Opinion

CM Omar Abdullah inaugurates Waste to Wonder Flower Garden and Floriculture Mela in Srinagar

Rahul Gandhi is doing what the country expects from him: Omar Abdullah

From waste to wonder, Srinagars new concept garden ; a unique attraction for visitors and locals

No ethanol link to sugar price spike; millers jacking up rates, says govt

New Delhi, Aug 21: The government on Friday rejected claims that diversion of sugar for ethanol production was driving a sharp rise in the price of the sweetener and instead blamed the industry for jacking up prices despite the country having sufficient stock to meet domestic demand. The Centre has asked States to take action against hoarding and black marketing of the sweetener and also start preparing for early start of the crushing season by mills, by around October 15. It is also considering reducing the stock that dealers can hold. Briefing the media on sugar availability and prices, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said the government has taken precautionary measures by allowing imports of 10 lakh tonnes of sugar by October 31 and imposing stock-holding limits on dealers as well as bulk consumers such as soft-drink and ice-cream makers. He asserted that there are ample sugar stocks in the country despite a fall in production to 306 lakh tonnes for the 2025-26 marketing year (October-September), down from earlier estimates of 343 lakh tonnes, mainly because of pest disease in sugarcane crops and waterlogging caused by excess rains. Annual domestic demand is around 280-285 lakh tonnes. Following the government's recent measures, the secretary said retail prices are expected to fall in the coming days. The all-India average retail price has shot up to Rs 56 per kg from Rs 48 per kg on July 20. Chopra pointed out that ex-mill sugar prices have shot up to Rs 62 per kg from Rs 47-48 per kg in just about 7-10 days, and said this kind of hike is unjustified. On Friday, the secretary called representatives of the industry bodies ISMA and the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFSCF) and told them that this sudden, sharp hike in ex-mill prices is ot acceptable. We have always been assisting the sugar sector, and we expect that they will not take advantage of these situations to the detriment of the consumers of the country, Chopra said. On the ethanol issue, the secretary said it is incorrect to attribute the recent increase in sugar prices to diversion of sugar for ethanol production. Some of the stakeholders are trying to create the impression that the sugar prices have gone up only because of ethanol diversion, which is completely baseless, Chopra said, adding that the diversification to ethanol has improved the financial health of the sugar sector and also helped in timely payment to farmers. In the 2022-23 marketing year, he said almost 43 lakh tonnes of sugar was diverted, which in percentage terms stood at 12 per cent of the total sugar stock. Only 28 lakh tonnes of sugar have been diverted in the current 2025-26 marketing season, the secretary said. Only one-fourth of ethanol is now made from sugar and the rest from grains, mainly maize. Regarding prices, Chopra said, There has been this sharp increase in the prices of sugar in the recent past, and they have gone up from Rs 48 just about 15 days back to a level of Rs 56 now. It is important to clarify that this is not based on any fundamentals. Stating that there are ample and adequate stocks in the country, he said, There is no reason for any of these stakeholders to take advantage of this kind of a position. Profiteer, hoard, speculate, and create the impression that the country has no sugar in stock. India will have a closing stock of 33-35 lakh tonnes at the end of September 2026, he said, adding that the mills are expected to start early this year by October 15th. So we are estimating, since the crushing will start early this year by 15th of October, there will be about 10-12 lakh tonnes of additional sugar available in the month of October, which will ensure that the availability will be more than adequate to cater to the domestic requirements, Chopra said. Despite a comfortable stock situation, he said, as a matter of abundant precaution, the government has also given approval to have duty-free import of about 10 lakh tons of raw sugar. Apart from that, Chopra said sugar refineries that have imported raw sugar under the advance authorisation scheme have been allowed to transfer their stocks for domestic sales. This will help in boosting sugar availability by 3-4 lakh tonnes immediately. These are all additional steps taken as a matter of abundant precaution. There is no justification for some of these players in the sugar sector to have hiked the prices. We are in fact aware, he said. Chopra said he held meetings with the two sugar associations and old them that what has happened over the past few days is not acceptable. The ex-mill prices, for no reason, have shot up from a level of Rs 47-48 per kg to a level of Rs 62 per kg in just about 7-10 days, and there is no reason why they have actually jacked up the prices. So we have conveyed our sentiments to the industry. To create artificial scarcity, the secretary said some sugar mills are selling the stocks only on paper and not selling it physically. Therefore, he has instructed that the quantities sold must reach the markets for retail sale. Chopra informed that he held a meeting with all the major sugar-producing states. They have also been told to be in readiness to start the sugar crushing early around 15th of October. We have also told them to come down heavily on the black marketers, hoarders and speculators, he said. The secretary said the government is also considering tightening the stock-holding limits for dealers, which are currently set at 400 tonnes. Regarding the stock limit on bulk users, the secretary said it could be a little inconvenient for them. From September 1, bulk consumers will also be barred from holding stocks exceeding 15 days of consumption. But keeping in view the situation where some people are bent on holding the stocks unnecessarily without any reason when ample stocks are available, I think these are some steps that the government has taken of late, which will ensure that the availability in the market improves, he said. Chopra assured that there would be no issues with stock availability during the festive season and beyond. He asserted that the government would take all possible steps to protect the interest of farmers and consumers.

Security forces alone cannot defeat terrorism, whole-of-society approach needed: J-K LG

Jammu, Aug 21: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday underscored the vital role of community solidarity in eliminating terrorism, substance abuse and corruption, while promoting economic development and a spiritual renaissance in Jammu and Kashmir. Sinha was speaking after laying the foundation stone of Amriteshwar Sarovar under the 'Jan Sanchay Jan Bhagidari' initiative at Dharpur in Sunderbani area of Rajouri district. During his visit, the Lieutenant Governor paid obeisance at the Shri Amriteshwar Shiv temple. Addressing a public gathering, LG said that community solidarity has a crucial role to play in eliminating terrorism, substance abuse and corruption, besides driving economic development and ushering in a spiritual renaissance in Jammu and Kashmir. India is going through a great spiritual revival. This cultural wave is felt across Jammu-Kashmir, bringing people closer together and strengthening our community bonds, he said. The Lieutenant Governor urged people to remain vigilant against the nefarious designs of anti-national elements, report suspicious activities and completely isolate terror sympathisers. Security forces alone cannot defeat terrorism. Eradicating this threat demands a whole-of-society approach. United societal effort is required along with police and security agencies to dismantle the illicit financial and logistical webs of narco-terror networks, he said. Sinha said a concerted security and societal effort involving the Army, security forces, J&K Police, local administration and residents has significantly degraded terrorism and transformed the security landscape of the region. It was once grimly predicted that the tricolour would find no willing hands to carry it in Jammu-Kashmir. Today, it is held high with pride on countless resolute shoulders, he said. Responding to demands raised by the people, Sinha assured them that sincere efforts would be made by the administration to address public grievances and meet local infrastructure needs.

Woman killed, another injured after LPG tanker hits Scooty on NH-44 in Ramban

Banihal, Aug 21: A woman was killed and another injured after the scooty they were riding was hit by an LPG gas tanker near Chamba Seri on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway-44 in Ramban district on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Shakeela, wife of Sameer Ahmed Tantray, resident of Seri, Ramban, while the injured woman was identified as Rafia Farooq, daughter of Farooq Ahmed Wani, resident of Kundi Karol, Ramban m According to reports, the two women were travelling on a scooty bearing registration number JK19-0393 when the LPG tanker hit their two-wheeler near Chamba Seri. The tanker driver reportedly fled the spot after the accident. SHO Ramban Vikram Singh Parihar told Greater Kashmir that the LPG tanker was later traced and apprehended at Nashri Police Naka with the help of CCTV footage from cameras installed around the accident site on NH-44. He said a rescue operation was launched immediately after the accident. However, Shakeela succumbed to her injuries, while Rafia Farooq was shifted to District Hospital Ramban for treatment. Her condition was stated to be stable and out of danger. Police have taken cognisance of the incident and launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the accident.

Omar Abdullah felicitates Kashmirs NEET toppers for outstanding performance

Union Health Minister reviews H1N1 Influenza preparedness; emphasises vigilance, robust surveillance

New Delhi, Aug 21: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, J P Nadda, today reviewed the prevailing situation and preparedness for H1N1 Influenza in the country, with particular focus on the National Capital. Delhi Health Minister Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh also attended the meeting. The Union Health Minister reviewed the national surveillance and epidemiological situation, Influenza-like illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) trends, testing and laboratory surveillance, and preparedness of healthcare facilities to manage seasonal influenza cases. Nadda emphasised the need for continued vigilance, robust surveillance and proactive preparedness, with close monitoring of influenza trends and timely identification and management of any unusual increase or clustering of cases. The preparedness of healthcare facilities in Delhi was reviewed, including the availability of hospital beds, critical care facilities, oxygen-supported beds, ventilators, essential medicines, diagnostics, and other critical supplies. The Minister stressed the importance of adequate surge capacity and seamless referral mechanisms, particularly for patients requiring specialised or critical care. The Union Health Minister called for continued strengthening of early detection, timely testing and appropriate clinical management of influenza cases, along with effective utilisation of the existing surveillance and laboratory network. Earlier, on 10th July 2026, the Union Health Secretary had written to all States/UTs advising them to strengthen preparedness and surveillance for Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) and ensure healthcare facilities remain adequately prepared. Nadda also emphasised public awareness and preventive health practices, including respiratory hygiene and hand hygiene, and advised individuals with persistent or severe respiratory symptoms, breathing difficulty or other warning signs to seek medical advice promptly. The Union Health Minister reiterated that the situation is being closely and continuously monitored, while emphasising the need for sustained and coordinated efforts for the prevention and control of seasonal diseases, including Dengue and Malaria. Nadda called for a proactive and preparedness-oriented approach by State Governments, with active participation of Municipal Councillors and other local bodies in generating awareness among communities on the prevention, spread and control of seasonal diseases. Highlighting the increase in TB detection in the National Capital through the active involvement of local bodies and a whole-of-government approach, the Union Minister stressed the importance of active participation of public representatives at all levels in disseminating factual and evidence-based information and strengthening community engagement. The Ministry continues to coordinate closely with States/UTs, hospitals, laboratories and other stakeholders to ensure effective surveillance, early detection, timely clinical management and proactive preparedness for seasonal influenza, including H1N1. The meeting was also attended by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava; Additional Secretary (Public Health) Dr. Rakesh Gupta; Delhi State Health Secretary Rupesh Kumar Thakur and other senior officers.

Restrictions on Jama Masjid pulpit seem part of state policy: Mirwaiz

Srinagar, Aug 21: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Friday said that restrictions on his religious activities and attempts to prevent him from addressing congregations at historic religious sites appeared to be part of the state policy. Addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz said he had returned to the mosque after nearly two weeks during which he was prevented from delivering the Friday sermon there and was also denied an opportunity to address the gathering of Khwaja Digar at Naqshband Sahib. He said being able to address the people was a blessing and called for patience in the face of restrictions. Every opportunity to be there I counted as a blessing from Allah, as restrictions and attempts to silence the pulpit, unfortunately, seemed to be part of the state policy right now, he said. It was a time to bear with patience and continue the good work, however possible, he added. Mirwaiz also spoke about the historical role of the Jama Masjid pulpit, saying it had traditionally been used for religious and moral education and for raising awareness among people about their rights as well as duties. Addressing those imposing restrictions, he said they may not be aware of the history and significance of the pulpit. He said the pulpit had, whenever required, served as a voice for the concerns and aspirations of the people while also promoting peaceful coexistence and advocating minority rights. According to Mirwaiz, the approach adopted from the pulpit had always been guided by Islamic teachings and focused on peaceful and principled engagement. The manner has always been in accordance with Islamic teachings peaceful, principled and dignified; dialogue over confrontation and issue-based over personal, he said. Mirwaiz said the tradition would continue whenever he was given an opportunity to address the people. Inshallah, it will continue to do so whenever given the chance. It is the legacy of my forefathers and the shared inheritance of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he concluded.

Lowering travel advisories welcome, US tourists can boost J&K tourism: Sogami

PM Modi assures support to space startups, urges them to develop solutions for everyday needs

New Delhi, Aug 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured full support of the government to young space entrepreneurs and urged them to explore how space technology can be used in agriculture, livestock management, dairy, environment and other areas that affect people's everyday lives. Interacting with CEOs and founders of 20 space startups here, Modi also hailed them for showing remarkable courage by entering a new and demanding domain of space startups as they have taken risks, trusted the reform process and remained consistent in their efforts. He assured them of the government's full support and called for greater collaboration between space companies and organisations in other sectors to expand the use of their technologies. I assured the space startups that government of India will continue to stand with them as they build India's capabilities for the future. India can offer the world a strong, innovative and commercially viable model in the space sector, he said. Modi also urged the startups to explore how space technology could contribute to agriculture, livestock management, dairy, environment and many other areas that touch everyday lives. The prime minister suggested, Companies working on space debris could work with environmental organisations to scale up their technologies. Space technology companies working with the agriculture sector could collaborate with agricultural universities and departments to help farmers make better informed decisions and maximise their output. The prime minister said the startups made insightful presentations on their work and appreciated the government's space reforms and the opportunities they had created for the industry to grow. It was wonderful to meet the Yuva Urja of India's space sectoryoung entrepreneurs and innovators who have shown remarkable courage by entering a new and demanding domain. They have taken risks, trusted the reform process and remained consistent in their efforts. Due to this, India has achieved a lot in the space sector in the last few years, he said. He said India's private space ecosystem could become a major force for the country and the world and called for an ecosystem in which the world looks to India when thinking about the space sector. India's space sector can act as a magnet to attract global talent, companies and investment to the country, Modi said, urging industry players to rapidly strengthen India's position globally. The prime minister also encouraged space startups to engage with Atal Tinkering Labs, saying they could spark curiosity among schoolchildren and inspire the next generation to participate in the space sector. He recalled that opening the space sector to private participation had generated significant enthusiasm and created new opportunities for industry. The prime minister said many countries either could not invest in the space sector or did not wish to do so, presenting India with a major opportunity to rapidly strengthen its position in the global space industry. He also encouraged space companies to explore new applications of their technologies and focus on how these could make people's lives easier, while calling for greater collaboration between space-sector firms and companies working in other areas. The CEOs of leading companies in the space sector working in diverse fields ranging from building rockets and reusable semi-cryogenic launch vehicles, avionics, satellites, advanced propulsion system, space and defence intelligence, removing space debris, AI-powered hyperlocal weather and climate intelligence, among others, participated in the interaction. The prime minister said the confidence shown by the private space sector had strengthened the vision behind opening the industry to private participation. The CEOs highlighted the rapid progress being made by India's private space industry and shared their vision for its future. They said their companies had invested significant time and effort in building capabilities and developing the required technologies indigenously in the country, while expressing gratitude for the support received from the Prime Minister. They also highlighted the strong support from the government and collaboration within the industry, saying their teams were highly motivated and working with determination to achieve ambitious goals in the space sector. The CEOs recalled that opening the space sector to private participation had generated significant enthusiasm and created new opportunities for industry. They also said several companies had shown interest in adopting and leveraging technologies developed by India's emerging private space industry. The startups participating in the interaction included Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Dhruva Space, GalaxEye, PierSight, Bellatrix Aerospace, Digantara, SatSure, Suhora Technologies, Manastu Space, Astrobase, TakeMe2Space, VyomIC, Cosmoserve Space, OrbitAID Aerospace, SkyServe (Hyspace), Serendipity Space, Vassar Labs and mistEO.

Mortar shell destroyed along LoC in Poonch

Mendhar, Aug 21: The Army on Friday detected and destroyed safely a live mortar shell found along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mankote sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said. The mortar shell was neutralised through a controlled disposal operation carried out by the Armys bomb disposal squad (BDS) in Dabraj area, they said. No loss of life or damage to property was reported in the operation, they said.

J&K education enrolment rises 17% in two years: Sakina Itoo

Constable's residence searched under probe into 'forgery' in securing appointment: J-K Police

Srinagar, Aug 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch on Friday searched the residence of a policeman as part of an investigation into alleged forgery to secure an appointment in the police department, an officer said. The case pertains to allegations regarding the appointment of selection grade Constable Manzoor Ahmad Najar, a resident of Safakadal area of the city, through submission of forged documents relating to his date of birth and educational qualifications, the officer said. A case in this regard has been registered under Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery) and 471 (using a forged document) of RPC. The Special Crime Wing (Kashmir) of the Crime Branch conducted the search in compliance with a search warrant issued by the Court of Special Mobile Magistrate (PT&E), Srinagar, according to the officer. The search was conducted in accordance with due process of law, the official said, adding that further details will be shared as the investigation progresses.

Two vessels with 22 Indians on board hijacked off Yemen, Somalia

New Delhi, Aug 21: Two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked by armed pirates in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia, a senior shipping ministry official said Friday. The Indian crew members aboard both vessels are safe, according to the latest information available, the official said. The Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker M.T. Sibu 1, carrying 20 crew members, including 16 Indians, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on August 20, about 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast, the official said. The crew also includes one Syrian, one Sudanese and one Iraqi national, while the nationality of another seafarer has yet to be confirmed. A second vessel, the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF, was hijacked on August 17 off Somalia's Puntland coast, according to the official. The vessel has 10 crew members, including six Indians. The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) in a post on X raised concerns over dangers faced by Indian seafarers amid the Iran war. It released footage of what it claimed to be a hijacking of a vessel carrying 22 crew members, including 21 Indians, in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22. The footage was posted on Friday and it was unclear if the FSUI was talking of a separate hijacking or the latest ones. The shipping ministry official quoted above said, As reported by Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) agency - S K S Krishi Marine Services (Opc) Private Limited, six armed pirates are presently onboard the vessel (M.T. Sibhu-1) and have taken control of the vessel. The RPSL agency has been advised to submit an incident report and subsequent periodic updates through the e-Navik online marine casualty reporting system, the official said. Maritime tracking information indicates the tanker was approached by an unauthorised vessel before control of the ship was lost. The incident occurred as piracy activity off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden has increased this year. A second vessel, the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF, was hijacked on August 17 off Somalia's Puntland coast, according to the official and maritime security reports. The vessel has 10 crew members, including six Indians. The vessel is reported to have been boarded by eight pirates, armed with AK-47 type weapons and operating from two skiffs. The crew initially mustered in the citadel. However, the pirates gained access and subsequently brought them to the bridge. The vessel is currently under pirate control. No injuries have been reported thus far, he said. The vessel was seized about 3 nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland's Eyl district and was subsequently taken toward Somalia's Nugaal coast, according to a Somali official cited by The Associated Press. The crew includes six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian national and two Serbian security guards. Cargo ship M/V LUTUF was carrying Turkish weapons, communications, and satellite equipment and destined for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu. The 10-person crew included nationals from India, Turkey, Georgia, and Serbia. The hijackers - eight armed men suspected of involvement in a previous hijacking - steered the ship toward the Nugaal coast. The renewed threat adds to security pressures already facing commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and wider Indian Ocean region, where vessels have also had to contend with attacks linked to the conflict in Yemen. The two hijackings also come as Indian seafarers face heightened security concerns elsewhere in the region, including the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States have disrupted one of the world's most important shipping corridors. The developments are particularly significant for India, which has become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers after the Philippines. The 2026 BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report estimates that India supplies 311,936 seafarers, underscoring the country's large exposure to risks affecting merchant crews worldwide.

Hot, humid weather to continue across J&K till August-end, brief intense showers likely: MeT

No major weather activity till August-end, temperatures to stay 3-4C above normal: MeT

Srinagar, August 21: Hot and humid weather is likely to continue across Jammu and Kashmir through the end of August, with brief showers and isolated intense spells expected at some places, particularly during late-night, early-morning and evening hours, the Meteorological Department said on Friday. According to the latest weather assessment, isolated intense showers are likely in parts of south Kashmir, particularly Kulgam and Shopian, while Katra, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu division may also experience brief intense or locally heavy showers. The MeT official said the weather was expected to remain slightly hot and humid in the coming days, with the possibility of brief showers at isolated places. In the coming days, especially during late-night and early-morning hours, there are chances of brief intense showers at some places and even heavy showers at a few places, especially in the Jammu division, the official said. The official said the possibility of showers would continue intermittently rather than developing into a prolonged spell of rainfall. There is no continuous rain and no heavy rain, the official said, adding that weather would generally remain hot and humid across the Valley as well as the Jammu division. In Kashmir, brief showers are likely in some districts, particularly during the early morning and morning hours. There could also be isolated showers towards late afternoon and evening. Early morning, morning hours and late afternoon and evening hours have some possibility of brief showers, the official said. The weather department has ruled out any significant weather activity over the coming week. There is no significant weather activity until almost August 27-28, the official said. The Jammu division is expected to experience generally hotter and more humid conditions during the day, while isolated showers could provide temporary relief in some areas. The weather pattern is also expected to persist towards the end of August, with the MeT indicating that conditions would remain largely stable apart from brief, isolated showers. Generally, the weather may remain slightly hot and humid, the official said, adding that the prevailing conditions were likely to continue until the ending of August. Temperatures likely to remain above normal The MeT also forecast a slight rise in daytime temperatures over the coming days. Minimum temperatures, meanwhile, may see some fluctuation but are not expected to fall significantly before the end of August. Day temperatures are likely to rise slightly in the coming days, the official said. On minimum temperatures, the official said there could be a slight fall, but added that until the end of August, there will be no significant fall. Temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir are expected to remain around three to four degrees Celsius above normal during the period. They are likely to remain about three to four degrees above normal, the official said. A more noticeable change in temperatures is expected only with the arrival of September. The MeT said temperatures, both maximum and minimum, could begin to decline from the first or second week of September onwards across Jammu and Kashmir. From the first week of September or second week of September onwards, a fall in temperatures, both maximum and minimum, can be seen across Jammu and Kashmir, the official said. For now, therefore, the weather outlook remains largely stable, with no indication of a prolonged rainy spell. Isolated brief showers are likely to punctuate otherwise hot and humid days, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon or evening hours. The MeT has particularly flagged parts of south Kashmir and the Jammu division for the possibility of brief intense showers over the coming days, while a broader seasonal decline in temperatures is expected only in September.

Budha Amarnath pilgrim dies of cardiac arrest in Poonch

Poonch/Jammu, Aug 21: A 68-year-old pilgrim from Bihar undertaking the Budha Amarnath yatra died after complaining of chest discomfort at a lodging centre in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Friday, officials said. The deceased was identified as Dinesh Prasad, a resident of Belaganj in Gaya district of Bihar, they said. According to officials, the pilgrim developed chest discomfort during the intervening night of August 20 and 21, and was brought to the District Hospital Poonch at around 12:15 am where he passed away. The cause of death was recorded as cardiac arrest, officials said The Budha Amarnath yatra, which was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on August 17 from Jammu, will continue till August 28.

Pakistan's ex-PM Imran Khan shifted back to jail from hospital

Islamabad, Aug 21 : Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan was shifted back to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Friday morning after undergoing a medical examination at a private hospital in Islamabad, where he was taken from prison in compliance with a Supreme Court order. Khan, 73, was moved to Shifa International Hospital after midnight in compliance with the court's August 18 order directing that he be transferred there within two days after a medical report submitted before it said he was suffering from level three plus anxiety. Level three plus anxiety refers to high-level or severe anxiety where worry overwhelms daily tasks, triggers intense physical strain and disrupts clear thinking. In a social media post, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the former premier had been taken back to Adiala Jail after being examined at the hospital. In the light of the Supreme Courts order, the prisoner was taken to the hospital under appropriate security arrangements during the night between August 20 and 21, the minister said. He did not name Khan nor Shifa International Hospital in his post. A team of qualified doctors, including an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist, and a physician, conducted a detailed examination of him and declared him medically fit. His sister, Uzma Khan, remained present during all stages of the medical examination/treatment, Tarar said. After the completion of the entire medical process, he was shifted back to Adiala jail at approximately 5 am, he said, without naming the deposed prime minister. Earlier, Khan's international media spokesperson Zulfi Bukhari had confirmed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder had been shifted from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital following the Supreme Court order. Khan had been lodged in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, a detention facility on the outskirts of the garrison city. He was arrested on August 5, 2023, on multiple charges, including corruption, and has remained in custody since then. The apex court on Tuesday directed that Khan be taken to Shifa International Hospital within the next two days, and he shall remain there until the next hearing of his case on September 16. The government on Thursday filed a petition in the court, seeking a review and recall of its order. However, the court's registrar's office returned the petition, citing incomplete paper books as the reason. Khans party has threatened to file a contempt of court petition against the government on Friday if he is not admitted to hospital by Thursday 11:59 pm. Rana Sanaullah, the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, on Thursday had claimed that there was no deadline for transferring Khan to the hospital. The PTI founder's family and supporters have been raising concerns over his health. One of the main concerns in Khans case was an eye condition. The former cricketer-turned-politician was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad for eye treatment multiple times over the last few months after his ailment -- right central retinal vein occlusion -- came to light in late January. Demands to move him to a private hospital intensified since then. Khan's relatives and party colleagues have repeatedly alleged human rights violations, and accused the authorities of restricting his access to adequate medical care, family visits and legal counsel.

Man found dead in Srinagar's Dughwan forest

Srinagar, Aug 21: The body of a 42-year-old man was recovered from the Dughwan forest area on the outskirts of Srinagar early Friday morning, officials said. An official told the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) that the mans body was found in the Dughwan forest area and was taken to PHC Harwan, where doctors declared him brought dead. He said the body was later shifted to SMHS Hospital for further medical examination. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Lateef (42), son of Mohammad Aalam, a resident of Thugla in Rajouri district. Meanwhile, an investigation has been initiated and further proceedings in the matter are underway.

NTA says answer key challenge designed to be fair to all students, rejects 'expensive' charge

New Delhi, Aug 20: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday night said its 'answer key challenge' system is designed to be fair to all students and rejected concerns about it being expensive. An NTA answer key challenge is an online process where candidates who take an exam (like JEE Main, NEET, or UGC NET) can object to errors in the provisional answer key. The NTA has been under fire lately over issues ranging from NEET-UG paper leak to errors in the UGC-NET examinations. On the concern being raised that answer key challenges are 'too expensive': a quick clarification for candidates. The answer key challenge system is designed to be fair to every student, not just the one who challenges, NTA said in a post on X. One challenge, everyone benefits. If even a single candidate challenges a question, and the subject experts accept the challenge, the revised answer key applies to every candidate who wrote the exam. The NTA said fee is charged for challenging an answer to discourage frivolous challenges and it is refunded if the challenge turns out to be right. The Rs 200/question is refunded to the candidate whose challenge is upheld. The fee exists to discourage frivolous challenges, not to profit from genuine ones, the agency said. So if you have identified a genuine error and raised it, if found correct will not only be refunded but one accurate challenge from any candidate can correct the record for lakhs of others, it added.

Charter Plane Carrying 8 Crashes Near Remote Radar Site in Western Alaska, NTSB Says

The plane took off from Anchorage and is believed to have crashed early Thursday afternoon on approach to Cape Newenham, he said.

Imran Khan moved to Islamabad hospital on Supreme Court order for medical tests

Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was moved to a private hospital in Islamabad early Friday for medical tests after the Supreme Court ordered his hospitalisation, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said. Khan, 73, was taken to Shifa International Hospital, where hundreds of police personnel were deployed and roads leading to the facility were cordoned off. Its confirmed that he has arrived at Shifa International Hospital, PTI spokesman Zulfi Bukhari told AFP, adding that the Supreme Courts order had been complied with. Former Pakistan president and PTI member Arif Alvi also confirmed Khans transfer, saying the country was happy and dancing with joy. The development came after Khans lawyers approached the Supreme Court, arguing that the former premier was in poor health and required a medical examination. A three-member bench on Tuesday directed authorities to shift him to a hospital within two days. The court also ordered that Khan be allowed to meet his family once a week and speak to his sons by telephone twice a week. It further directed that a panel of medical specialists be constituted for his treatment and allowed Khans sister, Dr Uzma Khan, to participate in his medical care. Dozens of Khans supporters gathered outside the hospital following news of his transfer. Some supporters showered flower petals on passing vehicles as police maintained a heavy presence around the facility. Khan has been in prison since 2023 and maintains that the cases against him are politically motivated. He and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were sentenced late last year to 17 years in prison in a corruption case. Earlier this year, Khan underwent eye treatment at a hospital, with his family saying he had lost most of the vision in his right eye. The former cricket captain served as Pakistans prime minister from 2018 until 2022, when he was removed through a no-confidence vote. His arrest in May 2023 triggered widespread protests across the country.

India, Japan deepen defence cooperation, sign maritime security pact

India and Japan on Thursday agreed to deepen defence and maritime security cooperation, including greater information sharing, joint exercises, logistics support and collaboration in defence shipbuilding and technology. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi in New Delhi. The two ministers signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on Maritime Security Cooperation, providing a framework for enhanced cooperation between the Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Under the agreement, the two sides will strengthen Maritime Domain Awareness, information sharing, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. They will also promote naval ship visits, joint exercises, personnel exchanges and logistical support, including access to ports and repair facilities. The ministers opposed unilateral actions that threaten freedom of navigation and overflight and any attempt to alter the status quo through force or coercion, reaffirming their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. India and Japan also agreed to explore cooperation in mine countermeasures, naval shipbuilding and design, while leveraging Japans technological expertise and Indias production capabilities under the Make in India framework. Discussions will also continue on reciprocal access to ship-repair facilities. The two sides welcomed progress in joint military exercises, including Dharma Guardian and JAIMEX, and preparations for Veer Guardian 26, the India-Japan air exercise in which Japanese fighter aircraft will participate in India for the first time. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation between special operations forces, defence research agencies and defence industries. A Defence Industry Forum will be convened, while DRDO and Japans ATLA will deepen cooperation in advanced defence technologies. The ministers further agreed to establish a working group at the Director-General/Joint Secretary level to coordinate cooperation across operational, intelligence, equipment, technology and defence industry domains. India and Japan also decided to accelerate preparations for the fourth 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting, expected to be held in Tokyo this year. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation and contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Amit Shah calls for dialogue to resolve southern states water disputes

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Thursday called for an early resolution of long-pending water disputes among southern states, saying water was central to the regions agriculture, industry, environment and public health. Addressing the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council in Mahabalipuram, Amit Shah said South India had emerged as a major contributor to the countrys growth, particularly in IT, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, research and development, space and agriculture. He said the regions development had been driven by three major strengths: high literacy, skilled manpower and technical expertise in utilising its deep-sea resources. He also urged the rest of the country to learn from the southern states in the areas of innovation and revenue generation. Amit Shah said the southern states were the main pillars of Indias progress and that their future development depended heavily on the availability and management of water resources. He urged the states to resolve pending disputes through mutual dialogue and constructive solutions. The meeting agreed to work towards the early settlement of water-related issues through joint consultations involving the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Inter-State Council and the concerned state governments. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also agreed to resolve outstanding issues relating to the division of assets and liabilities in consultation with the Home Ministry. Advocating the linking of major rivers, from the Brahmaputra to the Cauvery and Godavari, Amit Shah said such a network could help ensure that India did not face water shortages for the next 100 years. It could also facilitate the development of waterways, reduce fuel consumption and provide a more economical mode of transportation, he said. Shah highlighted the growing role of the Zonal Councils in resolving inter-state issues. He said that since 2014, 70 meetings had been held and 1,445 of the 1,869 issues taken uparound 80 per centhad been resolved. Several disputes that had remained pending for decades had also been settled through the councils, he said. The Home Minister also called on chief ministers to give priority to the speedy investigation of crimes against women and children and the early disposal of rape and POCSO cases through Fast Track Special Courts. He said the new criminal laws had provided additional tools to accelerate the criminal justice process. Amit Shah stressed the need for greater efforts to tackle malnutrition, stunting and school dropouts. He said the national school dropout rate of 9.5 per cent should be brought below 3 per cent, arguing that an educated and healthy population was essential for Indias future. He also called for coordinated action by the Centre and states against drug abuse, saying the Ministry of Home Affairs had prepared a three-year roadmap involving various Central and state departments. Until all departments joined the campaign, the country would not be able to protect the coming generation from the menace of drugs, he said.

J&K Junior Boys Football Team leaves for Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy

The J&K junior boys football team Thursday departed to represent the Union Territory at the Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy 2026-27, with the young players set to compete against some of the countrys top emerging football talent. Issuing a statement, it said that months of preparation, countless training sessions and unwavering commitment have led to this moment. Now, it is time for our young footballers to test themselves against some of the countrys best emerging talent. With every tackle, every pass and every goal, they will carry the J&K colours with pride, discipline and determination. J&K Sports Council wishes our boys a successful campaign ahead, the statement added.

IFC Kashmir, Galaxy FC settle for draw in Srinagar Premier League

IFC Kashmir and Galaxy FC shared the points after playing out a competitive 11 draw in the latest encounter of the Srinagar Premier League 2026 at the TRC Turf, Srinagar, on Thursday. Both teams produced a determined performance in a closely fought contest, with neither side able to find the decisive goal despite a strong second-half effort. The match as per a DFA statement, began at an energetic pace, with both IFC Kashmir and Galaxy FC showing attacking intent from the opening minutes. The two sides looked to establish control in midfield and create opportunities through quick passing and forward movement. With valuable league points at stake, the players from both teams displayed intensity and commitment in every challenge. IFC Kashmir looked composed in possession during the early stages and attempted to build attacks from the back. Galaxy FC, however, maintained a disciplined shape and were quick to respond whenever they won possession. The opening exchanges remained balanced, with both teams testing each others defensive organisation. The pressure eventually resulted in the opening goal as IFC Kashmir managed to break the deadlock. The goal gave the side an important boost and forced Galaxy FC to increase their attacking efforts. Rather than allowing the early setback to affect their rhythm, Galaxy FC responded with greater urgency and began pushing higher up the pitch. Their efforts soon paid off as Galaxy FC found the equaliser, bringing the score level at 11. The goal changed the momentum of the contest, with both sides becoming even more determined to take the lead before the interval. The remainder of the first half witnessed an intense battle in midfield. Players from both teams competed strongly for possession, while the defensive units remained alert to prevent further damage. Neither side was able to add another goal before the break, and the teams went into half-time with the score tied at 11. The second half began with both teams knowing that a single goal could potentially decide the outcome. IFC Kashmir looked to regain their early momentum, while Galaxy FC continued to search for openings in the attacking third. The game remained open, with both sides attempting to transition quickly from defence into attack. As the second half progressed, the intensity increased. IFC Kashmir created opportunities through attacking movements and attempted to put pressure on the Galaxy FC defence. Galaxy FC also responded with dangerous forward play, looking to exploit spaces and create a chance that could give them the lead. The defensive departments of both teams, however, remained strong. Clearances, interceptions and well-timed challenges prevented either side from finding the breakthrough. The goalkeepers were also called upon to remain focused as the match entered its decisive stages. With the final whistle approaching, both teams continued to push forward. The possibility of a late winner kept the contest exciting, as players committed themselves fully in search of the three points. Despite the attacking efforts from both sides, the decisive goal remained elusive. The final stages saw a determined display from both teams, but neither IFC Kashmir nor Galaxy FC could find a way through. After 90 minutes of competitive football, the referee brought the match to an end with the score still 11. The result means both teams walk away with a point from an encounter that could easily have gone either way. IFC Kashmir will take positives from their overall performance and attacking approach, while Galaxy FC can be pleased with the way they responded after conceding the opening goal. For both teams, the draw also highlights the competitive nature of the Srinagar Premier League. Matches at this stage of the competition carry significant importance, and the ability to remain organised and composed throughout 90 minutes can prove crucial as the league progresses. The encounter at TRC Turf once again provided supporters with an engaging evening of football. From the opening exchanges to the final whistle, both IFC Kashmir and Galaxy FC demonstrated determination, discipline and a willingness to fight for every ball. While neither side managed to claim maximum points, the 11 result reflects the closely matched nature of the contest. Both teams will now turn their attention towards their upcoming fixtures, where they will look to build on this performance and secure victories. The Srinagar Premier League continues to provide a strong platform for competitive football in the region, bringing together teams eager to make their mark and compete at a high level. The latest meeting between IFC Kashmir and Galaxy FC added another entertaining chapter to the ongoing competition. With the league campaign continuing, both sides will have opportunities to improve their standings and strengthen their performances in the matches ahead. IFC Kashmir and Galaxy FC will now look to carry the positives from Thursdays encounter into their next games.

CEMTAC Cements felicitates MMA fighter Owais Yaqoob after international victory

CEMTAC Cements felicitated its brand ambassador and MMA athlete Owais Yaqoob for his recent international victory in Bulgaria at a special felicitation ceremony held at Golden Tulip, Srinagar. The event, ass per a statement, was attended by CEMTACs leading distributors and retailers, along with members of the companys team. The gathering celebrated Owais achievement and highlighted the importance of supporting young sporting talent from J&K. As part of its support for Owais sporting journey, CEMTAC presented a contribution of Rs 50,000 to Team Owais Yaqoob, the MMA training academy where young boys are trained and prepared for competitive MMA. Speaking on the occasion, Owais Yaqoob expressed his gratitude to CEMTAC for its continued support and association. He said that he was thankful and grateful to CEMTAC for believing in him and supporting his journey. Owais also highlighted the importance of corporate support for young athletes, saying that corporates need to step up, support young talent and back them, as this is the only way to create the opportunities required for athletes from the region to reach the international level and compete on bigger platforms. Speaking at the event, CEMTAC Managing Director Riaz Ahmad said that the company remains committed to supporting young talent across different fields, including sports and education. Talent in Kashmir is immense, but talent alone is not enough. Young people need opportunities, encouragement and people who are willing to stand behind them. As a company rooted in this region, we believe it is our responsibility to contribute wherever we can, he said. Riaz Ahmad congratulated Owais on his victory and commended his journey, discipline and perseverance. He said Owais achievement demonstrates what young people from the region can accomplish when they are given the right platform, support and encouragement. He added that CEMTACs association with Owais goes beyond a conventional brand partnership, with the company seeking to support the values of discipline, determination and excellence that Owais represents. The Managing Director further said that CEMTAC intends to continue identifying and supporting promising young talent and contributing towards creating greater opportunities for them to pursue their ambitions. The felicitation ceremony also provided an opportunity for CEMTACs distributors and retailers to come together and celebrate the achievement of the companys brand ambassador. The event concluded with felicitations and interaction with Owais, followed by dinner and networking among the guests.

MLA Salman Sagar lays foundation stone for playfield in Dara

MLA Hazratbal, Salman Ali Sagar, on Thursday laid the foundation stone of a much-awaited playfield at Dara, fulfilling a long-standing demand of the local residents, particularly the youth. Speaking on the occasion, Salman Sagar, as per a statement, said the playfield will provide youngsters with a dedicated space for sports, recreation and nurturing their talent. He said the project was among his poll commitments and expressed satisfaction that the promise is now being fulfilled. He thanked the locals for their appreciation and assured them of continued efforts to address developmental needs of the area.

Chinar Premier League 2026 |Tournament brings together youth from Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh: CS Atal Dulloo

The historic Chinar Premier League (CPL) 2026 entered its much-awaited knockout stage on Thursday with a spectacular ceremony held at General Bipin Rawat Stadium, Baramulla, witnessing a massive gathering of around 6,000 spectators, including school students and sports lovers. Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, as per an official statement, inaugurated the tourney while Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services & Sports Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, attended the event as the guest of honour. The ceremony commenced with the national song followed by the National Anthem and featured vibrant cultural performances by the local school bands, adding colour and patriotic fervour to the grand sporting occasion. The inaugural knockout match was played between Sheeri Blasters and Downtown Bijbera, marking the beginning of the decisive phase of the tournament. The CPL 2026 has emerged as a major sporting platform, bringing together the young athletes from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and providing them an inclusive space to connect, compete and showcase their talent, asserted the Chief Secretary. The league phase witnessed unprecedented participation and public engagement, with 1.6 million viewers, around 1,600 athletes, 79 competing teams and 81 matches across eight venues. The teams were selected from 130 applicants and divided into 26 pools with 32 teams qualifying for the knockout stage. Spearheaded by the Indian Army in partnership with BCF, the CPL goes beyond competitive cricket by promoting youth engagement, community participation, sportsmanship and social cohesion. The initiative aims to create a vibrant platform where young people can express themselves through sport and contribute towards a positive and empowered society. The event was attended by Major General Manoj Joshi, GOC Dagger Division; Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Dr. S.F. Hamid, Brigadier M.B. Singh, Commander, 79 Mountain Brigade; Gurinder Pal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla; and the Commanding Officer, 46 Rashtriya Rifles, besides other senior officers and officials from the civil administration, police and Army, officers of the Youth Services & Sports Department, sports personalities, players, students and public. The grand commencement of the knockout phase marked another significant milestone for the CPL 2026, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for cricket and the power of sport to bring communities together.

Jio to continue Rs 299 tariff plan for all users

Reliance Jio has announced that its current industry-leading tariff plans, including the Rs 299 plan, will continue to remain available to all users, while introducing a new Jio Prime membership that offers customers additional price certainty for eligible plans. Under the new programme, customers opting for Jio Prime can continue recharging with their preferred eligible plans at current prices until September 5, 2027, irrespective of any tariff revisions during the price-guarantee period. The membership, priced at a one-time fee of Rs 300, is available to existing Jio prepaid and postpaid customers. Users of other telecom networks can also enrol by porting their numbers to Jio or taking a new Jio connection. Jio Prime members will also receive cashback vouchers worth Rs 600. This includes a Rs 300 voucher redeemable against a new JioHome or JioPC connection and another Rs 300 voucher for adding a new Jio SIM connection for a friend or family member. The programme will additionally provide members with early access to new Jio products, services and trials, along with priority customer support through a dedicated service channel. Jio said further member-exclusive benefits may also be announced during the membership period. The membership can be purchased through the MyJio app, Jio.com, Jio Stores and authorised Jio partner stores. Originally launched as a programme of appreciation for Jios first 100 million customers, Jio Prime has now been reintroduced for the companys wider customer base of more than 500 million users. Jio said the revamped programme is aimed at providing customers greater certainty over their future mobile recharge costs while giving them access to additional services and privileges.

TSF Shoes hosts distributor meet in Srinagar, unveils new footwear range

TSF Shoes organised a distributor meet at Hotel Golden Forest, Rajbagh, Srinagar, bringing together leading dealers and retail partners from across Jammu and Kashmir. The event featured the launch of TSFs new range of casual leather shoes, along with injection-moulded comfort footwear incorporating the latest technology. The company also showcased its tactical and safety footwear range, which received an encouraging response from distributors. Participants appreciated the quality and pricing of the products, as well as the companys focus on after-sales support. The meet also generated enthusiasm among trade partners ahead of the new season. Speaking on the occasion, Arun Sharma, Sales and Marketing Head, TSF, said the response from distributors in Srinagar had been encouraging. The response from our Srinagar partners has been outstanding. With products such as injection-moulded boots, TSF remains committed to delivering quality footwear that professionals can trust, he said. TSF Shoes expressed gratitude to its distributors for their continued support and reiterated its commitment to expanding its presence in the J&K market. Srinagar distributors associated with the meet included Oriental Shoes Company and Lucky Traders Company.

J&K Bank signs Corporate Salary Package MoU with GK Communications Private Limited

J&K Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GK Communications Private Limited under its Corporate Salary Package, extending customised banking benefits to 119 employees of the media group. The agreement was signed by Zonal Head (Srinagar) Sheikh Mohammad Muzaffar on behalf of J&K Bank and Fayaz Ahmad Kaloo for GK Communications Private Limited in the presence of Cluster Head Syed Tasaduq Madni, Branch Head (SSI Srinagar) Ubaid Ashraf and other senior officials from both organisations. Speaking after the formal signing of the agreement, Zonal Head Sheikh Mohammad Muzaffar said, This MoU reflects our continued endeavour to strengthen our longstanding institutional relationship with GK Communications Private Limited while providing its employees convenient access to a range of customised banking benefits under the Banks Corporate Salary Package. On the occasion, the Cluster Head gave a detailed overview of features covered under the Corporate Salary Package.

J&Ks stock market investor base crosses 14 lakh, grows 19.3% in a year

Jammu and Kashmirs registered investor base in the stock market has crossed the 14-lakh mark, with the number of registered clients reaching 14,12,378 as of August 20, 2026, recording a year-on-year growth of 19.31 per cent, according to official BSE data accessed by Greater Kashmir . The figures show that J&K added 2,28,554 registered clients, or roughly 2.29 lakh investors, during the past year. This represents a substantially faster expansion than the overall growth in the countrys registered investor base, which stood at 15.80 per cent during the same period. The BSE data provides a snapshot of the changing geography of stock-market participation in India, with the countrys total registered investor base now standing at 26,03,00,179, or approximately 26.03 crore clients. J&Ks 14.12 lakh registered clients account for around 0.54 per cent of the countrys total registered investor base. While the Union Territory remains a relatively small market in terms of absolute investor numbers, the pace at which its investor base is expanding has been considerably stronger than several of the countrys largest States. The increase has also been consistent across different time periods. During the latest month, J&K added 19,478 clients, equivalent to around 19,500 new registered investors, pushing its monthly growth rate to 1.40 per cent. Over the previous three months, the number of registered clients increased by 52,618, or about 52,600 investors, representing a quarterly growth of 3.87 per cent. The national investor base, by comparison, increased by around 30.92 lakh during the latest month. Over the previous quarter, the country added approximately 85.16 lakh. Over the previous year, the national registered investor base increased by around 3.55 crore investors, taking the total to more than 26 crore. The comparison shows that J&Ks investor base is growing at a faster rate than the national average, although the absolute numbers remain much smaller. Maharashtra continues to have the largest registered investor base in the country by a considerable margin. The State has approximately 4.42 crore investors. This means that nearly one out of every six registered clients in the BSE database is registered in Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh occupies the second position with 3,06,10,880 clients, or around 3.06 crore. Gujarat follows with 2,29,70,136, equivalent to about 2.30 crore registered clients. Rajasthan has 1,56,49,037, or around 1.56 crore, while West Bengal has 1,52,56,657, or about 1.53 crore. Karnataka has 1,39,43,659 registered clients, translating into roughly 1.39 crore, while Madhya Pradesh has 1,35,11,046, or around 1.35 crore. Tamil Nadu has 1,31,27,709, or approximately 1.31 crore registered investors. The other major States also have sizeable investor bases. Haryana has 85,72,167 registered clients, equivalent to around 85.7 lakh. Telangana has 80,08,260, or about 80.1 lakh. Punjab has 65,65,556, or approximately 65.7 lakh, while Odisha has 59,30,947, or about 59.3 lakh. Kerala has 59,17,495 registered clients, translating into around 59.2 lakh, while Assam has 53,02,132, or about 53 lakh. Jharkhand has 46,39,195, equivalent to approximately 46.4 lakh. Andhra Pradesh has crossed the one-crore mark, with 1,04,00,527 registered clients, while Bihar has 1,16,04,608, or around 1.16 crore. Delhi has 1,10,14,984, equivalent to approximately 1.10 crore registered clients. Against this national landscape, J&Ks 14.12 lakh investor base is larger than that of several smaller States and Union Territories but remains far below the investor populations of the countrys principal financial and industrial centres. For instance, Himachal Pradesh has around 15.58 lakh registered clients, only marginally above J&K. J&K has more registered clients than Manipur, which has around 2.74 lakh, Meghalaya with 1.65 lakh, Arunachal Pradesh with 1.22 lakh, Nagaland with 1.28 lakh, Sikkim with 84,221, Mizoram with 59,779, Goa with 4.99 lakh and Tripura with 4.28 lakh. Among the Union Territories, Ladakh has 5,213 registered clients, or just over 5,000, but has recorded one of the fastest rates of growth in the country. Its investor base increased by 44.44 per cent over the previous year. This is the highest annual growth rate visible in the BSE table. Mizoram recorded annual growth of 33.18 per cent, while Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh recorded 28.01 per cent and 27.33 per cent, respectively. Lakshadweep, with just over 5,000 registered clients, recorded growth of 27.87 per cent. Among larger States, J&Ks 19.31 per cent annual growth puts it in a relatively strong position. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana each recorded 19.59 per cent growth, while Tamil Nadu recorded 19.46 per cent growth. Uttar Pradesh recorded 19.08 per cent. J&Ks growth was considerably higher than Maharashtras 11.39 per cent, Gujarats 13.13 per cent, Haryanas 14.42 per cent, Punjabs 14.96 per cent, Rajasthans 15.71 per cent, Karnatakas 16.51 per cent and Keralas 16.95 per cent. The figures also indicate that the expansion in J&K has been relatively steady rather than being confined to a single period. Its monthly increase of 1.40 per cent was higher than the national monthly growth of 1.20 per cent, while its quarterly increase of 3.87 per cent was also above the national growth rate of 3.38 per cent. In absolute terms, however, the difference between the largest and smallest investor markets remains enormous. Maharashtras 4.42 crore registered clients are more than 31 times J&Ks 14.12 lakh. Uttar Pradeshs 3.06 crore investor base is more than 21 times that of J&K, while Gujarats 2.30 crore is more than 16 times larger. The national figures also underline the rapid broadening of participation in the equity market. The BSE database now contains more than 26 crore registered clients, with the number having increased by around 3.55 crore in just one year. J&Ks addition of around 2.29 lakh registered clients during the same period is small when measured against the national increase, but significant for the Union Territorys own investor base. In percentage terms, the addition represents nearly one-fifth growth in a single year.

KU's EMMRC begins two-day orientation programme on MOOCs

The Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMMRC), University of Kashmir (KU), commenced a two-day orientation programme on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) at the Main Campus, aimed at familiarising academics with digital learning platforms and encouraging greater integration, visibility and enrollment of MOOCs in higher education. Titled Promoting MOOCs in Higher Education: Integration, Visibility and Enrollment, the programme brought together faculty members from universities and colleges across Kashmir. It seeks to strengthen the capacity of teachers to develop and engage with digital learning resources and platforms, while promoting wider access to quality education beyond conventional classroom spaces. In her message Vice Chancellor, KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, emphasised the importance of embracing digital transformation in higher education and highlighted the role of MOOCs in expanding access to quality learning and strengthening the academic ecosystem. MOOCs have emerged as an important instrument for widening access to quality education and connecting learners with knowledge beyond geographical and institutional boundaries. As higher education continues to evolve with technology and AI, it is important that our teachers and institutions remain prepared to embrace these changes and make meaningful use of digital platforms, she said. Speaking on the inaugural session, Dean Academic Affairs, KU, Prof. Shariefuddin Pirzada, stressed on the need for academic institutions to focus on developing human resources capable of competing at the international level. Initiatives like MOOCs provide us an opportunity to take education to everyone. It provides us an opportunity to build human resources that are digitally equipped, globally competitive and prepared for the changing demands of education, he said. In his remarks Registrar, KU, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, highlighted the valuable role of EMMRC in strengthening digital education at the University and encouraged faculty members to make greater use of the Centres expertise and resources. Speaking on the occasion Registrar, Cluster University Srinagar, Prof. Wilayat Hussain Razvi, highlighted the digital education initiatives of the Ministry of Education and the changing role of teachers in the digital learning landscape. Senior Producer, EMMRC KU, Shafqut Habib, shared his experiences in MOOC production and highlighted the Centres contribution to digital learning initiatives. Earlier Director, EMMRC, KU, Prof. Syeda Afshana, in her welcome address, emphasised the importance of taking education beyond conventional classroom spaces and described the programme as a beginning towards greater academic interaction and collaboration. Prof Afshana, who recently took over the role of the Director EMMRC KU, stressed on the importance of human resource management in the contemporary times. There is now new technology, challenges, opportunities, and AI. However, we must remember that the most valuable is our human resource, and we must know how to nurture and manage it effectively, she said. The two-day programme features ten technical sessions led by resource persons from within and outside EMMRC, covering diverse aspects of digital learning, MOOC development, integration, visibility and outreach.

CM Omar Abdullah lays foundation of modern mechanised abattoir in Srinagar

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today laid the foundation stone for the ` 25.87 crore state-of-the-art mechanized Abattoir here at Allochi Bagh, marking a significant step towards establishing a regulated, hygienic and scientifically managed meat-processing facility for Srinagar city. The construction of modern mechanized Sheep & Goat Abattoir in Srinagar City, includes Testing & Commissioning on EPC Mode under CAPEX/SASCI. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the modern abattoir would mark an important step towards bringing Srinagars meat-processing infrastructure in line with contemporary standards. Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Gurwinder Singh Oberoi, MLA, Lal Chowk, Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Fazl ul Haseeb and other concerned officers were present on the occasion. The proposed abattoir will have a processing capacity of approximately 5,000 sheep and goats per day, making it one of the largest dedicated mechanised sheep and goat abattoirs in the country. The facility will incorporate modern mechanized systems covering slaughtering, carcass handling, processing, chilling, cold storage, sanitation, by-product management and other allied operations. Commissioner SMC briefed the Chief Minister that the project is aimed at substantially improving meat hygiene and food safety, ensuring safer working conditions, strengthening veterinary and quality-control mechanisms and establishing a regulated, efficient and scientifically managed slaughtering system for Srinagar city. A key feature of the project is its emphasis on environmental safeguards and scientific waste management. The facility will incorporate a bio-digestion system and an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) to scientifically treat organic waste and wastewater generated during operations. These systems will help reduce the organic pollution load, control foul odour, facilitate resource recovery and enable reuse of treated water for suitable non-potable purposes. The project, once completed, is envisaged as a state-of-the-art mechanized abattoir and a significant urban infrastructure initiative for Srinagar, bringing modern standards of hygiene, food safety, animal handling, waste management and environmental protection to the citys meat-processing sector.

IEI J&K State Centre welcomes newly appointed Director NIT Srinagar

A delegation of The Institution of Engineers (India), Jammu & Kashmir State Centre, led by its Chairman, Er. Ferdous Ahad Bhat, FIE, visited the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar to welcome Prof. Anurag Misra, FIE the newly appointed Director of NIT Srinagar, on his new assignment. During the meeting, the IEI delegation extended its warm greetings and best wishes to Prof. Anurag Misra, FIE and expressed confidence that his leadership would further strengthen the institutes academic, research and professional engagement in the field of engineering. The delegation comprised Er. Ferdous Ahad Bhat, FIE, Chairman; Er. Irfan Ahmad Reshi, FIE, Honorary Secretary; Er. Shuja Hussain Qureshi, MIE, Member, Executive Committee; Dr. Tanveer Rasool, FIE, Corporate Member; and Er. Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, FIE, Corporate Member. Several officials and faculty members of NIT Srinagar including Prof. M.S Mir were also present during the interaction. The Chairman said that NIT Srinagar, being an Institutional Member of The Institution of Engineers (India), would continue to receive due institutional support from IEI J&K State Centre for advancing engineering education, professional excellence, innovation and research in the larger interest of nation building. The interaction also highlighted the importance of sustained institutional collaboration between IEI and NIT Srinagar. The meeting also focused on strengthening collaboration between IEI J&K State Centre and NIT Srinagar and promoting greater interaction among academia, professional bodies, researchers and industry. Both sides discussed the successful conduct of the forthcoming FortyFirst National Convention of Chemical Engineers and National Seminar on Biomass: A Sustainable Resource for Decarbonising the Economy, scheduled to be held on September 2nd3 rd, 2026, in Srinagar. The convention is being organized by The Institution of Engineers (India), Jammu & Kashmir State Centre, under the aegis of the Chemical Engineering Division Board, IEI, in association with the Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar. The event will bring together researchers, industry professionals, policymakers and academicians to deliberate on biomass utilization, sustainable technologies, biofuels, bioenergy, biochemicals, circular bio-economy and other emerging areas relevant to decarbonisation. During the discussions, the Director assured full support and cooperation for the successful organization of the convention.

JKSA urges CM Omar for restoring Sainik School Manasbals academic, institutional excellence

The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Thursday has written to Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah, seeking his urgent intervention into the prolonged administrative, academic and institutional challenges facing Sainik School Manasbal, one of Jammu & Kashmirs historic and prestigious residential educational institutions. In its letter, the Association said that Sainik School Manasbal was established with a distinctive vision of nurturing discipline, leadership, character, academic excellence, physical fitness, team spirit and a spirit of service to the nation, and has played an important role in the regions educational legacy. The Association expressed particular concern over the reported absence of a permanent Principal for nearly five years, stating that the continued practice of assigning the Principals charge as an additional responsibility to officers holding other administrative positions is not conducive to the effective functioning of a specialised residential institution. At present, the Principals charge is reportedly being held by the Chief Education Officer, Kupwara. National Convenor of Association Nasir Khuehami said a residential school of this nature requires dedicated leadership that is physically available on campus to oversee academic affairs, discipline, student welfare, faculty coordination, hostel administration and day-to-day institutional functioning. He said the prolonged absence of a full-time Principal could affect academic planning, administrative decision-making, student welfare and institutional continuity. A prestigious residential institution of this nature cannot be expected to achieve its full potential when its principalship remains under prolonged additional-charge arrangements. Sainik School Manasbal requires stable, dedicated and accountable leadership capable of providing institutional direction and restoring confidence among students, parents, faculty and alumni, he said. The Association urged the Government to appoint a permanent Principal at the earliest, preferably a suitably qualified and experienced retired Army officer with appropriate educational and administrative credentials, considering the institutions specialised military ethos, residential environment and leadership-oriented educational model. However, JKSA said the issue of leadership should be addressed as part of a broader institutional review covering academic performance, faculty strength, student enrolment and retention, residential facilities, sports and physical training, medical and mess facilities, counselling, career guidance, and preparation for the National Defence Academy, civil services and other competitive examinations. Khuehami also flagged the reported decline in student enrolment, shortage of permanent faculty and falling CBSE performance, noting that the school currently has around 350 students against an intake capacity of approximately 480. It urged the Government to examine the reasons for student attrition, fill vacant teaching posts through regular recruitment and strengthen academic support, stressing that timely intervention is needed to address these structural concerns. The Association stressed the need to restore Sainik School Manasbal as a leading centre of academic excellence, discipline, leadership, physical fitness and national service, while also modernising its academic, residential and student-support systems. Sainik School Manasbal has served generations of students and remains an important part of Jammu & Kashmirs educational legacy. We must preserve its character, strengthen its academic foundations and modernise its institutional ecosystem. The present challenges should be treated as an opportunity to rebuild and improve the institution rather than allowing temporary administrative arrangements to become permanent features of its functioning, the Association said. Khuehami urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene and direct the concerned authorities to appoint a permanent Principal; provide the institution with dedicated leadership; fill vacant teaching positions through regular recruitment; examine the reasons for declining enrolment and student attrition; assess the reported decline in academic performance; strengthen student welfare and grievance-redressal mechanisms; and undertake a comprehensive institutional revival and modernisation exercise.

Deputy CM, CMs Advisor discuss issues of artists, film fraternity

A delegation comprising senior cultural personality, Artist & Art Promoter Waheed Jeelani and Umar Imtiyaz, a well known actor and film maker Thursday called on Deputy Chief Minister Surender Choudhary and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani at their offices in the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar. During the meetings, the delegation held detailed discussions on the present challenges confronting the artist, cultural and filmmaking fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir. The issues included the need for revival and strengthening of cultural institutions, greater opportunities and financial support for artists and filmmakers, regular cultural programming, fair representation of local talent, improved avenues for young artists and revival of institutions such as Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar and All India Radio Srinagar as effective platforms for local cultural expression, said a press release. The delegation also stressed the need for a clear and sustainable cultural policy, better coordination among concerned departments and greater institutional support for the preservation and promotion of Jammu and Kashmirs rich traditional, folk and contemporary artistic heritage. On the instructions of the Deputy Chief Minister and the Advisor, a follow-up meeting was subsequently held with the Principal Secretary, Culture, where the issues were discussed further and the need for concrete measures to address the concerns of the fraternity was emphasised. The delegation expressed hope that the concerns raised would receive due consideration and translate into meaningful initiatives for the welfare, dignity and sustainable growth of the artist and filmmaking community of Jammu and Kashmir.

Power infra in Banihal, Gool | Receiving stations being strengthened to ease overloading: Sajjad Shaheen

In a major step towards improving electricity supply in the Banihal-Gool constituency, MLA Banihal Sajjad Shaheen on Thursday inaugurated the augmented receiving station at Banihal constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.25 Cr under UT capex. The capacity of the receiving station has been enhanced from 6.3 MVA to 10.6 MVA. Shaheen said, The augmentation will provide much-needed additional capacity and help reduce the overloading of the station, particularly during the winter months when power demand increases considerably. He said that the focus was not limited to Banihal alone and that a broader plan was being implemented to strengthen the power network across the constituency. MLA Banihal informed that the receiving station at Sangaldan was already augmented from 3.15 MVA to 6.3 MVA, while the augmentation of the Khari receiving station from 3.15 MVA to 6.3 MVA was currently in progress and would be completed shortly. He further said that an additional 50 MVA transformer at Grid Station Tethar was also being installed shortly, which would further increase the capacity and reliability of the power supply network in the area. People have been facing the problem of overloaded receiving stations for a long time. We are working to address this issue in a systematic manner so that the power infrastructure keeps pace with the growing requirements of our people, Shaheen said. He said that new receiving stations at Chamalwas, Neel, Kaskoot and Kawna were also planned to strengthen the distribution network in these areas. The new infrastructure, he added, would particularly help in reducing power disruptions caused by the snapping of long transmission lines during heavy snowfall and harsh winter weather. Shaheen said the combined impact of these projects would significantly improve the power scenario across the Banihal-Gool constituency and provide people with a more stable and reliable electricity supply. The MLA expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his continued support to the development initiatives being undertaken in Banihal. He said that the Chief Ministers support had been instrumental in taking forward important infrastructure projects in the constituency.

Restoration of special status remains at top of NCs agenda: Dr Farooq Abdullah

National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the special constitutional status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir reflected its distinct and unique constitutional relationship with the Union, a legacy that remained central to the National Conferences political vision. Addressing a gathering, Dr Farooq said that even though the constitutional provisions relating to Jammu and Kashmir had been altered unilaterally, the National Conference would continue its struggle for its restoration. He said the issue remained at the top of the party's agenda and that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had a right to raise their voice for restoration of their constitutional rights. He said that the National Conference had repeatedly stated, in its meetings, rallies and conventions, that the party would fulfil the promises it had made to the people. He reiterated that the party would never retreat from its position and would continue its political and constitutional struggle. Dr Farooq said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were facing numerous issues and difficulties and that the present circumstances required an elected government with a strong mandate. He said the government must have all the necessary powers to address people's problems effectively and ensure development and good governance. He said that political institutions must respect the aspirations of the people and that their voices should be heard. He also stressed the need to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure that the rights of the people were protected. Dr Farooq said that society could progress only when all sections of society worked together. He called for greater attention to education, social welfare and the empowerment of young people, saying that the youth were an important part of the future of the region. He appealed to political workers and the public to remain united and work towards strengthening peace, social harmony and development. He said that the National Conference's struggle was not merely the responsibility of one individual or institution, but a collective responsibility of its leadership, workers and people.

CPCO Amit Sharma reviews preparedness in Doda

Doda, Aug 20: Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) & Director, Directorate of Census Operations, J&K and Ladakh, Amit Sharma, visited Doda on Thursday and chaired a comprehensive review meeting on Census-2027 at Conference Hall, DC Office Complex Doda, to assess the preparedness and progress of Population Enumeration in the district. The meeting, as per a statement, was attended by Principal Census Officer (Deputy Commissioner) Doda Krishan Lal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (District Census Officer) Anil Kumar Thakur, Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhaderwah Sunil Kumar Bhutyal, Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Additional District Census Officer Vijay Kumar, Charge Officers, field trainers, supervisors, enumerators and other officials associated with the Census-2027 exercise. During the meeting, CPCO Amit Sharma reviewed the overall progress of census preparations and emphasized the importance of maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, completeness and reliability during data collection. He directed enumerators and supervisors to ensure that every entry is correctly recorded, cross-checked and verified, stressing that accurate census data is vital for effective policy formulation, planning and delivery of public services. The CPCO called for intensified awareness and publicity campaigns through newspapers, pamphlets, social media, local influencers, social activities and other available communication platforms. He directed the District Census authorities to ensure that residents of snow-bound and difficult-to-reach areas are adequately informed about the Population Enumeration phase scheduled from September 1 to 30, 2026, so that complete coverage is achieved. Amit Sharma also directed Charge Officers and supervisors to undertake regular field visits, inspections and random quality checks. He stressed strict adherence to census guidelines and called for special attention towards migratory populations, tribal communities, forest areas and other special categories, ensuring that no eligible household or individual is left out of the enumeration process. The meeting also took up the technical challenges being faced by field functionaries. It was informed that mobile devices used for Population Enumeration are required to meet prescribed technical specifications, including minimum 8GB RAM and Android version above 13. The issue of enumerators and supervisors having devices below the required configuration was discussed for appropriate resolution. Principal Census Officer Doda Sh. Krishan Lal assured full administrative support for the smooth conduct of Census-2027. He directed all concerned officers to closely monitor field activities and ensure timely completion of all census-related work in accordance with the prescribed timelines, guidelines and instructions issued by the Directorate of Census Operations. Additional District Census Officer Vijay Kumar briefed the meeting on the district-wise preparations and progress. He apprised the CPCO about the Census-2027 schedule for J&K, including Phase-I and Phase-II, review of administrative units in District Doda, and the progress of House Listing Operations conducted from June 1 to 30, 2026. The meeting also reviewed charge-wise progress of HLO, the deployment of census functionaries, preparations for Population Enumeration, training of enumerators and supervisors, and identification of snow-bound villages and blocks. The CPCO directed field functionaries to closely monitor migration routes and ensure enumeration of all eligible tribal populations and other mobile communities. He reiterated that coordinated field-level efforts are essential to achieve comprehensive, accurate and error-free census data. The meeting also reviewed training programmes, awareness campaigns, supervision mechanisms, Self-Enumeration and field-level monitoring arrangements. Amit Sharma called for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders to ensure that Census-2027 is conducted efficiently, transparently and with the highest degree of accuracy across District Doda.

Close synergy among stakeholders will address veterans challenges: Northern Army Commander

Jammu, Aug 20: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma has underscored the need for close synergy among all stakeholders to effectively address the challenges faced by the Veterans and to strengthen the overall welfare framework. Lt Gen Sharma, while addressing Synergy conference 3.0- veterans conclave, also reaffirmed Indian Armys unwavering commitment to the welfare and well-being of the veterans community. GOC-in-C Northern Command emphasised that the sacrifices, dedication and years of service rendered by military personnel must be acknowledged not only through words but also through meaningful and institutionalised welfare measures. Northern Command of the Indian Army organised this conclave at Udhampur the other day, in a hybrid mode, in a significant step towards strengthening welfare measures for veterans, Veer Naris and their dependents. Secretary Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW), Ministry of Defence, Government of India Sukriti Likhi, too, through video conference attended the conference, conceptualized under the vision of the GOC-in-C, Northern Command. The meeting, according to PRO Defence Jammu, Lt Col Suneel Bartwal, was attended by senior officers and representatives from various military formations and civil administration departments both at Centre and State. The meet addressed and focussed on three important pillars - Seva, Samman and Samriddhi (Service, Respect and Prosperity). The conference focussed on addressing procedural, institutional and administrative matters to streamline post-service support systems for the veteran community and also making them an integral part of nation building efforts, Lt Col Bartwal said. The conclave in a collaborative manner deliberated upon contemporary challenges affecting veterans, Veer Naris and their dependents. Key emphasis was laid on healthcare delivery, welfare schemes, upskilling, awareness, pension related matters, second career opportunities, institutional support and grievance redressal. Secretary ESW, Ministry of Defence appreciated the initiative of Northern Command and exhorted all stakeholders to work in a collaborative manner to ensure timely support to the veterans and their dependents. She also reiterated the support of the central government towards welfare and resettlement of veterans and their dependents in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.

Border villages no longer on margins, roads, electricity, telecom, education have reached every home: LG Manoj Sinha

Jammu, Aug 20: The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday visited Karol Krishna, a border village in Kathua district. The village along with Rathua, Gujjar Chak, Gajnal, Bobiya, Kadiyala comes under the Vibrant Village Programme-Phase-2 (VVP-2). The Lieutenant Governor handed over benefits under several government schemes to local families and appointment letters to youth. Addressing the residents from 6 strategic villages under VVP-2, the Lieutenant Governor, as per an official statement, emphasised that border villages are not Indias last villages, but its first villages, the frontline of the nations identity and development. He noted that for decades, the word border carried a sense of distance and these villages were far from the priorities of governance. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, border villages have been brought into the mainstream of development. When the story of Indias development is written, its first chapter should begin in villages like Karol Krishna, Rathua, Gajnal, Bobiya, Kadiyala and Gujjar Chak, where Indias border breathes and the tricolour flutters, he said. Highlighting progress since 2019, the Lieutenant Governor stated that all 216 border villages of Kathua district are now connected by road, with full electrification achieved. Telecommunication and television access, once limited, now reach every household. These figures are not just numbers and reports but they represent real change in your lives, the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor shared data highlighting that poverty levels have declined sharply, migration to cities has halved, and rural incomes have risen by 30%. Employment opportunities have expanded, with unemployment reduced to nearly half of earlier levels. More than 2,000 individual and community bunkers have been constructed for the safety of border families. Our goal should be that the entire population moves above the poverty line, he said. The Lieutenant Governor also commended the role of Nari Shakti in transforming border economies. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission, over 1,300 self-help groups have been formed, benefiting more than 12,000 families. Women are engaged in tailoring, embroidery, crafts, and small enterprises, strengthening both household and village economies. The Lieutenant Governor also urged the young generation of border villages to dream as big as those in metro cities. He noted that government schools now have improved facilities, digital classrooms, vocational training and full academic sessions. This is not a minor change but it is a generational transformation, he said. The Lieutenant Governor outlined four key resolves for the development of border villages- Self-reliance by Connecting villages not just to roads but to markets, promoting horticulture and dairy cooperatives. Youth empowerment by creating opportunities in agriculture, tourism, defence-support services, and crafts. Improved health facilities by strengthening healthcare and tele-medicine connectivity, and the fourth resolve is robust security infrastructure by enhancing coordination between civil administration and armed forces. Development and security are not separate goals but they are two pillars of the same goal. Only a secure village can become a prosperous village, and only prosperous villages can build a self-reliant and developed India, the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor called upon the youth and families of Karol Krishna and neighbouring villages to take responsibility for shaping their future. I want to tell the youth of Karol Krishna, Rathua, Gajnal, Bobiya, Kadiyala and Gujjar Chak that your ancestors held this soil through difficulties for many decades after Independence. Now it is your responsibility to take it forward. Today, resources are in your hands, and if there is any shortfall anywhere, I promise it will be addressed immediately. Today the big question is - taking this opportunity, how far will you take your village? Will Karol Krishna be known only as a border village, or as a border village that produces the countrys finest youth? That decision is now the youth's responsibility. I also want to assure all families in border villages that we will ensure that the light of development reaches every home. The Vibrant Villages Programme is a national resolve, and from now on we will not let border villages remain behind. You are Indias first name. You are not the periphery of the country but you are the front line. You are the place from where India becomes visible. And as long as our soldier stands on the border, and behind him the border villages stand firm, India is firm. India is invincible. India is immortal, the Lieutenant Governor said. Addressing the demands, the Lieutenant Governor assured Kathua residents that prompt action will be taken to resolve their issues. During his visit to the Karol Krishna Border Out Post (BOP), the Lieutenant Governor interacted with the Jawans and commended their steadfast commitment to securing the nation's borders and their exceptional service during Operation Sindoor. He emphasized the need for continuous vigilance to disrupt and neutralize any hostile attempts by the enemy. Advocate Vijay Kumar, Member of Legislative Assembly from Hiranagar; Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Ashwani Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department; Bhim Sen Tuti; IGP Jammu; Asif Jalal, IG BSF; M Raju, Commissioner Secretary, GAD; Vikramjit Singh, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce; Sarmad Hafeez, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department; R. Alice Vaz, Commissioner Secretary to Government, Planning and Information; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Mohammad Aijaz , Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj; Amitava Chatterjee, MD & CEO, J&K Bank; Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Kathua; senior officials and people from different walks of life were present.

NH-44 remains open for 2-way traffic; Dhramthal restoration underway

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained open to regulated two-way traffic on Thursday, although movement was slow at several vulnerable stretches in Udhampur and Ramban districts amid ongoing restoration and construction work. Traffic authorities said movement was slow at Dewal in Udhampur due to a 40-metre-long damaged and uneven single-lane stretch. Traffic was also moving slowly between Maroog and Kishtwari Pather in Ramban, where vehicles were being regulated through a single-lane section amid construction work. Meanwhile, restoration work on the Srinagar-bound tube at Dhramthal (Samroli) in Udhampur is underway after a major landslide blocked the carriageway on Sunday evening. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed men and machinery to clear the debris. Officials said restoration of the affected tube is expected to take at least two days, subject to site conditions and the pace of debris clearance. As an interim measure, ramps have been created at both ends of the affected stretch to facilitate diversion and regulation of traffic through the available carriageways. SSP Traffic National Highway Raja Adil Hameed said NH-44 remained open and restoration work at Dhramthal was in progress. Officials said traffic was being regulated through the available carriageways to maintain connectivity along the highway. The down tube near the affected location has also been restricted to single-lane movement at two to three points due to erosion caused by recent rains. Despite the restrictions, a large number of vehicles crossed the Udhampur-Banihal corridor during the day, with traffic personnel deployed at vulnerable locations to regulate movement and prevent congestion. At Dewal, the damaged road surface and ongoing construction work caused intermittent slowdowns, particularly for heavy vehicles. Similar conditions prevailed along the Maroog-Kishtwari Pather stretch in Ramban. Traffic authorities advised commuters to check the latest highway status before undertaking their journey. Passenger vehicles and light motor vehicles (LMVs) have been advised to travel between Ramban and Banihal during daylight hours and avoid unnecessary night travel due to the risk of shooting stones, landslides and other weather-related hazards. Motorists were also advised to maintain lane discipline and avoid overtaking, wrong-lane driving and unnecessary stoppages at vulnerable locations, which could further aggravate congestion. Truck operators carrying fresh and perishable commodities and livestock have been advised to adhere strictly to prescribed loading norms. Heavy motor vehicle (HMV) operators have also been directed to avoid overloading, ensure vehicle fitness and carry adequate fuel in anticipation of delays caused by road or weather-related disruptions. Meanwhile, the Traffic Control Unit (TCU), Jammu, said that, subject to fair weather and satisfactory road conditions, passenger LMVs, private cars and HMVs/goods carriers would be allowed to ply on NH-44 in both directions on Friday. The traffic authorities further said that, in view of NHAI widening work on the Digdool-Khouni Nullah stretch of NH-44, the movement of Kashmir-bound oil and gas tankers would remain restricted during the day from 7 am to 7 pm, as tankers carrying inflammable material are not permitted through tunnels during the specified period. Their movement would be allowed beyond Chenani from 4 pm to 3 am. Authorities cautioned that traffic movement would remain subject to weather and road conditions and could be regulated or suspended in the event of fresh landslides, shooting stones or other obstructions. Commuters have been advised to remain in touch with the Traffic Control Units at Jammu, Ramban and Srinagar and follow official advisories before and during their journey on NH-44.

No funds, no water: Delina JJM scheme waits for completion

Years after its inception, the Delina Water Supply Scheme under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) continues to await completion, with a shortage of funds holding up the remaining works and leaving thousands of residents without a reliable supply of potable water. The scheme was conceived to address the areas longstanding drinking water crisis. However, despite significant expenditure on its construction, the project remains non-functional. According to official records, around Rs 4 crore has already been spent on the project, while an additional Rs 5 crore is required to complete the remaining works. While the civil works were completed several years ago, the crucial mechanical works remain pending due to a paucity of funds, officials said. Additional funds are needed to complete the balance works, and the pending components will be taken up once the requisite funds are released, a Jal Shakti Department official said. The prolonged delay has frustrated residents, who say they continue to face difficulties in accessing safe and adequate drinking water despite the JJM project being intended to address these concerns precisely. Residents also raised concerns over the quality of the water currently being supplied in parts of the area, alleging that it is not adequately filtered. Locals further claimed that cases of typhoid and other water-borne illnesses had been reported in the area. The claims could not be independently verified. We have been suffering because of the drinking water problem for decades. The government had given us hope through this scheme, but its delay has only added to our difficulties, said Muhammad Ashraf, a resident of Delina Ghat. Residents urged the authorities to release the required funds at the earliest and complete the pending mechanical works so that the scheme can be made operational. They said access to safe drinking water was a basic necessity and called for immediate intervention by the concerned authorities to resolve the issue.

DLSA Srinagar organises training for Paralegal Volunteers

Srinagar, Aug 20: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Srinagar organised a one-day training programme for Paralegal Volunteers (PLVs) regarding the Mega Drive for Implementation of NALSA Schemes at the Grassroots Level Phase I, and DAWN Scheme, under the able guidance of Mr. Haq Nawaz Zargar (PDJ) Chairman DLSA Srinagar. The program was presided over by Tabassum Qadir Civil Judge Senior Division Secretary DLSA Srinagar/Budgam. The training programme was conducted in the presence of the Block Development Officer (BDO), Khonmoh/Harwan, and was presided over by the Secretary, DLSA Srinagar. The PLVs were sensitized about the objectives of the Mega Drive and their role in ensuring effective implementation of NALSA schemes at the grassroots level. The Secretary, DLSA Srinagar, emphasized the importance of proactive outreach by PLVs to identify eligible beneficiaries, spread awareness regarding available legal services and welfare schemes, and facilitate access to justice for vulnerable and marginalized sections of society. The BDO, Khonmoh/Harwan, member of the DAWN Committee, also interacted with the PLVs, encouraging their pivotal role at the ground level in combating the drug menace and highlighted the importance of coordination between the District Legal Services Authority and the local administration for effective implementation of welfare and legal-aid initiatives. The training concluded with directions to the PLVs to undertake effective grassroots-level outreach and ensure that the benefits of NALSA schemes reach the intended beneficiaries.

Cloudburst triggers flood-like situation in Shopian

A cloudburst struck the forest area of Shukro Keller in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Thursday, triggering a flood-like situation in the Nallah Bridnaie flowing through Zampathri Keller. No loss of life or property was reported from the affected area so far. The cloudburst came a day after heavy rains and gusty winds lashed parts of Shopian on Wednesday, damaging apple orchards and causing losses to growers in several areas. Farmers said strong winds uprooted several apple-laden trees and knocked fruit off branches, damaging the crop ahead of the harvesting season. The winds uprooted apple-laden trees. They also knocked off the fruit from the trees, said Tariq Ahmad, a farmer from Shopian town. The weather event followed an earlier spell of heavy winds and hailstorm that had caused extensive damage to apple orchards across more than a dozen villages in the district. Director Horticulture Kashmir Vikas Anand had told Greater Kashmir that some villages had suffered around 90 per cent damage from the earlier weather event. Anand, accompanied by Zainapora MLA Showkat Zargar, visited several affected villages on Saturday to take stock of the damage and interact with farmers. He said horticulture department teams were assessing the losses in the field and a detailed picture would emerge after the assessment was completed. The successive spells of adverse weather have added to concerns among apple growers in Shopian, one of Kashmirs major horticulture districts. Farmers said damage to fruit-bearing trees could result in substantial losses at a time when growers have already incurred significant expenditure on orchard management, fertilisers, pesticides and labour. The latest cloudburst has also renewed concerns over flash floods in vulnerable areas of the district, particularly along nallahs and water channels passing through forest and orchard belts. Authorities were monitoring the situation and further details on the impact of Thursdays cloudburst were awaited.

PM SHRI High School Pohrupeth faces shortage of classrooms, staff

Kupwara, Aug 20:Established in 1961, Government Boys High School Pohrupeth in Langate area of north Kashmirs Kupwara district which has a history of performing well in 10th class results is grappling with shortage of classrooms and teaching staff thus subjecting students to enduring hardships. Although the school was accorded PM SHRI status few years ago but things did not improve at this premier educational institution of Pohru area. The school has only six classrooms to offer for 213 students, resulting in severe hardships to students with regard to accommodation. Locals of the area told Greater Kashmir that the school has never been a priority for the concerned department due to which their children were suffering. They expressed concern over the infrastructure and the deployment of teachers from the school to other institutions during the peak academic session. Sixty years ago, we as students were studying on mats. After PM SHRI status was accorded to the school, we thought that mats would be replaced by benches but there has been no change, a local told Greater Kashmir . Advocate Noor UlShahbaz said that the school has a limited number of teachers in view of its student strength and subject requirements. Regular deployment of key teachers to other schools, particularly during the peak academic period, creates difficulties for students, he said. The school once had a playground but haphazard construction of buildings and washrooms has left limited open space for sports and other co-curricular activities, he added. When top policy makers are talking about an AI revolution in the education sector, a simple question arises, where does PM SHRI BHS Pohrupeth stand amid this transformation? Our children deserve more than promises, they deserve basic infrastructure, digital facilities and best learning environment fit for the future. We cannot prepare our children for the AI age while their school continues to struggle with basic necessities. The high school students of Pohrupeth deserve equal opportunity to be part of India's AI revolution, Advocate Noor said. The school has also been functioning without a regular Headmaster since April 2026, adding to the concerns of students, parents and locals. Of 14 teachers, only 10 were performing duties at the school presently as three female teachers have availed one year leave while one other teacher was few days ago shifted to other school creating problems for our children. We hardly have subject specific teachers at our school, local Congress leader IrshadGanie told this correspondent. The school has maintained a strong academic record, consistently achieving more than 90 percent in Class 10 board examinations and producing around 30 to 40 distinction holders every year. It has also performed well in sports, cultural activities and other co-curricular fields but still then it has never been a priority for the concerned department, he added. The locals said that the school being one of the established educational institutions in the area, should serve as a model for surrounding schools. They urged the authorities to provide adequate classrooms, improve staff, stop unnecessary deployment of teachers and appoint a regular Headmaster at the earliest. They further said that construction of a two-storey building could provide a permanent solution to the shortage of space. The residents further demanded that the school be upgraded to a Girls Higher Secondary School to prevent female students from facing hardships in pursuing higher education. Meanwhile Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) LangateNaseer Ahmad refuted the claims of locals of staff shortage at PM SHRI High School Pohrupeth, he however acknowledged that the buildings are old and if land is provided by the locals, new structures would be constructed within short span of time.

SSP Anantnag reviews security arrangements along Chhari Mubarak route

Srinagar, Aug 20:SSP Anantnag Shri Amod Ashok Nagpure-IPS reviewed the security arrangements along the route designated for the passage of Chhari Mubarak, ahead of the forthcoming religious procession. During the review, the SSP inspected the key locations and stretches along the route through which the Chhari Mubarak is scheduled to pass and took stock of the overall security arrangements, deployment plans, traffic management and crowd regulation measures. SSP Anantnag directed the officers and personnel deployed on the route to maintain heightened alertness, ensure effective coordination and remain vigilant throughout the movement. He emphasised that all necessary security and traffic arrangements must be put in place well in advance to facilitate the smooth and peaceful passage of the procession. The SSP further stressed the importance of close coordination among all stakeholders and directed the concerned officers to ensure seamless arrangements for the devotees and the general public. J&K Police remains committed to ensuring a safe, secure and peaceful environment for all devotees and citizens.

High Court seeks Govts explanation over plans for3 wetland reserves

Srinagar, Aug 20: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has sought an explanation from the J&K Government for not responding to the Centres communication on conservation plans for three wetland reserves for nearly a year. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani issued the direction while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on environmental protection. The bench also questioned the exclusion of other Ramsar Sites in Jammu and Kashmir from the management planning process. The courts direction came following the information by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that the J&K Government had submitted Integrated Management Plans (IMPs) on August 25, 2025, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystem (NPCA), for the period 2025-26 to 2029-30. The proposals sought consideration and administrative approval for three Wetland Reserves. However, the Ministry said that the proposals did not conform to the NPCA scheme. It subsequently wrote to the J&K Government on September 10, 2025, directing it to submit separate IMPs for each wetland in accordance with the NPCA Guidelines, 2024. The Ministry further informed that the J&K Government had not responded to the communication so far. Taking serious note of the delay, the Court directed the Government to file an affidavit explaining why it had failed to respond to the Ministrys September 10, 2025 communication and why separate management plans for the three wetland reserves had not been resubmitted. The Court also sought an explanation from the Government for excluding other Ramsar Sites in Jammu and Kashmir while preparing and submitting the IMPs. The Ministry informed the Court that the NPCA scheme, which was initially valid until March 31, 2026, has been given an interim extension up to September 30, 2026. It added that a proposal for continuation of the scheme for the 2026-31 financial cycle is currently under consideration before the competent authority. The High Court granted the Government three weeks to file the requisite affidavit.

IUST invites researchers, academicians to J&K Science Congress 2026

Awantipora, Aug 20:The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Science, Technology & Innovation Council (JKSTIC), Government of Jammu & Kashmir, will host the Jammu & Kashmir Science Congress 2026 from September 29 to October 1, 2026, at the University campus. The Congress, titled Science, Innovation and Emerging Technologies for Sustainable and Viksit J&K, will bring together researchers, innovators, policymakers, industry representatives, and students from across the country to explore emerging scientific and technological solutions for sustainable development. More than 500 scientists and researchers are expected to participate in the Congress. The Congress invites researchers, academicians and scientific professionals to actively participate and contribute their research and perspectives to the deliberations. The event will feature plenary lectures by eminent scientists, technical sessions, panel discussions, exhibitions, start-up showcases, innovation displays and policy dialogues, providing opportunities for meaningful academic and professional engagement. The thematic tracks cover a broad range of contemporary areas, including Advanced Materials, Nanoscience and Sustainable Manufacturing; Drug Discovery, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Healthcare Innovations; AI, Data Science and Emerging Digital Technologies; Biotechnology and Bio-economy; Sustainable Energy and Himalayan Ecosystem Resilience; Water Security and Earth System Sciences; Science, Society and Sustainable Development; Science Communication, Media and Public Engagement; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Humanities, Ethics and Emerging Technologies; Sustainable Food Processing; Smart Engineering Systems and Industry 5.0; Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences; and Natural Sciences, Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Sustainability. A dedicated school-level science outreach programme will further engage young learners through competitions, exhibitions, poster and model presentations, and other interactive activities, encouraging scientific curiosity and innovation among school students across Jammu &Kashmir.

Shocks judicial conscience: HC over drug sample failing to reach Kolkata Lab for 8 years

Observing the case as rare one shocking judicial conscience, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has ordered a probe into a drug sample that failed to reach the Central Drugs Laboratory, Kolkata, for nearly eight years, even as it directed the J&Ks Drug Controller to set up a panel to fix responsibility whether any official had a role in preventing the sample from reaching the facility. A bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal ordered the probe while quashing criminal proceedings against pharmaceutical company Albert David Limited in a drug-quality case. The company, the court said, was deprived of its valuable statutory right to have a disputed drug sample re-tested by the Central Drugs Laboratory, Kolkata. The Court also quashed the order dated February 18, 2020 passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kathua, whereby cognisance had been taken against the company, along with all consequential proceedings arising therefrom. The case stemmed from a drug sample drawn during an inspection at a chemist outlet in Kathua in April 2011. The sample of ADIS Needles, manufactured by Albert David Limited, was declared not of standard quality after failing a sterility test conducted by the Government Analyst. The company, however, within the prescribed 28-day period, disputed the report and sought re-testing of the sample by the Director, Central Drugs Laboratory, Kolkata, under Section 25 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The High Court pointed out that the complaint was filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kathua on May 14, 2012 and the sample was stated to have been sent for re-analysis. However, in October 2016, the Central Drugs Laboratory informed the trial court that it had not received the sample. Despite this, no effective inquiry was undertaken to ascertain the whereabouts of the sample, while the proceedings remained pending. The Court observed that the sample had expired in July 2012 and, by the time cognisance was taken in February 2020, meaningful re-testing was no longer possible. The trial court, it said, could not simply revert to the earlier Government Analysts report after the statutory mechanism for re-testing had been invoked. While the court noted that the prolonged delay had materially affected the fairness of the proceedings and attracted the guarantee of a fair and speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution, it observed that the eight-year delay had destroyed the evidentiary opportunity to determine independently whether the drug was actually substandard. The court observed the case as rare one which shocked the judicial conscience of the Court as a sample stated to have been sent by the court to the Central Drugs Laboratory was not received by the Laboratory for almost eight years, while the trial Court continued to await the report without taking any effective measures to secure the same or examining the circumstances in which the sample had failed to reach the Laboratory. The Court noted that after waiting for an inordinate period, the trial Court proceeded to rely upon the earlier report of the Government Analyst and issued process on the basis thereof, notwithstanding that the report had lost its significance in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case. The court underscored that once the validity of the sample had expired in July, 2012, the question as to how and under what circumstances the proceedings before the trial Court continued for almost eight years thereafter, and what legal sanctity could attach to such proceedings in the absence of the very sample being available for re-analysis, requires a thorough examination. The matter, therefore, warrants a threadbare inquiry into the circumstances leading to the non-receipt of the sample by the Central Drugs Laboratory, the prolonged inaction thereafter, and the responsibility for permitting the proceedings to continue despite the expiry of the sample. Observing that the lapses were required to be examined administratively, the Court ordered the Registrar General to place the judgment, complete paper-book and scanned trial court record before the Chief Justice for appropriate action. Moreover, it directed the Drug Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organisation, J&K, Jammu to constitute, within one week, a committee headed by him and comprising experts in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the statutory procedure for testing drug samples.

J&K youth full of talent, passion: CS Atal Dulloo

Baramulla, Aug 20:Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday said there was no dearth of talent among the youth in J&K saying that they only needed right opportunities and guidance to realise their potential. Addressing a gathering during the knockout ceremony of the Chinar Premier League (CPL)-2026, Atal Dulloo, who was the chief guest at the knock out ceremony at General BipinRawat Stadium Baramulla, said the youth of J&K were full of enthusiasm, passion and the ability to move forward. They only need the right opportunity and the right path. We are sitting on a gold mine of talent and opportunity, he added. Referring to Chinar Premier League (CPL)-2026, J&K CS said the tournament would provide young cricketers a platform to showcase their talent. He also congratulated Indian Army's Dagger Division for organising the event, saying such initiatives provide youth with a positive, healthy and creative stage while strengthening peace, brotherhood and mutual trust through sports. He said cricket was not merely a game but carried important lessons of discipline, team spirit, mutual respect and sportsmanship. The field teaches us how to win with humility and how to lose with patience. These are the principles that show the way to success in life, the Chief Secretary said. Addressing the players, Dulloo said the athletes must follow three principles that they should always play with discipline, play with passion and hard work besides respecting their competitors, umpires and the audience. The real champion is the one who wins people's hearts with his good character and behaviour, he said. The Chief Secretary said the future of Jammu and Kashmir was closely linked to its youth. When young people progresses in sports, education and national development, society as a whole moves forward, he added. He said tournaments such as the CPL also promote interaction among players from different regions, enabling them to understand and learn from each other and forge new friendships. This is the real strength of national unity, he said. Dulloo also said there was a need to build self-confidence among young people so that they could dream big and develop the capacity to turn those dreams into reality. Quoting former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalams famous observation on dreams, he urged youth to nurture ambitions that would inspire them to work relentlessly towards achieving them. I am hopeful that the CPL-2026 would strengthen friendship, unity and healthy competition and wished all participating teams success, he said. He also lauded the coaches, teachers, sportspersons and all those working to provide young players opportunities to progress through hard work and determination. Meanwhile, CPL-2026 entered Knockout Stage on August 20 while the mid-tournament milestone marked 1.6 million viewers, 1,600 athletes, and a grassroots push for peace spearheaded by the Indian Army. CPL-2026 has officially concluded its historic league phase. Evolving from a modest local tournament into a premier sporting spectacle, CPL-2026 successfully integrated athletes across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, marking a monumental milestone for regional stability and youth development. After the preliminary stage, CPL-2026 now advances to the knockouts. By breaking down historical geographical barriers, the league has provided a shared, inclusive platform where youth from diverse backgrounds can connect, compete, and unite under a national spotlight, one of the organisers said. CPL-2026 garnered massive attention locally and nationally, including through online streaming platforms. 1,600 athletes engaged in CPL-2026 giving youth a shot at athletic glory, he said. As per the figures, as many as 79 competing teams have been selected for CPL-2026 out of 130 applicant teams. The 79 teams are divided across 26 pools under which 81 matches will be played across eight venues, decentralizing the action and bringing high-octane cricket directly to local communities. 32 teams have already qualified to battle for the championship in the knockout stage, an official said. On Thursday Sheeri Blasters faced Downtown Bijbera in the thrilling inaugural knockout match. Commissioner Secretary Department of Youth Services and Sports Dr.Shahid Iqbal Choudhary was the guest of honour while Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Syed Fakhruddin Hamid, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the 19 Infantry Division Major General Manoj Joshi and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Guriderpal Singh were also present at the occasion.

Sentinels of our past

Across diverse civilizations, aging was viewed as an elevation into a role of counsel and mediation rather than a descent into obsolescence. The conceptual framework of being a senior integrates lived experience, institutional memory, and ethical continuity. Within traditional jurisprudence and community governance, seniority conferred the right to arbitrate disputes, preserve cultural heritage, and transmit unwritten technical acumen across generational divides. Reclaiming the authentic concept of seniority requires recognizing older adults as foundational anchors of social capital, whose qualitative contributions cannot be measured by standard market metrics but are vital for the preservation of humanistic values. Older populations act as the invisible infrastructure sustaining modern communities through multi-layered socio-economic and cultural contributions. Economically, seniors frequently drive the silver economy, supporting consumer markets, managing household assets, and providing direct financial lifelines to younger generations facing housing and employment volatility. Socially, they form the backbone of unpaid care work, shouldering vast responsibilities in childcare, household management, and looking after grandchildren, thereby enabling parents to participate in the formal workforce. Culturally, seniors are the primary custodians of indigenous knowledge, oral histories, traditional arts, linguistic nuances, and spiritual continuity. Furthermore, their civic participation through volunteering, community leadership, and grassroots mentorship infuses civic life with stability, historical perspective, and ethical resilience, proving that retirement is a transition from state-mandated labour to profound societal stewardship. Despite their foundational value, older adults face profound systemic, physical, and psychological vulnerabilities that are often exacerbated by modern socio-economic shifts. Physically, advanced age brings an increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases, multi-morbidity, sensory impairments, and degenerative conditions such as dementia, which require sustained medical oversight. Psychologically, seniors are disproportionately impacted by social isolation, chronic loneliness, and bereavement, which heavily elevate risks for anxiety and clinical depression. Economically, the cessation of regular wages combined with inadequate pension architectures exposes aging cohorts to poverty, inflation shocks, and catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditures. Additionally, systemic ageism, institutional neglect, and elder abuseranging from financial exploitation to psychological and physical neglect within domestic or care settingsrepresent acute violations of human rights that threaten the safety and dignity of millions globally. Providing specialized care for older populations is an imperative dictated by the complex physiological and psychological realities of aging. Special care mandates specialized training for healthcare professionals to address geriatric syndromessuch as frailty, polypharmacy risks, and cognitive declinewhich are frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked in general medical settings. Furthermore, palliative and long-term care systems must be institutionalized to support those with severe functional dependencies. Recognizing this need involves shifting societal priorities from reactive, emergency-based interventions to proactive, preventative, and compassionate long-term care frameworks that honor the bodily autonomy and personal dignity of aging individuals. The global ecosystem for elder-care exhibits stark disparities between developing nations and advanced industrial economies. In many Western and Nordic nations, structured long-term care ecosystems feature state-subsidized home-care assistance, assisted living facilities, and regulated institutional frameworks backed by robust social security safety nets. Conversely, in low- and middle-income regions, the care ecosystem relies almost exclusively on informal, family-based networks, where women typically bear the overwhelming burden of caregiving without formal training or financial compensation. Globally, international frameworks like the World Health Organizations Decade of Healthy Ageing (20212030) strive to harmonize standards, combat ageism, and foster age-friendly environments. However, realizing a universally equitable care ecosystem requires massive cross-border investments in workforce development, digital health integration, and sustainable financing mechanisms for long-term care infrastructure. The ongoing demographic transition represents a historic turning point in human history, characterized by declining fertility rates and steadily rising life expectancies across nearly every continent. This longevity revolution is a testament to triumphs in public health, sanitation, pharmacology, and socioeconomic development. However, it simultaneously challenges traditional paradigms of economic growth, labour market participation, retirement age thresholds, and intergenerational contract structures. Navigating this macro-demographic shift demands forward-thinking public policy that decouples aging from dependency and reframes longevity as an asset for sustainable development. Demographic tracking by organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization underscores the unprecedented acceleration of global aging: In 2023, the global population of individuals aged 60 years and older stood at approximately 1.1 billion. This figure is projected to surge to 1.4 billion by 2030 (representing roughly one in six people globally) and reach 2.1 billion by 2050. The cohort of individuals aged 80 years or older is expanding even faster, expected to triple between 2020 and 2060, crossing historic thresholds of vulnerability and care demand. By the late 2060s and 2080s, projections indicate that older persons aged 65 and above will outnumber children under the age of 18 globally. Approximately 15% of adults aged 70 and over live with a mental health condition, predominantly anxiety and depression, heavily amplified by social isolation and unaddressed chronic illness. The socio-economic requirements of an aging population extend far beyond basic subsistence, demanding multi-dimensional structural adaptations. Financially, seniors require secure, inflation-indexed pension systems, transparent banking services, and protection against predatory financial practices to ensure lifelong economic independence. Socially, communities must combat the epidemic of loneliness by designing accessible public spaces, affordable transport networks, and vibrant community centers that encourage continuous civic engagement. Geographically and structurally, urban planning must incorporate age-friendly housing, wheelchair-accessible infrastructure, and safe pedestrian pathways. The widespread transition from traditional joint and extended family households to isolated nuclear family units has triggered profound disruptions in traditional eldercare models. In fast-paced urban environments where both partners frequently work and residential spaces are spatially constrained, the traditional practice of multi-generational co-residence has steeply declined. This shift often leaves elderly parents physically isolated in ancestral homes or inadequately accommodated in compact apartments, depriving them of immediate daily interaction and spontaneous familial support. Consequently, the nuclear family structure places immense psychological strain on aging individuals, heightening vulnerability to isolation, while forcing younger couples to juggle dual-career pressures with distant caregiving logistics. This structural disconnect exposes deep fractures in social cohesion, necessitating alternative institutional and community-based support mechanisms. Governments worldwide are increasingly compelled to redesign public policy architectures to address the structural realities of aging populations. Key interventions include the establishment of universal or contributory social pension schemes, subsidized geriatric healthcare packages, and national policies aimed at safeguarding elder rights against abuse and neglect. Progressive administrations are implementing Age-Friendly Cities initiatives that mandate accessible public transportation, universal design housing codes, and barrier-free civic amenities. Additionally, states are launching subsidized community daycare centers for seniors, respite care programs for family caregivers, and legislative frameworks protecting senior citizen maintenance rights from estranged relatives. However, the efficacy of these state interventions frequently battles fiscal constraints, bureaucratic delays, and the sheer velocity of demographic inversion, requiring continuous public-private collaboration. To bridge the widening gaps left by overburdened state infrastructure and fragmented nuclear families, innovative alternative care and community solutions are rapidly emerging. Intergenerational Co-housing: Programs pairing university students with older homeowners, offering affordable housing in exchange for companionship, light household assistance, and digital literacy coaching. Senior Cooperatives & Eco-Villages: Self-managed, intentional communities where older adults pool resources, share caregiving duties, and foster mutual aid networks to age in place collectively. Digital Tele-Geriatrics & AI Companionship: Leveraging tele-health platforms for remote vital monitoring and deploying assistive AI technologies to mitigate daily loneliness and manage medication schedules. The phenomenon of global aging is neither a mere demographic footnote nor an impending socio-economic crisis; it is the ultimate testament to humanitys collective triumph over disease, ignorance, and early mortality. When we map the trajectory from the biological dawn of seniority to the complex architectural demands of the 21st-century silver economy, a profound philosophical realization emerges: a societys true measure is eternally mirrored in how it cradles those who built its foundations. The convergence of soaring life expectancies, shrinking family sizes, and shifting economic paradigms demands an evolutionary leap in civilizational empathy. We are summoned to construct a world where longevity is decoupled from irrelevance, and where the autumn years of human life are illuminated by dignity, security, and vibrant engagement. By weaving together compassionate state policy, innovative community co-housing, cutting-edge geriatric care, and an unyielding commitment to intergenerational solidarity, we transform the aging revolution from a logistical challenge into our greatest cultural renaissance. Ultimately, honouring our seniors is not an act of charity, but an act of profound self-recognitionprotecting the architects of our present and the keepers of our collective soul. Sanjay Rohmetra, Ex District Sericulture Officer.

Understanding thelife sentence

The life sentence for Baloch rights activist Dr Mahrang has once again drawn international attention to the long-standing human rights crisis in Pakistans Balochistan province. For the world, the case cannot be simply about the fate of one activist but it presents the real picture of human rights violations in that region. Dr Mahrangs life sentence represents the widening gap between Pakistans constitutional promises of democracy and freedom of expression and the realities faced by those who question state policies in the countrys largest yet most marginalized province. Dr Mahrang Baloch has emerged as one of the most recognizable faces of the peaceful Baloch rights movement over the years. She has been consistently organizing peaceful sit-ins, marches, and public gatherings for disappeared persons garnering her full support from their relatives. Dr Mahrangs activism has largely centered on seeking accountability, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law rather than promoting violence or armed resistance. Dr Mahrang Baloch has been associated with The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) for the last two decades where she gained national and international recognition for mobilizing thousands of ordinary citizens, particularly women, students, and families of missing persons. Dr Baloch along with supporters registered numerous demonstrations, including the widely discussed long march to Islamabad which highlighted the grievances of Baloch people, according to which they have lived for decades under fear and uncertainty. Participants in the march called upon authorities to investigate grave issues of disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The protests by the Baloch people have been dealt with heavy security responses. Human rights organizations have time and again raised their voice against the arrests of Baloch Yakjehti Committee activists and restrictions on public assemblies. Internet shutdowns and ban on media coverage in Balochistan has also been a great concern for the Human rights observers. Rights groups have argued that excessive use of security measures risks shrinking the democratic space available for peaceful dissent. The life sentence to Dr Mahrang Baloch has triggered criticism from civil society organizations and international human rights organizations. They hold a valid point that criminalizing peaceful activism goes against the freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. The development has also raised broader questions about the governance of Pakistan in Balochistan. Despite being rich in natural resources, including minerals, natural gas and an important coastline, the strategically important Balochistan province has been continuously facing economic neglect, political marginalization, and limited local participation in decision-making. Locals in Balochistan resent that they do not receive a fair share of benefits generated from the resources being extracted from the province. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been maintaining to ensure due process, protect freedom of peaceful assembly and investigate enforced disappearances made by the Pakistani security forces from the last two decades. The United Nations has also taken up the issue with Pakistan and showed strong concern over arbitrary detention, intimidation of activists and restrictions on civic freedoms in the province. These International Human Rights organizations have consistently urged Pakistan to uphold international human rights obligations in Balochistan. The relatives of those who disappeared have been demanding information about their loved ones after being taken into custody by the Pakistani forces, their years of struggle have not fetched any positive result but they continue with their struggle and hoping against hope of seeing their disappeared relatives. Their public demonstrations often feature photographs of missing family members rather than political slogans, underscoring the human dimension of the conflict. The life sentence to Dr Mahrang Baloch has sent shock waves among her supporters who have been raising their voice against the verdict and seek answers through peaceful means. The Author Dr Sheikh Jamsheed, a dedicated Social and Peace Activist has also been awarded an International Honorary Doctorate in Social Work in recognition of his contributions.

Memory to Practice: J&Ks Intellectual Legacy

Jammu & Kashmir possesses one of the most layered and sophisticated intellectual traditions in the subcontinent. From the spiritual humanism of Lal Ded and Nund Rishi to the modern literary consciousness shaped by Mahjoor, Dinanath Nadim, and Rehman Rahi, the regions cultural history is neither shallow nor fragmented. It is deeply philosophical, linguistically rich, and emotionally profound (Kaul, 2011; Raina, 2002). Yet a pressing paradox defines the present moment: despite this vast intellectual inheritance, the current generation appears increasingly disconnected from it. This is not merely a question of cultural decline; it is a structural issue of how legacy is transmitted, institutionalized, and lived. When examined through a comparative lens particularly alongside South Indian states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala the divergence becomes analytically clear. South India has succeeded not because it has a richer past, but because it has developed systems that convert heritage into everyday practice (Dirks, 2001; Subramanian, 2019). Jammu & Kashmir, by contrast, remains heavily reliant on memory without sufficient structural reinforcement. A Legacy of Depth, Not Design The intellectual tradition of Jammu & Kashmir is fundamentally experiential and syncretic. Figures like Lal Ded and Nund Rishi did not merely write poetry; they created a shared ethical language that transcended religious boundaries. Their verses, transmitted orally across generations, became embedded in everyday speech, rituals, and moral reasoning (Hassan, 2005). This represents a powerful form of cultural resilience a system where knowledge survives through community participation rather than formal institutions. Similarly, literary figures such as Mahjoor and Nadim transformed Kashmiri poetry into a vehicle of collective consciousness, addressing themes of identity, freedom, and belonging (Zutshi, 2004). Later scholars like Rehman Rahi provided the critical framework necessary to elevate Kashmiri literature to national recognition (Rahi, 2007). In the global domain, Agha Shahid Ali carried this tradition outward, translating the Kashmiri experience into a universal literary language (King, 2002). Taken together, this tradition represents a complete intellectual ecosystem philosophy, literature, social reform, and global articulation. However, its primary mode of preservation has historically been oral, emotional, and community-driven rather than institutional and systemic. From Living Culture to Symbolic Memory The central challenge today is that cultural resilience alone is no longer sufficient, and several structural shifts have combined to weaken the transmission of this legacy. The decline of linguistic practice has significantly affected cultural continuity: Kashmiri and Dogri, once the carriers of philosophical and poetic traditions, are increasingly replaced by English and Urdu in education and daily communication (Bamzai, 1994), and when language weakens, the original texture of thought and expression is inevitably lost. Educational integration, too, remains shallow although figures like Lal Ded and Mahjoor appear in school curricula, their treatment is often superficial and exam-oriented, limiting any deeper engagement. Compounding this, the institutional ecosystem remains limited; bodies such as the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages play an important role, yet their influence is not deeply integrated into public life compared to other regions (Kachru, 2008). At the same time, globalization has reshaped aspirations toward economic mobility and technological advancement, creating a disconnect between modern ambitions and cultural rootedness (Appadurai, 1996), while decades of political instability have further disrupted the continuity of cultural transmission, particularly in community spaces where oral traditions once thrived (Bose, 2003). Taken together, these shifts mark a transition from living culture to symbolic memory, where intellectual figures are respected but no longer actively engaged with. Model: From Legacy to System In contrast, South Indian states offer a compelling example of how intellectual heritage can be systematically preserved and operationalized. Figures such as Thiruvalluvar and E. V. Ramasamy are not confined to history; they are embedded in contemporary life. This success rests on four interlocking mechanisms. Educational embedding ensures that texts like the Thirukkural are core components of school curricula, shaping ethical and civic understanding from an early age (Ramaswamy, 1997). Institutional continuity is maintained through enduring structures established by thinkers such as Adi Shankaracharya, whose monastic institutions continue to function as centers of knowledge and debate (King, 1999). Policy integration reflects reformist ideas particularly those of Periyar within governance frameworks related to social justice and rationalism (Pandian, 2007). Public visibility, through monuments, awards, and cultural discourse, reinforces these figures as active symbols of identity and aspiration (Subramanian, 2019). In essence, South India demonstrates that culture survives when it is institutionalized, incentivized, and collectively practiced. What Jammu & Kashmir Can Learn The comparative insight here is not about replication but adaptation. Oral traditions must be supplemented with structured academic engagement, requiring deeper textual analysis, interdisciplinary teaching, and critical interpretation. Language, too, must be treated as identity infrastructure revitalizing Kashmiri, Dogri, and Gojri is essential for sustaining intellectual continuity. This calls for institutional expansion as well, with research centers, public forums, and university-community collaborations strengthened to support it. Beyond structure, the region's intellectual legacy must be actively linked to contemporary issues such as social justice, ethics, and globalization, transforming it from inherited memory into practical wisdom. Finally, this cultural engagement must be incentivized through awards, fellowships, and public recognition, ensuring that it remains socially valued rather than quietly fading into the background. Toward a Living Framework: Reimagining the Future It is analytically limiting to interpret the current state of Jammu & Kashmirs intellectual heritage as a simple decline. The reality is more complex: what appears as cultural erosion is, in fact, a structural transition. The present generation is not disengaged from its heritage; rather, it is operating within a transformed socio-economic and educational environment where traditional modes of transmission oral traditions, community practices, and localized cultural spaces no longer function with the same continuity or influence. Historically, the cultural framework of Jammu & Kashmir has been anchored in resilience the capacity of its people to sustain identity, values, and intellectual traditions despite political instability, social disruption, and external pressures. This resilience ensured survival. However, in an era defined by globalization, technological shifts, and changing aspirations, resilience alone is no longer sufficient to guarantee continuity. What is missing is not cultural depth, but a coherent institutional architecture that systematically bridges the past with the present. The critical task, therefore, is to move beyond a binary of preservation versus loss and instead adopt a hybrid model that integrates cultural resilience with institutional reinforcement. Cultural resilience provides the authenticity, emotional depth, and lived experience that define the uniqueness of Kashmiri and Dogri traditions. Institutional preservation, on the other hand, offers structure, scalability, and long-term continuity through education systems, research bodies, policy frameworks, and public cultural infrastructure. When these two dimensions operate in isolation, they are limited: resilience without institutions risks fragmentation and gradual fading, while institutions without cultural grounding risk becoming symbolic and disconnected. Their integration, however, creates a dynamic system in which culture is not only remembered, but actively lived, practiced, and reinterpreted across generations. This is precisely where the comparative experience of South Indian states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala offers a valuable lesson. Their success lies not merely in celebrating intellectual figures, but in embedding them within education, governance, and public life, thereby transforming legacy into a functional component of contemporary society. For Jammu & Kashmir, the path forward is therefore not one of rediscovery, but of restructuring. The region already possesses a profound intellectual inheritance shaped by centuries of philosophical inquiry, literary excellence, and cultural synthesis. The challenge is to convert this inheritance into an operational system one that enables the current generation to engage with it not as distant history, but as a relevant and guiding force. Ultimately, the question is not whether the legacy exists, but whether it is being translated into lived reality. If Jammu & Kashmir succeeds in building this bridge between resilience and institution, it will not only preserve its past but will also redefine its cultural future with renewed intellectual confidence and global relevance. Dr. Tajamul Rehman Sofi is an Economics Researcher. Views expressed here are personal.

From Stone-Pelters to Flag-Bearers

For thirty six years, Kashmir has carried many conversations that seem to return to the same starting point. There are demands for conclaves, resolutions, statements, conferences and declarations. There are arguments over terrorism, displacement, Article 370, militancy and the tragedies that have scarred generations. Each side carries its own memory, and often its own version of justice. But perhaps the uncomfortable question we need to ask today is this: have we changed the conversation while the conversation has remained unchanged? Kashmir has changed. The Kashmiri who lived through the last three and a half decades has not remained politically where he was in 1990. He has seen governments change, political movements rise and disappear, elections return, development accelerate, technology transform society and an entirely new generation grow up with aspirations very different from those of their parents. That generation is politically aware. It understands power, opportunity and the consequences of political choices. It may not agree with everything that came before, but neither can it be expected to inherit every emotion of the past. And that is where another difficult conversation needs to take place within the displaced Kashmiri Pundit community. The pain of displacement cannot and should not be erased. The killings, intimidation, exodus and destruction of lives and livelihoods are part of Kashmirs history. They deserve remembrance and justice. But remembrance cannot become the only language through which Kashmir is discussed. For thirty-six years, much of the discourse has remained anchored to the same vocabulary: terrorism, return, rehabilitation, justice, resolutions and the hope that someone will eventually solve Kashmir. But who exactly is going to solve it? Governments can provide security. Courts can provide justice. Administrations can provide compensation, infrastructure and opportunities. But no government can manufacture emotional belonging. That has to be rebuilt by people. And perhaps we need to accept another reality. Thousands of Kashmiri Pundits who left in the 1990s have now spent most of their adult lives outside Kashmir. Their children and grandchildren were born elsewhere. They have built careers, homes, friendships and identities in other places. For many of them, Kashmir is inherited memory rather than lived experience. That does not make their connection to Kashmir less legitimate. But it does make it different. The Kashmir remembered by one generation is not necessarily the Kashmir imagined by the next. This is why repeatedly asking the next generation to return to the emotional vocabulary of 1990 may not work. Nor will repeatedly telling young Kashmiris that their present must forever be interpreted through the violence of the past. At some point, memory has to become a bridge rather than a boundary. Perhaps the real question is not how to recreate the Kashmir that existed before 1990. That Kashmir is gone. History does not provide a rewind button. The question is: what kind of Kashmir can we build now? And here lies the greatest opportunity. If a young Kashmiri once picked up a stone, how do we persuade him to pick up a flag? Not merely a political flag. A flag of participation. A flag of citizenship. A flag of aspiration. A flag under which he sees his future rather than his grievance. You cannot achieve that by repeatedly reminding him of his alienation. And similarly, if a Kashmiri Pundit wants to reconnect with the Valley, perhaps the conversation should increasingly be about participation rather than pronouncements. Come. Visit. Teach. Invest. Restore a home if you wish. Build a business. Support a school. Record family histories. Celebrate festivals and become part of the Kashmir that exists not only the Kashmir that was lost. There will always be those who commit crimes. There will always be extremists. There will always be provocations and incidents. A society must deal firmly with violence and terrorism. But a few incidents should not become the permanent definition of an entire people. If every act of violence is allowed to reopen the entire wound, reconciliation becomes impossible. The future cannot be held hostage by the worst memories of the past. Kashmir needs a new vocabulary. Not forgetting, but remembering differently. Not denying suffering, but refusing to inherit hatred. Let us acknowledge what happened. Let us pursue justice where justice is possible. Let us preserve memory. But then let us move. Because the real measure of reconciliation will not be how many conferences we hold, how many resolutions we pass, or how often we repeat the tragedies of the past. Whether a stone-pelter can become a flag-bearer. Whether a displaced family can return not merely to a house, but to a relationship. And whether the next generation of Kashmiris Muslim, Pundit, Sikh, Buddhist or anyone else, can inherit something better than our memories of what Kashmir was. Perhaps after thirty-six years, the most courageous thing we can do is stop asking the past to solve the future. Sanjay Kaul is Professor of Engineering Technology at Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA, and writer focuses on globalization, technology and policy. He has held leadership roles in higher education and frequently writes on international economic and political affairs .

Mridula Saw the Horrors of Partition

The Government of India decided in 2021 to observe 14 August every year as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day to commemorate the pain and suffering endured by the people during the Partition of India in 1947. Even by the most conservative estimates, two hundred thousand people were killed, while seventy-five thousand women were abducted and raped. India put the number of abducted women at 33,000 Hindu and Sikh women, while Pakistan estimated the number of abducted Muslim women at 50,000. Around twelve million people crossed the borders in both directions. Pertinently, some scholars have described Partition as the dark side of independence. Mridula Sarabhai, a freedom fighter and fiercely independent minded was an eyewitness to the horrors of Partition. General Thimaya described her as the bravest man in Indian army. She worked tirelessly for the recovery of abducted women, refusing to simply follow any official line and, on several occasions, even differing with Mahatma Gandhi whose own life was cut short by an act of violence. Partition Plan Feminist historiography has brought to the fore the ways in which women were tortured and killed during Partition. Urvashi Butalia, in her book The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of India, raises an important question about the Partition of India. She argues that there is no institutional memory of Partition: the state has not seen fit to construct memorials or mark particular places, as has been done in the case of Holocaust memorials or memorials commemorating the Vietnam War. The explanation for this lapse, she believes, is not difficult to find. She asks how Partition could be memorialized by the state without the state recognizing its own complicity. Lord Mountbatten presided over a meeting to discuss the Boundary Award on 16 August 1947. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Congress and the Muslim League. The decision of Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who chaired the three boundary commissions for Punjab, Bengal, and the Sylhet district of Assam, was made public only on 17 August 1947, when the three awards were gazetted. This was three days after Pakistan had celebrated its independence and two days after India had celebrated hers. Although Radcliffe had very little time at his disposal, the top leadersNehru, Jinnah, and Patelwanted the boundary line to be drawn before or on 15 August. In the prevailing situation, everyone suffered, but women were among the worst sufferers. Recovery of Abducted Women The circumstances surrounding the abduction of women varied. Some were separated from their families while fleeing or became lost and were subsequently picked up. Some were left behind as hostages to ensure the safe passage of their families. Others were initially given protection but were later incorporated into the families of their abductors. Aparna Basu, in her book Mridula Sarabhai: Rebel with a Cause, writes that there were instances in which women jumped into wells and rivers to escape abduction and the loss of their chastity. In Thoa Khalsa, nearly ninety women jumped into a well, and the well became so full that no more women could enter it. In Hanoli, in Mianwali district of Punjab, hundreds of women jumped into wells to escape being molested. Fathers killed their daughters; women jumped into burning houses and carried packets of poison to swallow in case they were captured. The well-known author Anees Kidwai, in her book Azadi Ki Chhaon Mein (Under the Shade of Independence), relates how the good maal (goods) could be shared among the police and the army, while the second-rate stuff would go to everyone else. A large number of abducted women were sold several times. Gandhi referred to this in a post-prayer speech. He said that some hoodlums came forward to bring back the girls if they are paid Rs. 1,000 per girl. Has this thing now become a business? To rescue these helpless women, Mridula rushed to Punjab. Her task was to recover Muslim girls who had been abducted and kept in Hindu and Sikh families, as well as Hindu and Sikh girls who had been abducted and taken to Pakistan. She was convinced that this was humanitarian work of the utmost importance and devoted the next six years of her life entirely to it. She set about the work of recovering abducted women like a tigress with cubs, wrote Y. D. Gundevia, who later became the Foreign Secretary of India. According to Gundevia, Mridula had direct access to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistans Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan. She impressed upon both leaders the urgency of beginning the recovery work. An Inter-Dominion Conference was held in Lahore on 6 December 1947. It unanimously agreed that the two countries should take steps for the recovery and restoration of abducted women, with Mridula serving as the chief social worker. All abducted women were to be restored to their respective dominions, even against their wishes. There was considerable debate over whether women who declined to leave their abductors should be allowed to remain where they were. Eventually, the views of Mridula and Begum Liaquat Ali Khan prevailed, and it was decided that such women should be evacuated to the country where their relatives had migrated. This was a complex question because it was not always clear whether women refused to return because they were afraid to say so in front of their abductors or because they feared that their families would not accept them. A joint appeal to the people of India and Pakistan to restore all abducted women was issued by the representatives of the Inter-Dominion Conference. Prominent among the signatories were Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Iftikhar Hussain Khan of Mamdot, Begum Liaquat Ali Khan, Begum Shah Nawaz Khan, Begum Bashir Ahmed, Iftikharuddin, K. C. Neogy, Swaran Singh, Rameshwari Nehru, Mridula Sarabhai, and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. Most of the abducted women were under 35 years of age and came from villages. After their recovery, the women were admitted to Recovered Womens Camps guarded by the police. Conditions within the camps were often appalling. When women from the Kurja camp arrived in Lahore, they looked like skeletons. Their hair and bodies were covered with ulcers and lice. Recovery and Restoration Act A bill for the recovery and restoration of abducted persons was introduced in Parliament by N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar and became an Act in December 1949. Clauses 1 and 2 of the Act emphasized that every effort should be made to recover and restore abducted women and children within the shortest possible time. The Act also stipulated that conversions of persons abducted after March 1947 would not be recognized and that such persons should be restored to their respective dominions.Mridula was the driving force behind these efforts. She explained how every possible technique was being used by abductors to defeat recovery efforts and argued that such legislation was necessary because it made the abduction of women and children a crime punishable by severe penalties. In early 1952, Mridula shifted her base to Jammu and Kashmir, where many relatives of recovered, Muslim women had migrated to Pakistan. She approached various departments of the Government of India and persuaded them to select a location in the ceasefire-line zone where recovered Muslim women could be taken to the border and reunited with their relatives from Pakistan, while Hindu and Sikh women could likewise be reunited with their families in India. Mridula succeeded in getting the Suchetgarh border opened for this humanitarian work. The recovery of abducted women and children, however, came to a grinding halt towards the end of 1953. According to Anees Kidwai, by 1954, approximately 17,000 women had been rescued from Pakistan and 20,000 from India. Many children born to abducted women were placed in orphanages. The German critical theorist Theodor W. Adorno famously declared that there could be no poetry after Auschwitz. Yet poets are among those best able to reach into the depths of human emotions and give expression to unimaginable suffering. Several years after Partition, when the first India-Pakistan mushaira (poetry gathering) was held in Karachi, the young poet Zehra Nigah came to the stage and, in a single couplet, summed up the picture of a shattered Nest: Aashiyana ki baat karte hoo, Kis zamane ki baat karte hoo? Prof Gull M Wani is a Kashmir based Political Scientist

Framing of Solar System

The phenomenon of framing of solar system, with formation of earth and sky and their coming together is illuminated in a Holy Verse noted for its significance in the physical landmarks that shape the Universal Order: Moreover, He Comprehended in his design the sky, and it has been (as) smoke. He said to it and to the earth: Come ye together willingly or unwillingly. They said, We do come (together) in willing obedience (41:11) He Comprehended the Quranic idiom Istawa in its elaboration is taken to mean that His design Comprehended the heavens (Samaaa) to emphasise the fact heavens were not eternal or co-eternal with Him (Allah) but were a part of His design, a compliment to the creation of earth, where his supreme creationshuman beings dwelt. As per Quranic revelations, while earth was being shaped, sky existed as smoke or vapour or streamthe primeval matter without a definite order shape or symmetry, the state defined as Chaos, as opposed to Cosmos in Greek cosmogony. The primeval matter condensed into gases, liquids or solids. We may keep in mind that while earth was framed in four days, it took two days to shape the sky, in divine timing however the day could be as much as fifty thousand years, as stands noted in the Holy Verse: The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a day, the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years (70:4) The conjecture in coming together of the earth and the sky willingly or unwillingly could be because of some physical forces pulling them apart, hence unwilling to join, however these forces could by dominated by forces making them willing partners to shape the solar system, as per the divine command. It is for physicists to explain the great mysteries of nature, forming what in Quranic idiom is called Afaq the realm of science in conjunction with Anfas the philosophy of working of nature.

Ladakhs long road to justice gets shorter

Srinagar, Aug 20:Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Union Cabinets decision to establish a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Ladakh will significantly improve access to justice for people living in the Union Territorys remote and geographically challenging areas. Shah said the decision, taken by the Union Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister NarendraModi, would reduce the time and burden involved for residents seeking judicial remedies. The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of the PM Shri @narendramodiJi, has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh. This will significantly enhance access to justice for citizens living in remote areas of Ladakh by reducing the time required to avail themselves of the legal services they are entitled to, Shah said in a post on X. He said that the government remained committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and to ensuring constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory. The decision assumes significance for residents of Leh and Kargil, who have faced considerable logistical and geographical challenges in accessing higher judicial forums since Ladakh became a separate Union Territory following the reorganisation of J&K in 2019. The establishment of a bench within Ladakh is expected to make judicial proceedings more accessible to litigants, lawyers and other stakeholders by reducing the need for travel outside the Union Territory for matters before the High Court. The move is also expected to strengthen the judicial infrastructure and legal ecosystem in Ladakh, with the proposed facilities likely to include courtrooms, registry infrastructure and other support facilities required for the functioning of the bench. Legal practitioners and residents in the region have long sought greater judicial accessibility, particularly given Ladakhs vast terrain, harsh weather conditions and long distances between settlements. The Cabinet decision is being viewed as a significant administrative step towards bringing higher judicial services closer to the people of Ladakh.

Fast track to Kashmir gets 3rd run

Jammu, Aug 20:Third and new Vande Bharat Express, between the two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar with Udhampur as a stopover, is on the anvil, following approval by the Railway Ministry. Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, while sharing this significant news with the Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, has asserted that the fresh (third) pair of Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, will comprise train numbers 26407 and 26408. To facilitate people and further enhance the regional connectivity, Indian Railway keeps on expanding, introducing new and additional train services in view of public demands raised from time to time and also depending on other operational factors including passenger occupancy and traffic demand on the section(s), Vaishnaw said. In a communique in Hindi addressed to Singh, the Minister for Railways said, In furtherance of that sequence, you will be glad to know that an approval has been granted to the operation of third Vande Bharat Express between Jammu Tawi and Srinagar via Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur (Railway Station). This service will operate as - train numbers 26407 and 26408 - Jammu Tawi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express. Singh broke this Good news for Udhampur a part of his parliamentary constituency- with the screenshot of Vaishnaws letter. In response to a popular public demand of the local population and an earnest request made by us, the Railway Ministry has agreed to include Udhampur as a stopover for the third and new Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar, he shared with his electorate through his social media handles. This is yet again a reiteration of PM NarendraModis sensitive concern for the aspirations of the people of this region, Singh posted, thanking Railway Minister Vaishnaw for this positive and prompt gesture. The state-of-the-art JammuSrinagar Vande Bharat Express with almost full occupancy rate has emerged as preferred, reliable and all-weather option for the passengers to travel between two capitals of J&K, since commencement of its commercial operations on May 2, 2026, after being flagged off by the Union Railway Minister on April 30, 2026, from Jammu Railway Station. Currently, two pairs of Vande Bharat Express (train numbers 26401/26402 and 26404/26403) are operating between the two capital cities, covering the distance of 269 km in 4 hours 45 minutes. The Vande Bharat Express operation to Kashmir from Katra had started on June 6, 2025. Yet the services were extended to Jammu Tawi on April 30, 2026 establishing direct rail link between Jammu and Srinagar, with stopovers at Udhampur, Katra, Reasi and Banihal. Earlier on July 22, 2026, Vaishnaw, in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, had informed that Indian Railways introduced four pairs of new train services, including two pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains, in Jammu division during 2025-26 to improve rail connectivity in the region. The minister said that Jammu Division, the 70th Division of Indian Railways, was created in January 2025. The newly introduced train services included the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi KatraBudgam Express, AmritsarShri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express and two pairs of Jammu TawiSrinagar Vande Bharat Express trains. According to Vaishnaw, Jammu Tawi railway station is presently served by 114 train services, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station by 46 train services and Budgam station by 19 train services. Regarding the introduction of additional train services, the minister said it was an ongoing process and depended on various operational factors, including line capacity, availability of train paths, rolling stock, supporting infrastructure, maintenance requirements of railway tracks and other assets, as well as passenger occupancy and traffic demand on the section.

Gors J&K remarks major diplomatic success: BJP

Srinagar, Aug 20:Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Thursday welcomed US Ambassador to India Sergio Gors remarks describing Jammu and Kashmir as an important part of India, terming them a major diplomatic achievement for New Delhi and a setback to Pakistans efforts to internationalise the Kashmir issue. Leader of Opposition in J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma said Gors statement reaffirmed Indias longstanding position on J&K and reflected the success of the countrys diplomatic efforts. There is no doubt, there is no question that J&K is an integral part of India. Today, if the US Ambassador has said that J&K is an integral part of India, then it is a good thing and, somewhere, it is a major success of Indias diplomacy, Sharma said. The BJP leader alleged that Pakistan had made repeated attempts to create confusion internationally over J&K, but said the US envoys remarks had helped counter such narratives. The world is now clearly acknowledging Indias unwavering position on the matter, Sharma said. J&K BJP chief spokesman Altaf Thakur described Gors maiden visit to J&K and his remarks from Srinagar as a significant diplomatic development and a reflection of Prime Minister NarendraModis foreign policy. Sergio Gors statement that J&K is an important part of India is a major diplomatic achievement for the country and a clear reflection of Prime Minister NarendraModis successful foreign policy. The world is increasingly recognising the ground reality of J&K, and Pakistans propaganda stands exposed, Thakur told reporters here. He said the significance of Gors remarks was enhanced by the ambassadors visit to Srinagar, where he met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and travelled through the city, including taking a Shikara ride on Dal Lake. Thakur said the visit demonstrated the changes in J&Ks security and development landscape. Those who once projected Kashmir to the world as a region of perpetual unrest must now answer why a senior American diplomat can visit Srinagar, meet the elected Chief Minister, travel freely and publicly acknowledge J&K as an important part of India. This is the new J&K, he said. The BJP spokesperson also welcomed Gors indication that the US would review its travel advisory for J&K, saying a possible relaxation could boost tourism, investment, and employment opportunities. We wholeheartedly welcome the US Ambassadors decision to look at the travel advisory. J&K is ready to welcome American and international tourists. A review and possible downgrading of the advisory will send a powerful confidence-building message and can open new opportunities for tourism, investment, and employment for our youth, Thakur said. He credited PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with strengthening Indias diplomatic position globally and changing the international narrative surrounding J&K. Thakur said the ambassadors visit and remarks also provided a rebuttal to Pakistans narrative on the region, asserting that J&K was increasingly being recognised internationally for peace, development, and democratic governance. He said the growing international confidence should be leveraged to accelerate tourism, investment, employment, and economic development in J&K. Sergio Gors visit is not merely a diplomatic event; it is a message of confidence in the new J&K. We welcome him to Kashmir and hope that his visit becomes the beginning of a much deeper engagement between J&K and the US in tourism, trade, technology and investment, Thakur said. Gor had, during his visit to Srinagar on Wednesday, described J&K as an important part of India and indicated that Washington periodically reviews its travel advisories, including the one concerning J&K.

Foreign dignitaries J&K visits became curated after 2019: Mehbooba

Srinagar, Aug 20:People's Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said there was no need to take the US so seriously, arguing that US interventions across the world had resulted in destruction and that Washington could not provide a certificate on J&K. Her remarks came a day after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Srinagar and held discussions with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. During a joint media briefing on Wednesday, Gor described J&K as an important part of India and an incredibly beautiful place. The US envoy also said Washington would reconsider its travel advisories for J&K in view of steps taken by the Government of India and the CM Omar-led government to make the region safer. About Gors remarks on J&K, Mehbooba said the US should not be accorded undue importance. I think there is no need to take the US so seriously. We have seen that the US has caused destruction everywhere it intervened from Vietnam to Iran, she told reporters. They are not our masters that they will give us a certificate and then only there would be a dialogue. Mehbooba said there was a time when the US enjoyed the status of a global superpower, but claimed its economic and political influence was declining because of its role in conflicts and interventions around the world. Day by day, due to its role and the destruction it has caused worldwide, it is going down economically and politically. So, we should not take it so seriously, she said. The PDP chief also sought to draw a distinction between visits by foreign diplomats to J&K before and after the abrogation of the erstwhile states special status in August 2019. She said visits by US ambassadors to J&K were not new, but claimed diplomats earlier interacted with a much wider cross-section of society. The only difference is that before 2019, any ambassador who came here used to meet people from every section of society like people from tourism, trade, travel and even those who hold other opinions. Then they would go back with their own opinion, Mehbooba said. She alleged that foreign delegations visiting J&K after 2019 were taken on curated tours. They come here, they don't meet anyone other than the chief minister and the governor, and then they take a Shikara ride and leave, she said. However, Mehbooba agreed with CM Omars assertion that solutions to J&Ks problems would have to come from New Delhi rather than Washington. The solutions to the issues of J&K cannot come from the US; New Delhi will have to resolve them, she said. At the same time, she criticised CM Omar for what she described as his failure to use his interaction with the US ambassador to highlight concerns of people in J&K. I was hoping Omar would at least tell the visiting US ambassador about the concerns of the people of J&K, she said. Mehbooba said CM Omar should also have conveyed opposition to US and Israeli actions against Iran. She said that attacks on Iran had killed more than 150 girls as well as members of the countrys leadership and said CM Omar should have raised the issue with the visiting envoy. He should have pointed out that the US' habit of inciting unrest in Muslim countries and launching unprovoked attacks also affects J&K, she said. Turning to the situation within J&K, the PDP president accused the CM of remaining silent on what she described as continuing harassment, arrests, raids, dismissals from government service, and attachment of properties. Mehbooba also alleged that an Imam was assaulted by Army personnel in Karimabad area of Pulwama during an ongoing search operation. Just as I was coming here, I received a message that last night in Karimabad, Pulwama, where a search operation had been ongoing for days, the Army pulled out an Imam, beat him, and pulled his beard, she alleged. She also alleged that young men were being harassed and subjected to physical punishments, including being forced to perform sit-ups. There was no immediate official response to the allegations. Mehbooba said that thousands of people from J&K remained imprisoned, while employees were being dismissed from service and raids and property attachments continued. Thousands of our people remain locked in jails, people are being fired from their jobs on a daily basis, raids are conducted regularly, and properties are actively attached, she said. Mehbooba alleged that these measures had created a suffocating atmosphere in J&K where people feel they cannot speak openly or even breathe freely. The PDP chief said CM Omar did not need to look towards Washington to raise such issues and could instead engage New Delhi directly. Invoking the tenure of her father and PDP founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Mehbooba said he had persuaded the Centre during the AtalBihari Vajpayee-led government to initiate a reconciliation process, which she said resulted in dialogue with different sections and Pakistan and the opening of cross-LoC routes. She said CM Omar should at least press for reopening the Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot routes, where cross-LoC trade has remained suspended. If Omar Sahab cannot do anything else, he could at least advocate for reopening the Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot routes where trade has been completely halted, she said. Mehbooba said the CM should use his position to persuade New Delhi to address the political issues and everyday hardships confronting people in J&K. She also accused CM Omar of further diminishing the authority of the office of the CM. The BJP has reduced the status of our CM from a headmaster to a mere master. But, the way CM Omar operates, issuing statements before even the ambassador had arrived about exactly what he would or wouldn't discuss, lowers his status even further. There was simply no need for that, she said. On Gors statement that the US would consider reviewing its travel advisory for J&K, Mehbooba struck a more positive note and expressed hope that Washington would follow through. She also welcomed the US envoys reference to greater economic engagement with the region, but said such engagement should produce tangible benefits for the local economy. He also mentioned engaging more economically with the region. I hope this means investing in our local horticulture and handicrafts to create jobs and tangible economic benefits; that is an avenue that needs to be explored, Mehbooba said.

Forget disrupting the universe: Why companies need constructive aspirations, not corporate bakwaas

Companies often confuse lofty corporate slogans with meaningful ambition, but real progress comes from practical, achievable goals, the writer argues. While constructive aspirations focus on improving products, customers, costs and everyday operations, bakwaas aspirations thrive on buzzwords and grand promises.

Indias rare earth push must go beyond magnets to build a China-independent supply chain

Indias rare earth strategy must extend beyond magnet manufacturing to build a resilient, China-independent supply chain, EY-Parthenon partners argue. Rising demand from EVs, air conditioners and wind turbines makes domestic capacity urgent, but dependence on imported feedstock, motors and components remains. Greater mining, processing, private participation and patient capital are essential.

Give Dhaka more room to manoeuvre: Indias next Bangladesh gambit

Bangladesh seeks a favorable environment for PM Tarique Rahman's upcoming visit to New Delhi. India's high commissioner emphasizes engagement and shared interests between the two nations. Rahman's 'Bangladesh First' approach aligns with assurances of a memorable visit from Narendra Modi. However, Dhaka appears hesitant, considering regional defense agreements and other foreign trips. India must adopt a long-term vision to strengthen bilateral ties and address key issues.

As Luckin expands globally, can Chinas coffee brand succeed where its soft power has struggled?

Chinas coffee boom is helping Luckin overtake Starbucks, with its low prices, app-based convenience and local flavours driving rapid growth. The shift reflects Chinas broader rise in consumer brands, though its soft power remains limited by digital isolation. Luckins global expansion could test whether a Chinese brand can become aspirational worldwide without directly promoting Chinese culture.

CAS v BAS, spot the difference, if you can

Companies pursue two types of aspirations, constructive and nonsensical. Constructive aspirations focus on practical improvements and achievable goals. Nonsensical aspirations involve grand pronouncements without concrete action plans. The article highlights the tendency for grander, nonsensical ideas to receive more attention. Wise companies prioritize practical, constructive efforts for genuine advancement.

Acquired new tastes & distastes: Indias health warnings are loud. Its consumption habits are louder

Despite health warnings, cigarette production surged 24%, while wine consumption rose 25% among the young. Conversely, production of fruit juices, aerated beverages, maida, and palm oil declined as consumers shifted towards healthier alternatives. This indicates a complex interplay between health consciousness, rising costs, and evolving lifestyle preferences influencing consumption patterns across various product categories.

PM Modi chairs third high-level meeting with Secretaries to Govt of India

New Delhi, Aug 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the third high-level meeting with Secretaries to the Government of India at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg earlier today. He discussed the future action agenda of Ministries and Departments dealing with Infrastructure and Connectivity, Security and External Affairs, and Governance. Noting that deliberations had already been held with two groups of Secretaries, Prime Minister said that Secretaries, in addition to thinking about immediate issues and statistics, should also think with a long-term perspective on how the countrys future should be shaped. Discussing the challenge of overcoming silos, Prime Minister stressed that silos are not merely an organisational problem but also a problem of mindset. He said silos can be both horizontal and vertical. He stressed that officials must take ownership of their responsibilities and work with a spirit of belongingness. Emphasising the importance of collective effort, Prime Minister cited the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and the West Asia crisis, when officials across departments worked together effectively. He said that such coordination mechanisms should become a natural part of the governments work culture. Prime Minister called for effective use of Artificial Intelligence while ensuring human intervention and judgement. He called for exploring innovative ways of combining the capabilities of AI with human expertise. Prime Minister emphasised that data is a national asset and a resource for the future. He noted that the government invests resources in collecting, storing and managing data, but its full potential is not always realised because of departmental silos and fragmented systems. He pointed to differences in the manner in which data is collected and managed for various purposes, and called for finding solutions that enable greater interoperability and effective use of data. Prime Minister called for greater engagement between government departments, universities and young people to bring fresh perspectives in policymaking. He said wider engagement with universities and young people can bring new and unconventional ideas. Prime Minister also called for greater focus on research and innovation, including in the defence sector. He emphasised the need to further strengthen Indias defence industry and make it more competitive at the global level. He stressed the importance of developing innovative defence courses and strengthening human resource development in the defence sector. Prime Minister also discussed the need for a comprehensive approach to strengthening Indias maritime sector. He recalled that shipbuilding was accorded infrastructure status and called for assessing whether the intended objectives are being achieved in mission mode. He reiterated the need for India to move from port development to port-led development. Prime Minister emphasised the need for better connectivity between manufacturing units and export-oriented units, so that Indias manufacturing and export capabilities can fully benefit from its maritime infrastructure. Prime Minister concluded by reiterating the need for a whole-of-government approach, greater coordination, innovative thinking and collective ownership to address complex challenges and shape Indias future with a long-term perspective. Prime Minister underlined the importance of informal interaction and building team spirit among officers. He encouraged senior officers to develop greater personal and informal engagement with junior colleagues and to build stronger networks across cadres and departments. The Secretaries shared their experiences on sectoral priorities, emerging challenges and implementation issues. The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of key Ministries and Departments, and senior officials from the Prime Ministers Office.

SED notifies new transfer policy for employees excluding ReT teachers

Srinagar, Aug 20: In a latest development, J&K School Education Department (SED) Thursday notified a new comprehensive transfer policy for its employees while introducing a five-zone rotation system. The new policy has introduced a point-based assessment mechanism besides special safeguards for employees serving in difficult areas. As per the order, the policy has been issued while superseding all previous government orders on the subject and seeks to regulate transfers through prescribed tenure norms, merit-based points and staff rationalisation. Under the new framework, all educational institutions have been divided into five Annual Transfer Drive (ATD) zones. As per the policy, Zone-I covers institutions within municipal limits of district headquarters while Zone-II includes those areas located outside municipal limits and up to 20 kilometres from district headquarters while Zone-III covers institutions beyond 20 and up to 40 kilometres. Also, Zone-IV comprises institutions located beyond 40 kilometres from district headquarters that require a change of residence, while Zone-V has been designated as the difficult-area category. As per the framework, employees posted in Zones I, II and III will ordinarily have a three-year tenure at a particular institution. The tenure will be two years for Zone-IV and one year for Zone-V, it reads. As per the policy, the government has ordered that employees completing the prescribed tenure in Zone-V will ordinarily be relieved from such postings for which the concerned directorates will be required to initiate their further adjustment. Retention beyond the prescribed tenure will be allowed only in exceptional circumstances and reasons will have to be recorded in writing, it reads. Also, the completion of prescribed Zone-V tenure will give employees a preferential claim for consideration against suitable vacancies in Zones-I and II, subject to administrative requirements. The policy also seeks to prevent prolonged postings in difficult areas by making service there a major factor in the new transfer assessment system. Employees serving in Zone-V can earn five points for completing the prescribed tenure, apart from additional points for service beyond the mandatory tenure, with a maximum of 25 points, the policy document reads. For Zone-IV service, employees will get three points for completing the prescribed tenure and additional points for service beyond the mandatory period, with a maximum of 15 points. The department has introduced an online, point-based Transfer Assessment Matrix for the annual transfer exercise, aimed at determining relative priority among employees seeking transfers. Apart from hard-area service, the matrix gives five points to employees aged 55 years or above and five points to female employees who are widows, divorcees or single parents. Persons with benchmark disabilities can receive up to 10 points, while employees with serious illness of themselves, their spouse, child or dependent parent can also receive 10 points, it reads. As per the policy, employees whose spouses are serving in government and posted in the same district will receive five points. The policy additionally provides 10 points for demonstrated exceptional academic performance, including improvement in student learning outcomes, board examination results, school performance and other measurable academic achievements during the preceding three academic years. Employees aged 58 years and above will ordinarily not be posted to Zone-IV or Zone-V, except where compelling administrative considerations exist and the employee requests such posting, it reads. As per the policy, the special consideration will be given to government-employed spouses, employees nearing superannuation, single parents, widows, divorcees, female employees, persons with benchmark disabilities and employees facing exceptional medical or security-related circumstances. Government-employed spouses will, as far as feasible, be posted suitably or within reasonable proximity to each other, subject to availability of posts, it reads. Also, employees due to retire within one year will preferably be posted near their residences, while those aged 58 years and above will ordinarily be kept out of the two hardest zones. The government will also consider inter-cadre transfers on marriage ground on the recommendation of a designated committee, provided the employee has completed at least five years of service in the parent district or divisional cadre. The policy also places restrictions on mutual transfers. Such transfers will ordinarily not be permitted within the so-called soft Zones I, II and III and will primarily be considered where they facilitate rotation from hard zones without adversely affecting pupil-teacher ratios. 'Employees transferred on a mutual basis will be required to serve for a minimum of three years at the allotted place, it reads. The department has also tightened staff rationalisation provisions wherein the surplus employees identified through rationalisation can be redeployed to institutions facing shortages irrespective of their period of stay at the existing place of posting. However, the government has said that rationalisation should not completely deplete teaching staff from an institution or adversely affect teaching of core subjects. Transfers will ordinarily be carried out after conclusion of the academic session and before commencement of the next academic session. The department, however, retains the power to order transfers during the academic session in cases involving academic or administrative exigencies, including subject-specific requirements, staff imbalances, school results, enrolment patterns and institutional performance, it reads. The policy framework also empowers the competent authority to defer, modify or withhold a transfer if its implementation is likely to adversely affect academic outcomes, public examinations or the functioning of an institution. The government has reiterated that the new policy does not apply to Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) and Regularised Rehbar-e-Taleem (RReT) employees, whose appointments are school-specific. A separate framework governing their transfers and allied service matters is under formulation and will be notified separately, it reads.

Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Syria discuss bilateral ties, regional and global developments

Islamabad, Aug 20: Pakistan on Thursday reaffirmed its support for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as the foreign ministers of the two countries held wide-ranging talks focused on regional and global developments and efforts to promote security and stability in West Asia. Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, the first Syrian foreign minister to visit Islamabad in 19 years, met his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar and exchanged views on international developments, including Palestine, the Golan Heights, Afghanistan, and the situation in South Asia and West Asia. The two sides reaffirmed the longstanding brotherly ties between Pakistan and Syria and agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across areas of mutual interest, the Foreign Office said in a statement. The ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including Palestine, the Golan Heights, Afghanistan, the situation in South Asia, and developments in West Asia, it added. His visit comes amidst Israels ongoing incursions into Syria since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. Dar, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, eaffirmed Pakistans support for Syrias sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, the FO said. The Syrian minister welcomed the signing of the trilateral defence pact by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye and commended Pakistans constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability, including its efforts towards de-escalation in the US-Iran context, it said. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement and cooperation for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond, the FO said. The two sides also discussed regional and international developments and efforts to promote security and stability in the region, Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported. The Syrian foreign minister also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who reaffirmed Pakistan's support for Syrias position on the Golan Heights -- a Syrian-claimed territory occupied by Israel since 1967. Sharif emphasised the need to translate the longstanding Pakistan-Syria friendship into enhanced cooperation across politics, defence, trade, investment, education, and human resource development, his office said in a statement. He said the resumption of direct flights between the two countries would enhance people-to-people exchanges and facilitate a large number of pilgrims who undertake religious visits to Syria from Pakistan. Al-Shaiban thanked Pakistan for its consistent support to Syria and expressed his government's keen interest in revitalising bilateral engagement, including through early institutional mechanisms for cooperation. Sharif also invited President Ahmed al-Sharaa to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date. Then Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem travelled to Pakistan in May 2007.

J&K Police chief reviews security arrangements for Kousarnag Yatra

Srinagar, Aug 20: Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Nalin Prabhat on Thursday reviewed the operational deployment and security preparations for the upcoming Kousarnag Yatra. The review meeting was held with concerned formations of J&K Police, 2 Sector RR, 14 Sector RR and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The meeting focused on ensuring foolproof security arrangements and smooth conduct of the yatra.

Union Cabinet approves setting up of J&K High Court bench in Ladakh: Amit Shah

New Delhi, Aug 20: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced that the Union Cabinet has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh. In a post on X, Shah said the decision was taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of the PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, has decided to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh. Shah said the setting up of new bench in Ladakh will enhance access to justice for citizens living in remote areas of Ladakh. This will significantly enhance access to justice for citizens living in remote areas of Ladakh by reducing the time required to avail themselves of the legal services they are entitled to, Shah said. He added that government is fully committed to the all-round development of Ladakh and to ensuring constitutional safeguards. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena terms the decision as historic and expressed gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. In a post on X, LG Ladakh said: Sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Honble PM, Shri @narendramodi Ji and Honble HM Shri @AmitShah Ji, for this historic decision! Establishing a High Court bench in Ladakh not only ensures speedy justice but reaffirms the government's unwavering commitment to the all-round development of Ladakh and fulfilling the long-standing collective aspirations of its people.

Govt strengthens post-matric scholarship support for scheduled caste students

New Delhi, Aug 20: The Government continues to strengthen educational support for Scheduled Caste students through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Post-Matric Scholarships for Scheduled Castes. The scheme provides financial assistance to eligible students pursuing post-matriculation and post-secondary education. The Revised Budget Estimate under the scheme stood at Rs 5,400 crore in 202324, Rs 5,500 crore in 202425 and Rs 6,000 crore in 202526. The corresponding actual expenditure was Rs 5,475.42 crore, Rs 5,581.52 crore and Rs 6,208.08 crore, respectively. Central assistance released to States and Union Territories amounted to Rs 5,475.43 crore in 202324, Rs 5,562.26 crore in 202425 and Rs 6,186.95 crore in 202526. The State and Union Territory-wise releases reflect the demand-driven nature of the scheme and the verified scholarship requirements submitted by the respective implementing authorities. Since the introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer in 202122, the Central share of the scholarship amount has been disbursed directly into the Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of beneficiaries. This mechanism has facilitated a simpler and faster flow of funds while enhancing transparency in scholarship delivery. The scheme is open-ended and demand-driven. The release of the Central share is contingent upon the concerned State Government or Union Territory Administration releasing its share and uploading the finally verified data of eligible beneficiaries on the National Scholarship Portal. States and Union Territories serve as the implementing agencies for the scheme. Issues relating to implementation, including delays in scholarship disbursal, are regularly reviewed and taken up with the concerned stakeholders to facilitate timely processing and release of benefits to eligible students. The Government remains committed to promoting equitable access to higher education and supporting Scheduled Caste students in pursuing their academic aspirations.

27 new wetlands of over one hectare area identified: JKPCC to NGT

New Delhi, Aug 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has informed the National Green Tribunal that 27 new wetlands with an area of over one hectare have been identified. The green body is hearing the matter based on media reports about the shrinking Kashmiri wetlands and threats to the region's ecosystem, besides the findings by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) this year regarding the alarming rate at which the region's water bodies (518 of 687 lakes) have disappeared. In an order dated August 18, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad said, The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) has filed the status report on August 8 stating that 27 new wetlands which are of an area more than one hectare have been identified. The bench, however, noted that the document was flawed. It said, We find that in this tabulated information, the column of GIS (Geographic Information System) area is highlighted in black; therefore, it is difficult to read the disclosure made in that column. The bench further directed the JKPCC to furnish complete information regarding the newly identified wetlands, including their area and encroachments. It said, The JKPCC is also required to place on record the water quality analysis of the samples taken from these 27 water bodies and sources of pollution, if any, affecting their water quality. The tribunal has scheduled the next hearing for November 6.

Mealybug Disease Hits Poplar and Willow Trees in Pulwama and Kulgam, Farmers Fear Losses

Ashok Bhan welcomes US Ambassadors statement on Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 20: Chairman Kashmir Policy and Strategy Group, Ashok Bhan on Thursday warmly welcomed the statement of the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, during his visit to Srinagar, that Jammu & Kashmir is an important part of India. In a statement issued, Bhan said that such a clear and unambiguous statement and acknowledgement is significant that comes at a time when Indias position on Jammu & Kashmir has consistently been that the region is an integral part of the country. He said the Ambassadors observations on the improving security environment and his appreciation of the efforts of the Government of India and the Jammu & Kashmir administration are equally welcome. His indication that the United States may review its travel advisory for J&K is a positive recognition of the changing ground realities and the growing confidence in peace, stability and normalcy in the region. Bhan said the statement should also encourage a larger international engagement with Jammu & Kashmir based on development, democracy, economic opportunity, tourism and the aspirations of its people, rather than through the prism of conflict and terrorism. The people of Jammu & Kashmir deserve peace, prosperity, dignity and full participation in Indias democratic, economic and constitutional journey, he said. At the same time, this welcome development must strengthen our resolve to address the remaining political and humanitarian challenges within the constitutional framework. Restoration of democratic institutions, reconciliation among communities and the dignified and secure return of those who were forced into exile must remain important components of the larger process of healing and rebuilding Jammu & Kashmir. The future of J&K must be defined by peace, pluralism, constitutional democracy and an empowered people, Bhan said. Bhan emphasized that the return of the exiled Kashmiri Pandit community must be an integral part of the larger process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction in Jammu & Kashmir. The Government of India and the J&K administration should evolve a time-bound, secure, dignified and community-sensitive return and rehabilitation module, with assured physical security, protection of property and cultural heritage, livelihood and housing support, and mechanisms for restoring legitimate rights and community institutions. The objective should not merely be the rehabilitation of displaced families outside Kashmir, but enabling the safe and honourable return of the exiled natives to their ancestral homeland, at least in three smart cities in three districts headquarters i.e., Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag with dignity, equality and a meaningful stake in the social, economic and political life of a peaceful and pluralistic Jammu & Kashmir.

Naeem Akhtar urges govt to make rainwater harvesting part of JJM in hilly areas

Bandipora, 20 Aug: Former Minister and PDP leader Naeem Akhtar has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to integrate rainwater harvesting and storage systems with the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), particularly in hilly and mountainous habitations facing difficulties due to the absence of dependable perennial water sources. Akhtar said he discussed the proposal with Additional Chief Secretary Shaleen Kabra during a meeting and subsequently followed up the matter with a detailed note, highlighting the need for a more sustainable approach to drinking water supply in the mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir. In his note, Akhtar pointed out that a significant number of habitations in the Union Territory are situated in mountainous terrain where reliable and perennial sources of water are either scarce or altogether absent. He said that in several cases, JJM schemes have been planned around seasonal springs and streams which may initially appear adequate but often witness a substantial decline in discharge during lean seasons. According to the former minister, some such water sources have even dried up after schemes were commissioned, making it difficult to maintain assured and sustainable tap-water supply to the concerned habitations. Akhtar said that ironically, many of these mountainous areas receive substantial rainfall and snowfall every year, but a large portion of this water is lost as surface runoff due to the absence of adequate infrastructure for its collection and storage. He proposed that small-scale rainwater harvesting structures and storage reservoirs should be incorporated into JJM schemes in habitations where dependable natural water sources are unavailable. The stored water could subsequently supplement drinking water supplies during periods when existing sources face depletion. He also suggested that, wherever technically feasible, stored water could be conveyed through gravity-based systems, reducing dependence on energy-intensive pumping arrangements. Akhtar specifically referred to several villages in Bandipora district, including Doban, Malangam, Argam, Chittibandi, Aloosa, Ajas and Guroora, where he said he had personally observed the need for such an intervention. He also mentioned Hajibal village in Baramulla district, besides instances in Rajouri and Poonch, where villages receive considerable rainfall but continue to face drinking water shortages because of the absence of dependable perennial sources. To minimise the additional financial burden on the government, Akhtar suggested that rainwater harvesting infrastructure could be developed through convergence with existing government programmes, including the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), MGNREGA and schemes of the Rural Development, Irrigation and Flood Control and Agriculture Departments. He said such convergence could help create durable community assets while making better use of existing resources. He further suggested that ST Sub-Plan funds could be utilised for such interventions in mountainous areas inhabited predominantly by Scheduled Tribe populations. Akhtar has requested the government to consider issuing appropriate policy directions and technical guidelines for incorporating rainwater harvesting components into JJM schemes in identified vulnerable habitations. He said such an initiative could significantly improve the sustainability and reliability of rural drinking water supply in the mountainous areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The proposal seeks to address a key challenge faced by remote hill habitationswhere water is available in abundance during the wet season but is not adequately captured and stored for use during periods of water-source depletion. Akhtar has urged the concerned authorities to examine the proposal and explore its integration into the planning and implementation of JJM schemes in vulnerable areas across Jammu and Kashmir. (KNS)

ACB nabs SMC building inspector for accepting Rs 10,000 bribe

Srinagar, Aug 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (JKACB) on Thursday said it had trapped and arrested a Junior Building Inspector of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for allegedly demanding and accepting a Rs 10,000 bribe from a complainant. Official said that Anti Corruption Bureau received a written complaint alleging that Gazala Akhter, Jr. Building Inspector, SMC, Ward No. 28, Srinagar, had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant in connection with the construction of two structures, despite the complainant having already obtained the requisite building permission from the competent authority. It was further alleged that the accused public servant was deliberately adopting delaying tactics by obstructing ongoing construction and causing harassment to the complainant with the intention of preventing him from completing the construction within the stipulated period, thereby putting the complainant under pressure to pay the demanded amount. Upon receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted, which prima facie substantiated the allegations. Accordingly, FIR No. 11/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar, and investigation was taken up. During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and apprehended the accused public servant, Gazala Akhter, Jr. Building Inspector, SMC Srinagar, red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000/- from the complainant. The bribe amount was recovered from her possession in the presence of independent witnesses, and she was taken into custody. Further investigation in the case is in progress, officials added.

Rs 31-crore modern abattoir to come up in Srinagar: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Aug 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said a 31-crore modern abattoir project in Srinagar had been revived and would introduce systematic testing and certification of meat sold in the city. Omar said the project, originally conceived in 2011-12, had remained stalled for several reasons before being revived by Srinagar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Fazl-ul-Haseeb and other officials. Almost 31 crore will be spent on it, Omar said, adding that the facility would test sheep brought for slaughter to ensure they were free of disease. The meat leaving the facility would also be halal-certified, he said. Although the project is to be completed in two years, Haseeb has assured me that they will complete it within a year and a half, Omar said. The Chief Minister said the project was particularly important given complaints about the quality of meat sold in Srinagar over the past two years. There were major complaints regarding meat, and in many places poor-quality meat was also found being sold to people, he said. He recalled that consumers had earlier been able to identify inspected meat through an official stamp. There was a time when meat sold in Srinagar and surrounding areas carried a stamp. You knew that the meat was genuine and safe, Omar said. We want to restart it, so that wherever meat is sold in Srinagar, it carries an official stamp and people know that it is of good quality and that eating it will not harm their health, he added. Film festival not about bringing Bollywood stars On the upcoming film festival in Jammu and Kashmir, Omar played down expectations of participation by Hollywood stars and said the event was primarily intended to expose local audiences and aspiring filmmakers to different forms of cinema. Don't expect Hollywood. I wish we had reached a stage where people from Hollywood came, but that will take time, he said, adding that the participation of some Bollywood personalities would be welcome. However, Omar stressed that attracting Bollywood celebrities was not the festival's objective. The purpose is not to bring Bollywood people here. Our effort is to give people here exposure to different kinds of films, he said. It is not my purpose, nor is it the purpose of this film festival, that we should remain under the misconception that if Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan or Salman Khan comes here, then our film festival will become successful, he added. The festival would instead focus on screening films that local audiences would not normally get to watch, besides conducting workshops in editing, directing, cinematography and music. Omar said the aim was also to develop local technical expertise so that filmmakers shooting in Kashmir would not have to depend entirely on technicians from outside. Our people should be able to do that work, and employment will also increase here as a result. That is the effort, he said. Omar declines comment on US-Pakistan diplomatic row Asked about the meeting between him and US Ambassador Sergio Gor and the subsequent summoning of Pakistan's diplomatic representative, Omar said the matter concerned Washington and Islamabad. They were not summoned; the Charg dAffaires was. This is a matter between Pakistan and America. Neither you nor I can do anything about it, he said. On Congress saying that Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India and questioning why such a statement should come from the US, Omar declined to engage in a political exchange. I am not getting into this now. Congress has a point of view. They are a political party; they are the largest Opposition party; they are entitled to their point of view, he said. I am not going to get into a war of words over this. What can I say about it? he added. AIIMS work progressing, law university file nearly ready On the proposed AIIMS facility, Omar said construction was progressing rapidly and that one block was expected to become operational this year. We have been assured that when I had earlier gone there to review the construction, one block would become operational this year, where OPD and some other treatments would begin, he said. We hope they will stick to that commitment, he added. On the proposed law university, Omar said discussions were still underway over its location but indicated that the government was close to completing the necessary paperwork. Discussions are underway about where the law university will be established, but I think the file is almost ready, he said. We will have to give further approval, but it will happen. Omar also said one or two private universities could soon begin setting up operations in Jammu and Kashmir. I have heard that one or two private universities are ready to come here, he said, adding that the government could soon announce their arrival and witness the laying of their foundation stones. He said the private universities had been waiting for the government to complete the regulatory process. The Act was passed during the Budget Session. After that, we were preparing the rules. The rules have been completed and released. Now private universities will start coming in, Omar said.

AIIMS block to open this year, law university file nearly ready: Omar Abdullah

Foreign dignitaries J&K visits are curated after 2019: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar, Aug 20: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday criticised the manner in which foreign dignitaries visit Jammu and Kashmir, saying their tours have become curated since 2019 and do not provide them an opportunity to hear different sections of society. Her remarks came a day after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited Srinagar, met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and described Jammu and Kashmir as an important part of India. Gor also indicated that the US would review its travel advisory for J&K and consider greater economic engagement with the region. This is not the first time that an ambassador, particularly from the United States, has come to Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said. The difference is that before 2019, whenever ambassadors came here, they would meet people from every section of society. She said representatives from tourism, trade, travel and other sections of society were previously consulted by foreign dignitaries before they returned. But after 2019, the tours of these foreign dignitaries are curated. They come, meet the Chief Minister, meet the Governor, go for a shikara ride and leave, she said. Mufti agreed with Abdullahs position that the problems of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be resolved by Washington. I agree with Omar Sahib that the issues of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be resolved by America. New Delhi will have to resolve them, she said. However, she criticised the Chief Minister for not using the ambassadors visit to raise concerns of the people of J&K. I expected Omar Sahib at least to tell the ambassador from America about the concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, she said, referring particularly to US military action in Iran and its impact on Muslim countries. Mufti also said Abdullah should have raised issues within Jammu and Kashmir that, in her view, require the intervention of New Delhi. She referred to alleged harassment during security operations in Pulwama and said, We have thousands of our people in jails. Every day people are removed from jobs. Raids are conducted every day. Properties are attached and there is a kind of suffocation in Jammu and Kashmir. These are issues that Omar Sahib can talk about. There is no need to talk to Washington about these, she said. Mufti also invoked the tenure of her father, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, saying his government had pursued dialogue and reconciliation with different stakeholders. When Mufti Sahib persuaded the Vajpayee government, a process of reconciliation was started. There was dialogue here. There was dialogue with every section. There was also dialogue with Pakistan. Routes were opened, she said. She urged Abdullah to similarly persuade New Delhi to address issues facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir. On Gors indication that the US would review its travel advisory for J&K and increase economic engagement, Mufti said the move could benefit the region if it focused on employment-generating sectors. I hope they will review it. And he said that we will engage more economically with Jammu and Kashmir, she said. If they engage here in horticulture and handicrafts, which can create jobs and benefit us economically, I think that needs to be looked at, she added. Gors description of J&K as an important part of India also drew a sharp response from Mufti. I don't think we need to take America so seriously, she said. Wherever America has intervened in the world, it has brought destruction, from Vietnam to Iran, she said, adding that the US was not in a position to certify Indias position on Jammu and Kashmir. They are not our masters that they have to give us a certificate before anything can be said, Mufti said.

Ladakh LG calls on PM

New Delhi, Aug 20: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Thursday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the progress of key developmental initiatives and infrastructure projects as well as the implementation of central welfare schemes in the Union Territory. In a message on X, Saxena said he was extremely grateful to the prime minister for his vision, constant guidance and support for the inclusive and sustainable development of Ladakh. It was indeed an honour to call on Honble Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi ji and brief him on the progress of key developmental initiatives, infrastructure projects and the implementation of central welfare schemes in UT of Ladakh, Saxena said.

US cannot resolve J&K issues, but Omar should have raised peoples concerns: Mehbooba

Adhaar App achieves milestone, crosses 5 crore downloads

Srinagar, Aug 20: The Aadhaar App has crossed the significant milestone of 50 million (5 crore) downloads, reflecting the growing adoption of convenient and digital-first Aadhaar services among residents. The milestone marks a significant expansion of the Aadhaar App's role as a digital interface between residents and UIDAI, enabling Aadhaar number holders to access a growing range of services from their smartphones, including mobile number update, address update, email update, biometric lock/unlock and e-Aadhaar download. The App has seen strong and sustained usage since its launch. While more than 60 lakh people updated their mobile number using the Aadhaar app, over 15 lakh address updates and more than 23 lakh email updates were done using the Aadhaar app. The growing adoption of these services reflects the increasing preference among residents for availing Aadhaar-related services digitally, without the need to visit an Aadhaar centre. The Aadhaar App is designed around the principle of Show, Share and Verify, giving Aadhaar number holders greater control over how their Aadhaar information is used while enabling convenient identity verification. Alongside the growth of the Aadhaar App, UIDAI continues to expand the ecosystem for secure and convenient offline verification. UIDAI has now onboarded more than 200 entities as Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSEs), since its roll out in January. This milestone marks a major advancement in enabling secure, consent-based, and paperless verification through Aadhaar offline mechanism -- empowering both service providers and people, alike. The onboarding of these OVSE partners reflects growing confidence in Aadhaar-enabled, privacy-first digital verification frameworks that prioritise user control while ensuring ease of access. By leveraging Aadhaar Offline Verification methods such as QR code-based verification and secure digitally signed documents, these entities will now be able to verify identity information without requiring real-time connectivity to UIDAIs central database. This approach brings a strong resident-centric focus, ensuring that Aadhaar number holders can share only the minimum necessary data, thereby enhancing privacy. This simplified verification journey builds trust through transparent and consent-driven interactions. The initiatives are aligned with the Government's Digital India vision and the broader objective of improving ease of living through secure, accessible and technology-enabled public services.

Search operation in J-K's Kathua after suspicious movement

Jammu, Aug 20: Security forces launched a search operation in the bordering areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Thursday following reports of suspicious movement, officials said. The operation was launched in forest areas near the Udhampur-Kathua border in Billawar forests. According to locals, unidentified persons allegedly knocked on the door of a house in a village in the Billawar belt late Wednesday night. The family did not open the door but found next day that food the kept in their house had gone missing, leading to suspicion that someone had entered the premises. Kathua Superintendent of Police, Operations, Pritpal Singh said such routine operations are carried out to maintain vigil in the border areas. To maintain alertness, these routine operations are carried out. Regarding the suspicious activity reported, yes, this is a bordering area, so keeping that in mind, we are carrying out this operation, Singh said.

Khoja Digar Prayers Held at Naqshband Sahab Shrine in Srinagar

Congress decision to stick to 2 paras of Vande Mataram 'appeasement,' defiance of law, says Amit Shah

Chennai, Aug 20: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched a scathing attack against the Congress party saying the party's decision to sing only two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' was not only anti-national but also an open defiance of law and appeasement eyeing vote bank. Referring to the Congress Working Committee's decision to follow only two paras of the national song, instead of its full rendition, Shah traced the history of partition and underlined the consequences suffered by the nation following the truncation of Vande Mataram. In a statement posted on 'X,' the Union Home Minister alleged: In 1937, for the sake of appeasement, it was the Congress itself that fragmented Vande Mataram into two parts. From there, the two-nation theory gained strength, leading to the partition of the country. On the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, the Modi government corrected this historic mistake and gave the full song legal form. But under Rahul Gandhis leadership, the Congress is once again treading the path of appeasement for the sake of its vote bank, Shah charged. The mistake of fragmenting Vande Mataram has happened once, and the nation has already suffered its consequences, he alleged. This is an appeal to the countrymen to unite and raise their voices against this appeasement by the Congress, he added. The CWC on Wednesday decided to abide by the 1937 resolution of its highest decision-making body on Vande Mataram, saying only two stanzas of the national song would be sung at all party events henceforth. BJP president Nitin Nabin has slammed the Congress alleging the opposition party has become the ew Muslim League for votes.