Opinion

Govt Hikes Windfall Tax On Petrol, Cuts Levy On Diesel Exports

The Finance ministry in a notification said the duty hikes will be effective from October 16.

3 children, teacher killed in Oregon elementary school shooting; 16-year-old shooter dead

Bend (Oregon), Oct 16: A 16-year-old opened fire at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, killing three children and a teacher before he was shot by a person at the scene who pursued him into the school, authorities said. Authorities found the suspect dead inside the school minutes after the shooting was first reported, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said. The three children killed were aged 5, 8 and 11. Another child, 7, and a teacher, 54, were injured and taken to a hospital in critical condition, Krantz said. The attacker, identified as a Bend resident, forced his way into the school by shooting at locked doors, police said. He was shot and went down inside the school shortly after officers arrived, police spokesperson Sheila Miller said. The first 911 call came just before 1 pm from a person in a vehicle outside Silver Rail Elementary who reported being shot at by someone with a long gun, Krantz said. Further 911 calls came from inside the school, and officers arrived on scene within minutes, Miller said. Police said they did not know if the attacker knew anyone at the school or whether he had attended. The attacker used a pump-action shotgun that was purchased by his mother, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the shooting. The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss the investigation. The school in Bend, Oregon, which is more than 100 miles (160 kilometres) southeast of Portland, had 459 enrolled students as of last year, according to the Oregon Department of Education. The school serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade. At a news conference Thursday night, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said her heart was absolutely broken and thanked the civilian who pursued the shooter. To the community member who heroically intervened to stop further loss of life: Your actions carry a heavy emotional burden, and I just want you to know that my thoughts are with you as well, she said. Reunification of children with their parents was ongoing early Thursday evening. [AP]

SC issues notice to Congress, Rahul Gandhi over march to court, posts against CJI

New Delhi, Oct 15:The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders on a plea seeking restrictions on political demonstrations in court premises following the Oppositions march to the apex court on October 12 and social media posts targeting Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi sought responses to the petition filed by four lawyers. Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, appearing for the petitioners, argued that demonstrations within court premises amounted to an attempt to intimidate the judiciary. Nobody can browbeat the judiciary, the CJI observed. We are not sitting in ivory towers. We know what statements they are making outside and what they are saying in Court. We know everything, he said. The petition also sought criminal contempt action against the Congresss Kerala unit over an X post that told the CJI to resign and said the party would find his replacement. However, the bench declined to issue notice on the contempt plea at this stage. No contempt today. We are only issuing notice. Let us see what the response is, and then we will take it forward, the CJI said, according to Bar & Bench. The plea also named Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav among the respondents.

SC issues notice to ECI, CEC on Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc plea against SIR

New Delhi, Oct 15: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on a petition filed by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders challenging alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to Bar & Bench, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi sought responses from the poll panel and the CEC and tagged the pleas with petitions already pending before the court challenging the validity of SIR in various states. We are issuing notice and tagging it with the matters already pending. Somebody will accept notice on behalf of the Election Commission of India. Otherwise, serve them, the bench said. The court also indicated that it would seek an explanation from one of the petitioners regarding his conduct at the next hearing, without specifying the person concerned. Issue notice. But one objection, before that. We would like to ask one of the petitioners about his conduct on the next date of hearing. Issuing notice does not mean that we are condemning anything. We are issuing notice. But about one of the petitioners, we will definitely entertain the issue. Issue notice. The notice on behalf of one of the petitioners will be entertained on a provisional basis, subject to his explaining his conduct, the bench observed. The petition has been filed by Rahul Gandhi along with several opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, CPI(M) leader MA Baby and CPI leader D Raja. Other petitioners include Mahua Majhi of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) and Mohammed Basheer of the Indian Union Muslim League. The petition challenges alleged large-scale deletions of voters and irregularities in the SIR process and seeks judicial intervention in the exercise. Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders had marched to the Supreme Court on October 12 before filing the plea. The development comes amid protests in Delhi against the SIR exercise, with demonstrators also demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The protests followed an Indian Express report alleging that Kumar had taken several decisions relating to the revision exercise unilaterally despite objections from two Election Commissioners. The allegations have added to opposition concerns over the conduct of the electoral roll revision. Several protesters were detained by Delhi Police over the weekend after prohibitory orders were imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The detentions have also led to petitions before the Supreme Court, including allegations that lawyers and journalists were prevented from performing their professional duties. The Supreme Courts notice seeks responses from the poll panel on the issues raised. By tagging the fresh petitions with matters already pending on SIR, the court has brought the latest challenge into the existing proceedings on the electoral roll revision exercise.

J&K Bank urges pensioners to complete nomination formalities

Srinagar, Oct 15: A deputation of the Jammu and Kashmir Pensioners Welfare Federation/Senior Citizens, led by State President Lenin Sampat, met senior officials of J&K Bank at its Corporate Headquarters on M.A. Road here on Wednesday to discuss issues concerning pensioners. vc During the meeting, the delegation sought the appointment of a Pension Mitra to serve as a single point of contact for pensioners seeking assistance. The bank authorities informed the delegation that orders had been issued to all branches in this regard. The issuance of Senior Citizen Cards by J&K Bank was also discussed. Bank officials clarified that certain social media posts circulating on the issue were fake and urged the public not to rely on unverified information. The delegation was further informed that nearly one lakh pensioners had yet to submit nomination details for their bank accounts. The bank authorities advised them to visit their respective branches at the earliest and complete the required formalities. The officials also urged pensioners whose accounts had remained inoperative for a prolonged period to approach their respective branches and complete the necessary formalities to regularise them. The federation appreciated the bank authorities' response and expressed hope that the issues raised would be addressed promptly in the interest of pensioners across J&K.

PHDCCI reappoints A P Vicky Shaw as Kashmir Chapter chairman for 5th consecutive term

Srinagar, Oct 15: The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) has reappointed A P Vicky Shaw as Chairman of its Kashmir Chapter for a fifth consecutive term, reaffirming its confidence in his leadership and contribution to the regions industrial and economic development. The announcement was made by newly elected PHDCCI President Anil Gupta, Chairman of KEI Industries, following the chambers 121st Annual Session in New Delhi. The annual session also marked the appointment of the chambers new national leadership, with Sanjay Singhania, Managing Director of EPack Group, taking over as Senior Vice President and Anshuman Singhania, Managing Director of JK Tyre & Industries, as Vice President. The reappointment of Shaw was unanimously endorsed by the new leadership, recognising his efforts to promote industrial growth, attract investment and advocate policy reforms aimed at addressing the concerns of Kashmirs business community. Expressing gratitude for the renewed confidence, Shaw said he was honoured by the trust placed in him by the chambers national leadership. I am deeply honoured and humbled by the continuous trust and confidence reposed in me by our new leadershipPresident Anil Gupta, Senior Vice President Sanjay Singhania and Vice President Anshuman Singhania. This reappointment for a fifth consecutive term is not just a personal milestone but a recognition of the collective hard work of the entire Kashmir Chapter team, he said. Shaw thanked the leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility and reiterated his commitment to working towards Kashmirs economic prosperity and industrial development. PHDCCI, which has completed 121 annual sessions, continues to engage with industry stakeholders on matters concerning investment, business development and economic growth. The chambers secretariat is headed by Dr Ranjeet Mehta.

J&K Bank holds customer interaction, felicitation meet at Lassipora

Srinagar, Oct 15: Strengthening its engagement with the industrial and horticulture sectors, J&K Bank today organised a customer interaction cum felicitation meet at Industrial Growth Centre (IGC), Lassipora. Held under the theme Our CustomerOur Privilege, the programme brought together over 50 representatives of controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage businesses, fruit trade and other industrial estate activities. The Bank's Chief General Manager (Credit) Ashutosh Sareen chaired the interaction in presence of General Manager & Divisional Head (Kashmir) Arshad Qadri, General Manager Suresh Kumar Chowdhary, Zonal Head (Srinagar) Sheikh Mohammad Muzaffar, Zonal Head (Pulwama) Masood Ahmad Lankar, DGM & Head M&LC (Kashmir) Nuzhat Parveen, Cluster Heads and other senior officials. The participant customers were led by President of Industrial Estate Lassipora, Mukhtar Ahmad Khan; President Jammu Kashmir Fruits and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) Bashir Ahmad Naik and President Fruit Mandi (Pulwama) Javad Ahmad. In his presidential address to the participants, CGM Ashutosh Sareen reaffirmed the Banks unwavering commitment in supporting the Agriculture/Horticulture industry. When you describe J&K Bank as your own bank, it places a special responsibility on us to honour that trust through our service and support. At Lassipora, supporting industrial growth also means supporting growers, strengthening the apple value chain and sustaining employment. Our commitment to this shared progress is unshakable and long term, he said. Urging participants to understand the regulatory requirements within which the Bank operates, he emphasised the importance of working together to address their banking needs. Customer engagement becomes meaningful when listening leads to action. We are committed to address the concerns raised here and translating your suggestions into practical improvements within the Banks laid-down guidelines and the applicable regulatory framework. Our shared endeavour must be to ensure that viable enterprises receive timely and responsive banking support, he added. Earlier, speaking on the occasion, President, Industrial Estate Lassipora, Mukhtar Ahmad Khan expressed profound gratitude to the Banks leadership for its commitment in supporting apple production, storage and processing. He said the estate houses around 950 industrial units employing nearly 20,000 people, underscoring its importance to the local economy. We consider Jammu & Kashmir Bank not merely a banking institution, but our own banka financial partner that we have trusted for generations, he said. Highlighting rising input costs, working capital requirements, delays in credit disbursement and issues concerning collateral-free credit guarantee schemes, he sought continued support for the industrial community. We also request the Bank to consider a dedicated mechanism through which the Association can periodically discuss industry-specific banking issues with the concerned authorities, said President (JK PICCA) Bashir Ahmad Naik on the occasion. In his welcome address, GM & Divisional Head Arshad Qadri said, The Bank remains committed in carrying forward the mission of empowering growers, traders and all those associated with horticulture and allied sectors. One of the objectives of this interaction is to explore ways to bridge the gap between apple production and storage capacity, particularly to benefit small and marginal farmers that constitute the majority of growers. The Bank has financed over 80% of CA stores in the Valley, with an exposure of around Rs 2,000 crore to this segment. This reflects our sustained commitment to the economic empowerment and growth of people associated with horticulture, he added. Speaking on the occasion, General Manager (CIBF) Suresh Kumar Chowdhary provided detailed responses to the issues raised by the customers in the meeting. We recognise the importance of timely credit and adequate working capital for the smooth functioning of your businesses. Our endeavour is to address your concerns through practical solutions and clear guidance, while ensuring compliance with the Banks policies and regulatory requirements, he said. Based on an agenda circulated in advance, the deliberations were held in a cordial atmosphere. The Banks leadership listened attentively and patiently to the participants concerns and responded on spot to their satisfaction. The Bank's leadership reaffirmed its commitment in resolving all the issues raised and implementing all the suggestions received within the Banks laid-down guidelines and the applicable regulatory framework. The Banks senior leadership also felicitated the participants on the occasion.

AITHP hails EoDB Act, seeks early notification of rules

Srinagar, Oct 15: The Association of Integrated Textile and Handicraft Park (AITHP), Zakura, has welcomed the enactment of the J&K Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, expressing gratitude to the Omar Abdullah-led government for initiating long-awaited reforms to relieve entrepreneurs of unnecessary compliances and bureaucratic controls. The Association urged early notification of rules and guidelines to ensure tangible relief on the ground. At a meeting of its Advisory Committee, convened to discuss the legislation and the debate surrounding it, members regretted the opposition to reforms intended to simplify business procedures. They maintained that genuine concerns regarding ecology, environment, public safety and planned development must be respected, but should not become grounds for resisting much-needed regulatory reforms. The industrial fraternity, they emphasised, have neither sought nor would support any relaxation compromising these safeguards. The members observed that redundant No Objection Certificates, repeated clearances and overlapping compliances had become a persistent source of harassment, diverting attention of the entrepreneurs from production, labour management, financing, debt servicing, taxation and marketing within their enterprises. How can enterprises flourish when their owners spend more time pursuing files and permissions than managing and expanding their businesses? the members questioned. They regretted that regulatory simplification measures introduced elsewhere in the country years ago had not adequately reached J&K, partly because of an entrenched administrative culture that continued to exercise excessive discretionary control over entrepreneurs instead of facilitating their activities. Speaking on the occasion, AITHP President Syed Afaq Qadiri said the EoDB Act should be viewed as the beginning of broader economic reforms and read alongside the forthcoming New Industrial Policy, understood to be in the final stages of approval. He hoped the policy would accord due priority to existing enterprises that have endured over three decades of disruptions, natural calamities, economic uncertainty and inadequate institutional support. The EoDB Act seeks to free entrepreneurs from unnecessary bureaucratic controls, while the New Industrial Policy must provide the economic support necessary for their revival, sustainability and growth. Their real success will depend on implementation, Qadiri observed. He said the legislation reflected longstanding demands of apex industrial organisations for transparent, predictable and entrepreneur-friendly regulation, consistent with reforms pursued elsewhere under the Government of India's Ease of Doing Business initiatives and local needs. Referring to apprehensions expressed by civil society groups, Qadiri urged stakeholders to examine the Act's provisions, safeguards and exceptions carefully, distinguishing genuine statutory deficiencies from concerns that could be addressed through implementation rules. He hoped the forthcoming guidelines would clarify environmental, public safety and planning protections without diluting the legislation's fundamental objective. The Association appealed to civil society organisations and other stakeholders to engage constructively, recognising that economic development and environmental protection were complementary responsibilities. Reiterating gratitude to the Omar Abdullah-led government, the Association urged early notification of rules and guidelines that faithfully reflect the spirit and intent of the legislation. It cautioned that the reforms must not be diluted through fresh procedural requirements, discretionary interpretations or bureaucratic practices that perpetuate the very obstacles the Act seeks to eliminate. The Association called for clearly defined timelines, accountability of officials, effective grievance redressal and regular monitoring at the highest level to ensure uniform implementation across departments. It emphasised that the government must ensure a visible change in administrative attitudes, replacing the culture of control with one of facilitation and trust. The real success of EoDB will not be measured by the enactment of legislation alone, but by its impact on the groundwhen entrepreneurs are genuinely freed from unnecessary official interference and can devote their energies to production, innovation, expansion and employment generation. The government must ensure that what has been promised through legislation is not lost in implementation, the Association concluded.

State Taxes Commissioner sets Rs 800 Cr revenue target for Kashmir in October

Srinagar, Oct 15:Commissioner State Taxes, J&K, P. K. Bhat, on Thursday reviewed the revenue performance of the Kashmir Division and set an October revenue target of 800 crore, directing officers to intensify tax compliance, strengthen data-driven enforcement and take strict action against fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC) claims. The meeting, organised by Additional Commissioner State Taxes, Kashmir Division, Parveez Ahmad Raina, was attended by State Taxes Officers from various circles across the division. Raina presented a detailed assessment of revenue realisation, circle-wise performance and measures being undertaken to achieve the targets for the current financial year. Bhat observed that the impact of GST rate rationalisation had largely stabilised, creating scope for improved revenue collection. Noting that national GST revenue growth had exceeded 15 per cent, he urged officers to strengthen mobilisation efforts and ensure that Jammu and Kashmir kept pace with the national growth trajectory. He also stressed higher cash collections and effective IGST settlement in line with value addition within the Union Territory. Emphasising timely compliance, the Commissioner directed close monitoring of September returns, including quarterly filings under the QRMP scheme. He highlighted the importance of timely GSTR-1 filing in ensuring revenue realisation, protecting ITC integrity and curbing fraudulent transactions. Officers were also directed to follow up on approximately 2,500 crore reflected in GSTR-7 returns to facilitate realisation of the corresponding revenue. Bhat called for greater reliance on data analytics to identify tax evasion, particularly through scrutiny of purchases from unregistered persons and verification of supply chains. He also directed officers to use inspection and verification powers under Section 71 of the GST Act wherever legally permissible. The Commissioner stressed independent verification before initiating proceedings based on third-party information and called for time-bound disposal of show-cause notices, accountability in adjudication and adequate preparation for cases before the GST Appellate Tribunal. Highlighting the tourism sector's revenue potential, he directed targeted inspections at destinations such as Gulmarg and Sonamarg. He also called for continuous monitoring of sectors vulnerable to fraudulent ITC claims and prompt action against wrongful availment or transfer of credit. The meeting concluded with directions for strict implementation of the instructions, timely action and greater accountability among officers to improve revenue performance.

Ruhullah slams senior IAS officer over alleged threat to woman JKAS officer

Srinagar, Oct 15:Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has hit out at a senior IAS officer in Jammu and Kashmir over his alleged conduct towards a woman Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officer, accusing him of threatening her career during an interaction in the presence of other officials. In a post on X, Ruhullah alleged that the Administrative Secretary, Labour and Employment, raised his voice against the woman officer after she sought to complete her statement. The MP accused the senior officer of using his position to intimidate the woman officer and undermine her dignity. He also praised her for maintaining her composure and standing her ground despite the alleged behaviour. Ruhullah linked the incident to the abrogation of Article 370, alleging that it reflected broader concerns about administrative conduct in Jammu and Kashmir. He warned that any attempt to undermine the woman officers dignity would have consequences.

2.69 lakh students to appear in JKBOSE exams across 2,602 centres

Srinagar, Oct 15: Around 2.69 lakh students will appear in the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Educations (JKBOSE) Annual Regular-2026 examinations for Classes 10, 11 and 12 across Kashmir and the winter-zone areas of Jammu division, with the Board establishing 2,602 examination centres. JKBOSE Chairman Ghulam Hassan Sheikh told Greater Kashmir that a total of 2,69,184 students have registered for the examinations, including 97,500 in Class 10, 89,513 in Class 11 and 82,171 in Class 12. According to the date sheet notified by JKBOSE, the Class 10 examinations will commence on October 19 and conclude on November 18, 2026. The Class 12 examinations will begin on October 21 and conclude on November 21, while the Class 11 examinations are scheduled to commence on October 29 and conclude on November 11. For Class 10, a total of 97,500 students, including 72,232 from Kashmir and 25,268 from the winter-zone areas of Jammu division, have registered for the examinations. The Board has established 1,003 examination centres for the class, including 687 in Kashmir and 316 in Jammus winter-zone areas. Similarly, 89,513 students have registered for the Class 11 examinations, including 69,575 from Kashmir and 19,938 from Jammus winter-zone areas. The examinations will be conducted at 824 centres, comprising 628 in Kashmir and 196 in Jammus winter-zone areas. For Class 12, 82,171 students, including 65,276 from Kashmir and 16,895 from Jammus winter-zone areas, will appear in the examinations. JKBOSE has established 775 examination centres for the class, including 595 in Kashmir and 180 in Jammus winter-zone areas. The Chairman said all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations. He added that examination-related confidential material had been dispatched to the concerned police stations. We have made special arrangements for Children With Special Needs (CWSN). The concerned examination superintendents have been instructed to provide all genuine assistance to such candidates as per the rules, Sheikh told Greater Kashmir.

JKBOSE to begin free distribution of textbooks to Govt schools by November 1st week

Srinagar, Oct 15:In a significant development, the authorities at J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) have decided to start the free distribution of textbooks to all the education zones from first week of November, 2026. In a exclusive conversation with Greater Kashmir, chairman JKBOSE Ghulam Hassan Sheikh said the timely distribution of textbooks is aimed at ensuring smooth start of the new academic session in schools. He said the JKBOSE has printed the textbooks for both government and private schools as per the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) plus data. UDISE is an educational management information system under the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education under the Government of India. It functions as a central platform that enables respective schools to efficiently record and submit data related to its profile (infrastructure & facilities), individual students and teachers details. We print the textbooks as per the data shown on UDISE with 10 percent increase and distribute textbooks for market supply and free distribution to government schools as well, he added. Currently, the summative assessment of junior classes students in all schools is going on and the new academic session is set to begin from November first week. In view of this, timely availability of textbooks is mandatory. Chairman JKBOSE further said that this year JKBOSE has revised the syllabus of textbooks of four classes which include class 1st, 2nd and 3rd primary besides the class 6th as well. We have done it as per the NEP-2020, he added. He said that students have only Mathematics, English, Urdu and Kashmiri subjects in 1st and 2nd primary as per NCF foundational stage. From 3rd primary onwards we prescribe textbook of environmental science to students which is combination of Social science and Science, he added. Chairman JKBOSE said that under NCF students in lower primary classes should not be given academic burden because that will leave students disinterested in studies. He said the syllabus of other classes will be revised in near future and will be hopefully implemented in academic session 2027-2028. About the timely availability of textbooks in government schools, Chairman JKBOSE said they distribute the textbooks to all the education zones as per the UDISE data. The further distribution of books to schools in zones is prerogative of the concerned zonal educational officers, he said. As already reported by this newspaper, JK Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has made it mandatory for the private schools to adopt its textbooks for the students from primary to higher classes. The orders have been issued by JKBOSE using its powers vested under the Jammu And Kashmir Board of School Education Act 1975. Under the Act, JKBOSE holds the authority to prescribe courses of instruction, curricula, syllabi, and textbooks for various academic levels, including pre-primary, elementary, secondary, and higher secondary school examinations, reads a circular issued by JKBOSE during previous years.

HC bars fuel run motorboats, jet skis in Dal Lake

Srinagar, Oct 15: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has directed that no fuel-operated motorboat, including shikara motorboats and Jet Skis, shall be allowed to operate in Dal Lake until further orders, citing concerns over pollution and protection of the lake ecosystem. A division bench of Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajesh Sekhri put on hold the operation of the motorboats in response to a related plea by Muhammad Rafiq Mir and others. The court noted that the existing mechanism for permitting motorboats suffered from a lack of uniform criteria and transparency, with concerns also raised over pollution, the number of boats permitted to operate and the environmental impact of motorised vessels. The aggrieved petitioners contention is that any criteria for granting licences should be uniform, transparent and environmentally sound, maintaining that Jet Skis, motorboats and other motorised vessels could damage the lake ecosystem and required a regulated and protective approach. In its argument, the government projected that Dal Lake pollution was an issue that the authorities intended to address while maintaining a balance between tourism activities and cleanliness. The lake, it said, had a significant role in the civilisation of the territory and that a scientific and expert-oriented approach would be adopted regarding motorised tourism activities. The court observed that with lake systems becoming a growing concern for civilisation, policies must seek to prevent pollution while balancing tourism activities and ensuring uniformity among stakeholders. Moreover, it observed that solar and electric boats could provide a possible solution for balancing tourism with the sustenance of lakes. Thus, in the larger interest of justice, the bench directed the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), Tourism Department and Police to ensure that no fuel-operated motorboat, including a shikara motorboat or Jet Ski, operates in Dal Lake until further orders. The court warned that any motorised boat found operating in violation of the order would amount to contempt of court and directed the concerned officers to strictly prohibit such operations. However, boats used by the administration and authorities for emergency services, law and order, disaster management and safety have been exempted from the restriction. The court also directed the government to formulate a comprehensive policy for motorised boats after consulting experts, with the objective of minimising pollution while balancing tourism and environmental protection. Furthermore, it asked the authorities to explore whether complete motorisation could be replaced with solar-powered electric engines.

Evil intent of western neighbour, narco-terror networks to be neutralised: DGP Nalin Prabhat

Srinagar, Oct 15:Jammu and Kashmir Police Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Thursday expressed confidence that sustained efforts to engage youth through sports and other constructive activities would help neutralise the evil intent of a western neighbour, criminal networks and narco-terror networks. Addressing a gathering at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, Prabhat underscored the importance of channelising the energy of young people through sports, describing it as a key component of the polices civic action programmes and its efforts to counter drug abuse and narco-terrorism. The evil intent of a western neighbour, the criminal networks, the narco-terror networks, all those would have been adequately neutralised, he said, expressing hope that sustained engagement with youth would contribute to tackling these threats. The DGP said sports remained central to the polices outreach initiatives, adding that the department would organise 240 district-level sporting events this year, compared with 144 events conducted last year. He said more than 6,000 people participated in the recently held Run for Unity, reflecting the growing reach of sporting activities and community engagement initiatives. Sports and policing both demand utmost discipline, coordination, a humongous amount of teamwork, ability to perform under pressure, courage to face uncertainty and, most importantly, to fight for your goals and perform beyond your physical and mental boundaries, Prabhat said. Emphasising the need for sustained efforts to tackle drug abuse, he said the government-backed Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan could achieve its objectives through continued engagement with young people and coordinated action against criminal and narco-terror networks. He said channelising youth energy towards constructive pursuits was among the most important factors determining the quality of life and prosperity of a society. Referring to historical civilisations, including imperial Rome, ancient Egypt and Sparta, as well as Indias Gupta and Maurya dynasties, Prabhat said sports had historically played an important role in engaging young people and promoting social cohesion. The DGP also said 1,789 children were sent for Bharat Darshan last year, while the target for the current year had been set at 2,000, according to Kashmir News Service. He highlighted the achievements of the J&K Police Central Sports Team, which is part of the J&K Armed Police, saying its athletes continued to win medals and bring recognition to the Union Territory at national and international sporting events. Crediting police officers and personnel for organising sporting activities, Prabhat assured participants that the department would continue to expand its sports promotion initiatives. To our distinguished guests, including the civilians and the sports persons who are here today, let me assure you J&K Police will continue with its endeavour in terms of promoting sports more and more, he said. Present during the function were DGP Home Guards /SDRF Abdul Gani Mir, Spl DG Coordination SJM Gillani, ADGP CID M K Sinha, ADGP Armed Nitish Kumar, IGP Kashmir Sujit Kumar and other senior officers.

Sopore Police conduct multi-agency security mock drill at railway station

Sopore, Oct 15: Sopore Police on Thursday conducted a comprehensive security mock drill at Sopore Railway Station to assess preparedness against potential threats from anti-national elements (ANEs) and strengthen emergency response mechanisms. The exercise was conducted in coordination with Railway Police Sopore, Fire and Emergency Services Sopore, CORAS Budgam, 52 RR, SOG Sopore and SDRF Sopore, bringing multiple security and emergency response agencies together to test their operational readiness. The primary objective of the drill was to evaluate inter-agency coordination, response time and the effectiveness of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in a simulated security threat scenario. During the exercise, the participating agencies demonstrated coordinated efforts and operational synergy. Necessary corrections and instructions were issued on the spot to address gaps, improve coordination and further strengthen the collective response mechanism. Sopore Police said such exercises are crucial for enhancing security preparedness and ensuring a swift, effective and coordinated response to any potential threat or untoward incident in the future.

From classroom to skies: KU holds workshop on aviation careers, pilot training

Srinagar, Oct 15: The Centre for Career Counseling, Coaching and Placement (CCCP), University of Kashmir (KU), organised a first-of-its-kind day-long workshop on Pilot Training & Career Pathways in Aviation at the Main Campus. It aimed to familiarise students with pilot training, licensing requirements and career opportunities in the aviation sector. Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor, KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, emphasised the need to help students explore emerging career opportunities through informed guidance and industry engagement. Career awareness and expert guidance are essential in helping students identify opportunities beyond conventional career paths. By engaging with industry professionals, our students can gain a better understanding of emerging fields such as aviation and make informed choices based on their interests, abilities and aspirations, she said. Registrar KU, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, highlighted the need to broaden students exposure to specialised professional fields. He noted that such initiatives help them understand the skills, qualifications and practical preparation required to pursue diverse career opportunities. Delivering the keynote address, Capt. Nistish Arora, senior aviation expert and Founder of November Alpha Aviation Academy (NAAA), Mumbai, spoke about the various stages of pilot training and the requirements for entering the profession. He guided participants on pilot eligibility, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) requirements, medical examinations, licensing, flying training opportunities in India and abroad, and preparation for airline careers. Capt. Arora also discussed the career opportunities available in aviation and emphasised the importance of proper planning, accurate information and a clear understanding of the financial and academic commitments involved in pilot training. The workshop featured an interactive question-and-answer session, allowing students to seek clarification on training pathways, eligibility criteria and career prospects. Earlier, Director CCCP, KU, Prof. Nazir Dar, in his welcome address, highlighted the Centres efforts to familiarise students with diverse career opportunities and provide them access to expert guidance and industry insights. Representatives from NAAA, including Capt. Krish Khanti Lal, Capt. Ishrat Mansuri also attended the programme. Capt. Ishrat shared her experiences and perspective on aviation careers. Faculty members and students from the University participated in the workshop. The proceedings were conducted by Fatima Ali, faculty, CCCP, KU while vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Yahya Bakhtiyar, Deputy Director CCCP KU.

KASHMEDCON 2026:Top doctors share latest advances in medicine, stress prevention of diseases

Srinagar, Oct 15: The Department of Medicine, Government Medical College Srinagar, held KASHMEDCON 2026, its two-day Kashmir Medicine Conference, at SKICC Srinagar on October 1415, 2026. Leading doctors from Kashmir and across India shared the latest advances in treating common and serious illnesses. The conference was inaugurated by Prof. G. Narsimulu, President of the Association of Physicians of India. Doctors from GMC Srinagar, SKIMS, AIIMS New Delhi, GMC Jammu, AIIMS Jammu and other institutions took part. Prof. (Dr.) Mohd Ismail, Head of the Department of Medicine, GMC Srinagar, was the Organising Chairman. Dr. Ashaq Hussain Parrey was the Organising Secretary, Dr. Hyder Hamid Lone was the Organising Coordinator and Registrar of Medicine, and Dr. Basharat Ahmad was the Co-Organising Secretary. What the experts discussed On the first day, experts spoke about the appropriate use of antibiotics, flu and its prevention, new medicines for obesity and diabetes, heart emergencies, serious blood infections (sepsis), the joint and skin disease systemic sclerosis, and poisoning from pesticides used in orchards and fields. On the second day, talks covered blood tests for autoimmune diseases, early detection of back pain caused by ankylosing spondylitis, arthritis during pregnancy, fatty liver, a bleeding disorder called ITP, kidney damage caused by abnormal blood proteins, modern stroke treatment and new tuberculosis guidelines. Speakers included Prof. G. Narsimulu, Prof. Parvaiz Koul, Prof. Nayer Jamshed of AIIMS New Delhi, and Dr. Ajay Gupta and Dr. Bimlesh Dhar, who came from outside the Union Territory. Young doctors presented their research through papers and posters. A hands-on workshop trained doctors to use bedside ultrasound to diagnose patients quickly. Doctors advice for the public Do not take antibiotics without a doctors advice. Get the flu vaccine before winter, especially if you are elderly or have a long-term illness. Sudden weakness on one side of the body, a drooping face or slurred speech may indicate a stroke. Rush to hospital, as treatment is most effective within the first few hours. Back pain in young.

Murder of woman at Bemina in 2022 : Husband, mother-in-law, brother-in-law get life term

Srinagar, Oct 15: A Sessions Court here Thursday sentenced a womans husband, mother-in-law and brother-in-law to life imprisonment after convicting them of smothering the woman to death at Nund-Reshi Colony B Bemina here in 2022. The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, sentenced Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar, husband of the deceased, Hafeeza Begum, her mother-in-law, and Parveez Ahmad Dar alias Bilal, her brother-in-law, to simple imprisonment for life under Section 302 read with Section 120-B of IPC. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on the three convicts. They would undergo a further six months imprisonment, in default. The court convicted the trio, holding them guilty of murder in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy. In its judgment, the court observed that time and again cases are frequently coming before the Courts where husbands, due to strained marital relations and doubts as regards the character, have gone to the extent of killing their wives. These crimes are generally committed in complete secrecy inside the house, and it becomes very difficult for the prosecution to lead evidence, it observed. No member of the family, even if he is a witness to the crime, would come forward to depose against another family member, the court said It is further observed that the role of the Courts such circumstances assumes greater importance, and it is expected of the Courts to deal with such cases in a more realistic manner and not allow the criminals to go scot-free on account of procedural technicalities, perfunctory investigation or insignificant lacunae in the evidence, as otherwise serious crimes would go unpunished, the court said. The Courts are expected to be sensitive in cases involving crimes against women. The case the court here dealt with relates to the unnatural death of Tasleema, who was married to Shahnawaz in 2013. On June 27, 2022, Tasleema was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her room on the second storey of the family house at Nund-Reshi Colony in Bemina. Her in-laws claimed she had fallen ill suddenly and died of a cardiac arrest while being brought to JVC Hospital, Bemina. According to the prosecution case , police initially received information that Tasleema had died under mysterious circumstances. A report under Section 174 CrPC was registered and an inquiry was initiated. The deceaseds body was taken into possession and subjected to post-mortem at Medical College, Srinagar. The post-mortem report, received on August 2, 2022, concluded that she had died due to respiratory failure caused by smothering. Following the post-mortem report, Batmaloo Police registered FIR No. 109/2022 under Section 302 of IPC and commenced investigation. Sections relating to cruelty, criminal conspiracy and disappearance of evidence were subsequently added to the case. The prosecution said that Tasleema had been subjected to harassment by her in-laws over her inability to conceive despite nearly nine years of marriage. The investigation further alleged that the family wanted to remove her from the matrimonial home and arrange another marriage for Shahnawaz. The challan stated that Tasleema had also faced physical harassment and that Parveez Ahmad Dar had, on an earlier occasion, allegedly attempted to electrocute her with a heater. The prosecution also relied upon call-detail records to establish the movements and communication between the accused around the time of the incident. According to the investigation, Tasleema spoke to her aunt, Sayara, at around 11:01 a.m., after which calls made by her sister between approximately 11:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. went unanswered. The prosecution said that the accused, after committing the offence, did not properly inform the deceaseds parental family about her condition and attempted to create an impression that she had been taken to hospital. During the sentencing proceedings, the prosecution sought the death penalty, describing the killing as gruesome and arguing that the manner in which the deceased was smothered was sufficiently horrific to shock the collective conscience of society. The court, however, held that the case did not fall within the category of rarest of rare cases warranting capital punishment. The Court acquitted two other accused (sisters-in-law) of the deceased of all charges.

Apex Body Leh rejects Chinas claims, affirms Ladakh integral part of India

Srinagar, Oct 15: In response to fresh territorial assertions from Beijing, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) on Thursday rejected Chinas refusal to recognise Ladakhs status as a Union Territory, declaring that the region has always been and will remain an inseparable part of India. The latest diplomatic fallout was triggered by Indias move on October 2 to assign standardised geographical names to 28 strategic locations and key landforms across Ladakh. Reacting to New Delhis initiative, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated during a press briefing that Beijing does not recognise the illegally and unilaterally established Union Territory of Ladakh and firmly opposes Indias publication of standard place names in the region. Beijing further asserted claims over areas in western Ladakh, alleging that the territory historically belonged to China. At a press conference in Leh, LAB leaders condemned the Chinese remarks, terming them baseless, unacceptable and historically inaccurate. Addressing the press conference, LAB leaders, including chairman Chering Dorjey, emphasised that western Ladakh had never been under Chinese control or administration in recorded history. We strongly condemn the Chinese remarks claiming that western Ladakh has always been part of China. Ladakh has never been under Chinese rule. No external power can dictate the identity, aspirations or future of Ladakh, he said. Ladakh stands firmly with India, and its people will continue to uphold the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the nation. Never in recorded history was Ladakh a part of China. We appeal to the Government of India to condemn it in the strongest terms, Larkook, who also heads the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), said. Larkook said the people of Ladakh were living happily with India. We will not give up an inch, including Aksai Chin, which is under illegal occupation by China, he added.

MHA-Ladakh talks inconclusive; next meeting likely on Oct 22

Srinagar, Oct 15: The crucial dialogue between representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and key socio-political leaders of Ladakh ended inconclusively after discussions focused on core regional demands, including constitutional safeguards and a UT-level elected body for Ladakh. However, both sides agreed to keep channels of communication open, with the next round of formal talks likely to be held on October 22. The meeting aimed to address long-standing grievances raised by civil society groups representing Leh and Kargil districts. Representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the joint coalition spearheading the agitation, attended the sub-committee-level meeting, scheduled for 4 pm. Ladakh MP Haji Haneefa Jan, CEC LAHDC Kargil Dr Mohd Jaffar Akhoon and Home Ministry officials were also present. The talks followed the September 9 meeting between the two sides in New Delhi, where an understanding was reached on a Ladakh-level elected body and safeguards under the special provision of Article 371 of the Constitution. Speaking to the media after the meeting, LAB president Chering Dorjey said the MHA had presented a draft proposal regarding a UT-level body for Ladakh. He added that the draft would be studied in detail and that the LAB and KDA would submit their response soon. He said discussions had been held but no conclusion had been reached. We entered the meeting with a positive outlook, but the outcome fell short of our expectations, said Asgar Karbalai, co-chairman of the KDA. However, dialogue is a process, and we remain hopeful that concrete progress will be made in the upcoming sessions. Despite the lack of an immediate breakthrough, both sides underscored the importance of sustained negotiations. The sub-committee and civil society representatives are expected to meet in New Delhi on October 22, where detailed draft proposals and specific policy frameworks are likely to be reviewed. The LAB was represented by Chering Dorjey, Lakruk, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association. The KDA was represented by Sajjad Kargili, Asgar Ali Karbalai and Ghulam Rasool Naqvi. Haneefa Jan, Lok Sabha member from Ladakh; Thupstan Chhewang, former MP; Dr Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, chairman of the Kargil Hill Development Council; and Tashi Gyalson, former chairman of the Leh Hill Development Council, also attended the meeting. Senior Ladakh bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, and senior MHA officials were present at the sub-committee meeting.

A Cultural Academy Without a Cultural Reset

There are moments when a seemingly ordinary conversation reveals something deeply uncomfortable about the way we treat our culture. For me, one such moment came inside an office of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL). I had gone there one morning for an interaction on an upcoming cultural initiative. As I sat in the officers chamber, my attention was drawn to a series of beautiful miniature paintings in the Basohli tradition. The works immediately transformed the otherwise functional government office into something that resembled a small gallery. I remarked, that it was refreshing to see an officers chamber adorned with such exquisite works of art. The reply was unexpected. We are planning to shift these to the Secretariat, the officer told me. They will be put up on the Civil Secretariat walls. I was taken aback. Not because the paintings were being moved. But because of the way their cultural value seemed to be understood, as objects that could simply be transferred from one government building to another depending on where they looked better. I expressed my disagreement. These paintings deserve a museum, not Secretariat walls, I said. That exchange has stayed with me. Because perhaps the real issue was never where those paintings should hang. The real issue was whether we understand what we possess. A miniature painting is not merely something beautiful to put on a wall. A manuscript is not an old document. A traditional musical instrument is not a prop. A folk song is not simply entertainment. They are repositories of memory. They carry histories, techniques, identities and stories that may have travelled across generations. And if an institution entrusted with preserving that inheritance treats such treasures primarily as dcor, we have a much larger institutional problem. The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, popularly known as the Cultural Academy, is supposed to occupy a special place in the regions cultural landscape. It is an apex institution entrusted with promoting literature, languages, visual arts, performing arts and the wider cultural traditions of Jammu and Kashmir. That mandate is enormous. But the cultural world around it has changed dramatically. The artist has changed. The audience has changed. The technology has changed. The economy of culture has changed. The way people create, consume and distribute art has changed. The only question is: has the institution changed enough? Today, a young Kashmiri musician can record a song independently and reach listeners across continents. A filmmaker can distribute work digitally without waiting for a conventional gatekeeper. A painter can exhibit virtually. A poet can build an audience through social media. Artificial intelligence is already challenging traditional notions of authorship, creativity and production. Digital platforms have fundamentally altered the relationship between artists and audiences. Yet much of our institutional cultural machinery continues to operate through frameworks and practices inherited from another time. There is nothing wrong with tradition. The irony is that an institution created to protect tradition cannot itself afford to become institutional tradition. What artists say The concerns are not merely theoretical. At a recent discourse during Fankar-E-Kashmir, a talent hunt event organised Kashmir Rabab Academy, ShowCase and the Eagle, artists, cultural practitioners and government functionaries discussed the state of the creative ecosystem and the role of institutions such as the Cultural Academy. A recurring demand was that the Academy needs to reinvent and rediscover itself. Artist, singer and composer Qaiser Nizami raised the issue of the fee structure and booking amounts for artists, arguing that these have not been adequately revisited for decades. That should make us pause. The cost of living has changed. The economics of producing music has changed. The professional demands on artists have changed. The cultural marketplace has changed. But if institutional remuneration remains frozen in another era, how can the system claim to be adequately supporting contemporary artists? Singer and composer Waheed Jeelani also raised concerns about disparities in the manner in which local artists are engaged for major cultural programmes. Again, this is not simply about money. It is about how an institution sees its artists. Are they stakeholders in the cultural ecosystem? Or are they performers to be brought in when a government function needs a cultural opening or closing act? There is a difference. A significant one. Culture cannot be reduced to events. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges facing cultural policy is the tendency to measure cultural activity through events. How many programmes were organised? How many artists performed? How many festivals took place? How many dignitaries attended? How many photographs were released? But culture is not an annual calendar of events. An ecosystem is something else. It requires sustained investment in artists. It requires archives and museums. It requires professional conservation. It requires grants and residencies. It requires research. It requires publishing. It requires intellectual property awareness. It requires digital archiving. It requires spaces where young artists can experiment. And it requires institutions that understand the difference between preserving an object and preserving its meaning. What lies inside our institutions? The Basohli paintings raise another uncomfortable question: what else is sitting inside our cultural institutions? How many paintings, manuscripts, photographs, instruments and other artefacts remain undocumented? How many have proper provenance records? How many have been professionally conserved? How many are digitally catalogued? How many can researchers access? How many can ordinary citizens see? And how many valuable objects are simply occupying cupboards, storerooms and office walls? Cultural preservation is a science. Temperature, humidity, light exposure, handling, storage and documentation all matter. A heritage object can deteriorate quietly while everyone assumes it is being preserved. Keeping something safe is not necessarily conserving it. A locked cupboard is not an archive. A decorated office is not a museum. And an event is not a cultural ecosystem. Who understands the culture? There was another important point raised by artists during the Fankar-e-Kashmir discussion: whether institutions responsible for culture should have stronger cultural orientation and domain expertise at their core. This deserves serious consideration. Administration matters. Government officers have an important role in managing institutions and implementing policy. But culture has its own grammar. A traditional instrument cannot be understood merely as an object. A folk tradition cannot be reduced to a performance slot. A miniature painting cannot be assessed merely by its decorative value. A craftsman is not simply a beneficiary of a government scheme. The people running cultural institutions need either a deep understanding of these nuances or access to professionals who possess it. That could mean stronger advisory structures, domain experts, curators, conservation specialists, artist representatives and independent cultural boards. The objective should not be bureaucratic versus artistic. It should be administration informed by cultural knowledge. The Academy must become a bridge, not a barrier. The Cultural Academy has an opportunity before it. It can become the bridge between Kashmirs extraordinary cultural past and its rapidly changing creative future. But that requires more than occasional festivals and commemorative programmes. It requires institutional introspection. Start with the collection. Catalogue it. Digitise it. Conserve it. Open it to researchers. Build a proper museum or gallery network. Create transparent and contemporary artist-engagement mechanisms. Review remuneration structures periodically. Bring young artists into conversations about cultural policy. Create digital platforms for Kashmiri languages, literature, music and visual arts. Document disappearing traditions before their practitioners disappear. And perhaps most importantly, listen to artists before designing programmes for them. The Basohli painting is more than a painting. I keep returning to that conversation about the Basohli miniatures. Because it captures the paradox perfectly. We possess extraordinary cultural treasures. We speak proudly about them. We display them. We photograph them. We invoke them in speeches. But do we understand them sufficiently to preserve them? The difference between decoration and heritage is knowledge. A painting on a wall can make an office look beautiful. A properly conserved painting can tell future generations where they came from. That is why the question of those paintings matters. They deserve more than a better wall. They deserve a proper home. They deserve documentation. They deserve conservation. They deserve interpretation. They deserve public access. They deserve a museum. And perhaps, most importantly, they deserve an institution that understands why they matter. The time for a cultural reset is now Jammu and Kashmir does not have a shortage of culture. It has an abundance of it. What it needs is an institutional framework capable of recognising, protecting and nurturing that abundance. The Cultural Academy should not be judged merely by the number of programmes it organises. It should be judged by what happens to an artist after approaching it. By whether a young musician finds a platform. By whether a traditional artist finds dignity and fair remuneration. By whether an endangered folk tradition is documented before it disappears. By whether an old manuscript is preserved before it crumbles. By whether a priceless miniature painting is treated as heritage rather than decoration. And by whether a young Kashmiri artist sees the Academy as an institution of opportunity rather than another government office. The world has moved. Technology has moved. Artists have moved. Audiences have moved. Culture itself is moving. The Cultural Academy cannot remain still. It must reinvent itself, not to abandon its legacy, but to make that legacy relevant to the generation that will inherit it. Because ultimately, the test of a cultural institution is not how beautifully it displays the past. It is how responsibly it carries that past into the future. And somewhere between a Basohli painting hanging on a Secretariat wall and a Basohli painting preserved in a museum lies the larger question Jammu and Kashmir must now answer: Do we merely want to display our culture, or do we finally want to preserve, understand and invest in it?

NHM J&K reviews PM-ABHIM projects

Srinagar, Oct 15:In a concerted drive to transform medical infrastructure across the Union Territory, a high-level review meeting was convened Thursday under the chairmanship of Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), J&K. The meeting, as per an official statement, brought together key stakeholders, project executing entities including HSCC (India) Ltd. and administrative officials to evaluate the on-ground execution of critical healthcare networks. The deliberations focused extensively on accelerating the deployment of major health initiatives, prominently including the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and the Emergency COVID Response Package Phase II (ECRP-II). The Mission Director closely reviewed ongoing construction timelines for advanced critical care blocks, integrated public health laboratories, block public health units, and specialized pre-fabricated medical units designed to bolster public healthcare delivery across the UT.

On Progressive Farming

There is a quiet agricultural revolution taking place across Kashmir. Drive through villages and towns during the growing season and one keen observer can see a remarkable transformation. Traditional apple orchards are increasingly giving way to high-density plantations. Trees are smaller, planted closer together and managed more intensively. The objective is clear: more trees per unit of land, earlier production, better returns and greater productivity. For an apple grower struggling with rising costs and limited land, the attraction is understandable. But another change deserves our attention. In many places, the high-density apple orchard is no longer confined to agricultural land. The courtyard, the backyard and even the small open space immediately surrounding a house are increasingly being converted into orchards. Spaces that once served as childrens play areas, places for sitting in the evening, drying clothes, keeping livestock or simply enjoying fresh air are becoming productive agricultural units. This raises an uncomfortable question, are we modernising apple farming faster than we are modernising our understanding of the health risks associated with intensive farming? The question is not an argument against high-density apple cultivation. Kashmirs apple economy needs technological improvement, better productivity and efficient use of land. Farmers cannot be expected to remain dependent on low-productivity systems simply because they are traditional. The concern begins when intensive agriculture enters the immediate living environment of people, of a family. High-density orchards generally require closer management than traditional orchards. Depending on the crop, pest pressure and management system, farmers may use insecticides, fungicides, and other plant-protection products at different stages of cultivation. Spraying is an important part of commercial horticulture, and when used correctly, pesticides can protect crops and reduce economic losses. But a pesticide does not know where an orchard ends and a kitchen, a living room and a bedroom begins. During spraying, some of the material may remain on the target crop, while some can move away from the intended target through spray drift. Wind speed, droplet size, spraying equipment, application technique and weather conditions all influence where pesticide droplets eventually settle. The closer an orchard is to a house, the more important these factors become. This is particularly relevant when apple trees are planted immediately outside windows, beside kitchens, along pathways or around courtyards where people spend considerable time. The presence of pesticide residues near a home does not automatically mean that residents are being exposed to dangerous concentrations. Nor does the mere presence of an orchard prove that a health problem has been caused by pesticides. Such conclusions require scientific measurement. But absence of evidence is not evidence that there is no exposure. This is where Kashmir needs better agricultural thinking. We have invested considerable energy in promoting high-density apple cultivation. We discuss rootstocks, planting distances, irrigation, pruning, productivity and market returns. Farmers are encouraged to produce more fruit from smaller areas. All of this is important. But perhaps we have not asked enough questions about the space in which this transformation is occurring. What happens when a commercial orchard is planted two metres from a family kitchen? What happens when pesticide spraying takes place while children are playing in the courtyard? What happens when an elderly person spends most of the day inside a house surrounded by regularly sprayed apple trees? What happens when laundry is drying outside during spraying? These are not arguments against farmers. They are questions about agricultural planning. Traditionally, the distinction between agricultural land and residential space was relatively clear in many villages. Today, that boundary is becoming increasingly blurred. Land fragmentation, population growth, changing lifestyles and the economic attractiveness of horticulture are pushing agriculture closer to homes. The transformation is understandable. But perhaps our safety regulations and awareness programmes must transform at the same speed. The future of Kashmirs horticulture should ideally give us both. High-density apple farming can be a symbol of agricultural progress. But progress should not be judged merely by how much fruit we produce. It should also be judged by how intelligently we manage the risks that accompany production. Dr. Ashraf Zainabi is a faculty at IUST Awantipora J&K

AIPC J&K welcomes Madhu Goud Yaskhi as National Chairperson

Srinagar, Oct 15: The Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the All-India Professionals' Congress (AIPC) has extended warm felicitations to seasoned leader and two-time parliamentarian Madhu Goud Yaskhi on assuming charge as National Chairperson of the organisation. Congratulating the newly appointed chief on behalf of the Jammu and Kashmir unit, the chapter, as per a statement, highlighted that Yaskhi's elevation brings valuable legislative, legal, and organizational depth to the professional wing of the party at a critical juncture. On behalf of the entire Jammu and Kashmir unit of the All-India Professionals' Congress, I extend our heartiest congratulations to Shri Madhu Goud Yaskhi on taking the helm as Chairperson. As a two-time Member of Parliament and an accomplished legal mind, his rich experience in public service and extensive organizational background will infuse fresh vigour into our ranks. We are confident that under his dynamic stewardship, AIPC will build a resilient, forward-looking leadership team capable of addressing contemporary socio-economic challenges and amplifying the voice of professionals from regions like Jammu and Kashmir on the national stage, said Sanjay Sapru, State Head, AIPC J&K. Having represented the Nizamabad constituency in the 14th and 15th Lok Sabha and with an established international legal background, Madhu Goud Yaskhi bridges mainstream policymaking with the corporate and legal sectors. AIPC serves as a collaborative platform connecting doctors, lawyers, academicians, engineers, and corporate executives with civic dialogue. Yaskhi's proven track record as an articulate communicator will help translate grassroots professional feedback into actionable legislative and policy recommendations, the Jammu and Kashmir State Team stated with great enthusiasm.

MP Ghulam Ali Khatana interacts with youth in Kupwara

Kupwara, Oct 15: MY Bharat Kupwara organised a Yuva Samvaad Programme aimed at encouraging youth participation, promoting social responsibility and strengthening the collective resolve towards building a drug-free India. The programme was attended by Er. Ghulam Ali Khatana, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), as the Chief Guest. The highlight of the programme, as per a statement, was the interactive session led by the MP with the youth in which the youth were guided towards the vision of Viksit Bharat. A Nasha Mukt Pledge was also administered to the dignitaries and participants to reaffirm their commitment to combating drug abuse and spreading awareness about the harmful effects of substance abuse among youth and society. Among others present at the event were Rafiq Shah, former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC); Nitin Hangloo, State Director MY Bharat J&K; Prof. Kamal Kishore, Principal, Government Degree College Kupwara; and Abid Nissar, District Youth Officer, MY Bharat Kupwara, and other distinguished dignitaries and participants. The programme emphasised the importance of collective efforts, community participation and youth-led initiatives in addressing the growing challenge of drug abuse. The pledge served as a reminder of the responsibility of every citizen to contribute towards a healthy, aware and drug-free society.

Save the Fish

In the Kashmir valley, older fishers still describe a time when snow trout (Kaeshir Gaad in Kashmiri) filled the Jhelum and its tributaries so reliably that an hour on the water was enough to feed a family. That time is gone. Across the valley, fishers now report catch declines of up to 60%, and Schizothorax populations have disappeared entirely from stretches of river they once dominated. When a species collapses this visibly, the policy instinct is predictable: list it, and ban the fishing. It is the response that looks proportionate to the emergency. In Kashmirs case, it may also be the wrong one. The evidence does not point to fishing, still less to organized trade, as the primary driver of decline. Snow trout need cold, clear, fast-flowing water and clean gravel beds to spawn. What is destroying that habitat is riverbed and boulder mining, dam and barrage construction that fragments migratory routes, and sewage and agricultural runoff choking the rivers with nutrients. Unlike ivory or pangolin scales, there is no documented high-value black market moving snow trout across borders. The threat here is landscape-level and governance-level, not criminal. That distinction matters, because a listing built around a fishing ban targets the wrong actor. It falls hardest on traditional fishers including Kashmirs fisherwomen, who play an under-appreciated role in the valleys fish economy rather than on the mining operators, municipal bodies and hydropower developers actually degrading the habitat. And it comes at a real cost. In the remote river stretches where formal monitoring barely reaches, fishers are often the only people watching the water closely enough to notice a spawning bed silting up or a stretch running dry. Criminalize their presence on the river, and that intelligence goes underground exactly when the fishery needs it most. Theres a second, less obvious risk. Where enforcement is inconsistent as it typically is across remote Himalayan catchments, banning a culturally prized food fish doesnt necessarily stop people from catching it. It can simply push the trade into informal, unreported channels, which is worse for data and worse for the fish. And every hour a stretched state fisheries department spends chasing small-scale fishers is an hour not spent on the harder, less visible work of mining enforcement, sewage interception and fish-passage restoration, the interventions that would actually move the needle. This is not only a Kashmir problem. It is a preview of a decision the country will keep having to make as more of its freshwater endemics including snow trout across the wider Hindu Kush Himalaya, hill-stream loaches, regional mahseer populations slide toward formal threat status. In each case, the same question will recur: does the listing target the actual driver of decline, or does it just target the people easiest to catch doing it? The alternative is not weaker protection. It is differently designed protection. Kashmir already has the raw material for a co-management model: watershed-level councils that give fishers, including fisherwomens collectives, a formal seat alongside district fisheries officials and pollution regulators with real authority over seasonal no-take windows and habitat watch-lists, not merely an advisory role. Conservation finance that follows the actual drivers of decline: mining compliance and spawning-ground restoration, decentralized sewage interception in key trout reaches, invasive-species control in nursery habitat with funding disbursed against measurable outcomes like dissolved oxygen and juvenile density, not enforcement statistics. And if formal listing is still judged necessary, it should be conditional: legal recognition of threatened status paired with permitted, quota-bound community harvest and co-enforced sanctuary reaches, rather than a blanket ban that treats every fisher as a poacher. None of this is exotic. Rights-based, community-anchored fisheries management has consistently outperformed exclusionary bans in small-scale fisheries from Cambodia to the Pacific, largely because it gives the people closest to the resource a stake in protecting it, rather than a reason to hide from the people trying to. Kashmirs snow trout is not short of people willing to protect it. It is short of a policy that lets them.

Iqbal Tramboo welcomes Ease of Doing Business initiative

Srinagar, Oct 15: PDP spokesperson and Constituency Incharge Chanapora, Mohammad Iqbal Tramboo, has welcomed the Ease of Doing Business initiative, describing it as a positive step towards addressing the growing unemployment problem in Jammu and Kashmir and encouraging youth to pursue entrepreneurship and self-employment. Tramboo, in a statement issued, said that young people aspiring to establish their own ventures often face lengthy official formalities, bureaucratic hurdles and unnecessary delays in obtaining clearances, which ultimately discourage them from pursuing their entrepreneurial ambitions. He said the effective implementation of the initiative would help reduce red tapism, simplify procedures and facilitate the timely establishment of enterprises, enabling young people to become job creators rather than depend solely on government employment. Given the extent of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, simplifying business procedures is a welcome step. Our youth have the talent, ideas and determination to build their own enterprises, but unnecessary official formalities often exhaust them and discourage their efforts. The Ease of Doing Business initiative must translate into tangible relief for aspiring entrepreneurs on the ground, Tramboo said. However, he stressed that economic development must not come at the cost of the Union Territorys fragile ecology. He called upon the government to ensure a proper balance between the Ease of Doing Business and the Ease of Living while framing the implementation guidelines. Jammu and Kashmir has a fragile ecological environment that demands careful consideration in every development policy. While facilitating investment and entrepreneurship, the government must ensure that environmental safeguards remain a priority. The objective should be to create an enabling business environment that generates employment, improves peoples lives and protects our natural heritage, he added. Tramboo said a transparent, simplified and environmentally responsible policy framework would encourage entrepreneurship, create sustainable livelihood opportunities and contribute to the long-term economic well-being of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

From Control to Facilitation

For decades, entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir has been a journey of extraordinary perseverance, not merely against economic uncertainties, political disturbances and shrinking markets, but also against an administrative system that too often treated entrepreneurs as supplicants rather than contributors to society. Those who invested their lifetime savings, mortgaged ancestral properties, created employment and kept their enterprises alive through difficult circumstances frequently found themselves pleading before government officials for permissions, clearances and even their legitimate dues. Instead of encouragement and facilitation, they encountered suspicion, procedural hurdles and bureaucratic control. How different has been the approach in Europe and most economically advanced countries, where entrepreneurs are recognised as drivers of investment, innovation, employment and prosperity. Governments generally regard bureaucracy as an instrument for facilitating lawful enterprise, not exercising dominance over those who undertake commercial risks and create livelihoods. The guiding principle is simple: administration exists to serve legitimate economic activity, not to make entrepreneurs subservient to it. India, unfortunately, inherited a different administrative culture from its colonial past. For decades after Independence, the Licence Raj placed entrepreneurs at the mercy of officials for permissions, approvals and inspections. Those who invested their savings, mortgaged properties and generated employment were reduced to petitioners before officials whose responsibility should have been to facilitate them. Economic liberalisation in 1991 dismantled much of the Licence Raj, but its mindset survived. The bureaucrat continued to be perceived as the authority and the entrepreneur as someone seeking a favour. A significant turning point came in 2009 when representatives of 19 leading MSME associations across India approached Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, highlighting hardships caused by bureaucratic hurdles, Inspector Raj, complicated regulations, inadequate institutional credit and ineffective rehabilitation mechanisms. Recognising these concerns, the Prime Minister constituted a high-level Task Force on MSMEs under his Principal Secretary, T. K. A. Nair, to recommend corrective measures. I had the privilege, as head of an industrial chamber in Jammu and Kashmir, of being nominated as member to the Task Force. Having witnessed the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs, I regarded this as an opportunity to bring their grievances before the highest levels of government. The Task Force submitted 85 recommendations, of which 77 were accepted. Although implementation remained uneven, the exercise marked an important milestone towards recognising enterprise facilitation as an entitlement rather than a bureaucratic favour. Successive governments carried this process forward, particularly after 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through Make in India, Startup India, Business Reform Action Plans, digital single-window systems, simplified MSME registration and reduction of regulatory compliances. According to Government of India figures reported in November 2025, thousands of compliances had been simplified, digitised, decriminalized or eliminated where found redundant. The Jan Vishwas legislation further advanced the transition from punitive regulation towards trust-based governance. These reforms reflected a growing recognition that entrepreneurs should not waste precious time moving between government offices seeking permissions. Every day lost means delayed production, mounting liabilities and lost employment opportunities. Yet the distance between policy declarations and administrative practice remained considerable. In Jammu and Kashmir, this gap was particularly distressing. Before 2019, the erstwhile States special constitutional and legal arrangements meant that several Central reforms required separate action for their application here. Many progressive measures either failed to reach Jammu and Kashmir or were not effectively implemented, depriving entrepreneurs of protections available elsewhere. Even elementary facilitation was often treated as a concession. One experience from my tenure as head of an industrial chamber remains particularly vivid. We had to vigorously pursue the implementation of the MSME delayed-payment provisions, eventually secured during Governor N. N. Vohras tenure. The law entitled supplying enterprises to receive payments within prescribed timelines, failing which buyers became liable to pay substantial interest on delayed dues. Ironically, officials would caution us that the government would have to pay through the nose if the law was implemented, because payments were frequently delayed. I often wondered why an entrepreneur, having invested in raw materials, paid wages and supplied goods to a government department, should suffer merely because the department failed to release his legitimate payment. Even after these provisions came into operation, effective enforcement remained elusive. Enterprises continued to suffer from withheld payments, mounting bank interest and even the risk of their accounts slipping into the NPA category. Instead of recognising timely payment as an entrepreneurs right and the governments obligation, the financial consequences of official delays were cited as grounds for resisting reform. Administrative convenience appeared to matter more than the survival of enterprises and the livelihoods dependent upon them. Unfortunately, even after the constitutional changes of 2019, the expected transformation remained elusive. Certain Ease of Doing Business measures were introduced, but their spirit was frequently contradicted by unilateral orders of the Industries and Commerce Department in the name of regularisation of industrial activity. Entrepreneurs still required permissions for routine decisions, including induction of partners or directors, changes in business constitution, alteration of activity or addition of new products. Each application could involve multiple No Objection Certificates, sometimes from departments having little relevance to the proposed change. Matters that should have been settled within days dragged on for months or years. There have been instances where, following an entrepreneurs death, grieving families endured exhausting formalities to transfer an industrial unit to lawful heirs. When they needed sympathy and support, they found themselves moving between offices merely to preserve an enterprise built through years of sacrifice. What could be more painful than losing a familys breadwinner and then struggling with the administration to save the enterprise he left behind? Such experiences reveal how deeply the culture of control had become embedded. Entrepreneurs were treated with suspicion rather than trust, as though legitimate business decisions required official indulgence. Another ordeal has been the contradictory interpretation of policy provisions. Despite the governments exemption of industrial units from stamp duty and court fees, the two Directorates of Industries have adopted conflicting interpretations, defeating the spirit of the incentive. Equally distressing is the collection of crores of rupees as application fees from aspiring young and educated entrepreneurs without allotting them land. Even those allotted plots in industrial estates have waited years for physical possession, leaving investments stranded and careers in uncertainty, with little accountability for the consequences. Against this background, following the installation of the elected government in 2024, industry leaders and representative bodies approached Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, seeking meaningful Ease of Doing Business reforms in line with those applicable in other states and a new industrial policy to address the difficulties of existing enterprises while encouraging fresh investment and employment. The Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to initiate the reform process. Besides examining submissions from industrial chambers, the government reviewed relevant Government of India laws, regulations and Ease of Doing Business reforms introduced elsewhere. A three-member committee was constituted to draft the new industrial policy, while Ease of Doing Business reforms were pursued separately to facilitate private investment across sectors, including industrial, commercial, trade, hotels, hospitality business, real estate, professional, institutional, educational or any other activity in the social sector carried out by an enterprise. The proposed legislative framework received Cabinet approval and was placed before the Legislative Assembly, which passed it during its recently concluded session. For those of us who have witnessed these struggles for decades, the development carries considerable significance. The demand has never been for exemption from environmental safeguards, labour protections or other legitimate obligations, but for freedom from unnecessary interference, delays and arbitrary decisions. An entrepreneur must remain accountable to the law, not subservient to the discretion of an official. The legislation, having received the Lieutenant Governors assent, has nevertheless stirred a debate. The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), a prominent civil society group comprising largely retired bureaucrats, technocrats and other professionals, has voiced serious apprehensions about its implications for Jammu and Kashmirs fragile ecology, environment and other public interests, with some political voices echoing these concerns. While such concerns deserve due consideration, the decades-long ordeal of entrepreneurs that necessitated these reforms cannot be overlooked. Are the apprehensions expressed by the GCC genuine and well-founded, premature in the absence of notified rules and guidelines, or rooted in interpretations that overlook the safeguards already provided in the Act? Can the legitimate need for enterprise facilitation be reconciled with the equally important responsibility of protecting our ecology, environment and collective interests? These questions, examined against the actual provisions of the new Ease of Doing Business Act, will form the subject of Part II. Shakeel Qalander, prominent business leader and a civil society animator

NC Govt delivered on development, public welfare despite limited powers: MP Chowdry Ramzan

Srinagar, Oct 15: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Additional General Secretary and MP Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan Thursday said that despite limited powers, the complexities of the UT model, bureaucratic hurdles and challenging circumstances, the Omar government has undertaken significant work across various sectors, including education, healthcare, horticulture, tourism and agriculture, over the last two years. He said the National Conference had utilised its mandate to serve the people, safeguard democratic rights and advance the development of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the unequal distribution of powers and administrative impediments had affected the pace of several important decisions. Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, as per a party statement issued, said that immediately after assuming office, the National Conference fulfilled one of its most significant electoral promises by introducing a resolution seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs special status in the very first session of the Legislative Assembly. Similarly, after the Cabinet approved a resolution seeking the restoration of statehood, it was placed before the Assembly and passed with an overwhelming majority. He said these resolutions conveyed a clear message to the Union Government that the people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted their constitutional and democratic rights restored. Through the recent resolution, the Assembly also recalled the 2000 Autonomy Resolution and the 2024 resolution seeking the restoration of special status, urging the Centre to fulfil its constitutional and political responsibilities. He said the National Conference government had taken several measures to provide relief to people across education, electricity, social welfare, employment, transport, healthcare and infrastructure. The decision to revert the academic calendar from the March session to the October-November schedule was taken in response to the long-standing demand of students, parents and educational institutions. The passage of the Private Universities Bill in the Assembly was another significant step towards strengthening higher education. Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan said that, to address disparities in the reservation policy and the concerns arising from them, the government had completed its work and forwarded the relevant file for approval. However, the matter remained pending in the LG office. He said the financial assistance provided to poor and deserving families for marriage had been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. The introduction of free bus services for women, students and persons with disabilities was another notable example of people-friendly governance. Similarly, measures such as doubling the quantity of free ration for eligible households, providing 200 units of free electricity to AAY consumers and extending the benefit of six free LPG cylinders were aimed at providing direct relief to the poorest of the poor. He added that a 100 per cent exemption from stamp duty had been granted on the transfer of property through gift deeds among blood relatives. Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan said providing employment opportunities to young people remained a key priority of the government, with recruitment underway to fill vacant posts in various departments. The enhancement of the upper age limit for candidates appearing in competitive examinations was also an important step towards expanding opportunities for aspiring youth. He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had demonstrated seriousness in addressing the concerns of daily wagers and other temporary employees by constituting a committee to examine their issues. However, the failure to submit its report within the stipulated six-month period was regrettable. The fact that the report had still not been made public even after a year reflect how administrative impediments under the Union Territory system continued to delay the resolution of public grievances. The Additional General Secretary said the National Conference government had approved an option for eligible employees covered under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) to switch to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), providing significant relief to thousands of employees. He said sustained efforts had been made to improve electricity supply, while attention was also being given to strengthening basic amenities in different areas. The introduction of smart bus services across all districts was an important step towards modernising public transport and providing citizens with better commuting facilities. Work was also progressing on projects related to roads, water supply, drainage, healthcare and other essential infrastructure. Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan said that the performance of the Omar Abdullah government must be assessed in the context of the extraordinary circumstances under which it was functioning. Despite being an elected government, Jammu and Kashmir continued to operate without the full powers of a state, while authority over several important administrative matters rested with institutions other than the elected government. He said demanding complete accountability from elected representatives while denying them the requisite powers was contrary to democratic principles. He emphasised that the restoration of statehood was not merely a political demand but a fundamental necessity for effective democratic governance and the protection of people's rights in Jammu and Kashmir. Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan said NC govt remained committed to fulfilling the promises made to the people in its manifesto. He said the party would continue to strengthen its bond with the people and pursue its struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional rights, a better future for its youth and balanced development across all regions. On the occasion, National Conference Provincial President Kashmir, Advocate Showkat Ahmad Mir, also spoke in detail about the two-year tenure of the Omar Abdullah government. He said every sector in Jammu and Kashmir had suffered under an undemocratic system, but the establishment of an elected government had infused fresh energy into all sectors. Provincial Secretary Syed Tauqeer Ahmad, Srinagar District President Pir Afaq Ahmad, Minority Cell Organiser Jagdish Singh Azad, Provincial Youth President Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, Ghulam Nabi Wani Telbali and Dr Mohammad Saeed Makhdoomi were also present on the occasion.

Primal Creation of Earth

The creation of formless matter of earth and gradual evolution of form of earth is referred to in two Holy Verses: Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created earth in two days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds (41:9) The two days referred in the Holy Verse may be taken as metaphorical; a day in the sight of Allah (SwT) may vary from thousand to thousands of years in our reckoning, as laid down in another Holy Verse: The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a day, the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years (70:4) While the Holy Verse (41:9) refers to formless matter of earth, the gradual evolution of the form of earth is referred in the Holy Verse following the one noted above: He set on the (earth) mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measured therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (Sustenance) [41:10] The formless matter assumed form gradually in a measured manner so as provide sustenance on all forms of life of earth. The measured manner had to have precision, thus the mountains were set as high as 29,000 feet above sea level, and then from such heights, it had to be measured to the lowest depthsthe very bottom of the oceans, which are 31,600 below sea level. The vertical difference between the highest and lowest points on the solid crust of the earth measures to 11.5 miles. The earth was thus endowed with all that it needed to sustain life, maily water, taken to be elixir of life, on which depends the survival of vegetable and animal life.

Youth League U-18: Downtown Heroes FC beat SCFA 20 in final

Srinagar, Oct 15: Downtown Heroes FC defeated SCFA 20 in the final match of the Youth League U-18, played at the TRC Turf Ground, Srinagar, on Thursday. Organised under the aegis of the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, the match, as per a statement, showcased the talent and competitive spirit of young footballers from both sides. The Youth League U-18 provided emerging footballers with a platform to demonstrate their abilities, gain valuable match experience, and develop their technical skills, teamwork, and competitive spirit. The competition also contributed to promoting grassroots football and nurturing young sporting talent across the region. Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, Tazayun Mukhtar, congratulated Downtown Heroes FC on their victory and appreciated SCFA for putting up a competitive fight. She also commended both teams for their efforts and sporting spirit. The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council remains committed to promoting football at the grassroots level and creating opportunities for young athletes to hone their skills and progress in the sport.

4 wetlands hold 96% of Kashmirs 13.4 lakh water birds

Srinagar, Oct 15:The Asian Water Bird Census 2025 recorded 13,43,506 birds across Kashmir's wetlands. Just four sites account for almost all of them, according to data released by the Wetlands Division of the Department of Wildlife Protection in reply to an RTI application. The census covered 87 species of birds - Hokersar recorded about 4.03 lakh birds and Shallabugh about 3.96 lakh. Wular Lake followed with about 2.96 lakh and Hygamhad about 1.99 lakh. According to an analysis of the departments site-wise figures by Greater Kashmir , and going by the department's site-wise totals, these four wetlands hold about 96 percent of all birds counted. The details have been provided as reply to an RTI questionnaire by RTI activist MM Shuja. The other wetlands recorded far fewer birds - Mirgund had about 23,000 birds and Dal Lake about 13,400. Chatlam recorded about 3600, while Anchar Lake, struggling with encroachment and pollution, has about 1160 birds only. The count at Kranchoo, Freshkhoori and Manibugh was miniscule, a few hundred each. The Eurasian Teal, locally known as Keos was the most numerous species found with about 2.92 lakh counted. Roughly it is one in every four to five birds recorded (about 22 percent) in these wetlands. The Eurasian Teal is one of the smallest shallow water ducks and is a winter visitor that breeds across northern Eurasia. It arrives in Kashmir's wetlands in large flocks. It was the most numerous bird in the 2025 census, Hokersar appears to account for about 1.36 lakh of these. The Mallard followed with about 2.26 lakh, the Northern Shoveler about 2.10 lakh, Northern Pintail about 1.67 lakh and the Gadwall about 1.39 lakh. These five species alone account for roughly 10.3 lakh birds., and 77 percent of the total count. Other species in large numbers were the Eurasian Moorhen (about 1.01 lakh), the Eurasian Coot (about 93,400) and the Eurasian Wigeon (about 72,400). Hokersar alone was found to be hosting about 63,700 of the coots. About 17,500 Grey-headed Swamphen, a marsh bird were counted. Common Pochard, Greylag Goose, Red-crested Pochard were fund to be numbering a few thousand. Several species were recorded in very small numbers, among these are the Common Merganser and Baillon's Crake. The Census spotted two each of these. The census table provided in the RTI also lists a single Pallas's Fish-Eagle, 16 Bar-headed Geese, 239 Marbled Teal and 90 Ferruginous Pochard. Birds of prey and other non-waterfowl species like Peregrine Falcon, the Western Marsh Harrier, the Black Kite, the White-capped Water Redstart, the Brown Dipper, kingfishers and wagtails also figure in the list. In its reply, the Wetlands Division said the officially conducted census has consistently recorded 12-13 lakh migratory water birds annually. It has been cited this as an indicator of the ecological recovery of the wetlands, attributable to the removal of about 1.2 lakh cubic metres of silt through auction-based desilting. In addition, clearing of weeds and reeds, new embankments and sluice gates, and the restoration of peripheral channels at Hokersar has also made a positive impact, the department said.

WGAJK delegation meets MLA Gulmarg, Secretary Sports Council

Srinagar, Oct 15: A delegation of the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir (WGAJK) met MLA Gulmarg, Farooq Ahmad Shah, and the Secretary of the Sports Council to discuss various important issues related to the upcoming winter sports activities. During the meeting, the delegation, as per a statement, held detailed deliberations on several key points, focusing on preparations, coordination, and the smooth conduct of upcoming winter sports events in Jammu and Kashmir. The discussions aimed to explore ways to strengthen winter sports activities and ensure better planning and support for athletes and sports stakeholders in the region. The WGAJK delegation highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts among the concerned authorities to promote winter sports and make the upcoming winter season successful.

Will tit-for-tat politics put J&K in time warp?

Jammu, Oct 15:Jammu and Kashmir seems to be caught in a time-warp.And it is not under the influence of any sci-fi phenomenon. It is not even following Albert Einsteins Theory of Relativity, strictly in terms of Physics.It is simply tit-for-tat politics thriving here that is pushing politically very complex yet enlightened J&K to a time-warp. How? Single-expression would be apt to define it and that is (at) appropriate time warp! Since August 5, 2019, erstwhile J&K State-turned-(truncated) Union Territory has been waiting for an appropriate time to get its statehood restored. While that (appropriate time) was still awaited, those desperately craving for it (statehood), probably out of desperation or mere political convenience, retaliated by equipping them with the same weapon that was hurting them. Earlier statehood was to come at appropriate time now even Panchayat (and ULB polls) would be held at appropriate time. In case of statehood, the central government has to decide when that appropriate time will be and in case of Panchayat (or ULB) polls conduct, J&Ks elected government has to take call vis--vis appropriate time. Caught in their persisting showdown are the people of J&K! Since it took over the reins of the UT government in 2024, the National Conference-Congress alliance has been questioning the appropriate time phrase of the central government. It has never relented in reminding the top BJP leadership of its oft-repeated sequence as spelt out in the aftermath of August 5, 2019 first delimitation, then (assembly) elections followed by statehood restoration at appropriate time. Congress, given its political compulsions at the central level, right from day one- has always been direct in targeting the Prime Minister NarendraModi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on statehood issue. However, the NC-led by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, during its first year in power, took a reconciliatory recourse. Yet as things did not move in its desired direction and nothing fructified, its second year saw the tone and gestures turning strident, possibly in a change of strategy while asking when that time appropriate time will be (to restore statehood) and how it will be determined. Interestingly, perceptible change in its (NC's) discourse became evident in the address of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during party convention held at NaseemBagh, Srinagar to mark the 26th death anniversary of Madr-e-Meharban Begum Akbar Jehan on July 11, 2026, where he explained why the NC was forced to think about protest at JantarMantar to get statehood. Protest at JantarMantar finally happened on July 20, 2026. CM, in his July 11 address, had questioned why, despite nearly two years of his government being in office, they (NC leaders) were now compelled to speak of protesting at JantarMantar. There must be a reason that has forced us to take this course, he had remarked. The Chief Minister, as per partys official statement, said that he had staked his political credibility on pursuing dialogue with the Centre instead of confrontation, despite knowing that such an approach could carry political costs. He added that while many in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Kashmir, expected confrontation with New Delhi, he (CM) deliberately chose to give the union government an opportunity to honour its commitments (vis--vis statehood). In that context, he had also referred to his meetings and interactions with the PM. In the same breath, the Chief Minister observed that the promise of restoring statehood had already been used during the parliamentary and assembly elections, and was now being linked to Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections. While reiterating that such elections should certainly be held, he stressed that they must take place at an appropriate time, and not solely at the Centre's discretion. After that he reiterated this stance a number of times in response to media queries as well as growing clamour from the opposition seeking early conduct of Panchayat polls. His (CM's) latest statement, in this context, at a bigger platform was in the just concluded autumn session of J&K Legislature, directly confronting his political bete-noire BJP in tit-for-tat lingo. You use the phrase appropriate time for statehood, we will use the same for Panchayat polls, was his (CMs) curt reply, in response to a question by BJP MLA R S Pathania vis--vis timeline for Panchayat polls. Yes, (Panchayat) polls will be held at appropriate time, CM Omar added. Beyond this one-upmanship (between NC and BJP), besides the people, other political parties, including NCs alliance partner Congress, hopeful of their bright prospects, are also desperate and are seeking early conduct of Panchayat and ULB polls. The three-tier Panchayati Raj system ceased to exist in J&K, when on February 24, 2026, the five-year term of District Development Councils (DDCs) came to an end. The other two tiers i.e., Panchayats and Block Development Councils (BDCs) had already completed their terms two years ago. Panchayats and BDC terms in J&K expired on January 9, 2024. Srinagar Municipal Corporation term expired on November 5, 2023 and Jammu Municipal Corporation term expired on November 14, 2023. Further terms of all Municipal Councils and committees expired between October and November, 2023. The Panchayat polls cannot be conducted till the report submitted by the Dedicated Backward Classes (OBC) Commission is cleared by the J&K government. On this account, BJP accuses NC government of deliberately resorting to dirty tactics to delay Panchayat elections, weaken the Panchayati Raj Institutions and obstruct the functioning of the three-tier democratic system in Jammu and Kashmir. The grassroots democracy could not be sacrificed for political convenience, BJP leaders assert. Interestingly the conduct of polls to Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies has been promised both by the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) and the National Conference. Ruling NCs manifesto, under the head We further promise reads: We are committed to conducting elections for Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats to further empower the people of Jammu and Kashmir. (Promise number 24, page number 24).

Sports vital for youth empowerment: CM Omar Abdullah

Ganderbal, Oct 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah officially inaugurated the 70th National School Games on Thursday at the Government College of Physical Education, Gadoora, in Ganderbal district. The multi-sport event, organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports (YSS) in collaboration with the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), brings together nearly 3000 young athletes, coaches, and officials from across the country. Accompanied by Youth Services and Sports Minister Satish Sharma, Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to CM Dheeraj Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, SSP Ganderbal and other senior officials, Chief Minister Abdullah declared the games open amidst enthusiastic cheer from visiting student-athletes representing states and Union Territories nationwide. Addressing the grand opening ceremony, CM Abdullah emphasised the transformative role of sports in building discipline, fostering teamwork, and promoting unity. Sports play a vital role in developing self-confidence, discipline, and leadership among our youth. Events like the National School Games not only showcase athletic talent at the grassroots level but also build enduring bridges of friendship and harmony among young people from every corner of India. Addressing the participants, the Chief Minister urged them to compete with determination, uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and build lasting friendships. He highlighted the power of sports to instil discipline, nurture confidence and empower young people across the country. The Chief Minister highlighted the J&K Government's ongoing commitment to building world-class sports infrastructure. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma assured that the administration has ensured comprehensive arrangementsincluding safe accommodations, top-tier venues, and modern equipmentfor all visiting contingents. Local sports officials and community members welcomed the national-level event, noting that hosting the 70th edition of the games will inspire Jammu & Kashmir's local youth to pursue sports professionally and excel on national and international stages. Officials said that Jammu and Kashmir is hosting nine sporting events in four disciplines from October 15 to 27, with over 3000 athletes and officials expected to participate in the events. They said that Jammu & Kashmir is hosting major events, including Wushu and Taekwondo disciplines in the Kashmir region and Fencing and Cricket in the Jammu region. The events include under-17 Wushu and Taekwondo competitions in Ganderbal from October 15 to 27, and under-17 and under-19 fencing and under-17 cricket competitions in Jammu from Nov 15- Dec 27. The competitions are part of the National School Games programme organised under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI). Hundreds of elite young athletes, coaches, and sports officials from states and Union Territories across the nation are currently converging on Ganderbal. The fortnight-long championship will see competitors testing their mettle, discipline, and sportsmanship in two of the country's most rapidly growing martial arts disciplines Wushu & Taekwondo officials said.

Sonamarg to be developed as premier adventure, winter sports hub: CM Omar

Ganderbal, Oct 15:In a major push to boost year-round tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday said that the picturesque meadow of Sonamarg will be transformed into a premier adventure and winter sports destination over the coming years. Speaking to media after inauguration of the 70th National school games in Ganderbal, CM Omar said that earlier the Sonamarg used to remain closed during winter and it had been only a year or so after the Sonamarg tunnel was opened that Sonamarg is accessible in winters. Earlier, Sonamarg would remain closed during winters and people could not reach there. There was little scope for developing winter tourism infrastructure. Now that the tunnel has been built and Sonamarg is accessible throughout the year, we are preparing a project for its development, he said. We want to promote rafting during summer and skiing, skating and other winter sports activities. The CM said that he would work with MLA KanganMianMehar Ali to further strengthen Sonamargs position on the tourism map. On traffic congestion caused by Chinar trees along the Beehama-KheerBhawani road, he acknowledged the difficulties faced by commuters and stressed the need for a practical solution. Development and environmental protection must go hand in hand. We may have to remove some trees and plant eight to 10 Chinar trees elsewhere, away from roads, CM Omar said. On concerns over deaths in the power canal in Ganderbal, he said the government would approach the Power Development Corporation to seek funds for fencing along the canal. About development in Ganderbal over the past two years, the CM said the government was working to accelerate projects across sectors. The goal has been to touch every sector of governance. Today as well, projects worth nearly Rs 58.26 crore were either inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid. This includes a major bridge worth Rs 41.54 crore to cross the Jhelum, where work is underway, he said. CM Omar said the primary objective of his visit was to attend the National School Games being held at the College of Physical Education in Ganderbal. Boys and girls from every corner of the country have come to participate. We were allocated two sports: Wushu and Taekwondo. Our children have a strong interest in both, and we hope this sports event will be a great success, he said. During his visit, the CM said several road projects, a new school building and infrastructure works at the Fruit and Vegetable Mandi were inaugurated. He said traders at the mandi had sought its expansion, construction of a boundary wall, and a grade separator. CM Omar said that the matter had been discussed with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials, while other demands had also been noted for necessary action. Earlier, he reviewed the overall development scenario in Ganderbal district, inaugurated five completed development projects worth Rs 16.72 crore and laid foundation stones for two new projects worth Rs 41.54 crore, taking the total value of the projects to Rs 58.26 crore. The projects include improved road connectivity, a new school building, a bridge over the River Jhelum and a multi-purpose auction platform at the Fruit and Vegetable Mandi, Zazuna, aimed at strengthening public infrastructure and supporting the districts horticulture economy. CM Omar laid the foundation stone for the construction of a bridge over the River Jhelum at GuzhamaShilwat at a cost of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo and Javid Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Shreya Singhal, along with senior officers, heads of departments, engineers and other concerned officials, accompanied the CM during the tour.

Seasons first snowfall blankets Peer Ki Gali, brings winter chill

Shopian, Oct 15:The seasons first snowfall on Thursday night covered Peer Ki Gali along the historic Mughal Road in a white blanket, bringing a winter-like chill to the higher reaches of south Kashmir districts. Peer Ki Gali, located between Poshana and Heerpora villages at an altitude of around 3490 metres above sea level, received fresh snowfall, with local residents reporting around three to four inches of snow. The snowfall brought a sharp drop in temperatures in the surrounding areas, signalling the onset of colder conditions as Kashmir moves towards winter. Residents of Heerpora said the snowfall on the surrounding mountains had brought a noticeable change in the weather, with cold conditions prevailing in the area over the past two days. A bitter cold wave has gripped the area over the last two days, said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Heerpora. He said vehicular movement on the Mughal Road was halted for a few hours following the snowfall but resumed later. The Mughal Road connects south Kashmirs Shopian district with the Poonch and Rajouri districts of the Jammu region. The route passes through the PirPanjal mountain range and is known for its scenic landscapes, meadows and snow-covered stretches during winter. Over the past few years, destinations along the route, including Dubijan, Sukh Sarai and Peer Ki Gali, have attracted tourists seeking winter landscapes and snowfall. Residents said the snow-covered mountains and the changing landscape had added to the appeal of the area, particularly during periods when snowfall was limited in the Kashmir Valley. Over the last three years, the Valley received very little snowfall, but whenever the Mughal Road and the surrounding mountains were covered in a thick blanket of snow, tourists would visit these areas, said Javed Ahmad, a resident of Shopian. The regions winter tourism potential has also drawn the attention of the administration, which organised winter carnivals in recent years to attract visitors and promote lesser-known tourist destinations. The events featured local culture, traditional food and activities aimed at showcasing the regions natural beauty and creating opportunities for local businesses. For residents of villages along the Mughal Road, tourism offers an additional source of income, particularly when visitors arrive to experience snowfall and explore the surrounding landscapes. As the tourist hotspots like Gulamrg and Pahlagma witnessed less snowfall, tourists started visiting lesser known destinations like Mughal Road, Ahmad said. However, he said that the government needed to do more to promote the area.

Rain lashes J&K, fresh snowfall blankets higher reaches for 3rd day

Srinagar, Oct 15:Rain lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, while fresh snowfall continued over higher reaches for the third consecutive day. The wet spell kept temperatures below normal across J&K and affected traffic on some mountain roads. Intense showers and a hailstorm triggered a flash flood-like situation in Mendhar area of Poonch. In the Jammu region, Udhampur recorded the highest rainfall at 59.6 mm, followed by Poonch at 39.5 mm, Samba at 34 mm, Jammu at 29.4 mm, Katra at 23.1 mm, Reasi at 19.1 mm, Bhaderwah at 18 mm, Ramban at 17 mm, Batote at 12.4 mm, Banihal at 11.5 mm, and Rajouri at 6.4 mm, according to weather data. In Kashmir, Shopian recorded the highest rainfall at 34 mm, followed by Baramulla at 29 mm, Kupwara at 26.2 mm, Kokernag at 26 mm, Qazigund at 23.6 mm, Gulmarg at 20.4 mm, Bandipora at 20 mm, Kulgam at 18 mm, Pahalgam at 16.8 mm, Srinagar at 16.4 mm, Anantnag at 16 mm, Sonamarg at 15 mm, Pampore at 14.5 mm, Awantipora at 12.6 mm, Budgam at 12 mm, and Ganderbal at 7.5 mm. Widespread rain lashed the Kashmir Valley overnight and continued until Thursday morning, leaving skies cloudy across several areas. Fresh light snowfall was reported from Sonamarg, the upper reaches of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, Machil, Sadhna Top, Keran and Bangus Valley in Kupwara, Razdan Pass, Gurez and Tulail in Bandipora, the Zojila axis, Warwan and Marwa Valley in Kishtwar; and the higher reaches of the PirPanjal range. Higher reaches reported 2 to 4 inches of snow daily over the past three days. Snowfall and slippery conditions disrupted traffic on the Mughal Road near Peer Ki Gali. Authorities cleared the affected stretch and restored traffic. The Anantnag-Sinthan Top-Kishtwar highway remained open despite light snowfall at Sinthan Pass, even as authorities issued an advisory for travellers. Snowfall at Margan Top, however, affected traffic on the Anantnag-Larnoo-Margan Top road connecting Warwan and Marwah. The persistent wet weather also pushed temperatures below normal across J&K. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday, 5.4 degrees below normal. Jammu recorded 28 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees below normal. Among other Kashmir stations, Qazigund recorded 15.0 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 13.4, Kupwara 14.8, Kokernag 14.2 and Gulmarg 6.6 degrees Celsius. In the Jammu region, Banihal recorded 16.0 degrees Celsius, Batote 12.9, Katra 25.2 and Bhaderwah 13.4 degrees Celsius. Snowfall in the higher reaches of Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar in Chenab Valley; Poonch and Rajouri- in Pirpanjal and Kathua brought colder conditions to the regions hilly districts. The Meteorological Department forecast rain and gusty winds across Jammu and Kashmir until late Thursday evening, with isolated hailstorms and light snowfall over higher reaches. Weather is expected to improve and remain generally dry on October 16, barring brief spells of light rain at isolated places. Afterwards, generally dry conditions are likely to continue until October 24, the Met said. Light snowfall is also possible over higher reaches of the Jammu region, including mountain passes and roads. Travellers and transporters have been advised to plan their journeys accordingly. Farmers have been advised to safely store harvested apples, paddy and other crops in view of the forecast adverse weather conditions. M M Parvaiz reports from Ramban Higher reaches of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts in the Chenab Valley received a fresh spell of snowfall on Thursday, leading to a drop in temperatures across the region. Higher-altitude areas of Bhaderwah and Bhalessa in Doda district, Sithan Top, Dachhan, and Warwan in Kishtwar district, and Sarwadhar in Ramban district experienced fresh snowfall as weather conditions turned colder. The fresh snowfall brought a chill to the region, with temperatures dropping across several parts of the Chenab Valley. The higher reaches, which experience colder conditions during this time of the year, witnessed a fresh spell of wintry weather. The changing weather conditions are expected to bring further chill to the mountainous areas, particularly during the morning and evening hours.

NCs major manifesto promises still unmet

Srinagar, Oct 15:Two years after storming to power, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government has delivered on only a fraction of its core pre-election guarantees, hampered by sweeping central control and fiscal constraints. CM Omars National Conference (NC) swept the 2024 assembly polls, Jammu and Kashmirs first elections in a decade, on the back of the partys ambitious 12-point manifesto Dignity, Identity and Development promising the restoration of Article 370, Article 35-A, broad social welfare, and an economic overhaul. Records and public policy rollouts from the CM Omar-led government show that only one of its commitments has been fully executed so far: restoring the regions traditional winter academic calendar for local schools. The rest of the promises remain stalled, diluted, or ensnared in jurisdictional standoffs with New Delhi. Talking to Greater Kashmir, senior NC leader and MLA Pampore, Hasnain Masoodi said, We achieved a lot despite difficulties, despite impediments, and despite dual governance. He said that while the current system of governance does not even allow the elected government to transfer a tehsildar, the government led by CM Omar was delivering satisfactorily. We progressed almost in all spheres, may be not at the pace needed. However, we did well in carrying out development in road connectivity, drinking water, healthcare, education, and other sectors, Masoodi said. He said that Minister for Health Sakina Itoo had inaugurated a Rs 21.50 crore Tesla MRI facility at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, improving the healthcare facilities in the process. Health care is getting better at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar, in Jammu, and elsewhere across J&K, the senior NC leader said. He said that in the education sector, the J&K Private Universities Act, 2026, will be revolutionary. We will be able to provide medical universities and engineering universities in J&K and help students who had to leave for countries like Bangladesh, Iran, and Kyrgyzstan to acquire medical and engineering degrees and would get caught in conflict, Masoodi said. He said that in this process, crores of rupees draining out of J&K would also stay within J&K. Expressing satisfaction over developmental works, the senior NC leader said that in just his constituency, Pampore, developmental works to the tune of Rs 45 crore were being carried out by the Public Works Department (PWD) alone. NCs top political pledges of reversing the 2019 revocation of J&Ks special constitutional status, reclaiming statehood, and repealing the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA) have run up against New Delhis legal architecture. While NCs political initiatives demonstrate continued action on the issue, neither Article 370 nor Article 35-A has been restored, and J&K continues to remain a Union Territory. CM Omars cabinet and J&K Assembly passed resolutions calling for the restoration of special rights and statehood, but actual executive authority over constitutional matters, the police, and public order rests firmly with the centrally appointed Lieutenant Governor and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Similarly, long-standing demands to reclaim centrally held hydroelectric projects run by NHPC have made little headway with the Union Power Ministry. On the economic front, promises of direct relief have encountered severe budgetary arithmetic. A high-profile guarantee to supply 200 free units of electricity to various sections remains under tariff-board review amid heavy transmission deficits. The government introduced an electricity-bill amnesty scheme in August 2025, waiving accumulated interest and surcharges on eligible domestic dues up to March 31, 2025. The relief offered consumers a way to settle outstanding bills without the additional financial burden. The promise of providing improved drinking-water facilities to the people of Jammu and Kashmir also remains unfulfilled, although there is progress on better infrastructure. Pledges to deliver 12 free cooking gas cylinders annually to economically weaker families, provide aRs 5000 monthly stipend to female heads of low-income households, and allocate 10 kg of free food grains per person each month have faced administrative delays and funding bottlenecks. The 2026-27 Budget proposed six free LPG cylinders annually for AAY households. The measure represents progress towards the manifestos energy-relief commitment, but it provides half the promised number of cylinders and applies to a narrower beneficiary category. Employment was among the NCs most prominent campaign commitments. An ambitious target to fill all government vacancies within 180 days and create 1 lakh youth jobs has lagged well behind schedule, stalled by administrative scrutiny over recruitment procedures. On February 11, 2026, the government informed the Assembly that 77,099 posts were vacant across departments. These included 40,666 posts under the direct-recruitment quota, with the remainder falling under promotion quotas. The government said vacancies had been referred to recruiting agencies and that advertised posts would be filled in a time-bound manner. The administration also promoted entrepreneurship through Mission YUVA. Presenting the 2026-27 Budget, CM Omar said the initiative had attracted thousands of prospective entrepreneurs and generated applications for business support. While these measures indicate activity on employment and recruitment, vacancy figures do not establish any major recruitments or new jobs having been created. The governments swiftest victory came inside its first month in office, when the cabinet scrapped a centrally mandated March-April school session and reinstated the October-November examination cycle, aligning school terms with Kashmirs severe winter climate. The government increased marriage assistance for eligible girls from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 and widened eligibility by removing the Class 8 qualification requirement. It also introduced free public transport for women on government-owned buses from April 2025. The NC pledged a comprehensive campaign against drug addiction, including stronger prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. The issue remains a major public concern in J&K, particularly because of its impact on young people and families. However, the NC manifestos proposed response, including a functioning network of new rehabilitation facilities and a measurable, government-wide programme matching the promise, is still missing. The NC manifesto promised to protect the apple industry, support saffron growers, exempt horticultural produce from GST, and establish fruit-preservation infrastructure. The government continued agricultural support programmes and announced further investment in controlled-atmosphere storage, crop insurance, and high-density plantation. In its 2026-27 Budget, the government proposed additional storage capacity and insurance measures covering crops including apple and saffron. These steps address some of the sectors concerns, particularly storage losses and exposure to weather-related risks. The proposed GST exemption, fruit-preservation parks, and wider measures to secure growers incomes are still a far cry. The NC promised a medical trust providing insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh for specified serious illnesses, alongside Village and Mohalla Clinics. The governments subsequent budgets have included healthcare investments, additional medical education capacity, and plans for emergency facilities. In February 2026, CM Omar announced dedicated emergency and accident hospitals for Uri and Poonch, along with other healthcare measures. These initiatives may improve access to treatment, particularly in underserved and border areas. However, the government is yet to deliver on the manifestos proposed insurance trust or a functioning network of Village and Mohalla Clinics. The NC manifesto pledged free education up to university level and proposed new higher-education institutions, including skill-focused universities. It also announced education initiatives and additional institutional capacity. The 2025-26 Budget included a proposed National Law University with an allocation of Rs 50 crore, while subsequent budgets announced further education-related investments. The 2026-27 Budget also proposed fee reimbursement for eligible AAY students in government schools from Class 9 to Class 12 and in government degree colleges at the undergraduate level. These measures expand support for selected groups but do not amount to free education for every student through university level. The NC promised to grant industry status to tourism, develop adventure-tourism circuits across Pir Panjal and Chenab, and provide incentives to hotel and houseboat owners. The government has continued to promote tourism and announced further destination development and infrastructure spending. The 2026-27 Budget also outlined plans for new tourist destinations and environmental infrastructure, including sewage treatment and waste management. These measures support the broader objective of strengthening tourism, but they do not establish the promised industry status. The full package of incentives has also not been delivered. The NC manifesto envisaged expanding Srinagar and Jammu through new townships and improving transport infrastructure, including river transport systems. The governments transport initiatives include free bus travel for women and plans to add electric buses. These measures improve access to public transport and represent tangible policy action. However, they do not establish completion of the wider urban-development commitments, including new townships and river transport. The NC also promised to facilitate the dignified return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and support their rehabilitation. The 2026-27 Budget referred to online facilities for issuing certificates and registering migrant-property grievances, while also discussing support for migrant families. However, there has not been any progress on return-and-rehabilitation programme implementation. Opposition parties argue the ruling party overpromised to win the ballot box. Talking to Greater Kashmir, senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar said that there has been a lack of intent and inability to perform on the part of CM Omar. NC has been in power for the better part of the last century without much to show either politically or on the development front, he said. At election time they come with a particular narrative. The same promises were made before the 2024 assembly elections that had been made to the people in 1931, which are political rights, jobs, and development. Akhtar said that the NC had been bringing the bar lower and lower and getting caught in their contradictions. CM Omar Sahab first said he didnt want to be a peon outside the office of the Lieutenant Governor. Then he realised that even the reduced chief ministership would go out of the family. So, he did a rethink and came back, he said. NC junked the promises on which they came to power on the very first day of assuming office when Omar Sahab said that NC was not going to pursue Article 370 and Article 35-A restoration or the reversal of August 5, 2019. Thats where he started and cosied up to the Bharatiya Janata Party for his survival despite having 50 seats as people of Kashmir gave NC a huge mandate. Akhtar said that CM Omar started sounding like an agent without ever stressing the rights for which he was actually elected. He was elected to fight, not to be an apologist for the changed situation. He had to tell the Government of India that whatever it did in 2019 was not acceptable to the people of J&K, but he wavered on that. He went back on even things that are within his domain, like the promised free electricity. Unfortunately, even paid electricity is not available to the people. Power tariffs have increased, and poor families are not even able to pay the increased electricity bills, the senior PDP leader said. Akhtar said that CM Omar did not even fulfil the promise of providing jobs to the unemployed youth within the first year but provided jobs to their own workers through the back door by way of outsourcing. The most pressing issue of our times is the reservation, and there is no progress on that either, he said. Akhtar said that the NC had always overpromised and got away with it ever since 1931. They know how to fight elections on false promises. They know they can sell the moon and not offer even the dust. They had a country in 1931 which has now been reduced to the size of a matchbox, that too without powers, without empowerment, and without rights, but they are still ruling. This is the tragedy of Kashmir, which is interwoven with the staying in power of NC, he said. As CM Omar approaches mid-tenure, pressure is mounting from a youthful electorate coping with unemployment and rising living costs. Talking to Greater Kashmir, Mohammad Sayeed Malik, a veteran journalist with six decades of experience covering Kashmir politics, said that when Omar Abdullah decided to contest elections after reluctance, he knew what he walked into. He said CM Omars grandfather and former Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, who had been jailed in 1953, was brought back to power in 1975 when he had no majority in the Assembly or was not even a legislator. Malik said that Omars father and three-time chief minister Farooq Abdullah continued to function as J&Ks CM while Omar Abdullah continued to hold on to the post of a union minister in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre despite the NDA trashing the autonomy resolution that was passed by the J&K Assembly. Omar Sahab sang Prime Minister NarendraModi eulogies at the time of the Zojila Tunnel function and went on to present Kashmiri shawls to every minister in the Centre, he said. Malik said that the development in J&K was hit as 95 percent of the IAS officers who are responsible for carrying out developmental activities remain outside the CMs ambit. When you lack authority, where is the question of carrying out development, he said. Unfortunately, both Omar Sahab and Dr Farooq (Abdullah) Sahab dont seem to be minding it as far as they continue to hold on to power. For CM Omars government, the challenge is to convert partial progress into measurable outcomes and demonstrate that the commitments that helped return the NC to power can be delivered within its five-year mandate.

Ladakhs infrastructure widened post-UT status: PM Modi

Leh, Oct 15:Prime Minister NarendraModi on Thursday said that Ladakh witnessed sweeping infrastructural gains since it became a Union Territory. Inaugurating and dedicating five major development projects worth around Rs 3350 crore in Ladakh today via video conferencing, PM Modi said detailed sweeping infrastructural gains since Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019. He said that the road network had expanded from 1800 kilometers to over 4000 kilometers, major bridges had increased from 19 to nearly 75, helipads had grown from 7 to over 40, tap water coverage had surged from 3.5 percent to nearly 99 percent of households, hospital beds had doubled, and the ongoing Zojila Tunnel was set to provide all-weather national connectivity. Today, for the central government, the development of Ladakh is a priority, the PM said. Celebrating a new chapter in the region's development through virtual participation, he inaugurated multiple key projects designed to ease travel, improve electricity and water access, and preserve ancient heritage. PM Modi fondly noted the enthusiasm of citizens waving the tricolour amidst fresh snowfall in Zanskar, while extending his gratitude to the engineers, labourers, local workers, and the BRO personnel who executed these challenging works. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all the people of Ladakh for these projects, he said. Recalling his earlier laying of the foundation stone for the KushokBakula Rinpoche Airport terminal in Leh, the PM expressed delight at inaugurating the Rs 650-crore facility that triples flight capacity and expands annual passenger handling from 10 lakh to 35 lakh. He said that the terminal is India's first to feature geothermal heating alongside solar energy usage to suit the harsh climate, energising local tourism while balancing infrastructure growth with ecological care. Our effort is to develop modern infrastructure in Ladakh while taking full care of the local environment, PM Modi said. Underscoring the strategic and economic value of regional connectivity, he dedicated the Rs 2500-crore.Nimmu-Padum-Darcha road to the citizens, noting that it slashes travel time from 12 hours down to just 3 hours. The PM said that beyond saving commuters' time, this vital corridor would significantly boost local commerce. This road will also greatly help trade and business, he said. Building upon his prior inauguration of the Srinagar-Leh transmission line, PM Modi dedicated the Hanu hydroelectric project and its associated transmission network while noting ongoing modern power generation initiatives in Puga Valley. He said that reliable electricity transforms rural life by illuminating homes and empowering children's education, healthcare delivery, and small-scale enterprises. Every sector will benefit from it, the PM said. Focusing on agricultural resilience and water security across the high-altitude terrain, he dedicated 40 newly constructed reservoirs developed under Project Amrit Him Sarovar to the local community. PM Modi said that these water bodies were designed to support the agrarian economy during critical cultivation cycles. These will help in providing water for irrigation to farmers at the time of need, he said. Highlighting targeted efforts to unlock new avenues of regional prosperity, the PM pointed to the active promotion of winter and adventure tourism across the territory. He added that over 40 border settlements are currently being upgraded under the Vibrant Villages program to stimulate grassroots economic activity. This is creating employment opportunities even in far-flung villages, PM Modi said. Illustrating the rapid expansion of hospitality and modern agriculture, he said that local homestays had multiplied from roughly 150 to 3000. The PM highlighted the continuous promotion of protected cultivation, which had resulted in 11,000 operational greenhouses across the region. These have created new possibilities for increasing farmers' income, he said. Addressing a long-standing regional demand for closer judicial access, PM Modi announced that the government officially approved the establishment of a High Court Bench for Ladakh in August this year. He said that fulfilling this crucial institutional requirement would streamline both governance and legal recourse for citizens. This will make the justice system accessible alongside administration, the PM said. Emphasising the role of digital connectivity in driving modern commerce for hotels, restaurants, homestays, and local crafts, he detailed the expansion of BharatNet and high-speed internet across remote pockets of the territory. PM Modi said that continuous efforts are underway to ensure seamless access to e-governance, online education for youth, and global market integration for local entrepreneurs. Today online business is opening new avenues of income, he said. Prioritising the educational empowerment of the younger generation so they do not have to migrate to other cities, the PM highlighted the construction of a major Center of Excellence in Leh alongside advancing proposals for satellite campuses of IIT Jammu and IIM Jammu. He said that these premier institutions would equip local students with advanced research and modern technological skills right at their doorstep. The youth of Ladakh will be able to get better opportunities for higher education, research, and new skills right in their own region, PM Modi said. Recognising the distinct athletic identity carved out by local youth in ice hockey, winter sports, and mountaineering, he welcomed the implementation of Ladakh's new sports policy to nurture regional talent. The PM reiterated the administration's commitment to providing world-class training facilities to help local athletes excel globally. We are striving to provide the local youth with enhanced training and facilities so they can scale new heights on national and international platforms, he said. Praising the exceptional craftsmanship of local artisans and farmers, PM Modi shared how he frequently gifts Ladakhi products, having presented them to the German Chancellor, the Swedish Prime Minister, and the President of Kyrgyzstan, while highlighting the vast commercial potential of sea-buckthorn, handicrafts, GI-tagged apricots, high-altitude commercial floriculture, and the traditional Pashmina crafted by the Changpa community. He stressed that the government is actively strengthening Pashmina's global identity and expanding market branding for regional goods. Our effort is that the products here get new markets, get better branding, and their benefits reach the producers directly! the PM said. Honoring the priceless cultural heritage of ancient monasteries, Buddhist traditions, and festivals inspired by Revered KushokBakula Rinpoche, he inaugurated India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park in Leh to safeguard historic rock art. PM Modiemphasised that preserving this legacy ensures both future generations and global visitors can deeply connect with the region's antiquity. People coming from the country and the world will also become familiar with the rich history of Ladakh, he said. Concluding his address with deep optimism for the territory's trajectory, the PM reiterated his faith in collective action to elevate the region to unprecedented developmental milestones. He offered his final congratulations and traditional greetings to the citizens for the newly launched infrastructure works. Together we all will take Ladakh to new heights of development, PM Modi said.

Best of Opinion: An opportunity to rethink the infrastructure of justice

Today's editorials and columns examine the IDBI Bank privatisation deal, India's steel ambitions, tribunal reforms, AI-driven infrastructure improvements and a book on the changing geopolitical order

Small victories

Life presents various challenges that test our resilience and maturity, leading to varied responses among individuals. Success and failures shape our journey, while the enjoyment of small victories contributes to our overall happiness. Maintaining equanimity during tough times helps build confidence for future challenges. Celebrating small achievements adds joy to ordinary days and fosters a positive outlook. Embracing this approach leads to a fulfilling life enriched by gratitude.

Catch a bully by its horns: How India can turn the latest round of US visa curbs affecting Indian techies to its advantage

Visa restrictions imposed by the US on Indian IT companies may impact individuals working on temporary visas. Many Indian workers may now have to return to India due to these restrictions. Despite these challenges, returnees present opportunities for India in emerging technologies and industries. Additionally, India's relationship with the US requires strategic actions to maintain balance in trade and diplomacy.

Innovate today, nourish tomorrow for food security

As countries across the Global South grapple with climate change, conflict and economic uncertainty, India offers lessons that can be adapted to their needs

Innovate today, nourish tomorrow for food security

As countries across the Global South grapple with climate change, conflict and economic uncertainty, India offers lessons that can be adapted to their needs

Let's have Raj Bhavans minus Rajas

Braj Mohan Ram has openly stated his intention to strengthen the BJP while serving as governor. His admission has triggered public outcry about the role of governors in politics. Governors are supposed to be impartial, yet many have acted in partisan ways. Critics argue that the office of the governor should be abolished to ensure constitutional integrity.

Hold Your Horses, Bulls Will Come: What should investors do as oil prices, AI frenzy weigh on Indian stock market

Current market conditions show frustration with declining indices, impacting both domestic and foreign investors. The simultaneous rise in crude prices and yields creates a challenging environment for India. As international markets focus on AI investments, Indian stocks appear undervalued. Experts recommend that retail investors prioritize asset allocation over daily fluctuations. The long-term outlook remains optimistic, depending on future economic developments.

Dressing up for Pujo

During the upcoming five days of Pujo, people will elevate the act of dressing into an art form. New outfits will be meticulously planned for specific occasions, reflecting personal style and creativity. The excitement surrounding Pujo dressing will foster a sense of community among participants. As individuals adorn themselves in splendid attire, public spaces will transform into vibrant showcases. This collective celebration will symbolize a temporary escape from everyday life.

Eyes now on Viksit, net zero later: Can India achieve high-income status by 2047 without compromising on climate promises?

India aims to achieve a high-income economy status by 2047, requiring substantial economic growth and investment. However, ambitious climate goals may impose significant financial burdens that could jeopardize this progress. Investment requirements for achieving carbon neutrality by 2070 could cost India approximately $8.1 trillion, equivalent to a large percentage of GDP. Reports suggest that climate policies might divert funds from essential services like education and healthcare.

Go on, weaponise your incompetence: From today until Diwali, pretend you can't do things right

This festive season, individuals are encouraged to adopt weaponised incompetence to lighten their responsibilities. Men and women alike can simulate incompetence in household and work tasks. This approach aims to reduce workloads and share the burden more evenly. Embracing this strategy allows for greater relaxation and enjoyment during the festive period. Ultimately, this technique promotes good-will and collaboration among family and friends.

SKUAST-K suspends academic activities at forestry faculty, students asked to vacate hostels

Srinagar, Oct 15: In a latest development, the authorities at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) has ordered suspension of all academic activities at its Faculty of Forestry, excluding undergraduate first-year classes. As per the order issued by Dean Faculty of Forestry, students from J&K and Ladakh staying at the Pine Boys and Girls hostels have been asked to vacate their hostel rooms by October 16, 2026 (10 am). As per the order, the academic activities including classwork for undergraduate, MSc and PhD courses, have been suspended until further orders. The suspension, however, does not apply to first-year undergraduate students. The hostel wardens have been asked to ensure that both hostels are vacated within the stipulated time. Any violation shall invite serious consequences under the rules, the order reads. Talking to Greater Kashmir, Dean Faculty of Forestry said the decision to suspend the academic activities and to vacate the hostels was taken as the students intensified their protests at the campus. For the past few days, the students were staging peaceful protest inside the campus and we did not counter them. But today they locked the gates and did not allow the faculty to use the rooms the students locked the administration block as well, he told Greater Kashmir. He said that earlier, varsity extended its support to the students but they resorted to other ways and means forcing the university administration to suspend the academic activities. We warned them that action will be taken against them if they resort to such action but they did not refrain. We thought to suspend the classes to avoid any action is taken on the students, he added. He further said the university has foreign and national students who have taken admission in the university to pursue their studies. They have nothing to do with the demand and protest of local students. Foreign and national students even complained that they want to attend the classes but are not allowed by the local students, he added. He said the varsity did counseling of the students but still did not call off their strike. The Forestry students are protesting and demand exclusive eligibility for direct recruitment to Forester and other Forestry related exams for candidates holding dedicated professional degree in Forestry.

J&K High Court bans motorboats on Dal Lake

Srinagar, Oct 15: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has banned fuel-powered motorboats and jet skis from being plied on Dal Lake till further order. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajesh Sekhri on Wednesday issued the order on a petition filed by Mohammad Rafiq Mir. In the larger interest of justice, taking a comprehensive view of the submissions made, it is directed that the respondent authorities LCMA, Tourism, and Police shall ensure that no motor boat, whether it be a shikara motorboat or Jet Ski which operates by fuel, is operated in the Dal Lake until further orders, the bench said in the order. The court also directed that any violation of the order will be seen as contempt of court. Therefore the officers concerned shall take a strict view by restricting and prohibiting such operations, the order read. The bench observed that the court is convinced that at a time when lake systems have become a growing concern for civilisation, steps are being taken to exclude activities which would cause pollution. It would be important that whatever policy is framed is more reasonable while balancing tourism activities, pollution, as well as the uniformity between the players involved, it said. The bench observed that solar boats and electric boats could be a solution to strike a balance between the needs of tour operators and sustenance of lakes. Such boats as may be used for emergency services, law and order, disaster management, and safety will be exempted from this order, the court said. The government was earlier directed to submit a comprehensive policy for motorised boats. (Mohsin) Qadri (senior additional advocate general) shall also explore and bring it before this court whether complete motorisation can be substituted by solarised e-engines, the bench said and listed the case for next hearing on October 30.

Press Council issues guidelines for journalists covering protests

New Delhi, Oct 15: The Press Council of India (PCI) has asked journalists covering protests and demonstrations to maintain objectivity and impartiality while reporting, visibly display their press identity cards and comply with lawful police instructions. The guidelines, adopted at a meeting of the council on October 14, ask journalists to refrain from participating in demonstrations, taking sides or provoking confrontations, urge them to maintain distance from clashes, and remain alert to potential threats. The guidelines come against the backdrop of the detention of several journalists covering recent protests in the national capital against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Press bodies condemned the police action, alleging that reporters were detained despite displaying press identity cards and that some had their phones and reporting equipment seized. In view of the prevailing scenario and the need to facilitate the orderly and effective coverage of protests and demonstrations, the council said. It said it adopted the guidelines to promote journalists' safety, responsible reporting and better coordination with law enforcement authorities. Under the guidelines, journalists have been advised to carry identity cards issued by their media organisations or PIB/DIP accreditation, as applicable, and keep them visibly displayed while covering demonstrations. Remain respectful, follow police orders, avoid arguments during tense situations, and comply with lawful instructions, the guidelines state, and advise journalists to calmly assert their press status when necessary. The council advised journalists to be alert to changes in crowd behaviour and identify escape routes in advance. It also recommended carrying emergency kits with first-aid supplies, drinking water, snacks, flashlights, protective goggles, protective headgear, and body armour depending on the threat assessment. Media organisations have been advised to maintain regular contact with reporters on assignment and designate personnel to monitor their locations and respond to emergencies. For planned demonstrations, news organisations should coordinate with designated police officers or press liaison personnel to establish communication protocols and identify media staging areas, the guidelines said. On reporting standards, the council urged journalists to verify information through multiple sources, subject claims by protesters and government authorities to equal scrutiny, and exercise caution while identifying minors, injured people and vulnerable individuals.

BJP rejects J&K govt's 'dual power structure' argument, says outcomes important, not explanations

Jammu, Oct 15: BJP general secretary Satish Poonia on Thursday dismissed the Jammu and Kashmir government's argument that the dual power arrangement had hindered the fulfilment of its promises, saying its performance should be judged by results, not such explanations. Poonia, the BJP in-charge of J&K here for a high-level party meeting, also dismissed allegations that the BJP was responsible for the failure to hold panchayat and local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir. It is for the government to decide how it wants to explain this, because it received the mandate, came to power and made the commitments. How many promises it fulfilled and how many it failed to deliver cannot be explained away. What matters is the outcome and the results, he told reporters before the party meeting. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are well aware of the results of these two years, Poonia said, replying to a question about the government''s claims that the dual-power arrangement -- the elected National Conference-led government and the Lt Governor administration -- prevented it from fulfilling the promises it had made during the past two years. Poonia said the government had received the people's mandate, assumed power and made commitments, adding that its performance should be judged by the results rather than explanations. With the government blaming the BJP for failure to hold panchayat elections, he said How are we (BJP)responsible? The tradition of holding elections under the Panchayati Raj system in Jammu and Kashmir was initiated by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the party also followed it very effectively. He said that the District Development Council (DDC) elections were held for the first time during the BJP's regime. Therefore, such allegations are baseless. On the BJP's organisational meetings, including meetings of its various cells, Poonia said the party had received a good mandate in Jammu and Kashmir after a long time. He said the BJP was committed to working for the prosperity and development of Jammu and Kashmir, citing the governance model of the Narendra Modi government. The construction of the Chenab Rail Bridge, the operation of Vande Bharat trains and the benefits of schemes such as Ujjwala and Ayushman Bharat reaching the people of Jammu and Kashmir are examples of this governance model. This demonstrates our commitment to working for the prosperity of Kashmir, he said.

Ladakh's progress top priority, focus on youth empowerment: PM Modi

Leh, Oct 15: Asserting that the development of Ladakh is a top priority for the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said special attention is being given to the youth of the Union territory so that they get quality education, gain opportunities to learn new technologies, and need not to move to other cities any longer. Virtually inaugurating five development projects covering airport infrastructure and strategic road connectivity in Ladakh worth around Rs 3,350 crore, Modi also said the Central government aims to develop modern infrastructure in the region while taking full care of the local environment. Prioritising the educational empowerment of the younger generation so they do not have to migrate to other cities, the prime minister highlighted the construction of a major centre of excellence in Leh alongside advancing proposals for satellite campuses of IIT Jammu and IIM Jammu. These premier institutions will equip local students with advanced research and modern technological skills right at their doorstep, Modi said. Our special focus is on the new generation of Ladakh. The youth of Ladakh will now be able to get better opportunities for higher education, research, and new skills right in their own region, he said. The prime minister said several important development projects were inaugurated on Thursday, which will make travel easier for many people in Ladakh, improve electricity facilities in some areas, increase water availability in others, and strengthen the preservation of our ancient heritage. The projects include a new passenger terminal at the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh, built for Rs 640 crore. It incorporates geothermal energy to enhance energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint, reflecting the importance of sustainable infrastructure in Ladakh's ecologically sensitive environment. Modi also dedicated to the nation the 298-km-long Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road, constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a 9 MW Hanu small hydroelectric project and the 66 kV double-circuit Dah-Hanu-Khaltsi transmission line. Besides, the prime minister also inaugurated India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park at Sindhu Ghat in Leh and 40 water bodies developed across 40 villages under Project Him Sarovar. Today, the development of Ladakh is a top priority for the Central government. I extend my heartiest congratulations to all the people of Ladakh for these projects. I also congratulate all the engineers, workers and local colleagues involved in these projects. I especially appreciate the colleagues of the BRO, Modi said. Addressing a long-standing regional demand for closer judicial access, Modi said the government in August officially approved the establishment of a high court bench for Ladakh, and fulfilling this crucial institutional requirement will streamline both governance and legal recourse for the citizens. This will make the justice system accessible alongside administration, he said. Modi also said that Ladakh has immense potential in sports, with the youth of the Union territory carving out a unique identity in ice hockey, winter sports and mountaineering. The prime minister said he was pleased that efforts are being made to promote sporting talents through the new sports policy in Ladakh. Our effort is to ensure that the youth receive better training and facilities, and achieve new accomplishments at national and international levels, he said. Emphasising the role of digital connectivity in driving modern commerce for hotels, restaurants, homestays and local crafts, Modi detailed the expansion of 'BharatNet' and high-speed internet across the remote pockets of the region. Continuous efforts are underway to ensure seamless access to e-governance, online education for youth, and global market integration for local entrepreneurs, he said. Today, online business is opening new avenues of income, he said. Referring to the new terminal at the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, the prime minister said it is the first terminal in India equipped with geothermal heating facilities. The terminal will also bring new energy to the tourism sector in Ladakh, he said. The prime minister also said that more than 40 border settlements are currently being upgraded under the Vibrant Villages programme to stimulate grassroots economic activity. This is creating employment opportunities even in the far-flung villages, he said. Praising the craftsmanship of local artisans and farmers, the prime minister shared how he frequently gifts Ladakhi products to world leaders, including the German chancellor and the Swedish prime minister. He stressed that the government is actively strengthening Pashmina's global identity and expanding market branding for regional goods. Our effort is to ensure that local products get new markets, get better branding, and their benefits reach the producers directly, he said. Expressing optimism for the UT's trajectory, Modi hoped that with collective action, the region will reach unprecedented developmental milestones. Together, we will take Ladakh to new heights of development, he said.

President Murmu accepts resignation of Union minister L Murugan

New Delhi, Oct 15: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday accepted the resignation of Union minister L Murugan, her office said. Murugan, who resigned as the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs on Tuesday, said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he wanted to return to Tamil Nadu to strengthen the BJP in the state. The President of India, as advised by the prime minister, has accepted the resignation of Dr L Murugan from the Union Council of Ministers, with immediate effect, under clause (2) of Article 75 of the Constitution of India, a communique issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday said. This was the third resignation of a Minister of State (MoS) from the Council of Ministers after George Kurian and Ravneet Singh Bittu, who quit in June and July respectively after they were not renominated for Rajya Sabha elections by the BJP. Murugan has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since September 2021 and was re-elected to the Upper House in April 2024 from Madhya Pradesh. His tenure ends in April 2030. Murugan also said he wants to give up his Rajya Sabha membership. His resignation has led to speculation about an imminent reshuffle in the Council of Ministers.

17 injured as matador rolls into ditch in Udhampur

Udhampur, Oct 15: At least 17 passengers were injured after a matador rolled into a ditch at Dhalpar in Udhampur district on Thursday, officials said. An official told the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) that the matador, bearing registration number JK14C-2791, was travelling from Udhampur towards Jhonu Tanal when the accident occurred. He said all 17 injured passengers were shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Udhampur for treatment. The injured have been identified as Gayatri Devi (63), wife of Badri Nath, resident of Sarsoo; Sudesh Kumar (32), son of Kaka Ram, resident of Prowa; Anu Devi (19), daughter of Govind Ram, resident of Prowa; Shillo Devi (35), wife of Sanjay Kumar, resident of Prowa; Om Parkash (63), son of Mangat Ram, resident of Prowa; Minakshi Devi, wife of Sunil Kumar, resident of Dhanal; Sohan Lal (38), son of Sham Lal, resident of Dhanal; and Harish Kumar (4), son of Darshan Kumar, resident of Prowa. Others injured were Manisha Devi (22), wife of Krishan Kumar, resident of Dhanal; Ashok Kumar (50), son of Chet Ram, resident of Sarsoo; Darshan Kumar (43), son of Bansi Lal, resident of Sarsoo; Joginder Kumar (22), son of Om Parkash, resident of Sarsoo; Kajal (24), wife of Deepak Kumar, resident of Prowa; Jyoti Devi (26), wife of Darshan Kumar, resident of Prowa; Anil Kumar (35), son of Des Raj, resident of Dhanal; Ajay Kumar (27), son of Kaka Ram, resident of Parowa; and Akhilesh (9), son of Narayan Dutt, resident of Prowa. Meanwhile, cognizance of the matter has been taken.

CPCO, Planning Secretary co-chair UT-level conference on population enumeration phase-II of census 2027

Srinagar, Oct 15: A one-day UT-Level Conference on conducting Population Enumeration (Phase-II) of Census 2027 excluding snow-bound areas, was successfully co-chaired by CPCO & DCO J&K and Ladakh Amit Sharma, IAS, alongwith Secretary Planning J&K Mohd Owais Ahmed, IAS, today in the Meeting Hall, 5th Floor, Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, in hybrid mode (online and offline). This important one-day Conference was organised by the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, J&K, in collaboration with the Directorate of Census Operations, J&K and Ladakh. Senior officers and their representatives from various departments participated in the Conference Workshop, including the officers from Financial Commissioner (ACS), Revenue; Financial Commissioner (ACS), Finance; Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD; Commissioner/Secretary, School Education and Higher Education; Secretary, RDD and Panchayati Raj offices; Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu offices wherein CPCO Amit Sharma Administrative Secretary PD&MD MohdOwais Ahmed, Director General (Planning) Madan Gopal Sharma who is also Nodal Officer, Census 2027; actively led the deliberations and Principal Census Officers (Deputy Commissioners) of all the districts of J&K and lot of Charge Officers for Census 2027 participated. Chief Principal Census Officer Amit Sharma who also happens to be Director, Census Operations, J&K and Ladakh, along with Arun Kumar, Joint Director, delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation and orientation on the Population Enumeration process, methodology, timelines and roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders for Census 2027 for the information of all participants so that they become aware about various aspects of it. During the Conference, lot of deliberations took place includingpreparationsfor Census 2027 and several related key issues regarding upcoming Phase-II of Population Enumeration of Census 2027 in J&K, excluding snow-bound areas, the coordination mechanism at UT and district levels, and the requisite training and logistical arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the Census. Officers posted outside Srinagar participated in the conference through video conferencing mode. While concluding the Conference, it was jointly resolved by CPCO Amit Sharma alongwith Adm Secretary Planning Owais Ahmed to exhibit a collective commitment so as to ensure the timely, coordination and smooth conduct of Population Enumeration under Census 2027 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and it was decided that random visits shall also be conducted by Census Directorate teams and PDMD teams in the coming days to ensure smooth training and preparatory work for Census 2027.

Govind Jaiswal posted as Principal Secretary to LG

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday ordered the posting of Govind Jaiswal, IAS (AGMUT: 2007) as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor. According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, Jaiswal who was awaiting orders of adjustment in the GAD has been posted as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor. The []

J&K Police to organise 240 sports events, send 2,000 children on Bharat Darshan: DGP

Ladakh has seen major infrastructure transformation under PM Modi's leadership: LG Saxena

Leh, Oct 15: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena hailed the Centre's initiatives on Thursday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated five development projects in Ladakh, including airport infrastructure and strategic road connectivity, worth around Rs 3,350 crore. Saxena said the region has seen a major transformation in infrastructure and living standards under the Prime Minister's leadership since it became a Union Territory in 2019. Saxena said, Five new infrastructure projects would prove to be milestones in Ladakh's development, strengthening connectivity, water security, power supply and preservation of cultural heritage. The Lieutenant Governor (LG) thanked Narendra Modi for his leadership and support, saying the people of Ladakh's seven districts looked forward to his address with high hopes and aspirations. The Prime Minister inaugurated five projects, including a modern passenger terminal at Leh airport; the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road connecting the Zanskar valley; India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park in Leh; the 9 MW Hanu Hydroelectric Project; and power transmission infrastructure and 35 water bodies under the Amrit Sarovar initiative. The inauguration of the Banga Bot Kharu Small Hydroelectric Project and the 66-kV Thahanu-Khalsti transmission line will also help strengthen the region's power infrastructure, the LG said. Saxena said the new airport terminal would improve air connectivity and passenger facilities, particularly during winter, while the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road would connect remote areas with the mainstream of development and strengthen internal security. Highlighting 2019, he said granting Ladakh Union Territory status fulfilled a long-standing demand for a distinct identity and greater recognition. The formation of five new districts in April this year and the recent approval for establishing Autonomous Hill Development Councils in all seven districts were important steps towards fulfilling local aspirations, he said. Saxena said Ladakh was improving road connectivity and other infrastructure, while work under the Jal Jeevan Mission was progressing to provide clean drinking water to households despite sub-zero temperatures. He said new policies were also being introduced to economically empower Pashmina herders, while agricultural diversification was helping increase farmers' incomes. The LG said Ladakh, which once depended on outside supplies for vegetables, now has more than 11,000 greenhouses where farmers grow vegetables locally and supply them to defence forces through cooperatives. Emphasising the importance of water conservation, Saxena said initiatives such as Amrit Him Sarovar and conserving glacial water resources were helping ensure long-term water security in the strategically important region. Improved connectivity, infrastructure development, and ease of doing business have also boosted tourism and strengthened the local economy, he said. The LG said the Zojila Tunnel's completion would address one of Ladakh's major connectivity challenges, as the region often remains cut off from the rest of the country during winter due to heavy snowfall. Work on the tunnel is progressing on a war footing, he said, and he requested the Prime Minister to inaugurate the project once it was completed. Saxena expressed confidence that Ladakh would continue to receive the Prime Minister's guidance and support for its overall development. He welcomed Modi on behalf of the Ladakh administration and its people, thanking him for participating in the programme despite being unable to visit the region in person. The snow-covered peaks and the inaccessible valleys of Ladakh have always symbolised courage and perseverance. However, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, these very challenges have now become symbols of development and new hope, Saxena said. He said Modi's decision to join the programme virtually reflected his affection for the people of Ladakh, his dedication to their welfare and his vision for the region. Saxena said the people of Ladakh would remain grateful to the Prime Minister for sparing his valuable time to honour them and give unprecedented momentum to the region's development. Ladakh is home to hundreds of prehistoric rock art sites featuring carvings of wildlife, human figures and symbolic representations that offer valuable insights into thousands of years of human history.

Any terror attack originating from Pakistan will invite stronger response: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, Oct 15: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said any terrorist act originating from Pakistan would invite an even stronger response from India, asserting that Operation Sindoor, the Balakot airstrikes and surgical strikes marked a shift from diplomatic condemnation to proactive action against terrorism. Addressing a Defence Conclave in New Delhi, Singh said India remained committed to peace but its commitment should not be mistaken for weakness. Our commitment to peace remains steadfast, yet we are fully prepared to confront any challenge, he said, adding that India was determined to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests. Singh said the three military operations symbolised India's approach of targeting the sources of terrorism rather than limiting its response to diplomatic condemnation. He also claimed that since 2014, the shelf life of most terrorists had fallen to less than a year, with security forces neutralising them within a year of taking up arms against India. Highlighting the changing security landscape, the Defence Minister warned of emerging threats, including lone-wolf attacks and what he described as white-collar terrorism. He said terrorism was evolving beyond organised groups, making it increasingly difficult for security agencies to identify radicalised individuals and prevent potential attacks. Singh also referred to the recent incident involving a co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a passenger aircraft and Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, who risked his life to avert a major disaster. He said the incident highlighted the threat posed by lone-wolf attackers and underscored the importance of alert and responsible citizens in preventing terrorist plots. The fight against terrorism requires not only the capabilities of security agencies but also the active participation of aware and responsible citizens, he said. Singh described the emerging security environment as one characterised by hybrid, high-tech and hyper warfare. He identified what he termed the 5D Security Threat disinformation, destabilisation, disruption, deception and destruction and called for greater vigilance and preparedness. On defence preparedness, the minister called for a smart power approach that combines advanced weaponry, artificial intelligence, human intelligence and cost-effective technologies to address evolving security challenges. He said India needed to integrate precision-guided weapons and loitering munitions with affordable, agile and adaptable systems to strengthen its defence capabilities. Singh attributed India's growing defence capabilities to reforms undertaken under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the government had shifted its focus from meeting immediate military requirements to building a self-reliant and future-ready defence ecosystem. He said defence production had increased to a record level of over Rs 1.78 lakh crore from around Rs 40,000 crore in 2014, while defence exports had risen to an all-time high of Rs 39,000 crore from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14. Indian defence products, he said, were now reaching nearly 100 countries. The minister expressed confidence that India would achieve defence production worth Rs 2 lakh crore in the current year and Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029, while targeting defence exports worth Rs 50,000 crore by the same year. Emphasising domestic manufacturing, Singh said more than 500 companies were engaged in the defence sector, while over 16,000 micro, small and medium enterprises were contributing to the country's defence industrial ecosystem. He said the government had earmarked 75 per cent of the defence modernisation budget for procurement from Indian industries and highlighted initiatives to promote indigenous defence equipment and technology. Singh also highlighted the role of start-ups and young innovators in developing drones, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, cybersecurity and robotics. He said the Ministry of Defence had approved procurement of goods and services worth over Rs 2,400 crore from start-ups and MSMEs and sanctioned projects worth more than Rs 1,500 crore for developing new technologies. The minister said India was steadily progressing towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing, with 159 of the 175 ammunition variants used by the armed forces now being produced domestically. Singh concluded by expressing confidence that India would emerge as a developed nation by the centenary of its independence and provide global leadership in technology, the economy and defence.

Why Product Familiarity Matters as Much as the Brand in the Used Car Market

Most used car conversations start fundamentally with a badge. A buyer decides they want a specific popular make, and the search narrows significantly before a single physical car has even been inspected. Brand reputation is undoubtedly a useful shorthand in the automotive world. It roughly predicts service network reach, general spare parts pricing, and how gently a vehicle might depreciate over the coming years. However, relying entirely on a logo can sometimes create blind spots during the purchasing journey. What a badge cannot tell you is whether that specific model, built in that specific year, featuring that exact engine and gearbox pairing, will actually suit the way you drive daily. That critical gap between brand perception and daily reality is exactly where deep product familiarity earns its keep. Brand Trust Only Gets You Through the Gate A brand reputation operates as an average. It bundles historically dependable volume sellers together with niche models that perhaps had more complex ownership profiles. Inside almost any single manufacturer's broad line-up, you will find engines with excellent long-term reliability records sitting right beside specific gearboxes that require an owner who is prepared for specialised maintenance requirements. If you look at the popular second hand Renault cars in India , you will find that the Kwid, Duster, and Triber share their corporate badge but have little in common regarding their daily ownership narratives. The old Duster's 1.5-litre diesel engine is widely known for comfortably covering serious distances, though its suspension bushes and link rods can take a beating on broken regional roads. A vehicle that spent its life commuting on state highways presents a very different mechanical profile from one that barely left congested city traffic. Meanwhile, the Kwid is exceptionally cost-effective to run, but its Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) rewards a gentle right foot and can frustrate drivers who treat it like a traditional torque converter. The Triber's entire market appeal rests heavily on its modular seat flexibility, a feature that matters hugely to larger families but might mean very little to a solo commuter. This presents one badge with three completely different ownership stories. You might wonder whether this distinction still matters once a car is five or six years old. In reality, it matters considerably more. Vehicle age tends to amplify model-specific weaknesses rather than smoothing them out. How Buyers Actually Build Product Familiarity Building this familiarity sounds complicated, but it is entirely manageable once you structure your approach. Start by shortlisting two or three specific models, rather than five broad brands. Depth easily beats breadth in this scenario. Knowing the nuances of one car properly is worth far more than knowing six superficially. Buyers who narrow their focus often find the research process less overwhelming and ultimately make more informed decisions. Next, identify the exact engine and gearbox combination you want. The exact same car model equipped with three different powertrains will wear differently, require different servicing schedules, and exhibit different common faults across each variant. Mapping the variant ladder is equally crucial. Mid-spec trims usually carry the functional features people actually use daily, such as automatic climate control, rear parking sensors, and a usable touchscreen interface. Top trims often add panoramic sunroofs and advanced cameras that raise the sticker price significantly without fundamentally changing the driving dynamics. Learn the known maintenance points and understand what fixing them typically costs. Almost every model has specific characteristics or known wear patterns. A buyer who already knows that a particular clutch assembly or air conditioning compressor is a recurring expense for that generation can negotiate from a position of knowledge rather than anxiety. Finally, test drive at least two different examples of the exact same model. Many buyers skip this step entirely. It is arguably the most revealing part of the process because a second test drive turns vague unease into a specific diagnosis. It gives you a baseline to measure the first car against. Where Familiarity Pays You Back at Resale The resale market is where brand reputation and product reality finally intersect, and where the distinction between them becomes expensive to ignore. Demand patterns explain why the top selling used Maruti cars tend to be the simpler, widely understood mechanical variants rather than the most expensive top-spec iterations. Buyers in the secondary market prioritise parts availability, predictable long-term running costs, and the assurance that their local mechanic has successfully serviced the vehicle numerous times before. Rare variants and unusual engine options often sit on classified listings much longer, even with a highly desirable badge on the bonnet. Familiar, high-demand models usually cost more upfront simply because a wider pool of buyers wants them. Less common models can often be bought more cheaply but may test your patience significantly when it is eventually time to sell. Ultimately, brand reputation tells you which neighbourhood to begin your search in, but deep product knowledge ensures you select the right vehicle to take home.

Sonamarg to be developed as year-round tourism destination: CM Omar

Srinagar court convicts husband, mother-in-law, brother-in-law in Bemina dowry murder case

Srinagar, Oct 15: A Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Srinagar, has convicted three members of a family, including the husband, mother-in-law and brother-in-law of a woman who died under suspicious circumstances in Bemina in June 2022, in a dowry-related murder case, while acquitting two other women accused. The judgment was delivered on October 13 by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge Srinagar, in connection with FIR No. 109/2022 registered at Police Station Batamaloo under Sections 498-A, 302, 120-B and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as per news agency JKNS. The deceased, Mst Tasleema, wife of Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar and a resident of Nund-Reshi Colony-B, Bemina, was found dead on June 27, 2022. According to the prosecution, she had allegedly been subjected to mental and physical harassment by her in-laws over her inability to conceive despite nine years of marriage. The post-mortem examination conducted at Government Medical College, Srinagar, concluded that the cause of death was asphyxia due to smothering. The doctors also opined that the injuries found on her body were not self-inflicted. During the trial, the prosecution examined 23 witnesses, including doctors, family members of the deceased, a neighbour and investigating officers. The medical evidence and statements of the witnesses formed part of the evidence examined by the court. The court observed that the medical evidence established homicidal smothering and noted that the deceased was living with her husband in the matrimonial home, where the other accused also resided. The court held that the husband, mother-in-law and brother-in-law had failed to provide a plausible explanation regarding the fatal injuries sustained by the deceased inside the matrimonial home. It also observed that their explanations during examination under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure further strengthened the prosecution case. However, the court held that the call detail records relied upon to establish the conspiracy were inadmissible due to the absence of a proper certificate under Section 65-B of the Indian Evidence Act. It nevertheless concluded that the conspiracy involving the three convicted accused could be inferred from their conduct and the surrounding circumstances. The court also held that the charge under Section 201 IPC, relating to causing the disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender, had not been proved. Giving the benefit of doubt to the two women accused, Mst Sumiya and Mst Saika, the court acquitted them of all charges, observing that the evidence did not specifically establish their involvement in the crime. Accordingly, Mst Hafeeza Begum (mother-in-law), Parveez Ahmad Dar alias Bilal (brother-in-law) and Shahnawaz Ahmad Dar (husband) were convicted under Sections 302 and 120-B IPC. The court ordered that Hafeeza Begum, who was on bail, be taken into custody and lodged in Central Jail, Srinagar. The jail superintendent was directed to produce all three convicted persons before the court for hearing on the quantum of sentence. The matter was listed for October 14, 2026, for further proceedings. (JKNS)

M Y Tarigami-led panel inspects Anchar Lake over encroachment, illegal mining

Sonamarg to be developed as premier adventure and winter sports hub: CM Omar Abdullah

Ganderbal, Oct 15: In a major push to boost year-round tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday said that the picturesque meadow of Sonamarg will be transformed into a premier adventure and winter sports destination over the coming years. Speaking to media after inauguration of the 70th National school games in Ganderbal, Omar Abdullah said that earlier the Sonamarg used to remain closed during winter and it has been only a year or so after the Sonamarg tunnel was opened that Sonamarg is accessible in winters. With the construction of the tunnel, Sonamarg is now accessible throughout the year. We want to promote rafting during summer and skiing, skating and other winter sports activities, Omar said. He said he would work with Kangan MLA Mian Mehar Ali to further strengthen Sonamargs position on the tourism map. On traffic congestion caused by Chinar trees along the BeehamaKheer Bhawani road, the Chief Minister acknowledged the difficulties faced by commuters and stressed the need for a practical solution. Development and environmental protection must go hand in hand. We may have to remove some trees and plant eight to ten Chinar trees elsewhere, away from roads, he said. Earlier, During his visit, Omar Abdullah said development projects worth around Rs 60 crore were either inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid in Ganderbal. The Chief Minister said several road projects, a new school building and infrastructure works at the Fruit and Vegetable Mandi were also inaugurated. He said traders at the mandi had sought its expansion, construction of a boundary wall and a grade separator. The matter, he said, had been discussed with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials, while other demands had also been noted for necessary action.

Israel bars airline pilots, crew from countries without diplomatic ties from its airspace

Jerusalem, Oct 15: Israel has barred pilots and cabin crew from countries that do not maintain official diplomatic relations with it from serving on flights entering its airspace, according to media reports, following an alleged hijacking attempt on a flight travelling from the UAE to Israel last month. The restrictions were issued by the Transportation Ministry's Aviation Security Operations Centre following the September 30 incident, in which Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was injured while foiling an alleged attempt to seize control of a flydubai aircraft. Israel's public broadcaster Kan reported that the ministry had issued updated aviation security directives. According to broadcaster N12, foreign airlines were informed of the restrictions on October 1. Under the new rules, pilots and cabin crew operating flights into Israeli airspace must not hold the nationality, or dual nationality, of countries that lack official diplomatic relations with Israel. The restrictions reportedly cover nationals of more than two dozen countries, including Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Tunisia, as well as people holding dual nationality of these countries, the Haaretz newspaper reported. The move has prompted airlines to review crew assignments to ensure compliance with the new requirements. French investigative website Mediapart reported that Air France had circulated an internal memo informing pilots and cabin crew about the restrictions and warning of possible sanctions for non-compliance. Aviation blog Live and Let's Fly reported that United Airlines had also notified affected pilots and flight attendants to contact its scheduling department for necessary adjustments. The restrictions follow the September 30 incident involving a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia after its Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Machchhar and attempted to seize control of the plane, reportedly intending to crash it into Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene and subdue the co-pilot before the aircraft was diverted. Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a review of security procedures for foreign civil aviation, Haaretz reported. Machchhar has been recovering in a hospital in the UAE. His actions were praised by world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. (With inputs from PTI)

IGP Jammu visits Kishtwar, reviews security

Kishtwar, Oct 15: IGP Jammu, Tejinder Singh, visited Kishtwar district today and chaired a security review meeting, officials said. He was accompanied by DIG Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range, Sargun Shukla. SSP Kishtwar, Sunny Gupta, briefed the IGP on the security situation, counter-terrorism preparedness, inter-range coordination, crime prevention, anti-narcotics action and security of vital installations. The IGP stressed proactive policing, maintaining heightened alertness, and ensuring close coordination among all agencies. Senior police officers, SDPOs, SHOs, and Police Post In-charges attended the meeting.

CM Omar Abdullah Inaugurates 70th National School Games 2026 in Ganderbal

Srinagar Police attach assets worth over Rs 13.43 crore in drug trafficking crackdown

Srinagar, Oct 15: Srinagar Police has frozen and attached residential properties and a vehicle worth over 13.43 crore in a crackdown on drug trafficking and its alleged financial networks under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. According to a police statement, the action was carried out by Police Stations Khanyar, Pantha Chowk, Shalteng, Safakadal, Soura and Ahmadnagar across different subdivisions of Srinagar. The properties were identified during financial investigations as allegedly acquired through proceeds of illicit drug trafficking. Proceedings were initiated under Sections 68-E and 68-F of the NDPS Act. Police Station Khanyar accounted for the largest share of the action, attaching four residential properties and a vehicle valued at approximately 8 crore. The assets were linked to accused persons in cases registered under the NDPS Act. At Pantha Chowk, police attached a residential house in Khanmoh valued at 1.24 crore. The property was linked to a person facing cases registered at police stations in Pampore, Banihal and Khrew. Police Station Shalteng froze a two-storeyed residential house with one kanal of land in Panzinara, valued at 1.21 crore. The property was allegedly acquired through proceeds of narcotic activities. In Safakadal, police attached a three-storeyed residential house with an attic, valued at around 10.15 lakh, in connection with a case registered under various provisions of the NDPS Act, the Arms Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police Stations Ahmadnagar and Soura also initiated action against residential properties allegedly linked to drug trafficking proceeds. At Ahmadnagar, two properties associated with the same accused were valued at approximately 1 crore and 80 lakh, respectively. At Soura, a residential property in Umar Colony-B, Lal Bazar, was valued at over 1.18 crore, excluding the land value. Police said the proceedings were conducted in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures, with Executive Magistrates and local witnesses present in some cases. The action is part of Srinagar Police's efforts to target the financial networks allegedly sustaining drug trafficking, alongside criminal investigations and the seizure of narcotic substances.

29 killed, over 40 injured as school roof collapses in Pakistan's Peshawar

Peshawar, Oct 15: At least 28 children and a teacher were killed and more than 40 people injured when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Thursday, police said. The incident occurred in Dir Colony in the inner city area, Peshawar Capital City Police chief Mian Saeed said. The owner of the school has been arrested, he said. According to Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson Muhammad Asim, 28 students, including six girls, and a lady teacher were killed in the incident. Over 40 people were also injured, he said. An emergency was declared at the hospital to treat the injured, Asim said, adding that all the children killed in the incident were aged 13 or younger. Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir has ordered a probe into the building collapse. Rescue teams were clearing the debris and searching for children and school staff who might still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of life in the mishap and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed the authorities concerned that they be provided with the best possible medical treatment. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed grief over the roof collapse.

Srinagar Court convicts man in Rs 2 lakh cheque bounce case

Srinagar, October 13: The Court of the 2nd Additional Munsiff (Judicial Magistrate First Class), Srinagar, has convicted Pirzada Iftikar Ahmad in a cheque dishonour case under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, sentencing him to three months of simple imprisonment and imposing a fine of 3 lakh payable to the complainant. The judgment was pronounced on September 18, 2026, by Vikas Bhardwaj, 2nd Additional Munsiff (JMIC), Srinagar, in a complaint filed by Mohammad Yousuf Sheikh, a resident of Newa, Pulwama. According to the complaint, the accused had borrowed 2 lakh from the complainant for his fruit business and issued two cheques of 1 lakh each, dated January 29, 2019, and February 7, 2019. Both cheques were dishonoured upon presentation due to insufficient funds. Despite the issuance of a statutory demand notice, the accused failed to make the payment within the prescribed period, prompting the complainant to initiate criminal proceedings. During the trial, the accused admitted that the cheques belonged to his bank account, bore his signatures, and had been filled in by him. However, he disputed the underlying liability, claiming that the cheques were connected with a separate financial and property transaction involving third parties, including Bachnu Devi. The court examined the testimony of the complainant, his son, the accused and the defence witnesses. It observed that the defence had failed to present a consistent and probable explanation regarding the issuance of the cheques. The alleged alternative transaction was also not substantiated by reliable documentary evidence. Relying on the statutory presumptions under Sections 118(a) and 139 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the court held that once the execution of the cheques was admitted, the presumption arose that they had been issued towards discharge of a legally enforceable debt or liability. The accused failed to rebut that presumption through a probable defence. Holding that the essential ingredients of Section 138 of the Act had been established, the court convicted the accused and sentenced him to three months of simple imprisonment at Central Jail, Srinagar. In addition, the court imposed a fine of 3 lakh, directing that the entire amount be paid to the complainant as compensation. The judgment further provides that, in the event of non-payment, the District Magistrate, Srinagar, shall identify the accuseds movable or immovable properties for attachment and sale in accordance with law, with the proceeds up to 3 lakh to be paid to the complainant. The complainant was represented by Abid Mushtaq Wani.

Converted Muslims can't claim quota benefits for backward class category based on earlier status: SC

New Delhi, Oct 15: The Supreme Court on Thursday held that Hindus belonging to backward classes cannot claim quota benefits of that category after converting to Islam, saying backwardness suffered in the antecedent social order can't be carried forward. The court also said that a person professing a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot be believed to be a member of a scheduled caste. A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar dismissed the Tamil Nadu governments plea against the Madras High Court order which held that a person converting to Islam cant claim reservation under Backward Class (Muslim) category, solely on the basis of conversion. While upholding the high court order which had quashed the Tamil Nadu governments notification to grant reservation to converted Muslims, the top court said it called for no interference. No statutory benefit, protection, reservation, or other entitlement under Article 16(4) of the Constitution, the enjoyment of which is predicated upon a particular Hindu social order, can be claimed or extended merely on the basis of such antecedent membership after the person has converted to Islam, Christianity, or any other non-Hindu social order, the bench held. It said the court has reached the conclusion that a person who converts from the Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order cannot claim affirmative action under Article 16(4) of the Constitution merely on the basis of the social backwardness associated with his pre-conversion status. A backwardness suffered in the antecedent social order cannot by itself be carried forward so as to confer upon him the status of a backward class in the region to which he has converted, it said. The top court further held that a person, who professes a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot be believed to be a member of a scheduled caste. Consequently, upon conversion to a religion not specified therein, such person ceases to possess the scheduled caste status attached to his antecedent caste and cannot claim any affirmative action benefit of a backward class under Article 16(4) of the Constitution, which is predicated upon membership of a scheduled caste status, it said. It said that conversion to a non-Hindu social order does not by itself concur membership of any particular notified backward class community. A person's pre-conversion caste or community status cannot, merely by reason of conversion, be transposed into membership of a distinct notified backward class community in the post-conversion social order, it said, adding social backwardness, which forms the basis of the person's pre-conversion status, cannot by itself be the only legal foundation for conferring upon a membership of a different notified backward class community after conversion. It said conversely, where a person, after having converted from the Hindu social order to a non-Hindu social order, reconverts to Hindu social order, the question of his entitlement to affirmative action under Article 16 (4) cannot be determined merely by reference to his antecedent status. Such entitlement would require an independent fact specific determination by the competent authority as to whether the original caste or social identity has genuinely revived upon reconversion, and whether the person satisfies the applicable constitutional and legal requirements for such affirmative action, it held. It concluded, We, therefore, affirm the conclusion of the high court, though our reasoning focuses on the constitutional foundation set out above. A person who converts to Islam does not, by that act alone, become a member of any one of the seven notified backward-class communities in the state. This former caste or community patterns cannot automatically be transposed into the Muslim backward-class category, nor can a private religion body conclusively determine such statutory entitlement. On August 7, the top court had reserved its decision on the plea moved by the state government against the high court verdict. The state government had contended that the object behind its order of March 9, 2024 was to ensure that persons belonging to socially and educationally backward communities are not deprived of reservation benefits solely on account of conversion to Islam. The HC's verdict came on a petition filed by one Sameer Ahamed, who converted from Hinduism to Islam in 2015, with the conversion being notified through a Gazette notification in 2016. He subsequently married according to Islamic rites and sought a certificate identifying him as belonging to the Muslim Lebbai community to avail reservation benefits. The state contended that it has the authority, based on the report of the TN Backward Classes Commission, to issue backward classes (Muslim) community certificates to eligible persons who had embraced Islam among the backward classes, most backward classes, denotified communities and Scheduled Castes (SCs). On June 25, the high court held that a person converting to Islam was not entitled to claim reservation under the Backward Class (Muslim) category solely on the basis of conversion and declared unconstitutional the Government Order issued on March 9, 2024. It further observed that a person converting to Islam could only be treated as a Muslim and could not, by virtue of conversion alone, be classified as belonging to any specific notified Backward Class Muslim community for reservation purposes.

Protest fallout: Mumbai Police ask actor Imran Khan to leave India by Oct 28

Mumbai, Oct 15: The Mumbai Police have issued a notice to Bollywood actor Imran Khan, an American national, directing him to leave India by October 28 for allegedly violating provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, officials said on Thursday. The action follows the actor's participation in an agitation at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan on October 10, where protesters demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police had briefly detained Khan during the demonstration. Imran Khan (43), who has acted in several Bollywood films, is the nephew of superstar Aamir Khan. Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, who had sought action against Imran Khan after he participated in the protest, welcomed the police notice against him. Imran Khan holds foreign citizenship and is not an Indian national. Under relevant provisions of the Foreigners/Immigration Act, foreign nationals are prohibited from participating in political protests or political activities on Indian soil, a police official said. A formal notice directing the actor to leave the country by October 28 has been served on him, and he has received a copy of it, the police said. Further administrative procedures are underway, they added. The actor was unavailable for a response in the matter. He has acted in several films, including I Hate Luv Storys (2010) and Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (2011). He recently had a cameo appearance in Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, a Bollywood film backed by Aamir Khan. Following the agitation last week, a video surfaced showing the actor responding to a reporter's query about his participation in the protest as he was being escorted to a police vehicle. I have no demands. I am not part of any organisation, he said. Somaiya had urged Mumbai police to act against Imran Khan for joining a protest here in support of the Cockroach Janta Party despite being a foreign citizen, and sought clarity on whether he can participate in such agitations. The BJP leader on Thursday welcomed the police action against the actor and demanded that others involved in similar activities also be deported. There are thousands of Imran Khans in India. They want to live here and defame the country. Action should be taken against all such people, and they should be deported, Somaiya told reporters, while thanking the police for acting on his complaint. Imran Khan had taken part in political activities against the government despite being a US citizen, he said, adding that a thorough investigation into the matter would expose others. Somaiya said he had complained to the Union government's immigration authorities, the Airport Authority and Mumbai Police after the actor participated in the protest, and also urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene in the matter. I filed a complaint on Saturday and followed it up on Sunday. I had sought a report on how long Imran Khan had been a US citizen, Somaiya said, adding that he was grateful to the authorities for taking action. The actor was born and educated in the US, but earned his livelihood in India while participating in political and diplomatic activities opposing the government, the BJP leader charged. Action against Imran Khan should serve as a warning to others engaged in similar activities, Somaiya said and demanded that authorities identify and take action against all such individuals.

Delhi protests: Union home secretary tenders unconditional apology to SC in contempt case

New Delhi, Oct 15: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology to the Supreme Court in a contempt case over alleged violation of the apex court's direction to ensure no complete prohibition on Metro and train services in Delhi in the wake of the October 10 protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party. In an affidavit filed in the top court, Mohan said a request was received from Delhi Police to suspend cellular internet services for one day, until 10 pm on October 10. The request was duly processed and considered in accordance with law and was found to be a proportionate measure, having regard to the magnitude of the situation and the need to prevent any disturbance of public order in the national capital, Mohan said. The home secretary said that cellular internet services were suspended from 10 pm on October 9 until 10 pm on October 10 within a radius of 4 km of Raisina Hill. He clarified that the suspension was confined to cellular internet services, and did not extend to non-cellular internet services or telecommunication services such as Wi-Fi or broadband. I state and submit that the suspension of internet services for a limited period and within a defined geographical area, subject to the applicable statutory safeguards, is a recognised measure that may be considered for maintaining public order in appropriate circumstances, he said. I therefore respectfully pray that this court may be pleased to modify its order dated October 11 to the extent necessary to permit the suspension of internet services in situations of necessity, strictly in accordance with law and subject to the applicable statutory requirements and safeguards, he said. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi is scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday. On October 11, the apex court said that contempt petitioners, who have alleged violations of the court's direction to ensure no complete prohibition on Metro and train services in Delhi due to the protest, have made out a prima facie case. The bench had issued notices to Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Chairperson D Thara. The CJP had given the protest call on October 10 to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.

Mughal Road reopens after brief closure; Uri highway restoration underway

Srinagar, Oct 15: The Mughal Road, which was closed following the seasons first snowfall, was reopened to traffic on Thursday after snow clearance operations were completed, officials said. In north Kashmir, restoration work began on the Uri National Highway after a landslide triggered by heavy rains brought massive boulders onto the road, disrupting vehicular movement. A senior traffic officer told News Agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) the snow clearance operation on the Mughal Road had been completed and the route was now motorable. Motorists have been advised to drive cautiously due to slippery road conditions. Officials said men and machinery were deployed to clear the snow to facilitate the early resumption of traffic. Meanwhile, the Uri National Highway was blocked on Wednesday evening after heavy rains triggered a landslide, causing massive boulders to roll down the mountainside and obstruct the road. Restoration work has begun, with men and machinery engaged in removing the boulders and debris, officials said. Efforts are underway to restore connectivity at the earliest. The clearance operations are aimed at resuming traffic on the affected stretches and ensuring the movement of commuters. (KNS)

J&K govt adopts regularisation framework for ULB casual, contingent workers

Srinagar, Oct 15: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sanctioned the adoption of special service regulations of the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations to establish a regularisation framework for casual and contingent workers engaged in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the Union Territory. According to Government Order No. 214-JK(HUD) of 2026, issued on October 14, the Housing and Urban Development Department has accorded sanction to adopt the Jammu Municipal Corporation Class-IV Services (Special Provision) Regulations, 2014 and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation Class-IV Services (Special Provision) Regulations, 2014 , mutatis mutandis . The adopted regulations will serve as the basis for formulating a regularisation mechanism for eligible workers engaged in ULBs across Jammu and Kashmir. The framework covers casual labourers, contingent-paid workers, consolidated workers and other similarly placed employees working in Urban Local Bodies. The order has been issued by Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department. Copies of the order have been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the General Administration Department, the Law Department and the Directors of Urban Local Bodies in Jammu and Kashmir for necessary follow-up and implementation. The move addresses the long-pending demand for a structured mechanism to consider the regularisation of temporary workers in municipal bodies. However, the order provides for the adoption of the regulations as the basis for such a mechanism; individual eligibility and the terms of regularisation would be governed by the applicable provisions.

Biker dies after hit by vehicle in Jammus Kunjwani

Jammu, Oct 15: A motorcyclist was killed after his bike was hit by another vehicle on the Jammu National Highway near Kunjwani on Wednesday night, officials said. An official said the accident took place late Wednesday night when a motorcyclist was hit by another vehicle on the Jammu National Highway near Kunjwani. He said the motorcyclist was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, where doctors declared him brought dead. The deceased was identified as Sawan Thapa, a resident of Bablayana in Jammu. The official said the body has been kept in the mortuary at GMC Jammu for legal formalities and that police have taken cognizance of the incident.(KNO)

19-year-old arrested in Illinois for planning attack on Hindu place of worship

Alexandros Paporakis had shared a document outlining an alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting. He had also shared images depicting a rifle, rifle magazines, body armour, and other tactical equipment and accessories

3 J&K Khelo India Soft Tennis players to represent India at World Championship in China

Jammu, Oct 14: In a proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir, three talented players from the Khelo India Soft Tennis Centre; Sidhani Singh, Shreemai Bhatt and Madhvender Singh Sambyal have been selected to represent the country at the upcoming World Soft Tennis Championship to be held in China from 26 to 31 October. The selection, as per an official statement, made by the Amateur Soft Tennis Federation of India and recommended by the J&K Amateur Soft Tennis Association, marks a significant achievement for the players and reflects their consistent performances, dedication and hard work over the past several years. All three athletes have earned medals at various national level championships, bringing recognition to Jammu & Kashmir through their outstanding performances. Adding to their achievements, Shreemai Bhatt and Madhvender Singh recently excelled at the Junior National Soft Tennis Championship held in Srinagar. Shreemai Bhatt secured two bronze medals while Madhvender Singh Sambyal won one bronze medal, further strengthening their credentials at the national level. These achievements have come under the guidance and mentorship of Indu Bhushan, whose support, training and guidance have played an important role in the players' development and success. The players' dedication, combined with consistent coaching, reflects the growing strength of soft tennis in Jammu & Kashmir. Their selection for the World Championship is a matter of immense pride for the Khelo India Soft Tennis Centre and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Their success highlights the importance of structured training and the Khelo India initiative in nurturing young sporting talent and preparing athletes for national and international competitions. The achievement is expected to inspire the aspiring soft tennis players across the region to work towards excellence and bring further laurels to Jammu & Kashmir on the international stage.

J&K to host 70th National School Games in 4 disciplines

Srinagar, Oct 14 Jammu and Kashmir will host the 70th NationalSchool Games in four disciplines this season for which the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) has finalised all the arrangements to deliver a well-organized sportingspectacle. Scheduled to run from October 15th to 27th, the mega-sporting event is set to transform the scenicgrounds of the Government College of Physical Education (GCOPE) in Ganderbal into a vibrant hub of athletic excellence, youth energy, and competitive spirit. The event will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday at Government College of Physical Education (GCOPE) in Ganderbal.Officials said that Jammu and Kashmir will host nine sporting events in four disciplines from October 15 to 27, with over 1000 athletes and officials expected to participate in the events,Director General Youth Services and Sports Anuradha Gupta said that Jammu & Kashmir is hosting majorevents, including Wushu and Taekwondo disciplines in the Kashmir region and Fencing and Cricket in the Jammu region. She said the events include under-17 Wushu and Taekwondo competitions in Ganderbal from October15 to 27, and under-17 and under-19 fencing and under- 17 cricket competitions in Jammu. The competitions are part of the NationalSchool Games programme organised under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI). Hundreds of elite young athletes, coaches, and sports officials from states and Union Territories across the nation are currently converging on Ganderbal. The fortnight-long championship will see competitors testing their mettle, discipline, and sportsmanship in two of the country's most rapidly growing martial arts disciplines Wushu & Taekwondo officials said.

DPS Srinagar shines at UT-Level Badminton Championship

Srinagar, Oct 14 Delhi Public School, Srinagar, has once again demonstrated its sporting excellence, with its young badminton players delivering outstanding performances at the 53rd UT-Level Badminton Championship, held at Police Stadium, Jammu, from 10 to 13 October 2026. Competing against some of the finest emerging talents from across the Union Territory, the students displayed exceptional skill, determination and competitive spirit, securing top honours and earning qualification for the upcoming National-Level Badminton Championship. Yahya Ajaz of Class VI clinched the Under-13 title after putting up a strong performance against his opponents. Equally impressive was Tarahum Sadiya of Class XI, who claimed the Under-15 title through a combination of composure, tactical intelligence and unwavering determination. Their victories reflect the dedication, disciplined training and consistent efforts that have shaped their sporting journeys, supported by the guidance and encouragement of the school's sports faculty. Beyond individual accomplishments, their success embodies the spirit of perseverance and excellencethat Delhi Public School Srinagar seeks to instil in every student.

J&K vs MP: Match ends in draw, MP takes fi rst-innings lead

Srinagar, Oct 14:Madhya Pradesh secured afirst-innings victory overdefending champions Jammuand Kashmir after their RanjiTrophy 2026-27 opener endedin a draw due to rain and badlight at the Sher-i-KashmirCricket Stadium in Srinagaron Wednesday.Chasing a target of 326runs, J&K were strugglingwith batting when persistentrain and bad light brought anearly end to the fourth day'splay. With the hosts facing adaunting task, the match wasdeclared drawn, with MadhyaPradesh taking the pointsadvantage on the basis of theirfirst-innings lead. Resuming the day 4 at 151 for five in their secondinnings, Madhya Pradeshskipper Shubham Sharmaproduced a captain's knock,scoring an unbeaten 106 off200 deliveries to help the visitors declare at 249 for six. Hiscentury put Madhya Pradeshin a commanding position andleft J&K with a target of 326runs. At the end of the day4, J&K were 88/7, when thematch was declared as drawnwith MP winning by the firstinning. J&K bowlers struggled tocontain the visitors as MPskipper Shubham Sharmaanchored the innings withcomposure.J&K's chase began on a disappointing note, with openerShubham Khajuria departingwithout troubling the scorers.Shubham Pundir managedjust four runs, while skipperParas Dogra also fell for four.Experienced batter AbdulSamad was dismissed for aduck, leaving the defendingchampions in deep trouble. Wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan offeredsome resistance before ablow to his hand forced himto retire hurt on 26.Madhya Pradesh's pacespearhead Avesh Khan onceagain led the attack, claimingthree wickets, while AryanPandey also picked up threeas the visitors tightened theirgrip on the contest. The pairfinished with six wickets eachin the match. Shubham Sharma, MP captain, who scored 185 runs wasnamed Player of the Match forhis outstanding batting performance.For J&K, Rohit Sharma and Sunil Kumar were theleading wicket-takers, claiming six wickets apiece, while Auqib Nabi finished withfour.Madhya Pradesh had earlier posted 196 in their firstinnings before bowling J&Kout for 120 to secure a crucial76-run lead. That advantageultimately proved decisive,allowing the visitors toclaim the first-innings pointsdespite being denied an outright victory by the weather. The result gives MadhyaPradesh the points advantagein the season opener, whileJ&K will need to address theirbatting struggles after failingto build substantial partnerships in either innings.

Houthi missile hits Aramco building in Saudi Arabia, four injured in Riyadh

New Delhi, Oct 14:A missile launched by Yemens Houthi movement struck a building belonging to Saudi Arabias state oil company Aramco in the eastern city of Dhahran overnight, escalating the confrontation between the Iran-backed group and the Saudi-led coalition, the BBC reported. Saudi Arabias Energy Ministry said the attack caused a limited fire in an administrative building at Aramcos headquarters. Saudi authorities also reported that several missiles and drones were intercepted elsewhere, while falling debris injured four people in the capital, Riyadh. The attack came after the Saudi-led coalition struck a fuel depot operated by the Yemen Petroleum Company at al-Sabaha, near the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, on Tuesday. The Houthis said they had targeted Aramco and Riyadhs airport in retaliation for the coalitions strike and warned that further attacks would follow in the coming days. The latest escalation has further heightened concerns over the security of Saudi Arabias energy infrastructure and the potential disruption of regional oil supplies and international shipping. BBC reported that International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that the intensifying conflict could have potentially negative spillovers for everybody, everywhere. The Saudi cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had vowed on Tuesday that the Houthis would bear the consequences of their recent attacks on the kingdom. The warning followed a missile strike on Riyadhs airport on Saturday that killed 13 people including an Indian. The Houthis have also claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Saudi airports, oil and gas facilities, and military bases. The group has said its attacks are retaliation for Saudi air strikes on areas under its control in western Yemen, including Sanaa. The renewed confrontation comes amid escalating fighting along Yemens Red Sea coast, including around the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a key gateway to the Suez Canal. The growing threat to energy facilities and shipping routes has raised concerns over wider regional instability and its implications for global trade. Yemen has been engulfed in civil war since 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa. The conflict escalated in 2015 after a Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the internationally recognised government.

Bureau of Indian Standards J&K celebrates World Standards Day

Jammu, Oct 14: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Jammu and Kashmir Branch Office, celebrated World Standards Day 2026 by organising *Manak Mahotsav* at Hotel Vivanta, Jammu City Centre, with a focus on affordable and clean energy. The programme was held under the theme Shared Vision for a Better World SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and brought together representatives from government departments, the power sector, industries, MSMEs, academia, consumer organisations and the media. Raj Kumar Chaudhary, Chairperson of the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, was the chief guest. He highlighted the importance of reliable electricity systems, quality infrastructure and standardisation in the power sector. In his welcome address, Jeevanandam D, Scientist E and Director and Head of BIS-JKBO, stressed the role of Indian Standards in improving energy efficiency, electrical safety and infrastructure reliability, particularly in renewable energy and power distribution. Referring to Jammu and Kashmirs hydropower potential, he highlighted projects including Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar and Ratle, emphasising the need for reliable equipment and safe installations. Technical sessions featured experts from IIT Jammu, REC Limited and NTPC Limited, who discussed power-system stability, energy initiatives, power generation and the transition towards cleaner energy. The Federation of Industries, Jammu, shared industry perspectives on standardisation and sustainable manufacturing. BIS also felicitated five organisations recognised as its first licensees under the branchs jurisdiction, along with Standards Club mentors, resource persons and media representatives for their contributions to quality awareness and consumer education. The programme featured student cultural performances and discussions on gold hallmarking, consumer protection and product quality. The celebration highlighted the role of Indian Standards in strengthening energy infrastructure, supporting electric mobility, promoting industrial development and protecting consumers. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Manish Kumar, Scientist D and Joint Director, BIS-JKBO.

DTDC launches Udaan initiative to boost market access for Kashmir businesses

Srinagar, Oct 14: DTDC Express Ltd., a leading logistics company, has launched its DTDC Udaan initiative in Kashmir to help local businesses, artisans and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) expand into domestic and international markets. The initiative aims to connect regional entrepreneurs with logistics, fulfilment and digital commerce services, enabling them to reach customers beyond the Valley. Kashmirs traditional products, including Pashmina shawls, GI-tagged saffron, handicrafts, dry fruits and willow sports equipment, have significant market potential but often face challenges related to shipping, distribution and access to wider markets. The launch event in Srinagar brought together 48 business owners and trade representatives from across the region. Participants included manufacturers of willow sports equipment, such as Tramboo Sports and Hangul Sports, alongside businesses dealing in traditional products and regional produce. Rajesh Nair, Business Head, North, DTDC, delivered the keynote address, followed by discussions on the companys logistics and digital commerce services. Abhishek Chakraborty, CEO of DTDC Express Ltd., said the initiative would bring logistics, technology and fulfilment capabilities closer to regional enterprises. He described Kashmir as the first chapter of DTDC Udaan, with plans to extend the initiative to other business ecosystems across India. The initiative integrates several services, including DTDC eCommerce for fulfilment, DTDC WorldWyde for international shipping to more than 220 destinations, and DTDC Raftaar for faster deliveries in serviceable markets. Its eDOT platform enables eligible businesses to complete onboarding and begin shipping in as little as 10 minutes. DTDC Udaan also incorporates Kaarigo, an e-commerce platform intended to help artisans, regional sellers and MSMEs establish an online presence and connect with customers beyond their immediate markets.

DG Local Fund Audit reviews financial compliance, audit, pension matters of ULBs Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 14: A meeting on audit issues, financial compliance and pension matters concerning Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Kashmir Division, was organized by the Dy. Director, Local Fund Audit and Pensions, Kashmir under the chairpersonship of Neeraj Gupta Bakshi, Director General, Local Fund Audit and Pensions, J&K. The meeting was attended by Syed Nadeem Iqbal, Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, Chief Executive Officers, Pay and Accounts Officers and Executive officers of Local Bodies of Kashmir division. The meeting was convened to review financial management and compliance with prescribed rules and procedures in Urban Local Bodies, identify areas requiring improvement, and strengthen transparency, accountability and the efficient utilisation of public funds. Emphasis was laid on the timely settlement of audit paras and submission of compliance reports. The officers concerned were advised to examine pending audit observations, take appropriate corrective measures and ensure compliance with applicable rules within the prescribed timelines. Pension-related matters, including verification of service records, maintenance of service books and timely processing of pension cases, were also reviewed. The need to ensure complete documentation, resolving pending issues and facilitation of timely settlement of pension cases in accordance with the prescribed rules was highlighted. Maheen Yasin, Deputy Director, Local Fund Audit and Pensions, Kashmir, presented key issues relating to financial administration, accounting practices, revenue realisation, procurement procedures and the execution of developmental works. The observations highlighted the need for greater attention to statutory compliance, systematic record maintenance and effective internal monitoring to ensure that public resources are utilised judiciously and in accordance with established norms. Deputy Director, Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, appreciated the initiative taken by the Organisation. He assured that all issues discussed during the meeting would be taken up at the Directorate level for issuance of necessary directions to subordinate offices to ensure compliance and timely implementation. He further informed that remedial measures, including the adoption of technology, had already been undertaken to ensure the smooth functioning of Municipalities. The Director General, Local Fund Audit and Pensions, J&K, emphasised the need for strict financial discipline, improved compliance with prescribed rules, result-oriented and performance oriented approach towards addressing all issues. She further underscored the importance of strengthening revenue augmentation and monitoring mechanisms, improving need for coordination among the concerned departments and ensuring that public expenditure is supported by proper records and adequate verification. The need to strengthen the capacity of officers and officials involved in financial administration was also highlighted by the Director General. She emphasised that the auditor is a friend and guide, and we need to closely develop and monitor best practices and share the same across the organisation to promote excellence and effective implementation of schemes.

Balance human needs with natures limits: Javid Rana

Srinagar, Oct 14:Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment and Tribal Affairs Javid Ahmad Rana on Wednesday called for responsible and holistic development of the Himalayan region, emphasising the need to balance human needs with environmental protection. Addressing the valedictory ceremony of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS) and Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Science Congress2026 at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Rana said, Mother Earth has enough to offer for everyones need, but not for anyones greed. He congratulated SKUAST-K on organising the event and underscored the role of civil society in advancing the vision of Viksit Jammu and Kashmir through sustainable and inclusive development. Held from October 12 to 14 under the theme Contouring Sustainable Himalayan Landscapes for Inclusive Viksit Bharat, the summit brought together policymakers, scientists, researchers and mountain development experts to deliberate on climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, ecological conservation and the draft Jammu and Kashmir Sustainable Mountain Development Policy. A special session featured panel discussions involving civil society representatives, former government officials and youth representatives, who shared their views on the priorities and provisions of the draft policy. Their recommendations are expected to contribute to refining the proposed framework to ensure it addresses the concerns and aspirations of diverse stakeholders. SKUAST-K Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai outlined the key provisions of the draft policy, including the classification of four mountain sensitivity zones, integration of 11 policy verticals, regulation of tourism in accordance with carrying capacity, introduction of an affordable green mountain cess and strengthening of interdepartmental coordination. He stressed the need to address unplanned, unregulated and unaccountable development in the Himalayan region. He also called for reforms in education to foster ecological responsibility among future generations. Dr. Rajan Kotru, Counsellor, Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI), presented the Summit Report, highlighting the outcomes of six technical sessions. He said the recommendations emerging from the deliberations would inform further refinement of the draft policy. Dr. Roshan Rai, Secretary, IMI, emphasised that inclusivity and equity must remain central to Himalayan development. Prof. P. D. Rai, former President of IMI, said the draft Jammu and Kashmir policy could strengthen policy advocacy and serve as a framework for other Himalayan states. Earlier, Prof. A. H. Mughal, Dean, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K, welcomed the dignitaries and acknowledged IMIs partnership in organising the summit and preparing the Summit Report and draft policy report. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Khursheed Ahmad Dar. The three-day summit highlighted the importance of linking scientific research with policymaking, with particular emphasis on indigenous knowledge, community participation and coordinated action to strengthen the resilience of Himalayan ecosystems and communities.

Bank loan rejections stall rooftop solar push in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 14:High loan rejection rates by Jammu and Kashmir Bank (J&K Bank) have emerged as a major hurdle in the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana in Kashmir, prompting Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to express dissatisfaction with the banks response and direct it to make concerted efforts to prevent applicants from abandoning the scheme. The issue was flagged by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) during a review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary on October 7, according to the official meeting document. 50% application has been rejected by J&K Bank which has pulled back the progress, the document records KPDCL as stating, highlighting the impact of loan rejections on the rooftop solar programme. A representative of J&K Bank cited several reasons for pending cases, including applicants inability to contribute margin money, requests for vendor changes and customers unwillingness to proceed. The explanation, however, did not satisfy the Chief Secretary, who directed the bank to intensify its efforts to resolve the cases and ensure that consumers do not drop out of the scheme. However, the chair (Chief Secretary )was not satisfied with J&K Bank's response and advised them to pull up and make all efforts so that customer/applicants does not move away, said an official who was part of the meeting. The review records that J&K Bank handles more than 95 per cent of loan applications under the scheme in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, making its role critical to accelerating rooftop solar adoption. The aggregate loan figures for Jammu and Kashmir, however, cover all banks. Of 61,566 applications submitted, 38,773 had been sanctioned and disbursed, 17,416 rejected and 5,367 remained under process. This means around 28 per cent of applications had been rejected, and nearly nine per cent were pending. Kashmir accounted for 14,232 rejected applications, compared with 3,184 in Jammu. The number of sanctioned and disbursed applications stood at 25,384 in Kashmir and 13,389 in Jammu. The Regional Office of J&K Bank in Jammu informed the review that several meetings had been held with the bank since July 30 to examine pendency at vendor and branch levels, including an ageing analysis of applications. Despite these efforts, the pendency had not improved significantly. A fresh analysis followed by further discussions with the bank was proposed. The administration is also considering a digital mechanism for submitting loan applications and communicating approvals or rejections through the national portal, reducing the need for applicants to visit bank branches physically. The proposed arrangement is intended to improve transparency and ensure compliance with prescribed turnaround times. The financing bottlenecks come as Jammu and Kashmir continues to expand residential rooftop solar installations under the scheme. As of October 5, 46,133 systems had been installed against a target of 83,500, while 42,686 had been commissioned across the Union Territory. The commissioned installations represent around 51 per cent of the overall target. KPDCL had installed 28,324 systems and commissioned 27,294 against its target of 44,000. Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) had installed 17,809 systems and commissioned 15,392 against a target of 39,500. The installed capacity stood at 165.24 MW, comprising 102.55 MW in KPDCL areas and 62.69 MW in JPDCL areas. The administration had received 89,680 applications against the installation target of 83,500. Of these, 82,591 applicants had selected vendors and 69,460 consumer agreements had been uploaded. The gap between applications received and commissioned systems highlights the need to accelerate loan processing, installation and commissioning. Beneficiaries had received Rs 344.14 crore in central subsidies and Rs 13 crore in Union Territory subsidies, taking the combined subsidy disbursement to Rs 357.14 crore. The review also identified delays in changing vendors as a major concern for consumers seeking to proceed with rooftop solar installations. Under the existing process, consumers who have uploaded vendor agreements and applied for bank loans may have to wait for the prescribed 45-day period before changing vendors, subject to the applicable portal provisions. The Chief Secretary sought a review of the timeline and asked the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to examine whether an alternative mechanism could address consumer difficulties without undermining the purpose of the waiting period. The distribution companies were also directed to ensure adequate vendor availability across districts. Deputy Commissioners were asked to identify local bottlenecks and coordinate with the concerned agencies to accelerate implementation. The review also examined progress under the Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model, for which the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has conveyed in-principle approval for 2,22,568 installations in Jammu and Kashmir. Installations had been identified for 1,85,568 households, leaving a gap of 37,000 against the approved scope. JPDCL had identified all 77,568 installations allocated to it, while KPDCL had identified 1,08,000 against its allocation of 1,45,000. JPDCL had finalised nine firms covering 10 districts through 20 tender packages. KPDCL had completed reverse auctions in six districts, while the tendering process faced portal-related delays in Srinagar, Pulwama, Ganderbal and Shopian. The review proposed adopting a 25-year Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) period across all 20 districts, noting that tariffs discovered for 10 years were higher than those for 25 years. The discovered tariffs were proposed to be placed before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for approval, followed by the issuance of Letters of Intent to successful bidders, subject to the required approvals. Separately, the administration reviewed plans to solarise 8,000 government buildings with a proposed capacity of 152 MW under the RESCO model. The Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) and NHPC have been assigned responsibility for implementing the programme, with each agency covering 50 per cent of the buildings. JAKEDA had placed work orders covering 5,185 buildings. The review called for Power Purchase Agreements to be executed and work implemented at the earliest. It also noted that tariffs discovered under the JAKEDA process ranged from Rs 4.19 to Rs 5.20 per unit.