Opinion

'BJP facilitated, NC repressed': Omar Abdullah slams differential treatment of protesters

Srinagar, Sep 2: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused the police and the administration of adopting different standards while dealing with protests by the BJP and the National Conference, claiming while the saffron leaders were escorted, those from his party were dragged. Talking to reporters, Abdullah said while police facilitated the BJP leaders during their march to the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday, his National Conference (NC) colleagues were brutally repressed. You saw one protest that was denied. It showed the situation in J&K today: if you want to march on the Chief Minister's residence, you're allowed to; if you want to gherao the Secretariat, you're allowed to; but if you want to protest outside the BJP's office, God forbid, you will not be allowed, because the police are there only to protect the honour of the BJP; they don't care about anything else, the Chief Minister said. The remarks came after police stopped NC protesters from marching towards the BJP headquarters in Jawahar Nagar to press for the restoration of statehood after its leaders and workers assembled in large numbers near the Gindun Sports Complex in Rajbagh. The BJP too held a large protest against the alleged failure of the J&K government, with hundreds of party workers assembling near the Clock Tower at Lal Chowk. The protesters had planned a gherao of the Civil Secretariat the seat of the J&K government but were stopped by police near Hari Singh High Street. Abdullah said he saw videos of journalists interacting with the BJP leaders during the latter's protest march. I saw many of you accompanying that protest. The ease with which you were able to interview the leader of the opposition (Sunil Sharma) was seen by all. You saw how the BJP was allowed to protest, but the NC was not. So, please don't draw false equals. One side was facilitated, the other was brutally repressed. My colleagues were dragged and injured, and some of them had to seek treatment in hospitals, Abdullah claimed. Responding to Suni Sharma's demand for his resignation as the chief minister, Abdullah said there was no reason for him to step down. Why should I resign? Should we assume that they have no intention of granting statehood to this government? If so, why are we not hearing it directly from the Centre? If they truly intend to tear the Constitution to shreds, disrespect the Supreme Court, disrespect Parliament and prove Modi's promise as false, let them do so. I am not going to resign just to please the LoP, Abdullah said. The chief minister said the people of J&K gave his party a mandate for five years and he will present a report card to them. As for the allegations (of corruption), does my government even have the authority to conduct an investigation? Let the LoP tell us what investigation was carried out. If backdoor appointments took place, which agency investigated them? Let him name just one. The Anti-Corruption Bureau is not under my control. The Crime Branch is not under my control. The CID is not under my control, let alone the central agencies. Tell us, where was an FIR filed? he asked. Abdullah also accused the BJP of making baseless allegations since it didnt have anything else to say. We are bearing the brunt of their mistakes; we are trying to fix them, yet they are the ones protesting, he said. Asked about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remark that Muslims cannot be downgraded, the chief minister said it needs to be put into practice. Addressing members of the Indian-American community in New York recently, Bhagwat said that if any Hindu believes there should be no Muslims in Bharat, he will not remain a Hindu. Making a statement is one thing; putting it into practice is another. The truth is, what the RSS chief said sounded good. But it has to show on the ground, Abdullah said. On the Supreme Court quashing all FIRs against student protesters, Abdullah said the BJP had been on the back foot for quite some time. Ever since the Cockroach Janta Party was launched and Gen Z took the matter forward, the BJP has been on the back foot. We will see how long it remains on the back foot, he said. The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed all the FIRs registered against students who participated in the CJP-led protests across the country between July 20 and 25, prompting the group to call off its September 5 march in the national capital. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also directed the Centre to provide compensation to families of students who ended their lives over the NEET paper leak within three months.

UGC approves 33 new, 21 updated allied and healthcare courses; revises degree durations

New Delhi, Sep 2: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is strengthening the education, training and professional standards of Allied and Healthcare Professions to build a skilled, competent and future-ready healthcare workforce for the country. In a significant step in this direction, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified 33 new and 21 restructured/updated Allied and Healthcare Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) degrees under the regulatory purview of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP). The UGC has issued the 5th Amendment to the Specification of Degrees under Section 22(3) of the UGC Act, 1956 vide Notification No. F.21-12/2026(CPP-II) (UIN:3/2026) dated August 27, 2026. The Gazette Notification was published on August 31, 2026. The notification is an important step towards bringing greater uniformity in Allied and Healthcare education across the country and strengthening academic and professional pathways in these critical healthcare disciplines. Appreciating the efforts made by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, UGC and NCAHP team, Dr. Yagna Unmesh Shukla, Chairperson, NCAHP said, This UGC notification will bring uniformity across Allied and Healthcare courses, their duration, degree nomenclature and entry qualification under the One Nation, One Curriculum mandate by the Commission. This notification will provide immense guidance to students who are aiming to pursue their career in Allied and Healthcare Professions scheduled under the NCAHP Act, 2021. The degrees notified cover disciplines including Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Emergency Medical Technology, Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Psychology, Medical and Social Psychiatric Social Work, Medical Radiology, Imaging and Therapeutic Technology, Physician Associate, Respiratory Technology, Dialysis Therapy Technology and Health Information Management, among others. The notification specifies the degree nomenclature, abbreviation, duration and entry qualifications, while course durations have also been revised for select programmes. The notification further provides for specialisation-specific degrees, with nine specialisations in Master of Occupational Therapy, eight in Master of Physiotherapy, four in Master of Medical Laboratory Sciences, three in Master of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology and two in Master of Respiratory Technology. This will expand academic opportunities for students and enable universities to offer specialised programmes aligned with the evolving needs of the healthcare sector. The reform is aimed at establishing institutional parity and uniform national standards in Allied and Healthcare education while aligning degree nomenclature with globally accepted degree-level qualifications. This is expected to encourage more students to pursue these professions, provide clearer academic and career pathways and facilitate greater mobility and international recognition of Indian Allied and Healthcare professionals. The initiative fulfils the statutory mandate of NCAHP under the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021, which provides for the regulation and maintenance of standards of education and professional services across Allied and Healthcare Professions. In line with this mandate, NCAHP has already released 18 competency-based curricula covering 28 professions, with the objective of standardising curricula and degree nomenclature across the country. The competency-based curricula place particular emphasis on hands-on clinical training through adequate-duration internships at hospitals or associated practising facilities. This approach seeks to ensure that students develop the practical skills, professional competencies and clinical exposure required for effective healthcare delivery. To ensure seamless adoption of the reforms, NCAHP has already issued directive to all the states, union territories and other relevant stakeholders much before the commencement of the academic year to mandatorily implement the released curricula from 2026-27 academic year, with an option to commence the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) course. The Commission is also working towards finalising the remaining competency-based curricula for implementation from the subsequent academic year. The measures are expected to strengthen the availability of a well-trained and qualified Allied and Healthcare workforce, which forms an essential component of multidisciplinary healthcare delivery. The reforms will also provide greater clarity and consistency for students, educational institutions and healthcare establishments while creating improved opportunities for professional growth and mobility.

People see doctors as their last hope: CM Omar to newly-appointed medical officers

CCPA fines Dial4Trade Rs 10 lakh for unauthorised online sale of ammonium nitrate

New Delhi, Sep 2: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of 10 lakh on Dial4Trade Technologies Private Limited for facilitating the online listing, hosting, advertising and sale of Ammonium Nitrate on its e-commerce platform without the mandatory regulatory safeguards required under law. The final order was passed by the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra, under Sections 10, 20 and 21 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The CCPA has also directed Dial4Trade to immediately discontinue the listing, hosting, advertising or facilitation of sale of Ammonium Nitrate, or any other substance classified as an explosive under the Explosives Act, 1884, on its platform. CCPA finds absence of mandatory disclosures and verification During examination of the platform, the CCPA found that Ammonium Nitrate was listed and made available for purchase without adequate safeguards, including: Disclosure of valid PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) licence details of the seller; Verification of the identity and licensed status of the buyer before purchase; Mechanisms to ensure traceability of transactions, as required under the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012; and Cautions regarding legal restrictions on the possession and use of the substance and the consequences of unauthorised possession. The listing was also accompanied by imagery depicting explosions and blast effects. The CCPA observed that such imagery was likely to attract attention to the product rather than communicate its hazardous and regulated nature. The CCPA held that a product listing hosted on a digital marketplace and communicated to the public over the internet falls within the definition of an advertisement under Section 2(1) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The Authority further held that presenting a regulated explosive substance for sale in the manner of an ordinary consumer product, without informing users that its lawful purchase requires the prescribed licence, constitutes a misleading advertisement and unfair trade practice under Sections 2(28) and 2(47) of the Act. Dial4Trade contended that it operates as a Business-to-Business (B2B) marketplace intermediary and should not be held responsible for listings uploaded by third-party sellers. The CCPA rejected the contention, noting that the platform permitted purchase of the substance in quantities as low as a single unit and did not have minimum order quantity or institutional-buyer verification mechanisms ordinarily associated with a B2B model. The CCPA also held that the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 apply to marketplace e-commerce entities, irrespective of how the platform describes its business model. The CCPA also examined Dial4Trades reliance on the intermediary safe-harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The Authority observed that such protection is subject to compliance with prescribed due-diligence requirements. It found that a compliance mechanism based only on reactive removal of listings after detection, rather than verification at the point of listing, was insufficient in the case of regulated and hazardous substances. The CCPA also noted that Dial4Trade had the ability to block sellers and delist products from its platform, indicating that the platform exercised control over the content hosted on it. Sector-wide examination of e-commerce platforms The action against Dial4Trade forms part of the CCPAs ongoing examination of e-commerce platforms concerning the unauthorised online sale of hazardous chemicals, explosive substances and related precursors. The substances under examination include Ammonium Nitrate, Gun Powder, Picric Acid and Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN). The matter is currently under examination in respect of the following platforms: India MART; Justdial; Sigma-Aldrich India; Exporters India; Ibuychemikals; Alpha Chemika; and TradeIndia. CCPA reiterates need for due diligence by e-commerce platforms The CCPA noted that Ammonium Nitrate is a regulated substance whose unauthorised sale or possession without prescribed safeguards can pose risks to public safety. The Authority reiterated that consumers rely on product listings and descriptions while making online purchases and that e-commerce platforms are required to undertake appropriate due diligence when dealing with regulated products. The CCPA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumer rights, preventing unfair trade practices and strengthening compliance by e-commerce platforms, particularly in relation to regulated and hazardous products.

Kargil airport operationalisation a priority, efforts underway to resolve issues: Ladakh LG

Kargil, Sep 2: Ladakh Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday said concerted efforts are underway to operationalise Kargil airport at the earliest, with the administration working to address the technical and other challenges involved. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) here, he said a meeting was held on Tuesday with local leaders and other stakeholders including representatives from the Indian Air force and Airport Authority of India to discuss the operationalisation of the airport. There is a strong desire among all of us to make this airport operationlise as soon as possible. There are some difficulties and challenges, including issues related to land acquisition and certain technical issues. These need to be addressed as per the prescribed airport standards, the LG said. He said the administration is making every effort to resolve the pending issues in a comprehensive manner and make the airport functional at the earliest. This is also a long-standing expectation of the people of Kargil, and we are committed to addressing it, Saxena said. He said the inauguration of POPSK Kargil is an important step towards ensuring last-mile delivery of citizen-centric services in Ladakh. Today is a very important day for the people of Kargil. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people because the long-standing problem they were facing has finally been resolved, and the process of establishing this facility has been completed, the LG said. Saxena said the people living here and those coming from surrounding areas, particularly those who need to travel for various services, used to face a great deal of inconvenience. They often had to travel long distances, sometimes to Srinagar or elsewhere, which involved considerable time, effort and expense. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Posts for fulfilling the long-pending aspiration of the people of Kargil. Saxena said that bringing essential services closer to citizens is central to the governments vision of Ease of Living, particularly in the remote and geographically challenging regions such as Ladakh. He expressed confidence that the new facility would provide people with fair, efficient, transparent and hassle-free passport services. He also appreciated Union minister Kirti Vardhan Singh for visiting Kargil for the inauguration and for the support extended by the Ministry of External Affairs in establishing the POPSK.

Kishtwar rape-death case: Crime Branch raids prime accused's house; 2nd hospital worker dismissed

Jammu, Sep 2: The Crime Branch on Wednesday raided the residence of the prime accused in the rape-and-death case of a 15-year-old tribal girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar, while authorities dismissed a second sanitation worker from the hospital in the case, officials said. The case was handed over to the Crime Branch on August 29 following widespread condemnation and protests. A minor was raped allegedly by her school teacher over several months before she died during a pregnancy termination procedure on August 20. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of police has arrested a total of seven persons, including the main accused, his brother, two hospital sanitation workers and a nurse, in connection with an FIR registered at Chatroo police station under relevant provisions of the POCSO Act, BNS and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The officials said a Crime Branch team raided the residence of the prime accused along with the house of his brother. The raids were carried out as part of the ongoing investigation, with the team searching the premises to gather evidence and examine material that could establish the sequence of events and the alleged involvement of the accused, the officials said. In a related development, the officials said the services of a hospital development fund (HDF) sanitation worker at district hospital Kishtwar, have been terminated with immediate effect following her arrest in the case on August 30. This office has been formally intimated about the said arrest...the allegations and the nature of the offences involved are of an extremely grave and serious nature, which have rendered the continuation of the said individual in service wholly incompatible with the discipline, integrity, reputation and functioning of a public health institution, the order reads.

CM Omar accuses police of facilitating BJP protest in Srinagar

ACB arrests junior assistant for accepting Rs 15,000 bribe in Jammu

Jammu, Sep 2: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Wednesday trapped and arrested a Junior Assistant posted in the office of Assistant Commissioner (General), Jammu for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 15,000 for issuing a marriage certificate. Officials said the ACB trapped and arrest a public servant identified as Ajay Kumar, S/o Late Sh. Ram Murti, R/o Village Gango Chack, Gajansoo, Jammu, presently posted as Junior Assistant in the Office of the Assistant Commissioner (General), Jammu, for demanding and accepting a bribe. They said a written complaint was received by the ACB alleging that the accused public servant had demanded a bribe of 20,000 from the complainant for issuance of a Marriage Certificate under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Following negotiations, the accused allegedly agreed to accept 15,000 as illegal gratification. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau and requested legal action against the accused public servant. Upon receipt of the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification, which established a prima facie case regarding the demand of bribe by the accused public servant. Consequently, FIR No. 11/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), was registered at Police Station ACB Central J&K, Jammu, and investigation was taken up, officials said. During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted by the ACB. The team laid a successful trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe amount of 15,000 from the complainant. The accused was immediately arrested on the spot, and the bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap proceedings. Subsequently, searches were conducted at the residential premises of the accused government employee in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses. Officials added that further investigation into the case is underway.

Farooq Abdullah says J&K will no longer remain silent, demands restoration of statehood

Two drug peddlers held with contraband substance in Anantnag: Police

Srinagar, Sep 2: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday apprehended two drug peddlers during a routine patrolling at Mirgund near Rehmat Alam Masjid in Anantnag district. The spokesperson said that a police party from Police Station Anantnag, during routine patrolling at Mirgund near Rehmat Alam Masjid, apprehended two persons identified as Uzair Ashraf Wani, son of Mohammad Ashraf Wani; and Mujtaba Mehraj, son of Mehraj Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Sarnal, Anantnag. During their checking, charas was recovered from their possession. Consequently, a case vide FIR No. 291/2026 under Sections 8/20 & 29 of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Anantnag, and investigation has been set into motion, spokesperson said. Police reiterated its commitment to eliminating the menace of drugs from society and urged the general public to cooperate by sharing any information related to drug trafficking.

Patient care hit as Medical Interns strike overburdens GMC Srinagar PG doctors

Energy security inseparable from national security, strategic autonomy and economic resilience: Jitendra Singh

New Delhi, Sep 2: Energy security is inseparable from national security, strategic autonomy and economic resilience, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences; Minister of State, PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said today while addressing the 6th International Climate Summit 2026 Indias Energy & Food Security Mission, organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi. He said that in the prevailing environment of geopolitical uncertainties, disrupted supply chains and volatile energy markets, it is imperative for India to become increasingly self-reliant, indigenous, affordable and technology advanced in the energy sector. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that technological advancement and self-reliance are closely interlinked, and affordability is equally important for ensuring that the benefits of emerging technologies reach their full potential. He said that with the emergence of an AI-driven data-centre era, India would require affordable as well as clean sources of energy to derive maximum outcomes from these technologies. The Minister described the present period as a time of transition towards a secure and sustainable energy future, including a transition towards clean energy. He said that as India seeks to assume a greater global role, it would also have to keep pace with global trends and technological developments in the energy sector. Highlighting the Governments approach of pursuing energy security through multiple pathways, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that nuclear energy is one of the important areas being pursued. He highlighted the nuclear energy mission with a target of 100 GW by 2047, describing the opening up of the nuclear sector to private players as a significant development. He said that an integrated approach and an enlarged resource pool would be necessary to meet the country's ambitious energy targets. The Minister also referred to the target of five Small Modular Reactors by 2033, saying that the years ahead would see such technologies becoming increasingly important. He also highlighted the efforts being undertaken in the area of green hydrogen, including the recently flagged-off green hydrogen train. Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised that biofuels and the circular economy would form an important part of India's clean-energy transition. He further mentioned that the next industrial revolution would be driven significantly by the circular economy and new technology pathways, including biofuels, ethanol and sustainable fuels. He stressed that India's growing requirements in sectors such as agriculture, health, irrigation, fertiliser and transport make it necessary to continuously increase the pace of development and adoption of clean-energy technologies. Highlighting the role of the Ministry of Science & Technology and its associated departments, the Minister said that scientific institutions, teaching institutions, universities and StartUps are actively contributing to India's emerging technology ecosystem. He noted the rapid expansion of the country's start-up ecosystem, which has grown from around 350 start-ups to almost 2.4 lakh, with India now ranking third in the world. Dr. Jitendra Singh also emphasised the importance of greater participation of the private sector in India's technology and innovation journey. He said that the Government cannot undertake everything on its own and that the private sector needs to increasingly participate in areas that are opening up to new players. Referring to the 1 lakh crore RDI Fund, the Minister said that it has been introduced to accelerate private participation in research and development. He said that the initiative represents an effort to incentivise the private sector and encourage it to participate in new and emerging areas. The Minister also highlighted the importance of non-government participation in research, noting that the Anusandhan National Research Foundation envisages greater participation from non-government sources, with around 5060 per cent of resources expected from non-government sources. He said that such participation would be necessary for India to remain globally competitive. Dr. Jitendra Singh observed that the earlier skepticism between the public and private sectors has been gradually declining and that both sides have increasingly learnt to work together. He said that achieving ambitious national targets would require the Government, industry and other stakeholders to put their collective efforts together. The Minister called upon the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry to act as a bridge and catalyst between the Government and the non-government sector. He said that industry and professional bodies can play an important role in bringing the two sides together and contributing to India's collective journey towards 2047. Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised that India's energy transition cannot be viewed in isolation and would require simultaneous progress in technology, self-reliance, affordability, clean energy, private participation and innovation. He said that the country's growing energy requirements and its aspiration to remain globally competitive make it essential to continue developing indigenous and technologically advanced solutions.

Kargil gets post office passport seva kendra to provide easier access to passport-related services

Kargil, Sep 2: The post office passport seva kendra (POPSK) was inaugurated in Ladakh's Kargil on Wednesday to provide residents easier access to passport-related services, officials said. Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh inaugurated it in the presence of Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh V K Saxena and Member of Parliament Mohmad Haneefa Jan. The POPSK, established under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Department of Posts and Passport Seva, is aimed at bringing citizen-centric passport services closer to people in the remote and geographically challenging region of Ladakh, they said. The facility will enable applicants to avail themselves of passport-related services closer to home, offering significant relief to residents who earlier had to travel to Srinagar or other distant centres for such services. The opening of the POPSK underscores efforts to leverage the extensive postal network for delivering essential citizen services, particularly in remote and underserved areas, they said. The initiative is expected to make passport services more accessible, efficient and people-friendly. The Ladakh Postal Division has added another milestone to its public-service infrastructure with the opening of the centre, an initiative led by Superintendent of Post Offices, Ladakh Postal Division, Arvind Kher, they said.

Rescuers search for 2 missing soldiers after Army boat capsizes in Yamuna at Hathnikund Barrage

Yamunanagar, Sep 02: A search and rescue operation was underway to trace two Army soldiers who went missing after their boat capsized in the Yamuna river at the Hathnikund Barrage, officials said on Wednesday. The incident took place on Tuesday evening. According to an official statement, On September 1, during a joint watermanship training at the Hathnikund Barrage, a boat got caught into strong currents towards the downstream barrage. The teams made swift efforts to retrieve the boat. However, the boat got stuck in strong eddies around the sluice gates and capsized, resulting in the crew getting swept away by the strong currents. Two members of the crew are presently missing. A joint search and rescue mission by the Army, Air Force, local police and civil administration is underway, and all available resources are being employed to locate and recover the missing soldiers, the statement said.

Man killed as boulder crushes tourist vehicle in Anantnag

Anantnag, Sep 02: A tourist was killed after a boulder rolled down a hillside and hit a vehicle on the Khanbal-Pahalgam Road near Bumzoo shrine in Mattan area of south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Wednesday. An official said that an Innova vehicle bearing registration number JK01AT-8081, carrying six tourists from Pahalgam towards Anantnag, was struck by a boulder that suddenly rolled down from the hillside. He said that one tourist sustained serious injuries, while the other tourists, including the driver, were safe. The injured tourist was immediately shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, where doctors declared him brought dead. The deceased was later identified as R Himansu Prasad Rao, son of R Pala Krishna Rao, a resident of Ganjam, Odisha. Meanwhile, police have taken cognisance of the incident.(KNO)

AIMIM Spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar Joins Congress, Slams Owaisi-led Outfit

Waqar joined the Congress in the presence of AICC In-charge, Uttar Pradesh, Rajendra Pal Gautam, UP Congress chief Ajay Rai and AICC Minority Department chairman Imran Pratapgarhi at the AICC Office at 24 Akbar Road

Either work or leave the chair: Sat Sharma targets Omar Abdullah government at Lal Chowk protest

NC workers, leaders detained during Srinagar protest over statehood, reservations and pending issues

Omar Abdullah government has failed to address peoples issues: Sunil Sharma

Government failed youth, denied them their rights: Sunil Sharma

Srinagar, Sep 02: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma, on Wednesday accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of failing to address public grievances, claiming that a protest that was initially planned on a small scale turned into a major mobilisation. This is a reflection of the failure of Omar Abdullah Sahibs government. Where people are troubled, the issues and problems of the people are not being resolved, Sharma said. He said the protest was initially intended to be a minor protest, but claimed that a large number of people eventually joined the demonstration. For this, although we had kept a minor protest today, people have come out on the streets in lakhs, Sharma said. Sharma also accused the Omar Abdullah government of treating young people unfairly and denying them their rights. People have come out on the streets against the Omar Abdullah government, the government which has done injustice to the youth here, which has taken away the rights of the youth, he said. Describing the protest as successful, Sharma added, Therefore, people have come out on the streets and today a successful protest has taken place.

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NC activists detained outside BJP headquarters in Jammu

Jammu, Sept 02: Dozens of ruling National Conference activists were detained on Wednesday while attempting to march towards the BJP headquarters in Trikuta Nagar here as part of a protest seeking restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Led by Jammu provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta, the NC activists assembled at the Trikuta Nagar market and were proceeding towards the nearby BJP headquarters to stage a gherao when they were stopped by a large police contingent deployed at the spot. The protesters attempted to cross the barricades and were subsequently detained by police, officials said, adding they boarded them into two waiting vehicles and took them to district police lines, effectively foiling their proposed BJP office gherao. Prominent among those detained by police include Gupta, provincial secretary Sheikh Bashir Ahmad and former minister Ajay Sadhotra, the officials said. Earlier, a NC spokesperson said the party would peacefully gherao the BJP headquarters to demand accountability for commitments made by the Union government in Parliament and before the Supreme Court. Our demands are clear constitutional guarantees, restoration of statehood, clearance of the reservation file and justice for the people of J-K, the spokesman said. The protesters carried placards carrying messages, including BJP failed to raise the voice of J-K, restore statehood, BJP failed to bring employment package and BJP creating hurdles for statehood. The spokesman said the mandate given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir could not be treated as a blank cheque and called for the commitments made to the people to be honoured. The mandate of the people of J-K is not a blank cheque. It must be respected, not taken for granted, he said.

India, Afghanistan Joint Working Group reviews measures to strengthen bilateral trade, economic cooperation

Srinagar, Sep 02: The IndiaAfghanistan Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade, Commerce and Investment held its meeting virtually on 1st September 2026. The meeting was attended by officials from India and Afghanistan, including representatives from commerce, industry, customs, regulatory authorities and diplomatic missions. The two sides reviewed various issues relating to bilateral trade and economic cooperation and discussed measures to further facilitate trade and strengthen commercial engagement between the two countries. Key areas of discussion included trade facilitation and customs cooperation, visa facilitation for Afghan traders, banking and financial cooperation, pharmaceutical and agricultural trade, energy cooperation, investment and trade promotion, tariff concessions, cargo connectivity and port-related issues. Both sides agreed to strengthen institutional cooperation and pursue follow-up actions in the identified areas, including enhanced customs and data-sharing cooperation, regulatory cooperation in pharmaceuticals and agriculture, improved trade connectivity, and promotion of investment and business-to-business engagement. The meeting was held in a warm and constructive atmosphere. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening IndiaAfghanistan trade, commerce and investment ties and agreed to maintain continued engagement on the issues discussed.

BJP leaders and workers march towards secretariat to protest misgovernance

BJP workers march towards Civil Secretariat in Srinagar

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People are angry, that is why they are on streets: LoP Sunil Sharma

Srinagar, Sep 02: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma on Wednesday said the BJPs protest in Srinagar reflected what he termed the failures of the National Conference-led government, as party leaders and workers gathered at Lal Chowk ahead of a planned march towards the Civil Secretariat. Security was tightened across Lal Chowk ahead of the BJPs proposed Civil Secretariat gherao, with the Hari Singh High Street road towards the Secretariat closed and heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel in place. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the gathering near the Clock Tower, Sharma said people were taking to the streets over issues including electricity, water, roads and unemployment. This is a reflection of the failures of the government, which you are seeing on the streets today. Those who are yearning for electricity and water, those who are yearning for roads, those who are yearning for a job, especially young people, those young people are told that today they will not get a job from PSC or SSRB, Sharma said. He alleged that the government had failed to provide adequate employment opportunities to the youth and claimed that jobs were being linked to contractors associated with the National Conference. Today you ask for a job from a contractor of the National Conference. Today, if you have to appoint a doctor anywhere, he will be the contractor of the National Conference, he alleged. Sharma also criticised the government over the increase in electricity tariffs, saying it had placed an additional burden on the poor. On top of that, the government has increased the electricity tariff and has put a burden on the poor. People are angry, that is why they are on the streets, he said. Targeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Sharma questioned the promises made by the National Conference during the Assembly elections, including its commitments on Article 370, free electricity and jobs. Mr Omar Abdullah had said he would bring back the so-called Article 370. He had said he would give 200 units of electricity for free and 100,000 jobs, Sharma said. He also challenged Omar Abdullah to seek a fresh mandate from the people on the issue of statehood. If Mr Omar Abdullah has even a little bit of dignity left, then come and fight the elections on statehood and resign from Ganderbal. If people win the elections and send you to the statehood, then we will bow before you, Sharma said. The BJP had announced that it would march towards the Civil Secretariat as part of the protest. The party leaders and workers were gathered at the Clock Tower at the time of filing this report and had not yet begun the march.(KNO)

NC holds protest in Srinagar, demands restoration of statehood, constitutional guarantees

Srinagar, Sep 02: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration in Srinagar, pressing the BJP-led central government to fulfil its promises on restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for the Union Territory. The protest, which was taken out towards the BJP headquarters here, saw NC workers raising slogans and carrying placards demanding the restoration of J&K's statehood a key promise made by the Centre both in Parliament and before the Supreme Court following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. We only want to remind the BJP leadership in Delhi that the promises you made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be fulfilled. The time has now come, NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq told reporters on the sidelines of the protest. MLA Sadiq said the peaceful march was intended to convey the party's demands to the central leadership, not to target the BJP's local unit in J&K. We have nothing against the BJP's local leadership. We want to remind Prime Minister Modi and the central leadership of the commitments made before the Supreme Court. We have come here to seek fulfilment of those promises, he said. The NC leader listed the party's key demands, which include restoration of statehood, constitutional safeguards, and reservation-related issues concerning the youth of J&K. It is not only about constitutional guarantees and special status, but also about statehood and reservation for our children. Something must be done for the youth today, MLA Sadiq added. He also raised concerns over delays in the rationalisation of posts for youth, saying employment-related issues needed urgent attention. Asserting that the protest was rooted in the mandate given by the people of J&K, Sadiq said the NC was seeking respect for that mandate and the restoration of the rights of the people. We are here for all the rights and the mandate given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. That mandate must be respected. That is why we have come here today, he said. (KNS)

BJP workers hold protest at Lal Chowk against NC government

Security tightened around Jawahar Nagar ahead of NCs protest and gherao of BJP HQ in Srinagar

ED raids multiple States in fraud NHAI toll plaza collection case

They said about 14 premises in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and West Bengal were brought under the searches

US and Iran trade strikes, and other Mideast news

Dubai, Sep 02: The United States military struck targets in Iran on Tuesday as hostilities flared after a month without military action. Iran fired missiles and drones in response, Iranian semiofficial media said. The Fars and Tasnim news agencies, seen as close to Iran's security forces, reported late Tuesday that Iran had launched such operations. One US strike hit a home hosting a wedding, killing five people and wounding dozens, local officials said. Here's a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East. Full coverage can be found here. US strikes targets in Iran US Central Command said the new strikes come after Tehran tried to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and US service members in the region. US President Donald Trump warned in a social media post that if Iran retaliates, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings. On Sunday, the US military said it struck rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by launching missiles at US sites in Jordan, which were intercepted, while the United Arab Emirates said it stopped an Iranian drone over its waters. After the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, Iran established a chokehold on the strait, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil passed in peacetime, slowing ship traffic to a trickle. That has roiled the global economy, raising prices worldwide for energy and other goods. While Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has long favoured a negotiated end to the war, the most powerful force in Iran remains the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which is pressing for greater concessions from the US, including Iranian control over the strait and financial compensation for the war. Those conditions would likely be unacceptable to Washington. US renews regionwide Mideast travel alert The State Department renewed a regionwide travel alert for the Middle East as hostilities between the US and Iran resumed. Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation, the department said in a blanket advisory covering all countries in the region. The language is similar to that used in previous warnings that came before a lull in combat activities and said Americans in the Mideast should exercise heightened vigilance and be aware of potential travel disruptions. Iran is working with Oman on a plan for shipping traffic Iran has been working with Oman, which sits on the south side of the Strait of Hormuz, on a framework for managing shipping traffic, though it remains unclear whether the plan would be acceptable to the US. Other Gulf nations have stressed the need to reopen the strait unconditionally. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, met with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on Tuesday, according to the Saudi Press Agency, which said the two discussed ongoing efforts to maintain regional security and stability, but did not mention the strait specifically. Iran continues to deny UN inspectors access to nuclear sites The United Nations nuclear watchdog has been unable to inspect nuclear facilities in Iran affected by the 12-day war in June 2025, according to a confidential report by the UN watchdog circulated to member states and seen Tuesday by The Associated Press. The International Atomic Energy Agency said in its report that therefore it cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran. Israeli raid to detain Hamas militant in Gaza kills 4 people Israel said it detained a senior Hamas security official in a special forces raid in Gaza City on Tuesday. The operation killed at least four people, including two children, hospital officials said. In a joint statement, Israel's military and national security agency said the operation targeted the head of Hamas' internal security. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the detainee, who he did not name, is one of the most senior Hamas leaders and that he was most recently engaged in efforts to restore Hamas's governance in Gaza. Islamic State spokesperson killed in Yemen Yemen's state security said that Islamic State spokesperson Abu Huzayfah al-Ansari was killed in Yemen in a joint operation by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Yemeni counterterrorism forces. He was killed at dawn Tuesday while he was hiding in a house in Seiyun city in the Yemeni province of Hadramout, according to a security statement published by state-run SABA news agency. A US official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was no US military involvement in the operation. (AP) 2 ships attacked in and around the Strait of Hormuz The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said it received reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, and a second report involving a nearby tanker. The UKMTO said a tanker was hit by three projectiles Monday on its way out of the Persian Gulf through the strait east of Oman. In the second attack the same day, the centre received a report involving a tanker and military forces off the coast of Oman, east of the Strait of Hormuz. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to participate in BRICS Summit in India

Guterres also reaffirms the commitment of the UN to support all diplomatic efforts aimed at a comprehensive and durable solution

Inter-Zonal Cricket: Cricketers compete across 4 cluster venues in Baramulla

Baramulla, Sep 1:The Inter-Zonal District-Level Cricket Competition for Boys commenced Tuesday across District Baramulla, organised by the Department of Youth Services & Sports, Baramulla, under the supervision of DYSSO Baramulla, Mushtaq Ahmad Pampori. The week-long competition, as per an official statement, is being held simultaneously at four cluster venues viz Singpora Kalan, Sopore, Pattan and Boniyar, providing young cricketers an opportunity to showcase their talent, teamwork and sporting spirit. At Cluster Pattan, Zone Pattan defeated Zone Kunzer in the opening match, while Zone Singpora Pattan emerged victorious against Zone Nehalpora in the second match. The competition will continue throughout the week, with teams vying for district-level honours and an opportunity to showcase their cricketing potential.

J&K Sports Council launches gymnastics academy in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sep 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council has launched a new gymnastics academy at the Gindun Sports Complex in Rajbagh, opening registrations for beginners as part of efforts to expand access to the sport among children in the Valley. As per a statement issued, it is an ongoing effort to give children across the Valley access to sports that haven't had much of a foothold here. Gymnastics builds strength, flexibility, balance and, just as importantly, confidence and discipline in young athletes. We want kids in Jammu & Kashmir to have a real shot at gymnastics, something that just hasn't been available to them before, said Dilbagh Singh, who's coordinating the program for JKSC. If a few of them go on to represent J&K one day, that is exactly why we are doing this. The academy joins a growing list of grassroots programmes, and the Sports Council has been rolling out to get more young people into organised sport. Parents can reach out to Dilbagh Singh at +91 90860 86060 to registration.

Kashmir Sporting FC, Shaheen FC register wins in Srinagar A-Division League

Srinagar, Sep 1:Srinagar A-Division League witnessed two exciting encounters on Tuesday. In the first match of the day, Kashmir Sporting FC, as per the DFA statement, put up an impressive performance to defeat Safallo FC by a convincing margin of 61. In the second match, Shaheen FC secured a well-deserved 31 victory over National Dalgate FC in an entertaining contest. Both matches showcased competitive football and strong performances from the participating teams.

Over 300 registrations received on first day

Srinagar, Sep 1:More than 300 young footballers registered on the opening day of the Sub-Junior Boys Football Trials across Jammu and Kashmir, with 301 registrations received from aspiring players in both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions. A total of 214 registrations, as per a statement, were received online, while around 87 registrations were received offline. The trials are being conducted to identify and shortlist talented players for the Sub-Junior Boys Football Team, with participants being assessed on their technical skills, tactical understanding, physical attributes and overall performance. The second day of registration will be held tomorrow, providing eligible players who have not yet registered with another opportunity to complete the registration process and participate in the selection trials.

MLA Sajjad Shaheen lays foundation stones for 4 road projects in Banihal

Banihal, Sep 1: National Conference leader and MLA Banihal-Gool, Haji Sajjad Shaheen, on Tuesday, laid the foundation stones of four major road connectivity projects at Hinjhal, describing road connectivity as the lifeline of development and a basic prerequisite for improving the quality of life of people living in remote and hilly areas. As per a statement issued, the projects which fulfil long-pending demands of the local population include Link Road Hinjhal to Bajar Basti Thandishaw via Gila Basti (1.70 km) at Rs 448.53 lakh; Link Road Budgam to Khoura (1.75 km) at Rs 410.41 lakh; Link Road Hinjhal to Gujjar Basti (3.50 km) at Rs 938.30 lakh; and Footbridge at Hinjhal Eidgah at Rs 69.26 lakh. The four projects have a combined estimated cost of approximately Rs 18.66 crore and are being taken up under PMGSY and the R&B Department. Speaking on the occasion, Shaheen said that people residing in remote and difficult-to-access areas of Banihal-Gool had been facing serious hardships for decades due to inadequate road connectivity. He said the absence of proper roads had adversely affected access to education, healthcare, markets and other essential services. Road connectivity is not merely an infrastructure requirement; it is a lifeline for the people and a prerequisite for balanced development. Our endeavour is to ensure that no village or habitation in Banihal-Gool remains deprived of basic connectivity, Shaheen said. He said that approximately five dozen road projects have been approved during the last two years in the Banihal-Gool constituency under PMGSY, NABARD, UT Sector and other schemes, giving a significant boost to the road infrastructure of the constituency. Shaheen said several other important road projects, including Makerkote-Dardahi Road, Livra-Chaknarwa Road and Ramsoo-Sarbagni Road, have also been taken up. He said work on these projects is expected to commence soon after obtaining the requisite forest clearances, the process for which is presently at the final stage. Taking a dig at the neglect of remote areas in the past, Shaheen said that residents of several villages had been forced to endure difficult conditions for years as their genuine connectivity demands were not accorded the priority they deserved. For decades, people in the remotest areas continued to suffer as their long-pending demands remained unattended. We are committed to correcting this imbalance and taking development to the doorstep of every household, irrespective of how remote the habitation may be, he said. Referring to the broader development initiatives undertaken in Banihal-Gool during the last two years, Shaheen said significant progress had been made in road connectivity, power infrastructure, healthcare, education, public transport, tourism and other key sectors. He said augmentation of receiving stations, strengthening of power infrastructure, improvement of healthcare facilities, new educational initiatives, expansion of public transport and several other developmental projects were being taken forward to address the long-standing needs of the constituency.

Nepals only billionaire praises India, PM Modi for swift disaster response; calls rebuilding task gigantic

Nepals only billionaire and philanthropist Binod Chaudhary on Tuesday praised India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their swift response to the devastating flash floods in the country, saying the scale of the disaster was far bigger than anyone had contemplated. Chaudhary also described the rebuilding task as gigantic, highlighting how villages, markets, schools and bridges were washed away and more than 500 megawatts of power generation capacity went out of operation. The scale of the disaster is far bigger than one would have ever contemplated. We had floods in the past in the same location even last year and thats nowhere close to what it is now, Chaudhary told PTI Videos. Weve lost about a thousand people. About 4,000 people are missing... More than the last count that Ive taken, we had lost some 40-odd bridges, he said, highlighting the scale of damages. More than 500 megawatts of power stations had gone out of circulation, out of operation and many projects which were under construction, particularly the power projects, they all had to be halted, theyre washed away, damaged. So its really a very, very painful situation, Chaudhary added. The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal crossed 1,000 on Tuesday, as rescuers struggled to trace those stranded amid intermittent rainfall and a fresh flood alert. Around 4,000 people, including 583 foreigners, remained missing, while around 12,000 people had been rescued, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Chaudhary praised the Nepal government, security agencies and friendly neighbours, particularly India, for their response to the disaster. I must acknowledge that the government and the security agencies and also supported by our friendly neighbours, India in particular has done a great job in supporting, in coming forward with the relief material right away, he said. He particularly praised New Delhi and PM Modi for supporting Nepal, not just after the latest disaster but also recalling Indias response during the 2015 earthquake. I think we have no doubt in my mind that India is equally concerned. And Ive seen this on multiple occasions. Even during the 2015 earthquake, India was the first one, Prime Minister Modi was the first one to come up with the immediate rescue arrangement, support, infrastructure, logistics, he said. He said India had gained that prominence, gained that capacity and the ability to respond on a large scale. Given the scale at which India has been able to move, build the infrastructure. There has been a transformation in the quality of the infrastructure that India has been able to build over during the last 12 years. So the whole system is of a different level and caliber, Chaudhary said. I would hope and I would appeal to the Indian government, Prime Minister Modi and all those who matter to do everything possible. I think these are the moments when India can make a big difference, Chaudhary said. Chaudhary said financial assistance from different countries, companies, foundations and business houses remained of utmost importance, but cautioned that money is one thing and it cannot solve the problems overnight. You cant get the markets [to] start to function again. You cant rebuild the homes to house these people who are homeless, he said. Chaudhary emphasised that the task ahead was gigantic and Nepal would have to rebuild better. It is also an engineering issue. It is not only an issue which relates with one of those normal disasters, because the glacier meltdown because of global warming is really becoming a significant issue, which the whole world should be concerned about, he added.

SKUAST-K hosts 37 IFS officers from 18 states for capacity-building programme

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) has brought together 37 Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers from 18 States for a three-day national capacity-building programme on Ecotourism in Forest and Wildlife Realms: Prospects & Challenges, being held from September 01to 03 at the Shalimar Campus. Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, the programme brings together senior forestry professionals, university leaders, researchers and subject experts to deliberate on emerging opportunities and challenges in sustainable ecotourism, forest and wildlife management. Addressing the participants, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, stressed that tourism in ecologically fragile regions must be guided by sustainability, conservation and community participation. He said the objective should not be to maximise tourist numbers but to maximise the positive value of tourism while minimising its ecological footprint. Emphasising the vulnerability of Himalayan ecosystems, Prof. Ganai called for a calibrated approach in which tourism becomes an instrument for conservation rather than ecological degradation. The Vice Chancellor also underlined the growing role of GIS, remote sensing, Artificial Intelligence and digital monitoring in protected-area management, biodiversity assessment, visitor management, ecosystem monitoring and evidence-based decision-making. He said SKUAST-K has an important role in generating scientific evidence, building professional capacities and providing technology-driven solutions to emerging environmental challenges. Former Chief Secretary, Ramesh Negi, Guest of Honour, emphasised the need to shift ecotourism from a tourism-centric to a conservation-centric model, keeping ecological carrying capacity, biodiversity protection, local livelihoods and responsible visitor behaviour at the centre of planning and management. Dr. Javeed Iqbal, Course Director, said the programme has been designed to go beyond conventional classroom-based training by providing participants with a field-oriented, interdisciplinary and technology-enabled learning experience. He noted that participation from 18 States would facilitate cross-state learning and exchange of experiences from diverse forest and ecological landscapes. The programme covers key themes including Himalayan biodiversity, protected-area management, ecosystem carrying capacity, legal and institutional frameworks, Eco-Development Committees, participatory planning, gender integration, overtourism mitigation, sustainable livelihoods, GIS, remote sensing and AI-based conservation monitoring. As part of the experiential component, the participating officers will visit important ecological and tourism landscapes including Wular Lake, Gulmarg, Zabarwan landscape, Chandaji Eco-Restoration Site and Hokersar Wetland. They will also be exposed to technological innovations at SKIIE and the Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, SKUAST-Kashmir. The programme builds upon SKUAST-Kashmirs continuing engagement with MoEFCC through capacity-building initiatives focused on smart conservation, forest landscape restoration, climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. The University has also been advancing multidisciplinary, technology-driven solutions involving AI, IoT, CRISPR and precision systems.

1st batch of 50 students begins skill training under TCI MAX Cements scholarship programme

The first batch of 50 students supported under the Scholarship-cum-Financial Assistance Programme sponsored by Trumboo Industries Pvt Ltd (TCI MAX Cements) has commenced classes in various skill and vocational courses at Government ITI Pampore. According to a statement issued by TCI MAX Cements, the training is being conducted under the Skill Development Department, Jammu and Kashmir, with the scholarship initiative aimed at providing better educational and employment opportunities to youth from the adjoining areas. The initiative is part of the companys Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts focused on promoting skill development and creating opportunities for the youth. On the occasion, MLA Pampore and Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi, along with Chairman, Trumboo Industries Pvt Ltd, Mohammad Shafi Trumboo, interacted with the students and encouraged them to make the best use of the opportunity provided to them. Addressing the students, Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi and Mohammad Shafi Trumboo wished them success in their academic and professional journey. They emphasised that acquiring technical and vocational skills can play a vital role in enhancing employability and building a sustainable future. The students were encouraged to attend classes regularly, develop practical skills and make optimum use of the facilities and training being provided at the ITI, with the aim of becoming skilled, confident and self-reliant professionals. The scholarship initiative, being implemented in collaboration with Government ITI Pampore, reflects TCI MAX Cements commitment towards youth empowerment, skill development and community welfare in the region. TCI MAX Cements congratulated all 50 students on the commencement of their training and wished them success in their academic and professional journey.

J&K exports in focus as KCC&I flags decline, seeks Centres intervention

President of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I), Javid Ahmad Tenga, held meetings with senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), raising concerns over the decline in Jammu & Kashmirs exports and seeking measures to support exporters and revive traditional export sectors. During his meeting with Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Kapil Choudhary, Tenga highlighted the declining export trend from Jammu & Kashmir and drew attention to the challenges confronting exporters, particularly those engaged in traditional sectors. He specifically flagged concerns relating to Pashmina, handicrafts and other traditional products, calling for targeted policy interventions and greater institutional support to restore their competitiveness and expand their presence in international markets. Tenga also briefed the Joint Secretary on KCC&Is efforts to facilitate the participation of J&K exporters in national and international trade fairs and exhibitions. He said the Chamber had already applied to the DGFT for participation in several such platforms and requested favourable consideration of the applications and the necessary institutional support. He stressed that such exhibitions provide exporters with an opportunity to showcase J&Ks products, establish direct connections with international buyers, explore new markets and secure business opportunities. He said institutional support was particularly important amid the decline in the regions exports. The KCC&I President also sought closer coordination between the Ministry of Commerce, DGFT and the Chamber to expand market access, promote traditional products and create new opportunities for exporters from Jammu & Kashmir. In a separate meeting with Abhinav Gupta, Additional Director General, DGFT, Tenga raised the difficulties being faced by exporters from J&K in obtaining Preferential Certificates of Origin (CoOs). The Chamber pointed out that exporters had been facing delays and difficulties in obtaining Preferential CoOs following the India-Oman Free Trade Agreement. Since the certificates are required to avail preferential tariff benefits under trade agreements, delays can affect shipment schedules and exporters ability to secure the concessions available to them. Tenga specifically requested that the DGFT Ludhiana office remain operational for issuing Preferential CoOs for Kashmir consignments from October 2026 to March 2027, coinciding with the regions peak export season. The Additional Director General assured Tenga that the DGFT Ludhiana office would remain operational during the period to facilitate the issuance of Preferential CoOs for Kashmir consignments. The assurance is expected to provide relief to exporters, particularly during the peak season when shipment volumes typically increase. Tenga thanked the officials for their time and for considering the concerns raised by the Chamber. The KCC&I said it would continue engaging with the concerned authorities on measures to strengthen J&Ks export sector, support traditional industries such as Pashmina and handicrafts, facilitate participation in international and national trade fairs, and improve access to domestic and overseas markets.

SSI Bonafide Unit Holders seek restoration of SICOP marketing assistance

A delegation of the SSI Bonafide Group of Unit Holders Kashmir today called on Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Surinder Choudhary, along with Commissioner/Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, Vikramjit Singh, in the presence of MLA Anantnag West Abdul Majeed Larmi. During the meeting, the long-pending issue of restoration of SICOP marketing assistance and procurement support for Bonafide SSI Unit Holders of Kashmir was discussed. The delegation apprised the Deputy Chief Minister of the difficulties being faced by Bonafide SSI units due to the discontinuation of effective SICOP marketing assistance. The delegation emphasised that thousands of workers and entrepreneurs are dependent on these industrial units and that restoration of institutional marketing support is essential for the survival, growth and revival of the local SSI sector. The Deputy Chief Minister listened patiently to the delegation and passed on-the-spot directions to the Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department to extend full support and necessary intervention for the early restoration of SICOP marketing assistance to Bonafide SSI Unit Holders. The delegation expressed its sincere gratitude to the Deputy Chief Minister for giving the matter due consideration and for taking an on-the-spot decision and assuring early action on the issue. The Bonafide SSI Unit Holders expressed hope that the assurance will translate into a formal policy decision at the earliest, thereby providing much-needed relief to genuine and bonafide SSI units across Kashmir. The delegation also placed on record that a strong and effective marketing mechanism through SICOP can significantly strengthen local manufacturing, increase government procurement from local SSI units, protect existing employment and create new opportunities for unemployed youth. The meeting was attended by the Administrative Council of the SSI Bonafide Group of Unit Holders Kashmir: Shabir Abdullah, Chief Coordinator; Shoaib Hakak, Vice Chief Coordinator; Showkat Sheikh, Coordinator South Bashir Ahmed Najar, Coordinator and Coordinator North besides other members.

J&K Bank bids farewell to 2 general managers

J&K Bank today accorded a warm farewell to General Managers Rakesh Koul and Syed Rais Maqbool, who superannuated today after rendering nearly 37 years of dedicated service to the institution. MD & CEO Amitava Chatterjee chaired the farewell meeting at the Banks Corporate Headquarters, which was attended by Executive Director Sudhir Gupta, Chief General Managers, General Managers, Deputy General Managers, and other senior officers of the Bank. Speaking on the occasion, MD & CEO Amitava Chatterjee commended both the retiring executives for their long, dedicated, and valuable service to the Bank. He said, The retirement of senior leaders invariably entails a loss of accumulated experience, institutional memory, and professional wisdom. Both Rakesh Koul and Syed Rais Maqbool have contributed meaningfully to the Banks growth through their competence, integrity and commitment across the important responsibilities entrusted to them. Emphasising the importance of leadership continuity, he added, With a well-defined succession plan in place, the responsibility now rests with the emerging leadership to take up the mantle and build upon the legacy of the outgoing officers. The MD & CEO wished both the retiring executives good health, happiness, and a fulfilling post-retirement life. Known for his gentle disposition and thorough professionalism, General Manager Rakesh Koul joined the Bank on October 25, 1989. Expressing his gratitude at the farewell meet, General Manager Rakesh Koul said, I remain deeply grateful to the Banks leadership and all my colleagues for their trust, guidance, and unwavering support throughout my career. It has been an honour to serve and be part of Jammu and Kashmirs leading financial institution. Whatever I have achieved professionally, I owe in large measure to the opportunities, guidance and affection extended to me by the J&K Bank family. General Manager Syed Rais Maqbool joined the Bank on October 18, 1989, and is known for his suave personality and refined demeanour. Reflecting on his association with the Bank, General Manager Syed Rais Maqbool said, J&K Bank has been much more than a workplace for me; it has been a defining part of my life and identity. I sincerely thank the leadership and generations of colleagues whose trust, encouragement and caring companionship enriched my journey. I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our stakeholders, especially the Banks esteemed customers, for their enduring trust and support. I feel privileged to have witnessed and contributed, in my own measure, to this great institutional story of transformation from J&K. The attending officers recalled their professional association with the retiring executives and acknowledged their contribution to the Banks growth and institutional development.

Unlicensed pesticides wont be allowed into J&K: Javid Dar

Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Elections Javid Ahmad Dar announced a major crackdown on the sale and movement of unlicensed pesticides in Jammu and Kashmir, saying checkpoints would be established at entry points to prevent such products from entering the Union Territory. Dar said the government would take strict measures against the sale and use of unlicensed pesticides, stressing that the move was aimed at safeguarding the agriculture sector and protecting farmers from potentially harmful products. Talking to reporters at Sopernaghama in the Qaziabad area of Kupwara, Dar also spoke about the National Conference (NC), describing it as a strong political party with deep and firm roots. He dismissed attempts to weaken the party, saying that the NC was a movement and that the departure of individuals would not dent its strength. NC is a movement, so anyone who leaves the party cannot dent it. Instead, they are destined to lose, he said. Earlier, Dar inaugurated the newly constructed Block Development Council (BDC) building at Sopernaghama, Qaziabad, in Handwara. The building has been constructed at a cost of 97 lakh and is aimed at strengthening the institutional infrastructure for local development and governance in the area. MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed and Director Rural Development Riyaz Ahmad Wani were also present on the occasion.

Jio Platforms, Paras Healthcare, Bharat PET among 7 IPOs to receive SEBI nod

Jio Platforms, Paras Healthcare, Bharat PET and four other companies have received observations from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on their proposed initial public offerings (IPOs), clearing a key regulatory hurdle for their public issues. The other companies are Sadbhav Futuretech, Paramotor Digital Technology, M K Sons Fine Jewels and Pushp Brands (India). The companies had submitted their IPO documents to SEBI between March and June this year. SEBI issued observations on Paras Healthcares IPO papers on August 24, followed by Paramotor Digital Technology on August 25, Bharat PET on August 26 and Pushp Brands (India) on August 27. The regulator issued observations on the draft papers of M K Sons Fine Jewels, Sadbhav Futuretech and Jio Platforms on August 28. Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, has proposed a fresh issue of up to 27 crore equity shares, with no offer-for-sale component. It plans to utilise Rs 27,500 crore of the proceeds to repay certain debt, with the balance for general corporate purposes. Paras Healthcare has proposed to raise up to Rs 1,800 crore through a combination of a Rs 500-crore fresh issue and a Rs 1,300-crore offer for sale. The company operates eight hospitals with a combined capacity of 2,211 beds. Bharat PET plans to raise up to Rs 760 crore, comprising a Rs 120-crore fresh issue and Rs 640 crore offer for sale. The company manufactures PET bottles, jars, preforms, caps and closures. Sadbhav Futuretech has proposed a fresh issue of 2.55 crore shares and an offer for sale of up to Rs 235 crore. M K Sons Fine Jewels plans a fresh issue of 1.36 crore shares and an offer for sale of 34 lakh shares. Pushp Brands (India) has proposed an offer-for-sale of 74.45 lakh shares, while Paramotor Digital Technology filed its IPO papers through SEBIs confidential route. SEBI observations are a key regulatory step that allows companies to proceed towards launching their IPOs, subject to fulfilment of applicable requirements.

EPG seeks protection of water bodies

The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has sought measures for protection of water bodies in Srinagar. EPG in a statement has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over a video circulating on social media that allegedly shows filling or reclamation of a portion of Dal Lake near the office of the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) at Miskeen Bagh. In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, EPG urged the competent authorities to verify the video and establish the exact location and nature of the activity shown. The group said the matter required prompt examination given the ecological importance and sensitivity of Dal Lake. EPG Convenor Faiz Ahmad Bakshi said that if the activity shown in the video involves filling of a water body, reclamation of lake area, dumping of material, alteration of a water channel or unauthorised encroachment, it could raise environmental and regulatory concerns. The group has sought a spot inspection by LCMA and other concerned departments to determine whether any portion of lake near Miskeen Bagh has been filled, reclaimed, encroached upon or otherwise altered. It has also asked the authorities to verify the ownership, land classification, revenue status and permissible land use of the area shown in the video. The EPG said the concern was not limited to Dal Lake and called for greater attention to the protection of water bodies and natural drainage systems across Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu & Kashmir possesses a highly interconnected network of lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams, springs, nallahs, flood channels and other natural water systems, the group said. It referred to Wular Lake, Anchar Lake, Nigeen Lake, Manasbal Lake, Khushal Sar, Gilsar and Hokersar, besides the River Jhelum and its tributaries. These water bodies are not vacant land available for gradual reclamation, the EPG said, adding that they play a role in water storage, regulating flows, supporting biodiversity, groundwater recharge and flood protection. The group also referred to Government of India documentation on encroachment pressures affecting the lacustrine systems of the Kashmir Valley and cited observations from the Comptroller and Auditor Generals report on the conservation and management of Dal Lake. The EPG said the CAG report had recorded issues including blocked nallahs, construction affecting drainage, dumping of construction material and shrinkage of drainage channels. The organisation has called for a comprehensive review of major lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams, springs, nallahs, flood channels and natural drainage systems across J&K to identify cases of encroachment, filling, reclamation and obstruction. It has proposed GIS- and satellite-based mapping of major water bodies and their buffer areas, followed by physical verification on the ground. The group has also suggested continuous monitoring of sensitive water bodies through satellite imagery, drone surveys, GIS mapping and periodic field inspections. The EPG further urged the government to ensure that any filling, reclamation, construction or alteration affecting the natural extent or drainage characteristics of a water body is subjected to environmental, hydrological and technical scrutiny by the competent authorities. It has also suggested treating natural flood channels, nallahs, wetlands and drainage corridors as important components of climate and disaster resilience. The group has called for greater transparency in the handling of encroachment cases and suggested that information on identified encroachments and action taken by the authorities be made publicly accessible. Jammu & Kashmir's water bodies are part of its natural capital, the EPG said, adding that they should be protected while development activities are undertaken. The group has requested the Chief Minister to direct the concerned authorities to examine the video, conduct an on-ground verification and take appropriate action if any violation is established.

CM Omar Abdullah meets Group of Concerned Citizens J&K

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a meeting with members of the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) J&K at the Civil Secretariat here and discussed a range of issues concerning governance, development, environment and public welfare in Jammu and Kashmir. Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani was also present at the meeting. The civil society group was led by Khurshid Ahmed Ganai (IAS Retd.) and comprised other members of the GCC. The delegation raised several issues of public importance, including governance, environmental protection, municipal administration and waste management. Particular attention was drawn to the conservation of water bodies and wetlands and the need for effective measures to safeguard these important ecological assets. The GCC also raised issues relating to the conversion of agricultural land, traffic management, flood mitigation and management, and power development, including greater focus on renewable energy. Issues pertaining to skill development and employment generation, as well as digitisation of revenue records, were also discussed. The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to the concerns and suggestions put forth by the members of the GCC. He noted the issues raised during the meeting and assured that these would be taken into consideration by the government while examining the relevant matters.

Fire guts building at Nawab Bazar Srinagar

A major fire broke out in a four-storey commercial building in the congested Nawab Bazar area of Srinagar on Tuesday morning gutting the structure and triggering panic among residents. Two firefighters suffered suffocation during the operation but were rescued and are stated to be out of danger. Officials from the Fire and Emergency Services said they received a distress call at around 10:40 am, following which multiple firefighting units and fire tenders from Maharaj Ganj, Baba Demb and the department's headquarters were rushed to the spot. They said the fire originated on the ground floor of the commercial building, which housed paint, colour, hardware and other business establishments, before rapidly spreading to the upper floors. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Our teams immediately launched firefighting operations and worked relentlessly to prevent the flames from spreading to adjoining structures, a Fire and Emergency Services official said. Officials said the operations in downtown areas are particularly challenging as they are among the most congested areas of Srinagar, surrounded by closely packed commercial and residential buildings. The morning rush further complicated the movement of firefighting vehicles and equipment. Officials said firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after sustained efforts, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings. During the operation, Two firefighters developed suffocation related complications while battling the flames. They were immediately evacuated, provided medical assistance, said the official. The blaze caused panic in the locality as thick smoke billowed into the sky, drawing large crowds to the scene. Eyewitnesses said people rushed out of nearby shops while many locals and traders assisted in shifting goods from adjacent establishments as a precautionary measure. There was panic because the fire spread very quickly and everyone feared it could engulf nearby shops as well, an eyewitness said. The incident comes amid a series of fire mishaps reported in Srinagar over the past few weeks. In recent years, several devastating fires, particularly in the city's downtown areas, have caused extensive damage to commercial properties. Fire officials have repeatedly urged owners of commercial establishments to install and maintain fire fighting equipment in accordance with prescribed safety norms and strictly follow standard operating procedures to minimise losses in the event of such incidents.

Another sanitation worker arrested, 7 held so far

Ramban, Sep 1:The District Hospital Kishtwar has terminated the services of another sanitation worker following her arrest in connection with the case registered at Police Station Chatroo regarding the death of a minor girl. According to an official order issued by the Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Kishtwar, Zareena Begum, wife of Shabir Ahmed and a resident of Bandereena, Kishtwar, who was engaged as an HDF sanitation worker at the hospital, was arrested by Police Station Chatroo on August 30, 2026, in connection with FIR No 34/2026. The hospital authorities stated that they received formal information about her arrest from the Station House Officer, Police Station Chatroo, through a wireless signal dated August 30. Following the receipt of the communication, the Medical Superintendent ordered the termination of Zareena Begums services with immediate effect. The order cited the extremely grave and serious nature of the allegations and offences involved, stating that her continuation in service was considered incompatible with the discipline, integrity and functioning of a public health institution. The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, including Sections 61(1), 65(2), 90, 91 and 92 of the BNS and Sections 4, 6, 8, 10 and 17 of the POCSO Act, as mentioned in the official record. Copies of the termination order have been forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Director Health Services Jammu, SSP Kishtwar, Chief Medical Officer Kishtwar, and the Station House Officers of Police Stations Kishtwar and Chatroo for information and necessary action. The latest departmental action comes amid an ongoing investigation into the Chatroo minors death case, which has resulted in multiple arrests and triggered widespread concern across the Chenab Valley. Police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the circumstances of the case and ascertain the alleged role of each person connected with the matter. Later, the case was transferred to the Crime Branch. Earlier, Farooq Ahmed, another sanitation worker posted at District Hospital Kishtwar, was also terminated from service following his arrest in connection with the same case. With the latest action against Zareena Begum, the hospital has now terminated two sanitation workers in connection with the investigation. The investigation has involved the arrest of several persons allegedly linked to the case, with investigators examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged sexual exploitation of the minor, her subsequent medical treatment and the role of various individuals. Authorities have maintained that the investigation is being conducted on the basis of evidence and material collected during the probe. Further action is expected as the investigation into FIR No. 34/2026 progresses.

CEO iQuasar delivers lecture at CUK

Tahir Qazi, Chief Executive Officer of iQuasar, LLC, delivered an insightful lecture to the students of the Department of Management Studies (DMS), Central University of Kashmir (CU Kashmir), on the topic Use AI as Your Coach to Build Skills for Career Growth at the varsitys Green Campus. iQuasar, LLC, is a Sterling, Virginia-based firm that provides technology solutions and outsourcing services to government and commercial clients. His lecture focused on the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in learning, skill development and professional growth. Qazi highlighted how AI tools can be effectively used as personal coaches to identify skill gaps, develop new competencies, improve productivity and prepare students for the evolving demands of the workplace. Qazi emphasised that students and professionals need to engage in intentional, self-directed learning to get ready to work in their desired careers. He explained how to write AALIM prompts and agents and how to write prompts in the ACT format - Actor, Context and Task - making them easy to remember and hard to get wrong. The session encouraged students to embrace AI not merely as a technological tool but as a continuous learning partner that can support them in achieving their academic and career goals. The key takeaway of the interaction was: Learn, Apply, and Master! Earlier, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Head, DMS, introduced the guest to the students of BBA and MBA. Dr Zia Ul Haq, Associate Professor, proposed the vote of thanks. Dr Mir Insha Farooq and Dr Waseem Jehangir were also present.

CTTIK urges LG Sinha to initiate daily Vaishnodevi Yatra bulletin to tackle misleading information

Jammu, Sep 1:Chamber of Tourism Trade and Industry Katra (CTTIK) on Tuesday made an earnest appeal to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to consider initiating a daily official Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra bulletin. The proposed bulletin, according to CTTIK, may provide updated and authentic information regarding the current status of the Yatra, weather conditions, route accessibility, pilgrim movement, accommodation and transport facilities, health and emergency services, advisories and other important arrangements made for devotees. Appeal was made in a meeting of the office bearers and executive members of the Chamber of Tourism Trade and Industry Katra (CTTIK) held under the chairmanship of its president, Raj Kumar Padha. The meeting was aimed at deliberating upon various important issues concerning the smooth facilitation and better management of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, as well as matters relating to the welfare and interests of the local business community and residents of Katra. During the meeting, the participants said the Chamber (CTTIK) believed that a regular official bulletin would serve as a credible and reliable source of information for pilgrims across the country and abroad, while effectively countering misinformation and unverified social media content. Such an initiative would also contribute significantly towards the better regulation, management and facilitation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, it was stated. The meeting was attended by Babu Ram senior vice president, Sushil Dubey vice president, Rajnish Purohit general secretary, Atul Sharma secretary, Karan Vaid secretary, executive members Rattan Sharma, Vivek Gupta and Neelam Singh. During the meeting, detailed and threadbare discussions were held on the role of CTTIK and other stakeholders in facilitating pilgrims visiting the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. The members emphasised the need for close coordination among the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the local administration, tourism stakeholders and business establishments to ensure that pilgrims receive accurate information, proper guidance and all necessary facilities for a smooth, safe and comfortable pilgrimage. The CTTIK members expressed serious concern over the increasing circulation of misinformation and unverified content regarding the status of the Vaishno Devi Yatra and various facilities available to pilgrims, particularly through reels and other social media platforms. It was observed that many prospective pilgrims tend to believe such unverified information often created unnecessary confusion and in some cases- led them to cancel or postpone their planned visit to Katra. The members felt that the circulation of such misleading content not only adversely affected the local tourism and business ecosystem but also did a disservice to the religious sentiments and faith of millions of devotees associated with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. Daily bulletin would check this menace, they asserted. The meeting also discussed important issues concerning the welfare of the residents of Katra. CTTIK requested that the local residents of Katra should be provided access to subsidised healthcare facilities at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Super Speciality Hospital, Kakryal considering the significant contribution and association of the local community with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage and its supporting ecosystem. The members further sought appropriate reservation of seats and concessional or subsidized tuition fees for deserving local students of Katra at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University so that the youth of the region could get benefits from quality higher education and greater opportunities for their future. The office bearers unanimously resolved that CTTIK would continue to work closely with all concerned authorities and stakeholders for the smooth conduct of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, dissemination of authentic information, welfare of the local community and sustainable development of Katra as one of the country's most important pilgrimage destinations.

High Court dismisses plea questioning Shopian Bar Associations election rules

The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has rejected a plea challenging the amended Constitution of the District Bar Association Shopian. Dismissing an advocates plea challenging the 2023 amendment enhancing the eligibility criteria for contesting the posts of President, Vice-President and Secretary of the Association, a bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal held that disputes concerning the lawyers bodys internal affairs and elections are not amenable to writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution. Under the amended provisions, the required standing at the Bar was increased from 10 to 15 years for President and Vice-President and from seven to 10 years for Secretary. The petitioner had called into question the election notification issued on December 11, 2025, contending that the amendment had been introduced without following due procedure. He further contended that no valid General Body Meeting was held, no proper notice was circulated and no resolution approving the amendment had been passed. The amendment, he argued, was arbitrary and intended to exclude younger advocates from contesting elections. Opposing the plea, the respondents said that the amendment had been approved by the General Body after due notice and a majority vote. The Association, they said, was a voluntary body governed by its own Constitution and bye-laws and was neither State under Article 12 nor a body performing a public function under Article 226. Agreeing with the respondents preliminary objection, the court held that the District Bar Association Shopian neither derives its existence from any statute nor exercises statutory powers or governmental functions. It observed that merely because its members are advocates and the legal profession has an important role in the administration of justice, every activity of the Association cannot be treated as a public function. The Court underscored that the dispute over eligibility for holding office in the Association concerned internal governance and the electoral rights of its members, without any public-law element. It therefore could not be examined through writ jurisdiction. The Court noted that the case involved disputed questions of fact, including whether notice for the General Body Meeting was issued, whether the meeting was held and whether the amendment was validly approved. Such issues require examination of evidence and are more appropriately adjudicated by a competent civil court, it said. Moreover, the Court took note of the delay in challenging the 2023 amendment. The amended Constitution had remained operative for a considerable period and subsequent elections had allegedly been conducted under it. The Court observed that the petitioners conduct raised issues of acquiescence and approbation and reprobation, particularly as the challenge was made after the issuance of the election notification when the amended eligibility criteria affected his candidature. The Court, in keeping with the Supreme Court and various High Court decisions, including a recent one concerning the New Delhi Bar Association, reiterated that a Bar Association does not become amenable to writ jurisdiction merely because it consists of advocates. The Court accordingly dismissed the petition as not maintainable.

Srinagar Jammu NH open for 2-way traffic

Ramban, Sep 1: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained open for regulated two-way traffic on Tuesday, with vehicular movement continuing along the Udhampur-Banihal corridor despite slowdowns at several vulnerable stretches due to ongoing restoration, widening and road improvement works. According to traffic authorities, traffic movement remained particularly slow at Dewal in Udhampur district, where an approximately 3040-metre portion of the highway was damaged following recent rains. The affected stretch has developed an uneven surface and undulations, prompting authorities to regulate traffic through a single lane to ensure the safe movement of vehicles. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed men and machinery at the affected locations and is carrying out restoration work. Officials said efforts were being made to repair the damaged portions and improve the road surface at the earliest. Restoration work is also underway on the Srinagar-bound tube at Dewal, where erosion caused by recent rainfall has resulted in single-lane movement at two to three locations. Traffic is being regulated carefully at these points to minimise congestion and ensure the safety of commuters. In Ramban district, traffic remained regulated along the MaroogKishtwari Pather stretch, where vehicles were negotiating restricted single-lane portions amid ongoing construction and road improvement works. Though traffic remained largely manageable, intermittent slowdowns were reported at construction zones and other damage-affected locations. Officials at the Traffic Control Unit (TCU), Ramban, said the highway continued to remain open and traffic was being managed through the available carriageways. Traffic personnel have been deployed at vulnerable points to regulate vehicular movement and facilitate the safe passage of commuters. Authorities cautioned that the condition of NH-44 remained sensitive to weather changes, particularly in view of intermittent rainfall and extensive construction activity along the highway. Commuters have been advised to check the latest traffic status before starting their journey and strictly follow traffic advisories issued by the authorities. Passenger and Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) operators travelling between Ramban and Banihal have been advised to prefer daylight hours and avoid unnecessary night travel due to the possibility of shooting stones, landslides, mudslides and other weather-related hazards at vulnerable locations. Motorists have also been urged to maintain lane discipline and avoid overtaking, wrong-lane driving and unnecessary stoppages at sensitive points, as such violations can lead to congestion and further disrupt traffic movement on already restricted stretches. Meanwhile, in view of the ongoing widening work being undertaken by NHAI along the DigdolKhooni Nalla section of NH-44, the movement of Kashmir-bound oil and gas tankers remains restricted during daytime hours. As per the traffic advisory, such tankers are permitted to proceed beyond Chenani only between 5 pm and 5 am. Heavy vehicle operators have been advised to strictly adhere to prescribed loading norms and avoid overloading. They have also been asked to ensure proper vehicle fitness and carry adequate fuel, keeping in view the possibility of delays caused by traffic regulation, road repairs, construction activity and adverse weather conditions. Traffic authorities further said that the highway could be regulated, diverted or temporarily closed in case of fresh landslides, shooting stones, mudslides, road damage or any other obstruction posing a threat to vehicular movement and public safety. Commuters have been advised to remain in contact with the Traffic Control Units at Jammu, Ramban and Srinagar and obtain the latest status before and during their journey. Authorities reiterated that cooperation from motorists, strict adherence to traffic restrictions and lane discipline are essential for maintaining safe and smooth movement on NH-44 while restoration, widening and other infrastructure works continue at multiple locations.

8 stranded in swollen Rajouri river rescued

Rajouri, Sep 1:Eight members of two families, including five children and three women, stranded in the middle of a swollen river at Badhoon village of Rajouri following a sharp rise in water levels amid heavy rainfall, were rescued to safety on Tuesday evening. The water level in the Jamola and Khandli rivers increased rapidly after heavy rains lashed several parts of Rajouri district, leaving the eight persons trapped in the river. Soon after receiving the information, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local police, launched a rescue operation. The operation continued for several hours before all eight stranded persons were safely evacuated. The timely intervention of the rescue teams averted a major tragedy, while the heavy rainfall also led to a rise in water levels in several rivers and streams across the district. Authorities have urged people, particularly those residing near rivers and water channels, to exercise caution and avoid venturing into or crossing swollen water bodies amid the prevailing weather conditions.

Govt issues orders for faculty promotions in 5 GMCs

In a move to strengthen medical education and faculty hierarchy in the Government Medical Colleges of J&K, Government today sanctioned the promotion of 53 of faculty members across GMCs in Jammu, Rajouri, Doda, Baramulla and Anantnag. The orders were issued on August 31, 2026,after the nod of the Departmental Promotion Committee and the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission. Eligible Associate Professors have been promoted to the post of Professor and Assistant Professors to Associate Professor in various clinical and non-clinical disciplines. The promotions, as per the order, will take effect on a prospective basis. The largest list appears in Government Order No. 656-JK (HME) of 2026 for Government Medical College, Anantnag affecting promotion of 22 faculty members. This includes promotions in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Community Medicine, Psychiatry, Physiology, Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology, ENT, Orthopaedics, Radio Diagnosis, Pathology, Paediatrics, Dentistry, General Medicine, Radiation Oncology and Microbiology. Several Assistant Professors have also been regularized/promoted to Associate Professor. Government Order No. 660-JK (HME) of 2026 covers Government Medical College, Jammu. It lists 13 faculty members, including in departments of Radiotherapy and Anesthesiology. Faculty has also been promoted in department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Biochemistry, Community Medicine, Physiology and Anatomy. Government Order No. 659-JK (HME) of 2026 pertains to Government Medical College, Rajouri, where seven faculty members have been promoted. These include Dr. Syed Shuja Akhtar Qadri (Community Medicine), Dr. Suhail Banday (Anaesthesiology), Dr. Meenakshi Khajuria (Pathology), Dr. Rohni Sharma (Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy) and Dr. Satish Sharma (Dentistry) to Professor. Two others move up to Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Pathology. At Government Medical College, Doda, ten faculty members have been promoted. These include promotion to Professor level for Dr. Najmus Saqib (Paediatrics), Dr. Madhu Kapoor Chib (Obstetrics & Gynaecology), Dr. Garima Charak (Physiology), Dr. Khalid Muzzafer (Orthopaedics), Dr. Babar Rashid Zargar (General Surgery), Dr. Sumat-Ul-Khurshid (Pathology), Dr. Rahil Muzaffar (ENT) and Dr. Rajat Rakesh Khajuria (Dentistry). Two Assistant Professors have been promoted to Associate Professor in Orthopaedics and Biochemistry. Government Order No. 657-JK (HME) of 2026 for Government Medical College, Baramulla promotes a single Associate Professor, Dr. Mehmood Rashid of General Surgery to Professor. All the orders carry a standard caveat that the promotions and regularizations will remain subject to the outcome of any writ petition(s) pending in court.

Heavy rains lash Rajouri-Poonch, affect life

Rajouri, Sep 1: Several areas of Rajouri district received heavy to very heavy rainfall since Tuesday afternoon, affecting normal life and triggering a fresh rise in water levels in rivers and other water bodies. Reports from different parts of the district said intense showers continued for several hours, with waterlogging reported at multiple locations. The persistent rainfall has also raised apprehensions of a further increase in water levels in rivers and streams by evening. Several areas had witnessed heavy rainfall on Monday as well, with flood-like conditions reported along river bodies, particularly in Kalakote subdivision. Meanwhile, severe waterlogging was reported along the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch National Highway in Rajouri town following the heavy downpour on Tuesday evening, disrupting traffic movement. At Panj Peer area of Rajouri town, a stretch of the highway was submerged under accumulated rainwater, causing difficulties for commuters and affecting the smooth movement of vehicles. With rainfall continuing, authorities and residents are keeping a close watch on rivers, streams and other vulnerable locations amid apprehensions of flash floods and further waterlogging. In neighbouring Poonch district, all schools remained closed on Tuesday amid heavy rainfall leading to surge in water level in major rivers and nullahs. The closure of schools for the day was notified by the Chief Education Officer, Poonch. The officer asserted that the situation across district was being closely monitored, with particular focus on vulnerable areas. Rain water had disrupted traffic on Poonch-Mendhar road as well.

Enhance stipend of MBBS,BDS interns: Iltija Mufti

PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Tuesday asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to enhance the stipend of protesting MBBS and BDS interns from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000 per month. Iltija joined the protesting medical interns at GMC Srinagar and expressed solidarity with their legitimate demand to enhance their monthly stipend. It is deeply concerning that medical interns across Jammu & Kashmir continue to receive one of the lowest stipends in the country, despite shouldering an enormous workload. Interns are routinely required to perform duties extending from 12 to 48 hours and, across J&K, are often denied even basic holidays and adequate leave, she said. She called upon the government to immediately initiate a meaningful dialogue with the protesting interns, resolve their concerns and enhance their stipend to Rs 30,000 without further delay. The government must also ensure that interns receive reasonable working conditions, adequate leave and basic protection commensurate with the demanding services they render, she said. The demand for a Rs 30,000 stipend is both reasonable and justified. Several states have already substantially revised their internship stipends upwards. Odisha and West Bengal provide around Rs 45,000, while Uttar Pradesh has increased its stipend from Rs 12,000 to Rs 25,000, with Bihar also having undertaken a revision, Iltija added. Young doctors serving in government hospitals cannot be expected to work 12- to 48-hour shifts without adequate holidays or benefits while being among the lowest-paid medical interns in the country. Their demand is legitimate, and the government must respond with urgency and sensitivity, she said. The government must seriously reconsider its priorities. At a time when substantial public resources are spent on lavish government programmes and activities, it is difficult to justify denying a modest and legitimate increase to young doctors who work round the clock to sustain the public healthcare system, the PDP leader added. The medical interns began their indefinite strike on Monday, seeking a higher stipend and better working conditions. Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Monday said the demand of the interns was already under consideration by the government and that they need not resort to strikes.

Census 2027 population enumeration in snow bound areas of J&K, Ladakh begins

Jammu, Sep 1:Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director, Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Amit Sharma on Tuesday declared commencement of population enumeration (phase-II) of Census 2027 across the snow-bound areas of the Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with field operations formally launched from the remote and snow-bound areas of Dudu and Basantgarh in Udhampur district. The September enumeration marks a significant operational milestone in Census 2027, as the Census machinery now moves towards the enumeration of the population itself, with special arrangements in place to ensure comprehensive coverage of the region's remote, high-altitude and difficult-to-access areas. CPCO Amit Sharma said that the commencement of Population Enumeration from Dudu and Basantgarh carried particular significance as it reflected the Directorate's commitment to taking the census to every part of the Union Territories, including areas where terrain, distance and weather would present formidable field challenges. He said extensive preparations involving enumeration block demarcation, mapping, logistics, training and deployment of field functionaries were undertaken to ensure that every household and every resident was brought within the ambit of the Census. He also highlighted that during the self-enumeration phase for population enumeration in snow-bound areas, Jammu and Kashmir emerged as the top-performing UT across the country among all the snow-bound areas in states or UTs, covered under the September 2026 population enumeration schedule, recording the highest number of self-enumeration submissions. The self-enumeration exercise was conducted from August 17 to 31, 2026, which provided residents an opportunity to participate directly in the digital Census process. During the self-enumeration phase for population enumeration in the snow-bound areas, conducted from August 17 to 31, 2026, the UT of Jammu and Kashmir recorded 9,672 self-enumeration submissions highest among all states and UTs covered in this phase. The response was particularly encouraging in several districts, with Pulwama recording 3,204, Kishtwar 2,231, Doda 1,169, Ramban 629, Poonch 569 and Kulgam 554 Self-Enumerations. In Ladakh, 527 households completed self-enumeration, including 301 in Kargil and 226 in Leh. Thus, a combined 10,199 households across the two Union Territories participated through self-enumeration ahead of the field phase. Amit Sharma appreciated the strong public response and said that the participation demonstrated the growing acceptance of the digital census process and provides a strong foundation for the successful conduct of population enumeration. He urged all residents to extend the same spirit of cooperation to enumerators and supervisors and ensure that their households and eligible family members were accurately covered. During the visit he was accompanied by Prem Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner and Darshan Kumar, District Statistics and Evaluation Officer from Deputy Commissioner Office, Udhampur district. From the Directorate of Census Operations, Manmeet Singh Loomba Deputy Chief Principal Census Officer, Balbir Singh and Nimrat Kour, Assistant Chief Principal Census Officer and Ajit Kumar District Coordinator for Udhampur District accompanied the CPCO. Population Enumeration in the snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir covers 16 districts and 95 charges, with an estimated 4,146 enumeration blocks being formed. These include Poonch, Kathua, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Kupwara, Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam. In Ladakh, the entire Union Territory is being enumerated during September through an estimated 637 enumeration blocks, making it the first Union Territory to be completely enumerated during the second phase of Census 2027. A significant component of the September exercise will be the enumeration of the houseless population, which will also be covered during this phase. The Directorate has made necessary arrangements to ensure that such population groups are appropriately identified and included within the Census coverage. The exercise will also include the enumeration of special charges, including Defence and Central Armed Police Force establishments and other restricted-access locations, in coordination with the concerned authorities. Following completion of the field enumeration, a revisional round will be conducted from October 1 to 5, 2026 to review the coverage and incorporate eligible changes arising within the prescribed period. This will provide an additional layer of field verification and help ensure that the Population Enumeration is as complete and accurate as possible. The second phase was preceded by a structured training cascade covering master trainers, field trainers and subsequently enumerators and supervisors, with emphasis on census concepts, definitions, field procedures and digital tools. Nodal officers and district coordinators have also been deployed to coordinate field preparations, enumeration block demarcation, distribution of census kits and availability of manuals and other operational material. CPCO Amit Sharma said that the launch from Dudu and Basantgarh sent a clear message about the approach of Census 2027 in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh i.e., the more difficult an area is to reach, the greater the importance of ensuring that its people are counted accurately. Expressing confidence in the preparedness of the census machinery, Amit Sharma said that the Directorate would continue its efforts to ensure complete, accurate and timely population enumeration across the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir and the entire Union Territory of Ladakh.

MBBS interns protest for stipend hike at GMC Anantnag for 2nd day

MBBS and BDS interns at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag staged a peaceful protest for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, seeking implementation of a long-pending proposal to increase their monthly stipend. Scores of interns gathered on the medical college premises and raised demands for enhancement of the stipend, which they said had remained unchanged for more than seven years despite rising inflation and living costs. Dr Mohammad Akib Javid, an intern at GMC Anantnag, told Greater Kashmir that the government had already constituted a committee to examine the issue and recommended an increase, but the revised stipend had yet to be implemented. We are currently being paid Rs 12,300 per month, he said, adding that interns were seeking implementation of the committees recommendation. The stipend was last formally revised in January 2019, when the Jammu and Kashmir government increased the monthly payment from Rs 4,800 to Rs 12,300 through Government Order No. 80-HME of 2019. Since then, the stipend has remained unchanged even as the cost of living has increased significantly. The government had constituted a committee on June 27, 2023, through Government Order No. 538-JK(HME) of 2023 to examine the enhancement of stipends for MBBS and BDS interns. The committee subsequently recommended an increase in the stipend. The J&K government later informed the Legislative Assembly that the committee had recommended a monthly stipend of Rs 25,000. While some earlier reports and representations had cited a figure of Rs 26,350, the Rs 25,000 figure was subsequently reflected in the governments Assembly response, said Javid. However, the recommendation has not translated into an increase in the stipend, he added. Following the committees recommendation, the proposal was processed by the Health and Medical Education Department and referred to the Finance Department for concurrence. The proposal remained pending amid financial and administrative queries, with the Finance Department seeking additional information and clarifications. Information was also sought from government medical colleges before the matter was processed further and resubmitted. Despite the passage of several years since the committee was constituted, the final government order implementing the revised stipend has not been issued. The interns have now renewed their demand for the government to clear the proposal and implement the enhanced stipend.

The voice we carry

The first person who told me I was too much was not a stranger. It was my first mirror. Someone who braided my hair before school, whose fragrance stayed with me even when she wasnt around and whose face was the most beloved. I called her mother. Sometimes the first person who teaches a girl to doubt herself is another woman who loves her. You'll never learn. Why can't you be more like their daughter? You are too clumsy. At the time, I did not think of those words as wounds. They were simply part of growing up. After all, mothers scold, mothers worry, mothers know best. It took me years to realise that not every scar announces itself with raised voices or bruises. Some arrive disguised as comparisons, others as constant criticism, affection that feels conditional, or expectations that leave little room to simply be. They do not break bones; they simply reshape the way a daughter sees herself. The cruellest part is that daughters rarely stop loving their mothers. Instead, they stop trusting themselves. A compliment begins to feel undeserved because faults were all they ever heard. A mistake feels catastrophic because perfection was expected. Even success is followed by a familiar whisper insisting it could have been better. The very voice that should have nurtured confidence starts eroding it slowly. It rarely happened all at once. It happened in passing, disguised as ordinary afternoons and ordinary conversations. I wore a dress I loved. She looked at me for a moment before asking, Is this really what you're wearing? I left my hair open. Tie it properly. I spent an hour cleaning my room. When I was your age, I did much more than this. I returned home excited about something I had written. She corrected my grammar before she noticed my enthusiasm. I stood first in class. She reminded me that someone else's daughter had scored higher. Years pass. Daughters grow up. They leave home, earn degrees, build careers, marry and become mothers themselves. But only a few can leave behind the voice that raised them. Others, before wearing a dress, before speaking in a meeting, before celebrating an achievement, before forgiving themselves for a mistake. They hear it. The tragedy is not that mothers make mistakes. Every human does. The tragedy is that some daughters spend years believing those voices are their own. Psychologists have long observed that a child's inner voice is often shaped by the voices they hear most consistently during their formative years. For many daughters, that first voice is their mother's. We often inherit our mothers' eyes, their smile, the shape of their hands and feet. But sometimes, we inherit their fears. Sometimes we inherit the words they spoke to us so often that, years later, we begin speaking them to ourselves. None of this is to deny the burdens many mothers carry. Many women raise their daughters while carrying their own unhealed wounds, struggling with expectations they never question, grappling with criticism they themselves endure and living lives shaped by scarcity, fear or silence. In spite of that, many a time, what mothers pass on to their daughters is not jewellery or recipes, but ways of speaking, disciplining, and believing that harshness builds strength. And in doing so, what is passed on is an emotional deprivation, one that renders their daughters screaming within and quiet without. Perhaps this is why conversations about emotionally difficult mother-daughter relationships remain so rare. We have become comfortable speaking about absent parents, abusive partners, and bullying classmates. But when the hurt comes from a mother, silence often takes its place. Love, gratitude, sacrifice, and pain become tangled together until daughters begin to wonder whether they are even allowed to speak about it. And thus, a daughter who is not understood at home does not stop longing to be understood. She simply begins carrying that hunger everywhere she goes. A teacher's praise tarries longer than it ought to. A friend's reassurance becomes unforgettable. Sometimes, the first person who says, You are enough, is trusted with a dangerous urgency, not because daughters are naive, but because they have spent years waiting to hear those words from the one person whose voice mattered the most. The starvation of acceptance caused by a mother's emotional negligence creates an emptiness that no amount of validation can fully satiate. Perhaps healing shall begin the day we learn to tell the difference between our own voice and the one we have been carrying all along. - From a daughter, still learning the difference. Asma Majid, V-YES (Voices of Young and Adolescent Women for Empowerment and Social Change) Research Fellow, Jammu and Kashmir Association of Social Workers (JKASW)

J&K health indicators outperform national averages: NITI Aayog

Jammu and Kashmir has recorded better outcomes than national benchmarks on several key health indicators, including neonatal, infant and under-five mortality, besides reporting higher immunisation coverage, life expectancy and sex ratio at birth. As per the figures presented by NITI Aayog, the comparison of health indicators shows that J&Ks neonatal mortality rate stands at 10 against the national figure of 18, while its infant mortality rate is 14 compared to 24 at the national level. As per the figures, the under-five mortality rate in J&K is also lower at 15 against the national figure of 28. The J&K UT has recorded a total fertility rate of 1.4, which is lower than the national figure of 1.9. On the demographic front, the official data reveals that the overall sex ratio in J&K is 948 females per 1,000 males against the national figure of 1,020. However, the sex ratio at birth is higher in J&K, which is recorded at 976 compared to 929 at the national level under NFHS-5. The data further shows that fully immunised children aged 1223 months stood at 93.7 per cent in J&K against 87.1 per cent nationally under NFHS-5. Under HMIS, full immunisation coverage is reported at 100 per cent in both J&K and nationally. As per the official figures, J&K has also reported a higher life expectancy at birth of 74.2 years, compared to the national figure of 69.7 years. The official document revealed that 273 hospitals have been empanelled, while approximately 88.25 lakh Golden Cards have been issued under the AB-PMJAY-SEHAT scheme. Over 21.84 lakh treatments have been provided under the scheme, with around Rs 3,984.32 crore in out-of-pocket expenditure of patients saved, it reads. The figures state that the 102-108 ambulance network has also expanded to 530 ambulances, with around 5.58 lakh patients having availed themselves of the services. As per the figures showing the Status of Health Infrastructure and Manpower in J&K, MBBS seats have increased from 500 up to 2019 to 1,725 by July 2026, which is an addition of 1,225 seats. The figure includes AIIMS Jammu, ASCOMS and 50 supernumerary seats. The expansion has also been recorded across other medical and allied health disciplines. DNB seats increased from 20 to 403, while B.Sc Nursing seats jumped from 685 to 3,240. B.Sc Paramedical seats rose from 78 to 1,898, B Pharma seats from 33 to 373 and M.Sc Nursing seats from 25 to 283. Similarly, PG and super-speciality seats have increased from 513 to 802 during the period. As per the figures, the bed capacity per 10,000 population has also increased from 13.74 to 16.63.

CS-led panel clears Rs 2,692 crore urban transformation projects

In a major step towards accelerating sustainable and investment-driven urban transformation in J&K, the Union Territory Level High Powered Steering Committee (UTHPSC), chaired by Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, has approved three major urban development projects with a cumulative base cost of Rs 2,692.58 crore under the Government of Indias Urban Challenge Fund (UCF). The meeting was attended by the senior officers in the administration, including the ACS, Tourism; ACS, Finance; Principal Secretary, Culture; Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir; Commissioner, JMC/SMC and other concerned officers. The projects identified by the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) includes TARANG (Tawi Area Regeneration and Green Growth) in Jammu, Walled City & Nigeen Lakefront Revitalization in Srinagar, and KRIPA (Katra Revitalisation Through Integrated Pilgrimage Amenities) in Reasi are designed to combine public investment with market-linked financing and private participation to create modern, sustainable and economically vibrant urban spaces. The approvals mark a significant advancement in J&Ks efforts to leverage the UCF framework for transformative urban infrastructure, while unlocking additional institutional, municipal and private capital for large-scale development. With an estimated cost of Rs 1,567.91 crore, TARANG envisages comprehensive regeneration of the Tawi riverfront and surrounding urban areas through a combination of public infrastructure and PPP-led commercial development. The project has a funding structure comprising Rs 307.05 crore each from the Government of India and UT Government, while Rs 953.81 crore is proposed to be mobilised through market and PPP financing. The PPP component will facilitate development of a high-end residential group housing project, an upscale hotel, a modern retail mall and associated Left Bank road infrastructure. The Central Island will also be activated through development of a luxury resort asset. The project further provides for extensive structural and river-protection works, including a diaphragm wall, embankment filling, retaining wall with anchor slabs and interceptor drainage infrastructure. The Walled City & Nigeen Lakefront Revitalisation project, with an estimated cost of 1,010.77 crore, seeks to rejuvenate Srinagars historic urban core and unlock the economic potential of its lakefront areas in the interiors of the historical city. Around 300.77 crore will be deployed towards core public infrastructure and revitalisation of the historic city, while the PPP component will support development of a Hospitality Centre, Pokribal Lakefront and a premium five-star boutique hotel. The Katra Revitalisation Through Integrated Pilgrimage Amenities (KRIPA) project in Reasi, estimated at 113.90 crore, will focus on improving pilgrim amenities, mobility management and institutional infrastructure in Katra. A major component is the Katra Gateway Centre, envisaged as a 5+2 floor mixed-use facility over a 10.17-kanal site, with approximately 1.39 lakh sq ft of built-up area. It will include pilgrim dormitories with 480 beds across 36 dormitories, 35 guest rooms, retail outlets, a community dining hall and dedicated prayer spaces. To address parking and traffic congestion, the project also provides for a Multi-Level Car Parking facility with capacity for 365 Equivalent Car Spaces, EV charging infrastructure and dedicated bus bays near the Yatra Parchi Counter. The project additionally provides Rs 15.25 crore for institutional remodelling, including modern commercial office spaces, retail kiosks and upgraded administrative facilities for the Municipal Committee, Katra. The three projects reflect the UCFs emphasis on developing bankable, investment-ready urban projects by combining government support with market-based financing. The approach is aimed not only at creating modern urban infrastructure but also at ensuring that such assets generate sustainable economic activity and long-term revenue streams. The Committee has also laid emphasis on ensuring timely, quality and financially sustainable execution of the approved projects. The initiatives are expected to significantly enhance urban infrastructure, mobility, tourism and economic activity while creating new public spaces and investment opportunities across Jammu, Srinagar and Katra.

Heavy rain swells Pahalgam stream, roads submerged in sourth Kashmir

A sudden rise in water levels in the Maamal Nalla in Pahalgam submerged roads in parts of south Kashmir on Tuesday following heavy rainfall, prompting authorities to advise residents living near water channels to exercise caution. Water levels surged in the stream following a heavy downpour, inundating roads in the area. Authorities urged people to avoid riverbanks and remain vigilant, particularly as further spells of rain and thunderstorms have been forecast. Heavy rains were also reported from several other parts of south Kashmir, including Shopian and Awantipora. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast generally cloudy weather on September 1 and 2, with light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places. Brief spells of heavy rain are also likely in the Jammu division during the early morning and late afternoon or evening hours. Generally dry weather is expected on September 3, although brief showers may occur at a few places. On September 4, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at many places, accompanied by brief intense showers. From September 5 to 12, weather is expected to remain generally dry, with brief spells of rain or thundershowers at isolated to scattered places, mainly during the early morning and afternoon hours. Despite the recent rainfall, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a 4% surplus in seasonal precipitation. According to IMD data, the Union Territory received 444.1 mm of rainfall between June 1 and August 26, against the normal of 428.8 mm. However, the overall figure masks significant regional variations. Shopian, one of Kashmirs major apple-growing districts, received only 117 mm of rainfall during the period, 48% below its normal of 224.9 mm. Kishtwar recorded a 49% deficit, with 169.3 mm against the normal of 328.9 mm. Budgam recorded a 20% deficit, while Reasi was 21% below normal. Jammu and Kathua recorded rainfall deficits of 11% and 12%, respectively. Several districts, meanwhile, received substantially above-normal rainfall. Baramulla recorded a 65% surplus, receiving 269.7 mm against the normal of 163.9 mm. Udhampur received 1,256.2 mm, 60% above its normal of 787.3 mm, while Pulwama recorded a 56% surplus. Ganderbal recorded a 50% surplus and Samba 44%. The most pronounced departures were recorded in the wider Himalayan region. Kargil received 21.6 mm against a normal of 6.4 mm, registering a surplus of 238%, while Ladakh received 60.4 mm against the normal of 18.9 mm, a 220% surplus. Among Kashmir districts, Srinagar recorded a 22% surplus, receiving 226.5 mm against a normal of 186.2 mm. Anantnag and Bandipora were both 14% above normal. The uneven rainfall distribution comes at a crucial stage for agriculture and horticulture in Kashmir, where weather conditions play an important role in crop and fruit production. While Jammu and Kashmir as a whole has not recorded a significant seasonal rainfall deficit, shortages in districts such as Shopian and Budgam underline the sharp regional disparities in precipitation. In Pahalgam, residents living near the Maamal Nalla and other water channels have been advised to remain cautious and avoid vulnerable areas amid the forecast for additional rain and thunderstorms.

Cant assume investigating agencys role or conduct a mini-trial: HC

Observing that it could not assume the role of an investigating agency or conduct a mini-trial, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has refused to quash an FIR registered against a 61-year-old man for alleged cheating and criminal conspiracy. A bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, while dismissing one S.S. Aryas plea, held that the allegations disclosed prima facie cognizable offences and that disputed questions of fact could not be adjudicated in proceedings under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Notably, Section 482 of CrPCnow corresponding to section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita ( BNSS) recognises and preserves the inherent powers of a High Court to quash an FIR or complaint. Arya had sought to quash the FIR registered under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC, along with a notice issued to him under Section 160 of CrPC. The dispute originated from allegations that the petitioner and co-accused J Nain had induced complainant P Gandhotra to invest around Rs 77 lakh in connection with an NH-40 road-maintenance contract in Andhra Pradesh, allegedly assuring him a 10 per cent partnership. According to the complainant, only Rs 17 lakh was subsequently returned, leaving around Rs 60 lakh unpaid. In his plea, Arya, however, maintained that the dispute was essentially civil and arose from financial dealings concerning a proposed purchase of a plot in Gurugram. He relied upon agreements, bank transactions and alleged repayments to contend that approximately Rs 61.59 lakh had already been paid back. The complainant disputed this version, maintaining that the Gurugram property transaction was entirely separate from the NH-40 contract. He contended that the petitioner was attempting to club unrelated transactions to portray the criminal case as a civil dispute. The Court observed that the rival versions raised disputed questions concerning the nature of the transactions, bank transfers, agreements, the affidavit dated March 3, 2021, and the alleged repayments. Such issues required investigation and appreciation of evidence and could not be conclusively determined while exercising inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 CrPC, it said. The Court noted that the allegations in the FIR, taken at face value, contained specific assertions regarding inducement, payment of substantial amounts, the proposed 10 per cent partnership in the NH-40 contract and the alleged involvement of the accused persons. These allegations, if taken at their face value, are sufficient to require an investigation, it observed About the issues as to whether the representation was actually made, whether the complainant was induced by it, whether there was dishonest intention from the inception and whether the money was subsequently repaid, the court said these were matters requiring factual determination. In response to the challenge to the jurisdiction of the Economic Offence Wing, the Court declined to conclusively determine the issue at this stage, saying that the question of the requisite territorial or statutory nexus had to be examined based on material collected during investigation.

Beyond Transfers and Promotions

In every government, transfers, postings, promotions, selection grades, super-time scales and induction into higher services are necessary parts of the administrative system. They help maintain efficiency, recognise experience and provide career progression to employees. There is nothing wrong with these processes. The real question, however, is whether these administrative activities are being translated into better governance and improved quality of life for the people. Good governance should ultimately be judged by its outcomes, not merely by the number of administrative decisions taken. If an officer is transferred, another is posted, someone receives a promotion and another enters a higher scale, these may be important events within government. But for the ordinary citizen, the more important question is: Has anything improved because of these decisions? This is where governance needs to be examined scientifically. In science, an intervention is not considered successful simply because it has been carried out. Its success is assessed through measurable results. If a new medicine is introduced, its effectiveness is measured by the improvement in the patients condition. Similarly, if a government introduces a new policy, reorganises a department or elevates its officials, the effectiveness of that decision should be assessed through its impact on public services. The same principle can be applied to administration. If an administrative change results in faster delivery of services, better healthcare, improved schools, stronger rural infrastructure, better roads, reliable electricity, cleaner cities, more efficient offices or quicker resolution of public grievances, there is a visible public outcome. If there is no measurable improvement, then merely changing personnel or designations cannot, by itself, be described as good governance. This does not mean that transfers or promotions are unnecessary. They are essential for a functioning administration. But they should serve a larger purpose. Personnel management should be a means to achieve better public service, not an end in itself. The citizen is the ultimate stakeholder in governance. People are less concerned about which officer occupies which chair and more concerned about whether their problems are being solved. A parent wants a good school for his or her child. A patient wants timely and affordable medical treatment. A farmer needs roads, irrigation, electricity and access to markets. A young person wants education, skills and employment opportunities. A resident of a town expects clean surroundings, proper drainage, traffic management and dependable public services. These are the real indicators of governance. There is also a need for greater self-reflection among employees who receive higher responsibilities. Promotion should not be viewed only as a reward for years of service. With elevation comes greater responsibility. Before accepting a higher position, every employee should be able to ask himself or herself a simple question: Do I possess the competence, commitment and sense of public responsibility required for this position? Such self-assessment would strengthen rather than weaken the institution. A higher designation should represent greater capacity to serve, take responsibility, solve problems and deliver results. The higher the position, the greater should be the expectation of accountability. There is another important issue that deserves public discussionthe growing difference between employees working in mainstream administration and those serving in technical, professional, scientific, educational and other specialised fields. Many employees join government service with similar expectations and contribute for decades. However, different service rules, cadres and career structures can create significant differences in opportunities for advancement. Some employees working outside the traditional administrative structure may find themselves considerably behind their counterparts, despite possessing specialised qualifications, professional experience and having performed equally important public duties. This disparity deserves careful examination. A modern government cannot function only through general administration. Doctors, engineers, scientists, teachers, technologists, economists, statisticians, researchers, technicians and other professionals are equally important to development. A government that speaks of science-based decision-making, technological innovation, quality education and modern healthcare must also ensure that the people responsible for these areas receive fair career opportunities. Separate service rules may sometimes be necessary because different professions have different requirements. However, different rules should not automatically mean unequal respect, unequal opportunities or permanent career disadvantage. The principle should be simple: responsibility, competence, performance and contribution should receive appropriate recognition. A scientific approach to governance would therefore require the development of measurable indicators. Departments could periodically assess whether their policies have reduced waiting times, improved service delivery, increased school attendance, strengthened healthcare outcomes, improved road conditions, reduced power disruptions, accelerated development projects and increased citizen satisfaction. Even citizen feedback can be systematically collected. Data can tell government what is working and what is not. Such an approach would move administration from a system based largely on procedures to one increasingly based on performance and outcomes. There is also a need to distinguish between activity and achievement. Holding meetings, issuing orders, transferring officers, creating committees and announcing schemes are activities. Achievement begins when these activities produce a meaningful change on the ground. A department may hold hundreds of meetings, but if a citizen still has to visit an office repeatedly for a simple service, the system needs improvement. A hospital may have modern equipment, but if patients cannot access timely treatment, the investment has not achieved its full purpose. A school may have infrastructure, but if learning outcomes remain poor, infrastructure alone cannot be considered success. The objective, therefore, should not be to criticise officers or employees. Most government employees work under difficult circumstances and carry significant responsibilities. The purpose should instead be to create a system in which every position carries responsibility, every elevation carries accountability and every policy is ultimately judged by its public benefit. Transfers and promotions will always remain part of administration. They should continue where they are genuinely required. But they should be accompanied by a broader institutional question: What outcome do we expect from this decision? If that question becomes a normal part of governance, administration can gradually become more transparent, professional and people-oriented. In the final analysis, good governance is not about how many officers have been transferred, how many employees have been promoted or how many new designations have been created. These are internal indicators of administrative movement. The true indicator is much simpler: Do people feel that their lives are becoming easier, their services better, their opportunities greater and their future more secure? When citizens experience that change, governance becomes meaningful. When employees understand that elevation means greater responsibility rather than merely greater status, public institutions become stronger. And when every category of employee is given fair opportunity to progress according to competence, contribution and responsibility, the entire administrative system becomes more balanced. The ultimate measure of government should therefore not be movement within the system, but progress experienced by the people outside it. Dr Nasir Shah, Former Additional Director JKSTIC, DST, has remained actively associated with the promotion of science, scientific temper, innovation, and educational awareness across J&K.

J&K Bank is Our Bank, Let it Remain So

Despite stupendous macro and micro advances in money, banking and finance, driven by information and communication technologies, digitisation, globalisation, financial engineering and increasingly complex financial products, banks and banking remain pivotal to any economy. Their importance cannot be overstated. This is even more relevant for an economy like Jammu and Kashmirs. Our economy continues to be an unusual mix of subsistence activity, agriculture, a large informal sector, government-dependent spending and a relatively small formal private economy struggling to expand. Add to this a landlocked geography, high logistics costs, decades of disruption, limited industrialisation, seasonal incomes and high unemployment, and access to capital becomes one of the most critical determinants of economic opportunity. In an economy like ours, J&K Bank which enjoys almost a monopoly status becomes extremely important. Its significance is not merely because it is the major bank of J&K, but because the economic, financial and overall health of J&K is deeply intertwined with the flow of credit from this institution. The Bank itself says that it commands more than 61 per cent of the banking business in J&K and Ladakh. Of its 1,017 branches as of March 2026, 841 were located in J&K. But there is an even more telling number. Of J&K Banks total deposits of about Rs.1.65 lakh crore as on March 31, 2026, nearly Rs.1.37 lakh croreor about 83 per centcame from J&K. This is the financial foundation upon which the Bank stands. In the not-too-distant past, there were negative features associated with the Bankfrom patronage in lending to poor corporate governance and allied structural issues. To some extent, it needs to be said in the Banks favour, these have been remedied. But it increasingly appears that the cost of this internal restructuring and changed external posture is being passed on to the ordinary people of J&K. Their access to capital, lending and credit is now determined by a tightening of the rule book. A difficult bureaucratic framework often makes access to capital cumbersome precisely for those small entrepreneurs who need institutional finance most. Meanwhile, the Banks own numbers reveal a dramatic shift. While nearly 83 per cent of deposits originate in J&K, only about 61 per cent of gross advances are deployed here. As of March 2026, gross advances within J&K stood at approximately Rs.76,159 crore, while advances in the Rest of India, including Ladakh, had risen to Rs.48,822 crore. More disturbing is the direction of travel. During 2025-26, advances within J&K increased by around Rs.6,465 crore. In the Rest of India they increased by approximately Rs.11,530 crore. In other words, nearly 64 per cent of the Banks incremental gross lending during the year went outside J&K. This is not political rhetoric. These are the Banks own numbers. And the Bank has itself spoken of moving, over the medium to long term, towards a 50:50 geographical split of its loan book between its traditional territory and the Rest of India. That makes one question unavoidable: Is J&K gradually becoming the deposit-gathering territory of J&K Bank while the Rest of India increasingly becomes its preferred lending territory? It appears that the Bank is changing its form, shape and remit. It is increasingly behaving like a conventional commercial bank whose customer and client focus is shifting towards larger, deep-pocket players, mostly outside J&K. Of its 48,822 crore advances outside J&K, approximately 79 per cent are corporate advances. There is nothing inherently wrong with corporate lending or geographical diversification. Prudential diversification can strengthen a bank and protect it against regional concentration risks. But diversification cannot become displacement. A Rs.500-crore or Rs.1,000-crore corporate loan outside J&K may be easier to process, monitor and manage than hundreds of small loans within J&K. It may also quickly enlarge the balance sheet and improve headline numbers. But what does it do for employment in J&K? What does it do for our factories, tourism, handicrafts, horticulture, transport and service sectors? What does it do for the thousands of educated young people desperately looking for economic opportunity? A thousand crore deployed prudently among hundreds of viable enterprises within J&K can create thousands of jobs, generate demand, build local supply chains and ultimately return to the Bank itself as deposits. That is the economic multiplier J&K desperately needs. The experience of borrowers in J&K adds another uncomfortable dimension. For years, businesses here have paid comparatively high rates of interest, often justified in the name of geographical, political or market risk. Small and medium borrowers have been required to mortgage primary assets, provide substantial collateral securitiesoften far beyond the loan amountand, in many cases, furnish personal guarantees as well. This is a reality known to generations of entrepreneurs in J&K. Contrast this with large corporate lending outside J&K, where highly rated borrowers can access enormous amounts based substantially on credit ratings, cash flows, balance sheets and corporate risk assessment, often at far more competitive rates. The ordinary entrepreneur is therefore entitled to ask: Are the people of J&K good enough to provide the Bank with nearly 83 per cent of its deposits, but too risky when they approach the same Bank for credit? Why should money raised from relatively low-cost deposits in J&K increasingly travel outside to finance large corporates at competitive rates while a small entrepreneur here struggles with high interest, excessive collateral, personal guarantees and layers of procedure? This is not an argument for reckless lending. It is an argument for equity within prudent banking. J&K Bank has undoubtedly become more profitable but profitability cannot be the sole metric of health. Its annual profit for 2025-26 reached a record Rs.2,363 crore, while its asset quality and other financial parameters have improved considerably. That deserves acknowledgement. But higher profitability, by itself, is not the sole metric of the Banks overall health. The Bank must employ metrics, ratios and policies that make it vibrant, resilient and profitable. But these must not come at the expense of the people of J&K. A bank can have a cleaner balance sheet, record profits and excellent ratios while the economy from which it gathers the overwhelming majority of its deposits remains starved of productive credit. That would be a strange definition of success. J&K Bank cannot become merely a machine for maximising return on equity while progressively weakening its social and economic embeddedness in J&K. It is not being suggested that J&K Bank become a social institution. It must remain a professional banking institutionbut one that understands and realises its social embeddedness. The unfortunate but probably inevitable listing and dilution of shareholding have understandably increased the Banks accountability to the market and its shareholders. But shareholders and stakeholders cannot be placed in opposing camps. More importantly, the Governments of J&K and Ladakh together continue to hold about 59.4 per cent of the Banks equity. The Government cannot therefore wash its hands of the Banks strategic direction by arguing that it is merely a commercial institution. Nobody is asking the Government to decide individual loans. That would be disastrous and would never be in the interest of the institution. But the majority shareholder has both the right and responsibility to ask where this institution is heading. Does its Board adequately understand J&Ks peculiar economy? Does its credit policy recognise the conditions under which local enterprises operate? Why is credit outside J&K growing at such a dramatically faster pace? And what will a proposed 50:50 geographical loan-book distribution ultimately mean when nearly 83 per cent of deposits presently come from J&K? Commercial autonomy cannot become an alibi for absence of accountability. By enjoying a dominant market share, unmatched market depth and reach, a strong deposit franchise and, above all, the trust of the people of J&K, the Bank has to be more active and responsive to the economy that created it. To improve the financial and economic health of J&K, undercut high unemployment, aid robust and clean enterprise creation, assist genuinely distressed but promising firms, make access to capital easier and more equitable and induce domestic demand, J&K Bank must rise to the occasion. Instead of a tight bureaucratic framework and excessive reliance on narrow metrics and ratios, the Bank must become a catalyst for broad-based growth and development. Let the Bank expand outside J&K. Let it diversify. Let it become stronger. Let it earn record profits. But let it not collect our savings cheaply, lend them elsewhere more enthusiastically, and then tell our own entrepreneurs that they are too risky to finance. J&K cannot become merely the deposit base of J&K Bank while the rest of the country progressively becomes its credit destination. The Banks greatest asset was never merely its balance sheet. It wasand remainsthe trust of the people who built that balance sheet. That trust must not be taken for granted. J&K Bank is our Bank. Let it remain so. S M Altaf Bukhari is former Finance Minister and President Apni Party

War on drugs: J&K ranks 1st in PIT-NDPS detentions, 3rd in property attachments

Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as one of the leading regions in the country in enforcement against the drug trade, ranking first in detentions under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act and third in property attachments. According to official figures presented as part of the administrations drug de-addiction measures during a recent meeting convened by members of the NITI Aayog, 3,072 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act have been registered in Jammu and Kashmir since January 1, 2026. The cases have resulted in 3,556 arrests and 376 convictions. The authorities have also attached 421 properties valued at Rs 196 crore and detained 169 persons under the PIT-NDPS Act. As part of regulatory and enforcement action against the drug network, 160 drug hotspots have been identified, while 1,698 suspects are currently under surveillance, the official figures show. Authorities have also cancelled 22 drug-store licences and suspended 400 licences as part of measures to prevent the diversion and misuse of controlled substances. The government has simultaneously intensified its crackdown on the illicit cultivation of narcotic crops. During the period, 12 acres of poppy and 144 acres of cannabis cultivation were destroyed. A total of 247 cases were registered in connection with such cultivation, leading to the arrest of 254 persons. The official data states that illegal poppy cultivation has been nearly eliminated. The enforcement drive has also extended to transport-related documents. Authorities have suspended 781 vehicle registrations and 669 driving licences in connection with drug-related cases. The administration has issued a common Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing the cancellation or suspension of documents and facilities of persons accused under the NDPS Act and those detained under the PIT-NDPS Act. The SOP covers passports, driving licences, arms licences, contractor licences, government accommodation and security. According to the framework, the objective is to restrict the mobility of accused persons, prevent misuse of identity and disrupt drug networks. Trigger events for initiating action include an FIR involving commercial quantity, detention orders, court orders, intelligence inputs and conviction, the official document states. Under the procedure, the investigating officer is required to prepare a case dossier containing the accused persons identity details, relevant documents and particulars of the offence. A Look Out Circular (LOC) is then issued to prevent foreign travel. The SOP provides for cancellation or suspension of documents and facilities, including passports, driving licences, arms licences, security and government accommodation. Post-conviction measures are to ensure continuation of the cancellation or suspension and the LOC, as applicable. In cases of acquittal, the framework provides for restoration of documents and rights, withdrawal of the LOC and unfreezing of accounts. The SOP also calls for coordinated monitoring through clearly defined roles, timelines, nodal officers and mechanisms for reporting and review. Alongside enforcement, the government has reported a substantial expansion of treatment and counselling services for people affected by substance abuse. Since January 2026, treatment has been provided to 5,321 new out-patient department (OPD) cases and 801 new in-patient department (IPD) cases. The facilities have also recorded 1.79 lakh follow-up visits. The official figures show that 799 patients were discharged, while 15,054 patients received counselling. The government has also said that awareness campaigns were conducted across all panchayats through rallies, seminars and workshops.

Best of BS Opinion: TCS acquisition highlights changing dynamics in AI era

Today's opinions examine TCS' AI-era dealmaking, Himalayan climate risks, women's unpaid burden in livestock, India's water use and private equity's growing role in healthcare

Harvest Hazards

Harvest is a time of joy as farmers reap the benefits of their hard work. Kashmirs harvest season is, for most of the cultivation, towards autumn. One of the fruits that is harvested these days is walnut. Know for its value in dry fruit market, Kashmir produces good amount of walnut, and it can fetch reasonable income to growers. But unlike plants like apple, plum or pear, walnut is a majestic tree. Its size and height is really huge. So climbing the tree and plucking fruit comes with its own dangers. Every year we see many cases of fall from the tree treated in different hospitals of the valley. The injuries are grave and people even face life time disabilities as a result of fall from a walnut tree. Just recently we came across a news that in South Kashmirs Qazigund area a person fell from a walnut tree and succumbed to injuries. This has brought to fore, once again, the practice of unsafe harvesting. Though we have employed new scientific techniques in our orchards, and farming is moving to another level, walnut harvesting remains the very traditional thing it used to be. It is time that safe harvesting is taken very seriously. It is a matter of human lives and nothing should be left undone to ensure safety of a person who climbs up this tall tree. As is common knowledge the height of this tree, and the kind of bark it has, contribute to the risk of falling from this tree. So a safety gear becomes a must in this case. Also, some novel methods of harvesting can be contemplated where the risk is reduced to almost nil. What can also be done to find out safer methods is a comparative study of how people in more advanced countries do this. The concerned departments can sensitise farmers on this and also bring in an element of better harvesting practices. What also needs a careful follow up is to see the potential of hybrid walnut tress; these tress are smaller in size and height, and if their produce rivals the the produce of the traditional walnut trees, we have a better alternative.

J&K Bank to fill 1400 posts, notification in coming weeks: Amitava Chatterjee

Srinagar, Sep 1:The Jammu and Kashmir Bank is set to begin its biggest recruitment exercise in years, with the board approving around 1400 posts for advertisement in the coming weeks. The hiring will remain locally focused, with all the positions open only to domiciles of J&K and around 40 posts to be filled by residents of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Managing Director and CEO Amitava Chatterjee said. While Chatterjee acknowledged that the concerns raised regarding the bank reflect the deep connect that the people of J&K have with this institution and these sentiments need to be respected, he, at the same time, stressed that the banks strategic initiatives need to be viewed from a perspective of long-term growth and sustainability. Addressing questions over the banks lending pattern, particularly the sharp difference between credit growth in J&K and its operations outside J&K, with advances in J&K growing by around 9 percent against around 30 percent growth in rest of the country during FY 2025-26, indicating that J&K Bank in increasingly directing its incremental lending towards markets outside its traditional operating area, Chatterjee rejected this interpretation and reiterated that expansion outside J&K does not in any way mean dilution of the banks commitment to its home territories of J&K and Ladakh. He said that the credit growth percentages across geographies should not be viewed in isolation but rather need to be viewed alongside the size of the respective loan books. At the beginning of FY 2025-26, more than two-thirds of the banks loan book came from J&K and Ladakh. Despite the disruption in economic activity caused by the Pahalgam attack in 2025, the bank posted a reasonable credit growth of more than 9 percent in J&K and Ladakh during the financial year. While the bank operates in 22 states and Union Territories across the country, more than 60 percent of the banks lending is concentrated in the two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. As a bank, our lending is driven by the availability of profitable opportunities. Our objective is to pursue quality credit growth wherever viable opportunities exist. However, I would like to assure our customers as well as other well-wishers of the bank in J&K and Ladakh that any growth opportunities that the bank pursues in the rest of the country will not come at the cost of our home regions of J&K and Ladakh. Our core business is in J&K, and we will continue to be a J&K-centric bank, he said. With respect to the concerns raised about taking away opportunities from the youth of J&K by opening up the banks recruitment to non-locals, he said that he had some good news for the youth of J&K and Ladakh as the bank was set to initiate its first recruitment drive in almost 5 years with plans to recruit around 1400 people. All the posts to be advertised shall be open only to local candidates, only domiciles of J&K, and around 40 posts for Ladakh residents, he said. Speaking about plans to recruit non-locals, he said that there were no plans to alter the banks core recruitment model or replace its existing workforce. However, to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers, the bank has been recruiting non-locals for some of its branches in rest of the country right from its inception till 2019. On similar lines, the bank may opt for limited and strictly need-based recruitment in the future for its branches in rest of the country to supplement and support the existing staff in penetrating those markets, he said. The banks approach to stressed assets and settlement of outstanding loans was another key issue discussed in the interaction. Business chambers, associations and borrowers have been seeking a more expansive One-Time Settlement mechanism, including a 2020 SBI-style framework that could cover larger accounts in the Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 crore range. Chatterjee said J&K Bank has prepared an OTS framework, but indicated that there were limits on the concessions the bank could offer. Chatterjee pointed to the financial implications of an OTS for the lender. At the end of the day, when we give an OTS, we are giving up money. Ultimately, these are funds belonging to our depositors, and we are merely its custodians and we have a responsibility to protect their interests as well, he said. On the composition of the J&K Bank board, Chatterjee said he would favour the inclusion of a representative from Kashmir, amid concerns over the absence of such representation. I would definitely want a Kashmiri representative on the board, as he or she would have an ear to the ground on the realities here, he said. Chatterjee said that such an appointment was ultimately the prerogative of the J&K government, by virtue of being the majority shareholder. He also put to rest speculation about a possible relocation of the banks headquarters from Srinagar. There is no proposal to shift the headquarters of J&K Bank from Srinagar. Why would we do this now when the Bank has not shifted its base even during turbulent times? J&K Bank's headquarters has been in Srinagar for over 8 decades now, since its inception, and it will continue to remain here, Chatterjee said. The banks dual objectives of continuing to enhance and deepen its banking business and relationship in J&K and Ladakh while expanding in the rest of the country should be seen as complementary objectives and not competing ones. A stronger J&K Bank will ultimately be able to better support and serve the economies as well as the people of J&K and Ladakh, he said.

LOP challenges CM to resign, seek fresh mandate on statehood

Srinagar, Sep 1:Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma on Tuesday accused the National Conference (NC) government of using the statehood issue to divert public attention from what he described as more pressing concerns, including unemployment and alleged irregularities in the distribution of government jobs. Sharma was reacting to the NCs announcement of a peaceful gherao of BJP headquarters in Srinagar and Jammu on Wednesday. He said restoration of statehood was not the issue on which the Omar Abdullah-led government had sought votes during the Assembly elections. The government came to power on promises of free electricity, jobs, and ration, and not on the promise of restoration of statehood, Sharma said. Challenging the CM, the BJP leader said, If Omar Abdullah has the courage, he should resign and seek a fresh mandate from the people on the issue of statehood. Sharma also accused the ruling NC of attempting to shift the public discourse away from allegations surrounding the distribution of government jobs. He alleged that around 25,000 posts were being given and distributed among NC workers, and demanded that the government address concerns over employment and recruitment. The BJP leader said his partys proposed protest would be held as scheduled on Wednesday and would focus on what he described as the failure of the government to provide adequate employment opportunities to the youth of J&K. Our protest will go on as per schedule. We will protest tomorrow against the jobs that are not being given to the youth, and the NCs protest on the same day is unfortunate and an attempt to divert the attention of the people from the real issues, Sharma said. He termed the NCs decision to organise its protest against the BJP on the same day as the BJPs planned agitation unfortunate, alleging that the move was aimed at shifting the focus from employment-related issues and alleged irregularities in recruitment. The NC has announced a September 2 programme seeking accountability from the Centre over commitments made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court. The party has listed restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees among its key demands.

NC-BJP face-off set to hit streets as parties announce rival gheraos in J&K

Srinagar, Sep 1:Jammu and Kashmirs political contest between the National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set for a sharper street-level confrontation on Wednesday, with the NC announcing counter-gheraos of BJP headquarters in Srinagar and Jammu hours after the BJP called for a Secretariat gherao against the Omar Abdullah-led government. The rival programmes have transformed September 2 into a political face-off, with both parties attempting to set the terms of the public debate and, crucially, decide where accountability for Jammu and Kashmirs unresolved issues should lie. The BJPs protest is aimed at the elected government, while the NC is preparing to take its counter-campaign directly to BJP offices, putting the spotlight on the Centre and its commitments towards J&K. Announcing its programme, the NC said its protests would remain peaceful and would demand accountability for commitments made by the Centre in Parliament and before the Supreme Court. The party has identified four demands: constitutional guarantees, restoration of statehood, clearance of the reservation file and justice for the people of J&K. The political messaging is unmistakable. Faced with a BJP campaign questioning the performance of the NC-led administration, the ruling party is seeking to move the debate from governance in J&K to the larger question of what the Centre has promised J&K and what remains undelivered. At the heart of the NCs counter-offensive is statehood. Restoration of statehood has been one of the partys defining demands since the reorganisation of the erstwhile state in 2019. By placing it alongside constitutional guarantees and the reservation issue, the NC is seeking to frame Wednesdays protest not as a defence of the Omar Abdullah government but as a broader political demand directed at New Delhi. The partys reference to the mandate is equally deliberate. The mandate of the people of J&K is not a blank cheque. It must be respected, not taken for granted, the NC said. The statement effectively draws a political line between the mandate received by the elected government and the authority of the Centre, while signalling that the NC does not intend to allow the BJP to monopolise the narrative on accountability. For the BJP, the counter-protest presents a different challenge. Its decision to take its agitation to the Civil Secretariat is designed to put the NC government directly under pressure over issues it says remain unresolved under the present administration. The NCs decision to respond at BJP headquarters turns that campaign into a two-way political contest. Rather than allowing the BJP protest to dominate the political conversation, the NC is seeking to force the Centre and the BJP to answer questions over statehood, constitutional safeguards, and other commitments. The confrontation also reflects the changing political dynamics after the 2024 Assembly elections, when the NC emerged as the principal force in government while the BJP retained its position as the dominant political force in Jammu. Both parties are now attempting to consolidate their respective political constituencies while expanding their narratives beyond their traditional regional strongholds. For the NC, statehood remains a particularly potent issue because it allows the party to connect the question of J&Ks political status with the electoral mandate received by the elected government. For the BJP, the emphasis on governance allows it to argue that the elected administration should be judged on its performance rather than on issues falling within the Centres domain.

KPDCL sought ToD withdrawal; JERC retained it

Srinagar, Sep 1:The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limiteds (KPDCL) decision to withdraw its own proposal for introducing a Time-of-Day (ToD) tariff for 2026-27 has assumed significance after the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) went ahead with the mechanism, potentially creating a substantial financial advantage for government offices, educational institutions and industries whose electricity consumption is concentrated during daytime hours. In an additional submission dated July 1, 2026, filed while the tariff proceedings were still before the Commission, KPDCL explicitly sought withdrawal of its ToD proposal for FY 2026-27. The DISCOM told JERC that ToD should not be implemented, in any consumer category during the year and proposed that it be introduced later in phases, as adequate smart-meter penetration was achieved. The reason cited was essentially technological readiness. Without adequate smart metering, consumption during different time blocks could not be uniformly measured and billed, making immediate implementation difficult. JERC, however, did not accept KPDCLs position in its entirety. In its tariff order issued on August 20 and effective from September 1, the commission introduced ToD for consumers, other than agriculture, having sanctioned load or contract demand above 10 kW, subject to the availability of compatible metering and billing infrastructure. Under the approved structure, electricity consumed during solar hours from 9 am to 5 pm - attracts a 20 percent rebate. Consumption during peak hours attracts a surcharge of 20 percent for industrial and commercial consumers and 10 percent for other eligible categories. This leaves the DISCOM in an unusual position: having sought withdrawal of ToD for the entire financial year, KPDCL must now implement the mechanism wherever compatible metering and billing infrastructure is available. The divergence also raises a broader regulatory question. If inadequate smart-meter coverage made ToD impractical for 2026-27, why was complete withdrawal considered necessary when the mechanism could be applied selectively to consumers whose connections already have compatible infrastructure? JERC appears to have addressed precisely that concern by limiting implementation to eligible consumers with the required metering and billing systems, rather than waiting for universal smart-meter coverage. The Central Governments Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules themselves envisage ToD as a demand-management instrument. The framework provides for solar-hour tariffs to be at least 20 percent below normal tariffs and links ToD implementation to smart meters. The question, therefore, is whether incomplete smart-meter penetration was sufficient reason to withdraw ToD altogether when a phased, infrastructure-based implementation was possible. The economics of the approved tariff make the issue more significant. The government establishments could emerge as major beneficiaries. Their tariff has increased from Rs 7.90 to Rs 8.30 per unit. But the 20 percent solar-hour rebate brings the daytime energy charge down to Rs 6.64 per unit - nearly 16 percent below the old tariff. Government offices, colleges, and universities largely operate during the 9 am5 pm solar window. Where compatible meters are already available, the rebate could therefore reduce their effective electricity cost despite the increase in the base tariff. For the DISCOM, this could mean lower revenue from substantial consumers whose electricity consumption was already concentrated during daytime, without necessarily producing any significant shift in their consumption behaviour. Kashmirs predominantly daytime industries could similarly turn the tariff increase into a saving. For LT industry, the new Rs 4.60 per-unit tariff falls to Rs 3.68 during solar hours - 12.38 percent below the earlier Rs 4.20 tariff. For HT industry, the Rs 4.50 tariff falls to Rs 3.60, around 12.2 percent below the previous Rs 4.10 rate. The benefit, however, is not automatic. It depends on when electricity is consumed. Units operating substantially during peak hours will face the applicable surcharge, which could offset the saving generated by daytime consumption. That is also the central purpose of ToD: to encourage consumers to shift electricity use away from periods of peak demand and towards solar hours, when power availability from solar generation is generally higher. The J&K tariff structure, however, could reward some consumers for behaviour they were already following. Government offices and single-shift industrial units that naturally consume most of their electricity between 9 am and 5 pm may receive the 20 percent rebate without making any substantial change to their operating patterns. In such cases, ToD could reduce the DISCOMs revenue without necessarily achieving the demand-shifting objective for which the tariff was introduced. But where are the households in this framework? The overwhelming majority of ordinary domestic consumers have sanctioned loads below 10 kW and therefore remain outside the ToD benefit under the JERC order. That is significant because households collectively have considerable flexibility in when they consume electricity. Washing machines, water heating, cooling appliances, ironing, electric cooking and several other energy-intensive household activities can, to varying degrees, be shifted from morning and evening peak periods to daytime solar hours. Across hundreds of thousands of households, even modest changes in consumption patterns could potentially have a greater aggregate impact on the load curve than shifting demand among a relatively smaller pool of large consumers.

PDP and the Politics of Deception: Kashmir Cannot Be Fooled Again

For more than two decades, the Peoples Democratic Party has attempted an extraordinary political balancing act in Jammu & Kashmirspeaking one language while exercising power and another when sitting in opposition. Its politics has repeatedly moved between constitutional mainstream, soft-separatist rhetoric, reconciliation with Pakistan and aggressive criticism of New Delhi, depending upon the political circumstances of the moment. This is not ideological consistency. It is politics of convenience. The 2014 Contradiction The clearest example remains 2014. PDP sought votes in Kashmir by positioning itself strongly against BJP. Yet after the election it entered into an alliance with the very party it had opposed and formed the Government. BJP's ideological position was never concealed. Its views on nationalism, Article 370 and complete integration of J&K with India were known for decades. PDP nevertheless shared power with BJP. If BJP was politically acceptable when ministerial offices were available, how did it suddenly become ideologically unacceptable when PDP lost power? Principles cannot change according to one's distance from the Chief Minister's chair. 2016 Exposed the Contradiction The unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016 provides an even more telling example. When Mehbooba Mufti was Chief Minister and responsible for maintaining law and order, her language was very different from the rhetoric PDP frequently employs from the opposition benches. In August 2016, she said a small percentage was creating havoc and questioned those attacking police stations and security camps. Later that year, she urged security forces to exercise restraint and avoid pellet guns where possible. The important point is not to reopen the tragedy of 2016. It is to ask a question of political consistency. When responsible for government, PDP understood the compulsions of maintaining public order. Outside government, why does its political narrative so frequently sound as though those compulsions never existed? Kashmir deserves honesty about this contradiction. Jamaat-e-Islami: Why This Political Priority? The contradiction continues today. In July 2026, Mehbooba Mufti said PDP would join the proposed opposition protest in Delhi only if its agenda included restoration of Article 370, release of political prisoners and lifting the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami. BJP is entitled to ask: why should lifting the ban on Jamaat become such an important political priority? Every organisation is entitled to whatever legal remedies are available to it. But political parties seeking to govern J&K must make their priorities equally clear. At a time when young Kashmiris want jobs, investment, modern universities, technology, tourism and entrepreneurship, politics should concentrate upon connecting them with India's enormous opportunities rather than constantly returning them to old ideological battlegrounds. Pakistan Again and Again PDP's 2024 manifesto once again placed considerable emphasis upon the Kashmir issue, India-Pakistan engagement, restoration of constitutional guarantees and cross-LoC economic connectivity. Dialogue between countries is ultimately a matter for the Union Government, determined by national interest and security circumstances. But Kashmir's people must ask what decades of Pakistan-centred political discourse actually delivered to their families. Did it create jobs? Did it bring industries? Did it protect tourism from instability? Did it give Kashmir's children uninterrupted education? The ordinary Kashmiri paid the greatest price whenever terrorism, street violence and instability overwhelmed normal life. The children of Kashmir need laptops, not another generation of conflict. Article 370 and Political Convenience PDP's politics around Article 370 presents another contradiction. Its 2014 manifesto called Article 370 essential and advocated using it to restore J&K's original special status. Yet PDP subsequently governed in coalition with BJP despite knowing BJP's decades-old ideological position on Article 370. Today PDP again projects restoration of constitutional guarantees as central to its politics. It is perfectly entitled to advocate its constitutional position democratically. But voters are equally entitled to ask: If these ideological differences were so fundamental, how did they become manageable while governmental power was being shared? BJP's Position Has Never Been Hidden This is where BJP offers a fundamental contrast. One may support or oppose BJP, but its position has been consistent. BJP opposed Article 370 for decades. When it acquired the parliamentary and constitutional capacity, Article 370 was rendered inoperative. There was no separate position in Jammu, another in Srinagar and a third in Delhi. Political clarity is healthier than calculated ambiguity. Kashmir's Youth Deserve Better The biggest victims of emotional politics have always been ordinary young Kashmiris. Political families survived every turmoil. Ordinary families bore the consequences. When schools closed, ordinary children lost education. When tourism collapsed, ordinary workers lost income. When markets shut, ordinary traders suffered. When violence erupted, ordinary families lived in fear. J&K cannot afford another generation trapped in grievance politics. Its youth want careers, startups, artificial intelligence, tourism, world-class infrastructure, sports, universities and opportunities across India and the world. They should not become raw material for anybody's political revival. Politics Must Move Forward PDP must decide what it ultimately wants to represent: a modern democratic party competing on development and governance, or a political formation repeatedly returning to emotionally charged issues whenever it needs to recover electoral space. Jammu & Kashmir has changed. The old political formulas cannot indefinitely be repackaged and sold to new generations. Kashmir's pain cannot become anybody's permanent political business model. People deserve consistency. They deserve accountability. Above all, they deserve leaders who say the same thing whether they are in Government or opposition. PDP's record raises a question it cannot escape: Why do its political principles appear strongest when it is out of power and most flexible when power is within reach? The people of Jammu & Kashmir have seen this politics before. They should not be deceived by it again. (The author is Senior Advocate & Chief Spokesperson, BJP J&K)

The Himalayas need a new blueprint: Rebuilding Rasuwa with climate resilience and proactive infrastructure management

Nepal is rebuilding Rasuwa after devastating floods, shifting focus to proactive infrastructure management. Resilience and climate risk must guide all future development projects in the region. The floods demonstrated a polycrisis, necessitating interconnected risk accounting for greater resilience. AI can strengthen adaptation through robust early-warning systems for disaster preparedness. Regional countries must cooperate on cross-border mechanisms for sustainable infrastructure development.

Playing the long game and winning big: Tim Cook and Lionel Messi step down after successful careers

Tim Cook and Lionel Messi achieved remarkable success after succeeding iconic figures. Cook transformed Apple into a technology and services giant, expanding its market reach. Messi revolutionised football, enhancing its global appeal and Argentina's trophy count. Both leaders demonstrated humility alongside their extraordinary achievements. Their legacies highlight parallel paths of innovation and leadership.

Our city-city needs bang-bang: Indias booming cities have a governance problem

As key contributors to national economic growth, Indian cities face challenges in governance due to unfulfilled promises of devolving powers to local governments since 1992. To strengthen city management and fiscal strategies, three reforms are essential. Enhancing coordination and stabilizing state-city financial transfers are critical first steps, alongside empowering cities to independently raise funds, which is crucial for their development.

The lives behind words

Anna Stroud, a promising South African fiction writer, discusses her journey from journalism to crafting her award-winning debut novel, 'Who Looks Inside,' on the podcast 'The Hidden Lives of Writers.' The episode explores her creative process, including her use of an offline laptop, and delves into the unsettling themes of her novel, which critics describe as atmospheric and haunting.

Can a right to collect toll become taxable payment? The GST question

A Supreme Court case questions whether a government-granted right to collect tolls constitutes non-monetary payment for highway construction. This dispute could impact public-private partnerships across infrastructure sectors. The court must distinguish between a toll right, the actual toll paid by motorists, and deferred payments, ensuring that valuable entitlements are not automatically treated as taxable consideration for construction services, thereby preserving project bankability.

From more to meaning

The guru watched as his disciple transitioned from a life of simplicity to one of greater complexity, encapsulating the evolution of human desires. Illustrated by Maslow's hierarchy, this journey moves from fundamental needs towards self-actualization. Likewise, the timeless Panch Kosh reveals five layers that hide our true nature. These philosophies serve as guiding lights on the quest to uncover our authentic self and inner joy.

Bringing order to disorder: Wars without winners allow India to offer a safe path to economic recovery

Political aspirations in Ukraine and West Asia have become counterproductive due to prolonged warfare. Recognizing this, India is proposing an alternative economic framework that embraces compromise, leading to beneficial outcomes for Russia and Iran. This strategy not only diversifies dependencies away from China but also establishes India as a potential center of economic stability during these turbulent times.

CARA launches year-round campaign against illegal adoption

New Delhi, Sep 1 : The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, has launched the theme for Adoption Awareness 2026, reinforcing its commitment to promoting legal, safe, transparent and child-centric adoption across the country. The theme for Adoption Awareness 2026 is: Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption! The theme was formally launched by Bhavna Saxena, CEO, CARA, during a Live Morning Show on DD National, marking the beginning of a sustained nationwide awareness initiative to promote legal adoption and prevent illegal adoption practices. During the programme, Bhavna Saxena, CEO, CARA, emphasised the importance of following the legal adoption process and said, Adoption is not a shortcutit is a sacred responsibility. Through CARA and the legally prescribed channels, we safeguard the dignity, rights and future of every orphaned, abandoned or surrendered child. Every child deserves a safe, loving and secure familynot secrecy, uncertainty or risk. CARA has been undertaking several measures to strengthen awareness, coordination and enforcement against illegal adoption practices, including enhanced coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, sustained awareness and capacity building at the State, district and community levels remain critical to ensuring that every child is protected and every adoption is carried out through the prescribed legal process. Year-Round Outreach to Promote Legal Adoption Under the theme Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption, several outreach activities will be conducted throughout the year to create widespread awareness among citizens and key stakeholders. As part of the initiative, State/UT-level Adoption Awareness Workshops are being organised from September 2026 onwards, moving beyond the earlier approach of limiting adoption awareness activities to the month of November. These workshops will provide a platform for stakeholders to understand the statutory adoption process, strengthen inter-departmental coordination, identify and address illegal adoption practices, and reinforce the principle of the best interest of the child. The campaign will involve a wide range of stakeholders, including Women and Child Development Departments, Child Welfare Committees, District Child Protection Units, Specialised Adoption Agencies, Child Care Institutions, Police, Health Departments, Judiciary, Legal Services Authorities, hospitals and nursing homes, medical professionals, ASHA and ANM workers, civil society organisations, media and digital platforms, among others. Adoption Awareness Workshop in Delhi on 10 September 2026 As part of this nationwide initiative, CARA will organise an Adoption Awareness Workshop in Delhi on Thursday, 10 September 2026, at the Delhi Secretariat, New Delhi in collaboration of Department of Women and Child Development, Govt. of Delhi and concerned authorities. The workshop will focus on strengthening awareness regarding the legal adoption framework and the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in ensuring that children in need of care and protection receive appropriate care, protection and rehabilitation through lawful mechanisms. The workshop will also emphasise the importance of timely reporting of children found separated from their guardians, lawful surrender procedures, declaration of children as legally free for adoption, and adherence to the prescribed adoption procedure. A Collective Responsibility to Protect Every Child The campaign seeks to ensure that prospective adoptive parents and the general public understand that adoption is a legal and child-centric processnot a private arrangement between individuals. Citizens are encouraged to follow only the legally prescribed adoption process through CARA and the designated authorities/agencies and to report suspected instances of illegal adoption to the competent authorities. Through sustained, year-round awareness and coordinated action, CARA aims to build a stronger ecosystem in which every childs dignity, identity, rights, safety and future are protected.

CM Omar Abdullah revamps J&K Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor

Srinagar, Sep 1: In a major leap forward for public healthcare and social welfare, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the landmark Cancer Treatment & Management Fund for Poor (CTMFP) to ease the out-of-pocket financial burden on poor and vulnerable patients battling cancer. This major policy shift directly targets the critical gaps that previously left low-income families financially exhausted. While major inpatient operations and therapies are broadly covered under the Ayushman BharatPMJAY SEHAT ecosystem, patients historically suffered massive out-of-pocket expenses for outpatient care, routine diagnostics, and daily medication. Addressing this gap head-on, Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs modified guidelines raise the annual family income eligibility limit from 2.40 lakh per annum (20,000 per month) to 4.00 lakh per annum, extending a strong safety net to other low-income families. Furthermore, recognising that cancer recovery demands sustained assistance, the administration has replaced the old one-time grant with up to three distinct financial sanctions. The revised scheme showcases a modern transformation when evaluated against the original 2010 guidelines. The Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs updated initiative institutes clear assistance slabs of 75,000 for families earning up to 3 lakh annually and 50,000 for those earning between 3 lakh and 4 lakh. Further, beneficiaries are no longer confined to a short list; they can now access care at any hospital empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY-SEHAT network. The modified scheme modifies traditional approach of assistance sent to hospital accounts. Instead, direct bank transfers via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the patient shall be made. Further, once sanction is received from the Chief Ministers office, Deputy Commissioners are required to deposit sanctioned funds directly into beneficiary bank accounts within 72 hours of release from the Chief Minister's Secretariat. This modified scheme is the governments decisive move to address financial vulnerability of patients suffering from life threatening disease and to provide governmental support to the families in need.

Ticket checking drive: Railways' Jammu division collects Rs 56.46 lakh fine in August

Jammu, Sept 1: Officials said they detected 8,106 cases during the drive, which aimed to curb ticketless and irregular travel and raise passenger awareness about travelling with valid tickets. According to officials, a total fine of Rs 56,46,615 was collected from passengers travelling without tickets, undertaking irregular journeys or carrying unbooked excess luggage. The checking was carried out throughout the month at major stations, including Jammu, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan, Kathua, Pathankot Cantt, Budgam and Srinagar, and various Mail, Express and special trains passing through the division. Officials said the drive was not aimed merely at revenue generation but also at ensuring a safe, smooth and comfortable journey for passengers. Jammu Division is committed to maintaining passenger convenience and railway discipline. This is the result of the dedication and continuous efforts of our ticket checking staff, senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu Division, Uchit Singhal said. Our objective is not only to take punitive action but also to make passengers aware that they must take tickets before starting their journey. Such intensive ticket checking drives will continue regularly, he said. The division appealed to passengers to travel only with valid tickets and cooperate with railway authorities during ticket checks.

ACB arrests two police officers for accepting Rs 15,000 bribe

Srinagar, Sep 1: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday trapped and arrested two police officers for demanding and accepting bribe in Srinagar. In a statement, the ACB said that it received a written complaint alleging that PSI Karanjeet Singh, Investigating officer (IO) of Case FIR No. 65/2026 registered at Police Station Ram Munshi Bagh Srinagar through his accomplice namely Ravi Jee Bhat, Sub-Inspector P/S Ram Munshi Bagh Srinagar, had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant for closing the case as Not Admitted between the parties. It said that on receipt of the complaint, the ACB conducted verification of the allegations, which prima facie established the demand for illegal gratification. Accordingly, Case FIR No. 12/2026 under Section 7, Section 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 & Section 61(2)BNS was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar and investigation was taken up. During the course of investigation a trap team was constituted. The team caught the accused public servant namely Ravi Jee Bhat, Sub Inspector Police Station Ram Munshi Bagh Srinagar red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs.15000 on behalf of IO of the case PSI Karanjeet Singh from the complainant. The bribe amount was recovered from the possession of the accused in the presence of independent witnesses and he was taken into custody in accordance with law, and his Co-conspirator PSI Karanjeet Singh was subsequently arrested by the Bureau. Further investigation is in progress, statement added.

Sunil Sharma challenges Omar to resign, seek fresh mandate on statehood

NIA court rejects bail to school teacher arrested for backing Hizbul terrorists in J-K

Jammu, Sep 1: A Special NIA Court in Jammu has rejected the bail application of a private school teacher who was arrested more than five years ago for allegedly providing shelter, food and logistical support to Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in the Doda-Kishtwar region. The court, presided over by Special Judge Prem Sagar, dismissed the bail plea of Tanveer Ahmad Malik, observing that the material on record prima facie indicated his alleged involvement in unlawful and terror-related activities. The court also expressed concern that his release could affect the ongoing trial, as it could create a possibility of him influencing witnesses. Malik, a resident of Tantna village in Doda district, was arrested on March 1, 2021, in connection with a terror case. He was among the seven accused, including three slain terrorists -- Osama Bin Javed, Haroon Abbass Wani and Zahid Hussain -- chargesheeted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the case on May 22, 2021. The case was initially registered at Kishtwar police station under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and Indian Penal Code. The FIR followed terrorists led by Haroon Ahmad Wani snatching the service weapon of head constable Daleep Singh, who was posted as escort in-charge of the then Kishtwar deputy commissioner, along with three magazines and 90 rounds from his rented accommodation on March 8, 2019. The NIA subsequently took over the case. The defence sought bail for Malik citing prolonged incarceration, arguing that he had spent more than five years in jail. However, the NIA argued that the accusations against Malik were serious, that prima facie material existed against the accused's role in the case, and that his release could prejudice the remaining trial. The prosecution alleged that Malik had worked as an over-ground worker for proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen and had provided food, shelter and other logistical support to terrorists Haroon Abbas Wani and Tahir Ahmad Bhat from June 2019 to January 2020, until Wani was killed by security forces on January 15, 2020. The NIA informed the court that Malik had been motivated to work for the cause of jihad and had provided the terrorists shelter at his house as well as in an underground cave near his residence. The prosecution said there remained a possibility that, if released, he could again be used by terrorist handlers to provide clandestine support. The accused is a highly motivated terror associate who had repeatedly put up hectic efforts to support terror-related activities... He was about to join the Hizbul Mujahideen as an active terrorist, but fortunately he was arrested by police at the right time, it said. After considering the submissions of both sides, the Special Judge concluded that the nature and gravity of the allegations, the material available on record, the progress of the trial and the possibility of the accused influencing witnesses weighed against his release.

JKSSB invites applications for 2,863 posts across J&K departments

Srinagar, Sep 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has invited online applications for 2,863 posts in various departments of the Union Territory administration, according to an official notification issued on Tuesday. The recruitment process has been notified under Advertisement Notification No. 09 of 2026, dated September 1, covering posts across UT, divisional and district cadres. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online from October 5, while the last date for submission is November 3, the notification said. Applicants must be domiciles of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and are required to possess a valid J&K Domicile Certificate by the last date for submitting applications. The prescribed upper age limit is 40 years for candidates belonging to the Open Merit category and generally 43 years for candidates falling under reserved categories, subject to applicable age relaxations under government rules. The educational qualifications vary according to the posts. For Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) and Class-IV positions, candidates are required to have qualifications ranging from matriculation to 10+2. For posts of Sanitation Workers, the minimum educational qualification ranges from Class 8 pass to 10+2, depending on the specific post. The board has advised prospective applicants to carefully go through the detailed advertisement, including the post-wise eligibility criteria, vacancies, reservation provisions and other conditions, before submitting their applications. The recruitment drive is expected to provide opportunities for candidates seeking government employment across different departments and administrative cadres in Jammu and Kashmir.(KNS).

Sunil Sharma challenges Omar Abdullah to resign and seek fresh mandate on statehood

Srinagar, Sep 1: Jammu and Kashmir BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Tuesday challenged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to resign and seek a fresh mandate if restoration of statehood was the issue on which his government wanted a public verdict. Sharma was reacting to the National Conference's announcement of a peaceful protest outside BJP offices in Srinagar and Jammu on Wednesday over the Centre's commitments on restoration of statehood and other issues. The BJP leader alleged that the National Conference was invoking the statehood issue to divert attention from matters concerning governance and employment in Jammu and Kashmir. Statehood was not the issue on which the Omar Abdullah government sought the people's mandate in the Assembly elections, Sharma said. He claimed that the NC had campaigned on issues including free electricity, employment and ration, rather than seeking votes specifically on the restoration of statehood. If Omar Abdullah has the courage, he should resign and seek a fresh mandate from the people on the issue of statehood, Sharma said. Sharma also accused the ruling party of trying to deflect attention from allegations related to the distribution of government jobs. He alleged that nearly 25,000 posts were being given and distributed among NC workers. The BJP leader said his party would hold its planned protest on Wednesday, with the focus on employment opportunities and what he described as the failure of the government to provide jobs to the youth. He termed the NC's decision to hold its protest on the same day as the BJP's agitation unfortunate and alleged that it was aimed at shifting the public discourse away from employment-related concerns. Our protest will go ahead as scheduled. We will raise the issue of jobs not being provided to the youth, Sharma said. The National Conference has announced its September 2 programme to press the Union Government for action on commitments made before Parliament and the Supreme Court. Restoration of statehood and constitutional safeguards are among the issues listed by the party.(KNS).