmosphere of literary appreciation, cultural pride and spiritual reflection. At the conclusion of the event, Mohammad Saeed Masoodi delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the distinguished guests, poets, writers, organisers and all participants for their presence, cooperation and contribution to the successful conduct of the programme. The one-day literary conference and Naatia Mushaira concluded in a warm and spiritually enriching atmosphere, reaffirming Bazm-e-Sher-o-Adab North Kashmirs commitment to nurturing literary talent, preserving linguistic heritage and keeping the regions rich traditions of poetry and literature alive for future generations.
Director Colleges Twinkle Suri meetsKashmir college principals
Srinagar, Oct 17: Prof. (Dr.) Twinkle Suri, Director Colleges, Jammu and Kashmir, held an interactive meeting with the principals of government degree colleges in the Kashmir Division at Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar, to discuss institutional challenges and explore measures to strengthen the overall functioning of colleges. Prof. Seema Naz, Nodal Principal, welcomed the Director Colleges and the principals and assured her commitment to collective efforts towards strengthening the Department of Higher Education. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Twinkle Suri emphasised the need to understand institutional challenges and practical realities at the grassroots level to develop effective and responsive policy perspectives. She underscored that meaningful progress in higher education institutions requires collective efforts, mutual coordination and a shared commitment to ensuring effective academic delivery. She highlighted that principals are not merely administrative heads but also academic leaders who play a pivotal role in shaping the academic environment, guiding faculty members and empowering students. She stressed the importance of strengthening their leadership capacities and enabling them to address institutional needs effectively. The Director Colleges further emphasised the need to remain sensitive to student grievances, as students are the most important stakeholders of educational institutions. She called for the effective implementation of robust mentorship programmes across all colleges to ensure appropriate guidance and support for students. Prof. Twinkle Suri also stressed the importance of promoting innovation, research and skill development to make students industry-oriented and employment-ready. She noted that such initiatives would help equip students with the knowledge and competencies envisaged under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. During the interactive session, the principals shared their perspectives on the functioning of their respective institutions and highlighted various academic, administrative and infrastructural challenges faced by the colleges. Taking note of the issues raised, Prof. Suri assured the principals that the concerns discussed would be taken up for appropriate redressal. She reiterated that collective efforts, effective coordination and sustained engagement among stakeholders are essential for ensuring the smooth functioning of colleges and strengthening the higher education ecosystem across the Kashmir Division. Prof. Yasmeen Farooq, Principal, Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar, proposed the vote of thanks.
Mian Altaf Ahmad releases Nahida Mushtaqs novel Zaytoon
Srinagar, Oct 17: Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmad today released Zaytoon : A Tale of Survival and Solitude, a novel authored by emerging writer Nahida Mushtaq, at a literary programme organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) at its Seminar Hall, Lal Mandi, Srinagar. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Mian Altaf Ahmad appreciated Nahida Mushtaqs creative endeavour, describing the novel as a significant literary expression of the struggles, resilience and emotional experiences of a Gujjar woman. He lauded the author for bringing to the forefront the lived realities of tribal women through creative writing, observing that literature possesses the unique power to give voice to experiences that often remain undocumented or unheard. He emphasised that creative writing is not merely an artistic pursuit but also a means of preserving collective memory, documenting social realities and highlighting the human dimensions of struggle, survival and solitude. He particularly appreciated the authors courage and creativity in exploring a subject rooted in the life and experiences of tribal society. He also commended JKAACL for providing a meaningful platform to emerging writers and nurturing literary talent across the region. Dr Abid Ahmad, Editor, JKAACL, welcomed the Chief Guest, the author and other dignitaries. He stated that the Academys initiative aimed at encouraging young authors, promoting creative expression and fostering intellectual engagement through meaningful literary activities. Presenting a review of the novel, Manzoor Ahmad Baba examined its central themes and literary dimensions, offering insights into its treatment of survival, solitude, resilience and the complexities of human experience. Author Nahida Mushtaq shared the story behind Zaytoon and spoke about her creative journey and the process of writing the novel. She reflected on the inspiration behind the narrative and her effort to portray the experiences and struggles of tribal women through fiction. Mushtaq Bajad, the authors father, observed that tribal society possesses numerous untold stories that deserve to be documented through literature. He appreciated his daughters dedication and hard work in bringing one such story to life and expressed gratitude to the Academy for providing her with a platform to present her creative work. The programme was attended by prominent members of the literary, cultural and intellectual fraternity, including Prof. Nasir Mirza, Mansha Khaki, Sanjay Saraf, Rafi Ahmad Khari, Abdus Salam Kousari and Advocate Arshad Ahmad, besides other writers, scholars and literary enthusiasts. The release of Zaytoon : A Tale of Survival and Solitude marked a significant occasion for the emerging author and reaffirmed the importance of encouraging creative voices from tribal communities. The novel brings attention to the power of literature in documenting untold stories, celebrating human resilience and enriching the literary landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
2 GMC Anantnag nursing graduates qualify forAIIMS NORCET-11
Anantnag, Oct 17: In a remarkable achievement for Government Nursing College, GMC Anantnag, two nursing graduates from the 2021 batch have qualified the AIIMS NORCET-11 (Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test) conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Seerat Yousuf, a resident of Pahroo, Nowgam, secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 208. Her performance places her among the top nursing candidates in the country. Noorul Ain, a resident of Chadoora, Budgam, also made the region proud by securing AIR 1749. A nursing graduate from GMC Anantnag, she has demonstrated that dedicated preparation and institutional support can yield success at the national level. Both candidates belong to the 2021 batch of the Nursing College at GMC Anantnag, which has steadily built a reputation for producing competent nursing professionals despite being a new institution. NORCET is a competitive computer-based test conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, for the recruitment of nursing officers across AIIMS institutions and other central government hospitals. Securing ranks such as AIR 208 and 1749 reflects the candidates performance and the role of nursing education and mentorship. Faculty members at GMC Anantnags Nursing College recalled both students as hardworking and focused. Seerat and Nooruls success is a reflection of their resilience and our departments commitment to academic excellence and mentorship, the faculty members said. For years, nursing graduates from Kashmir have aspired to work at AIIMS and other central institutions but have often lacked guidance and exposure. Achievements such as these boost the morale of nursing students across J&K, highlight the need for better coaching, libraries and career counselling in nursing colleges, and showcase GMC Anantnags growing role in nursing education. The Principal, GMC Anantnag, and the Nursing College administration congratulated the qualifiers and wished them success in their future careers.
CUKs DTS concludes World Tourism Day celebrations
Ganderbal, Oct 17: The Department of Tourism Studies (DTS), Central University of Kashmir (CU of Kashmir), brought its week-long World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations to a close at the Green Campus here on Friday, recognising students achievements across various competitions. In her welcome address, Dr Shahnaz Akhtar, Coordinator, DTS, highlighted the activities conducted during the week-long celebrations. She stated that the Department had extended the observance beyond a single-day programme to provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents, engage in creative activities and gain practical exposure to event management. She emphasised that such initiatives help students develop skills relevant to the tourism and hospitality industry and reaffirmed the Departments commitment to organising meaningful learning experiences. Dr Ashaq Hussain Najar, Senior Assistant Professor, DTS, presented an overview of the activities organised as part of the celebrations, including quiz competitions, reel-making and videography, photography, and handicraft and regional cuisine displays. He appreciated the active participation of students, congratulated the winners in various categories, and expressed gratitude to the jury members, Dr Shabir and Dr Rameez, and Dr Ruban, faculty member of the B.Voc. programme, for their contributions to conducting and evaluating the competitions. Dr Faizan Ashraf Mir, Senior Assistant Professor, DTS, emphasised the importance of co-curricular activities in the overall development of students and appreciated the Departments initiative in organising the celebrations. He observed that education extends beyond textbooks and examinations, and participation in such events helps students develop confidence, creativity, a sense of responsibility and diverse skills essential for their personal and professional growth. During the event, Faisal, a student of the third semester of MBA-TTM, presented a video reel highlighting the Departments latest in-house and external events and activities. The winners in various categories were felicitated with awards and certificates. Dr Adil Amin Nazki, Assistant Professor, DTS, moderated the event, while Dr Abid Suhail Nika, Assistant Professor, DTS, proposed the vote of thanks.
Kupwara seeks dedicated maternity, childcare hospital at district headquarters
Kupwara, Oct 17:Residents of this frontier district have appealed to the Omar Abdullah-led government to establish a maternity and childcare hospital at the district headquarters in Kupwara so that people can get relief and, more importantly, avoid having to shift patients elsewhere. The residents said that establishing a maternity and childcare hospital at the district headquarters would ease their hardships. People from snowbound areas like Machil, Keran, Tanghdar, Jumagund, Budnamal, Kumkadi and several other areas are the most affected. Establishing a dedicated maternity and childcare hospital at Kupwara would certainly provide relief to them, Abdul Ahad, a local resident, told Greater Kashmir . It will be a relief for high-risk pregnancies that are referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara or LD Srinagar. Even people from plain areas suffer due to the lack of better pregnancy care at the district headquarters in Kupwara, he added. A doctor posted in Medical Block Kupwara said the move would provide relief to patients and help decrease the referral rate. Travelling from Kupwara to Srinagar is tiresome for pregnant women, as ambulances remain stuck in traffic jams for hours. Most patients who turn to government hospitals cannot afford the travel expenses, so establishing this facility is the need of the hour, the doctor added. The residents said ample government land was available at the district headquarters in Kupwara, which could pave the way for the government to establish the maternity and childcare hospital. They said they had been raising the issue for several decades, but successive governments had failed to establish the hospital. They have now appealed to Kupwara MLA Mir Fayaz and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take a decision on the issue so that people in this frontier district can get relief. Meanwhile, MLA Kupwara Mir Fayaz said he had consistently raised the issue in the Assembly over the past three sessions, but nothing had been done so far. I even led a delegation of Kupwara civil society to meet CM Omar Abdullah in this regard, but the CMs promise has not yielded anything yet, he added. I remember CM Omar Abdullah saying in Kupwara before the government formation that if his party came to power, Kupwara would get a superspeciality hospital, but even that promise has turned out to be a hoax, Mir added.
Ankur Maitrika Hospital, Johnson & Johnson organise Laparoscopic Surgery training programme
Jammu, Oct 17: Ankur Maitrika Hospital, in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson, organised the GALOP Preceptorship Programme in Gynaecological Laparoscopic Surgery, aimed at enhancing surgical skills and promoting advanced minimally invasive gynaecological procedures among medical professionals across Jammu & Kashmir. The programme, as per a statement, featured advanced laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries performed by Dr Ajay Wakhloo, Director of Ankur Maitrika Hospital and a renowned Gynaecological Laparoscopic Surgeon. The initiative provided participating gynaecologists with an opportunity to observe advanced surgical procedures and gain practical insights into modern laparoscopic techniques. The programme was attended by several medical professionals, including Dr Humera Noor, Dr Mudasir Ahmad Dar of GMC Baramulla, Dr Imtiyaz Ahmad Ganaie of SKIMS Medical College, Dr Shazia of GMC Srinagar, Dr Meenakshi Rana of GMC Kathua, and Dr. Shazia Jeelani of GMCH Baramulla. The preceptorship programme was designed to strengthen the practical knowledge and surgical competencies of participating doctors, enabling them to develop and expand laparoscopic gynecological surgery services at their respective institutions. Laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive approach, can offer several benefits to eligible patients, including smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, less postoperative pain and faster recovery, depending on the procedure and individual clinical circumstances. By facilitating specialised training and knowledge-sharing among gynecologists, the initiative aims to improve access to modern surgical techniques and help patients across the region receive advanced treatment closer to their homes. The programme marks a significant step towards strengthening medical education, promoting surgical excellence and expanding access to minimally invasive gynaecological care across Jammu & Kashmir.
Flow cytometry, IHC services to strengthen precision cancer diagnosis at GMCH Jammu
Jammu, Oct 17: Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu has taken a significant step towards strengthening advanced cancer diagnostics with the introduction and operationalisation of specialised diagnostic services in Flow Cytometry and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). The initiative aims to enhance diagnostic accuracy, facilitate early and precise classification of malignancies, and support personalised cancer treatment for patients in Jammu and Kashmir. The services are being strengthened through the collaborative efforts of Government Medical College Jammu, the State Cancer Institute (SCI), Jammu and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC), New Chandigarh, under the aegis of the Association of Academic and Clinical Pathologists (AACP) and the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists (IAPM). To mark this important advancement, GMC Jammu organised a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme-cum-workshop titled Transforming diagnosis with Immunohistochemistry and Flow Cytometry on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at its auditorium. The scientific programme was centred on the theme Diagnostic pathology in the era of precision medicine: The evolving role of Immunohistochemistry and Flow Cytometry. The initiative was undertaken under the guidance of Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Dean and Principal, GMC Jammu and Dr Ashish Gulia, Director-Principal, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, New Chandigarh, with the objective of building institutional capacity, strengthening technical expertise and expanding access to advanced diagnostic facilities. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry are essential tools in contemporary diagnostic pathology and precision oncology. Immunohistochemistry enables accurate tumour characterisation, differentiation of morphologically similar malignancies and assessment of prognostic and predictive biomarkers that guide targeted and individualised treatment. Flow cytometry plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis, classification and immunophenotypic characterisation of haematolymphoid malignancies, particularly leukaemias and lymphomas. The integration of these technologies with conventional histopathological examination and molecular testing can significantly improve diagnostic precision and support evidence-based therapeutic decisions. The availability of these advanced diagnostic capabilities at GMC Jammu is intended to strengthen comprehensive cancer care and facilitate access to specialised investigations within the region, Dr Ashutosh Gupta stated. The academic programme brought together eminent specialists from HBCHRC, New Chandigarh and GMC Jammu for expert lectures, interactive discussions, case-based learning and hands-on training. The scientific sessions featured Dr Kinjal Biyani, who spoke on Driving precision diagnostics with high medical value assays, and Dr Ravikiran N Pawar, who delivered a lecture on Flow Cytometry in Haematological Malignancies. Further sessions included Hodgkin Lymphoma: Approach and Differentials, by Dr Sankalp M Sancheti; Mastering the Pillars of IHC Set-up, by Dr Nilay Nishith; and Immunotherapy in Cancer, by Dr Ashutosh Gupta. An interactive panel discussion on integrated oncology, involving Dr Sankalp M Sancheti, Dr Nadeem Shoket, Dr Sanjeev Dhingra and Dr Aditya Mahajan, highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in cancer diagnosis and management. The discussion emphasised the need to integrate histomorphology, immunophenotyping, immunohistochemistry and molecular diagnostics to ensure accurate classification and appropriate treatment selection. A major component of the programme was the conduct of parallel hands-on workshops for scientific and laboratory personnel. Practical training in immunohistochemistry was organised in the Department of Pathology, GMC Jammu, while the flow cytometry workshop was conducted at the State Cancer Institute, Jammu. The sessions provided practical exposure to laboratory workflows, technical requirements, quality assurance and essential procedures for establishing and strengthening advanced diagnostic services. A dedicated session by Dr Jitendra addressed the practical requirements for establishing and operationalising a flow cytometry facility. These training activities are expected to support capacity building among pathologists, laboratory professionals and scientific staff, while promoting standardised practices and reliable diagnostic outcomes, t was anticipated. The programme was attended by senior faculty members, clinicians and medical administrators from GMC Jammu and its associated hospitals. Those present included Dr Meena Sidhu, Professor and Head, Department of Blood Transfusion; Dr Sanjeev Dhingra, Professor and Head, Department of Paediatrics; Dr Rajeev Gupta, Medical Oncologist, State Cancer Institute, Jammu; Dr Virender Trisal, Medical Superintendent, GMC Jammu; Dr Dara Singh, Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital; Dr Rehana, Medical Superintendent, Super Speciality Hospital and Dr Rakesh Sharma, Medical Superintendent, CD Hospital and Bone and Joint Hospital. Senior faculty members Dr Deepti Mahajan, Dr Sindhu Sharma, Dr Deepa Hans, Dr Ameet, Dr Rajat Gupta, Dr Deepti Gupta, Dr Navneet Naz, Dr Anu Gupta, Dr Akhtar Salaria, Dr Priyanka, Dr Era Hans, Dr Bhavneet, Dr Sahil Sachdev, Dr Kamakshi, Dr Suby Singh, Dr Mahima, Dr Poonam and Dr Ishani, along with other faculty members and healthcare professionals attended the programme. The programme also witnessed the participation of senior and junior residents of the Department of Pathology, undergraduate and postgraduate students, heads of various departments of GMC Jammu and representatives of the institutional administration. Addressing the significance of the initiative, Dr Jyotsna Suri, Organising Secretary and Professor, Department of Pathology, GMC Jammu, highlighted that the strengthening of immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry services represents an important advancement in the institutions efforts to modernise diagnostic pathology and support precision medicine. She emphasised that access to advanced diagnostic technologies, combined with trained personnel and multidisciplinary collaboration, is essential for improving cancer diagnosis, identifying appropriate therapeutic targets and supporting individualised patient care. She also underscored the importance of continuous medical education and hands-on training in ensuring the effective utilisation of these technologies. The initiative reflects the continued commitment of GMC Jammu and the State Cancer Institute to academic excellence, innovation, capacity building and the advancement of specialised cancer diagnostics in Jammu and Kashmir, she asserted. The introduction and strengthening of Flow Cytometry and Immunohistochemistry services, complemented by scientific collaboration and professional training, mark an important step towards enhancing regional diagnostic capabilities and advancing comprehensive, evidence-based cancer care, it was stated.
Suraj Singh, Ravi Raguvanshi enthral audience in Katra devotional song competition
Katra, Oct 17: Renowned singer Suraj Singh and former winner of All India Devotional Song Competition (AIDSC), Ravi Raguvanshi enthralled the audience on the sixth day of AIDSC, presently underway at Katra, as a part of Navratra festival 2026. The contest is being organized by SMVD Shrine Board; Department of J&K Tourism; PTC Network in association with SMVD Narayana Super Speciality Hospital; J&K Bank; Nice Gems; Nidheesh Builders Jammu Private Limited; 92.7 Big FM; Yog Ashram complex with active support of district administration and the local hosts. Sixth day programme was inaugurated at Yog Ashram complex in the evening by lighting of a traditional lamp by Amit Sharma, Commissioner Census J&K and Ladakh in presence of Uday Bhaskar Bureau Head of J&K Punjab Kesari and Hind Samachar group; Rajesh Raina Assistant Director Tourism; celebrity singer Suraj Singh; former AIDSC winner Ravi Raguvanshi; chairman All India Devotional Song Committee and president Hotel and Restaurant Association Katra Rakesh Wazir; Swami Yoganandji Maharaj; Kirti Khajuria; PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Katra head Virender Kesar; Subash Chander, Gopal Singh besides others. On the sixth night, Rahul Lakhotra bagged first position, whereas second position was shared by Bunty and Narinder Kumar and third position was shared by Dr Arvind Kaur, Netra Tikku, Ajay Kumar from Jammu, Gurdeep Singh and Surjit Lalka among the 15 auditioned participants. The winners were provided with the cash prizes of 10,000, 5,000 and 3,000 by the distinguished guests. The devotional song competition was judged by the panels of experts in music including Dr Surinder Sharma Head of the department Government Degree College Sanjoli Himachal Pradesh; C L Verma ex Chairman, Post Graduate University of Himachal Pradesh; Suraj Singh HoD Music Department Jammu and Ravi Raguvanshi. Wazir, while speaking on the occasion, said that renowned personalities from media, film industry viz., Ganesh Jain Managing Director Venus Records and Tapes Limited; famous actors Deepak Parashar, Preeti Sapru; film maker and film trade analyst Kumar Mohan; CEO PTC Network Rajee S Shinde would reach Katra and interact with media on October 18 at The Vaishnodevi Sarovar Portico, Katra at 1.15 pm. He further said that semi-final of the contest would be on October 18, 2026 while the final would be held on October 19, 2026.
CS Ladakh highlights infrastructure achievements, progress on constitutional safeguards for Ladakh
Kargil, Oct 17: A day after the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) rejected the Centre's draft proposal on Ladakh's demands, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on Saturday termed the response very unfortunate, saying the document was dismissed within two hours of its receipt without its clauses being examined in depth. Addressing a press conference in Leh, Kundra said the draft had been prepared after considerable effort and was open to suggestions, stressing that the Centre was willing to consider changes to reach a consensus on constitutional safeguards and the proposed democratic structure for Ladakh. Chief Secretary described the successive meetings between Ladakhs representatives and the MHA as constructive, with tangible progress towards addressing the aspirations of the people. He highlighted key measures already undertaken, including enhancement of Scheduled Tribe reservation to 84 per cent, recruitment of 107 local candidates against 109 Group A doctor posts through UPSC, recognition of Bhoti and Purgi as official languages, and one-third reservation for women in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs). The Chief Secretary informed that, following discussions on October 15, the MHA shared a detailed framework document with Ladakhs representatives on October 16. The document proposes a two-stage approach involving a constitutional amendment and a subsequent regulation under Article 240 of the Constitution, with provisions envisaged for a directly elected Union Territory-level body and safeguards concerning land, natural resources, culture and other issues raised by the representatives. He clarified that the document was intended to facilitate further discussion and was not the outcome of a concluded legislative process. The proposed constitutional provisions and the subsequent regulatory framework would require detailed examination and deliberation before being finalised. The Chief Secretary said that several institutional questions remained open for consideration and examination, including the nomenclature and composition of the proposed body, the method of election, representation of women and underrepresented communities, nominated and ex-officio members, the authority responsible for conducting elections, delimitation of constituencies, electoral rolls, tenure and the relationship of the proposed body with existing institutions such as the LAHDCs, Panchayats and municipalities. Reaffirming the Central Governments commitment to the dialogue, the Chief Secretary said the objective was to arrive at a balanced and workable framework that reflects the democratic aspirations of the people while ensuring institutional clarity and taking into account its distinctive geographical, cultural and administrative circumstances through sustained dialogue and mutual understanding. The Chief Secretary emphasised that these issues could not be settled unilaterally and required broad-based consensus among the leadership and stakeholders of Ladakh. He urged all stakeholders to approach the process constructively and expressed hope that the remaining issues would be resolved through continued consultation in the coming weeks and months. The Chief Secretary, highlighted major infrastructure achievements dedicated to the people of Ladakh by the Prime Minister on October 15 and outlined the progress made in discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on constitutional safeguards and the proposed democratic framework for the Union Territory. The Chief Secretary said that infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs 3,350 crore were dedicated to the people of Ladakh, with around 10,000 people from all seven districts participating virtually in the programme. Key highlights included the completion of the Leh Airport Terminal, valued at approximately 640 crore, with flight operations commencing on October 16; improved connectivity to Zanskar, reducing travel time from Leh from nearly 12 hours to approximately three hours; and the commissioning of the 9 MW Hanu Hydropower Project, taking the combined capacity of the Dha and Hanu projects to 18 MW. Emphasising water conservation, the Chief Secretary stated that, in response to public demand, the Lieutenant Governor had directed an increase in the number of Amrit Sarovars from 40 to 100 across Ladakh. He also highlighted the Petroglyph Park along the Indus as an important initiative for preserving and showcasing the regions rich archaeological heritage and historical links with the Silk Route. The Chief Secretary also highlighted the establishment of the High Court Bench in Leh as a significant milestone in improving access to justice in Ladakh. The presence of the Chief Justice and Judges of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, along with the Attorney General of India, underscored the importance of the occasion. He noted that the initiative, operationalised within a span of two months, would significantly ease access to High Court services for the people of Ladakh by reducing the need to travel to Jammu or Srinagar. He described it as a proactive initiative of the Government of India, reflecting its sensitivity to Ladakhs geographical challenges and commitment to bringing justice closer to the people.
Ownership rights to DPs, WPRs: Div Com Jammu directs expedited disposal of pending cases
Jammu, Oct 17: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Vikas Kundal, Saturday chaired a meeting to review the progress on the conferment of ownership rights to Displaced Persons (DPs) and West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) under the relevant Government Orders, including Government Orders No. 100, 101 and 105. During detailed deliberations, the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu Division, as per an official statement, apprised the chair of the district-wise progress in the receipt, scrutiny, approval and disposal of claims, besides highlighting issues requiring intervention for expeditious processing of cases. Emphasising time-bound disposal of claims, the Divisional Commissioner directed all Deputy Commissioners to expedite verification of pending cases and strengthen coordination among district administrations, SDMs, tehsil offices and the Custodian Department. He stressed that eligible beneficiaries should not face unnecessary delays in securing their rightful ownership claims. The Divisional Commissioner called for a thorough review of rejected cases and directed officers to examine the grounds of rejection on merit, ensuring that every decision is supported by proper justification. He emphasised that eligible claims must be dealt with fairly and transparently and called for the involvement of senior revenue officers wherever required to review such cases. He also underscored the need to intensify outreach efforts to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are informed about the scheme and encouraged to submit their claims. Deputy Commissioners were directed to organise awareness camps, undertake field visits, contact beneficiaries individually and coordinate with relevant organisations to facilitate the submission of applications and requisite documents. Reviewing cases referred to the Custodian Department, the Divisional Commissioner directed the officers concerned to promptly address observations and deficiencies and resubmit the cases without delay. He also stressed the need to deploy additional staff, including Patwaris and other revenue functionaries, wherever necessary to accelerate verification and processing. The meeting also deliberated on procedural issues concerning documentation required to establish land allotment and possession under the relevant Government Orders. The Divisional Commissioner said that the matter would be taken up with the competent authorities for necessary clarification. Directing all districts to adhere to prescribed timelines, the Div Com called for accelerated progress during October and measurable improvement before the next review meeting. Deputy Commissioners of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch, along with Additional Deputy Commissioners and other senior officers, attended the meeting in person and through virtual mode.
CMs vision for sustainable tourism in J&K laudable: Dr Varinder Sharma
Jammu, Oct 17:J&K BJP Health Cell co-convener Dr Varinder Sharma has appreciated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's vision of moving Jammu and Kashmir from volume-driven footfall to a high-value, sustainable tourism model and of pitching Gulmarg to the Government of India as a flagship, world-class destination. Dr Varinder said he fully concurred with the Chief Minister that tourism must be eco-friendly and value-rich rather than a race for numbers. Unchecked mass tourism, he noted, strains fragile Himalayan ecosystems, and premium visitor experiences, higher spending per tourist and strong ecological safeguards are the right way forward. He asserted that both Kashmir and Jammu divisions hold unexplored potential for foreign tourists seeking camping, hiking and trekking amid the serene beauty of the hill districts. He highlighted Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar and Bani Basohli as upcoming destinations that deserve focused attention. Dr Varinder emphasised the need to develop Patnitop on the pattern of Gulmarg, as envisioned by the Chief Minister. He pointed out that the J&K government formally proposed Gulmarg from Kashmir and Patnitop from Jammu to NITI Aayog and the Union Ministry of Tourism for development into world-class destinations. He urged the Chief Minister to begin work on the Patnitop Convention Centre, for which the Supreme Court already granted permission, saying it would go a long way in projecting Patnitop as a major tourist destination. Noting that people across India constantly look for hill stations for weekend breaks and long holidays, Dr Varinder stressed that the Chief Minister's vision must be implemented in mission mode. Tourism is an ever-expanding industry and many developed countries sustain their economies largely on it. To make J&K economically self-sustaining, tourism must be extended to every possible site, he said. He acknowledged that the Government was already working on Mantalai, Shiv Khori and Sudhmahadev, and expressed confidence that a structured, time-bound approach could transform J&K into a mega tourism state, generating jobs in homestays, transport, guiding, handicrafts and adventure services for local communities.
Kargil's sub-division celebrates new district status
Kargil , Oct 17: Festive fervour gripped the valley of Sankoo on Saturday as thousands of residents poured onto the streets to celebrate the official announcement granting district status to the region. The long-standing aspiration of the local population finally came to fruition, transforming the sub-division into a newly minted administrative district. The air echoed with patriotic slogans, traditional drumbeats, and joyous cheers as jubilant crowds waved flags, distributed sweets, and danced to folk tunes. Lieutenant Governor Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena along with the Member of Parliament Ladakh , Mohd Haneefa , CEC Kargil Dr Mohd Jaffer, Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kundra, DGP Ladakh Anand Jain and other prominent political, social and religious leaders joined the gathering of people in celebration. Local community leaders, religious heads, and prominent political representatives gathered at the main bazaar to address the mammoth gathering. Speaker after speaker expressed profound appreciation to the central government for recognizing the developmental needs and strategic importance of the region. Leaders extended their heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena and other officials of the Administration praising their vision for inclusive growth, grassroots governance, and equitable development across the Union Territory of Ladakh. This is a historic milestone for the people of Sankoo. For years, we have awaited administrative decentralisation that addresses our unique geographical and cultural needs. Today, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah, our dreams have turned into reality, CEC Kargil Dr Jaffar Akhoon said during the celebratory rally. Sankoo, renowned for its lush green landscapes, historical significance, and vibrant multicultural heritage, has long faced administrative bottlenecks due to its distance from district headquarters. Community elders and youth representatives highlighted that the new district status will usher in a transformative era. Leadership from the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil and local socio-religious bodies welcomed the decision, describing it as a historic milestone that honours the voice and aspirations of the region's people. Chief Executive Councillor LAHDC Karhil Dr Mohd Jaffar while speaking to Greater Kashmir express gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the LG Ladakh for fulfilling the genuine demand of the Sankoo area. MP Ladakh Mohd Hanifa also thanked the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and the LG Ladakh for granting Sankoo a district. The creation of Sankoo as the eighth district follows the earlier rollout of five new districts in LadakhZanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra, and Changthangreflecting an unprecedented administrative reorganisation of the Union Territory aimed at boosting local governance and development across its expanse. Bhartiya Janta Party leaders also hailed the decision to grant district status to Sankoo. Meanwhile LG Ladakh expressed happiness over the overwhelming response of people and jubilation after the announcement. Overwhelmed by the massive gathering and jubilant celebrations in Sankoo today, on declaration of Sankoo as Ladakhs 8th district, followed by the announcement to constitute Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), as in all other districts of Ladakh. The immense joy and gratitude of the people, braving the icy winds on a chilly evening, is truly heartwarming. This historic milestone fulfils their long-standing demand and brings the administration right to their doorstep, in one of the most populous regions in Ladakh LG Ladakh said. LG Ladakh expressed Deepest gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and HM AmitShah for consistently guiding Ladakh on the path of progress and inclusive development. I assure the people of Sankoo that all administrative requirements, including the posting of officials, will be addressed at the earliest, so that the benefits of development reach every single household LG said.
PM Modis governance model has unnerved opposition parties: Sat Sharma
Jammu, Oct 17: J&K BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma CA has said that the overwhelming public appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modis governance model has unnerved opposition parties, which are finding it difficult to counter BJPs growing popularity, development-oriented policies and expanding public support. Sat Sharma, as per a statement, was addressing an organisational review meeting of Samba district, convened by District President Asha Rani, where he assessed the partys organisational and political activities, particularly the month-long programmes undertaken under 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'. Referring to the culmination of the nationwide campaign, organised from September 17 to October 17 to commemorate Modis 25 years of leadership, beginning as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001 and subsequently as Prime Minister, Sat Sharma said that the programmes received an overwhelming response across Jammu and Kashmir. He said that BJP workers successfully carried the message of Modis pro-nation, pro-people and development-oriented governance to every nook and corner of the Union Territory, strengthening the partys grassroots connection. Modis historic 25-year journey represents dedicated public service, transformative governance and commitment to the welfare of every section of society. The enthusiastic response to 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' reflects growing public confidence in his leadership and vision, Sat Sharma said. Taking a sharp dig at opposition parties, he said that their political frustration was evident from their continuous attempts to criticise BJP without presenting any credible base. The massive appreciation of Modis governance model has completely unsettled the opposition. Instead of competing through performance and constructive politics, they are relying on misinformation, baseless allegations and political rhetoric. Referring to the completion of two years of National Conference rule in Jammu and Kashmir, Sat Sharma alleged that the government has failed to fulfil its major electoral promises and was attempting to divert attention from its shortcomings. People were promised employment, development and better public services, but the gap between promises and performance remains glaring. The NC leadership must explain its failures instead of blaming BJP and the Union Government. Sat Sharma asserted that BJP would continue exposing the NC governments failures while strengthening public outreach, organisational activities and grassroots engagement. The meeting was attended by BJP State Vice President Rashpal Verma, State Secretary Arun Sharma, District General Secretary Rakesh Singh Sambyal, former DDC Chairman Keshav Dutt Sharma, former DDCs Subhash Bhagat and Ramesh Kumar, various Ex Sarpanches other party functionaries.
No place for intimidation, coercion, suppression of people's voices in democracy: Dr Farooq Abdullah
Srinagar, Oct 17: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah Saturday said in democracy there is no place for intimidation, coercion, harassment, fear, injustice, or the suppression of people's voices adding that the Constitution of India does not permit such actions either. As per a party statement issued, he said that respecting the human rights is a fundamental responsibility of a democratic society and no region or citizen should be subjected to discrimination on the basis of religion or faith. He said Jammu and Kashmir has been subjected to step-motherly treatment by the BJP government. First our special status was revoked without seeking the people's consent and the historic state was demoted into two Union Territories, while J&K's statehood continues to remain in suspended animation. The people of J&K were assured in Parliament and before the Supreme Court that statehood would be restored soon after the elections. However, even two years after the elections, no progress has been made in this direction. He said, to make matters worse, the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir has been denied even the powers ordinarily available to a Union Territory government. The Lieutenant Governor's administration leaves no opportunity to interfere in the functioning of the democratically elected government and create obstacles in its work, he said. Expressing concern over the growing communalism and religious discrimination in the country, Dr Farooq said that issuing arbitrary decisions by disregarding democratic and constitutional principles and using official authority for personal or political interests runs contrary to the interests of the nation and its people. Such actions not only undermine social harmony but also weaken the country's unity and integrity. He said that India's secular character and Constitution have always been a source of national identity and pride across the world, but today these fundamental values are facing serious challenges. He added that the policies and conduct of the ruling party are increasing the sense of insecurity among Muslims and other minority communities, which is a matter of grave concern for the country's secular and democratic character. Dr Farooq Abdullah also expressed concern over the desecration of religious places and bulldozer actions targeting Muslim places of worship. He said that the sanctity of religious places must be upheld under all circumstances.
Qaziabad Volleyball League 2026 kicks off in Langate
Langate, Oct 17: The Qaziabad Volleyball League 2026 commenced at Army Camp Langate on Saturday under Operation Sadbhavana, witnessing enthusiastic participation from teams representing Langate, Rafiabad and Sopore. The league aims to provide a platform for the youth of North Kashmir to showcase their sporting talent while promoting teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship through healthy competition. The initiative also reflects the Indian Armys efforts to encourage youth engagement, nurture emerging sporting talent and strengthen ties with local communities. Through such sporting activities, the Army seeks to promote unity, harmony and mutual trust while fostering the Awam-Army connect across the region.
Lolab, Oct 17: Pathan Panthers Lolab stormed into the final of the Kilo North Kashmir T20 Premier League after registering a convincing 37-run victory over NCC Narbal in the first semi-final at Chandigam Cricket Ground, Lolab, on Friday. With an impressive performance in the knockout encounter, Pathan Panthers Lolab, as per an official statement, became the first team to secure a place in the tournaments grand finale, taking another significant step towards the coveted championship title. The victory marks a major milestone in the Panthers campaign, as the team continues its strong run in the competition and strengthens its bid for the title. Meanwhile, the battle for the second spot in the final will be decided in the upcoming semi-final, where Friends XI Lolab will take on Sopore XI in what promises to be a keenly contested encounter. With the tournament entering its decisive stage, cricket fever is gripping North Kashmir, as fans eagerly await the final showdown. The league has provided a platform for local cricketing talent while promoting sportsmanship, competitive spirit and community participation across the region. All eyes are now on the second semi-final, with the winner set to join Pathan Panthers Lolab in the much-anticipated title clash.
Income Tax XI Kashmir beat CA XI by 17 runs in Bijbehara
Bijbehara, Oct 17: Income Tax Eleven Kashmir, captained by Moin Siddiqui, registered a convincing 17-run victory over CA Eleven Kashmir, led by Abrar Hussain, in an exciting cricket encounter played at Bijbehara Cricket Stadium. After winning the toss, Income Tax Eleven Kashmir, as per a statement, elected to bat first and put up a competitive total of 156 runs for the loss of four wickets. Parvez Rasool contributed a valuable 41 runs, while Muntazor chipped in with 34 runs to strengthen the team's batting effort. In reply, CA Eleven Kashmir fought hard but fell 17 runs short of the target, handing Income Tax Eleven Kashmir a well-deserved victory. The standout performer of the match was Parvez Rasool, who followed up his impressive batting performance with a devastating spell of bowling, claiming three crucial wickets to derail the opposition's chase. For his outstanding all-round performance, Rasool was deservedly adjudged Man of the Match. The victory further underlined Income Tax Eleven Kashmir's dominance in this rivalry, marking their tenth win over CA Eleven Kashmir and adding another memorable chapter to their head-to-head encounters. The match witnessed an engaging display of cricket, with Income Tax Eleven Kashmir combining disciplined batting and effective bowling to secure a deserved triumph.
Srinagar, Oct 17: Kashmir Elegant FC registered a hard-fought 21 victory over Sports Council Football Academy in the Srinagar Premier League 2026 at TRC Srinagar. Kashmir Elegant FC, as per a statement, went into half-time with a 21 lead and maintained their advantage throughout the second half to secure all three points. Sports Council Football Academy fought to get back into the game, but Kashmir Elegant FC held firm to preserve their lead until the final whistle. The match showcased the competitive spirit and determination of both teams, adding another exciting chapter to the Srinagar Premier League 2026. The league is being organised under the aegis of the District Football Association (DFA) Srinagar, providing a platform for local football clubs and players to demonstrate their talent and compete at a high level.
70th National School Games:192 Wushu bouts held on day 3 in Ganderbal
Ganderbal, Oct 17: The Wushu competitions of the 70th National School Games (NSG) 2026 continued for the third consecutive day at the Government College of Physical Education, Ganderbal, with a total of 192 bouts contested across two arenas. The championship, as per a DYSS statement, is being hosted by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, Jammu and Kashmir, under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI). On the third day, Arena 1 witnessed 64 bouts across male and female categories, covering weight categories from 45 kg to 80 kg. Meanwhile, Arena 2 also hosted 64 bouts in the respective weight categories. In addition, 32 pre-quarterfinal bouts were conducted in each arena, taking the total number of bouts held during the day to 192. The competitions witnessed enthusiastic participation from young Wushu athletes representing different states and Union Territories, showcasing their skills, determination and sporting spirit. A major highlight for Jammu and Kashmir was the impressive performance of Madiya Javeed, who secured a place in the semifinals in the girls' under-45 kg weight category. Her achievement brought encouragement to the host contingent as the championship moved towards its decisive stages. The tournament will continue tomorrow, with semifinal bouts scheduled across different weight categories. The upcoming contests are expected to feature intense competition as athletes strive to secure places in the finals. The smooth conduct of the championship reflects the efforts of the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, Jammu and Kashmir, in promoting school-level sports and providing young athletes with a national platform to demonstrate their talent.
Nana Patekar: An Essayist of Characters
Nana Patekar died in the early hours of Thursday, 8 October 2026 of a cardiac arrest at his home in Goa. He was seventy-five. Four days earlier, at a function near Panaji, he had spoken of death without theatre. We all have to go someday. I dont know whether I will be here tomorrow But before the time comes we have to think am I able to do what I want to do? Have I made the effort? Then, The Indian Express reports, he danced with a troupe and told a fan who asked for a Krantiveer dialogue that none would leave his throat until he heard the jingling of money in his ears. Frank, funny, faintly dangerous, and honest about the clock: that was Nana to the last. I keep a short roll of honour among the worlds actors: Gregory Peck, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Dilip Kumar, George C. Scott, Donald Sutherland, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Charles Chaplin, Alec Guinness, Jack Nicholson. Nana Patekar belongs on that roll, and not as a courtesy of nationality. He was an essayist of characters. Each of his men arrived as a thesis, made its case in a rasp or a silence, and left the audience altered. Look at the range. In Salaam Bombay! (1988) he was Baba, a drug dealer and pimp without a flicker of pity. In Parinda (1989) he was the crime lord Anna Seth, whose maniacal laugh won him his first National Award. In Krantiveer (1994) he turned anger into a public argument against corruption and won Best Actor. In Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) he played a deaf-mute father with no dialogue to lean on; the Express called it pure performance, the hallmark of a true actor. In Ab Tak Chhappan (2004) he was a police inspector so obsessed with cleaning up crime that all semblance of balance disappeared. In Natsamrat (2016) he became Ganpat Appa Belwalkar, the stage legend who neglected his family in his prime and found they had little time for him in old age. What I prize in the men on my roll is economy: a pause doing the work of a paragraph. Nana had it. His villains were never cartoons, and his heroes never forgot they were angry men. Honorary ranks are often treated as ornaments. Nana Patekars was not. He came to my Regiment first through a film. In Prahaar (1991), which he co-wrote, directed and starred in, he played Major Chavan of the Maratha Light Infantry, a hard taskmaster to his cadets. By several accounts he prepared by training with the Regiment for about three years. He joined the Territorial Army as an honorary Captain around 1990, and held his honorary commission, rising to Lieutenant Colonel, until 2013. Then came 1999. He asked to go to the front and was told that only the Defence Minister could permit it. So he telephoned George Fernandes, who agreed. He reached the Line of Control in August, weeks after the Kargil war was officially declared over, and did the unglamorous work: a base hospital, a quick-response team, patrols. He did not play at being a combatant. Kashmiri readers will know the places. By his own telling, his travels took in Dras, Leh, Kupwara, Baramulla and Sopore. I know that belt. Kupwara is my home district, and Baramulla is where I commanded my battalion on the Line of Control. When I reached Srinagar, my weight was 76 kg, he recalled. When I came back, my weight became 56 kg. In a recent interview he said of that time, simply: I felt happy. I could at least do this little bit for the country. That is how soldiers speak of service: without ornament. There is a coincidence I cannot leave alone. In 1978, the year I was commissioned into the 16th Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry, Nana Patekar made his screen debut in Gaman . Two roads began that year, and they met in one Regiment. A regiment is a family of obligations. Whoever wears its uniform and means it, belongs to it. Nana meant it. He knew his own faults. I get violent, he told the Express in 2016. Thats the difference. I lost so many things because of that. Few public men name their flaw so plainly. In the same breath he said: Acting is not just a profession for me. This is how I breathe. His generosity was quieter than his temper. In 2015 he and Makarand Anaspure founded the NAAM Foundation to help drought-hit farmers and their families in Maharashtra. And when he learnt that the young shooter Anjali Bhagwat and two teammates were sharing one rifle and one kit for want of money, he stepped in. He is the first sponsor of my career, she says. To newcomers on the range he would say, on the spot: Take my ammunition and shoot. No glove? Here, take mine. Ill get a new one. I must also set down a private regret. I have created and written a screenplay of an eight-episode feature for Netflix that marries Dostoevskys quiet pathos to the reckonings of love in King Lear . Its lead is an ageing patriarch who reeks of lust and greed. My sponsors offered a distinguished shortlist of the countrys finest actors. I insisted on Nana Patekar. My reason was what I call the Al Pacino frequency: volatile, razor-edged, soul-piercing. Nana had an innate, unpredictable savagery. In Parinda it announced itself. In Apaharan , as the MLA and underworld don Tabrez Alam, it learned to wait. Even in The Vaccine War , in a very different part, he kept his power in reserve. With age the fire had hardened into something more dangerous: a quiet, sardonic, bone-chilling cruelty. I wanted that savagery of intent dripping from my patriarchs face and eyes before he spoke a word. I could not imagine another face carrying it. Every writer has a role written for one particular face. Mine was his. Now it is my loss, and a regret I will carry for life. He was cremated late on Thursday night at his farmhouse in Donje village, outside Pune, with full state honours and a 21-gun salute, before more than a thousand mourners. The salute fitted. He had worn two uniforms, the actors and the soldiers, and neither was a disguise. Rest well, Colonel. The Regiment remembers you. Bol Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai. (The writer, a retired Colonel of the Maratha Light Infantry, is a strategic analyst and author.)
Delhi: A Night Between Nizamuddin and Nizamuddins Opposites
I set off for Delhi in the morning with William Dalrymples The City of Djinns in my bag. Theres something satisfying about carrying a book about a city into the city itself. You begin to look at things a little differently, as though the streets might reveal something youd have missed otherwise. On the flight, I was reading Dalrymples account of his visits to the shrine of Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya and the qawwalis that fill its precincts. I read about the music, the devotees and the curious way Delhis medieval past continues to live alongside its present. I had no idea that, by evening, Id find myself in the very place Id been reading about that morning. Delhi had other plans for me during the day. There were meetings to attend and official work to get through. By the time I was free, it was approaching Maghrib. On the way back, almost on a whim, I asked the driver to drop me at Nizamuddin. I was hungry, too. Delhi is hardly the place to ignore that particular need, so I found myself some proper Mughlai nihari and tandoori. It was a satisfying meal, and for a little while I could forget the days official business. Then I started walking towards the shrine. I hadnt checked the calendar. I hadnt planned the visit. As it turned out, it was the annual urs of Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya. The place was packed. People filled the narrow lanes, moving in every direction, while the sound of qawwali rose above the general commotion. The singers were praising the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and the crowd seemed to respond with its whole being. Hands clapped, heads swayed, voices joined in. Some people sang along; others simply stood and listened. There was an ease to it all, a feeling that nobody needed to explain why they had come. I was delighted. There I was, in the very place Dalrymple had described, on a night when the shrine was celebrating its saint. A book Id been reading on an aeroplane that morning had, quite unexpectedly, led me into the scene itself. For a moment, The City of Djinns wasnt a book at all. It was the place around me. What I noticed, too, was the mixture of people. Muslims and Hindus moved through the same crowded lanes, sharing the occasion in their own ways. There were families, devotees, curious visitors and people who had perhaps been coming here for years. Nobody seemed particularly interested in drawing a neat boundary between the sacred and the ordinary. The past wasnt locked away in a monument or a history book. It was right there, in the music, the faces and the simple act of people coming together. As I moved away from the main shrine, I came across the Urs Mahal, a space associated with the urs celebrations. The atmosphere inside was rather different. The crowd was still there, but the gathering had a more formal character. The shrines senior custodians, the mujawirs and other elders, sat on a raised platform, listening to the qawwals. There was a certain dignity to the arrangement. This wasnt just a musical performance in a crowded lane; it was a tradition being carried forward by people who understood its place in their lives. I found a spot among the ordinary listeners, on the white sheets spread across the floor. I didnt feel the need to sit on the raised platform. I was quite happy to be one of the people listening. That evening, the refrain was Maula Ali, Maula Ali, Maula Ali. The singers kept returning to it, each repetition adding something to the last. Anyone who has listened to qawwali knows how this works. A line is repeated until it seems to take on a life of its own. You stop listening to the words alone. The rhythm draws you in, and before long, the distinction between the people singing and the people listening begins to blur. The crowd was absorbed. Some sat quietly, others swayed or joined in, and the refrain seemed to hold everyone in its grip. I found the choice of praise particularly interesting. Ali occupies a special place in Shia devotion, yet here he was being celebrated with great feeling at the shrine of a Sunni Sufi saint. It didnt strike me as a contradiction. Reverence for Ali, love for the Prophet and devotion to the awliya have long found room within the wider vocabulary of Muslim spirituality. The emphasis and the forms of expression may differ, but these traditions often draw upon a shared reservoir of love and reverence. I was enjoying the music, but I was also enjoying the fact that I didnt have to stop and classify everything. I could simply sit there and listen. Nearby, children were playing. They ran about, laughed and got on with their little games while the qawwals sang and the adults listened. I found that oddly reassuring. The urs wasnt a historical spectacle put on for visitors. It was a living occasion, part of the ordinary life of the people who came there. Those children might not remember every song they heard that evening, but they would remember being there. Perhaps, years later, they would bring their own children. Outside, though, another sight stayed with me. The lanes were lined with old, dilapidated buildings. Their worn facades seemed to belong to a different Delhi, one in which the citys Muslim neighbourhoods and institutions had enjoyed a different kind of social and cultural standing. It was hard not to notice the contrast between the history associated with the place and the condition of much of its built environment today. There was a time when Delhi was the centre of an empire, when wealth, influence and patronage flowed through its streets. Much of that grandeur has long since disappeared. Buildings decay, neighbourhoods change, and communities lose the social position they once held. Yet the qawwali continues. People still gather around the memory of a saint who lived centuries ago. Children still play beneath old walls. I found myself thinking that traditions can outlast the circumstances that gave them their original setting. The buildings may have lost their splendour, but something of the places spiritual life remains very much alive. I left the Urs Mahal with the refrain of Maula Ali still running through my head. I was in good spirits, and I might well have called it a night there. But I still had Maghrib and Isha to pray, so I made my way towards Bangla Wali Masjid, the well-known centre of the Tablighi Jamaat in India. The contrast was striking. I had just come from an evening of Sufi qawwali, where Ali had been praised with a fervour that filled the room. Now I was heading towards a mosque associated with a movement known for its emphasis on prayer, religious discipline and the imitation of the Prophet. Little did the Tablighis know where I had been that evening. I performed my wudu and went upstairs. The mosque was full of men, students and visitors from different parts of India and beyond. Many had travelled considerable distances to spend time with fellow Muslims and participate in the movements activities. There was something moving about that simple arrangement. People who might otherwise have had little in common had come together because they wanted to devote time to their faith. The place was full of activity, but there was an earnestness about it, too. I could understand the appeal of a movement that asks people to set aside much of the noise of everyday life and return to the basics: prayer, remembrance of Allah, good character and the example of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). A preacher was addressing the gathering. He spoke about brotherhood, about cultivating love for the Prophet, and about making the Prophets example a guide for everyday life. I listened and found myself moved once again. It struck me as rather wonderful that, within the space of an evening, I had encountered two very different settings in which Muslims expressed their devotion. At the Urs Mahal, there had been music, repetition and the possibility of being swept along by a refrain. At Bangla Wali Masjid, there was preaching, communal discipline and a reminder to put faith into practice. The outward forms were different. Yet I could recognise something familiar in both. In each place, there was a desire to draw closer to the Prophet, to keep his memory alive and to make his life a source of spiritual guidance. That desire took different forms, and the differences between the two traditions were real. But I didnt feel the need to turn them into a contest. Then it was time for Isha . I joined the congregation with one small difference in my practice that made me a little self-conscious. I follow the Hanbali and Salafi form of Witr . I pray three rakahs consecutively, without sitting for a separate tashahhud after the first two, and I raise my hands for the supplication of qunut in the final rakah . The supplication begins, Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt O Allah, guide me among those You have guided. It is part of the well-known supplication taught by the Prophet to his grandson Hasan ibn Ali. I have always found something particularly tender about this dua. It brings together the Prophets guidance and his relationship with his family, reminding us of the affection he had for Hasan and Husayn and the place they occupy in Muslim memory. And so there I was, among Hanafi Tablighis, having just listened to a qawwali centred on Maula Ali, and now praying Witr according to a practice more commonly associated with Hanbalis and Salafis. I did wonder whether anyone would notice. Would somebody look over and identify me as the Salafi-looking fellow in the congregation? The thought amused me. I was among people whose religious habits might differ from my own, yet we were standing together in prayer, invoking the same Lord and following the guidance of the same Prophet. I finished my prayer feeling entirely at ease. I dont mean that the differences between Muslim traditions are unimportant, or that centuries of theological debate can be brushed aside with a pleasant evening. These traditions have their own histories, arguments and understandings of religious practice. But theres a difference between recognising those disagreements and allowing them to determine how we encounter one another. That evening, I had listened to the praise of Ali at a Sufi shrine, heard a Tablighi preacher speak about love for the Prophet, and prayed according to my own understanding of the Sunnah. I had found something worthwhile in each experience. I didnt need to resolve every theological question before allowing myself to appreciate what I had encountered. Perhaps that was the real pleasure of the evening: the freedom to listen, reflect and worship without feeling that every difference demanded a verdict. None of it had been planned. I had left for Delhi that morning with a book in my bag, expecting little beyond a day of meetings. I returned to my hotel after midnight with the sound of qawwali still in my ears and a head full of thoughts I hadnt anticipated having. The next morning, I would catch my flight home and return to the usual demands of work and everyday life. But for a few hours, Delhi had allowed me to move between worlds that are often described as opposites: the shrine of a medieval Sufi saint and the mosque of the Tablighi Jamaat; the ecstatic repetition of qawwali and the quiet discipline of prayer; the praise of Ali and a supplication taught by the Prophet to his grandson. I hadnt arrived intending to make a point about religious diversity. I had simply followed the evening where it took me. And perhaps thats what Ill remember most about Delhi. Not that its differences disappeared, but that I could encounter them at close quarters, recognise them for what they were, and still feel at home. I had gone looking for Nizamuddin, carrying a book about a city of jinns. I came away with something less easily described: a night of music, prayer, unexpected connections and the quiet pleasure of discovering that the world of ones own faith is often wider than the boundaries one encounters in argument. Shakeel Maqbool, ICAS, UPSC CSE 2014 batch, currently working as Controller Accounts and Internal Financial Advisor,J&K, MHA
Philips Home Appliances launches Sone Pe Double Suhaga festive campaign
Srinagar, Oct 17: Philips Home Appliances has launched its festive campaign, Sone Pe Double Suhaga, offering assured gifts on eligible purchases and a chance to win gold worth Rs 9,999 every hour and a diamond worth Rs 50,000 every day. Running from October 11 to November 11, 2026, the campaign builds on the success of last years Sone Pe Suhaga initiative, which reached consumers across 70 cities. This year, the company aims to expand its reach to more than 200 million consumers across 112 cities. Under the campaign, customers purchasing eligible Philips Home Appliances with a minimum retail price (MRP) of 1,500 will receive an assured gift and become eligible for a chance to win the gold and diamond rewards. The initiative combines conventional festive offers with aspirational rewards, seeking to make appliance purchases more rewarding during the festive season. Pooja Baid, Chief Marketing Officer, Versuni India, said the response to last years campaign had encouraged the company to expand its festive proposition. With Sone Pe Double Suhaga, consumers purchasing eligible Philips Home Appliances can enjoy an assured gift on purchase, along with the chance to win gold every hour and a diamond every day, she said. Baid said the campaign aimed to add excitement, surprise and aspiration to festive shopping while offering consumers additional value. Gold and diamonds hold cultural significance during Indian festivals, symbolising prosperity, good fortune and new beginnings. Through the campaign, Philips Home Appliances seeks to combine these traditions with its home appliance portfolio to enhance the festive shopping experience across India.
Jammu, Oct 17: Experts from CSIR-IIIM Jammu and CAD today conducted a joint visit to various sites of the Patyari Cluster under the Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (MCADWM) scheme. The visit was undertaken under the supervision and directions of the Director, Command Area Development Project Jammu Pankaj Magotra to explore the feasibility of cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants in the Patyari Cluster and obtain expert recommendations on suitable crop options based on the prevailing agro-climatic conditions. The expert team deputed by the Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu, consisted of Principal Scientist (Soil Science) Dr Rajendra Bhanwaria; Principal Technical Officer (Agronomy) Dr Siya Ram Meena; and Project Associate-I (Soil Science) Mahnaz. The team was accompanied by District Subject Matter Specialists (SMSs), S. Sukhbir Singh and Pankaj Verma, along with SCA Rajeev Kumar from CAD Jammu. During the visit, the team interacted with local farmers to understand their agricultural practices and field-level requirements. Soil samples were also collected from different locations for laboratory analysis to assess their suitability for the proposed cultivation. The CSIR-IIIM team shall submit a detailed report to the Directorate of CAD Jammu after receipt and analysis of the soil sample reports. The findings and expert recommendations will help identify suitable medicinal and aromatic plant species and formulate a viable cultivation strategy for crop diversification and enhancement of farmers income under the MCADWM scheme.
Director Agriculture Kashmir inaugurates sale of onion seedlings at Gangbugh for farming Community
Srinagar, Oct 17: Director Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah, today inaugurated the sale of onion seedlings for the farming community at Seed Multiplication Farm, Gangbugh, reaffirming the Departments commitment to ensuring timely availability of quality planting material to farmers. The initiative is aimed at facilitating farmers in undertaking timely transplantation of onion seedlings and encouraging them to adopt scientific cultivation practices for enhanced productivity and improved farm returns. On the occasion, the Director emphasized the importance of making quality planting material readily accessible to farmers and strengthening field-level support to promote crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices across Kashmir. The initiative is part of the Department's continued efforts to empower the farming community through timely interventions, improved access to agricultural inputs and the promotion of remunerative crops. The Department remains committed to extending technical guidance and necessary support to farmers to enhance agricultural productivity, improve farm incomes and strengthen the overall agricultural economy of the region.
From Jamia Market to Polo View, KTMF flags traders concerns before SMC Commissioner
Srinagar, Oct 17: A delegation of the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), led by its president Mohammad Yaseen Khan, met newly appointed Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner and Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) CEO Dr Basharat Qayoom, to discuss civic issues and long-pending grievances affecting the citys trading community. The delegation congratulated Dr Qayoom on his new assignment and expressed hope that his tenure would bring renewed attention to Srinagars civic challenges and the concerns of traders. During the meeting, Khan raised issues concerning sanitation fees imposed on business establishments, delays in building permissions and the growing problem of street vending. He called for a balanced approach to municipal administration that ensures effective civic services while protecting the legitimate interests of established businesses. Javaid Ahmad Zargar, president of the Jamia Traders Federation, highlighted the deteriorating condition of roads, lanes and bylanes in the Jamia Masjid area, saying poor infrastructure was causing difficulties for traders, residents and devotees visiting the historic mosque. He also sought priority attention to issues concerning Jamia Market and the marriage hall at Chandpora. Arif Kareem, president of the Hari Singh High Street Traders Association, expressed concern over unregulated street vending and its impact on established businesses and pedestrian movement. He called for effective regulation and enforcement of existing rules to ensure orderly commercial activity and accessible public spaces. Representing Polo View Market, association chairman Mukhtiar Ahmed Bawan and spokesperson Basharat Ahmed Khajawaal highlighted the difficulties faced by traders following restrictions that made the market non-motorable. They said the arrangements had affected customer access and business activity, urging the authorities to explore practical measures to restore the markets commercial vibrancy. The delegation also included Bashir Ahmad Rather and Qazi Tauseef, president of the Munawarabad Traders Association. Dr Qayoom gave the delegation a patient hearing, acknowledged the concerns raised and assured the representatives that the issues would be examined. He also emphasised the importance of stakeholder participation in improving civic administration. KTMF welcomed the response and expressed hope that sustained coordination with the civic administration would help resolve long-pending issues and make Srinagar cleaner, better managed and more business-friendly.
KaniFest 2026 begins in Srinagar, brings artists, craftspeople together
Srinagar, Oct 17: KaniFest 2026, a two-week creative festival celebrating Kashmirs cultural heritage, craftsmanship and contemporary artistic expression, began on Saturday at KaniHome in Zakura, Srinagar. Running from October 17 to 30, the festival brings together artists, craftspeople, designers, musicians, researchers, educators, filmmakers and other creative practitioners to explore new ideas, exchange knowledge and collaborate across disciplines. Rooted in Kashmirs traditions of craftsmanship and cultural heritage, KaniFest provides a platform for creative experimentation, learning and dialogue, bringing traditional practices into conversation with contemporary forms of expression. The programme combines discussions, live performances, workshops and hands-on creative activities, encouraging participants to explore the intersections of culture, nature, technology and the arts. The festival also offers opportunities for students, makers, entrepreneurs, curators, writers and community builders to engage with practitioners from diverse fields and learn about different creative approaches. A key attraction of this years edition will be sunset music gatherings featuring Gaekhir Republik, Moze and Ali Saifuddin. The programme will also include projection mapping by creative technologists based at KaniHome, adding a technological dimension to the festivals artistic offerings. Through its multidisciplinary format, KaniFest seeks to create an environment where traditional knowledge and contemporary creative practices can inform one another, opening avenues for collaboration and new ways of making and working together. The festival aims to foster interaction among practitioners from different backgrounds while creating space for experimentation and the exchange of skills and ideas. Scheduled to continue until October 30, KaniFest 2026 positions KaniHome as a meeting point for creative communities, with a programme centred on Kashmirs cultural identity and evolving artistic landscape.
SICOP employees union disputes surplus staff tag
Srinagar, Oct 17: The SICOP Employees Union has challenged the classification of pre-ban employees as surplus staff, claiming that the categorisation overlooks 297 vacant posts and runs contrary to a High Court directive on considering their regularisation. In a press release issued here, the union accused the SICOP management of misleading the Legislative Assembly and Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the chairman of the corporations Board of Directors, over the status of its employees. The union said employees appointed before the imposition of the government ban, whose appointments were cleared through the 83rd and 84th Board of Directors resolutions, had been clubbed with separate batches engaged during subsequent post-ban periods. It termed the blanket classification of these employees as surplus administratively distorted and legally untenable, arguing that their long service records and the availability of sanctioned vacancies had not been adequately considered. Citing an official file under consideration in the Civil Secretariat, SICOP Employees Union president Bilal Ahmad Bhat in a press statement said the management had documented 297 clear vacant posts. He said senior employees had been rendering services against these vacancies for periods ranging from 10 to 20 years. The union also referred to a recent judgment of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the court had recognised the service records of pre-ban employees and directed the authorities to consider their regularisation, along with consequential benefits, within three months. Bhat urged the Deputy Chief Minister to take cognisance of the matter, reject what the union described as a flawed management report, and expedite the regularisation file pending in the Civil Secretariat in compliance with the law. The union said the surplus classification had triggered unrest and financial insecurity among hundreds of employees families.
FSSAI proposes pesticide residue limits for tea, sets Acetamiprid cap at 20 ppm
New Delhi, Oct 17: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed new maximum residue limits (MRLs) for two pesticides used in tea cultivation, seeking to establish science-based standards for food safety while addressing agricultural requirements. The draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on October 16, propose a maximum residue limit of 20 parts per million (ppm) for acetamiprid and 50 ppm for imidacloprid in tea. The proposed limit for acetamiprid is lower than the corresponding limits of 30 ppm in Japan and 50 ppm in the United States, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The proposed imidacloprid limit has been formulated with reference to international Codex standards. The draft regulations are intended to provide clearly defined benchmarks for monitoring pesticide residues, ensuring compliance and strengthening enforcement. The proposals are subject to finalisation following stakeholder consultation. FSSAI said the initiative forms part of its broader effort to review pesticide residue standards in light of scientific assessments, international regulatory practices and India's agricultural requirements. Earlier measures included the delisting of 13 pesticides identified as having higher toxicity. The authority also referred to the 2024 amendment regulations as an important step in the ongoing review of maximum residue limits. Maximum residue limits specify the highest legally permitted concentration of pesticide residues in food commodities. They are established using scientific assessments that consider residue data, dietary exposure and relevant safety considerations. The proposed framework seeks to balance consumer protection with the need for effective pest management in tea cultivation. Appropriate crop-protection measures help farmers control pests, minimise crop losses and maintain agricultural productivity. India's average pesticide use stands at less than 0.5 kg per hectare, significantly below the estimated global average of 2.38 kg per hectare, the ministry said. The proposed standards are expected to provide greater regulatory clarity to tea growers, processors, food businesses, testing laboratories and enforcement authorities, while promoting responsible pesticide management. FSSAI has invited stakeholder comments on the draft amendment before its finalisation. The initiative underscores the regulator's stated focus on evidence-based standards, consumer safety and sustainable agricultural practices.
Drone LiDAR reveals three unregistered Aboriginal rock shelters in Australia's rugged Blue Mountains
AIIMS Awantipora likely to begin OPD services in November 2026
Pulwama, Oct 17: After missing several deadlines for its operationalisation, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Awantipora in south Kashmir's Pulwama district is likely to begin Outpatient Department (OPD) services in November 2026, an official said. The development comes amid renewed efforts by the district administration to expedite pending works and ensure that essential facilities, medical equipment, statutory clearances and human resources are in place to make the much-awaited institution functional. An official told the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) that although the administration had directed the concerned agencies to make the OPD functional by the end of October, the services are now likely to commence in November, subject to completion of pending works and necessary operational arrangements. The proposed start of OPD services has raised hopes among people across south Kashmir, who have been waiting for the institution to become functional and provide advanced healthcare facilities closer to their homes. The project has remained a major public expectation for years, with its early operationalisation considered crucial for reducing the burden on existing government hospitals and easing difficulties faced by patients who travel to Srinagar and other places for specialised treatment. The latest review was conducted by District Development Commissioner Pulwama, Kuldeep Krishan Sidha, who chaired a meeting to assess construction status, pending works, statutory approvals and preparedness for operationalising different facilities at the campus. According to details shared during the meeting, AIIMS Awantipora has achieved around 81 per cent overall physical progress, while financial progress stands at approximately 72.59 per cent. The meeting was informed that the revised master plan and associated changes had been approved, while a detailed presentation was made on the phase-wise construction schedule, infrastructure, statutory clearances and other essential components required for the institution's functioning. The DDC said that operationalisation should be treated as a priority, particularly in view of the healthcare needs of the people and the approaching winter season. Reviewing Phase-I works, officials informed the meeting that Hospital Block-1 had achieved 100 per cent progress, while Hospital Block-2 was around 99 per cent complete. The DDC directed the executing agency to address all outstanding issues on priority, with instructions to make the OPD functional by the end of October wherever feasible. The meeting also reviewed Phase-II, which includes academic, administrative and hostel buildings. Officials said civil works had reached an advanced stage. The executing agency was directed to complete remaining civil works within 20 days wherever technically feasible and ensure the buildings are made functional by the end of November. Reviewing Phase-III, the DDC directed agencies to accelerate works on components reporting 75 to 80 per cent progress, including remaining hospital blocks, academic buildings, residential quarters, hostels and external development works. The DDC also directed completion of the shopping complex and guest house at the earliest. On statutory clearances, the DDC directed all concerned departments to provide pending No Objection Certificates before the end of October and prepare a clear action plan to secure necessary approvals without further delay. The DDC further directed authorities to ensure that required Senior Residents and other necessary human resources are available before the OPD begins functioning, and to submit details regarding manpower availability and identify facilities ready for operationalisation. Once fully operational, the institute is expected to strengthen access to specialised medical services and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for consultations and treatment. For residents of Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and other parts of south Kashmir, the institution is expected to provide a major boost to the region's healthcare infrastructure. However, its benefits will depend not only on the commencement of OPD services but also on the availability of specialists, diagnostic facilities, medical equipment and supporting infrastructure.
Navratri Special: Craving Pizza During Fasting? Try This Vrat-Friendly Recipe At Home
With a few ingredient swaps, you can make a vrat-friendly pizza at home that looks delicious and adds a fun twist to traditional fasting food.
Centre finalises 30% trade margin cap for 137 non-scheduled cancer drugs
New prices set to come into effect from November 9, 2026; state drug controllers to monitor implementation
Kenyas Ebola cases rise to 7, including health workers who cared for the first patient
Three Kenyan health workers tested positive for Ebola, Health Ministry says.
Crime Branch files chargesheet against 15 accused in Kishtwar minor's rape and death case
Jammu, Oct 17: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch has filed a chargesheet against 15 accused in connection with the alleged rape and death of a 15-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, an official said on Saturday. The tribal girl was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual assault by a teacher in her school over months, resulting in her pregnancy. She died following an alleged attempt to terminate the pregnancy in the Chatroo area on August 20. The chargesheet was filed within 60 days of the SIT taking over the investigation, the official said.
Aayush Wellness Limited has launched Aayush Calcium Vitamin Tablets, expanding its nutraceutical portfolio into the bone and joint health segment. The formulation combines calcium citrate, vitamin D2, magnesium, zinc and folic acid to support bone strength, calcium absorption and musculoskeletal health. The company said the launch aligns with growing consumer interest in preventive healthcare and nutritional supplements.
Delhi-bound Emirates flight suffers bird strike
New Delhi, Oct 17: A Delhi-bound Emirates flight from Dubai suffered a bird hit on arrival, forcing the airline to delay the return flight by over 14 hours. The return flight was scheduled to depart at 4.25 pm on Saturday and is expected to depart at 7 am on Sunday, Emirates informed its passengers. Emirates flight EK517 from Dubai to Delhi on 17 October encountered a bird strike on arrival. As a result, the return flight EK517 from Delhi to Dubai will be delayed while the aircraft undergoes necessary repairs, the Gulf airline said in a media statement without sharing crucial details such as the number of passengers on board. Hotel accommodation is being arranged for affected passengers, Emirates said. The flight is now expected to depart at 7 am Delhi local time on October 18, it added. Emirates apologises for any inconvenience caused, it noted.
Ladakh deadlock: Centre says committed to political solution, urges leaders to keep talks alive
Leh, Oct 17: With the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) rejecting the Centre's draft on constitutional safeguards and democratic governance, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on Saturday expressed disappointment over the move and urged the region's leaders to continue negotiations with mutual trust, patience and an open mind. Addressing a press conference in Leh, Kundra said the 32-page proposal prepared by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs was dismissed within hours of being presented to the Ladakh representatives on October 16, a day after they held discussions with the Centre. The government of India is fully committed to finding a political solution at the earliest and to establishing a democratically elected body that fulfils the aspirations of the people of Ladakh, the chief secretary said. The LAB and KDA have maintained that the Centres proposal does not meet their demands for constitutional safeguards and a legislature with meaningful powers. Kundra said the government had made concerted efforts to develop an alternative constitutional framework and asserted that further discussions were necessary to arrive at a mutually acceptable arrangement. It was surprising to see that the document was dismissed outright within just two hours of being received, he said, adding that officials had spent three to four weeks preparing the proposal in good faith. Explaining the framework, Kundra said the home ministry had shared a detailed document outlining a possible constitutional framework for Ladakh, following discussions with the region's leaders on October 15. The document proposes a two-stage approach involving a constitutional amendment and a subsequent regulation under Article 240 of the Constitution, with provisions envisaged for a directly elected Union Territory-level body and safeguards concerning land, natural resources, culture and other issues raised by the representatives, the chief secretary said. He clarified that the document was intended to facilitate further discussion and was not the outcome of a concluded legislative process. The proposed constitutional provisions and the subsequent regulatory framework would require detailed examination and deliberation before being finalised, Kundra said. Several institutional questions also remained open for consideration and examination, including the nomenclature and composition of the proposed body, the method of election, representation of women and underrepresented communities, and nominated and ex-officio members. The authority responsible for conducting elections, delimitation of constituencies, electoral rolls, tenure and the relationship of the proposed body with existing institutions such as the LAHDCs, Panchayats and municipalities would also need to be examined. The proposal envisages introducing a new constitutional provision, Article 371-K, specifically for Ladakh, followed by a separate regulation under Article 240 to define the functioning of the proposed institution, he said. Not every detail can be incorporated into a constitutional amendment. Therefore, a separate regulation would also be framed under Article 240, Kundra said. Appealing to the leaders involved in the dialogue, Kundra said mutual trust was essential for meaningful negotiations with an open mind. Negotiations require an open mind, mutual trust and, above all, patience, he said. He said the government did not want to rush into an arrangement that could shape Ladakhs governance for decades without ensuring that it met the expectations of the people. We must ensure that the framework ultimately established for Ladakh is one with which the people are satisfied, not only the political leaders but also ordinary citizens, he said. Kundra also urged the leadership not to allow disappointment over individual meetings to create a perception that the process had yielded no progress. Seeking to underline the Centres efforts to address local concerns, Kundra cited the increase in reservation for local residents, recognition of regional languages and reservation for women in the hill councils. He said reservation for Scheduled Tribes in Ladakh, which stood at 10 per cent in 2019, had been increased to 84 per cent for local people. The LAB and KDA have expressed dissatisfaction with the home ministry's proposal and maintained that their demands for constitutional safeguards and a legislature with executive, legislative and financial powers remain central to the negotiations. The two sides will meet again in New Delhi on October 22 to discuss their respective proposals and attempt to bridge the differences. Kundra expressed hope that the process would move towards a conclusion in the coming weeks and months, reiterating that the Centre remained committed to establishing a democratically elected body for Ladakh at the earliest. There is no reason for anyone to lose hope, he said.
NPPA caps trade margins on 137 cancer drugs at 30%, revised prices from Nov 9
India's National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has capped trade margins for 137 anti-cancer drugs at 30% of their maximum retail price. This cap, effective from November 9, applies to all listed drugs, including Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab. Manufacturers must adjust prices if they exceed the newly calculated maximum retail price. Compliance will be monitored by state drug controllers and hospitals, which play a significant role in drug supply.
CJI Surya Kant to visit Ladakh tomorrow to inaugurate Ladakh Bench of High Court
Ladakh, Oct 17: The Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, will visit Ladakh on Sunday to inaugurate the newly constituted Ladakh bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said at a press conference today. He said the CJI will be accompanied by four Supreme Court judges, the chief justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, and other high court judges. The attorney general of India will also attend the event, he said. It is a very big thing. Frankly speaking in recent times, if you scan the history of the High Courts in India, I don't think that in the last 40 years any sitting bench has been set up in this fashion for any other High Court. The only example which comes to my mind is maybe that of the North Eastern States, where the Guwahati High Court, had benches in Arunachal Pradesh, where I have worked, he said. Justice coming closer to the people is a very big thing, the CS said. Otherwise, anyone who was aggrieved and wanted to file a writ petition would have to go to Srinagar or Jammu. I think the fact that this is now possible here in Ladakh is an extremely positive development, he added. He said the bench was established within two months and was not among the demands raised during negotiations, describing it as a unilateral initiative by the Centre. Negotiations are currently underway between Ladakhi political leaders and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ladakhi leaders are seeking a Union Territory with a legislature and constitutional safeguards under Article 371. The Government of India fully understands how difficult this terrain is, the challenging circumstances in which people live here and how crucial it is to ensure that justice is accessible closer to their doorstep, Kundra said.
Navratri Fasting: Unique Kuttu Taco Recipe Goes Viral On Social Media. Would You Try It?
The mix of crispy cheelas, spicy paneer, fresh salsa, lemon juice and green chutney makes the dish an interesting choice for those who want something different while fasting.
Youth should choose libraries and playgrounds over drugs: SSP Srinagar
Shridevi Institute, US-based Vaxonyx sign MoU for AI-driven cancer and genomic research
Shridevi Institute of Medical Sciences in Tumakuru has signed an MoU with Vaxonyx LLC for collaboration. This partnership aims to focus on AI-enabled bioinformatics and genomic research tailored for Indian populations. They will develop personalized cancer therapies by analyzing individual tumor profiles. The collaboration will also explore the creation of genomic datasets to improve genetic models. Moreover, they intend to develop DNA-based vaccine candidates for relevant public health issues.
From shelves to the roads, books are now being sold on the streets, while shoes occupy the shelves.
World Menopause Day: Why the Symptoms of Early Menopause and PCOS Get Mixed Up
PCOS(renamed to PMOS) is one of the most common disorders in women, whereas menopause is a phase that generally occurs after the 40s. However, both disrupt menstrual cycles, which makes women fail to understand the actual cause.
Kashmir has talent but lacks opportunities, says filmmaker Anirban Dhar
El Nino is a 'postcard from the future' and could cause 451,000 excess heat deaths
Peruvian fishermen gave El Nino its name he little boy or Christ Child after noticing unusually warm Pacific waters around Christmas that caused the fish they depended on to suddenly become scarce.
NCB Jammu seizes 385 grams of suspected heroin in Digiana; one arrested
Jammu, October 16: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Jammu Zonal Unit, conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Digiana area of Jammu and seized 385 grams of suspected heroin, arresting one person reportedly residing in Miran Sahib. According to a press note issued by NCB Jammu on Saturday, the operation followed specific intelligence regarding suspected heroin trafficking. During surveillance, the NCB team intercepted the suspect while he was allegedly attempting to deliver the contraband. Four packets containing a total of 385 grams of suspected heroin were recovered and seized during the operation. Preliminary investigation has indicated possible links between Jammu-based traffickers and sources in Punjab, with the suspected contraband believed to have been intended for distribution within Jammu district. Further investigation is underway to identify other persons involved and establish the forward and backward linkages of the suspected trafficking network, including possible interstate connections. NCB Jammu has appealed to the public to share credible information regarding drug trafficking and substance abuse through the National Narcotics Helpline, MANAS (1933), assuring that information can be shared confidentially. The bureau reiterated its commitment to intelligence-led enforcement against drug trafficking under the national mission of Nasha Mukt Bharat.
Ramban Police conduct CASO in Khari, check mobile phones during security verification
Ramban, Oct 17: As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen security and maintain vigilance, Ramban Police on Saturday conducted a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) at the residences of Jammu and Kashmir National Over Ground Workers (JKNOPs) and Over Ground Workers (OGWs) in the Khari area of Ramban district. During the operation, police checked mobile phones belonging to family members as part of security-related verification. The family members were also sensitised about the importance of remaining vigilant and advised to promptly inform the police about any suspicious international calls or communications. The operation was aimed at strengthening security surveillance and ensuring public safety in the area. Ramban Police reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and order, strengthening the security grid and ensuring the safety and security of the general public.
Adv Maroof Khan calls for people-centric governance, accountability in government offices
Srinagar, Oct 16: Advocate Maroof Khan, Political Youth Leader, has urged the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to establish a strong precedent of people-centric governance by ensuring that every citizen visiting a government office is treated with dignity, respect and fairness. Reacting to a video circulating on social media showing an IAS officer allegedly misbehaving with a woman officer, Khan, as per a statement, said the incident highlights the importance of maintaining professionalism, mutual respect and discipline in public service.
Kashmir needs its own film industry, not just outside productions: Anirban Dhar
Srinagar, Oct 17: Filmmaker Anirban Dhar has called for sustained government support, dedicated funding and a more enabling environment for filmmaking in Kashmir, saying the region has considerable talent but lacks the opportunities and infrastructure needed to help young filmmakers build careers. Speaking on the opening day of the Kashmir Film Festival, Dhar said 17 students from different parts of Kashmir, including Bandipora, Baramulla and Srinagar, were participating in a filmmaking workshop alongside students from other parts of India. The participants will collaborate to produce four short films during the 10-day festival, focusing on Kashmiri stories and language. There is a lot of talent in Kashmir. The biggest problem is that there are no opportunities here. There is no film industry here, Dhar said. He said the workshop was intended to provide practical experience and create opportunities for young filmmakers beyond the festival. Three students will be selected for internships in Mumbai, where they will get an opportunity to work with Dhar and filmmaker Kabir Khan. Dhar said the festival would also bring filmmakers from Mumbai to interact with participants. Kabir Khan was scheduled to attend a screening and engage with the students, while filmmaker Payal Kapadia was expected to screen her film All We Imagine as Light and interact with them. Calls for Dedicated Film Fund Dhar said the government needed to move beyond organising film festivals and establish a financial support mechanism to enable local filmmakers to produce films in Kashmiri with Kashmiri actors. He said he had met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to seek support for the filmmaking workshop and discuss opportunities for Kashmiri students to pursue further studies in Mumbai, where film education can be prohibitively expensive. It's very expensive, and not everyone can afford to do it, he said. Emphasising the need to build a local film industry, Dhar said Kashmir should not remain merely a location where filmmakers from outside come to shoot their productions. It is important that people don't just come from outside to shoot here, but that the local talent here can also tell its own stories, he said. He proposed that the government create an annual fund to support filmmakers making films in Kashmiri with local actors. Suppose you give five filmmakers one crore rupees each every year, or even Rs 50 lakh each, so that they can make films in Kashmiri with Kashmiri actors. That is how the industry can develop, he said. Dhar said sustained support for local productions could gradually create the conditions for a film industry to emerge in Kashmir. Seeks Simpler Rules, Artistic Freedom The filmmaker also expressed concern over bureaucratic requirements for making films in Kashmir, arguing that excessive procedures could discourage young people from pursuing creative projects. Referring to reports that scripts for short films had to be submitted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), he questioned the need for such requirements before a project could be made. I have heard that even if you want to make a short film here, you have to send the script to the CID. This is wrong, he said. Dhar argued that filmmakers should have greater artistic freedom, with appropriate scrutiny taking place through established mechanisms rather than multiple layers of prior permissions. There is already a censor board. If there is a problem, it can be looked at later. But if you have to go through so many procedures, seek permissions from 10 different places and submit even a short film's script to the CID, that is not a healthy atmosphere, he said. He said such restrictions raised questions about how freely young filmmakers could think and express themselves through cinema. I would really encourage the government to rethink its policies and make them more friendly. There is no need for so much bureaucracy. The need is to encourage and support young people so that they can tell the stories of Kashmir, Dhar said. He said developing Kashmiri cinema would require a combination of financial assistance, professional training opportunities, simpler procedures and greater space for local voices to tell their own stories.
The Craftsman and Sarangi Maestro of Kashmir | Meet Mohd Altaf Sheikh
Mohammad Altaf Sheikh, a craftsman from Dana Mazaar Srinagar, is preserving Kashmirs traditional musical heritage by handcrafting musical instruments and showcasing his exceptional skill in playing the Kashmiri Sarangi. However, he laments the declining interest in traditional music and instruments, expressing concern over neglect of this cultural legacy by the public and the government Report: Mubashir Khan Edit: Afnan Habib
Dashamulyadi Kashaya Ingredients, Preparation, Ayurvedic Properties, Indications & Dosages Dashamulyadi Kashaya is a classical Ayurvedic decoction formulated from Dashamula ... Read more The post Dashamulyadi Kashaya appeared first on Planet Ayurveda .
Over 70 Friday congregations across Kashmir, Jammu, Ladakh respond to MMUs common khutbah call
Srinagar, Oct 17: More than 70 major Friday congregations across Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh delivered sermons on the common theme of Imaan (faith) on October 16, responding to a call by the Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) that brought together Ulema from different schools of thought. In a statement, MMU said Ulema representing Hanafi, Jafferi, Ahl-e-Hadith, Barelvi and Deobandi traditions participated in the initiative, demonstrating unity and collective religious responsibility while upholding the independence and sanctity of the Mimbar . The sermons emphasised the importance of faith in shaping individual character, family life and society, stressing honesty, integrity and moral responsibility. Ulema also highlighted challenges facing younger generations, including materialism, declining religious awareness, moral confusion and the misuse of social media. Parents, teachers, religious scholars and institutions were urged to safeguard young people's faith through knowledge, compassionate guidance and exemplary conduct. MMU described the response as a significant expression of cooperation among religious institutions despite differences in religious traditions and jurisprudence. The initiative follows a September 15 Ulema conference at which representatives of different schools of thought resolved to address pressing religious and social concerns through coordinated Friday sermons, district-level engagements and sustained community awareness. MMU said the programme would continue on designated Fridays, with upcoming themes including unity of the Ummah, drug abuse, suicide and mental health, youth challenges, responsible social media use, family values and environmental protection. The organisation said the objective was to translate the collective resolve of Ulema into sustained public awareness, community engagement and practical action, with mosques, Imambargahs, madrasas and other religious institutions playing an active role.
Nagaramritadi Kashaya Ingredients, Preparation, Ayurvedic Properties, Indications & Dosages Introduction Nagaramritadi Kashaya is an Ayurvedic polyherbal decoction prepared from ... Read more The post Nagaramritadi Kashaya appeared first on Planet Ayurveda .
J&K Police transfers 12 DSPs, adjusts six IPS officers in Jammu and Kashmir
Srinagar, Oct 17: Jammu and Kashmir Police Headquarters has ordered the transfer and posting of 12 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and adjusted six IPS officers of the AGMUT cadre across Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect. According to an order issued by Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on October 14, as per news agency JKNS, the IPS officers have been adjusted following their joining the J&K segment after completion of their Basic Course Training (Phase-II), in terms of the Ministry of Home Affairs order dated August 4, 2026. IPS Officers Adjusted As per the order, the following six IPS officers have been adjusted against the respective posts: 1. Ms Kumari Someya (AGMUT-2023) ASP Headquarters, Jammu. 2. Daniel Raj C (AGMUT-2023) ASP Headquarters, Budgam. 3. Ms Aditi Verma (AGMUT-2023) SDPO West Srinagar. 4. Chaitanya Giri (AGMUT-2024) SDPO R.S. Pura. 5. Anant Dhanraj Singh (AGMUT-2024) SDPO Bari Brahmana. 6. Ayush Mani Chaudhary (AGMUT-2024) SDPO Nowshera. 12 DSPs Transferred The order also directs the transfer and posting of the following DSPs: 1. Abdul Ghafoor (PID No. KPS125821) transferred from SDPO Sader to DSP Railways, Anantnag. 2. Sajad Ahmad Malik (PID No. KPS125719) transferred from DSP Headquarters, Budgam, to SDPO Sader. 3. Pardeep Singh Sen (PID No. KPS125750) transferred from SDPO Bari Brahmana to DSP SIA Jammu. 4. Majad Mehboob (PID No. KPS135825) transferred from SDPO West Srinagar to TMG CID Headquarters. 5. Sajad Ahmad (PID No. EXJ955572) transferred from DSP Traffic Ramban to DSP STWS Jammu. 6. Sahil Mahajan (PID No. KPS155780) transferred from SDPO Nowshera to SDPO Nagrota. 7. Ms Farha Nishat (PID No. KPS185688) transferred from DSP Headquarters, Jammu, to DSP EOW Jammu. 8. Sajad Ahmad Mir (PID No. EXJ922288) transferred from DSP STWS Jammu to DSP 19 JKAP IR. 9. Sartaj Ahmad (PID No. ARP981701) transferred from DSP Railways, Anantnag, to DSP 21 JKAP IR. 10. Sanjeev Singh Slathia (PID No. EXJ956212) transferred from DSP SIA Jammu to DSP EOW Jammu against the OAR post of DSP. 11. Gurmeet Singh (PID No. EXJ956531) transferred from SDPO R.S. Pura to DSP Security Jammu. 12. Vinod Kumar (PID No. EXJ955661) transferred from SDPO Nagrota to DSP Traffic Ramban. The order directs that all officers concerned shall be relieved forthwith to take up their new assignments. The reshuffle covers several key police wings, including security, traffic, railways, the State Investigation Agency (SIA), the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), CID and Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police formations. (JKNS)
I Won't Eat, It's Okay: When Ramayana Star Sai Pallavi Spent A Month In Japan Without Proper Meals
Actor Sai Pallavi is strict and disciplined about her dietary preferences.
