Opinion

J-K LG congratulates Indian team on U19 Asia Cup triumph

Jammu, Nov 14: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday congratulated the Indian team for winning the Mens U19 Asia Cup 2026, praising its performance in the tournament. India edged past Pakistan by one wicket while chasing a target of 338 runs, with Mohit Ulva hitting a boundary off the last ball to seal the victory and the teams record-extending ninth title. Well done Team India! Heartiest congratulations to our young cricketers for their spectacular performance and for winning the Mens U19 Asia Cup 2026, Sinha said in a post on X. He said the entire nation was proud of the teams remarkable achievement. Sinha also conveyed his best wishes to the players for a bright and successful future, praising their performance in the continental tournament.

How to spot & be protected from seductive spies

A quick guide to not getting Huanged and quartered by a honeytrap, covering suspicious attraction, unusual professional interest, excessive agreement, office party advances and attempts to record personal information.

Musks $445 million MAGA maska goes missing

Elon Musk's significant financial backing for Republican candidates in the midterm elections did not yield favorable outcomes. Only a few candidates supported by Musk were successful in their races. Musk's political affiliations have drawn criticism, particularly regarding his remarks about various international figures. The changing political landscape poses challenges for Musk as he considers future influence.

Never mind the retreats, writing is no team sport

Writing retreats provide aspiring writers with opportunities to explore their creativity in scenic environments and under guidance. Participants can attend workshops focusing on various genres like short stories and personal essays. These experiences often lead to a sense of rejuvenation and enhanced motivation for writing. Many individuals find that engaging with fellow writers boosts their enthusiasm for the craft.

PARAS Srinagar launches holistic paediatric services, signs MoU with SKIDS

Srinagar, Nov 14: Reinforcing its commitment to healthier beginnings and a stronger future for children, PARAS Health Srinagar on Saturday unveiled its Holistic Paediatric Services on the occasion of Childrens Day, marking a significant expansion of specialised newborn and child healthcare in Kashmir. The launch includes dedicated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) facilities, alongside a strategic collaboration with Bengaluru-based SKIDS Health to strengthen comprehensive screening and early identification of health and developmental concerns among children. The initiative represents an important step towards building an integrated maternal and child healthcare ecosystem, bringing together specialised medical expertise, advanced critical care, preventive screening and family-centred support under one roof. As part of the launch, PARAS Health Srinagar also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SKIDS Health, a Bengaluru-based healthcare organisation founded by physician-scientist and paediatrician Dr Satish Prasad Rath. The collaboration aims to introduce comprehensive screening of children across multiple health and developmental domains, strengthening early identification, timely assessment and appropriate clinical intervention. The partnership seeks to promote a more holistic approach to childhood healthcare, recognising that a child's well-being extends beyond the treatment of illness to include early screening, developmental assessment, preventive care and timely medical support. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Akshay Labroo, IAS, who attended the launch, congratulated the PARAS Health Srinagar team on the introduction of its Holistic Paediatric Services and appreciated the institution's efforts towards strengthening specialised healthcare infrastructure in the region. Emphasising the importance of public-private collaboration, he said government and private healthcare institutions must work in close coordination to improve access to quality, affordable and specialised medical services for the common masses. He observed that meaningful partnerships, shared resources and collective commitment could play a transformative role in addressing healthcare challenges and building a stronger, more accessible healthcare ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Satish Prasad Rath, physician-scientist, paediatrician and Founder and Director of SKIDS Health, said the collaboration would help strengthen the culture of early screening and comprehensive child healthcare. Childhood is a critical phase of human development, and many health and developmental concerns can be addressed more effectively when identified early. Our collaboration with PARAS Health Srinagar is aimed at advancing a comprehensive approach to child screening, bringing greater attention to early identification, systematic assessment and timely intervention. We believe that every child deserves an opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, and partnerships such as this can help make specialised knowledge and structured screening more accessible to families. The focus must be on looking at the child as a whole, rather than addressing health concerns in isolation, he said. Dr Sajad Ahmad Bhat, Consultant Neonatologist and NICU In-charge at PARAS Health Srinagar, said the availability of specialised neonatal and paediatric critical care services would strengthen the hospital's capacity to manage vulnerable newborns and critically ill children. Every child deserves the best possible start in life. The first few hours and days after birth can be particularly critical, especially for premature babies, low-birth-weight infants and newborns with medical complications. Our NICU is designed to provide specialised monitoring and advanced medical support to such babies. With dedicated PICU services, we are also strengthening our ability to care for critically ill children who require intensive treatment and continuous monitoring. Our focus is on delivering coordinated, compassionate and evidence-based care while supporting families through some of their most challenging moments, he said. Dr Murtuza Habib, Facility Director, PARAS Health Srinagar, said the launch reflected the hospital's commitment to expanding access to specialised healthcare and responding to the evolving medical needs of families in Kashmir. Children's Day reminds us that investing in children's health is an investment in the future of society. Through the launch of holistic paediatric services, we are taking another important step towards making specialised healthcare accessible to families in Kashmir. Our objective is to bring together experienced specialists, advanced clinical facilities and compassionate care so that children receive the right medical attention at the right time. The collaboration with SKIDS further strengthens this vision by placing emphasis on early screening and a comprehensive approach to child health. We also remain committed to strengthening maternal healthcare and ensuring a seamless continuum of care from pregnancy to childhood, he said. Seema Vig, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, PARAS Health, said strengthening maternal and child healthcare remained an important priority in the organisation's larger healthcare vision. At PARAS Health, we believe that quality healthcare must begin with a strong foundation. Ensuring safe motherhood, healthy newborns and access to specialised paediatric services are essential components of that foundation. Our continued efforts are directed towards building a healthcare environment where families can access clinical expertise, advanced technology and compassionate support at every stage of life. The launch of these services in Srinagar reflects our commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible, comprehensive and patient-centric, she said. Reinforcing the hospital's focus on safe motherhood, Dr Sadia, Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said normal delivery remained a preferred option in uncomplicated pregnancies, wherever medically appropriate. Every pregnancy is unique, and the mode of delivery must always be determined by the mother's health and the baby's well-being. Wherever medically appropriate, normal delivery can offer several benefits, including a generally shorter recovery period and reduced surgical intervention. Our priority is to counsel expectant mothers, address their concerns and provide personalised medical support throughout pregnancy and childbirth, she said. Dr Najma Saqib, Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, PARAS Health Srinagar, emphasised the importance of balancing the promotion of normal deliveries with specialised management of high-risk pregnancies. While normal delivery can be beneficial in uncomplicated pregnancies, maternal and foetal safety must always guide clinical decisions. High-risk pregnancies require careful assessment, regular monitoring and timely intervention. Our approach is centred on individualised care, ensuring that every expectant mother receives the appropriate medical attention according to her specific needs, she said. The hospital has also introduced specially designed maternity packages aimed at making quality maternity care more accessible while encouraging informed birthing choices. With obstetricians, neonatologists and critical care specialists working in coordination, the hospital seeks to strengthen the continuum of care from antenatal assessment and safe delivery to specialised newborn and paediatric treatment. The launch of Holistic Paediatric Services, coupled with the collaboration with SKIDS Health, marks another milestone in PARAS Health Srinagar's efforts to expand specialised healthcare in the region. By bringing together critical care, preventive screening, early intervention and maternal healthcare, the institution aims to create a more comprehensive healthcare pathway for mothers, newborns and children across Kashmir.

A very real visit to a country that doesn't really exist

Transnistria, located between Moldova and Ukraine, declared independence in 1990 but is still not internationally recognized. The region maintains a unique identity, heavily influenced by its Soviet past and Russian support. A visit highlights notable sites like Bender Fortress and Tiraspol, showcasing Soviet monuments and a rich cultural heritage. Despite aspirations for independence, Transnistria's existence relies on external backing and regional dynamics.

Wangchuk being targeted for raising issues of Ladakhs democracy, constitutional safeguards: KDA

Leh, Nov 14: Accusing the BJP of double standards, Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) co-chairman Sajjad Kargili on Saturday alleged that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was being targeted for raising issues concerning Ladakhs democratic rights, constitutional safeguards and political representation. Kargili was addressing protesters gathered under the banner of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in Leh for the past three days, expressing solidarity with them and Wangchuk, who was escorted home by police on Wednesday evening in view of prohibitory orders imposed ahead of the panchayat and municipal elections on November 21 and hill council elections on December 4. LAB chairman Chering Dorje Lakruk, who is leading a sit-in protest in Leh, on Friday clarified that the agitation was unrelated to the upcoming elections, saying it had been planned well in advance to press the government to resume dialogue on constitutional safeguards and the demand for a UT-level elected government headed by a Chief Minister. A group of religious leaders also started a hunger strike on Saturday. Referring to Wangchuks earlier call for a boycott of Chinese goods and the creation of the Union Territory, Kargili said those who hailed the climate activist as a hero are now criticising him. Today, when he speaks about Ladakhs constitutional rights, democracy and political representation, you campaign against him, Kargili said, accusing his critics of using media platforms to build a campaign against him. He alleged that Wangchuk was being targeted for standing with his homeland and raising his voice for the protection of Ladakhs land and identity. The KDA leader accused Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena-led administration of promoting bureaucratic authoritarianism in Ladakh and called for the restoration of democracy, protection of land and identity, justice for those killed in the September 24, 2025 protests, and greater unity between the people of Leh and Kargil. Rejecting claims that the LAB-KDA movement was aimed at securing political positions, Kargili cited late leader Qamar Ali Akhoon, saying he was elderly and wheelchair-bound, and questioned what positions he could possibly have sought. Similarly, he said Larkuk, who is leading the movement in Leh, is an elderly former minister in the J&K government whose sole objective is to protect Ladakh from powerful industrialists close to the government and safeguard its land and resources for future generations. These are nothing but attempts to mislead the people and create a wedge between Leh and Kargil, he said, adding that political leaders and governments would come and go but the country, including Ladakh, would endure forever. Emphasising the need to safeguard Ladakhs land and collective interests, Kargili cautioned people against siding with raitors involved in the propaganda campaign against the Ladakh leadership engaged in dialogue with the government. Referring to former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kargili said no individual or political establishment was permanent and that the larger interests of the country and its people must remain paramount. He alleged that people, including many retired soldiers, joining the BJP were projected as patriots and celebrated publicly, while those raising concerns over Ladakhs rights were subjected to criticism and propaganda. He pointed out that one of the five people killed in the September 24 protests in Leh last year was a retired Army personnel and questioned the lack of accountability over his death, alleging double standards in the response to the incident. He said the people of Ladakh were eagerly awaiting the release of the judicial inquiry report into the violence, adequate compensation and withdrawal of cases. Kargili urged people to introspect and decide whether they would allow themselves to be divided along religious lines or stand united in defence of their land and collective interests. The decision is ours to make. We must ask this question to ourselves, he said.

J&K Government committed to strengthening start-up ecosystem, improving access to credit: CM

Jammu, Nov 14: Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday reiterated his governments commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on strengthening the start-up ecosystem, easing access to credit and simplifying approval processes to help aspiring young entrepreneurs turn their business ideas into viable ventures. Abdullah was addressing the first-ever convocation of Cluster University of Jammu, describing the institution as a bold educational experiment conceived to bring together the regions strongest academic traditions and modernise higher education. Congratulating the graduating students and gold medallists, the Chief Minister described them as pioneers whose achievements would lay the foundation for future generations. He also acknowledged the contribution and sacrifices of parents, families and teachers in shaping the academic journeys of the graduates. Identifying agribusiness and food processing, sustainable tourism, cultural heritage, renewable energy, disaster resilience and the digital economy as sectors with significant potential, the Chief Minister called upon graduates to leverage their academic knowledge to develop enterprises and generate employment. He pointed out that Jammu and Kashmirs agricultural produce, including basmati rice, Bhaderwah rajmash, saffron, walnuts, kaladi and citrus fruits, offered considerable scope for value addition, branding and access to wider markets. Similarly, he said, graduates could explore opportunities in heritage tourism, eco-tourism, digital media, renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure and technology-enabled services. My government is determined to support young entrepreneurs by strengthening the start-up ecosystem, simplifying clearances and improving access to credit, the chief minister said. Highlighting the distinctive character of Cluster University of Jammu, Abdullah, who was a special guest on the occasion, said the institution was conceived as a collegiate federation bringing together five established institutionsGGM Science College, MAM College, SPMR College of Commerce, Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, and Government College of Education. He said the concept of pooling academic resources, faculty, libraries and laboratories while encouraging multidisciplinary learning had helped create a collaborative model of higher education. Referring to the Universitys placement in the 151200 band of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), he described it as an encouraging achievement. The Chief Minister, however, stressed the need for sustained investment in common infrastructure, digital connectivity, modern laboratories and hostel facilities, particularly for students from far-flung areas such as Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Kishtwar. He also emphasised the importance of timely academic calendars and examination cycles, asserting that no student should lose an academic year waiting for examinations or the award of a degree. My government is committed to providing our universities with the necessary institutional support, academic autonomy, faculty strength and infrastructure to enable them to become genuine centres of knowledge, innovation and regional problem-solving, he said. Addressing the graduating students, the Chief Minister said rapid technological changes, particularly the emergence of artificial intelligence, had transformed the employment landscape, making continuous learning, critical thinking, judgement and empathy increasingly important. He urged young graduates to look beyond conventional career paths and explore entrepreneurship and emerging economic opportunities, observing that government employment alone could not absorb every graduate. Sustainable prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir will come when our youth move beyond being exclusively job seekers and become value creators, innovators and entrepreneurs, he said. Emphasising the importance of character and social responsibility, Abdullah urged graduates to remain lifelong learners, respect the dignity of labour, uphold integrity, stay connected with their communities and prioritise their mental and physical well-being. He also called upon them to carry Jammu and Kashmirs pluralistic cultural ethos and heritage wherever their professional journeys took them, while contributing their skills, experience and ideas towards the development of their home region.

India overcome Pakistan by one wicket in thriller to win U19 Asia Cup

Oman, Nov 14: India beat Pakistan by one wicket in a thrilling final that went to the last ball to regain the Under-19 Asia Cup here on Saturday. Opener Usman Khan's 107 helped Pakistan score a massive 337 for nine in 50 overs. But India overhauled the target in the last ball of the match to lift the title after several twists and turns. Skipper Lakshya Raichandani led the chase with a solid 80. Aaryavir Sehwag made 58. Brief scores: Pakistan U19: 337/9 (Usman Khan 107, Abdul Qadir 80, Farhan Yousaf 60; Kavya Patel 4/68, C Venkata 3/40) lost to India U19: 339/9 in 50 overs (Lakshya Raichandani 80, Aaryavir Sehwag 58, Manal Chauhan 47, Mohit Ulva 49 not out; Rizwanullah 3/53) by 1 wicket.

Man injured in bear attack in Doda

Doda, Nov 14: A 65-year-old man was injured after being attacked by a bear in the Bharowah area of Bhaderwah tehsil in Doda district on Saturday, officials said. An official said that the man sustained injuries after he was attacked by a wild bear in Bhaderwah, Doda. He was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Doda for treatment. The injured man was later identified as Abdul Kareem (65), a resident of Bharowah Seri. Meanwhile, cognisance of the incident has been taken, while further details are awaited.(KNO)

Omar Abdullah attends Cluster University Jammu convocation

Never stop learning, create opportunities instead of seeking jobs: LG Manoj Sinha

Policeman injured after service rifle accidentally goes off in Anantnag

Anantnag, Nov 14: A policeman sustained a gunshot injury after his service rifle accidentally went off at Police Post Bijbehara in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Saturday, officials said. An official said that the policeman was cleaning his service rifle when it accidentally discharged, leaving him injured. He said the cop sustained a bullet wound to his leg and was immediately shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag for treatment, where his condition was stated to be stable. The injured policeman was identified as Mohammad Abbas, a Constable (General Duty). Meanwhile, police have taken cognisance of the incident.(KNO)

Women students shrine at Cluster University's maiden convocation in Jammu, win 130 gold medals

Jammu, Nov 14: The Cluster University of Jammu on Saturday marked a historic milestone by holding its maiden convocation since its establishment in 2017, with women students emerging as the star performers by bagging 130 of the 163 gold medals awarded. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who declared the convocation open, lauded the remarkable achievement of the women graduates, describing their success as a reflection of confidence, determination and the transformative power of equal opportunities. Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Education Minister Shamim Firdous and Member of Parliament from Jammu, Jugal Kishore Sharma, also attended the convocation. Vice-Chancellor K S Chandrasekar presented the university report, highlighting that the varsity, with about 17000 students and scholars, is currently running 34 UG programmes, 17 PG programmes, 12 PhD programmes and 11 integrated programmes. Addressing the event, Sinha called the graduates pioneering torchbearers of the universitys tradition, and congratulated all students, gold medallists and their parents. He complimented the women students for winning 130 of the 163 gold medals. When given opportunities, daughters do not merely attain positions but redefine the meaning of achievement. Their gold medals are badges of confidence for generations to come, Sinha said. Highlighting Jammu and Kashmirs intellectual heritage, Sinha noted that Maharishi Kalhana, author of the Rajatarangini, Maharishi Abhinavagupta, and the saint-poets Yogini Lalleshwari and Sheikh-ul-Alam promoted harmony among faiths and the pursuit of truth. He said the graduates were carrying forward a tradition of knowledge more than a thousand years old. India is witnessing a historic period of transformation and emerging as one of the worlds largest and fastest-growing major economies with the national resolve of building a developed India by 2047, he said. He highlighted the country's digital public infrastructure, unprecedented growth in the space sector, research and innovation, and rising investment in quantum technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, green energy and biotechnology. Building a developed India by 2047 is our national resolve. By then, many of you will be at the highest peaks of your careers. Therefore, a developed India is not a slogan for another generation; it will be the essence of your lifes achievements. It will be a symbol of the success of your tenure, and it will be the greatest pursuit and accomplishment of your lives, Singa said. The lieutenant governor said India has nearly 223,000 startups and 135 unicorns, and added that many founders come from small towns, reflecting a genuine democratisation of opportunity and entrepreneurship. Highlighting the significance of humanities, he said, Technology tells us what we can do, while the humanities teach us what we should do. The nation needs engineers as well as historians, and scientists as well as musicians. If we wish to strengthen the intellectual wealth and capability of society, we need scientists as well as musicians. For this, the young generation must be prepared to struggle with unwavering courage. Turn crises into opportunities. This is what great personalities did, and the world remembers them today, he said.

Grand Mufti seeks thorough probe into rotten meat reports, lauds J&K Police

Srinagar, Nov 14: Taking serious note of recurring reports regarding the alleged sale and circulation of rotten meat, Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi, has urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to order a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter. He has also called upon the Food Minister to ensure strict enforcement of food safety laws, strengthen inspection mechanisms and maintain continuous vigilance to ensure that those compromising public health are held accountable. Emphasising the humanitarian dimension of the issue, the Grand Mufti said food safety was not merely an administrative responsibility but a matter of public health, human dignity and the protection of innocent lives. He stressed that no citizen should be exposed to health risks due to negligence, malpractice or commercial greed. The Grand Mufti also appreciated the efforts of J&K Police in taking action in this regard and emphasised the need for coordinated efforts between the police and concerned departments to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Class 4 student dies after school wall collapses in Kupwaras Drugmulla

Kupwara, Nov 14: A Class 4 student lost her life after a wall collapsed at a government school in Janbazpora area of Drugmulla in north Kashmirs Kupwara district on Saturday. Tehsildar Drugmulla Syed Basharat confirmed to Greater Kashmir that a class 4th student died after coming under boundary wall during lunch break. The incident occurred during the lunch break when the school wall suddenly collapsed, leaving the young student critically injured. She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead, he added. The deceased has been identified as Gaziya Parvaiz, daughter of Parvaiz Ahmad Najar. The tragic incident has left the local community in deep shock and raised concerns over the safety of school infrastructure.

170 women participate in Dal Lakes second historical boat race

Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan refutes reports of unspent MPLADS funds, says Rs 5.02 crore released

Four earthquakes strike Jammu and Kashmir in 12 hours

Srinagar, Nov 14: Four earthquakes of varying magnitudes struck Jammu and Kashmir over a period of around 11 hours on Saturday, with three of the tremors recorded in Doda district and one in Kishtwar. According to the earthquake data, the first tremor, measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale, was recorded in Kishtwar district at 2:38 am, at a depth of 15 kilometres. Three more earthquakes were subsequently recorded in Doda district. reported Kashmir Weather. The second earthquake, measuring 2.7 magnitude, struck at 8:31 am at a depth of 10 kilometres. Seventeen minutes later, at 8:48 am, another tremor measuring 3.8 magnitude was recorded in the district at a depth of five kilometres. The fourth earthquake, measuring 2.9 magnitude, was recorded at 1:09 pm in Doda district, at a depth of 10 kilometres. The repeated seismic activity was concentrated in the DodaKishtwar belt, with the strongest tremor measuring 3.8 magnitude.

Beyond Children's Day, sustained support needed for orphaned children: Justice Sanjeev Kumar

1,600 Kg Rotten Meat Seized At Budgam Railway Station, FIR Registered

BUDGAM, Nov 14: Railway Police Kashmir seized around 1,600 kg of allegedly rotten meat packed in 44 boxes at Budgam Railway Station. The consignment was being transported from Delhi to Budgam. The seizure was made by a team led by SHO Railway Police Budgam, Benazir Iqbal, under the supervision of SSP Railways Kashmir Mohammad [] The post 1,600 Kg Rotten Meat Seized At Budgam Railway Station, FIR Registered appeared first on Northlines .

1,600 kg of rotten meat seized near Budgam Railway Station

SDM Banihal orders administrative inquiry into alleged diversion of patients from SDH to private facilities

Banihal, Nov 14: An administrative inquiry has been ordered into allegations that some doctors at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Banihal are referring patients to private medical facilities for diagnostic tests and treatment instead of facilitating the required healthcare services at the government hospital. The inquiry follows a written complaint submitted by local resident and common volunteer Ruhan Dar, who has alleged a possible nexus between certain doctors and a private diagnostic establishment in the town. The complaint raises concerns over patient welfare, professional accountability and the delivery of public healthcare services. The representation highlights alleged irregularities in the functioning of certain departments, particularly surgery, radiology and pathology. According to the complaint, a surgeon posted at SDH Banihal is allegedly directing patients suffering from gastrointestinal ailments, gallbladder stones and appendicitis towards private clinics instead of providing appropriate consultation and treatment at the government facility. It further alleges that patients with gastrointestinal problems are advised to undergo endoscopy and sigmoidoscopy at private facilities, while those requiring treatment for gallbladder stones and appendicitis are allegedly referred to private hospitals. The complainant has also alleged that the hospital's pathologist is not conducting certain investigations, including Peripheral Blood Film (PBF) tests and biopsies, during official working hours. Furthermore, the representation claims that patients visiting the hospital's ultrasound section are allegedly directed towards a radiologist's private clinic on the pretext that the ultrasound equipment available at the government hospital is inadequate. The complaint has also raised questions over the alleged absence of the concerned surgeon and radiologist from their official duties, particularly on Saturdays, and sought verification of their attendance and duty records. Another significant issue highlighted in the complaint concerns the alleged expansion of a private diagnostic laboratory in Banihal into a multi-speciality consultation and procedural centre, reportedly offering services in cardiology, gastroenterology, gynaecology and other medical specialities. The complainant has sought verification of the establishment's registration, statutory permissions and mandatory regulatory clearances, including compliance with the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, wherever applicable. Taking cognizance of the representation, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Banihal Mohammad Naseeb Bajran (JKAS), through an official communication dated November 11, 2026, directed the Block Medical Officer (BMO), Banihal, to thoroughly examine the allegations, take appropriate action as warranted under rules and submit a detailed report. Copies of the complaint and related correspondence have also been forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Chief Medical Officer Ramban, Director Health Services Jammu and Registrar, J&K Medical Council, for information and further examination at their respective levels.

Massive anti-terror search operation underway in Kishtwar forests

Kishtwar, Nov 14: A massive joint search operation is underway in the dense forest areas of Kishtwar district to track down terrorists, with personnel from the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Village Defence Guards (VDGs) participating in the operation. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar Sunny Gupta is supervising the operation, as security personnel continue searches across the forest areas to trace and track down the terrorists. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma and MLA Shagun Parihar visited the families of the deceased Special Police Officers (SPOs) and expressed their condolences and solidarity with the bereaved families. During the visit, they assured the families that a high-level probe would be conducted into the incident and also assured fresh recruitment. (JKNS)

Gulmarg shivers at -1.6C, Shopian coldest in plains

Srinagar, Nov 14: Gulmarg recorded the coldest night in Kashmir at minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, while Shopian emerged as the coldest place among the plains with a minimum temperature of 0.9 degrees Celsius, as temperatures continued to fluctuate across the Valley, officials said on Saturday. According to the latest data issued by the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 7.4 degrees Celsius, 6.1 degrees above the seasonal normal, while Qazigund also registered 7.4 degrees Celsius, 6.3 degrees above normal. Pahalgam recorded a minimum of 2.8 degrees Celsius, 4 degrees above normal, while Kupwara settled at 4.7 degrees Celsius, 4.4 degrees above normal. Kukernag recorded a minimum temperature of 6.3 degrees Celsius against the normal of 2.2 degrees, while Gulmarg settled at minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, 1 degree below normal. Among other stations, Shopian recorded 0.9 degrees Celsius, Sonamarg 2 degrees, Kulgam 4.4 degrees, Ganderbal 6.3 degrees, Baramulla 7.3 degrees and Bandipora 8.7 degrees Celsius. In the Jammu division, Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 15.3 degrees Celsius, while Banihal registered 6 degrees, Bhaderwah 3.8 degrees, Batote 7.8 degrees, Katra 13.8 degrees and Kathua 15.6 degrees Celsius.(KNO)

Weather to improve from today, prolonged dry spell likely from Nov 15: MeT

Srinagar, Nov 14: Weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir are set to gradually improve from Saturday, with the Meteorological Department forecasting a prolonged dry spell from November 15 after two days of widespread rain in the plains and fresh snowfall in the higher reaches, officials said. The latest spell of precipitation, triggered by a Western Disturbance, dumped moderate to heavy snow across several mountainous areas, while rain in the plains pushed temperatures down and intensified the cold across the Union Territory. The Meteorological Centre Srinagar said November 14 is likely to remain generally dry, though brief spells of light rain at isolated places and light snowfall over higher reaches cannot be ruled out. The department has forecast generally dry weather from November 15 to 21, with partly cloudy conditions likely around November 20 and 21. The weather is expected to stay dry between November 22 and 24, offering relief from the wet spell. The precipitation was particularly heavy in north and central Kashmir. Sadhna Top in Kupwara and Razdan Pass in Bandipora recorded more than a foot of fresh snow, while Sinthan Top received around 810 inches. Z-Gali and Margan Top recorded 68 inches each, and Zojila Pass around 56 inches. Pir Ki Gali on the Mughal Road received about 58 inches, affecting vehicular movement. Baltal recorded 46 inches of snow, Gurez Valley 35 inches, and Sonamarg 23 inches, adding to the winter landscape at the tourist destination. Fresh snowfall was also reported from the higher reaches of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Doodhpathri in south Kashmir. In the plains, Baramulla recorded the highest rainfall at 49.5 mm, followed by Gulmarg at 40.6 mm and Kupwara at 37.3 mm. Pahalgam received 22.4 mm and Srinagar 16.3 mm, officials said. Qazigund recorded 5.8 mm, while parts of the Jammu region, including Batote, Bhaderwah and Banihal, also received rain. The wet spell pulled down daytime temperatures. Srinagar recorded a maximum of 15.2 degrees Celsius, while Gulmarg registered a minimum of minus 0.5 degrees Celsius the season's lowest so far. Pahalgam recorded a minimum of 4 degrees Celsius. The Mughal Road, linking south Kashmir's Shopian district with Poonch and Rajouri, remained closed to traffic on Saturday after snow accumulated at Pir Ki Gali. Snow clearance operations are underway and traffic will be restored only after authorities declare the route safe. The Kishtwar-Anantnag road via Sinthan Top also remained closed due to snow, while movement on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway was affected by snowfall at Zojila Pass. The Bandipora-Gurez road was restored for traffic late Friday night. The MeT had earlier warned that the Western Disturbance could bring widespread precipitation, isolated heavy snowfall, thunderstorms, hailstorms and gusty winds, and cautioned that snow over higher reaches could disrupt traffic on mountain passes and vulnerable roads. With weather expected to improve, the department has advised farmers to resume agricultural operations from November 15. The recent snowfall is expected to boost winter tourism at destinations such as Gulmarg and Sonamarg, though connectivity to several high-altitude areas remains dependent on weather and snow clearance operations. Authorities have advised travellers, transporters and tourists to check the latest road status and follow official traffic advisories before undertaking journeys through mountainous routes. (KNS)

Carlsen risks losing world No. 1 spot after 15 years as Caruana gains ground

Budapest, Nov 14: Five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen is in danger of losing the world No. 1 spot he has held for 15 years after suffering a defeat to Armenia's Haik Martirosyan on the third day of the Fast Classical competition at the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot here. The 35-year-old Norwegian GM has held the top spot since July 2011. However, after five draws and a loss in the Fast Classical section, Carlsen has lost 15.8 rating points and slipped to 2807.2 in the live ratings. In-form American Fabiano Caruana is closing in on Carlsen. The American GM has registered five wins and two draws, gaining 17 points to reach 2800 and is just 7.2 points behind Carlsen. The live ratings are updated in real time while FIDE publishes a monthly rating as well. Playing Carlsen for the first time in a classical FIDE-rated game, Martirosyan defeated the Norwegian in 41 moves in the first game. Playing with white, Martirosyan built a dangerous attack and eventually broke through to secure the victory. Carlsen was in time trouble early in the game and, with the clock ticking, he was forced to make hurried moves that led to errors. He eventually resigned. The two GMs settled for a draw in the reverse fixture. It was a dream for me just to play him in a classical game but to win is even more special. I will think about this moment many times it is very special for me. It was an amazing day and I will remember this day for the rest of my life, Martirosyan said. With the win and a draw, Martirosyan moved to 10 points, taking the outright lead in Group C, while Carlsen slipped to fifth place. The top four from each group will compete for the title, while the rest will play for classification. Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi registered a win and a draw against Wesley So. The Indian GM was under pressure in the first game, but So, who was in a winning position earlier, declined a draw before blundering and resigning a move later. It was an interesting game. In the middle game I felt I did a very good job by sacrificing the exchange..partly I blundered also but then I got very good compensation, I had such good control. It shouldn't have gone the way it did then I totally messed up. I did a good job of not panicking, Erigaisi said. The two drew the reverse fixture. The 23-year-old Indian is third in Group D, behind leader Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Hans Niemann. R Vaishali registered her first win in the Fast Classical section of the tournament. The Indian GM, who will challenge China's Ju Wenjun for the Women's World Championship title next year, defeated Kazakh GM Bibisara Assaubayeva with white pieces. Vaishali had lost to Bibisara in the first game of the day. Despite the win, Vaishali remains at the bottom of Group D. Vaishali's brother, R Praggnanandhaa, extended his winless streak as he drew twice with Vladislav Artemiev. The Indian is on four points, having drawn four games and lost two. Obviously the results aren't great I'm still trying to adapt, Praggnanandhaa said.

Mughal Road temporarily closed due to snow accumulation at Pir Ki Gali

Poonch, Nov 14: The Mughal Road has been temporarily closed to vehicular traffic due to heavy snow accumulation at Pir Ki Gali (PKG). Dysp Traffic Rajouri Poonch Ajaz Choudhary Said Snow clearance operations are currently underway to restore road connectivity. Further updates regarding the reopening of the road are awaited.

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Trump, Xi and Putin plan an unprecedented joint meeting on sidelines of APEC: officials

Washington, Nov 14: The leaders of the United States, China and Russia plan to meet Thursday on the sidelines of next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China's tech hub of Shenzhen, an unprecedented gathering of the heads of the world's biggest nuclear powers. While the leaders gathering for joint talks will mark a singular moment, analysts say expectations are low that the talks will lead to major breakthroughs, and they will be heavier in symbolism than substance. Plans for the three-way summit with Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin were confirmed on Friday by the White House. It comes at a complicated moment in relations between the three countries. Trump has warmly embraced Xi after coming to a truce in their short-lived trade war last year and in spite of differences over the US war with Iran and other tensions between the world's foremost economic powers. Similarly, Trump has sought to build his relationship with Putin, even as the Russian leader has persisted in his nearly five-year-old war with Ukraine and as Moscow has deepened its military, intelligence and diplomatic partnership with Iran. The US president has insisted that such a meeting would provide an opportunity for the three leaders to discuss the US war with Iran and his goal of reaching a three-way agreement on their nuclear arms stockpiles. The last nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States expired in February, removing caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century. When that treaty -- known as New START -- expired, Trump rejected a call by Russia to extend the two-country deal for another year and called for a new, improved and modernised deal that includes China. But Beijing's arsenal of more than 600 warheads, according to Pentagon estimates, is far smaller than inventories held by the US and Russia, each estimated to have more than 5,000 warheads. With US and Russian arsenals dwarfing its stockpile, China has shown little interest in developing a nuclear pact. Beijing was least certain about the value of the summit By agreeing to host the meeting, Xi may be calculating that the moment offers him an opportunity to flex China's growing clout and prestige. I would be shocked if there were a joint statement that came out of this meeting that said anything about denuclearisation, said Edgard Kagan, a former US ambassador to Malaysia who is now at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. For the Kremlin, the planned trilateral meeting is a coveted chance to posture as a superpower on par with Washington and Beijing. I think the key for Putin was that this was very much about signalling a desire to talk to the president and talk to Chairman Xi in a way that suggests that they're making decisions on Ukraine, which obviously the Ukrainians and the Europeans don't like, Kagan said. The trilateral could very well overshadow the APEC summit. The summit, which is bringing 21 economies to Shenzhen, marks a big moment for China to show off its fast-growing, ultramodern coastal metropolis that transformed from a small fishing village into a global technology and economic hub in just a few decades. More substantively, such a gathering could also muddy China's argument that a Cold War mentality in the West was a contributing factor that led to Russia's war on Ukraine and its pointed criticism that the U.S. has undermined international institutions and treaties with how it has executed its war against Iran. The trilateral meeting could undercut China's push to portray itself as a defender of free trade at APEC, said Hoo Tiang Boon, a professor of Chinese foreign policy at Nanyang Technological University. You sort of run counter to Chinese support of multilateralism, he said. The leaders have met in pairs plenty of times over the years Putin and Xi are no strangers. They've fostered a close personal relationship, meeting more than 40 times since Xi became president in 2013 and addressing each other as dear friend. Trump and Putin have met face-to-face on seven different occasions, most recently in Alaska in August 2025. Xi and Trump have held face-to-face talks on eight occasions, including a September state visit to Washington by Xi. Beijing is the Number one trading partner for Moscow, a relationship that has strengthened since Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022. As the EU and the West sought to economically isolate Russia, China increased its purchases of Russia's energy resources and became Moscow's principal supplier of key technologies, including high-tech components for Russian weapons industries. Beijing has ignored Western demands to cut those supplies. In the lead-up to Russia's war on Ukraine, Xi and Putin declared their countries had a no-limits friendship. China officially has said it is neutral on the conflict, while charging that Kyiv's Western allies played a part in provoking Russia's military action in Ukraine. Moscow, in turn, has repeatedly declared its support for Beijing's policy on issues related to Taiwan. Trump recently struck a diesel deal with Russia, waiving sanctions against Moscow and allowing for the sale of millions of tons of the fuel. The U.S. leader has blamed surging energy prices on Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries. Analysts, however, say the rise in global crude prices is due mostly to the Iran war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concern that the trilateral meeting could serve as a platform for discussing a possible Ukraine deal behind Kyiv's back. Planning for the summit has drawn comparisons to the Yalta Conference, the 1945 gathering at which leaders of the US, Britain and the Soviet Union agreed to divide Germany and Berlin into four military occupation zones and finalised plans for establishing the United Nations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has dismissed the Yalta comparisons, noting that any potential agreements reached in Shenzhen can't be enforced on others. It's clear that a meeting between the leaders of countries such as Russia, China and the United States is extremely significant, Peskov said. However, let's not forget that the vision for a global order is that no one tries to impose any particular view of global order, and it should be based entirely on mutual benefit and mutual respect.

Flights halted at airports across US due to air traffic control communications problems

Washington, Nov 14: The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights nationwide Friday afternoon for just the second time since the September 11 attacks, with officials citing extraordinary circumstances caused by communications problems at regional air traffic control centres. The nation's top homeland security official attributed the problem to a telecommunications outage and said there was no indication yet of a nefarious act. But the consequences were profound, disrupting potentially thousands of planned flights through at least late Friday night and upending travel plans for passengers who were heading home, expected as wedding guests or had other weekend plans. It's frustrating. This certainly sounds like it's going to be more than the usual run-of-the-mill delay. I look forward to finding out why, said Jeff Dubner, a Washington, DC, attorney, whose Alaska Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, was already half an hour late and taxiing to the runway when the plane came to a halt. The nationwide ground stop was the first since January 2023, when a key FAA computer system malfunctioned, and the second since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Friday's restrictions were imposed due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety, according to an FAA notice. The agency was investigating a communication issue affecting the 22 regional air traffic control centres that direct planes en route between airports nationwide, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. A few international flights were taking off Friday evening from international aviation hubs on the East and West coasts. Top official says no sign yet of nefarious act ---------------------------------------------- Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin told reporters at the White House that there was no indication yet that this was a nefarious attack against us. It's just a telecommunications outage as of right now. Everybody's safe. There's no reason to be concerned about your loved ones if they're flying, Mullin said. At least 600 flights have been diverted so far as a result of the FAA's order to ground all air traffic nationwide. As of 5:50 pm Eastern, 496 flights were diverted to the airport from where they originally took off, while 104 were sent to a different airport, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Among the airports where many of the flights ended up being diverted are Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Some 11,000 flights carrying more than 1.5 million passengers were scheduled to take off from airports in the US after 4 p.m. Eastern, raising the likelihood of more cancellations and flight diversions. At Chicago O'Hare Airport on Friday afternoon, travellers passing through security learned about the ground stop when they gazed up at screens that showed flight delays across the board. Some called friends or family members, debating whether to stay the night in Chicago or find another way to their destinations. Amber McQuilkin, 27, sat on a bench, disappointed that she might miss a trip with friends to New York for the League of Legends world finals. Her friends, she said, had already arrived there. There's not really any information being passed to me, said the Seattle software engineer, who took a week of vacation for the trip. I contemplated just abandoning the flight and driving, but then the more I thought about it, the more I'm like, that would be miserable. Austin Curtis and his wife were rethinking their trip from South Bend, Indiana, to a friend's baby shower in Denver after getting delayed during a layover in Chicago. They had boarded a flight to Denver from O'Hare International Airport when they were told to get off the plane. We did see them taking luggage off our plane and others, so we're assuming it's going to be a pretty substantial delay, Curtis said. They were unsure whether to get a hotel room or keep waiting out the delay at the airport. With care already in place for their two young children at home, they might stay the weekend in Chicago, he said. We might just make the most of it, Curtis said. Despite the nationwide FAA ground stop, SpaceX launched its Starship rocket from Texas on Friday afternoon on its latest test flight. The government has been working to overhaul outdated technology ----------------------------------------------------------------------- There is no timeline for restarting flights. Mullin said investigators will look at whether there is any link to the FAA's nationwide rollout of a new artificial intelligence system to help identify problems and reroute planes. But that system operates out of one location near Washington, DC, and just sends recommendations to the air traffic control centres. The government has been working to overhaul the outdated technology that air traffic controllers rely on since Congress approved USD 12.5 billion for the project last year. Miles of old copper wires have been replaced with fibre optic lines and old radio systems are gradually being replaced at airports across the country. But much work remains. Duffy has said that another USD 30 billion will be needed to complete the work, and the White House has begun lobbying Congress to approve it. The problem appeared similar to a regional air traffic control communication outage in September that snarled hundreds of flights across the Northeast, aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo said, except this time on a nationwide scale. It may be linked to the outdated technology used by air traffic controllers. If you don't have that ability, whether it's because the old wires that they have are just run down or for whatever reason, you've got to stop airplanes on the ground, said Arroyo, who is a former United Airlines pilot. And not put them in the air where you're going to risk not being able to communicate with them. Friday's ground stop was different from the one after September 11 because planes were not being told to land immediately and pilots likely were able to communicate with ground controllers at airports, Arroyo said.

Bombay HC quashes case against man for protesting poor road conditions, says peaceful protests cannot be criminalised

New Delhi, Nov 13:The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against a 26-year-old man booked for protesting against poor road conditions in Maharashtras Chandrapur district, observing that peaceful civic protests cannot be criminalised in the absence of concrete evidence of unlawful restraint or violence. According to Bar & Bench, Justice MW Chandwani, in an October 29 order, said the constitutional right to protest must not be confused with grounds for launching criminal prosecution. The lines between the constitutional right to protest and the unleashing of penal prosecutions cannot be allowed to be blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy, the court observed as reported by Bar & Bench. The case, Nishkarsh Kiran Nimgade v. State of Maharashtra, arose from an incident on January 21 this year, when a pickup vehicle overturned near Mauza Nandgaon after hitting an electricity pole, leaving several passengers injured. Following the accident, local residents gathered at the spot and demanded action against Public Works Department (PWD) officials and the contractor over the poor condition of the road. The protesters allegedly tied a rope across the road. Police subsequently registered an FIR against Nimgade for offences including wrongful restraint and unlawful assembly under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), besides provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951. Examining the charge-sheet, Justice Chandwani noted that the prosecution had not recorded statements of any commuters to establish that traffic was obstructed. The accuseds name had also surfaced only after the police dispersed the gathering. Merely because a large number of persons gathered to agitate against the condition of the road and insisting for action against the erring officials of PWD department and the contractor, it cannot be presumed that the people gathered on the spot formed an unlawful assembly, the court said. The High Court further emphasised that Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to assemble peacefully and without arms. It said criminal proceedings should not become a means of suppressing legitimate and non-violent democratic protests. Holding that the prosecution against Nimgade amounted to an abuse of the legal process, the court quashed the FIR and the charge-sheet under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.

14 killed, 30 injured in UAE road accident

New Delhi, Nov 13:Indian nationals were among the 14 people killed when a truck lost control and rammed into multiple vehicles in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), prompting the Indian Consulate to reach out to the bereaved families and coordinate assistance with local authorities. According to the BBC and Saudi Gazette, the accident involved 23 vehicles, including five trucks, on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street near the entrance to Fujairah shortly before midnight. Thirty people were injured and taken to hospitals. The injured included nationals of India, the UAE, Oman, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt. Fujairah Police said the truck first collided with another vehicle before overturning and hitting several vehicles held up in slow-moving traffic. The truck caught fire, with the blaze spreading to other vehicles and causing heavy casualties. The Indian Consulate in Dubai said it was deeply saddened by the tragedy, which claimed several lives, including those of Indian nationals. The consulate has reached out to the bereaved families and is closely working with local authorities to provide all possible assistance and support, it said in a statement posted on X. Police said DNA tests were being conducted to identify the bodies. Half of the injured have been discharged after treatment, while the remaining victims continue to receive medical care. Emergency services, including police, paramedics and civil defence teams, rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire, rescue the injured and secure the accident site.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates projects worth over Rs 15,600 crore in Bengaluru

New Delhi, Nov 13:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated, dedicated to the nation, laid the foundation stone and flagged off development projects worth over Rs 15,600 crore in Bengaluru, Karnataka, with a major focus on urban connectivity, railway infrastructure and energy security. Addressing a gathering, PM Modi said the projects would give fresh momentum to the development of Karnataka and strengthen Bengalurus position as Indias technology hub. From projects connected with metro and rail to works of energy security, all these projects are going to give new strength to the infrastructure of Karnataka, he said. The Prime Minister highlighted the inauguration of the Bengaluru Metros new Pink Line, saying it would improve connectivity to IIM Bengaluru, educational institutions and major business and technology centres. He said the new corridor would make daily commuting easier for lakhs of people while saving their time and money. PM Modi said Namma Metro had expanded from just 17 km in 2014 to more than 100 km, making Bengaluru the third Indian city after Delhi-NCR and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to cross the milestone. Describing Bengaluru as the countrys Silicon Valley, he said the city contributes more than one-third of Indias IT exports and remains a major centre of innovation and economic growth. The Prime Minister also paid tributes to former Union Minister Ananth Kumar, recalling his close association with the region. On railway infrastructure, PM Modi said Indian Railways was moving beyond its colonial-era legacy, with modern trains and upgraded stations reflecting Indias identity. He referred to the development of Amrit Bharat stations in Karnataka, saying more than 60 stations in the state were being modernised with improved passenger facilities, including amenities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. He said Karnatakas railway budget allocation had increased ninefold over the past 10 to 12 years. The Prime Minister also flagged off a new Vande Bharat train connecting Karnataka with Goa, saying it would provide passengers along the coastal route, including Mangaluru, a new semi-high-speed travel experience. This comes days after the state received its first Vande Bharat Sleeper train, he said. Referring to the ongoing conflict around Iran and the Gulf region, PM Modi underlined the importance of energy security and said India had been able to withstand global challenges because of steps taken over the past decade to diversify energy sources and strengthen domestic capacities. He highlighted three projects in Karnataka: an LPG facility at Mangaluru that will add 80,000 metric tonnes of storage capacity, the Devangonthi Marketing Terminal to streamline supplies of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel, and a compressed biogas (CBG) plant in Bengaluru with a daily production capacity of 13 tonnes. PM Modi said India was expanding its clean energy capacity to meet the growing electricity requirements of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, data centres, semiconductors and quantum computing. Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, he said, more than eight lakh solar pumps were being provided to farmers in Karnataka to reduce irrigation costs and create additional income opportunities. The Annadatas of Karnataka are now also becoming Urjadatas, he said. The Prime Minister also highlighted the governments measures to improve the purchasing power of middle-class families, including income tax exemption for annual incomes up to Rs 12 lakh, changes in tax deduction rules and GST reforms. He said the removal of GST on individual health and life insurance had made insurance more affordable. PM Modi said the growing aspirations of the neo-middle class were driving demand and generating employment across sectors such as automobiles, electronics, tourism and services. He said the governments focus was to increase middle-class savings and purchasing power so that families could fulfil their aspirations while contributing to the countrys economic growth.

Down Town Heroes Academy win Srinagar Police Football Tournament

Srinagar, Nov 13:Srinagar Police successfully concluded the Football Tournament organised under the Civic Action Programme (CAP) 202627, with the final match played at the Synthetic Turf Football Ground, TRC Srinagar. The tournament, as per a statement issued, commenced with an inaugural ceremony on October 27, 2026, at Rugby Playfield, Polo Ground, Srinagar, witnessing enthusiastic participation from various football teams across District Srinagar. The much awaited final was played between Down Town Heroes Academy, Srinagar, and Sports Council Football, Srinagar, wherein Down Town Heroes Academy emerged victorious, clinching the championship title. Both the winner and runner-up teams were felicitated with trophies and cash prizes in recognition of their performance and sporting spirit. The closing ceremony was graced by Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, IPS, SSP Srinagar, as the Chief Guest. The occasion was also attended by Ghulam Mustafa, JKPS, SP Headquarters Srinagar; Musadiq Majid Basoo, JKPS, SP City East Zone Srinagar; Yasir Parray, JKPS, SDPO Kothibagh; Syed Sleet Shah, JKPS, DySP Headquarters Srinagar; and Nazir Ahmad Teli, DySP DAR, DPL Srinagar, besides other senior officers of District Police Srinagar. Addressing the gathering, SSP Srinagar reiterated the commitment of Srinagar Police towards engaging youth in positive and constructive activities through sports and other community-oriented initiatives. He emphasised the importance of sports in promoting discipline, teamwork, physical fitness and a sense of responsibility among young people. On the occasion, SSP Srinagar urged the youth to stay away from drug abuse and unlawful activities and channel their energy towards sports and other constructive pursuits. He assured the participants that Srinagar Police would continue to extend every possible support and encouragement to budding sportspersons in achieving their goals. The tournament concluded on a positive note, reaffirming Srinagar Polices commitment to strengthening police-public relations, promoting sports culture and providing constructive opportunities to the youth under the Civic Action Programme 202627.

General Bipin Rawat Memorial Fencing Championship begins in Kupwara

Kupwara, Nov 13:The three-day General Bipin Rawat Memorial Fencing Championship 2026 commenced on Friday at Maidan-e-Azam, Vajr Fencing Node, Zangli Garrison, Kupwara. More than 200 young fencers from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir are participating in the event. Organised by the Indian Army in collaboration with the J&K Fencing Association, the championship will conclude on November 15. It aims to provide young athletes an opportunity to showcase their talent, test their skills and gain competitive experience. The championship was formally inaugurated in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Abhishek Sharma, senior Army officers and representatives of the J&K Fencing Association. More than 200 fencers have arrived from across the Union Territory to compete in the three-day event, reflecting growing interest in fencing among young sportspersons. Vajr Fencing Node at Zangli, recognised as the only dedicated fencing facility in the Kashmir Valley has been playing an important role in promoting the sport and nurturing local talent. The facility provides aspiring athletes opportunities to improve their techniques and prepare for higher-level competitions. Organised in memory of General Bipin Rawat, the championship also pays tribute to his legacy while highlighting efforts to promote sports, encourage youth participation and provide a platform for emerging talent in the region. The event is expected to further strengthen the sporting culture among youth and motivate aspiring fencers to pursue excellence at national and international levels.

PHE Handwara warns employees of action over drinking water disruptions

Handwara, Nov 13:Taking serious note of frequent complaints about disruption in drinking water supply and alleged negligence by field staff, the Jal Shakti (PHE) Division Handwara has issued a stern circular directing officials to promptly address public grievances or face disciplinary action. In a circular issued on Friday, the Executive Engineer, Jal Shakti Division Handwara, said complaints about interruptions in water supply continued to pour in despite repeated directions to the concerned officials. The circular also expressed concern over the alleged indifferent attitude of technical and field staff, including Junior Engineers, Assistant Engineers and Sub-Divisional heads. It said failure to address public grievances had, at times, forced people to block roads in protest. The department has directed Assistant Executive Engineers, Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers to ensure adequate deployment of manpower in their respective jurisdictions and take necessary measures to maintain an uninterrupted water supply, reads the circular. Officials have also been asked to issue public advisories on judicious use of water and ensure their dissemination at designated public places. They have further been directed to remain available on their phones round the clock and respond to public complaints promptly and politely instead of merely referring grievances to higher authorities. The circular also directs field officials to inform consumers in advance about scheduled repair and restoration works that could affect water supply. Warning of consequences for non-compliance, the Executive Engineer said failure to follow the directions would be treated as wilful insubordination, negligence of duty and misconduct under the relevant government service rules. Action against defaulting officials may include suspension, withholding of annual increments and imposition of fines. Such instances would also be reflected in their Annual Performance Reports (APRs).

CAIT Kashmir seeks special trade revival package for J&K traders

Srinagar, Nov 13:The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Friday held a national-level traders meeting in New Delhi, bringing together representatives from across the country to deliberate on key challenges confronting the trading community and discuss recommendations for the government. Representing Jammu and Kashmir, CAIT Kashmir Chapter President Farhan Kitab called for a comprehensive Trade Revival Package for the Union Territory, citing prolonged economic disruptions, business closures, declining purchasing power, liquidity constraints and mounting financial liabilities faced by traders. He urged the Government of India and the J&K Government to introduce targeted financial measures to help businesses recover from the sustained economic challenges. Kitab sought interest subvention, affordable working capital, loan restructuring and One-Time Settlement (OTS) facilities, relief in legacy liabilities and enhanced credit support for struggling retailers and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He said repeated disruptions had severely eroded the capital base of Kashmirs trading community, making it difficult for businesses to sustain operations, meet financial obligations and retain employment. The national meeting also deliberated on a range of issues concerning the trading sector, including GST reforms, licensing procedures, cyber security, womens entrepreneurship and regulatory simplification. On GST, the participants called for simplified compliance procedures, faster refunds, protection of genuine buyers and an end to unnecessary harassment of traders. The meeting also discussed the proposal for a One Trader, One Licence system through a unified digital licensing mechanism to reduce multiple registrations and administrative hurdles. Issues relating to protests and agitations, particularly the protection of commercial establishments and traders livelihoods while safeguarding democratic rights, were also deliberated upon. The participants stressed the need for a nationwide Cyber Safe Trader Campaign to protect businesses against digital fraud, online scams and other cyber threats. The meeting further emphasised improving access to finance, technology, digital skills and market opportunities for women entrepreneurs, besides withdrawing obsolete laws and simplifying business regulations. Kitab said Kashmirs trading community required targeted financial intervention rather than routine policy announcements, adding that a dedicated revival package was essential to restore business confidence, safeguard employment and accelerate economic recovery. He said CAIT Kashmir Chapter would continue to raise the concerns of traders at national and government platforms and work towards creating a sustainable and conducive business environment in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmirs traders have endured extraordinary economic challenges with resilience. They now deserve meaningful policy support and a structured revival package to rebuild their businesses and contribute more effectively to the regions economy, he said.

PHDCCI Kashmir organises session on solar energy adoption for MSMEs

Srinagar, Nov 13:PHDCCI Kashmir, in association with Tata Power Solar and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), organised an interactive session titled Solarize Your MSME: Switch to Solar, Cut Costs and Boost Profits at Amar Singh Club, Srinagar, on Friday. The programme aimed to sensitise Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) about the benefits of adopting solar energy to reduce operational costs, improve profitability and promote sustainable industrial growth. The event commenced with a welcome address by A P Vicky Shaw, Chairman, PHDCCI Kashmir, who welcomed the delegates and representatives of Tata Power Solar and appreciated their association in organising the programme for the MSME sector. Mehmood Ahmad Shah, Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), attended the programme as the chief guest. In his address, he highlighted KPDCLs initiatives to promote solar energy adoption among domestic and commercial consumers in Kashmir, besides the ongoing infrastructure development works under the RDSS project. Shah said 8,122 households in Srinagar district had been covered under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. He further informed that rooftop solar installations had been completed or taken up in 656 of the 996 government buildings identified for solarisation. He said incentives for adopting solar energy were expected to encourage MSMEs to transition towards renewable energy and improve their operational efficiency. The programme was also attended by Ajaz Ahmad, SSP; Tariq Ahmad, Assistant Director, MSME DFO; and Junaid Akhtar, AEE and Nodal Officer, PM-SMGBY-KPDCL. Akhtar delivered a detailed presentation on the viability, scope and technical aspects of solar energy adoption by industries. He highlighted the success of rooftop solar installations in the domestic sector and explained their potential to transform the MSME sector. Hakim Khalid Ahmed of the Kashmir Chamber of Horticulture (KCH) highlighted the specific requirements of MSMEs in transitioning to solar energy and stressed the need for customised solutions and technological interventions across sectors. Manzoor Ahmad Pakhtoon, President, Kashmir Houseboat Owners Association, observed that Ladakhs tourism sector had adopted solar technology much earlier than Kashmir. He stressed the need to accelerate the transition to renewable energy in the Valley. He said houseboat owners were willing to adopt solar technology but would require a cluster-based approach to make the transition viable and sustainable. He added that the association was ready to take the initiative forward. Nasir Shah, Chairman, IATO-J&K and Convenor, Hospitality and Travel Committee, PHDCCI, called for greater adoption of solar and green energy solutions in the hospitality sector. Referring to states such as Kerala and Goa, he said the authorities should consider making renewable energy adoption mandatory for hotels in Kashmir, keeping in view the regions fragile environment. Rohit Singh, Area Sales Manager, J&K, Tata Power Solar Ltd, made a detailed presentation on the companys product portfolio and customised solar solutions available for MSMEs. The education sector was represented by Dr Baba Nazrul Islam, State President, Private Schools Association J&K (PSAJK), who attended the session along with his team. The delegation held discussions with Tata Power Solar on developing a dedicated scheme to encourage schools to adopt solar energy. Representing the cold chain sector, Ubair Shah, Director, Super-fresh CA Store, highlighted the high initial capital expenditure involved in installing solar systems at controlled-atmosphere (CA) stores. He called for a dedicated scheme or policy to support initial investments and facilitate the sectors transition to renewable energy. Shahejehan Khan, Director, Hyacinth and Convenor, Food Processing Industry, PHDCCI Kashmir, shared his experience of financing solar and other projects through SIDBI. He suggested that other financial institutions adopt similar technology-driven and simplified financing models to facilitate investment in renewable energy. The interactive session featured detailed deliberations on the benefits of adopting solar solutions across different MSME sectors. Participants also discussed customised installations, financing options and the full-system warranty and insurance facilities offered by Tata Power Solar. The senior technical team of KPDCL was also present during the session. Paresh Kumar, Regional Trade Marketing Head for the North and Central Region, Tata Power Solar Ltd, attended the programme along with Sudesh, Regional Sales Manager for the J&K and Ladakh region. Kashmir Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd, the companys channel partner in Kashmir, also participated in the interaction with MSME representatives. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Qaiser Mir, Co-Convenor, SHE Forum and Renewable Energy Committee, PHDCCI Kashmir, and Director, Orion Valley Solar Pvt Ltd. The event was moderated by Iqbal Fayaz Jan, Deputy Director, PHDCCI.

IUST observes World Diabetes Day with MoU signing, screening drive

Awantipora, Nov 13: The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) observed World Diabetes Day 2026 on Friday with a series of activities, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a felicitation ceremony, expert lectures and diabetes screening. The programme was held at the Conference Hall of the Rumi Library, IUST. The celebrations commenced with an inaugural session featuring a welcome address by Dr Muzafar Macha. Brief remarks were delivered by the District AYUSH Officer, Pulwama, and Dr M. Shafi Malik from the Directorate of AYUSH, followed by a brief yoga demonstration. Addressing the gathering, Prof Sheikh Aijaz Bashir, Dean Academic Affairs, IUST, stressed the importance of health awareness initiatives and the University's role in community health outreach. He said diabetes affects a substantial section of the global population and that, despite widespread awareness about preventive measures and lifestyle modifications, adherence remains a major challenge. Bridging the gap between knowledge and practice continues to require collective intervention, he said. DrShujad Hussain Shuja, Assistant Director, AYUSH, said more than 101 million people in India were affected by diabetes, making preventive interventions particularly important. He stressed the need to move beyond awareness towards tangible action and called for a shift from a treatment-centric to a prevention-driven healthcare model. Sustained lifestyle changes, including balanced nutrition, regular physical activity and effective stress management, were essential for preventing and managing diabetes, he said. A key highlight of the inaugural session was the signing of an MoU and a felicitation ceremony. DrRais Ahmad Ganai, Head of the Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, proposed the vote of thanks. The technical session was chaired by Dr Peer Bilal Ahmad, Director, DIQA, co-chaired by DrMuzafar A Macha, Associate Dean, School of Health Sciences, and coordinated by DrSuhailYousuf, Assistant Professor, FRISS. Four expert lectures were delivered during the session. Dr Mir Shahnawaz from Government Medical College, Srinagar, spoke on 'Early Action on Diabetes... Why It Matters!' Prof ShowkatulNabi from SKUAST Kashmir delivered a lecture on 'Experimental Modeling of Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Pathology in Laboratory Animals'. Prof AnzarKhuroo from the University of Kashmir spoke on the 'Diversity of Medicinal Plants in Kashmir Himalayas', while DrArshid Iqbal Wani from the Directorate of AYUSH delivered a lecture on 'From Prediction to Prevention: An Integrated AYUSH and Modern Metabolic Approach to Type 2 Diabetes'. Later, diabetes screening was conducted for participants and staff using Random Blood Glucose and HbA1c tests. The programme witnessed participation from students, faculty members, health professionals and other staff.

DLSA Budgam holds child rights awareness programme at Beerwah school

Budgam, Nov 13: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Budgam, in collaboration with the Education Department, on Friday organised an awareness programme on child rights and protection at Government Boys Higher Secondary School (GBHSS), Beerwah, with a focus on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The programme was organised under the banner of Surakshit Bachpan Abhiyan on the directions and guidance of Secretary, DLSA Budgam, Tabasum Qadir Parray, to sensitise students and teachers about child rights, protection mechanisms and legal safeguards available to children. During the programme, Panel Lawyers Advocate Naseer Ahmad Khan and Advocate Feroz Ahmad Khan spoke about various aspects of child rights and protection. They explained key provisions of the POCSO Act, the need to prevent child abuse and exploitation, and the legal remedies available to victims. They also stressed the role of educational institutions, teachers and society in ensuring a safe environment for children. Students were sensitised about recognising and reporting instances of abuse and responding appropriately to such cases. The programme was attended by teachers, DLSA staff members, Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) and a large number of students. Earlier, Principal of the institution, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, appreciated the initiative undertaken by DLSA Budgam to promote awareness about child safety and protection. The initiative reaffirmed DLSA Budgam's commitment to promoting legal awareness, protecting children's rights and dignity, and encouraging community participation in creating a safe and child-friendly environment.

DC Budgam reviews Mission YUVA progress, directs clearance of pending cases

Budgam, Nov 13:Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Jatin Kishore, today chaired a District Level Implementation Committee (DLIC) meeting to review the progress of Mission YUVA implementation in the district. The meeting reviewed the status of pending bank cases, subsidy disbursement, hybrid training, capacity building, Udyam Jagriti, onboarding on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and progress reporting. The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned banks to expedite scrutiny, sanction and disbursement of all eligible cases and ensure clearance of pending subsidy claims within stipulated timelines. Reviewing the training component, he instructed the concerned departments and institutions to ensure enrolment and completion of all pending training batches. He stressed that no approved or disbursed case should remain unattended and called for optimum utilisation of available manpower and resources across colleges. Under UdyamJagriti, the Deputy Commissioner directed daily submission of progress reports and intensified awareness activities across the district. He also stressed saturation of eligible beneficiaries under the LakhpatiDidi initiative and accelerated formation of new Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Emphasising the role of educational institutions, he directed all college Principals and other concerned officers to ensure 100 percent student participation in Mission YUVA training, awareness and entrepreneurship promotion programmes. He called for effective mobilisation of students and optimum utilisation of institutional resources. The Deputy Commissioner further directed educational institutions to maximise student participation in UdyamJagriti and instructed the concerned officers to accelerate onboarding of eligible local products and entrepreneurs on ONDC. He also stressed timely submission of Completion and Work-in-Progress (WIP) reports and regular monitoring of progress against approved and disbursed cases. The Deputy Commissioner directed all concerned departments, banks and institutions to ensure effective coordination, accountability and strict adherence to timelines to achieve the objectives of Mission YUVA in the district. The meeting was attended by Joint Director Planning, General Manager DIC, Deputy Director Employment, Chief Agriculture Officer, Principals of all Government Colleges, District Social Welfare Officer, Lead District Manager and other concerned officers.

DC Pulwama reviews Tral development works, resolves 9-year-old Mini Secretariat issue; tender within 7 days

Pulwama, Nov 13:Deputy Commissioner Pulwama K.K. Sidha on Friday reviewed the progress of developmental works across Sub-Division Tral, directing officers to expedite pending projects, resolve bottlenecks and ensure timely completion of public-centric works. The meeting was attended by MLA Tral Rafiq Ahmad Naik, Additional Deputy Commissioner Tral Sajid Yehaya Naqash, Chief Planning Officer Pulwama Aashiq Khanday and other district and sectoral officers. During the meeting, officers presented block-wise and sector-wise progress reports of works being executed under the District Capex Budget, Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and other schemes. The review covered completed, ongoing and pending works, financial achievements, tendering status and issues requiring administrative intervention. Reviewing CDF works, the Deputy Commissioner directed officers to resolve bottlenecks, expedite pending estimates and administrative approvals and ensure early tendering and timely completion of projects. He stressed physical verification and certification of completed works and directed the Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) to update the status of works on the e-Nigrani portal. Officers were also asked to conduct proper field assessments and reconcile discrepancies in Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to ensure that proposed works correspond to actual ground requirements. MLA TralRafiq Ahmad Naik raised various developmental issues and constituency-level priorities, including deficiencies in power infrastructure, transformer requirements and other pending works requiring administrative approvals. The Deputy Commissioner assured necessary intervention and directed the concerned departments to address the issues on priority. A detailed review of the Power Development Department, Roads and Buildings, Health, Education, Jal Shakti, Irrigation and Flood Control, National AYUSH Mission, Rural Development, Social Forestry, Forest and Wildlife, flood restoration and other allied sectors was also undertaken. Officers apprised the meeting of their achievements, ongoing projects and pending issues. The DC directed them to complete pending works, expedite processing of priority DPRs and ensure close monitoring of proposed projects. The issue of the Mini Secretariat at Tral, which had remained pending since 2017, was resolved during the meeting. The tender for the project will be issued within seven days, following which execution of the work will commence. Reviewing winter preparedness, the Deputy Commissioner directed that all available machinery and manpower remain fully geared up to meet any eventuality. He asked the Fire and Emergency Services Department to pursue replacement of its old vehicle and establishment of a dedicated landline facility. The Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Tral, was directed to shift roadside vendors to designated vending spaces. Concluding the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner stressed coordinated functioning among departments, timely completion of developmental works and prompt resolution of public grievances. He directed officers to expedite pending clearances and accord priority to public-centric projects and winter preparedness.

FCIK pays tributes to Saifco founder Khwaja Mohammad Khalil

Srinagar, Nov 13:The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has expressed profound grief over the demise of veteran first-generation entrepreneur Khwaja Mohammad Khalil of the renowned Saifco Group, describing his passing as a major loss to Kashmirs industrial fraternity and the end of an important chapter in the Valleys entrepreneurial history. In a statement, FCIK recalled the remarkable journey of the Saifco Group, founded and nurtured by two visionary brothers, Khwaja Saif-ud-Din and Khwaja Mohammad Khalil, who worked together to build one of Kashmirs most diversified business groups. Their ventures across manufacturing, hospitality, real estate and other sectors, ranging from cement manufacturing at Khunmoh to the prestigious Taj Vivanta overlooking Dal Lake, demonstrated the potential of indigenous enterprise to achieve national recognition. FCIK said their achievements were particularly remarkable given the circumstances in which they built and sustained their businesses. Despite more than three decades of turmoil, shutdowns, disrupted markets and financial uncertainty, the brothers persevered and continued to expand their enterprises. The Federation observed that, had enterprises like Saifco enjoyed the enabling environment, institutional support and opportunities available elsewhere in the country, they could have emerged among Indias leading business houses. Their success must be measured not merely by assets or turnover, but by the industries they sustained, livelihoods they created, confidence they inspired and entrepreneurial legacy they passed on, the Federation said. FCIK also acknowledged the contributions of the founders children and grandchildren, who carried forward and diversified the family businesses. Sustaining and expanding such an enterprise across three generations, despite Kashmirs challenging economic environment, was itself a remarkable achievement, it added. Head of the FCIK Advisory Committee, Shahid Kamili, said the demise of Khwaja Mohammad Khalil, following the passing of his brother Khwaja Saif-ud-Din some years ago, marked the end of an important chapter in Kashmirs entrepreneurial history. Societies remember their political leaders, scholars and reformers, but must equally honour those who built industries, generated employment and advanced economic self-reliance. The contributions of the Saifco founders deserve to be documented and preserved for posterity, Kamili said. He observed that the greatest tribute to such pioneers would be to create an environment in which future generations of Kashmiri entrepreneurs could realise their potential without facing the hardships endured by their predecessors. Former FCIK presidents Shakeel Qalander, Meraj-ud-Din Qureshi, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, along with presidents of various industrial estate- and district-based associations, also paid tributes to Khwaja Mohammad Khalil, acknowledging his contribution to industrial development, entrepreneurship and employment generation. Former FCIK president Shakeel Qalander said the contributions of the two brothers must be assessed in terms of what they gave back to Kashmirs economy. Every enterprise they established reduced dependence on outside supplies, every investment strengthened local productive capacity, and every job created provided families with dignity and economic security, he observed. Qalander said the founders had demonstrated that Kashmir need not remain merely a market for goods produced elsewhere but could also emerge as a centre of production, investment and opportunity. He emphasised that their contribution to economic self-reliance was no less significant than achievements in other spheres of public life. Acknowledging such pioneers is not an act of generosity but a debt society owes to those who helped build its economic foundations, he remarked. FCIK prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, particularly Manzoor Ahmad, Altaf Ahmad, Parvez Ahmad, Suhail Manzoor and other family members. The Federation prayed that Almighty Allah grant them strength and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Mission Vatsalya holds adoption awareness programme in Bandipora

Bandipora, Nov 13:Mission Vatsalya, Bandipora, on Friday organised a capacity-building programme on adoption procedures, with a focus on timely identification of orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children and their declaration as Legally Free for Adoption (LFA). The programme aimed to sensitise stakeholders about adoption procedures, timely identification of eligible children and completion of the legal formalities required for declaring them legally free for adoption. Speakers stressed the importance of timely intervention, coordination among concerned departments and adherence to prescribed legal procedures to ensure that eligible children get an opportunity to grow up in a safe, loving and permanent family environment. They also discussed the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in the adoption process, emphasising proper documentation, timely reporting and coordinated efforts to safeguard the best interests and welfare of children. The programme concluded with a call for stronger coordination among stakeholders to ensure that no eligible child is deprived of the opportunity to find a secure and permanent family through adoption. Officials from the District Child Protection Unit, Child Helpline, Child Helpdesk and Child Care Institutions (CCIs) attended the programme.

HC bars Bank from recovering loan instalments from retired employees pension

Srinagar, Nov 13:The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has restrained Jammu and Kashmir Bank from recovering loan dues from the pension account of a retired government employee, observing that the official, as guarantor, could not be subjected to coercive recovery measures. A bench of Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, while setting aside a trial courts order declining interim relief against deductions from pension account of retired police personnel, observed that merely because the former employee had stood guarantor for a borrower could not be forced for such recovery. NA Kuchay had approached the Court with an appeal assailing the order dated November 2, 2020 passed by 3rd Additional District Judge, Srinagar (trial court) whereby his application for grant of interim relief had been dismissed. He alleged that the bank was deducting loan instalments from his pension account after the principal borrower failed to repay the loan. The pension, he said, was his sole source of livelihood and that the bank had initially assured him that no further deductions would be made after he brought his retirement to its notice. However, the deductions by the Bank continued, compelling him to approach the civil court seeking recovery of money and an injunction against further deductions, he alleged in his plea. Opposing the plea, the Bank in its counter argument said that Kuchay as a guarantor was jointly and severally liable with the borrower for repayment of the loan under the law governing contracts of guarantee and banking transactions. While the court noted that the trial courts refusal to grant interim relief was not based on sound reasoning and the true spirit of law, it however clarified that the bank was not precluded from recovering its dues from the principal borrower through legally permissible means. The Court observed that in keeping with the Supreme Court judgment the pension and other retiral benefits were protected against attachment and coercive recovery measures. In support of its decision, the court also referred to J&K High Courts earlier verdicts which had affirmed the protection available to pensions received by retired government employees. The bench observed that pension was a welfare measure intended to ensure financial security for retired employees and protect them and their families from dependence, vagrancy and destitution in old age. The court held that such a benefit could not be subjected to coercive recovery measures merely because a borrower, for whom the retired employee had stood as guarantor during his active service, had defaulted on repayment. Allowing the appeal, the Court restrained the Bank from recovering any amount from Kuchays pension account. However, the bench left the matter to be adjudicated by the trial court on the basis of evidence, granting Kuchy liberty to pursue the relief regarding the recovery of the deducted amount before the court. The bench directed the trial court to decide the matter independently on its merits.

Div Com orders snow clearance, advance stocking in remote areas; 4x4 ambulances, 24x7 control rooms for winter

Srinagar, Nov 13: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg on Friday directed departments to ensure prompt snow clearance, advance stocking of essential commodities in remote areas and uninterrupted essential services as part of winter preparedness across Kashmir Division. Chairing a high-level meeting, Garg stressed coordinated efforts and timely response to minimise public inconvenience during the winter season. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Director Airport Authority Srinagar, SSP Traffic Rural and senior officers from KPDCL, R&B, MED, PMGSY, ULB, BRO, NHAI, Irrigation and Flood Control, PHE, IMD, FCS&CA, Health, SDA, Police and other concerned departments. Reviewing snow clearance action plans, the Divisional Commissioner directed MED, R&B, PMGSY, ULB, SMC and BRO to ensure prompt clearance of snow and clearly demarcate jurisdictional responsibilities to avoid duplication and confusion. He stressed optimal utilisation of available machinery and manpower and directed agencies to complete all pending stage contracts to strengthen the snow clearance mechanism. Chief Engineers and other officers informed the meeting that adequate arrangements were in place to ensure timely snow clearance on highways, major roads, streets and inner lanes immediately after snowfall. Reviewing winter power preparedness, Garg assessed electricity demand and supply, availability of buffer stocks of transformers, transformer oil, DG sets and HSD in Gurez, besides the status of branch cutting. The meeting was informed that all districts had adequate transformer stocks and 80 percent of branch cutting had been completed. It was further informed that average electricity demand in the Valley during winter was around 1,700 MW against an average supply of 1,300 MW, while peak demand touched 2,400 MW. The Divisional Commissioner directed the Chief Engineer, KPDCL, to augment workshop capacity wherever required, complete the remaining branch-cutting work at the earliest, strictly adhere to scheduled power curtailment timings and ensure prompt repair of damaged transformers. Reviewing the availability of essential commodities in remote and snowbound areas, including Gurez and the Karnah-Machil-Keran belt, he directed FCS&CA to complete advance stocking of LPG, petroleum products, rice and wheat within a week. He stressed that adequate stocks be maintained in all far-flung areas to prevent shortages and inconvenience to the public during road closures. Taking note of delays in the commencement of winter air sorties in Bandipora and Kupwara, Garg directed the Civil Aviation Department to operationalise the facility by December 1 to facilitate emergency transportation from remote and inaccessible areas. Regarding flight operations at Srinagar Airport, he directed the Director, Airport Authority Srinagar, to ensure timely dissemination of information to passengers and the general public about changes in flight schedules due to adverse weather conditions. The Divisional Commissioner also reviewed healthcare preparedness across districts, including heating arrangements in hospitals, availability of essential medicines, deployment of medical staff in far-flung areas and the requirement for 4x4 ambulances. He directed the National Health Mission (NHM) to provide 4x4 ambulances to the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir for distribution among districts, in addition to SANJY ambulances. Emphasising proactive healthcare arrangements, Garg directed the Health Department to undertake comprehensive line-listing of expectant mothers and critically ill patients in vulnerable and remote areas. He also stressed advance shifting of such patients to temporary shelters, wherever required, to ensure uninterrupted access to medical care during heavy snowfall and road closures. Reviewing the preparedness of the Jal Shakti Department, he directed officials to ensure uninterrupted functioning of all PHE schemes, including lift water supply schemes, and make adequate arrangements for deploying water tankers wherever required to ensure drinking water availability. He also directed the Forest Department to ensure adequate stocking of firewood at depots across the Valley. To strengthen interdepartmental coordination, Garg directed all district administrations and departments to ensure round-the-clock functioning of their respective control rooms, including the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). He also instructed departments to appoint nodal officers and share their contact details to facilitate timely assistance, coordination and dissemination of information. Stressing the importance of timely weather-related advisories, he directed concerned departments to promptly share weather and avalanche forecasts with the public to minimise risks and safeguard lives. Meanwhile, he directed the Commissioner, SMC, to identify waterlogging hotspots across Srinagar city and ensure deployment of adequate dewatering pumps to address any eventuality during winter. The Divisional Commissioner also emphasised accountability and timely grievance redressal, directing officers to properly document the time of occurrence of any issue and the response time taken by the concerned department to resolve it. During the meeting, Deputy Commissioners briefed the chair about winter preparedness measures undertaken in their respective districts and highlighted critical issues requiring intervention and resolution. Garg called upon all departments to maintain close coordination and ensure that necessary arrangements were put in place well in advance to minimise public inconvenience and ensure the safety and well-being of people across Kashmir Division during the winter season.

CRPF DG visits Kulgam attack site, reviews operations as hunt for terrorists enters 3rd day

Srinagar, Nov 13:Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Gyanendra Pratap Singh, on Friday visited the site of the recent terror attack near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district and held detailed interactions with field officers of the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police. The visit came as the joint hunt to track down the attackers entered its third consecutive day, with security forces continuing area-domination and search operations across the south Kashmir belt. During his visit to Kulgam in the Kashmir Valley, the DG CRPF took stock of the ground situation at the attack site in the Nowpora AkhranMir Bazar area. He later interacted with field officers of the CRPF and J&K Police at Sadura in Anantnag district, where discussions focused on the way ahead for intensified counter-insurgency (CI) operations in the Valley. The attack, which took place around 2:15 pm on Wednesday, targeted a CRPF checkpoint of the 46th Battalion deployed as a bridge guard roughly two kilometres off the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Preliminary investigations have indicated that at least three terrorists were involved, with two believed to be foreign nationals. Three CRPF personnel were injured in the firing. Two have since been discharged after treatment, while the third, who sustained wounds to the abdomen and spine, continues to receive care at the Armys 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar. On Friday, joint teams of the Army, CRPF and J&K Police maintained an expanded cordon and continued combing operations in the forested and rural stretches around the attack site, while additional searches were underway at multiple locations across south Kashmir. Officials said several suspects were being questioned as part of the investigation, and technical and human intelligence inputs were being analysed to narrow down the movement of the attackers. Continuing his Kashmir Valley tour, Director General CRPF G P Singh, accompanied by senior CRPF officials, visited Head Constable (GD) Sonbir Singh, who is undergoing treatment at Army Hospital, Srinagar. Singh sustained serious injuries while displaying exceptional courage in repulsing a terrorist attack at Nowpora, Akhran in Kulgam on November 11, 2026. The DG CRPF lauded his courage and presence of mind, saying his swift retaliation foiled the terrorists designs and averted a major incident. He wished him a speedy recovery and also appreciated the Indian Army for providing prompt helicopter evacuation and quality medical treatment at the Army Hospital.

Veshow Festival concludes in Kulgam, celebrates art and heritage

Kulgam Nov 13:The three-day Veshow Festival 2026 concluded at Government Degree College, Kulgam, on Friday, bringing together writers, poets, artists, entrepreneurs, artisans and visitors to celebrate Kashmir's cultural heritage, literature, traditional crafts and local enterprise. The concluding day featured a 'Meet the Author' session with noted writer Satish Vimal, followed by a literary discussion titled 'Kashmiri Literature Kal, Aaj Aur Kal' (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow), which brought together literary voices to deliberate on the evolution of Kashmiri literature, its contemporary landscape and future prospects. The programme also featured a Kul-Hind Mushaira (All India Mushaira), with noted poets from across the country participating in a celebration of poetry and literary expression. Alongside the literary events, four dedicated pavilions hosted keynote addresses, panel discussions and interactive sessions on entrepreneurship and startups, handicrafts and rural enterprise, agri-business and horticulture, and youth, skills and career development. Discussions explored Jammu and Kashmir's potential as an enterprise hub, the role of handicrafts in generating livelihoods, livestock's contribution to the rural economy, emerging opportunities for youth, the importance of Geographical Indication (GI) tags in promoting traditional crafts and the scope of the agri-economy. Experts, entrepreneurs, professionals, students and aspiring youth participated in the sessions, sharing experiences and exploring emerging opportunities. Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Shahzad Alam, along with ADC, DPO, ACR, SDM, ACD, DIO and other district officers, also attended various literary and trade sessions. The trade fair and exhibition remained a major attraction, with stalls displaying local products, traditional handicrafts, Kashmiri cuisine, agricultural produce, art and craft, besides products and services from different sectors. The exhibition provided artisans, entrepreneurs, traders and institutions an opportunity to showcase their products, connect with visitors and promote local businesses. The Antique Village offered visitors a glimpse into Kashmir's traditional lifestyle through household articles, artefacts and objects reflecting the region's cultural heritage. A dedicated children's play area added to the attractions. The festival grounds witnessed enthusiastic public participation, with visitors exploring exhibition stalls, sampling local cuisine, shopping and interacting with exhibitors. Schoolchildren added colour to the celebrations through an off-stage cultural showcase featuring Kashmiri folk songs, traditional dances, drama and other performances, providing a platform for young talent. At the valedictory session, Deputy Commissioner ShahzadAlam and other district officers felicitated literary figures and expert speakers and presented certificates of appreciation and participation to contributors and participants in recognition of their role in the three-day event. The DC appreciated the efforts of artists, writers, poets, artisans, entrepreneurs, students, government departments and the general public, saying their collective participation had contributed to making the annual festival a celebration of Kulgam's cultural and literary heritage. Organised under the theme 'Celebrating Our Heritage', the Veshow Festival 2026 sought to promote local talent, traditional crafts, literary expression, entrepreneurship and cultural traditions while providing a common platform for interaction and public engagement. The valedictory session was attended by ADC, DPO, ACR, ACD, SDM, DIO, Tehsildar Kulgam, AD Employment, AD FCS&CA and other district officers, besides prominent artists, writers, poets, entrepreneurs, students and members of the public.

Swachh Survekshan Awards: Budgam secures Swachh City award

Budgam, Nov 13:In a moment of immense pride, Budgam was awarded the Swachh City Award in the UT Category at the prestigious Swachh Survekshan Awards 202526. The award was conferred by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The prestigious award, as per a statement, was received by Jatin Kishore, Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, and Oruja Mohi-ud-Din, Chief Executive Officer, Municipal Council Budgam. This remarkable achievement reflects the efforts of the Municipal Council Budgam, under the guidance of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir and District Administration Budgam along with the active support and engagement of citizens of Budgam Town. The recognition acknowledges the dedicated efforts towards improved sanitation, door-to-door waste collection, source segregation, solid waste management and active public participation. The achievement is dedicated to the hardworking sanitation workers, municipal officials, field functionaries and citizens whose commitment and cooperation have made this success possible. The Administration reaffirms its commitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and making Budgam cleaner, greener and more sustainable. Swachh Budgam A Collective Responsibility, A Shared Achievement!

GMC Handwara introduces advanced cataract surgery

Handwara, Nov 13:Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara has introduced advanced phacoemulsification cataract surgery at its Department of Ophthalmology, expanding access to specialised eye-care services in North Kashmir. Dr Aamina Shah, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at GMC Handwara, told Greater Kashmir that the initiative is part of the institution's efforts to strengthen its surgical capabilities and provide modern treatment facilities closer to patients. She said the facility was made possible through a collective effort to improve healthcare services for the general public. The new facility is expected to benefit patients from Kupwara district and adjoining areas, who previously had to travel to distant tertiary healthcare institutions to access advanced cataract surgery, she said. Explaining the procedure, DrAamina said phacoemulsification is an advanced technique widely regarded as the gold standard in modern cataract treatment. It involves using ultrasonic energy to break down and remove the clouded lens through a small incision, followed by implantation of an artificial intraocular lens. The technique generally involves smaller incisions, less surgical trauma and faster visual recovery compared to conventional cataract surgery, she said. The introduction of the procedure is expected to improve access to specialised ophthalmic care for people in peripheral and underserved areas of North Kashmir, reducing the need to travel to distant hospitals for treatment. Locals have welcomed the development and expressed hope that GMC Handwara would introduce more advanced treatment technologies and strengthen its specialised patient-care services.

MRI Machine installed at GMC Handwara, Rs 9 crore water projects approved: Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan

Srinagar, Nov 13: Member of Parliament and Additional General Secretary JKNC, Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, during his three-day visit to different areas of Handwara Constituency, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, and his government for the installation of an MRI machine at Government Medical College (GMC), Handwara. As per a statement issued, he stated that the installation of MRI fulfils a commitment made some time ago to strengthen healthcare facilities in the area. He informed that he had earlier taken up the matter with the Union Health Minister and the State govt, highlighting the need for this important diagnostic facility. He said its installation would provide considerable relief to patients by ensuring access to advanced diagnostic services closer to home. Chowdry Ramzan also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the government for the augmentation of three major water supply schemes worth 9 crore for the Rajwar and Ramhall areas which included, NagradiKrumhooraKahipora Water Supply Scheme 3 crore, Kenyal Water Supply Scheme (LilamHurdoona) 3 crore, and SarmargCheck Sarmarg Water Supply Scheme 3 crore. He stated that these schemes are particularly important for water-scarce areas, where people have been facing persistent difficulties in accessing adequate drinking water. Their augmentation will significantly improve water availability and ensure a more reliable supply to households. He further informed that he had earlier taken up the matter with the Minister for Jal Shakti, seeking the augmentation of these schemes. He expressed satisfaction that the government has addressed this important public demand. During his visit, he also informed the people that funds under his MPLADS had already been released for various developmental works, including solar street lights, borewells, road connectivity, improvement of pathways, electricity infrastructure, hospital equipment, block-level development works, protection walls, culverts and assistance under the disability fund.

Diabetic Retinopathy

It is not uncommon to see a young person with diabetes arrive at an eye clinic only after experiencing a significant loss of vision. In many such cases, the problem is not simply the disease itself, but a lack of awareness that diabetes can damage the eyeseven before a person notices any change in vision. Many people seek an eye consultation only when symptoms appear. By then, however, considerable damage may already have occurred. This is why awareness of diabetic eye disease is so important. Our eyesight is precious, and protecting it requires timely action. World Diabetes Day, observed every year on November 14, offers an important opportunity to highlight the link between diabetes and vision loss. The 20262027 theme cited for this year, Early action on diabetes, reinforces a simple message: acting early can help prevent complications. One of the most important sight-threatening complications of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy (DR). It develops when persistently high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels that supply the retinathe light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The condition may progress without obvious symptoms, which makes regular screening essential. Who should be screened? Everyone living with diabetes should have regular eye examinations. Screening is particularly important for people who also have conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels (dyslipidaemia) or kidney disease. A trained eye-care professional, ideally a retina specialist can assess the retina and identify changes that may not yet affect vision. When should screening begin? An eye examination should be arranged when diabetes is diagnosed. After the initial assessment, screening is generally recommended at least once a year, or more frequently if advised by the eye specialist. Do not wait for blurred vision or other symptoms before seeking an examination. How is diabetic retinopathy treated? Good control of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol is an important part of reducing the risk of diabetic eye complications. If retinopathy develops, treatment depends on its type and severity. Some patients may require injections into the eye, laser treatment or, in more advanced cases, surgery. Regular follow-up is important, even after treatment. The key message is simple: diabetic retinopathy can threaten sight, but timely detection and appropriate care can help reduce the risk of serious vision loss. This World Diabetes Day, let us spread awareness, encourage everyone living with diabetes to get their eyes checked, and make regular retinal screening part of routine diabetes care. Do not wait for symptomsprotect your vision through early action. Dr Yasfir Bashir is Retina Consultant, Eye Care Centre, Srinagar

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq resumes Friday address at Jamia Masjid

Srinagar, Nov 13:After nearly two weeks of arbitrary house detention, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq Friday returned to the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, where he addressed the Friday congregation. Addressing the faithful, Mirwaiz, as per a statement, expressed concern over the repeated restrictions on his religious and public activities, saying that such arbitrary measures hurt people , cause inconvenience and amount to unwarranted interference in discharging his religious obligations as the Mirwaiz. Mirwaiz said that the pulpit of Jama Masjid has always stood for upholding faith and speaking the truth that reflects the concerns of people and their rights, a responsibility that he cannot abandon. Mirwaiz regretted that due to the restrictions Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulama (MMU) had to postpone its first district-level Ulema meeting, scheduled for November 4 in Bandipora, where religious scholars were to deliberate on measures to take forward its September initiative on dealing with social and religious challenges, including drug abuse, social evils, youth suicide and environmental concerns . He said such collective initiatives for social reform should be encouraged rather than obstructed. Mirwaiz also welcomed the recent decision of the Kashmir Waza Association to regulate wedding feast timings, particularly its decision to conclude late-night Wazwan dinners by 10 pm. He described the initiative as a positive step towards bringing discipline and simplicity to marriage celebrations while respecting the dignity and hard work of the Waza community. He assured the Association of the MMUs full support for such constructive efforts towards social reform. Mirwaiz said that while the Waza associations decision is a step in the right direction much needs to be done around growing extravagance, unnecessary additions to wedding customs, excessive expenditure and competitive displays of wealth that have placed enormous financial and social burdens on families. He urged society to preserve the beauty of its traditions while doing away with wasteful practices, making marriages simpler, dignified and affordable in accordance with Islamic teachings.

Ready to sacrifice for restoration of constitutional, democratic rights: Dr Farooq Abdullah

Srinagar, Nov 13:The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah Friday said that the restoration of the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir remains the partys foremost priority. He called upon people from all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir to extend their full support and cooperation in this struggle. He also stressed that the restoration of statehood is an urgent necessity, saying that it would provide considerable relief to the people and enable an elected government to function without hindrance and take effective decisions in the public interest. Dr Farooq Abdullah, as per a party statement issued, made these remarks while interacting with public delegations from different areas, prominent citizens, representatives of traders associations, party functionaries, workers and leaders at his residence in Jammu. He said that the special status of Jammu and Kashmir is the legacy of the National Conference and remains very close to the hearts of its people. He asserted that the struggle for its restoration would continue and that his party was always prepared to make any sacrifice for this cause. Dr Farooq said that the National Conference is not merely a political party seeking public support to secure power. Since its inception, the party has played a guiding role in society, working towards the eradication of social evils and the promotion of humanity, unity and justice. The party has made immense sacrifices for the protection of the fundamental human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. He asserted that the National Conference would not hesitate to adopt every peaceful and democratic means to restore the rights taken away from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.We have never changed our position in the face of intimidation or pressure in the past, nor will we do so in the future if it means compromising the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said. He maintained that the National Conference belongs to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that its agenda would always reflect their feelings, aspirations and expectations. Dr Farooq Abdullah expressed hope that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir without further delay, enabling the government to serve the people more effectively. He said that the formation of an elected government has brought relief to people at the grassroots level and that they are beginning to feel a positive change. He added that the government remains committed to public service. He urged people to approach their elected representatives and bring their grievances and concerns to their notice, reminding them that the representatives had been elected precisely to address public issues. The National Conference President also urged party functionaries to continue promoting the values of brotherhood, unity, equality, justice and humility.

Beyond Blood Sugar

Diabetes, known since antiquity, was described by Sushruta in 6th-century BCE in India as Madhumeha. The Greek physician Apollonius coined the term diabetes around 250 BCE, while Thomas Willis added mellitus in 1675. Insulins discovery by Banting and Best in 1921 revolutionised treatment, earning them the 1923 Nobel Prize. Today, diabetes is a global epidemic. Diabetes mellitus is broadly categorized into two main forms: Type 1, resulting from the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, and Type 2, driven by impaired insulin secretion and cellular insulin resistance. Though Type 1 diabetes starts at relatively young ages like children, adolescents and young adults and Type II in Middle Ages around 45 years but there are no real cut offs. The key is an early recognition. The World Health Organization in a study of worldwide trends in diabetes prevalence and treatment from 1990 to 2022 estimates that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death. In India in 2023, a report by the ICMR on Metabolic and non-communicable diseases data highlighted an overall weighted prevalence of 11.4% (Jammu region 18.9 %) alongside a prediabetes prevalence of 15.3% (Jammu region 10.8%). As per the updated National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) across the combined Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, (2023-24) survey reported that 13% of women and 11.3% of men aged 15 and above in Jammu and Kashmir have elevated blood sugar levels or are taking medication for diabetes. To confront this growing crisis, World Diabetes Day is observed annually on November 14th coinciding with the date of birth of Sir Fredrick Banting. The campaign theme this year emphasizes Early action on diabetes, underscoring the critical need for earlier diagnosis, expanded access to comprehensive care, and the reduction of social stigma. It is alarming that according to a global health data published by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and analytical medical research organizations 40% of individuals with diabetes remain undiagnosed. This proportion is likely to be even higher in our Indian settings. Early diagnosis hinges on public awareness of classic symptoms: excessive thirst (polydipsia), frequent urination (polyuria), unexplained fatigue and weakness, and rapid weight loss despite a good appetite. Recommended screening milestones include a basic blood sugar check where every individual should know their baseline levelsin a healthy adult, fasting blood sugar should ideally be below 100 mg/dL, and random samples (2 hours post meal) should remain under 140 mg/dL as per the American Diabetic Association (ADA) 2026 guidelines. Those ADA recommends a blood sugar estimation at age 35 years regardless of weight. However, in persons with a higher risk overweight or obese (BMI 25 kg/m or >85th percentile for youth) and have additional risk factors such as: Family history of diabetes, High-risk race or ethnicity, like us in India, history of gestational diabetes, Conditions associated with insulin resistance (such as polycystic ovary syndrome or high blood pressure), screening should start at in youth/ adolescence starting at age 10 years or the onset of puberty. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Timely diagnosis is only valuable when paired with accessible, affordable care and sustained lifestyle integration. Effective management requires a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach: Lifestyle Optimization: Adopt a healthy diet low in refined carbohydrates and sugars, rich in seasonal fruits, vegetables, and fibre. Combine this with regular physical activityaiming for more than 8,000 steps per day at least 5 days a week, supplemented by strengthening exercises for a minimum of 2 hours per weekand absolute avoidance of tobacco in any form. These foundational steps reduce reliance on medications. Pharmacological and Clinical Targets: Modern therapeutics effectively minimize the risk of heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes. For established diabetics, maintaining glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels close to 6.5% to 7% is paramount. Comprehensive Vascular Protection: Blood sugar control must be coupled with keeping blood pressure at or below 130/80 mm Hg and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels below 70 mg/dL. Many essential medications are readily available as high-efficacy, low-cost generics manufactured by reputable Indian pharmaceutical companies. Environmental and Policy Support: Curbing Type 2 diabetes requires healthier community environments, calling for active contributions from health, urban planning, and rural development ministries to ensure universal access to healthy food, safe recreational spaces, and quality health services. Beyond the physiological toll, individuals with diabetes frequently face psychological burdens due to social stigma. Well-meaning family members and peers often attribute the condition to poor dietary self-indulgence, lack of willpower, or sheer carelessness. This social pressure frequently drives patients into secrecy: avoiding insulin injections or skipping blood glucose monitoring in public or social gatherings. Left unaddressed, this cycle fosters denial, anxiety, and depressive states, which ultimately compromises metabolic control and accelerates complications. The paradigm shift needed requires empathetic counselling, ensuring patients are counselled that diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder shaped by intricate genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factorsit is never a personal failure. Treating physicians should provide compassionate clinical care by dedicating adequate time to educate patients thoroughly without inducing fear. The message of acceptance must be clear and unwavering: diabetes is nothing to be ashamed of, but simply a condition to be understood, accepted, and effectively managed. Conclusion: The battle against diabetes cannot be won by medicines and medical interventions alone. It requires a collective commitment involving individuals, families, healthcare professionals, communities and policymakers. We must move from a reactive approach, where treatment begins after the disease is detected, to a proactive way of prevention, early screening and sustained health awareness. Equally important is the need to replace judgement with empathy and stigma with understanding. No individual should ever feel embarrassed or discriminated against for living with diabetes. Humanity has travelled a remarkable journey from recognizing the sweetness of urine in ancient India to discovering insulin and developing sophisticated therapies by a joint effort so that we can prevent life-threatening complications. Yet, despite these extraordinary scientific advances, the real challenge remains ensuring that their benefits reach every individual. Our ultimate goal should not merely be to help people live with diabetes, but to prevent diabetes wherever possible and enable those affected to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. Early awareness, timely action and compassionate care must become the cornerstones of this global fight. Author is Founder Director, Gauri Kaul Foundation

Dogra identity cannot be held hostage to separatist pressure: Rajni Sethi

Jammu, Nov 13: J&K BJP spokesperson Friday raised concerns over the uncertainty surrounding the Dogra certificate issue saying that the historical identity, cultural heritage and legitimate rights of the Dogra community must be protected and respected. She said the identity and dignity of the Dogra community cannot be compromised under political pressure or separatist influence. The Dogra Certificate is not merely an administrative matter but closely connected with the historical recognition, social dignity and legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu, she said. Referring to the orders issued by the National Conference led coalition government in 2011, Sethi said that after issuing orders on March 25 and April 7 of 2011, concerning the issuance of Dogra certificates, the Central government extended certain recruitment-related physical standard relaxations to permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The earlier state government order was withdrawn on April 28, 2011, she added. She said these developments created considerable uncertainty among the Dogra community. The political opposition and controversy surrounding the issue at that time further complicated the matter. The historical record must be examined objectively, without ignoring the concerns and aspirations of the people of Jammu, she added. She said the Dogra community has made an invaluable contribution to the history, culture, administration and national integration of Jammu and Kashmir. The legacy of the Dogra rulers, their contribution to the region and the sacrifices of the people of Jammu deserve recognition and respect. Any attempt to undermine this identity for political convenience is unacceptable, she added. She said the developments surrounding the Dogra certificate issue since August 2025 have once again highlighted the need for clarity and transparency. The J&K government must establish a clear policy regarding eligibility criteria, purpose, recognition and the practical benefits associated with the certificate, she said. She said that young people belonging to the Dogra community deserve equal opportunities, particularly in matters relating to recruitment and government-related benefits. Any policy concerning their identity and entitlements must be implemented fairly, transparently and without discrimination, she added. She further said the government must clarify the status of previous orders, subsequent decisions and the present administrative position. A transparent and accessible mechanism for issuing and recognizing Dogra Certificates is essential to end uncertainty among the people, she added. She said the BJP firmly believes that the historical identity and dignity of the Dogra community deserve recognition and protection. This issue must be addressed through concrete policy decisions rather than political ambiguity or selective approaches. The Dogra community deserves justice, recognition and equal opportunities. Protecting its heritage is not merely a regional concern but an important part of preserving the historical and cultural identity of Jammu and Kashmir, she added.

Diabetes, Ageing Parents and Winter

He was 78. A familiar face in Moul Mouj Health Centre. His first question was not about his blood sugar report. He wanted to know what should he eat. Doctor Sahib, my children have stopped me from eating almost everything. Even my cup of tea has become a problem. He smiled, but there was a sense of helplessness in his voice. I looked at his reports. His diabetes was reasonably controlled. But his blood pressure was high, bad cholesterol was abnormal and an ultrasound had revealed fatty liver. He was concerned about sugar. I was equally concerned about the bigger picture. This is where diabetes management in old age needs a fundamental change. We have become too obsessed with sugar numbers and sometimes too indifferent to everything happening around them. Diabetes in an elderly person is rarely a solitary disease. It is often part of a cluster of metabolic and cardiovascular problems. Hypertension, dyslipidaemia (high LDL Cholesterol), fatty liver, obesity and kidney disease frequently coexist. Together, they increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, kidney failure and disability. A reasonably controlled sugar reading can create a false sense of security if blood pressure and cholesterol remain neglected. Consider hypertension. Many elderly people with diabetes have high blood pressure without experiencing any symptoms. They feel perfectly normal, even when their arteries are under considerable strain. Over time, uncontrolled blood pressure damages the heart, kidneys, brain and blood vessels. Regular monitoring and appropriate treatment are essential. However, treatment must be individualised, particularly in frail seniors who may experience dizziness or falls when blood pressure drops excessively. Then comes dyslipidaemia, or abnormal cholesterol. Diabetes increases cardiovascular risk, and the combination of high LDL (bad) cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes is particularly dangerous. A person may have no chest pain, no breathlessness and no obvious warning, yet atherosclerosis may be silently progressing. Cholesterol management, including statin therapy where indicated, is an important part of preventing heart attacks and strokes. It should not be ignored simply because the patient feels well. Fatty liver is another frequently overlooked companion. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is common among people with Type 2 diabetes. It is not merely an ultrasound finding to be forgotten. In some individuals, it can progress to liver inflammation, fibrosis and even cirrhosis. Weight management where appropriate, physical activity, good diabetes control and management of associated metabolic conditions can help reduce the risk of progression. Those at higher risk need further assessment. The message is simple: Do not treat diabetes in isolation. Treat the person and the entire metabolic risk profile. Another side to this story. Older people do not always need more medicines. Sometimes they need simpler treatment. Many are already taking five, six or even ten tablets daily. Adding another prescription without reviewing existing medicines can create confusion, adverse effects and poor adherence. We must also remember hypoglycaemia. Families are often terrified of high sugar but remain unaware that low blood sugar can be more dangerous. In an elderly person, it can cause confusion, falls, fractures, loss of consciousness and hospitalisation. Treatment targets should therefore be individualised according to frailty, cognitive status, other illnesses and functional ability. And please, let us stop making food a punishment. An elderly person should not have to negotiate every meal with anxious family members. Rice, traditional food and an occasional favourite dish need not disappear from life. What matters is portion size, balance, regular meal timings and individual dietary advice. Adequate nutrition, protein rich diet is particularly important in older people, who are also vulnerable to muscle loss and frailty. Winter, diabetes, Kashmir. Cold weather keeps many seniors indoors. Walking reduces, physical activity declines and meals often become heavier. Some older people skip meals, while others forget medicines. Those taking insulin must ensure that it is stored correctly: it should never freeze or be exposed to extreme temperatures. Blood glucose should be monitored when food intake or activity changes. Foot care becomes especially important. Warm, comfortable footwear, daily inspection of feet and avoiding barefoot walking can prevent injuries that may otherwise go unnoticed. Hydration should not be neglected simply because the weather is cold. Families should also ensure that elderly people have an adequate supply of medicines and do not miss follow-up appointments. Do not just ask, What is your sugar level? Also ask about blood pressure. Check cholesterol. Look at the liver. Assess kidney function. Review medicines. Examine the feet. Ask whether the person is eating properly, walking safely and sleeping well.

Div Com Jammu stresses timely execution of road infrastructure projects, effective implementation of Govt schemes

Doda, Nov 13:Divisional Commissioner Jammu Vikas Kundal Friday chaired a review meeting here to assess the progress of developmental projects and ground impact of government schemes in this mountainous District. During the meeting convened in the conference hall of DC Office Complex Doda, Divisional Commissioner Jammu inquired about the ongoing and completed infrastructure projects and other government initiatives being implemented in the district. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Krishan Lal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Anil Kumar Thakur, ADC Bhaderwah Sunil Kumar Butyal, Chief Planning Officer Manesh Kumar Manhas, ASP Headquarters Mohammad Aslam, DPO Akhtar Hussain Qazi, ACR Ashraf Pervez, ACD Din Mohammad Afaqi, CEO BDA Sanjeev Verma, SE Jal Shakti, SE PWD (R&B), GM NHIDCL, DFOs, district heads of line departments and representatives from the executing agencies. During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Doda presented a comprehensive overview of the district's developmental profile, ongoing projects, physical and financial achievements and implementation status of the government schemes through a detailed PowerPoint presentation. He highlighted key infrastructure projects, sector-wise progress, achievements and challenges requiring focused intervention. The Divisional Commissioner reviewed the progress of major infrastructure projects, with emphasis on the completion of the Multi-Storey Car Parking Project, which has been flagged as the important public utility project for Doda town. The alignment of NH-244, road upgradation works and progress of ongoing projects along the highway were also discussed. The Divisional Commissioner directed the General Manager NHIDCL to expedite the execution of ongoing works, remove bottlenecks and ensure timely completion while maintaining prescribed quality standards. The status of ongoing heritage projects was also reviewed. The review also covered SASCI projects, NABARD-funded works and the road infrastructure projects. The Divisional Commissioner inquired about the ongoing and completed projects taken up under PMGSY-I and PMGSY-II, road development works being executed by PWD, BRO and PMGSY, besides the macadamisation of roads across the district were discussed. The Divisional Commissioner stressed the need to accelerate road macadamisation and upgradation works, directing the concerned departments to ensure timeline completion of the projects. He also emphasised proper road maintenance, improved connectivity and exploration of all available schemes for strengthening road infrastructure, particularly in remote and far-flung areas. Issues related to land compensation and forest clearances were also reviewed, with directions to resolve pending matters within a stipulated timeframe to avoid delays in project execution. Reviewing the Jal Shakti sector, the Divisional Commissioner assessed the physical and financial progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), including progress made in providing Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC), the status of ongoing water supply schemes and implementation challenges. The AMRUT scheme and Irrigation and Flood Control initiatives were also reviewed. The progress of power projects was also discussed in detail, particularly under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDS). The Divisional Commissioner directed the concerned officers to prioritise distribution infrastructure, strengthen the power distribution network, improve reliability of electricity supply and expedite pending works to ensure uninterrupted power supply, especially during the winter season. He also inquired about the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) and directed the concerned officers to put in extra efforts to achieve set targets and ensure timely construction and completion of houses for eligible rural beneficiaries.

A celebration for the fruit from heaven

Kashmir and Apples are synonymous. History has it that apple cultivation in Kashmir is 2000 years old, which gained momentum in early 15th century when Zain ul Abidin brought the grafts to patch with local apple trees for a better variety, the Mughals encouraged the growth of apple orchards on a large scale and later the Britishers brought the English variants and gave the modern scientific outline and outlook to this industry. A separate Department of Horticulture is looking after this huge industry that besides the fruit generates livelihood and lots of employment. The department has been pivotal in managing, supporting and regulating the success of the apple industry on all fronts and lately in establishing the cold storage units meant for storing apples after they are harvested. The fruit can be kept for variable period of time in the unit and later withdrawn and thawed and regularly dispatched throughout the season rather than limiting it to a particular month. Though Kashmir has a huge area under cultivation for apples, two regions are famous worldwide for the quantum that grows in there, Sopore and Shopian, each having a separate fruit mandi to help the apple growers to sell their yield. The apple production has hit a high with over 17 lakh metric tonnes produced every year. The famous varieties are ambri, delicious, golden delicious, maharaja, chemora, hazartbali, american trael, and many hybrids. Since few years the orchards have changed from these typical variants to the now scientifically done and easier growing European variants which go on to give a good yield in less time. October is the month of harvesting the apples and then sending them to different parts of the country or storing them in now available cold storage units. 70% of the total production harvested is brought and assembled in sheds, sorted, packed and then transported or nowadays railed to the various mandis of the country. 20 % goes to cold storage units. The month of October is full of activity in the apple hubs of the valley. The harvest season of different agricultural products and fruits falls at different times of the year depending upon region, climate, and crop. It marks the end of growing season, collection of the agricultural/horticulture bounty and gratitude to the Almighty for the produce. World over at the time of harvest of first fruits/crops, festivals are held, true for our country as well, which is celebrated by the locals in various ways. The celebrations can last for a day or days together and can be a fair, carnival, parties, singing, dancing, local folk tales and local cultural events done to an audience from far and wide. This infuses an enthusiasm of worthiness amongst the farmers, growers, wholesalers and all the people involved in the business. And puts that area onto the world map. Among the international festivals held are Thanksgiving in US, , crop over in Barbados, mid-autumn festival in China and Vietnam, rice harvest festival in Indonesia, Incwala in Eswatini, a traditional first-fruit ceremony where the king tastes the new seasons crops before the nation can harvest theirs, Moussem hab lmuluk a cherry harvest festival in Sefrou, Morocco, Moussem tamrata date harvest festival at Arfoud, in Morocco, Moussem tamrat faghit a date harvest festival in Saoura, Algeria, Moussem lnab a grape harvest festival at Benslimane,Morocco, Moussem lfrizat a strawberry harvest festival in Skikda, Algeria. Likewise, in our country we do have fixed calendar for these harvest festivals, Makar Sankranti, Bihi, Pongal, Lohri, Baisakhi, Onam. Local preparations, songs, dance, cultural skits, fairs, children arena, food stalls, handicrafts form the core on these festive occasions. Kashmir per se does not have a particular harvest festival, that is famous on the national or international arena. Rice harvesting used to be celebrated locally but presently is not. There is some resurgence of having a festival at the time of trees flowering like the famous almond blossom of Badamwari, and the now world famous tulip festival at Indira Gandhi garden, but no administration led harvest festival is in the time table. I read about an initiative Jashen Harud held this year on 7th of November at the Sports Stadium in Shopian. This is a good beginning but we need this on a large and better scale, an apple harvest festival for a week or 10 days to really allow people from other parts of Kashmir to visit these areas and check for themselves various aspects of cultivation, harvesting and other aspects. We can have a week of this festival at Sopore and Shopian, every year in the month of October to celebrate the harvest. It can be a mega carnival with school children coming for picnic, college students take it as part of their scientific projects, locals as guests and buyers, tourists and outsiders as ambassadors. This will go a long way in encouraging the growers, have attendees cherish the heritage, traditions and culture, bring in entrepreneurs with their developmental initiatives, allow government to announce welfare schemes and better the ways of handling the fruit and also bring these areas more on the national and international map. Dr Muzafar Maqsood Wani, Consultant Nephrologist, SKIMS, Soura

Truck driver found dead inside parked vehicle at Batote

Ramban, Nov 13:A truck driver was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside his vehicle at Chakwa Nala in Batote area of Ramban district on Friday evening. According to officials, the incident came to light at around 6:15 pm when information was received about a person lying unresponsive inside a truck bearing registration number JK21-0884, which was parked at Chakwa Nala. The truck was reportedly travelling from Jammu towards Doda when the driver stopped the vehicle at the location to take a rest. Following the information, a police team immediately reached the spot and initiated necessary legal proceedings. The deceased driver was identified as Tilak Raj, son of Jaishi Ram, a resident of Jhaloon village in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Police shifted the body to Community Health Centre (CHC) Batote for further medico-legal formalities. SHO Police Station Batote Inspector Sanjay Manhas confirmed the incident. The officials said the circumstances surrounding the death were not immediately known.

Shop gutted in Nowshera blaze

Rajouri, Nov 13:A shop was completely gutted in a fire incident in Ward two of Nowshera town late Thursday night, causing losses worth lakhs of rupees. The fire broke out at a shop named Hungary Point, following which locals immediately informed the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The locals said a fire tender rushed to the spot and following strenuous efforts, the personnel of the department managed to bring the blaze under control. However, by the time the fire was extinguished, the entire shop and its belongings were reduced to ashes, resulting in substantial financial losses to the shop owner. A team of Jammu and Kashmir Police also reached the spot and cordoned off the area to prevent any untoward incident and maintain law and order. Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit may have triggered the fire while police have registered a case and initiated further investigation to ascertain the exact cause. However, no loss of life or injuries were reported by Police in the incident.

Sakeena Itoo calls for optimal utilisation of resources, strengthening healthcare infrastructure

Jammu, Nov 13:Minister for Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo Friday chaired a comprehensive review meeting at the Civil Secretariat Jammu to assess the functioning, progress and implementation of various components of the National Health Mission (NHM) in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education Saugat Biswas, Mission Director National Health Mission J&K Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan, Director Finance H&ME, Director Planning H&ME, Director Family Welfare and Immunization J&K, Director Health Services Jammu, Director Health Services Kashmir and other senior officers of Health and Medical Education department. During the meeting, the minister undertook a detailed assessment of the performance of NHM across various sectors, with particular focus on public health planning, financial management, human resource availability, healthcare infrastructure, supply of medicines and essential logistics, diagnostic facilities, patient transport services and punctuality of healthcare personnel, besides other critical aspects of public healthcare delivery. While taking stock of the progress achieved under different NHM interventions, Sakeena Itoo emphasised the need for strengthening implementation mechanisms and ensuring that the resources being provided under the mission translate into tangible improvements in healthcare services at the grassroots level. She stressed on optimal utilisation of financial resources, manpower and available infrastructure and directed the officers to identify existing gaps and take time-bound corrective measures to address them. NHM is an important instrument for strengthening the public healthcare system. Our focus must be on ensuring that every resource allocated under the mission is utilised efficiently and delivers measurable benefits to the people. There should be no gap between the availability of resources and delivery of healthcare services, the Minister said. She further called for greater accountability and inter-departmental coordination to improve the overall functioning of healthcare institutions and ensure the availability of essential services, medicines and diagnostic facilities, particularly in areas where access to healthcare remains a challenge. She emphasised the importance of equitable healthcare delivery saying that people living in remote, far-flung and underserved areas must receive the same attention and quality of healthcare services as those residing in urban centres. Our priority is to make quality healthcare accessible, affordable and dependable for every citizen. The benefits of NHM must reach the last person in the queue and no individual should be deprived of essential medical facilities due to geographical or infrastructural limitations, she said. The minister also stressed the need for maintaining punctuality among healthcare personnel, improving patient transport facilities and ensuring adequate availability of medicines and diagnostic services in public health institutions. She directed the concerned officers to revisit all issues and bottlenecks highlighted during the meeting, formulate appropriate action plans and ensure their timely resolution. She also called for close monitoring of the implementation of various NHM initiatives and fixing responsibility at appropriate levels to ensure effective service delivery. Reiterating the government's commitment towards strengthening the public healthcare system, the Minister called upon the officers to adopt a coordinated, result-oriented and people-centric approach, ensuring that NHM fulfils its objectives of improving healthcare access, quality and outcomes across Jammu and Kashmir.

MLA Budhal, CAASPI delegation meet LG Manoj Sinha

Jammu, Nov 13:Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Budhal Javed Iqbal Choudhary and a delegation of Centre for Activities for Advanced, Strong and Progressive India (CAASPI) Friday called on J&K Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha in Jammu. MLA Budhal projected various issues related to enhancement of facilities to Haj pilgrims from Jammu Kashmir. Also, the CAASPI delegation consisted of prominent citizens including Shri Justice Tashi Rabstan, Retired Judge, J&K and Ladakh High Court, Kuldeep Khoda, B R Sharma, Dr S. P. Vaid, Dr Ashok Bhan, Maj Gen S.K. Sharma (Retd), K.B. Jandial, Adv Rameshwar Singh Jamwal, and submitted a proposal for the creation of Social Defence Volunteer Groups to provide support to existing Home Guards and Civil Defence personnel at the district level and in border areas. These Groups can act as Joint Quick Reaction Teams to work with Home Guards and Civil Defence teams in the event of a disaster or any situation requiring trained manpower. They also highlighted the important matters pertaining to the extension of facilities under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) for the welfare of Pensioners.

Ten Years After the Note Ban

On 8th November 2016 at 8 oclock in the evening, the Prime Minister announced that 500 and 1000 notes would become invalid from midnight. These notes constituted around 86% of the currency. Ten years later, we take a serious look at how well the policy met its objectives. Black Money The government had three objectives to achieve: remove black money, remove fake notes and remove terror funding. It later became a reason to increase digitisation. Its main aim was to utilise the fact that black money is mostly kept in cash and therefore would have to be deposited as it would be exposed. However, the Reserve Bank of India annual report shows that out of 15.41 lakh crore of specific notes in circulation, 15.31 lakh crore (99.3%) were returned. This suggests that there was very little cash in circulation that hadnt been declared or more likely there was some laundering done. Economists have always argued that black money is mostly kept in property, gold and foreign assets. Therefore, swapping the currency was never going to be effective. The state also had high costs. The RBI had to print 7965 crore in 2016-17 compared to 2015-16 which was 3421 crore. It also increased to 4912 crore in 2017-18. Fake Notes and Terror Funding In 2017-18 fake notes were detected down by 31.4% to 5.22 lakh. However, in 2024-25, 2.17 lakh were detected. Fake notes arent easy to attribute, but it is true that there has been a decrease. There have been some fake notes of the new 500 design. These increased by 37.3% to 1.18 lakh in 2024-25. Terror funding is difficult to verify. The onus was on the policy maker to prove their point. Digitisation This is the best reason to support the policy. However, it is the least causal. The UPI was launched on 25th August 2016. In 2016-17 there were 1.78 crore transactions, however this increased to 24162 crore in 2025-26. The value of these transactions increased from 0.07 lakh crore to around 314 lakh crore. This is due to the fact that there is a lot of interoperability in public infrastructure. The Note Ban just gave a push to this. However, there was an increase in the amount of money in circulation. At the end of 2025-26, there was 41.68 lakh crore in circulation. This was more than double what there was ten years ago. The increase was 11.9% in 2025-26. This was the highest increase since 2017-18 when there was a recovery after the Note Ban. This increase was partly caused by increased consumption, lower interest rates and the fact that 2000 notes were replaced. India has become more digitised. GDP Growth GDP growth in the first quarter of 2016-17 decreased to 7.5%, 7.0% and 6.1%. Supporters argue that the full year was later revised to show an increase to 8.3% and the RBI acknowledged that there was a slowdown in the first quarter of 2016-17. This is true, however, you should be cautious about saying there was a precise decrease in output. The data isnt great to look at. Critics argue that the informal sector is the largest part of the economy to use cash and is estimated using the national accounts. These are mostly estimated using the formal sector as a basis. This could mean that there wasnt as big of a shock as there could have been. There was a decrease in growth in 2017-18 and 2018-19. This was due to a number of factors including the Note Ban and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax. Supporters Arguments Supporters argue that it increased the amount of cash in banks, increased the information available to tax authorities and increased digital payments. This seems like a reasonable argument. However, there isnt much evidence to show that there wasnt already a trend. There isnt evidence to show that this was genuine cash. By March 2018 the amount of money in circulation had increased beyond the amount before the Note Ban. A reasonable argument could be made that there could have been a more targeted approach using enforcement, analytics and incentives to increase the amount of cash in the formal sector. Legality A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court ruled on 2nd January 2023 that the decision was legal (4-1). The majority argued that there was a reasonable connection between the aims of the policy and that it passed the test of proportionality. They also argued that the courts should stay out of economic policy. The minority opinion was given by Justice B.V. Nagarathna who argued that the action was vitiated and unlawful. This is due to the fact that the action shouldnt have been taken in a Gazette Notification and should have been done through legislation. She also argues that the RBI didnt give independent consideration to the action. Section 26(2) of the RBI Act 1934 states that the centre can only demonetise a series of notes if recommended by the central board of the RBI. This is a clear question about whether there was any real protection. The judgement shows that it was a legal policy. However, this doesnt mean it was a good policy. 2000 Notes The 2000 note was introduced in 2016 but was demonetised on 19th May 2023. This was due to the RBIs Clean Note Policy. By 31st March 2025 98.2% of the 3.56 lakh crore in circulation had been returned. This raises questions. If high value notes were the issue in 2016 why was a higher value note introduced? Why was it recalled in just 7 years? What We Can Learn Overall, if we look at the theory of change, this policy has failed. The main aim of it was to get rid of cash, however, nearly all of it was returned. The benefits were either small and difficult to attribute (fake notes) or real but mostly not related to the policy (digitisation). The costs were immediate and widespread. There were long queues, quarterly growth slowed and there were high printing costs. We can learn that surprise isnt the way to go. A policy that involves 86% of the currency by value should be rolled out in stages and there should be plenty of replacement notes. We can also learn that it is important to involve the right institutions. The RBI should have a clear and meaningful role in the process. Finally, any large economic intervention should have clear metrics and independent evaluation. This means that in ten years time we will be debating the evidence rather than the inference. The biggest legacy of the Note Ban may be the lack of evidence. Malik Daniyal is a regular contributor to GK.

Police calls for operational synergy among all stakeholders for robust security of SMVDY

Jammu, Nov 13:Police authorities have asked all the stakeholder forces to ensure effective communication and operational synergy for robust security of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra (SMVDY), biggest religious pilgrimage of J&K with millions of people from across the world arrive in holy town Katra for the pilgrimage. The directions were issued days after twin terror incidents reported in Jammu and Kashmir. The directions were issued by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Udhampur Reasi range, Swarn Singh Kotwal who conducted comprehensive security review of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine on Friday. The security review was conducted both of Yatra track and Bhawan covering the entire route from Katra to Bhawan. During the review, DIG undertook a detailed foot patrol along the route from Katra to Bhawan and inspected each security point to assess the existing security arrangements and operational preparedness, police said. The review focused on security arrangements at the main entry points, including at Ardhkuwari and Bhawan, besides assessing area domination and security deployment in the upper reaches and surrounding areas of the shrine. Other officers who were part of the review included Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi Mukand Tiberwal, officers of Army, Deputy Commandant of CRPF 6th Battalion, officers from Intelligence Bureau, SDPO Katra Dr. Bhishma Dubey, DySP Bhawan Mahesh Sharma, DySP CID SB CI Reasi, SDPO Railways Katra, SHO Katra, SHO PS Bhawan alongwith representatives of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Police said that after a detailed field visit and extensive patrolling, the DIG Police Swarn Singh Kotwal also chaired a coordination meeting in which he emphasized the importance of maintaining close coordination, effective communication and operational synergy among all stakeholders to ensure robust security arrangements along the entire pilgrimage route and at the shrine. The officers were briefed to discharge their respective duties with utmost alertness, professionalism and dedication, while ensuring a well-coordinated and proactive security mechanism. The police official said that special emphasis was laid on maintaining effective area domination, vigilance at sensitive locations and seamless coordination among all security agencies. The review reaffirmed the commitment of J&K Police and all concerned security agencies towards ensuring a safe, secure and peaceful pilgrimage for the devotees visiting the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, police further said.

Ladakh witnesses tourism boom, records 66% rise in tourist arrivals till October

Srinagar, Nov 13:The Ladakh Union Territory has witnessed a major tourism boom this year, registering a 65.90 per cent surge in tourist arrivals during the first ten months of 2026 compared to the corresponding period last year, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said on Friday. Addressing the sharp upward trajectory in visitor footfall, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted that growth has been recorded across both domestic and international segments. Earlier official figures from the Lieutenant Governor's Secretariat showed that Ladakh surpassed its entire 2025 tourist footfall of 3.35 lakh within the first eight months of 2026, climbing past 4.61 lakh visitors by the end of September. According to the UT Administration, the sustained growth is the result of targeted tourism reforms, expanded road infrastructure, and improved near year-round connectivity across the high-altitude region. Notably, the annual winter closure of the strategic KargilZanskar Road has been reduced from 154 days to just 11 days, opening up remote destinations for longer stretches of the year. Alongside infrastructure upgrades, flagship cultural and sporting eventsincluding the Ladakh Festival, Ladakh Marathon, Ladakh Bike Week, and the Zanskar Festivalhave played a key role in extending the traditional tourist season and boosting Ladakh's visibility in domestic and global markets. An official said the surge in arrivals was directly translating into grassroots economic gains. The number of registered homestays in the Union Territory has expanded from 128 in 2019 to 2,275 in 2026, generating new livelihood opportunities for local households and rural communities. With ongoing investments in visitor facilities, adventure tourism, and sustainable travel initiatives, Ladakh administration expects the positive momentum to continue through the winter season. The LG attributed the growth to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to promote domestic tourism and the targeted policy initiatives of his administration aimed at strengthening the local tourism industry.

Additional charge syndrome galore in SED, 26 headless schools in Jammu get DDOs on temporary arrangement

Srinagar, Nov 13:The additional charge syndrome galore in the School Education Department (SED) as the government has assigned the powers of Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) to officers of equivalent ranks from other institutions to facilitate financial operations in 26 headless schools across the Jammu division. As per the order issued by Commissioner Secretary SED Ram Niwas Sharma, the decision to assign DDO powers will be temporary and will remain in force till regular arrangements are made by the department. As per the order, the DDO powers of the 26 institutions have been delegated to principals and headmasters of other government schools in their respective districts. The schools include three institutions each in Kathua, Kishtwar and Poonch, six in Rajouri, five in Jammu, two each in Reasi and Udhampur besides one each in Samba and Doda. As per the order, the Principal of Higher Secondary School (HSS) Salal has been assigned DDO powers for HSS Bhallar in Reasi, while the Principal of BHSS Rajouri will exercise the same powers for GHSS Dhandkote. Similarly, the Principal of HSS Samote has been assigned the financial responsibilities of GHSS Budhal in Rajouri. In Jammu district, the financial powers of five headless institutions, including schools at Gurah Brahmana, Haripur, Chandu Chak, Udheywala and Rangpur Maulaniyan, have been entrusted to heads of other government schools. The delegation of powers will be restricted exclusively to financial and DDO-related functions and does not confer any administrative powers upon the officers concerned, the order reads. As per the order, the officers concerned shall be Gazetted Officers in accordance with the applicable rules and instructions governing the J&K UT. The delegated DDO powers shall be exercised against the existing DDO Code of the respective institution, and no separate DDO Code shall be created on account of such delegation unless otherwise authorised by the competent authority, it reads. The order reads that the delegation shall be restricted strictly to drawing and disbursing salaries, operating authorised funds, and processing or handling bills and other permissible financial transactions through the existing financial and treasury systems of the J&K. The delegation shall be confined exclusively to financial and DDO-related functions and shall not confer any administrative powers, including powers relating to appointment, posting, transfer, promotion, disciplinary matters or any other service-related matter, unless separately authorised under the applicable rules, it reads. As per the order, the officers exercising the delegated DDO powers shall ensure strict compliance with the applicable Financial Code (GFR), Treasury Rules, Delegation of Financial Powers, Government instructions and other relevant statutory or procedural provisions, as amended from time to time.

Shivpora residents decry drinking water shortage

Srinagar, Nov 13: Residents of lane 5 Ward 2 of Shivpora near the water tank have complained of acute shortage of drinking water supply for the last several days. A delegation from the area said that they have been facing immense problems in the absence of drinking water supply. We have to fetch water from neighbouring areas. Despite complaints to concerned authorities, water supply has not been restored so far. We make a fervent appeal to PHE authorities to look into the matter and direct the concerned officials to restore the water supply at earliest, they said.

How can corporate governance evolve to better serve all stakeholders in India?

Corporate governance is evolving in India as directors balance multiple stakeholders' interests and act accordingly. Section 166 of the Companies Act requires directors to exercise independent judgement for the company's benefit. The board's role includes protecting minority shareholders and ensuring proper conduct among insiders. Multiple perspectives, including principal-agent and stewardship, shape corporate governance practices. Assessing board performance involves examining how well they adhere to these principles and balance stakeholders' needs.

Indias election calendar needs a reset. Is 'One Nation, One Election' the answer?

India frequently holds elections, affecting the governments ability to implement long-term reforms effectively. Competitive populism emerges as states pursue similar welfare programs to match opponents promises. The proposal for 'One Nation, One Election' aims to increase political efficiency and reduce costs associated with separate elections. Challenges remain regarding early dissolution of assemblies and maintaining state-specific issues. Achieving synchronization by 2034 requires careful planning, political consensus, and public trust.

Sanatan and Children

The speaker describes Sanatan as the eternal Truth, not a religion or cult, and says following it requires truthfulness, honesty and integrity. Citing the Vedas, the Gita, Guru Granth Sahib and Pali texts, the speaker argues that the term has a broader meaning than commonly understood.

The secondary market is filling a funding gap and changing Indian venture capital for the better

Indias startup exit market has relied largely on IPOs, as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) remain limited. However, the growth of private secondary transactions over the past three to four years is giving venture capital (VC) investors another way to exit and return money to their backers.

Centre revamps PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration, adds nine schemes

New Delhi, Nov 13: The Centre has revamped the Prime Ministers Awards for Excellence in Public Administration and added nine new schemes under the 2026 awards, according to an official statement issued on Friday. The total number of awards will be 16, and the period of consideration will be from April 1, 2024, to November 30, 2026, it said. The Holistic Development of Districts category has also been comprehensively revamped, the statement issued by the Personnel Ministry said. The nine newly included schemes under the Prime Ministers Awards for Excellence in Public Administration (PMA) 2026 are Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Gyan Bharatam, PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Crop Diversification under three components, PM SHRI, Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), National Mission on Natural Farming and Capacity Building under iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training), the statement said. Three schemes from PMA 2025 have been retained for 2026 -- Har Ghar Jal Yojana, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, it added. The schemes approved under PMA 2026 will also continue for the 2027 awards, the statement said. Districts with Aspirational Blocks will participate in the Aspirational Blocks Programme category, which covers 513 blocks across 331 districts in the country, it said. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) launched the portal (https://pmawards.gov.in/) for the PMA 2026 on November 13 to begin the registration process. The launch ceremony was held through video conferencing and attended by officials from various Union ministries and departments, principal secretaries (administrative reforms) of states and Union territories, and district collectors and district magistrates. More than 2,000 officers from 750 locations across the country attended the session, the statement said. The ministries were requested to submit quantitative, qualitative and governance parameters to DARPG by November 17 to facilitate the formulation and uploading of the application form on the awards portal for submission by districts, it added. The PMA 2026 will comprise a trophy, a scroll and an incentive of Rs 20 lakh for each awarded district or organisation. The amount is to be utilised for implementing a project or programme or bridging resource gaps in any area of public welfare. The awards are presented on Civil Services Day, observed on April 21.

'Ensure essential services in Kashmir remain unimpeded': Senior official during winter preparedness review

Srinagar, Nov 13: Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg on Friday reviewed winter preparedness in the Valley and called for timely and coordinated response to ensure uninterrupted essential services. The divisional commissioner chaired a meeting to review winter preparedness across the Kashmir division, emphasising the need for coordinated efforts, timely response and adequate arrangements to ensure uninterrupted essential services during the winter season, an official spokesman said. During the meeting, the divisional commissioner reviewed snow clearance action plans of various agencies and directed prompt snow clearance and clear demarcation of duties to avoid confusion. Garg stressed optimal utilisation of available machinery and manpower and directed concerned agencies to complete all pending contracts to strengthen the snow clearance mechanism. Garg assessed electricity demand and supply, availability of buffer stocks of transformers, transformer oil, and DG sets in Gurez, besides the status of tree trimming operations. He was informed that the average electricity demand in the Valley during winter is around 1,700 MW against an average supply of 1,300 MW, while peak demand reaches 2,400 MW, the spokesman said. The divisional commissioner directed the authorities to augment the capacity wherever required, complete the remaining tree-trimming work at the earliest, strictly adhere to scheduled power curtailment timings and ensure prompt repair of damaged transformers. While reviewing the availability of essential commodities in remote and snowbound areas, including Gurez and the Karnah-Machil-Keran belt, the divisional commissioner directed the food and consumer affairs department to complete the advance stocking of LPG cylinders, petroleum products, rice and wheat within one week. He stressed that adequate stocks of essential commodities be ensured in far-flung areas to prevent any shortage or inconvenience to the public during road closures. Taking note of delays in the commencement of winter air sorties in Bandipora and Kupwara, the divisional commissioner directed the civil aviation department to operationalise the facility by December 1 to facilitate emergency transportation from remote and inaccessible areas. Regarding daily flight operations at Srinagar airport, he directed the director, Airport Authority Srinagar, to ensure timely dissemination of information to passengers and the public about changes in flight schedules due to adverse weather conditions. The divisional commissioner also reviewed healthcare preparedness across districts, including heating arrangements in hospitals, availability of essential medicines, deployment of medical staff in far-flung areas and the requirement for four-wheel drive (4x4) ambulances. He directed the National Health Mission to provide 4x4 ambulances to the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir for further distribution among districts. Garg stressed their advance shifting to temporary shelters, wherever required, to ensure uninterrupted access to medical care during heavy snowfall and road closures. Reviewing the preparedness of the Jal Shakti department, the divisional commissioner directed officials to ensure uninterrupted functioning of all schemes, including lift water supply schemes, and adequate arrangements for the deployment of water tankers wherever required. He also directed the forest department to ensure adequate stocking of firewood at depots across the Valley. To strengthen interdepartmental coordination, the divisional commissioner directed all district administrations and departments to ensure round-the-clock functioning of respective control rooms, including the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). He also instructed appointment of nodal officers and sharing of their contact details to facilitate timely assistance, coordination and dissemination of information. Stressing the importance of timely weather-related advisories, Garg directed concerned departments to ensure prompt sharing of information regarding weather and avalanche forecasts with the public to minimise risks. He also directed the Srinagar municipal commissioner to identify waterlogging hotspots across the city and ensure deployment of adequate de-watering pumps to address any eventuality during winter. During the meeting, deputy commissioners briefed the chair about winter preparedness measures undertaken in respective districts and highlighted critical issues requiring intervention and resolution. The divisional commissioner called upon all departments to maintain close coordination and ensure that all necessary arrangements are put in place well in advance to minimise public inconvenience and ensure the safety and well-being of people across Kashmir division during winter.

Kulgam terror attack: CRPF DG interacts with field officers, discusses way ahead

Srinagar, Nov 13: CRPF chief G P Singh on Friday visited Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district where three personnel were injured in a terror attack earlier this week. Singh, Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), also interacted with field officers of the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police at Sadura in Anantnag, and discussed the way ahead for intensified counter-insurgency operations in the Valley, the paramilitary force said on X. Terrorists opened fire at a CRPF post in the South Kashmir district on Wednesday, injuring three personnel, one of them critically. Later, the CRPF chief visited the Army's 92 base hospital at Badami Bagh cantonment in Srinagar to meet the injured CRPF jawan, who is being treated there. DG CRPF @gpsinghips visited 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar today & met with #CRPF jawan injured in the terrorist attack at #Kulgam & enquired about his health & treatment & wished him a speedy recovery, the CRPF said. The force said Singh also assured all possible assistance to the injured jawan and his family.

NPPA directs strict monitoring of implementation of TMR on 137 anti-cancer drugs

New Delhi, Nov 13: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, has directed strict monitoring of the implementation of Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, notified vide Gazette Order dated 17 October 2026, with revised prices effective from 9 November 2026. The latest revised price lists, based on submissions received from companies up to 11 November 2026, are available on the NPPA website and Pharma Sahi Daam app/portal. All manufacturers, retailers, dealers, stockists, hospitals and medical institutions have been directed to comply with the revised prices and prominently display the updated price lists at their premises and websites. State Drug Controllers to Ensure Compliance and Protect Patients' Interests: State Drug Controllers (SDCs) have been directed to strictly monitor compliance by manufacturers, dealers, hospitals and medical institutions to ensure that the benefits of revised MRPs are passed on to patients. Any violation may attract overcharging proceedings under the provisions of DPCO, 2013. Complaints regarding overcharging, shortage or non-availability of medicines can be reported through the Pharma Sahi Daam app/portal, NPPA helpline (1800-111-255) or email (monitoring-nppa[at]gov[dot]in.) State Drug Controllers have been asked to submit their Action Taken Reports to NPPA by 16 November 2026.

Gold slides for 3rd day to Rs 1.40 lakh per 10 gm amid global weakness, fading festive demand

New Delhi, Nov 13: Gold prices extended their losing streak for the fourth straight session, tumbling Rs 2,500 to Rs 1.40 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday, as subdued post-Diwali demand and weak global trends weighed on the precious metal. The 99.9 per cent pure yellow metal declined Rs 2,500 to Rs 1,40,900 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Thursday's close of Rs 1,43,400 per 10 grams, according to the All India Sarafa Association. Silver also resumed its decline after remaining unchanged in the preceding session. The white metal shed Rs 3,500 to Rs 1,84,000 per kg (inclusive of all taxes) from the previous close of Rs 1,87,500 per kg. Domestic gold prices remained under pressure on Friday, tracking weak global cues and subdued retail demand following the Diwali festive season, said Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst of Commodities at HDFC Securities. According to Vikram Subburaj, CEO at Giottus.com, silver is also facing a sharp correction, with rising US Treasury yields and a stronger dollar weighing on precious metals. The sharper decline in the metal highlighted its greater sensitivity to changes in risk appetite and industrial demand expectations, Subburaj said. In global markets, spot gold recovered USD 27.21, or 1 per cent, to USD 3,904.87 per ounce after plunging 3 per cent in the previous session to settle at USD 3,877.52, slipping below the USD psychological level of USD 4,000 mark. Silver, however, remained flat at USD 50.04 per ounce. Gandhi said gold hovered around USD 3,900 per ounce after touching a fresh 52-week low on Thursday. The selloff intensified after President Donald Trump's remarks that Washington did not need a peace agreement with Tehran dampened expectations of an immediate diplomatic breakthrough. Investors are awaiting the US Producer Price Index (PPI) and core PPI data for cues on inflation trends and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy outlook. Speeches by Fed officials will also be monitored for signals on the December policy decision, he added. On the outlook, Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities, said volatility is likely to remain elevated amid movements in the dollar. Ongoing tensions in West Asia have also kept crude oil prices supported, adding to inflationary concerns and strengthening expectations of tighter monetary conditions by the US central bank, he added.

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Ladakh records 66 percent rise in tourist arrivals in first 10 months of 2026: LG Saxena

Leh, Nov 13: Ladakh has registered a significant surge in tourist arrivals, recording a 65.90 per cent increase during the first ten months of 2026 compared to the corresponding period last year, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena said on Friday. In a post on X, the LG said the Union Territory received 4.91 lakh tourists between January and October 2026, against 2.96 lakh during the same period last year. ...Ladakh has recorded an extraordinary tourism growth for the sixth consecutive month, this year. Compared to the corresponding months in 2025, the tourist arrivals in 2026 increased by 121 percent in May, 43 per cent in June, 56 per cent in July, 65 per cent in August and 61 percent in September., he said. He said the growth momentum continued in October, with tourist arrivals reaching 30,623 compared to 17,537 in October last year, registering an increase of 74.62 per cent. Saxena also highlighted the month-wise growth in tourist arrivals, stating that Ladakh witnessed a 121 per cent increase in May, 43 per cent in June, 56 per cent in July, 65 per cent in August and 61 per cent in September compared to the corresponding months of 2025. The LG attributed the growth to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to promote domestic tourism and the targeted policy initiatives of his administration aimed at strengthening the local tourism industry. He said the increase in tourist footfall is also creating new employment opportunities and supporting sustainable livelihoods for local communities. We extend a warm welcome to all travellers to experience the breathtaking beauty and rich culture of Ladakh, while practicing responsible tourism, he said in the post.

DIG inspects twin tracks on foot after comprehensive security review of Vaishno Devi shrine

Jammu, Nov 13: A comprehensive security review meeting was held on Friday to assess the overall preparedness at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district in the aftermath of the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir with top officers also undertaking an extensive on-foot inspection of the twin yatra tracks from Katra to Bhawan, police said. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Udhampur-Reasi Range) Swarn Singh Kotwal along with Senior Superintendent of Police (Reasi) Mukund Tibrewal at Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the shrine atop Trikuta hills. It was also attended by senior officers and representatives of the CRPF, Army, CID, Intelligence Bureau (IB), other security agencies and District Police Reasi, a police spokesman said. On November 11, three CRPF personnel were injured in a terror attack on their post in south Kashmir's Kulgam district while on the next day, bullet-riddled bodies of two special police officers were recovered from the remote Dachhan forest area of Kishtwar district. The spokesman said the prevailing security scenario was thoroughly reviewed and directions were issued to all officers and agencies concerned to further strengthen security arrangements, enhance inter-agency coordination, maintain heightened vigilance and ensure effective security management in view of the prevailing security requirements. Subsequently, the senior officers, accompanied by representatives of various security agencies, undertook the extensive on-foot security review of both the old and new yatra tracks from Katra to Bhawan, the spokesman said. He said the inspection included foot patrolling and a detailed assessment of security deployment, surveillance arrangements and other security-related measures along the tracks. Pilgrim footfall at the Vaishno Devi shrine has witnessed a significant increase, with 83.20 lakh devotees visiting in the first 10 months of this year (January-October), already surpassing the 69.78 lakh recorded during the entire year of 2025. The figure is also approaching the 94.84 lakh figure recorded during the whole of 2024. The DIG also reviewed the arrangements pertaining to frisking of pilgrims, baggage screening and security checks at designated points along the yatra routes. The functioning and deployment of personnel at various police posts established along the tracks were also assessed, with particular emphasis on maintaining effective access control, ensuring round-the-clock vigilance, facilitating the safe movement of pilgrims and providing immediate assistance in case of any emergency, the spokesman said. He said directions were issued to ensure that all security infrastructure and personnel remain fully operational and responsive to the safety and security requirements of the yatra. The exercise aimed at assessing ground-level security preparedness, identifying potential vulnerabilities and ensuring seamless coordination among all security agencies for the safety and security of pilgrims visiting the shrine, the spokesman said. He said all agencies concerned were directed to maintain close coordination, remain alert and ensure prompt response to any emerging security challenges.

Srinagar Police organize meetings to strengthen police-public relation, promote community-oriented policing

Srinagar, Nov 13: In a continued effort to strengthen Police-Public relations and promote community-oriented policing, Srinagar Police on Friday organised Thana Diwas cum Lok Darbar programmes across various Police Stations and Police Posts of the district, providing a platform for direct interaction with the public and redressal of their grievances. As part of the initiative, a special Thana Diwas cum Lok Darbar was held at Anchar, Soura, chaired by SSP Srinagar, Dr. G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, accompanied by SP Hazratbal, SDPO Hazratbal and SHO Police Station Soura. The programme witnessed active participation from local residents, traders, religious leaders, Masjid committees and other prominent members of civil society. Addressing the gathering, SSP Srinagar emphasised that peace, security and development are shared responsibilities of the police and the public. He reiterated that Srinagar Police remains committed to people-friendly policing, building mutual trust and ensuring a safe and secure environment for every citizen. He highlighted the importance of sustained community engagement, particularly involving youth, religious leaders and other stakeholders, in preventing drug abuse, criminal activities and other social evils. He urged the public to remain vigilant and share credible information with the Police to help maintain peace and public order. During the interactive session, participants raised various grievances and issues concerning their localities. SSP Srinagar patiently heard their concerns and directed the concerned officers to ensure prompt and time-bound redressal of Police-related grievances. He further assured that matters concerning civil administration would be taken up with the respective departments for necessary action. The participants appreciated the initiative and expressed satisfaction over the opportunity to interact directly with senior police officers. They reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, communal harmony and social cohesion, besides extending full cooperation to Srinagar Police in combating drug abuse and criminal activities. A written assurance reflecting this commitment was also submitted by the participants. SSP Srinagar assured the gathering that the doors of Srinagar Police would always remain open to the public, stressing that regular dialogue, mutual respect and collective responsibility are essential for building lasting peace and public confidence. The programme concluded on a positive note, reaffirming the collective resolve of Srinagar Police and the community to work together towards a peaceful, drug-free and secure Srinagar.

Vehicular movement restored from Peer Ki Gali to Bufliaz after snow clearance on Mughal Road

Poonch, Nov 13: The vehicular movement from Peer Ki Gali to Bufliaz was restored on Friday after Border Roads Organisation (BRO) successfully cleared snow from the historic Mughal Road. The heavy snowfall in the region on November 12, 2026, resulted in a thick accumulation of snow and slippery conditions on this vital highway connecting Poonch and Shopian districts, severely disrupting traffic. Recognizing the strategic importance of the road, the 79 Road Construction Company (79 RCC) of the 31 Border Roads Task Force (31 BRTF)operating under 'Project Sampark'immediately deployed specialized snow-clearing teams and heavy machinery to carry out the clearance operations. Despite severe cold and challenging mountainous conditions, personnel worked tirelessly to clear snow and layers of compacted ice from the road. As a result, the road was reopened for vehicular traffic by this afternoon. The restoration of the road has not only provided relief to local travelers but has also resumed the supply of essential goods and movement for security forces deployed in forward areas. According to the BRO, the 79 RCC and 31 BRTF are fully prepared to handle any adverse weather conditions during the winter season. Personnel and machinery have been stationed at key locations to ensure immediate action can be taken whenever necessary.

Man killed, three injured as school bus rams motorcycle in Kulgam

Kulgam, Nov 13: A 25-year-old man was killed while three others were injured after a school bus collided with a motorcycle at Danew Kandi Marg in Damhal Hanjipora area of South Kashmirs Kulgam district on Friday. An official said that a school bus bearing registration number JK18D-9296, collided with a motorcycle JK18B-0190 at Danew Kandi Marg, leaving four persons travelling on the two-wheeler injured. He said the injured were shifted to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Damhal Hanjipora for treatment, where one of them succumbed to his injuries. The deceased was identified as Riyaz Ahmad Ahangar (25), son of Ghulam Ahmad and a resident of DK Marg. The three injured were identified as Naseer Ahmad Naik (27), Ashiq Ahmad Ahangar (24) and Manzoor Ahmad (24), all residents of DK Marg. They were referred to District Hospital Kulgam for further treatment. Police have taken cognizance of the incident and initiated an investigation.(KNO)

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Kishtwar Police announces Rs 30 lakh reward for three wanted terrorists after killing of two SPOs

Kishtwar, Nov 13: In the aftermath of the killing of two Special Police Officers (SPOs), Kishtwar Police has issued posters of three wanted terrorists and announced a cash reward of Rs 30 lakh for information leading to their arrest. The wanted terrorists have been identified as Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir, Riyaz Ahmed alias Hazari and Mudasir Hussain. Police have appealed to the general public to share any information regarding the whereabouts and movements of the three terrorists to help security agencies track them down. The move comes amid intensified security measures in Kishtwar district following the killing of two SPOs.