Opinion

Proposed Rent a Cab reforms to expand business opportunities and improve passenger services

New Delhi, Nov 13: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed reforms to make cab rental businesses easier to start and operate, expand rental choices and strengthen passenger safety. The proposed framework combines simpler procedures with better customer support. Key provisions Easier entry and more choice: Operators may offer cabs with or without drivers. The minimum fleet falls from 50 to 5, with at least 2 cabs per place of operation. The requirement for branches in five tourist cities is removed. One electronic licence: A single licence, valid across the State or UT for a uniform fee, replaces separate main and branch licences. Approved places of operation may include airports, stations and bus terminals. Timely approvals: Licence grants and renewals have a proposed 60-day timeline. Adding or removing cabs or places of operation has a 30-day deemed-approval mechanism. Less paperwork: Electronic VAHAN registers and automatic data retrieval simplify compliance. Safer journeys: Cabs must have location tracking, child restraint systems (optional) and first-aid kits. Operators must provide a website, 24-hour grievance support, emergency repairs and towing. Driver welfare and accountability: Operator-provided drivers would require police verification, with welfare under the Code on Social Security, 2020. Specified serious offences involving a cab or operator-provided driver will reduce operators licence validity. Fairer enforcement and easier appeals: Operators get time to correct non-material violations before suspension or revocation is considered. An appellate mechanism with electronic hearings is also introduced. Intended impact Ease of Living: Wider rental choices, safety equipment and round-the-clock grievance support will benefit renters. Ease of Doing Business: Lower entry barriers and simpler licensing will support smaller businesses and employment opportunities. Stakeholders affected Renters, operators, drivers and State and UT transport authorities. Implementation requirements State and UT oversight, electronic licensing and VAHAN records will support implementation.

Turkiye's president calls war in Gaza 'ecocide' at UN climate summit

Antalya, Nov 13: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the world to recognise the environmental impacts of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and asked the Israeli government to grant more aid access to the Palestinian territory. Erdogan was speaking on Wednesday at the UN climate summit, known as COP31, in Antalya, Turkiye. What has taken place in Gaza is not only a genocide, but it is also an ecocide, Erdogan said to applause by world leaders and other climate envoys. A UN-backed panel of independent experts concluded last year that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Israel vehemently denies the allegations and has accused the panel of antisemitism. Centuries old olive trees have been cut down. The soil and water have been polluted in Gaza, and cities in Gaza have been turned into enormous piles of rubble, Erdogan said. With Gaza's destroyed infrastructure, compounded by torrential rain and by flooding, tens of thousands of tents and shelters have been inundated. Israel's Foreign Ministry responded in a post on X, accusing Erdogan of using an international forum to push his anti-Israel campaign of lies and of supporting Hamas. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza following attacks by Hamas-led militants in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Militants killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Those who truly care about Gaza should demand that Hamas disarm so reconstruction can begin, the statement read. Israel wasn't invited to COP31. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 74,000 people, according to local health authorities, and destroyed much of Gaza. The Health Ministry, part of Gaza's Hamas-run government, doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, but says women and children make up nearly half of the dead. Erdogan has been an outspoken critic of Israel, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Erdogan an antisemitic tyrant. The latest country to become a superspreader of antisemitic lies is Turkiye, Netanyahu said in September while speaking at the UN General Assembly. In recent days, heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding destroyed many of the tents and makeshift shelters that Palestinian residents now live in. At least four people were killed earlier this week when a sand embankment collapsed on their shelter. The rain also left many displaced people without food, drinking water or a dry place to sleep. Humanitarian aid enters the territory, but imports remain far below levels before the start of the Israel-Hamas war -- and many items remain blocked by Israel. A 2025 report by the UN Environment Program also outlined the devastating reality of Gaza's environment since the war began. Remote sensing assessments showed that by May 2025, more than 97 per cent of the tree crops, 82 per cent of annual crops, 95 per cent of shrubland and 89 per cent of grass and fallow land had been damaged, according to the UNEP report. As of now, our families only have 3 per cent of cropland to use, and that is assuming it's distributed across 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, said Mohammed Usrof, co-founder and executive director of the Palestinian Institute for Climate Strategy. Not talking about these losses undermines Palestinians' food supply, livelihoods and ability to remain on their land, Usrof said. The territory's ability to dispose of garbage, treat sewage and deliver clean water has been virtually decimated by three years of war. This has made grim living conditions worse and raised health risks for hundreds of thousands of people deprived of adequate shelter, food and medicine, aid groups say. The conflict has all but eliminated Gazan fishing livelihoods, the report said, highlighting how marine ecosystems have been contaminated with munitions, sewage and solid waste. For people in Gaza, this translates into severely limited access to safe drinking water, greater exposure to waterborne diseases and toxic substances, deepening food insecurity and the loss of livelihoods dependent on agriculture and fishing, Ghiwa Nakat, executive director at Greenpeace MENA, told The Associated Press. Nakat also warned that Gaza's environment could take years to recover. The environmental damage will not end when the war ends, Nakat said. Contaminated soil and groundwater, destroyed ecosystems and the collapse of essential environmental infrastructure could undermine public health, food security and livelihoods for generations, threatening communities' resilience and their ability to recover. World leaders began formal talks at COP31 this week, seeking agreement on concrete steps to curb global warming after a year of deadly floods, heat waves and other climate-related disasters. More than 70 world leaders and senior government officials are speaking at the summit, though some key leaders are absent, including heads of state from the United States, China and India.

Mughal road remains closed for second consecutive day due to snowfall at Pir Ki Gali

Poonch, Nov 13: The Mughal Road remained closed for the second consecutive day on Friday due to snowfall at Pir Ki Gali. Officials said that the road, which connects Shopian in Kashmir with Poonch in Jammu, was closed yesterday after fresh snowfall at Pir Ki Gali and other higher reaches. Snowfall was also recorded at many places including Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Razdan Top and other higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir. Traffic movement on the road has been suspended till the weather improves and snow clearance operations are completed. Authorities have advised commuters not to travel on the Mughal Road until it is reopened.(GNS)

Jensen Huang, global salesman for artificial intelligence, resigns from Nvidia after affair

Hong Kong, Nov 12: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigned Thursday, capping a spectacular downfall for a poster boy of the artificial intelligence boom whose exit following reports of extramarital affairs now thrusts the chipmaker into an uncertain future. After a dizzying series of headlines about Huang's infidelity and ties to an alleged Chinese spy, his departure sets off a scramble to find a permanent replacement to lead the multitrillion-dollar colossus that grew from obscurity to a perch between Apple and Microsoft at the top of the S&P index. The resignation sent shares of Nvidia plummeting 14 per cent at the opening bell, before stabilizing. The stock was down about 4 per cent around midday Thursday as investors pondered the lawsuits, investigations, likely corporate jockeying and the resilience of a market driven by the gains of a few tech giants. Huang's departure introduces uncertainty well beyond the company itself, said Asa Hiken, senior analyst for research firm eMarketer, reflecting fears of wider implications and the possibility of an AI bubble. The company named Colette Kress, the executive vice president and chief financial officer, as interim chief executive. She became CFO in 2013, overseeing the company's global finance operations. Before that, she worked for three years at Cisco and spent 13 years at Microsoft. Nvidia had no succession plan to prepare for the possibility of the departure of Huang, who was synonymous with Nvidia for more than 30 years in much the same way Steve Jobs embodied Apple. Nvidia said its board would consider internal and external candidates to replace him. In a statement Thursday, Kress said that Nvidia's strength has always come from its people and that she was committed to building on the extraordinary foundation Jensen created over the last 33 years. The board of directors said Thursday it had also named its first-ever chairman, Harvey C. Jones, an entrepreneur and venture investor. Drumbeat of scandals grew louder Huang is one of the world's wealthiest people, with a personal fortune that Forbes estimates at more than USD 150 billion. He is the single largest individual shareholder of Nvidia stock. A drumbeat of scandals around him had grown louder in recent weeks after The New York Times reported Huang's relationship with a woman the paper said US officials had concluded was a Chinese spy who was recruited to influence California-based Nvidia to make its most advanced chips more available in China. The discovery set off alarms as high as the White House. US President Donald Trump said Monday that the FBI was investigating but remained complimentary of Huang on Thursday, saying he has done a fantastic job. Like many top tech CEOs, Huang is close to Trump. Nvidia's board announced an investigation into the allegations on Sunday, but said it remained confident in Huang's leadership. Then pressure compounded late Wednesday after reports surfaced of another alleged affair by Huang, this time with an Nvidia employee who reported to him. The company has said it had no reason to believe that either national security or its secrets were compromised, but that its inquiry would examine all available information. Nvidia is due to report earnings Tuesday. Lawmakers still want to question Huang After Huang's exit, US lawmakers were still insisting on questioning him about his interactions with a Chinese businesswoman named Alice Huang and the company's security protocols against espionage. Rep. Brian Mast, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said the committee was in contact with Huang's team as recently as Wednesday night after putting in an initial request for an interview on Nov. 5. Mast said Huang would receive a subpoena to compel his appearance, if necessary. Alice Huang, the suspected spy at the center of the scandal, is a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed International. Jensen Huang acknowledged an affair but did not identify her. The two are not related. Megaspeed faced allegations last year that it was illicitly shipping advanced Nvidia computer chips into China, but in December said there was no evidence of such exports. Singaporean authorities said Thursday that they questioned Alice Huang and confiscated her passport last year as part of an investigation into Megaspeed. They concluded that there wasn't enough evidence that she had committed a crime but suspected she provided inaccurate information to downplay her role at Megaspeed and barred her from returning to the country. China denies attempting to ensnare executive China has denied that it attempted to ensnare Jensen Huang. Nvidia has become a leader in making chips that power AI, and Huang has lobbied Washington to loosen limits on sales of Nvidia chips to China. In January, he won Trump's approval to sell Nvidia's H200 chips to China. Megaspeed said Thursday that it has cooperated with the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which handles enforcement of national security restrictions on technology exports, and was ready to cooperate fully with any other relevant US government authority. The company said it has hired a US law firm to conduct a comprehensive census of its computer chips and to verify its export controls. Megaspeed welcomes appropriate government scrutiny and is committed to demonstrating through concrete actions that it operates responsibly, transparently, and in accordance with applicable US laws, it said. Apart from questions over national security, Megaspeed's finances also have drawn attention. Its total assets soared roughly 90-fold from late 2023 to 2024, to almost USD 3 billion, according to Singapore corporate records. Revenue surged to over USD 294 million in 2024 from none in 2023.

AIP reviews party expansion, expresses hope for early verdict on Er Rashids bail plea

Srinagar, Nov 12: The Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Thursday convened an Executive Committee meeting in Srinagar under the chairmanship of Party Vice Chairman Advocate G N Shaheen. The meeting, as per a statement, was attended by General Secretary (Org) Prince Parveez General Secretary Nazir Ahmad Khan, Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, State Secretary Sheikh Ashiq, senior party leaders including MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed, Peerzada Firdous Ahmad Baba, Mir Nazir Ahmad, Parvez Ahmad Bhat and Advocate Dawood Ahmad. The Executive Committee expressed concern over the continued incarceration of Party President and Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid. Taking note of the fact that the Delhi High Court has reserved its judgment on his regular bail application, the committee expressed hope that the verdict would be delivered at the earliest, paving the way for his release and enabling an elected Member of Parliament to resume his public responsibilities. The meeting also reviewed the ongoing membership drive across Jammu and Kashmir. Members expressed satisfaction over the encouraging public response and described the growing interest in joining the party as a positive indication of its expanding organisational reach. Detailed discussions were also held on strengthening the party organisation, reviewing existing party structures and improving coordination at different levels. Special emphasis was laid on expanding AIPs organisational presence and building a stronger base across the Jammu Province. The Executive Committee reiterated its commitment to organisational consolidation, grassroots outreach and strengthening the partys presence across all regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP Kashmir spokespersons meet Sunil Sethi to discuss political situation, party strategy

Srinagar, Nov 12:The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Kashmir-based spokespersons on Thursday held a meeting with the party's Jammu and Kashmir Chief Spokesperson, Sunil Sethi, to discuss the prevailing political scenario and key organisational matters in the Union Territory. The meeting, as per a statement, was attended by BJP spokespersons Altaf Thakur, Manzoor Bhat, Sahil Bashir and Danish Bhat. Party spokesperson Pramoksh Sethi was also present. The interaction featured a brief but wide-ranging discussion on the evolving political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, with particular focus on important political developments and issues concerning the party's organisational functioning. The participants exchanged views on the prevailing political atmosphere and the need for effective communication of the party's positions on matters of public importance. The discussion also touched upon organisational priorities and the role of party spokespersons in presenting its policies, responding to political developments and taking its message to the people. The meeting assumes significance amid an evolving political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, where political parties are seeking to consolidate their positions and strengthen their public engagement. Spokespersons play an important role in shaping the party's public narrative, articulating its response to emerging issues and communicating its stand on governance, development and political developments. Their coordination is particularly important in a politically sensitive region where public discourse frequently revolves around governance, employment, development and the restoration of statehood. The interaction with Sethi provided an opportunity for the Kashmir-based spokespersons to exchange perspectives on the current political environment and discuss organisational matters with the party's senior communication leadership. The meeting concluded with discussions on the importance of maintaining coordination and ensuring that the party's views and positions are communicated effectively across the region.

Rs 5.09 crore released for developmental works: MP Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan

Srinagar, Nov 12:MP and Leader J&K National Conference Party in Rajya Sabha, Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan has taken strong exception to the incorrect and misleading reports circulated by certain news channels and digital news portals regarding the utilisation of his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds. As per a statement issued, he clarified that the figures being circulated, showing an expenditure of merely 26 lakh, are entirely misleading and far removed from the actual financial position and the developmental initiatives undertaken through his MPLADS allocations. Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan explained that he took oath as a Member of Parliament on 1 December 2025. The process of obtaining access to and securing the release of MPLADS funds involves several mandatory formalities, including the selection of a nodal district, completion of requisite administrative procedures and creation of the MPLADS account. The entire process takes approximately five to six months, following which the funds are released and made available for developmental works. The actual funds became available only few months ago. He further clarified that MPLADS-funded works involve several administrative and procedural requirements, including examination of proposals, approval by the concerned authorities and tendering. Consequently, a substantial number of works are presently at different stages of the tendering process. This is a procedural requirement and should not be misconstrued as non-utilisation or lack of developmental activity. As per the revised financial statement, against the total available funds of 7.35 crore, an amount of 5.091 crore has been released. The MPLADS allocations have been extended across different districts including Srinagar, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara and Budgam covering a wide range of public welfare and developmental sectors. These include drinking water supply, road connectivity, electricity, construction and improvement of pathways, solar and street lights, fire and emergency services, hospital equipment, block-level development works, protection walls, culverts and assistance under the disability fund. Furthermore, an allocation of 60 lakh for SKIMS Soura has also been made for developmental purposes, and the project is presently under the tendering process. Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan emphasised that MPLADS funds are being channelled towards addressing essential public needs and strengthening basic infrastructure across different areas. Several works are at different stages of execution, while others are undergoing administrative and tendering processes. He also pointed out that the same procedural timeline and administrative requirements apply to his fellow Members of Parliament belonging to the party, whose developmental proposals are similarly at different stages of processing and tendering. The actual status of these works can be independently verified from the concerned Deputy Commissioners of Different Districts who are the nodal authorities responsible for MPLADS implementation. Therefore, portraying the entire MPLADS utilisation through a selective figure of 26 lakh, without considering the broader financial position and developmental allocations, presents a grossly distorted picture. He urged the concerned news channels and digital news portals to exercise due diligence, verify official records before publishing financial figures and immediately correct the misleading report which have been Circulated/published.

CM Omar Abdullah working to address public issues: NC

Srinagar, Nov 12:The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Thursday urged the Divisional Administration to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential commodities during the winter season, including electricity, drinking water, quality food supplies, cooking gas and firewood. Party's provincial President Showkat Mir, as per a party statement issued, said that adequate stocks should be made available to the public, particularly residents of remote and snowbound areas, so that they do not face hardships during the harsh winter months. He said that the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is working to address the difficulties and problems faced by the people. He said that development activities are underway across the region with the objective of improving public welfare and ensuring people's well-being. He added that the National Conference government believes in delivering relief to people at the grassroots level rather than making tall promises. He said that several areas in the Kashmir Valley and North Kashmir, including Machil, Tangdhar, Keran and Gurez, as well as Marwah, Warwan and Dachhan in the Jammu region, often remain cut off due to heavy snowfall, causing immense difficulties for residents. Keeping these challenges in view, he urged the government to take effective and timely measures to ensure that sufficient stocks of essential food items, medicines and other medical supplies are delivered to these areas well in advance.

Board of Peace urges Israel, Hamas to protect civilians after Gaza hospital strike kills seven

New Delhi, Nov 13:At least seven people, including a doctor and a 13-year-old boy, were killed and 40 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, prompting the US-led Board of Peace to urge Israel and Hamas to honour their commitments under the Comprehensive Peace Plan and protect civilians, reports CNN. The strike, hit the hospital's surgery unit in Khan Younis, according to Gaza's Civil Defence. Two doctors were among the injured and are in critical condition. The Board of Peace, which is tasked with overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, on Thursday called on both sides to uphold their commitments and ensure civilian protection. It also urged all parties to cede the necessary authority and operational space to the board so that it could implement its plan to provide medical care in secure, demilitarised facilities. The board's intervention comes amid continuing violence in Gaza despite the US-brokered ceasefire. According to the United Nations, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,400 Palestinians since the ceasefire came into effect. The Israeli military said it had targeted Muhammad Abu Ismail, commander of Hamas' Khan Younis Brigade, along with other militants allegedly operating from inside Nasser Hospital. It accused him of planning and advancing attacks against Israeli forces and civilians. CNN reported that Gaza Civil Defence spokesman Ezz Eddine Abu Sabha said the strike killed 52-year-old Dr Rizk Abu Shaira and a 13-year-old boy who was due to undergo surgery. He said the attack damaged the hospital's surgery unit, leaving debris scattered across the facility. The attack drew angry reactions from Palestinians aand international organisations. The Board of Peace criticised Israel's response to severe flooding in Gaza, calling it insufficient. In a statement, the board said the urgent entry and distribution of shelter, sanitation, drainage and winterisation supplies were essential to protecting civilians as seasonal rains flooded thousands of tents housing displaced Palestinians. Nearly two million Palestinians remain displaced in the enclave, according to the United Nations. Israel has said more than 91,000 tents have entered Gaza ahead of winter but has refused to allow heavy equipment required for large-scale clearance of debris and rubble. Israel's Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories said reconstruction could begin only after Hamas fully disarms, reports CNN. The latest developments underline the challenges facing the Board of Peace as it seeks to oversee the ceasefire, address Gaza's humanitarian crisis and establish arrangements for medical care and reconstruction.

PM Modi, Rajnath Singh attend wedding reception of Dogra royal family scion in Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and several other prominent political leaders attended the wedding reception of Rajkumar Martand Singh, son of former J&K minister Vikramaditya Singh, and Rhea Badal, daughter of senior BJP leader Manpreet Singh Badal, in New Delhi. The reception brought together several top senior political leaders, members of former royal families, diplomats, industrialists and spiritual leaders. PM Modi congratulated the newly married couple and interacted with members of both families. Among those present were Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is the grooms maternal uncle, and Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Justice of India T S Thakur, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur also attended the reception. US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy Sergio Gor, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal were among the other prominent guests. Spiritual leader and head of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, also blessed the couple. Members of former royal families of Gwalior, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bastar and Patiala were among those attending the celebration. Martand Singh is the son of Vikramaditya Singh and Chitrangada Raje, elder sister of Jyotiraditya Scindia, and grandson of former Union Minister Dr Karan Singh. Rhea Badal is the daughter of Manpreet Singh Badal and Vinu Badal. Vikramaditya Singh and Chitrangada Raje thanked Prime Minister Modi and other dignitaries for attending the reception and blessing the newlyweds.

Meeting convened to streamline preparations for 70th National School Games

Jammu, Nov 12:Joint Director, Youth Services and Sports, Jammu, Inderjeet Singh Parihar, Thursday convened a high-level meeting of conveners and officials of various committees to review and streamline preparations for the 70th National School Games U-17 Girls Cricket Tournament, scheduled to be organised by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports at Jammu from November 15 to November 20, 2026. Addressing the meeting, Parihar, as per a statement, directed the committee members to work with utmost dedication, coordination and professional excellence to ensure that the prestigious national-level tournament is conducted in a befitting manner. He emphasised that the event should not only meet the highest standards of organisation but also leave a lasting impression on the visiting players, coaches and officials. The Joint Director exhorted the conveners to lead from the front and ensure safe, comfortable and hospitable arrangements for the contingents arriving from different parts of the country. He said that every possible effort must be made to make the visiting athletes feel at home, adding that their comfort, security and overall experience should remain the top priority of all committees. Issuing strict directions to the Technical Committee, Parihar asked its members to set a benchmark in the conduct of the tournament and ensure that all matches are organised in accordance with the prescribed rules, protocols and sporting standards. He said that meticulous planning, timely execution and seamless coordination among all stakeholders would be crucial to the success of the event. The conveners of various committees briefed the chair that all requisite arrangements have been put in place to conduct the championship in a most befitting manner. They assured the Joint Director of their full commitment and readiness to extend all possible support for the smooth conduct of the tournament. Reiterating the Governments commitment to the promotion of sports across every nook and corner of the Union Territory, Parihar said that the Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, and Director General, Youth Services and Sports, J&K, Anuradha Gupta, have been leaving no stone unturned to translate this commitment into concrete action on the ground. Lauding the initiatives taken by the Department under the dynamic leadership of the Director General YSS, the Joint Director said that the floodlit matches, conceptualised by Anuradha Gupta, will illuminate Jammu city and its adjoining areas from November 15, 2026 onwards. He said the initiative will not only add grandeur to the championship but also provide an enthralling spectacle for sports lovers and the general public. Describing the visiting athletes as ambassadors of their respective States and Union Territories, Parihar said that their conduct, participation and experience would reflect the sporting spirit and hospitality of Jammu and Kashmir. He called upon all officials to extend courteous, efficient and athlete-friendly services throughout the tournament. The meeting, among others, was attended by Assistant Director, Virender Kumar; District Youth Services and Sports Officers (DYSSOs); Lecturers; and Zonal Physical Education Officers.

PCHSS, VMS organise wheelchair basketball match

Srinagar, Nov 12:The scoreboard may have recorded a winner, but the real victory at Presentation Convent Higher Secondary School (PCHSS) belonged to inclusion, friendship and the spirit of sport. In a heart-warming initiative, Friends of Nano (PCHSS), in collaboration with Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS), organised a friendly wheelchair basketball match on the PCHSS campus, bringing together PCHSS girls and women with diverse physical disabilities from VMS. As per a statement issued, Bisma Qazi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic, Srinagar, graced the event as the chief guest. In an engaging and spirited contest, the women representing Voluntary Medicare Society emerged victorious. However, the occasion was much more than the final score. It was about discovering common ground, building friendships and celebrating the joy of participation. For the VMS women, the match offered an opportunity to showcase their sporting abilities, inclusion, determination and team spirit. For the PCHSS girls, it was a meaningful experience of understanding disability and inclusion through interaction, teamwork and friendly competition. The winning team (VMS) was awarded with trophy, certificates and medals recognising their enthusiasm, participation and sportsmanship. Principal Sr Mary Jarsi, acknowledged that experiences like these leave a lasting impression on young minds. She emphasised that education is also about learning kindness, respect and acceptance, and that her students would carry the lessons of this shared sporting experience beyond the school gates. Masooda Yaseen, Vice President VMS, expressed her delight at seeing the women take to the court with such confidence and enthusiasm. She highlighted that women with disabilities have much to offer when given the right opportunities. She emphasised that they should be recognised for their talents, achievements and contributions rather than defined by their disabilities. Bisma Qazi appreciated the spirit displayed by all the participants and remarked that Kashmir needs more initiatives like this that bring people together and make inclusion part of everyday life. She emphasised that every woman, irrespective of her physical abilities, deserves the opportunity to participate, pursue her aspirations and be part of society without barriers. The event offered a simple yet powerful reminder that inclusion is not merely about providing access; it is about creating spaces where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to participate. As the players left the court, they carried home something more valuable than the result of a matchthe experience of being together, competing as equals and celebrating one another.

Gold falls Rs 2,200 to Rs 1.43 lakh/10gm; silver remains steady

New Delhi, Nov 12:Gold prices extended their losing streak for the third session, declining by Rs 2,200 to Rs 1.43 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday as persistent weakness in the domestic market weighed on bullion. The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity depreciated by Rs 2,200 to Rs 1,43,400 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Wednesdays close of Rs 1,45,600 per 10 grams, according to local traders. Silver, however, remained unchanged at Rs 1,87,500 per kg. Traders said gold prices remained under pressure amid subdued buying interest and a decline in international rates. In global markets, spot prices slipped below USD 3,950 an ounce, down by USD 39.93, or 1 per cent, amid a strong US dollar, adding pressure on the bullion, Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst - Commodities at HDFC Securities, said. Silver fell by 1.17 per cent to USD 51.06 an ounce. Praveen Singh, Head of Commodities at Mirae Asset Sharekhan, said that if the dollar index decisively breaches the stiff resistance around 103, it could rise to 104.50, intensifying downside pressure on the precious metal. The US dollar index traded lower at 102.88 on Thursday.

Tourism Department Kashmir introduces Junior Golf initiative in Gulmarg

Gulmarg, Nov 12: The Department of Tourism Kashmir has introduced a Junior Golf initiative at Gulmarg to encourage young local talent and promote grassroots participation in the sport. The initiative, launched alongside the Winter Caddy Golf Tournament 2026, will see junior golf sessions organised every weekend, providing local students an opportunity to learn and experience the game. As per a statement issued, the event was graced by MLA Gulmarg, Farooq Ahmad Shah, as the Chief Guest, while MLA Pattan, Javed Reyaz Bedar, and Director Tourism Kashmir, Syed Qamar Sajjad, attended as Guests of Honour. The tournament was formally inaugurated with the ceremonial tee-off by the Chief Guest, marking the commencement of the sporting activities. The event was specially organised in recognition of the invaluable services rendered by golf caddies, who play an important role in supporting and promoting golf tourism in Gulmarg. The initiative provided them with an opportunity to participate in the sport and showcase their own golfing abilities. Competitions were organised for caddies, with winners felicitated through awards and cash prizes. A major highlight of the event was the Junior Golf Initiative, aimed at introducing local children to the sport and nurturing young golfing talent in Gulmarg. Students in the age group of 1218 years participated enthusiastically in the junior golf activities. Dedicated junior golf kits were also made available to encourage their participation and provide them with an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the game. As part of this initiative, regular golf learning sessions will be organised for the participating children every weekend, providing them with sustained exposure to the sport and an opportunity to develop their skills under proper guidance. A separate competition was also organised for the junior participants, with winners receiving awards. Reaffirming its commitment towards responsible tourism and environmental conservation, the Directorate also undertook a cleanliness-oriented initiative during the event, distributing paper bags to promote environmentally responsible practices and encourage visitors and stakeholders to help keep Gulmarg clean. Through this initiative, the Directorate of Tourism Kashmir sought to combine sports promotion with community participation, recognising the contribution of local stakeholders while creating opportunities for the younger generation to engage with golf. The event reflects the Directorate's continued efforts to position Gulmarg not only as a premier winter tourism destination but also as a centre for sporting activities, youth engagement and sustainable tourism practices.

SKUAST-Kashmir trains 70 Kishtwar farmers in modern horticulture practices

Srinagar, Nov 12:Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) organised an exposure programme for 70 farmers from Kishtwar district to familiarise them with scientific horticultural practices, sustainable orchard management and digital agricultural advisory services. The programme was organised by the Directorate of Extension in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture, Kishtwar, as part of a five-day educational exposure visit. The delegation comprised 60 farmers sponsored under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and 10 under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA). During the programme, farmers were sensitised to vermicomposting, scientific apple orchard management and high-density apple cultivation, with particular emphasis on improving soil health, optimising resource utilisation and enhancing orchard productivity. They were also introduced to digital extension services, particularly the universitys AI-powered e-Plant Health Clinic App, which provides expert guidance on crop health, pest and disease management, nutrient deficiencies and improved horticultural practices. The programme concluded with an interactive session during which farmers highlighted field-level challenges and discussed practical solutions to improve orchard productivity and farm incomes.

SBI General Insurance steps up road safety initiatives in Ladakh

Leh, Nov 12:SBI General Insurance has launched a road safety and emergency healthcare initiative in Ladakh in collaboration with humanitarian organisation Doers, the Ladakh Police and the Health Department to strengthen emergency medical response and promote safer roads in the region. As part of the initiative, the company handed over a fully equipped Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance to the Health Department on October 28 to ensure timely medical assistance to road accident victims during the critical golden hour. The ambulance was flagged off at Sonam Norboo Memorial (SNM) Hospital in Leh under the project titled Road Safety: Ambulances in the Indian Himalayan Region. Recognising the challenges posed by Ladakhs high-altitude terrain, long distances between settlements and extreme weather conditions, the initiative also focuses on accident prevention and improving road safety infrastructure. Under the programme, 40 retro-reflective road safety warning signboards have been installed at accident-prone locations identified in coordination with the Ladakh Police. The signboards are aimed at alerting motorists to potential hazards and encouraging safer driving practices, particularly on vulnerable stretches used by residents, tourists and other travellers. The flag-off ceremony was attended by Dr Laltinkhuma Franklin, IAS, Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, Union Territory of Ladakh. Dr Rinchen Chosdol, Chief Medical Officer, Leh; Shatrughna Singh, Head of Compliance, SBI General Insurance; and Anuradha Bhardwaj, Head of Programmes, Doers, were also present, along with representatives of the concerned departments and organisations. Speaking on the initiative, Rathin Lahiri, Head-Marketing and CSR, SBI General Insurance, said timely emergency support could save lives in a region like Ladakh, where difficult terrain and long distances often delay access to medical care. He said the companys responsibility extended beyond providing insurance to supporting communities through interventions addressing critical needs on the ground. Through the initiative, SBI General Insurance aims to strengthen emergency response mechanisms and promote safer roads in Ladakh, while working in partnership with Doers, the Ladakh Police and the Health Department. The programme will also be extended to six other Himalayan statesHimachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Uttarakhandto strengthen road safety measures and emergency medical response across the Himalayan region.

Where Faith Finds a Common Tongue

A one-day conference organised by Maraaz Adbi Sangam, a respected cultural forum of South Kashmir, on December 10, 2026, asked a question that is at once literary, historical and urgently contemporary: what can Kashmirs spiritual and intellectual inheritance contribute to the future of its society? Any serious answer must place Hazrat Sheikh-ul-Alam Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA), revered as Nund Rishi, at its centre, together with Lal Ded, the mystic poetess who preceded him. Their significance lies first in the ethical imagination they gave voice to in Kashmiri. Neither spoke in the courtly Persian or the learned Sanskrit of their age. Through the Shruks and Vakhs, philosophy, devotion and moral instruction entered the language of the field, the spinning wheel and the hearth. Sheikh-ul-Alam spoke of greed, vanity, injustice and hypocrisy, and of the distance between professed belief and lived character. He affirmed humility, restraint, compassion, labour and responsibility towards every living being. Such verse is memorable because it compresses experience into an ethical proposition that can be recited, remembered and tested against everyday life. That is why it became a repository of collective memory, and why many Kashmiris, Hindu and Muslim alike, still carry a few of these verses on the tip of the tongue. The bond between the two saints is told in Kashmiri memory through a tender tradition. The new-born Nund is said to have refused his mothers milk until Lal Ded nursed him. Whatever its historical weight, the story is a parable of spiritual motherhood. Sheikh-ul-Alam himself, in a well-known Shruk, remembers the Lalla of Padmanpora as one who drank deep of divine nectar and prays for a share of her grace. A Muslim saint honouring a Shaiva yogini in such words says a great deal about the society that produced him. This reverence is more than literary courtesy. It points to a culture in which spiritual authority could be recognised across inherited boundaries. Muslims know her as Lalla Arifa, Pandits as Lalleshwari, and ordinary Kashmiris simply as Lal Ded, Mother Lalla. That reverence still marks our public life. The maternity hospital in Srinagar carries her name, as do residential colonies, including those in predominantly Muslim neighbourhoods. When the Afghan governor struck coins in Sheikh-ul-Alams name in the early nineteenth century, he was recognising a devotion that no ruler had commanded. Tradition holds that Pandits regarded Nund Rishi as a sanyasi in all but name, while Muslims call his Shruks the Koshur Quran. Speakers at the conference rightly cautioned against a lazy reading of this history. Lal Deds idiom drew upon Kashmir Shaivism, while Sheikh-ul-Alam spoke within an Islamic framework shaped by the Rishi tradition. Their Vakhs and Shruks emerged from distinct religious and philosophical locations and should not be collapsed into a single doctrine. Their relationship is evidence not that differences had disappeared, but that differences need not prevent mutual recognition. The shared mother tongue did not erase theological distinctions. It let wisdom travel across them. This is a far more durable understanding of syncretism than the convenient claim that all traditions are identical. Kashmirs plural inheritance rests on dialogue, ethical affinity and respect. Mere tolerance, which grudgingly puts up with the other, falls short of that standard. What united the two was a turn inward. Lal Ded mocked ritual that had gone hollow, asking what a stone idol could do for a restless mind, and she insisted that the Divine does not distinguish between Hindu and Muslim. Sheikh-ul-Alam taught that the Creator is One and that the real enemy is the unruly self, in the form of greed, anger, lust and pride. Both challenged empty formalism and directed attention to truthfulness and the transformation of the self. This is why their message bears so directly on peaceful co-existence. Conviction need not become contempt, and identity need not depend upon denigrating another. A person who has mastered his own ego has little appetite for hating his neighbour. Kashmiriyat, speakers noted, should therefore not be reduced to a slogan or an idealised picture of a conflict-free past. It is a living ethical inheritance, sustained when people practise dignity, fairness, hospitality and regard for one another. The shared reverence for these saints is a powerful cultural resource, but it cannot substitute for justice, equal citizenship or protection of the vulnerable. Nor should either legacy be appropriated to silence legitimate differences, or flattened into a generic symbol of harmony that strips the saints of their time and place. A culture is plural only when its weakest member feels secure. The same moral vocabulary extends to the land. The Rishi traditions emphasis on simplicity, service and reverence for life offered a critique of domination and ostentation, and Sheikh-ul-Alams ecological sensibility speaks directly to a Valley confronting polluted waterways, depleting forests and unplanned construction. To invoke him while treating the land as a resource to be consumed would be to separate his message from its substance. Reverence for creation must translate into public responsibility. The same holds for governance and development. Roads, institutions and economic growth are indispensable, but they alone cannot constitute progress. A society also needs honesty, trust, compassion and responsibility towards future generations. Sheikh-ul-Alams insistence on aligning belief with conduct challenges public life as much as private behaviour. It asks leaders to practise humility, institutions to act justly, and citizens to resist greed, prejudice and indifference. His poetry offers no ready-made administrative programme. It offers a moral standard by which programmes and power may be judged. The conference will prove worthwhile if it leads beyond ceremonial homage towards serious engagement with texts, history and present-day realities. Universities, literary forums and cultural institutions must preserve, translate and critically study the Shruks and Vakhs. The task is not to turn the saints into distant icons, but to recover the questions they placed before society. Lal Ded and Sheikh-ul-Alam remain enduring voices because they asked human beings to look inward before judging others. Their legacy does not promise effortless harmony. It demands the difficult work of building one. If Kashmir is to shape a future worthy of its inheritance, it must recover that discipline of conscience: a literature rooted in the peoples language, a society measured by its compassion, and a culture confident enough to honour difference without surrendering shared humanity. Dr. S. Bashir Ahmad Veeri is a founding member of Maraz Adbi Sangam and a legislator representing South Kashmirs Bijbehara Constituency.

Representation of reality in the western literature

Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in the Western Literature is at once an easy and a difficult read. Easy because the premise seems to be simple: informing the reader how writers in the western canon have represented the world around them. Difficult because the pattern does not seem to be easily comprehensible. Auerbach, the author does start and move forward chronologically. He begins by writing about the Greek epic Odyssey, and the legendary Greek king, Odysseus, and then framing his point in the context of the Bible, journeying through the literature of the Roman period, then Dante, Boccacio, Shakespeare, and eventually stopping at the twentieth century literature. The method is simple. The author takes a quotea representative quote, difficult to do so but with the subsequent analysis the selection appears plausible from the canonical author, and subjects the quote to a clinical examination with the aim of culling general insights about the culture to which the text belonged, and the worldview informing the text. The simplicity of the method belies the magisterial character of the book. Unless a reader is familiar with the canonical authors of the western canon, the book wont be an easy read. Even for someone like me who is somewhat conversant with the important texts of the western canon, given a bit of training in the field, the author poses challenges which are not easy to circumvent. A scuba-dive kind of reading is the sine qua non to apprehend the drift of the text. As Odysseus returns to his homeland Ithaca after more than twenty years, Homer provides precise details of the recognition scene of Odysseus. With a trope so typical of Greek literature, Odysseus is recognized as his feet and legs are being washed. Auerbach drops the long quote from Homers epic, drawing the reader to know all the details of the conversation until the scar is noticed during washing. Following the recognition, the reader is returned to the scene when Odysseus long back had received the scar. The point that Auerbach makes is that everything that Homer gives to the reader is fraught with foreground. There is a certain distinctive smoothness in the narrative. Nothing is left out for the reader to imagine. The element of suspense and mystery is for the most part conspicuous by absence. Before the reader wonders about the provenance of the scar, Homer takes a direct flight to the hunting scene earlier on in the life of Odyssey and explains all the fine details before returning to the scene of washing. Compare this to the narrative of the Old Testament. The latter is rife with background. Only echoes of the background are audible leaving the reader to wonder about origin of certain elements in the foreground. The smoothness of Homers narrative is substituted by the depths and heights in the Old Testament. When the reader encounters, in the beginning there was the word, the suspense and mystery is front and center. An abundance of imagination is unfolded to fathom the origin of the words uttered. The reader is confronted with the urge to decipher the meaning from an almost empty background. What is Auerbach actually saying is that the style masks, and then reveals the zeitgeist of the two civilizations that produced the two distinctive narratives. The representation of reality is contingent on the worldview of the two cultures. The representation does not emerge from the vacuum. An observation which, on the face of it, does not appear to be singularly unique but Auerbach uses representative literary samples to bolster the statement. With Homer, the characters are almost flat. Agamemnon, Odysseus lack that multi-layeredness, that complexity; Odysseus is the same as he was before he left Ithaca. However, come to think of Jacob or Moses or Abraham or even Joseph of the Old Testament. The journey and the passage of time are instruments of metanoia and metamorphosis. The transformation is at the fundamental level. Doctrine and promise are incarnate in the style of representation of the Old Testament. The second meaning, the concealed information is missing in Homer. There is no second or third order of reality. Everything is given, the concrete reality, without leaving any unexplained gap for the reader to cull from the background. The reality is uniformly illuminated and externalized, with a spatial and temporal fixity. There is no long or deep shadow of the background hanging about the present and the immediate. That is why Auerbach says that Homer allows the reader to analyze while the Old Testament demands interpretation. Further, Homer uncovers the domain of the ruling class, the lower classes are removed to the margins. It is either the gods and goddesses or the ruling classes which saturate his narratives. The genres too remain isolated, with particular spheres of life and action allotted to certain genres and others provided different generic spaces. In the New Testament the high and the low mingle and mix, which had remained separated in the case of Homer. Of low birth, with an imbibition of the lay and the ordinary, for Jesus Christ the common was not unfamiliar, Passion of Christ fuses the two domains. If feet of Odysseus are washed in Homer, it is the reverse in the New Testament; the feet of Peter are washed by the God incarnate. The sublimitas merges with the humilitas. This is an iconic and paradigmatic shift in the mode of representation with erasure of boundaries as had been congealed in the Homeric representation. The sublime effect of God permeates everything including the domestic space, leaving no space for separation of the sublime and the ordinary. These two styles are, we are informed, two basic types that cast an influence on the long journey of the western literature. In other words, the Athens style and the Jerusalem or the Biblical styles offer two visions through two styles, which reach a kind of climax in the narratives of Dante, where the mixing of the styles is deep and thoroughgoing. The twentieth century style of depicting reality is markedly different, in that the writers take random events, hours from the lives of characters, and in a technique reminiscent of the philologists, draw interpretations about the entire work or corpus of the author. So, we come to know that Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, Proust and others, using multiple consciousness, taking ordinary events, without reclining on the external continuum or chronology, make the job of the reader an uneasy one. Scarcely, is there mention of external events, the great historical forces which shape individual lives, instead the reader is on a voyage on a set of discontinuous events. This is a style not uninfluenced by the great and stunning chain of events that have swept human existence especially since the sixteenth century that to rely on the impact of the great blow of times on individual characters in not a credible technique. The book originally written by Auerbach in Germanand translated into English by Willard R. Trask with an introduction by Edward W. Said in the 1940s in Istanbul while living in exile is indicative of, as are the essays in the book or for that matter the extracts analyzed in the book, the tempo of the times in which it was written. While objections have been raised against the claims in the bookwhich the author has tried to address in the appendixit is true that, within the limitations under which it was written, the author has done well to enunciate the stylistic differentiations and stylistic mixing in the different epochs of western literature.

Kashmirs saffron legacy wilts under climate stress, shrinking fields

Pampore, Nov 12:The purple bloom that once transformed Pampores landscape into a sea of colour is increasingly being overshadowed by growing concerns over the future of Kashmirs prized saffron crop. As this years harvest season draws to a close, farmers concerns extend beyond the quantity of flowers harvested and spice produced. They are increasingly worried about changing climatic conditions, shrinking cultivation areas and the lack of sustained government intervention to safeguard a crop that has remained central to Kashmirs agricultural heritage for centuries. On Monday, a senior National Conference leader and Pampore MLA chose to stay away from Jaish-e-Saffron amid concerns over the declining fortunes of the heritage crop. Climate change has spelt doom for saffron production, said Bilal Ahmad, a saffron grower. He said prolonged dry spells and inadequate soil moisture had taken a heavy toll on cultivation. Saffron, he added, is particularly vulnerable to changing rainfall patterns, as adequate moisture is crucial for corm development and vegetative growth. This years harvest, however, has brought some relief to cultivators following a particularly poor season last year. Irshad Ahmad, another saffron farmer, said production had improved this year, raising hopes among growers. The improvement, however, comes against the backdrop of a sustained decline in the area under saffron cultivation. Official statistics show that the area under saffron cultivation has declined from 5,707 hectares in 1996-97 to around 3,715 hectares in recent years, marking a reduction of nearly 35 per cent. The shrinking cultivation area, driven partly by urbanisation and the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, has compounded the challenges posed by erratic rainfall and declining soil moisture. For farmers, the decline is not merely an agricultural statistic. It threatens a traditional livelihood that supports an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 families across saffron-growing areas. Declining production has affected the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on this crop, another farmer said. The governments intervention through the National Saffron Mission, launched in 2010, had raised hopes of reversing the decline. The mission envisaged improving productivity through scientific cultivation practices, better irrigation facilities and the introduction of drip irrigation to address water scarcity. However, cultivators allege that a key component of the initiative failed to achieve its intended objective. According to farmers, although a network of pipes was laid across some saffron fields under the mission, the drip irrigation system was never made fully operational. It was a scam. We are clueless about what happened to the scheme, a farmer alleged. The alleged failure of the irrigation project remains a major grievance among cultivators, who say the infrastructure could have helped them tackle prolonged dry spells and protect their crops. The issue has also figured in the Legislative Assembly, where Pampore MLA and senior National Conference leader Hasnain Masoodi has demanded an investigation into the implementation of the mission. Farmers maintain that reviving saffron cultivation requires more than government announcements. They want the existing irrigation network made functional, effective safeguards against the conversion of saffron land and sustained scientific intervention to help the crop withstand changing climatic conditions. On Wednesday, Agriculture Production Minister Javed Ahmad Dar told reporters that the government would revive the National Saffron Mission, offering a fresh ray of hope to cultivators. However, farmers say the real test lies in translating the announcement into tangible action on the ground. The real test will be whether the renewed mission translates into functioning irrigation facilities and tangible support in the fields, said Abdul Majeed, another cultivator.

A Conversation Across Three Philosophical Worlds

The decisive differences emerge when we ask what kind of self is revealed through this inward inquiry. Heideggers Dasein is fundamentally characterised by being-in-the-world: it exists through concrete involvements, inherited possibilities, historical circumstances, language and temporality. It does not first exist as a self-contained essence and subsequently enter the world; its existence is already shaped by its thrownness into a particular situation and by the possibilities towards which it projects itself. Temporality is therefore central to the disclosure of its Being. akaras tman, by contrast, cannot be reduced to a historically situated or temporally unfolding individual. The empirical person is subject to change, but the deepest Self, understood through Advaita Vednta, is not ultimately defined by the changing conditions of body, mind or history. Its identity with Brahman points towards a reality that is unconditioned by these limitations. A comparable transcendental dimension appears in Ibn Arabs metaphysics, where the Real cannot be confined within the succession of temporal events or the categories through which the human mind seeks to comprehend existence. Yet an important qualification is necessary: the divine self-disclosure unfolds in the changing multiplicity of the cosmos, even though the divine essence is not exhausted or circumscribed by those manifestations. Thus, whereas Heidegger investigates Being through the finite, historical and temporal structure of human existence, akara directs inquiry towards the realisation of an unconditioned non-duality, and Ibn Arab explores how the transcendent Real becomes disclosed without ceasing to exceed every disclosure. The contrast is not simply between a temporal Heidegger and two thinkers who reject time; it concerns three different understandings of the relationship between finite existence and what cannot be reduced to its conditions. The theological implications of the thought of akara and Ibn Arab extend far beyond an abstract understanding of ultimate reality. Both thinkers insist, in their distinctive ways, that intellectual knowledge of the Divine, however necessary, does not exhaust the depth of spiritual realisation. In akaras Advaita Vednta, liberation emerges through the realisation that tman, the innermost Self, is non-different from Brahman, the ultimate reality. In Ibn Arabs Sufi metaphysics, the journey towards God involves the unveiling of deeper dimensions of the Real, whose signs are disclosed throughout creation without the divine essence ever being exhausted by its manifestations. These are not identical conceptions of divine-human unity: akaras non-duality and Ibn Arabs account of the relationship between the Real and creation belong to different theological and metaphysical frameworks. Yet both challenge the assumption that the Divine can be adequately grasped as merely one object standing opposite an independent human subject. Such realisation need not diminish reverence for God; rather, it may deepen it by transforming the very meaning of the relationship between the human being and the ultimate. The language of Martin Bubers I and Thou offers a suggestive parallel here: authentic relationship emerges when the other is encountered not merely as an object to be classified, possessed or used, but as a presence demanding openness and response. Bubers dialogical philosophy should not be conflated with either Advaita or Ibn Arabs metaphysics, but it helps illuminate a shared possibility: that spiritual understanding may transform the subject-object relationship without reducing the Divine to an object of human knowledge. The result is not the disappearance of devotion, but its deepening into humility, wonder and a more profound awareness of the sacred significance of existence. The ethical implications of this vision are equally compelling. If the deepest understanding of reality unsettles the absolute divisions through which the ego separates itself from others, then our moral relationship with fellow human beings can no longer rest solely upon utility, convenience or self-interest. akaras non-dualism invites us to question the ultimate independence we attribute to our individual identities, while Ibn Arabs understanding of divine self-disclosure encourages us to recognise the diverse forms through which the divine names are reflected in creation. Read as ethical inspirations rather than as identical doctrines, these insights can become a powerful impulse for coexistence, compassion and the rejection of exclusionary boundaries. The stranger, the neighbour and the person whose beliefs or circumstances differ from our own cease to be merely instruments within our personal projects; they become beings whose existence calls for recognition and responsibility. Here, Heideggers critique of an exclusively instrumental understanding of the world can be brought into conversation with the ethical philosophies of Buber and Emmanuel Levinas. Buber reminds us of the difference between an IThou encounter and an IIt relationship, while Levinas places the ethical demand of the Other at the centre of philosophical responsibility. Their approaches differ significantly from akaras and Ibn Arabs metaphysical visions, and Levinas in particular resists reducing the irreducible Other to a totalising system of unity. That caution is important: a philosophy of unity must never become an excuse for erasing human difference or silencing the particular voice of another person. Properly understood, unity does not demand uniformity. Instead, it can inspire us to move beyond the divisions of caste, creed, community and identity that turn contingent differences into walls of hostility. The recognition of a deeper kinship among beings can become an ethical summons to coexistence, without requiring us to deny the plurality of human experience. In this sense, the metaphysical intuition of interconnectedness acquires its true social significance when it becomes a practice of dignity, justice, dialogue and care. The environmental implications of this philosophical conversation are particularly urgent in an age when nature is increasingly approached as a storehouse of resources, a commodity to be exploited or an obstacle to economic expansion. Heideggers critique of technological enframing offers a powerful diagnosis of this instrumental outlook: the natural world is reduced to a standing reserve, valuable primarily for its availability to human purposes. akaras Advaita, although it did not formulate a modern ecological programme, may offer a different orientation by challenging the assumption that our ordinary, ego-centred perception reveals the ultimate structure of reality. If the boundaries through which we define the isolated self are not ultimately absolute, the human relationship with the wider world can be reconsidered in less possessive terms. Ibn Arabs vision provides another resource: creation may be contemplated as a field of divine signs and self-disclosure, whose forms invite recognition rather than careless domination. These perspectives resonate with the tradition of sacred ecology associated with thinkers such as Frithjof Schuon, whose perennialist approach sought to recover the spiritual significance of the natural world across religious traditions. Comparable possibilities can be explored within Indian philosophical traditions, including Advaita Vednta, where the unity of reality may support an attitude of humility towards the more-than-human world. Yet such an ecological ethic must be developed thoughtfully rather than simply attributed to akara or assumed to follow automatically from non-dualism. Metaphysical unity does not by itself supply the practical principles required for conservation, environmental justice or sustainable living. It can, however, transform the sensibility from which such principles emerge. A river then becomes more than a channel for water, a forest more than a supply of timber, and an animal more than an instrument of human convenience: each can be encountered within a wider order of significance that exceeds its immediate utility. The task of a contemporary sacred ecology is not to abandon scientific knowledge or practical environmental policy, but to bring them into conversation with a renewed sense of reverence. When the world is no longer viewed merely as an It to be mastered, but encountered as a living field of relationships, the recognition of interconnectedness may become the foundation of a more responsible relationship between humanity, nature and the cosmos. Perhaps the real beauty of these great seers and thinkers lies not in finding a final answer to the mystery of Being, but in allowing that mystery to change the way we live. akara invites us to look beyond the divisions that separate us, Ibn Arab teaches us to recognise the traces of the Divine in the vastness of existence, and Heidegger reminds us to recover our sense of wonder before a world we have grown accustomed to using rather than understanding. Their paths are different, yet each, in its own way, asks us to look again: at ourselves, at the people around us, and at the fragile world we share. Perhaps the deepest realisation is not that we have finally understood Being, but that we have become a little more humble before its mystery, a little more tender towards one another, and a little more grateful for the simple miracle of being here.

Vice Chairman JKLCMA reviews development works at Dole Demb

Srinagar, Nov 12:Vice Chairman, JKLCMA, Khurshid Ahmad Shah, visited the Dole Demb area of Dal Lake to review the ongoing works related to the removal of bushes, clearance of the identified area for its proposed development, and dredging of internal channels to facilitate smooth navigation and flushing of water. During the visit, the Vice Chairman inspected the site and took stock of the progress of the ongoing operations. He was briefed by the concerned officers on the work being undertaken, including the removal of aquatic vegetation, bushes, and dredging of internal channels. Emphasizing the importance of planned and sustainable development, he stressed that the works should be carried out systematically, with due attention to the ecological sensitivity of the area. He underscored that the proposed park should enhance the scenic and recreational appeal of the identified stretch while preserving the natural character of Dal Lake and to promote Tourism. He also stressed the importance of dredging internal channels and flushing of waters to ensure smooth navigation and improve connectivity within the lake. He directed the concerned officers to maintain close supervision of all ongoing activities and ensure timely progress while adhering to appropriate environmental safeguards. The initiative is aimed at improving the overall lake environment, enhancing navigational facilities and developing a designated recreational space to promote tourism and provide an attractive experience for visitors. It also forms part of the Authority's efforts towards the responsible and sustainable utilisation of Dal Lake's surrounding spaces as tourism attractions.

Abdul Ahad Azad Chair, Cluster University Srinagar organises Theatre Festival

Srinagar, Nov 12: The Abdul Ahad Azad Chair, Cluster University Srinagar, in collaboration with the Young Dramatists Society and Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art culture and languages organised a One-Day Theatre Festival at Amar Singh College, Srinagar. The objective of the event was to promote theatre as an important medium of cultural expression, preserving indigenous traditions, and reconnecting the younger generation with its rich cultural roots. The inaugural session was graced by the Vice-Chancellor of Cluster University Srinagar, Prof. Dr. Mohammed Mubin, as the Chief Guest. The distinguished dignitaries present on the occasion included Prof. Dr. Willayat Hussain Rizwi, Registrar, Cluster University Srinagar; Prof. Dr. Khurshid Ahmad Mir, Controller of Examinations; Prof. Dr. Tehmeena Yousuf, Principal, Amar Singh College; and Dr. Shaista Ahmad, Coordinator, Abdul Ahad Azad Chair. Deans of various disciplines, heads of departments, faculty members and other distinguished guests also attended the programme. Representatives of the cultural and literary fraternity were also present, including the President of the Young Dramatists Society Mushtaq Baqal, its Vice-President Javid Jeelani, Altaf Hussain, President of Adbi Markaz Kamraz Mohammad Amin Bhat, Shabir Mujahid, Himayun Qaiser and Nissar Naseem, among other prominent personalities. The inaugural session commenced with a welcome address, setting the tone for a meaningful engagement with theatre, literature and cultural heritage. Subsequently, Dr. Shaista Ahmad, Coordinator, Abdul Ahad Azad Chair, delivered an insightful address highlighting the objectives and key initiatives of the Chair. She emphasised the significance of theatre as a powerful medium of artistic expression, social communication and cultural preservation. Dr Shaista also underscored the importance of creating meaningful platforms for students and young artists to explore their creative potential and develop a deeper understanding of their cultural and literary heritage. In his address, Prof. Dr. Willayat Hussain Rizwi, Registrar, Cluster University Srinagar, congratulated Dr. Shaista Ahmad for initiating such meaningful academic and cultural programmes. He appreciated the efforts being made to promote cultural activities within the university and observed that initiatives of this nature provide valuable opportunities for students to engage with art, literature and creative expression. Prof. Dr. Khurshid Ahmad Mir, Controller of Examinations, also appreciated the initiative and highlighted the importance of developing practical and skill-oriented learning opportunities for students. He expressed his interest in exploring the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Young Dramatists Society to facilitate the introduction of upcoming skill-based courses. Such an initiative, he observed could provide students with opportunities to acquire practical knowledge and develop professional skills in the field of theatre and performing arts. Prof. Dr. Tehmeena Yousuf, Principal, Amar Singh College, in her address, emphasised that reconnecting with one's cultural roots is the need of the hour. She highlighted the importance of preserving indigenous traditions, language and cultural identity, particularly in the contemporary educational landscape. She observed that educational institutions must play an active role in nurturing cultural awareness among students and encouraging them to appreciate their rich heritage. The Vice Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar, in his address, appreciated the initiative taken by the Abdul Ahad Azad Chair and commended its efforts towards the promotion of art, culture and literature. He assured the Chair of his full support and cooperation in all its endeavours to ensure its successful functioning and future growth. Five stage plays were performed during the festival, captivating the audience with their engaging performances and powerful theatrical presentations. The presence of eminent academicians, university functionaries, cultural personalities, theatre practitioners and faculty members added considerable significance to the occasion. The festival served as an important platform for fostering collaboration between academic institutions and cultural organisations, while bringing together diverse stakeholders committed to the promotion of theatre and the performing arts. The initiative reflects the vision of the Abdul Ahad Azad Chair to carry forward the literary and cultural legacy of Abdul Ahad Azad, while encouraging dialogue between literature, theatre and contemporary society. By bringing together the university and the cultural fraternity, the programme reaffirmed the role of theatre in preserving cultural memory, strengthening social consciousness and connecting younger generations with their roots. The occasion also witnessed the release of Unwaan, a poetry collection, released by Ali Imran. The vote of thanks was presented by Altaf Hussain, who expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, guests, participants and all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the programme. The programme was conducted by Rashid Nizami, a renowned broadcaster, who skillfully anchored the proceedings.

Green signal for District Mini Secretariat at Batamaloo

Srinagar, Nov 12:Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, on Thursday chaired a comprehensive meeting to review the plan and design of construction of the District Srinagars Mini Secretariat at Batamaloo. The project aims to bring all District-level Government Offices under one roof, ensuring seamless coordination among Departments and hassle-free delivery of public services. During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner was apprised about the proposed design and plan of the project and various components being incorporated into the proposed District Administrative Complex. A detailed discussions were held on the project's design, infrastructure, functionality and other essential facilities to ensure that the Mini Secretariat is developed as a state-of-the-art Administrative Complex, reflecting the City's heritage while providing modern amenities for both employees and the general public. The DC stressed the need for time-bound execution of the project and directed the concerned Officers to ensure strict compliance with the directions issued during the meeting. He was also briefed on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and the facilities proposed for the convenience of the general public visiting the complex. The Deputy Commissioner said that the prestigious project of Srinagar Mini Secretariat has been envisaged as a one-stop centre for public service delivery, aimed at making Government services more accessible and efficient. He added that all peripheral and District-level Government Offices would be relocated to the Mini Secretariat in a phased manner, enabling people to access services offered by various Departments under one roof. The initiative is also expected to reduce delays in inter-departmental coordination by bringing different Government Offices into close proximity, thereby ensuring improved administrative efficiency and better public service delivery.

Prisoners of our own convenience

There was a time when saving time was considered a triumph of human progress. Every invention aimed to reduce effort, simplify life and give us more time for things that truly mattered. And humanity succeeded remarkably. Technology has made communication instantaneous, information accessible and tasks that once consumed hours achievable within minutes. Yet, an uncomfortable paradox has emerged: We have saved time, but where has it gone? The hours gained through technological convenience, which could have been invested in learning, creativity, relationships and personal growth, are increasingly disappearing into endless reels, notifications and mindless scrolling. We have replaced the effort of doing things with the habit of watching others do them. We consume hundreds of videos, often forgetting them moments later, and continue scrolling even when neither entertained nor interested. Perhaps the real concern is no longer how much time technology saves us, but how carelessly we spend it. The question is not merely how we use our time, but who controls our attention. The economics of our attention Technology has made information limitless, but not necessarily made us wiser. Despite having access to more knowledge than any generation before us, our ability to concentrate and think deeply is gradually diminishing. Our attention has become a commodity, with digital platforms constantly competing for every spare moment. The death of meaningful pauses There was a certain beauty in the pauses of earlier times, quiet moments spent waiting, travelling, having tea with family or simply gazing out of a window. These were not wasted moments but opportunities for reflection, imagination and self-discovery. Today, however, we seem increasingly uncomfortable with stillness. Every idle moment invites us to reach for our phones, filling our lives with endless digital noise and leaving little room for our own thoughts. Perhaps we have forgotten that not every empty moment needs to be filled; some moments are meant to be experienced, not consumed. Convenience without consciousness The problem is not technology itself, but how we use it. An instrument designed to simplify life becomes a limitation when convenience turns into dependency and entertainment into an unconscious habit. We invented machines to reduce our workload and give us more time to live, yet increasingly allow digital platforms to dictate how we spend that very time. We have outsourced our labour, but have we also outsourced our attention? We have made life faster, but have we made it more meaningful? Perhaps these are not merely questions of screen time, but deeper questions about the direction of modern civilisation. The time we save must mean something Perhaps the greatest luxury of the modern age is not owning the latest technology, having access to unlimited information or being connected to the entire world. It is having the freedom to devote ones time to something meaningful without constantly being interrupted. A few pages of a good book, a thoughtful conversation, an evening spent with family, learning a new skill, pursuing an intellectual interest, walking without looking at a screen or simply sitting in silence can offer a richness that thousands of short videos cannot replicate. We must rediscover the distinction between being occupied and being productive, between being entertained and being fulfilled, and between being connected and being genuinely present. After all, time is not merely a resource that technology can help us economise. It is the substance of our existence. Every hour spent is an irretrievable portion of our lives, and perhaps we should become a little more thoughtful about what we exchange it for.

1,200 posts await recruitment as JKPSC functions without chairman

Srinagar, Nov 12:There seems to be no headway in the appointment of a chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), which has been functioning without a head for over three months. Two positions of members are also lying vacant in the Commission. The prolonged delay in appointing a chairman has left thousands of aspirants uncertain about the recruitment process, with fresh recruitments, departmental promotions and examination schedules for advertised posts yet to gain momentum. The leadership vacuum has created uncertainty among candidates awaiting examination schedules for various gazetted posts advertised by the Commission in recent months. It has also raised concerns over the Commission's ability to discharge its routine recruitment and promotion-related responsibilities with a depleted leadership. As reported earlier by Greater Kashmir , former JKPSC chairman A K Choudhary, a retired Jammu and Kashmir cadre IPS officer, demitted office on August 15, 2026. He had been appointed chairman on February 24, 2024. Two members of the Commission, Yashpal Kotwal and Tariq Ahmad Zargar, also attained superannuation on January 2 and June 19, 2026, respectively. The Commission currently has two serving members: Dr Rajiv Singh, a former professor at SKUAST-Jammu, and Asaf Mehmood Sagar, a former Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer. Dr Rajiv Singh was appointed in June 2024 and is due to retire in December 2029, while Mehmood Sagar, who joined the Commission on July 10, 2024, will retire in August 2028. Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza has been serving as Secretary of the Commission since September 1, 2026. An official said the absence of a chairman had affected the pace of recruitment, with examination and interview schedules for several advertised posts yet to be announced. We were expecting that a new chairman would be appointed and the recruitment process would get expedited, but there is no headway in the process, an official of JKPSC told *Greater Kashmir*. The delay has also caused frustration among aspirants who have applied for various government positions. There is complete frustration among candidates who have applied for different posts. The Commission advertised several vacancies of Assistant Professors for colleges some time ago, but the examination schedule is yet to be announced, an aspirant told *Greater Kashmir*. The JKPSC has a sanctioned strength of a chairman and eight members. The vacancies in the leadership have raised concerns over the Commission's functioning and recruitment output. According to the details available, the Commission completed over 700 recruitments for various gazetted posts during 2024-25, while 1,152 candidates were recruited for different gazetted positions in 2025-26. An official at JKPSC said several recruitment processes were awaiting the appointment of a chairman. Recruitment for around 1,200 positions was in the pipeline, but everything is held up. We cannot go ahead with the recruitment process without a chairman, the official said. The official said recruitment for JKAS and Prosecution Officers, besides other examinations, was also in the pipeline. We were expecting that the position of chairman would be filled in October. But we are also confused about the process. We have no idea why the government is delaying the appointment, and we cannot even ask the government the reason for the delay, the official said.

Sonia Gandhis love for Kashmiri Haakh, Kofta finds mention in personal memoir

Srinagar, Nov 12:Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has offered a glimpse into her personal culinary journey, revealing her fondness for Kashmiri delicacies, particularly Haakh and Kofta, in a heartwarming video posted on X. I love Indian food, she says in the video, recalling how the diversity of Indian cuisine initially surprised her. While the spices once intimidated her, she says dal chawal has now become a familiar comfort food. Among her favourite dishes, however, is Kashmiri Haakh, the traditional leafy green preparation that remains a staple in households across the Valley. Gandhi has spoken fondly of Haakh, describing it as distinctly Kashmiri. The rich and aromatic Kashmiri Kofta also features prominently among her culinary favourites. These dishes hold a special place in the Gandhi household, rooted in the family's Kashmiri Pandit traditions that Indira Gandhi helped preserve. Festive meals featuring mutton Kofta, Haakh and rice have remained part of the family's food culture. Gandhi also recalled how her journey with Indian food began alongside her love story with Rajiv Gandhi. While looking for a good meal in Cambridge in 1965, she met Rajiv Gandhi over food. The encounter, she suggests, marked the beginning of a lifelong connection with India, one that unfolded one meal at a time. The video also features Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and comes around the release of Sonia Gandhi's memoir, *Belonging: A Journey of Love*, published on November 10, 2026. The deeply personal book traces her journey from a small Italian town to the centre of Indian public life, reflecting on love, family, duty and her sense of belonging. Beyond politics, it also touches upon food, culture and the everyday experiences that shaped her relationship with India. From overcoming her initial hesitation towards Indian spices to embracing Kashmiri delicacies, Gandhi's culinary preferences offer an interesting glimpse into her personal life. She has also mentioned sweet Kashmiri rice, Modur Pulaw, as a family favourite during Diwali celebrations. Her culinary confessions bring attention to some of Kashmir's lesser-highlighted traditional dishes. While Wazwan remains the Valley's most recognised culinary identity, preparations such as Haakh, Kashmiri Kofta and Modur Pulaw reflect another rich dimension of its food heritage. While dal chawal may be her everyday comfort food, Kashmiri greens, meatballs and sweet rice appear to have secured a special place in Sonia Gandhi's culinary preferences.

Kashmirs Autumn and the Growing Challenge of Living with Black Bears

As harvest season ends and bears prepare for winter, people working in orchards and fields near forested areas need to remain alert to the possibility of encountering black bears. Such encounters can be frightening and, in some circumstances, dangerous. The challenge is not simply to respond after an incident, but to reduce the chances of one occurring in the first place. Autumn is an important feeding period for black bears as they build up energy before winter denning. During this time, orchards and agricultural fields can offer easily accessible food, particularly where they lie close to forests and natural habitats. Fallen fruit and unsecured food waste may also attract bears towards places used regularly by people. When people and bears come across each other unexpectedly, the risk of conflict increases. The scale of human-wildlife conflict across Jammu and Kashmir underlines why this issue deserves attention. According to figures presented by the government in the Legislative Assembly, 15,661 huma-wildlife conflict incidents were recorded across the Union Territory during 2023-24 and 2024-25, resulting in 32 deaths and 350 injuries. These figures cover conflict involving wildlife in general, they are not specific to black bears. Even so, they show the human cost of encounters between people and wildlife and the need for better prevention and response. People working in orchards or fields near forests should be particularly careful in areas where bears have recently been sighted. Where possible, they should avoid working alone in such locations and ensure that children are accompanied by adults. Residents should follow local advice from wildlife staff about precautions in areas with repeated sightings. A torch and a stick may be useful when visibility is poor, but people should not assume that carrying one makes it safe to approach or move closer to a bear. If a bear is seen, people should not approach it for photographs, feed it, crowd around it or try to chase it away. They should keep their distance, avoid blocking its escape route and move away calmly. Fallen fruit should be collected regularly, and household and orchard waste should be stored securely rather than left near homes, paths or forest edges. These steps cannot remove every risk, but they can reduce the food sources that may draw bears closer to people. The longer-term picture is also changing. In our study, Climate change shapes habitat suitability of the Asiatic black bear in the northwestern Himalaya, published in the journal Ecological Indicators, we examined present and future habitat suitability in and around Dachigam National Park. The research used bear occurrence records and environmental information to assess where conditions are favorable for the species and how those conditions may change under different climate scenarios. Under the studys baseline conditions (1980-2011), about 41 per cent of the study area was classified as highly or very highly suitable for Asiatic black bears. This will come down slightly to approximately 39 per cent under SSP 5-8.5 in 2071-2100. In simple terms, this means that these modelled parts of the landscape have environmental conditions that are comparatively favorable for the species. The findings indicated towards redistribution of suitable habitat. The model identifies 1,700-2,200 meters above mean sea level as a preferred elevation range under current and future conditions. However, the projections indicate that suitability may shift towards both lower and higher elevations in different parts of the study area. The research identifies places around Zabarwan hills including such as Astanmarg and Faqir Gujri where suitable habitat may expand or emerge. Within Dachigam National Park Waskar, and parts of Dagwan are projected to remain suitable or become more favorable. These findings should not be read as a prediction of future attacks. The study does not estimate how many human-bear encounters or injuries may occur by 2100, nor does it establish that climate change caused any particular incident. Encounters are influenced by several factors, including food availability, human activity, habitat conditions and the way settlements and other land uses meet wildlife habitats. Climate change adds another consideration because it may alter where suitable conditions occur and, consequently, where people and bears share the landscape. This is why Kashmir needs a more coordinated approach to recording and responding to wildlife encounters. Every sighting, injury, attack or instance of property damage should be reported through a clear process and recorded with its location, time and circumstances. Residents should never put themselves at risk to collect information. A shared record maintained by the concerned departments would help identify places where encounters repeatedly occur and direct attention towards those locations. People who report sightings should also receive clear advice on what to do next. Awareness programmes should take place before the autumn harvest, particularly around the identified areas which ha a potential of expansion of suitable areas for black bear. Schools, orchard owners, community representatives and wildlife staff can help spread practical information about responding to sightings, reporting incidents and reducing food attractants. Local residents are often the first to notice changes in wildlife movement. Their observations are valuable, but they need a reliable channel through which they can reach the authorities. Planning must also extend beyond the boundaries of protected areas. Forest patches and natural corridors connecting habitats should be protected from unnecessary disturbance and unplanned construction. Places where these routes meet roads, settlements and frequently used paths deserve particular attention. As the distribution of suitable habitat changes, protecting connected landscapes will become increasingly important. The Asiatic black bear is an important part of Kashmirs mountain ecosystems, but its conservation must go hand in hand with public safety. Our research suggests that the environmental conditions supporting black bears around Dachigam may change over time. The response must therefore look beyond individual incidents and include habitat protection, better monitoring and preparation at the community level. Kashmir needs cooperation between residents, wildlife authorities and local administrations so that people can stay safer while the landscapes shared with wildlife are managed responsibly. Sheikh Aneaus, Ph. D Geoinformatics

Setting of stars in the universe

Furthermore I call to witness the setting (positioning) of the Stars. And that is indeed a mighty adjuration (oath) if ye but knew (56: 75, 76) The Holy Verses in Surah Al Waqiah (events) relates to events in Universal Order or Universal Scheme of things. Waqiah is the pleural of Waqu (occurrence) such as the event/occurrence of setting (positioning) of stars. The Holy Verses in the related Surah have a mystical aura besides stating a scientific fact, 1400 years before it was established as an astronomical fact, and established by norms of physics as well, what we may jointly call Astrophysics. The mystical aura relates to the fact that is universally accepted by men of faith, All Light is relative, except the Light of Allah the setting/positioning of stars is a symbol of humility before the power, beauty and goodness of Allah (SwT). On a similar mystical plane, the import of if ye but knew relates to a discerning mind turning deep attention to the mysteries of nature, as enshrined in Holy Quran. The discerning mind takes us to scientific know-how of balance of stars being maintained between the expansions due to nuclear reactions on the one hand and intense gravitation on the other. The billions upon billions of stars in the universe are balanced within an incredibly computerized order. According to one view, nuclear reactions also serve as the seeds to galaxies in the form of quasars. Quasars (White Holes) the stellar location is a store of incredible amounts of energy, while Black Holes signify the location left vacant by the demise of a star. While the mystical aura is the feed of the soul, the astrophysical fact relates to the Hikmat (Wisdom) of Quran-ul-Hakim.

ACB arrests RDD Assistant Engineer, contractor for accepting Rs 8,000 bribe in Bandipora

Srinagar, Nov 12:The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir has arrested an Assistant Engineer of the Rural Development Department (RDD) and a contractor for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000 for clearing pending work bills in Bandipora district. The accused government employee has been identified as Mohd Rafi Moon, Assistant Engineer, RDD Block Arin, while the other accused is Hilal Ahmad Mir, son of Mohd Ramzan Mir, a resident of Gundpora, Rampora, Bandipora, who is a contractor by profession. According to an ACB statement, Police Station ACB Baramulla had received a complaint alleging that the complainant had completed five government PRI works, but the concerned Assistant Engineer was demanding Rs 11,000 as bribe for clearing the bills. The complainant alleged that after negotiations, the accused reduced the demanded amount to Rs 8,000. Despite the complainant's refusal to pay the bribe, the officer allegedly continued to withhold the bills. Following the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification, which prima facie established the commission of a cognisable offence under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. Accordingly, FIR No. 07/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla on November 12, 2026, and an investigation was initiated. Subsequently, a trap team was constituted in the presence of independent witnesses and a trap was laid. The ACB said the Assistant Engineer and the contractor were caught red-handed while allegedly demanding and accepting the bribe amount of Rs 8,000. The bribe money was recovered from their possession and the recovery was corroborated by independent witnesses and other evidence, the ACB said. Both accused have been arrested and taken into custody. Further investigation in the case is underway.

J&K Police orders adjustment of 48 DSPs of 2024 batch after training

Srinagar, Nov 12:The Jammu and Kashmir Police Headquarters has ordered the adjustment of 48 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) belonging to the 2024 batch following the completion of their Basic/District Practical Training. According to Order No. 3150 of 2026, dated November 12, issued by Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, the adjustments have been ordered with immediate effect. The officers have been posted across various units and formations of the J&K Police, including the Special Operations Group (SOG), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP), Crime Investigation Department (CID), Police Control Room (PCR) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW). As per the order, Mohd Novied Asad Banday has been adjusted as DSP SOG Uri, Baramulla, while Saurav Tagotra has been posted as DSP SOG Bani, Kathua. Moin Khan has been posted as DSP SOG Pattan, Baramulla, and Mohd Waseem Khan as DSP SOG Hattipora, Kulgam. Shreya Slathia has been adjusted as DSP TMG, CID Headquarters, while Nazish Nawaz has been posted as DSP 5 JKAP IR. Vikram Choudhary has been assigned as DSP SOG Darhal, Rajouri, and Sehrish Mehraj as DSP PCR Srinagar. Sakshi Nagar has been posted as DSP 15 JKAP IR, while Rajat Sambyal has been adjusted as DSP SOG Hajin. Taranjeet Singh has been posted as DSP PCR Jammu, Adnan Manzoor as DSP SOG Dooru, Anantnag, and Arslan Hamal as DSP SOG Rajouri. Palak Anand has been adjusted as DSP PCR Jammu against an OAR post of DSP, while Sakshi Koul has been posted as DSP 1 JKAP Women. Umar Yousuf has been assigned as DSP SOG Srinagar against an OAR post of DSP, while Rakesh Singh has been posted as DSP SOG Dachhan, Kishtwar. Reetu Sharma has been adjusted as DSP 14 JKAP IR, Manik Sharma as DSP SOG Pulwama and Repan as DSP 16 JKAP IR. Fizza Hamid has been posted as DSP 13 JKAP, while Yogesh Kumar has been assigned as DSP SOG Anantnag. Divya Kesar has been posted as DSP 1 JKAP Border and Tania Gupta as DSP CID CI Jammu Headquarters. Tahzeeb Zehra Jawaid has been adjusted as DSP SOG Ganderbal, Ishrat Sultana as DSP 6 JKAP, and Mohammad Ahmad as DSP SOG Kalakote, Rajouri. Farhana Farooq has been posted as DSP CID CI Baramulla, Sayed Dayam Kazmi as DSP SOG Kulgam and Abdul Gaffar as DSP SOG Bandipora. The order further states that Manazar Ali Kazmi has been posted as DSP SOG Mir Bazar, Kulgam, while Qaesar Rashid has been adjusted as DSP SOG Kreeri, Baramulla. Abhinandan has been posted as DSP SOG Pampore and Anwar Ul Haq Khanji as DSP SOG Jammu against an OAR post of DSP. Athar Hamid Bakshi has also been adjusted as DSP SOG Jammu against an OAR post of DSP, while Sanjeev Kumar has been posted as DSP SOG Basantgarh. Madhvi Raina has been assigned as DSP 8 JKAP and Mohd Abbas as DSP SOG Sangam, Srigufwara. Basaat Choudhary has been posted as DSP SOG Samba, Arjun Bhagat as DSP SOG Jammu, Talat Mehmood as DSP SOG Poonch and Dheeraj Shavan as DSP SOG Awantipora. Ujala has been adjusted as DSP EOW Jammu, while Haroon Rasheed has been posted as DSP SOG Jammu against an OAR post of DSP. Bhageshwar Sharma has been assigned as DSP SOG Budgam, Asim Shafi Zargar as DSP SOG Mougla, Rajouri, Surinder Kumar as DSP SOG Imam Sahib, Shopian, and Akash Kapoor as DSP SOG Kakapora, Pulwama. The order directs that all 48 officers shall be relieved forthwith to enable them to join their respective places of adjustment. Copies of the order have been forwarded to the ADGP CID/Armed Police, IGP Kashmir Zone, IGP Security, IGP Jammu Zone, IGP Crime Branch, all district Superintendents of Police, concerned Commandants and other officers for information and necessary action. The order has been issued by Police Headquarters, Jammu, and signed by DGP Nalin Prabhat.

Credibility of examinations directly impacts the future of youth: CM Omar

Jammu, Nov 12:Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today called for comprehensive reforms in the examination system in Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed the need to make examinations secure, transparent, technology-driven and as foolproof as humanly possible to safeguard the future of students and ensure that merit remains the sole criterion for selection. Chairing a meeting with members of the High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) on Examination Reforms at the Civil Secretariat here, the Chief Minister emphasised the importance of strengthening examination security, gradually transitioning towards computer-based testing, improving the credibility of board examinations and addressing concerns relating to the subjective component of selection processes. The Chief Minister said that the need for robust examination reforms had become particularly evident following the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 and the subsequent re-examination, which caused considerable inconvenience and additional stress to lakhs of aspirants across the country. He noted that while examination irregularities under the traditionally decentralised system generally remained confined to particular regions, the transition towards centralised examinations had significantly widened their impact, with a paper leak potentially affecting candidates across the country. Stressing the need to strengthen the examination ecosystem, Omar Abdullah said the Government would extend every possible support to the Task Force in fulfilling its mandate, as the credibility of examinations had a direct bearing on the future of young people. The Chief Minister also underlined the importance of a gradual transition towards computer-based examinations, observing that students must be adequately familiarised with the technology before such a system is introduced on a wider scale. Omar Abdullah also advocated examining the possibility of incorporating school board examination performance into the selection framework for competitive and entrance examinations. He said such an approach could help reduce the excessive dependence on a single entrance examination while also restoring the importance of regular school education and board examinations. The Chief Minister stressed that a suitable mechanism would have to be evolved to ensure a level playing field for students from different educational boards, including JKBOSE, CBSE and ICSE, so that candidates from any particular board were not placed at a disadvantage. The Chief Minister also highlighted the need to strengthen transparency in the interview and viva-voce components of recruitment and admission processes. Observing that concerns were frequently raised by candidates regarding the subjective nature of oral examinations and the possibility of manipulation of marks, he suggested that the Task Force could examine measures to make this component more objective, transparent and accountable. He said the ultimate objective of all examination reforms must be to establish a genuinely merit-based system in which the most deserving candidates secure opportunities on the basis of their performance and ability. At the outset, Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma, gave a detailed presentation on the examination reform initiatives undertaken by the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the arrangements put in place for the conduct of national-level examinations in J&K. The meeting also discussed the mandate of the High-Powered Task Force constituted by the Government of India to recommend comprehensive reforms in examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), including NEET-UG, JEE (Main), CUET-UG and UGC-NET. The Task Force has been mandated to examine various aspects of the examination ecosystem, including examination design, security, institutional governance, use of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, inclusivity, student well-being and a time-bound roadmap for implementation of reforms. The meeting reviewed the arrangements made by J&K administration for the conduct of NEET-UG 2026, including coordination among civil and police authorities, examination-centre preparedness, security of question papers, deployment of nodal officers and constitution of committees at UT, divisional and district levels. The meeting also took stock of the security arrangements put in place for the transportation and custody of question papers, including police-escorted movement from designated banks, CCTV-monitored strong rooms, round-the-clock security, prescribed frisking procedures and monitoring of examination centres. Besides, the members deliberated on examination reforms undertaken by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB), universities and other higher education institutions. Best practices relating to question paper security, digital examinations, transparent evaluation, timely declaration of results and issuance of degrees were also discussed. Various suggestions and recommendations were put forward by the participating Ministers and other officers, with particular emphasis on strengthening institutional safeguards, leveraging technology, eliminating examination malpractices and reducing avoidable stress for candidates. The deliberations were aimed at evolving a comprehensive and practical framework that would make examinations more secure, credible, transparent and student-friendly, while ensuring equal opportunities and a level playing field for all aspirants.

Altaf Bukhari seeks amnesty for 1990s-era cases

Srinagar, Nov 12:Apni Party President AltafBukhari on Thursday urged the Government of India to announce a general amnesty for all those who had been involved in anti-national activities during the 1990s and thereafter. Addressing a news conference at the Apni Party headquarters in Srinagar, Bukhari said that since the people of Jammu and Kashmir had now chosen the path of peace and normalcy, everyone who had been misled in the past should be forgiven and given an opportunity to lead a normal life. He said that during the 1990s, some youth were misled into following a narrative that went against the peace and stability of the country. Bukhari said that the situation had changed now. He said many of those people had returned to the mainstream, and even the children and grandchildren of the leaders who were active at that time were now joining the mainstream. In view of this changing situation, I appeal to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to consider granting a general amnesty to all such people and provide them with an opportunity to fully reintegrate into mainstream society, Bukhari said. FIRs have been registered against these individuals, causing them continued hardship. Due to these cases, many of them are unable to secure government or private employment or obtain passports, which has adversely affected their ability to lead normal lives. He expressed concern over the denial of police verification certificates to many young people who require them to secure jobs and obtain passports. Bukhari said that the denial of these certificates is creating unnecessary hurdles for youngsters seeking employment and opportunities to build a better future. He said that many youngsters were being denied police verification certificates because some of their family members had been involved in the turmoil of the 1990s. Bukhari said that this practice needed to be addressed, adding that young people should not be made to suffer or deprived of opportunities because of the actions of their family members. The Apni Party President also expressed concern over the existing reservation policy, describing it as unjust and detrimental to merit. He warned that if the policy continued in its present form, a situation could arise where Kashmiri youth would find themselves increasingly excluded from job opportunities across Jammu and Kashmir, saying that nearly 70 percent of the posts were reserved for various categories. Bukhari said that the existing reservation policy is particularly unfair to the people of Kashmir, who had already suffered immensely over the past several decades. Two lakh Kashmiris lie buried in graveyards, thousands are languishing in jails, and now people are being deprived of even employment opportunities. An unjust reservation policy amounts to a violation of human rights, he said. Bukhari said that people had hoped that the elected government would ensure justice and address their grievances, but those expectations had been betrayed. He also expressed concern over the continued delay in holding Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, terming it a denial of people's democratic and constitutional rights. The Apni Party President demanded that these elections be held immediately, saying that people should not be deprived of their right to elect their representatives at the grassroots level of the democratic system. He said that nearly 17,000 panchs and sarpanchs were to be elected, adding that holding these elections would help strengthen democracy and ensure people's participation in governance at the grassroots level. Bukhari said, The ruling party is deliberately delaying these elections because it does not want to share power with the people at the grassroots level. On the issue of the electricity crisis, he said that frequent power shortages and mounting electricity bills had caused immense hardships for ordinary people. Bukhari urged the government to consider a special amnesty or waiver of outstanding electricity dues for poor and economically weaker sections of society who were unable to afford their bills. The Apni Party President also appealed to the Government of India to honour its promise and restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir without further delay. He said that the Government of India should fulfil its commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir without further delay, as promised by the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister. Bukhari said that there was a history of unfulfilled promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Referring to 1947, he said that the then Prime Minister had also made a commitment on the floor of the House, which, according to him, was never fulfilled. He said that India, being the worlds largest democracy, carries a responsibility to honour the commitments its leaders make to the people. Reiterating his demand for meaningful dialogue between the Government of India and the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Apni Party President said that the Centre must initiate an inclusive political dialogue, as promised by the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister. He said that the absence of a meaningful political process and dialogue had deepened alienation and left many genuine public concerns unaddressed. Bukhari said that dialogue was essential to restoring public trust, strengthening peace and preventing further loss of innocent lives. Referring to the Prime Minister's promise made in 2021, he said, The Prime Minister had promised to bridge the DilliaurDilkidooriyan (the distance between Delhi and the hearts of the people). That promise must now be translated into action.

LG Sinha calls for people's movement to preserve J&K heritage

Srinagar, Nov 12:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday called for a people-centric movement to preserve, document and disseminate Jammu and Kashmir's civilisational heritage for future generations. Addressing a two-day seminar on 'Revival, Preservation and Sustainability of Cultural Heritage of Kashmir,' organised by Kakini Building Humanity, LG Sinha said that Jammu and Kashmir was not known only for its natural beauty but also for its profound contributions to philosophy, spirituality, language, aesthetics, and human thought. Referring to Acharya Abhinavagupta, he said that the great philosopher embodied the unity of spiritual experience, art and intellectual inquiry, and that youth should be introduced to the remarkable thinkers who emerged from Kashmir. Every university, every teacher, and every cultural institution of this land should work on translating important texts, encourage research, and provide scholars and students with a common platform. I believe that heritage must be alive, it must converse, and it must guide our new generation, the LG said. Emphasising that culture forms the foundation of every society, he said that communities draw confidence and self-respect from a deeper understanding of their history and heritage. LG Sinha underlined the importance of preserving ancient religious sites, manuscripts, museums and cultural institutions as instruments for strengthening identity and promoting mutual understanding. He highlighted the significant efforts undertaken in J&K for heritage conservation under the leadership of Prime Minister NarendraModi. The LG said that heritage revival projects are being implemented across J&K through restoration of monuments, archival modernisation, archaeological research and cultural infrastructure development. The event was also graced by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, through virtual mode. Congratulating the organisers, scholars, administrators, artists, ex-servicemen, military officers and citizens participating in the seminar, the LG said that heritage is a priceless inheritance received from generations of philosophers, saints, artisans, writers and thinkers who enriched humanity through their wisdom and creativity. He stressed that the responsibility of the present generation is not merely to admire this legacy, but to preserve, organise, document and make it more accessible to society. LG Sinha called for a collective commitment to safeguarding the civilisational legacy of J&K for future generations. The preservation work has been initiated on 106 heritage projects under the first two phases, with over 40 projects already completed. Under Phase III, 321 projects have been identified and 312 have received administrative approval. The digitisation work of historical records is ongoing in the Jammu and Srinagar archives, with nearly 96.8 lakh pages digitised so far, representing about 68 percent of available documents. Under Mission GyanBharatam, the surveys have identified 43,000 manuscripts and digitisation efforts are progressing steadily. LG Sinha also highlighted ongoing work related to the Sufiana School in Srinagar, the modernisation of Abhinav Theatre and Kala Kendra in Jammu, restoration of Mubarak Mandi and research into recently discovered Kushan-era Buddhist remains in Baramulla district. Speaking about Naranag Heritage Complex in Ganderbal, he welcomed the research and documentation initiatives undertaken by Kakini Building Humanity and expressed hope that conservation and restoration activities would commence after completion of necessary procedural requirements. The LG also appreciated efforts connected with the Harmukh-Gangbal pilgrimage, describing it as a symbol of the regions enduring cultural and spiritual traditions. I believe that Naranag has its own distinct historical and spiritual dignity, where faith, geography, and collective memories are deeply intertwined. Therefore, I am extremely pleased that Kakini Building Humanity has also established a chair at the Indian Heritage Institute, he said. LG Sinha said that J&K has a long tradition of harmony and equal respect for all faiths. He said that the heritage of every community must be preserved with sensitivity. The vaakhs of Yogini Lalleshwari and Nund Rishi still reach peoples hearts across centuries, because their words contain eternal truths that are untouched by the passage of time. Preserving this tradition of harmony is our collective public responsibility, the LG said. He said Kashmiri Pandit's contribution to Kashmirs literary, spiritual, and cultural heritage was invaluable and their dignified return would help restore the Valleys complete social and cultural fabric. LG Sinha commended the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, scholars, archivists, museum professionals and all stakeholders associated with heritage conservation. He also lauded former army officers and civil society organisations for their continued contribution to cultural preservation and nation-building. Padma Vibhushan Padma Subrahmanyam, Kuldeep Krishan Sidha; Raja Ashraf Ali Khan, Swamini Vishwa Nireeshwari Lakshmi Priya Mata, Ramesh Hangloo, BalajiDhar and Shravanthi were felicitated for their contribution in the field of culture and heritage. Maj Gen R K Raina (Retd), Chairman Kakini Building Humanity, Cdr Sanjay Kaul (Retd), AanchalKhurana, Vice President, Kakini Building Humanity; Ramesh Kumar, Secretary, Culture Department; AnshulGarg, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Rajiv Omprakash, DIG CKR; G V Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, senior officials and prominent citizens from different walks of life were present.

Transport Department recommends FIR against school management in Pulwama

Pulwama, Nov 12:Taking serious cognisance of a critical road safety violation, the office of the Transport Commissioner, Jammu & Kashmir, has formally requested the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Pulwama, to lodge an FIR against the management and authorities of Future Pack Secondary School, Shadimarg, Pulwama. The action follows a road accident in which a school bus operated by the institution overturned at Darbgam, Pulwama, leaving 11 students injured out of the 13 on board. The vehicle involved, bearing registration number JK01M-2712, was reportedly being operated in direct contravention of mandatory statutory requirements laid down under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. Preliminary reports indicate that the bus had neither been produced before the competent transport authority for the mandatory fitness inspection nor possessed the necessary valid permits and statutory documentation required for operating as a designated school transport vehicle. Highlighting the grave negligence, Transport Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan stated in an official communication that operating uninspected and unauthorised vehicles places the lives and safety of schoolchildren at severe risk. Consequently, the police authorities have been urged to initiate criminal proceedings under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the school management to fix strict accountability for endangering student lives. ARTO Pulwama has also been tasked with actively pursuing the matter with local police authorities for prompt registration of the case and submission of an Action Taken Report. Meanwhile, a joint team of MVD Pulwama and Traffic Police conducted a thorough inspection of the transport fleet of Future Pack Secondary School. During the operation, two more vehicles violating the permit conditions and with valid documents were seized immediately.

NIA team visits Kulgam attack site

Srinagar, Nov 12:The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited the site of Wednesdays attack on a CRPF checkpoint near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district on Thursday even as preliminary investigations indicated that at least three terrorists, two of them believed to be foreign nationals, were involved in the strike. A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team on Thursday visited the site of the terror attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) checkpoint in south Kashmirs Kulgam district, a senior police officer said. The team inspected the spot to gather forensic evidence and examine the circumstances surrounding the attack, in which three CRPF personnel were injured. The samples collected from the scene are expected to assist investigators in establishing the sequence of events and identifying those involved in the attack. Security forces have continued search operations in the area to trace the attackers. The preliminary investigation reveals that at least three terrorists were involved in the attack. Two of them seem to be foreign nationals, said senior police officer. We are reviewing the CCTV footage from the area to get a clear picture. There is a marshy patch in the area and the terrorists escaped using the cover of the trees and bushes. Officials said the attackers approached the checkpoint on foot from the marshy area about 50 metres away. After opening fire with AK-47 rifles, they fled on foot through the same tree line. The attack took place barely 2 km from the heavily guarded Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. The CRPF had earlier stated that the incident occurred around 2:15 pm when the assailants fired at its personnel of the 46th Battalion, deployed as a bridge guard, before fleeing the spot. The three injured CRPF personnel Head Constable Somveer Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Constable RakeshDass (Assam) and Constable Santosh Chandru (West Bengal) - were first rushed to Government Medical College, Anantnag, and later shifted to the Armys 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar. One sustained bullet wounds to the abdomen and spine and underwent surgery; the other two received injuries to the arm and leg. Two of the injured have since been discharged after treatment, while the critically injured jawan continues to receive advanced care. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the hospital to enquire about his condition. GOC 15 Corps, Lieutenant General Balbir Singh, visited the spot to review the ongoing operations. Senior officers of the Army, CRPF and J&K Police are supervising the expanded search, guided by human and technical intelligence. A Motorola phone and SIM card were recovered from the site. Sources said investigators are examining the possibility that the attackers belong to a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module operating in south Kashmir. At least three suspected overground workers (OGWs) of the LeT are being questioned, with agencies suspecting that at least one provided logistical assistance, including reconnaissance and shelter. Police sources also suspect the involvement of local terrorist Lateef Ahmad Bhat of Kulgam, earlier blamed for two attacks in July and described at the time as the only local militant active in the Valley. Cartridges recovered from the site matched those found in the earlier Killam incident. There are concerns within the security establishment that, even as local recruitment has declined, small groups of foreign terrorists assisted by local support networks retain the capacity for targeted attacks. The period preceding winter is considered particularly vulnerable as terrorists hiding in the higher reaches of the PirPanjal typically move to lower elevations before snowfall. Such movements are sometimes accompanied by attacks before they shift to winter hideouts. A senior security officer said the strike appeared part of an attempt by Pakistan-based groups to reactivate networks in Kashmir despite sustained counter-terrorism operations.

Shopian Hospital Road work set to begin, relief in sight for patients

Shopian, Nov 12: Patients and commuters in south Kashmirs Shopian district are likely to get relief from persistent traffic congestion along the road leading to the District Hospital, with the widening project having been tendered out and construction work expected to begin soon. The project, estimated to cost Rs 348.47 lakh (Rs 3.48 crore), involves the upgradation and widening of Hospital Road from Clock Tower (RD-0) to District Hospital Shopian (RD-324). The development marks a step forward in addressing the long-pending demand for widening the crucial stretch, which frequently witnesses traffic jams, particularly during peak hours. MLA Shopian Shabir Ahmad Kullay said the project had been pursued for several months in view of the difficulties faced by patients and commuters. He said the tendering of the work had brought the project closer to implementation and that construction would be taken up soon. The widening of this road is important for improving access to the district hospital. People, particularly patients requiring emergency medical attention, face considerable difficulties due to frequent traffic congestion, Kullay said. The project had earlier received administrative approval from the Director, Urban Local Bodies (ULB), Kashmir, vide Order No. 971/DULB/Plg of 2026, dated September 29, 2026. The Detailed Project Report (DPR), prepared by the Executive Engineer, R&B Division Shopian, was subsequently forwarded by the Superintending Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Circle Pulwama/Shopian, to the Chief Engineer, R&B Department, South Kashmir, for technical sanction. The road leading to District Hospital Shopian witnesses frequent traffic jams, with attendants often forced to abandon their vehicles and carry patients on their backs to the hospital due to congestion along the narrow stretch. Ambulances and private vehicles carrying patients have also faced difficulties negotiating the congested road, causing inconvenience to people seeking urgent medical care. Javed Ahmad, a local resident, said the widening would help ease traffic congestion along the stretch. The road has remained a major bottleneck, particularly for people visiting the hospital. Its widening will provide much-needed relief to patients and commuters, he said. Residents said that people visiting the hospital have been facing difficulties for a long time due to the narrow road and frequent traffic jams. They said the widening will make the journey smoother and save patients and their attendants considerable time. The road widening will make it much easier for patients, particularly those being rushed to the hospital in emergencies. At present, traffic congestion often causes unnecessary delays, said Abid Hussain, another resident.

Search operations launched across south Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 12:Security forces on Thursday launched and intensified search operations across south Kashmir in the wake of the terror attack on a CRPF checkpoint near Mir Bazar in Kulgam district, even as the joint cordon-and-search operation at the main site entered its second day with an expanded area under cordon. The primary operation, which was suspended overnight due to darkness, resumed at first light in the Nowpora Akhran area. Additional forces have been deployed, barricades strengthened and vehicle checks intensified along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and approach roads to seal escape routes. Armoured vehicles and Quick Reaction Teams remain in position as teams comb the forested and rural belts. GOC 15 Corps, Lieutenant General Balbir Singh, visited the spot to review the operations and take stock of the ground situation. Senior officers of the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police are supervising the search, which is being guided by human and technical intelligence inputs. Parallel search and area-domination efforts have been activated at multiple locations across south Kashmir as part of a coordinated response. The attack occurred around 2:15 pm on Wednesday when two heavily armed assailants emerged from a dense cluster of trees and opened fire on a CRPF naka of the 46th Battalion, deployed as a bridge guard roughly 1 to 2 km off the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near Mir Bazar. Security personnel returned fire, but the attackers fled into the adjoining forested area. The injured personnel have been identified as Head Constable Somveer Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Constable RakeshDass (Assam) and Constable Santosh Chandru (West Bengal). Somveer Singh sustained a bullet injury to his arm and RakeshDass to his leg; both were reported stable. Chandru suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen and spine and was initially critical. Two of the injured personnel have since been discharged from hospital after treatment. The critically injured jawan was airlifted to the 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar for advanced care. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the hospital to enquire about his condition and interacted with the treating doctors. Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Bilal Mohiuddin had earlier visited the injured at GMC Anantnag. This is the third terror-related incident reported in south Kashmir in recent months. Forces have maintained a tight vigil across the region while the expanded searches continue.

Intensive CASOs underway after killing of 2 SPOs in Dachchan-Marwah forests

Jammu, Nov 12:Massive Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) were launched on Thursday across the treacherous Dachchan-Marwah forests of Kishtwar and adjoining areas after the security forces recovered bullet-riddled bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs), who had gone missing while heading towards Dharna army post on November 11, 2026. However, the service weapons of the slain SPOs remained missing. Meanwhile, the Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Wednesday visited Kishtwar to take stock of the situation at the incident site and monitor intensive searches currently underway there. He reportedly held a high level meeting with the senior officers of Army and central para-military forces to take assessment of security situation and operational preparedness. However, there was no official word, so far, about the entire incident and evolving situation thereafter. The slain SPOs, identified as Rashpal Kumar, 45 and Bobby Chand, 57 were part of SOG Kiyar sector in Dachchan. They were detailed for reporting at 17 RR TOB (Temporary Operational Base) camp in Marwah sector for duty on Wednesday (November 11, 2926) morning yet till late evening they did not reach there, thus triggering searches. On Thursday evening, their bullet-riddled bodies were recovered 2-3 kms from the site from where they reportedly went missing. Officials, preferring anonymity, said that besides the terror angle, the Police were working on other leads as well. Notably, the security forces have established temporary operating bases in the remote, treacherous areas where the presence of terrorists is apprehended. Slain SPOs were to report on one such TOBs of the army in Dachchan sector as a part of their (SPOs') rotational duty to relieve their colleagues and they were on their way, while passing through dense forest stretch when they lost contacts, triggering panic and consequential searches. Some reports quoting anonymous sources suggested that the duo came under an ambush by a group of terrorists, affiliated to Jaish-e-Muhammad, hidden and active in the area. The hidden terrorists sprayed bullets from a distance. Officially, however, none has corroborated these details. Reinforced security forces, with special teans equipped with drones, other advanced technology and sniffer dogs were engaged in CASOs in search of assassins. Treacherous forests of Dachchan-Marwah in Kishtwar district had the presence of local terrorists with even the security forces maintaining that around 20-30 terrorists were operating in the erstwhile Doda district area (encompassing Kishtwar district). The belt in the recent past also reported suspicious movement, triggering search operations. Focus of the security forces has been to eliminate terror ecosystem. Following the incident, high alert has been issued across Kishtwar district with special nakes set up and rigorous search operations underway.

Veshow Festival:Day 2 witnesses enthusiastic public participation, diverse cultural, literary, entrepreneurial activities

Kulgam, Nov 12:The second day of the three-day Veshow Festival 2026 witnessed enthusiastic participation of the general public, with a variety of literary, cultural, entrepreneurial and interactive activities organised at Government Degree College, Kulgam. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam Shahzad Alam, ADC Kulgam Vikar Ahmad Giri and other district officers attended various sessions during the day. The programme also witnessed the participation of noted artists, poets, writers, literary enthusiasts, career counsellors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, university professionals, students and visitors from different walks of life. The auditorium hosted a series of literary and cultural programmes, including college band and school cultural performances, a special session on Women and Literature Gynocriticism: Understanding Womens Writing, Koshur Mushaira and Sham-e-Ghazal. The programmes provided a platform for literary interaction, artistic expression and appreciation of the regions rich literary and musical traditions. Simultaneously, four dedicated pavilions hosted a range of sessions, discussions, workshops and interactive activities covering enterprise and startups, handicrafts and rural enterprises, agri-business and horticulture, besides youth, skill and career development. The sessions featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, fireside chats and success stories, offering participants insights into entrepreneurship, traditional crafts, business opportunities, agricultural ventures, financial literacy, digital skills and emerging career avenues. The Trade Fair remained a major attraction, with a wide range of stalls and exhibitions showcasing traditional handicrafts, Kashmiri food, local products, agricultural produce, art and craft, besides various enterprise-based products and services. The stalls provided a common platform for artisans, entrepreneurs, traders, institutions and service providers to interact with visitors and showcase their products and activities. The Antique Village also attracted visitors by presenting a glimpse of traditional Kashmiri household articles, artefacts, crafts and objects reflecting the regions cultural heritage and traditional lifestyle. The festival grounds remained lively with public engagement, as visitors explored the exhibitions, interacted with stall holders, enjoyed different cuisines and participated in shopping and trading activities. Cultural performances, including band presentations, classical music and dramatic performances, added to the festive atmosphere. A dedicated childrens play area was also available, providing recreational activities for young visitors and making the festival an engaging experience for families. The second day witnessed considerable public participation, with people showing keen interest in the various cultural programmes, literary sessions, exhibitions and pavilion activities. The festival continues to provide a common platform for celebrating local heritage, promoting talent, encouraging entrepreneurship and strengthening public engagement. The Veshow Festival 2026 will conclude on November 13, with further literary, cultural and trade activities scheduled for the final day.

Srinagar-Jammu NH open

Ramban, Nov 12:The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for two-way traffic of Light Motor Vehicles and heavy vehicles on Thursday. However, vehicular movement continued to be slow at several stretches between Udhampur and Banihal due to ongoing road construction, widening works and other traffic-related constraints. The uneven road surface at Dewal in Udhampur district and the narrow, single-lane stretch between Maroog and Kishtwari Pather in Ramban district continued to pose major challenges for commuters, affecting the smooth movement of vehicles. According to traffic officials, hundreds of vehicles crossed the Chenani-Nashri and Banihal-Qazigund tunnels during the day. However, traffic movement remained sluggish at several locations due to narrow carriageways, construction activities, uneven road surfaces and occasional vehicle breakdowns. Meanwhile, restrictions on the movement of Kashmir-bound oil and gas tankers continued along the Digdol-KhooniNalla stretch in view of ongoing highway widening work. As per the traffic advisory, such tankers will be allowed to cross the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel during the designated night window from 5 pm to 5 am, while their movement on the Digdol-KhooniNalla stretch will remain restricted between 7 am and 7 pm. Tanker operators have been advised to plan their journeys accordingly. Transporters carrying perishable goods and livestock have also been directed to ensure that vehicles are loaded strictly in accordance with the advisories issued by Traffic Police Headquarters. Traffic authorities have advised passengers and light motor vehicle operators to undertake their journeys during daylight hours and avoid night travel, particularly in view of the possibility of shooting stones, landslides, movement of nomadic herds and ongoing construction activities along the Ramban-Banihal stretch. Commuters have also been advised to maintain lane discipline, avoid unnecessary overtaking and refrain from stopping at vulnerable locations between Ramban and Banihal. Meanwhile, traffic authorities said that the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is to remain open for two-way traffic on Friday, subject to favourable weather and road conditions.

50 years of theatre, culture and service

Srinagar, Nov 12:ACT FOR A BETTER TOMORROW, one of Kashmirs oldest and most respected theatre organisations, yesterday celebrated its historic Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of uninterrupted service to theatre, art, culture and society. The Golden Jubilee celebration was held in Srinagar with great enthusiasm, in the presence of distinguished guests, veteran artists, writers, scholars, students and hundreds of art lovers from across Jammu & Kashmir. The show was sponsored by Kashmir Movietone and Halal Nation, and supported by Amar Singh Club (Srinagar). Gabfire was the branding partner and Rampage Advertising Agency was the advertising partner. Speaking on the occasion, ACT Chairman Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan, who has led the organisation for over four decades as actor, director, set designer and organiser, said: Theatre is and will remain the soul of ACT. For 50 years, we have performed not for fame, but for the people of Kashmir. Our journey is a story of passion, sacrifice and honest creative labour. Today, we renew our pledge to serve Kashmir for the next 50 years. Distinguished guests The show was attended by a good number of politicians, bureaucrats, eminent artists, journalists and other dignitaries of the Valley, including Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Dr. Rafi Ahmad, Syed Tajamul Islam, Sujada Basheer, Sayed Humayun Qaisar, Shahnawaz Bukhari, Ahsan Chisti, Suman Raina, Amit Wanchoo, Mehjabeen Nabi, Prof Tariq Abdullah, Rauf Tramboo, Rauf Punjabi, Roma Wani, Shabnum Ashai, Zameer Ashai, G M Wani, Shahzad Rasool, Hussein Khan, Ameen Bhat, Mushtaq Bala, Mir Aijaz, Mir Sarwar, Shafeeq Quraishi, Waheed Jeelani, Raja Bilal, Ashiq Peerzada, Tahir Mohi Uddin and Parvez Majeed. 50 years of glorious journey In the last 50 years, ACT has produced more than two dozen major stage productions, many of which have won state and national-level awards. The organisation is known for strong content, powerful performances and socially relevant themes. Major productions include Jheel Bula Rahi Hai, Ek Potli Armanoon Ki (8 awards), Taqdeer Saaz (9 awards), Negative (the first-ever play on a floating stage in Dal Lake), Sabarmati Ka Sant, Sanyasi, Pagla Ghoda and Deewana Bana De. ACT has received more than a dozen prestigious awards in the last 20 years, including the Chinar Art Foundation Award, two Infotel Awards, the Athwas Award, and Awards of Excellence and Honour. Its plays have won Best Production, Best Direction and Best Set Design awards in festivals organised by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and Doordarshan. A pioneer in creating platforms ACT has organised three Spring Theatre Festivals, five editions of the Kashmir World Film Festival, now considered J&Ks largest film festival, two editions of Istaqbaal-e-Chilla-e-Kalan, the Jashn-e-Sheen Festival, and the first-ever three-day Kashmir Theatre Conference (Sept 11-13, 2026) with 24 theatre experts from Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Kashmir. ACT has also organised World Theatre Day on March 27 continuously for 21 years without a break. The organisation has conducted workshops with NZCC Patiala and Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, managed campaigns for NTPC, the Tourism Department and AIRCEL, held drawing competitions for orphaned children after the COVID lockdown, and felicitated national icons like Naseeruddin Shah, Nandita Das, Ismail Darbar and others. Golden Jubilee celebration highlights Felicitation of veteran artists, writers and founding members of ACT Cultural performances, music and excerpts from landmark ACT plays Release of Golden Jubilee Souvenir and Documentary on 50 Years of ACT Announcement of Future Vision: ACT FOR A BETTER TOMORROW Vision for the next 10 years (2026-2036) On this historic occasion, ACT Patron Sayed Humayun Qaisar announced its roadmap for the next decade: ACT Academy of Performing Arts: structured training in theatre, music, dance and film ACT Youth Leadership Centre: leadership, skill development and women empowerment ACT Archive of Kashmiri Theatre: digital preservation of 50 years of history 50 Plays for 50 Years Project: 50 plays across J&K and Delhi Social initiatives aligned with 12 SDGs in education, health, gender equality, environment, and welfare of the specially abled, orphans and senior citizens The prominent guests who graced the occasion included Tanvir Sadiq, Syed Basharat Bukhari and others. Felicitation of press and media members As a token of gratitude and appreciation, ACT felicitated almost all the journalists of Kashmir from print, electronic and digital media with a memento. For the last few decades, the media fraternity has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with ACT, giving voice to its plays, festivals and social initiatives. This felicitation was our humble way of saying thank you for being the true partners in our 50-year journey of ACT FOR A BETTER TOMORROW. Vote of thanks The organisation expressed heartfelt gratitude to the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Sangeet Natak Akademi, NZCC, the media fraternity, sponsors, artists and the people of Kashmir for their continuous love and support for 50 years.

Zojila Pass, Sonamarg receive season's first snowfall

Ganderbal, Nov 12: The higher reaches of Kashmir, including Zojila Pass and the health resort of Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district, experienced the season's first snowfall on Thursday, resulting in the closure of the strategic Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri (SSG) road. Zojila Pass received 1-2 inches of snowfall, while Sonamarg also saw light snow, covering the area in a pristine white blanket. The Srinagar-Leh National Highway was closed to traffic due to the snow accumulation and slippery road conditions. The Border Roads Organisation has deployed machinery for snow clearance. A BRO official said that after completing snow clearance work and as weather conditions improve, authorities will decide on resuming traffic. The police have appealed to commuters and drivers to adhere to the traffic advisory for their safety during these conditions. They said only vehicles having 4x4 or equipped with anti-skid chains shall be allowed further up from Gagengar towards Sonamarg. This is to avoid any mishaps and prolonged jams along the road. Meanwhile, tourists were seen enjoying the snowfall at Sonamarg. We are happy that it is snowing here this time of year and it made our visit to Kashmir more pleasant, a group of tourists said.

Huge inflows in small spaces

Increasing investments from global entities into India's financial sector are boosting the specialized lending institutions. Regulatory reforms have strengthened governance and risk management practices within these institutions over time. Digital innovations like Aadhaar and UPI have facilitated faster and more accurate borrower assessments.

Prakriti meets AI

The article draws on the Bhagavad Gita to explain how human actions, shaped by the three gunas, bind individuals to the cycle of birth and death, while Krishnas teachings offer paths to liberation. It applies this philosophy to the rise of artificial intelligence, warning that emotional attachments to AI companions could weaken genuine human relationships and blur the line between real and virtual experiences.

Hormones guiding history? Even with Jensen Huang resigning from Nvidia, the chip landscape will be irrevocably changed

The article argues that allegations of Chinese espionage involving former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang need to be examined for their wider political, military and technological implications. It questions whether the Trump administration will fully investigate the matter, given Huangs reported political connections and the risk of straining ties with China, which controls over 80% of processed rare earth supplies.

Think ease of engagement before ease of business

Policy wonks in New Delhi have historically fussed too much about foreign capital buying domestic assets. But being perennially paranoid about the colour of money has only diminished our market appeal. India is too difficult relative to other opportunities where rules are clear, tax treatment is predictable, enforcement is credible and returns compensate for risk. Options around the world are plenty, India should think of ways to make global capital fall in love with her.

DRI seizes 22 kg cocaine from foreign female passenger in Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 12: In a major crackdown on international drug syndicates, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has intercepted a foreign female passenger arriving from Sierra Leone and seized 22 kg (net) of cocaine from her possession. The seized narcotics are estimated to have a value of several crores of rupees in the illicit international market. The operation exposed a sophisticated and brazen modus operandi involving the use of forged diplomatic credentials to bypass airport security. The passenger claimed to be a diplomatic courier and was carrying a large briefcase-type box bearing markings such as Diplomatic Mail and Do Not Open Without Authority. She also produced apparently forged documents claiming that the consignment belonged to a United Nations diplomatic courier, evidently to evade scrutiny. Acting on the intelligence input, DRI officers conducted a thorough examination of the briefcase in accordance with due procedure. The examination resulted in the recovery of 22 packets, concealed within multiple layers of plastic wrapping. The white, brick-shaped substance recovered from the packets tested positive for cocaine during field testing. The entire contraband, comprising 22 packets of cocaine, was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985 and produced before the competent court. The DRI remains firmly committed to dismantling novel trafficking routes, leveraging intelligence-led enforcement, and dismantling international syndicates attempting to exploit institutional privileges for illicit trade.

Over 20 lakh defence pensioners complete Digital Life Certification under National DLC Campaign 5.0

New Delhi, Nov 12: The Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Ministry of Defence, has rolled out an extensive outreach initiative as part of the Nationwide Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Campaign 5.0. Coordinated by the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare (DoP&PW), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the month-long campaign is being conducted across the country from November 1 to 30, 2026. As on November 11, 2026, over 20.48 lakh defence pensioners have successfully submitted DLCs, the highest contribution among all participating departments. The initiative aims to facilitate seamless, hassle-free submission of DLCs for defence pensioners and family pensioners through advanced technology-enabled solutions. A key priority is ensuring that elderly, super-senior, and differently-abled pensioners complete their annual identification conveniently without procedural hardships. Extensive Pan-India Mobilisation To ensure widespread physical outreach and ground-level support, the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) has mobilised: 194 SPARSH Service Centres (SSCs) fully equipped to assist pensioners in generating DLCs and avail SPARSH platform services. 4.63 lakh Common Service Centres (CSCs), 13 partner banks / IPPB and 29 nodal officers to facilitate pensioners to generate DLCs. Around 80 outreach programmes are being conducted across the country. Mega Camps: A Mega Digital Life Certificate Camp to be organised in Kochi on November 23, 2026 offering on-the-spot assistance in generation of DLC. Promotion of Face Authentication Technology A focal point of Campaign 5.0 is promoting Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology via Jeevan Pramaan portal and mobile application, with more than 80% of the digital life certificates being generated through Face ID. This facility allows pensioners to authenticate their life certificate using a smartphone, eliminating the need for external biometric hardware. Key advantages include: Submission from Home: Enables pensioners to generate certificates from the comfort of their homes, cutting down travel time and eliminating physical visits to bank branches or defence offices. Overcoming Biometric Degradation: Addresses difficulties faced by super-senior pensioners whose fingerprints have faded with the passage of time and advancing age. Support for Differently-Abled Veterans: Provides significant ease of access for pensioners facing reduced mobility. Digital Self-Reliance: Encourages pensioners and their families to adopt digital practices, building self-sufficiency for future annual submissions. Building on Proven Achievements The Defence Accounts Department has consistently driven high adoption in nationwide digital governance initiatives. During DLC Campaign 4.0 in November 2025, the DAD generated over 20.94 lakh DLCs, through its pan-India network of SPARSH Service Centers, Common Service Centres and partner banks. Outreach under SPARSH has also expanded significantly, with 35.11 lakh defence pensioners onboarded as of October 2026, supported by 301 SPARSH Outreach Programmes and 204 Raksha Pension Samadhan Aayojans resolving over 8,000 grievances on the spot. Reiterating its guiding principle Right Pension to the Right Pensioner at the Right Time, the Defence Accounts Department has urged to all defence pensioners and family pensioners to visit their nearest SPARSH Service Center, banks or one of the 80 outreach programmes during November 2026 to experience a hassle-free, fully digitised life certificate submission process.

CM stresses need for foolproof, transparent and merit-based examination system

LG calls for collective commitment to safeguarding civilisational legacy of J&K for future generations

Srinagar, Nov 12: The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today addressed a two-day National Seminar on Revival, Preservation and Sustainability of Cultural Heritage of Kashmir, organised by Kakini Building Humanity. The event was also graced by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, through virtual mode. Congratulating the organisers, scholars, administrators, artists, ex-servicemen, military officers and citizens participating in the seminar, the Lieutenant Governor said that heritage is a priceless inheritance received from generations of philosophers, saints, artisans, writers and thinkers who enriched humanity through their wisdom and creativity. He stressed that the responsibility of the present generation is not merely to admire this legacy, but to preserve, organise, document and make it more accessible to society. He called for a collective commitment to safeguarding the civilisational legacy of Jammu Kashmir for future generations. The Lieutenant Governor observed that Jammu Kashmir is not known only for its natural beauty but also for its profound contributions to philosophy, spirituality, language, aesthetics and human thought. Referring to Acharya Abhinavagupta, he said that the great philosopher embodied the unity of spiritual experience, art and intellectual inquiry, and that youth should be introduced to the remarkable thinkers who emerged from the Kashmir Valley. Every university, every teacher, and every cultural institution of this land should work on translating important texts, encourage research, and provide scholars and students with a common platform. I believe that heritage must be alive, it must converse, and it must guide our new generation, he said. Emphasising that culture forms the foundation of every society, the Lieutenant Governor noted that communities draw confidence and self-respect from a deeper understanding of their history and heritage. He underlined the importance of preserving ancient religious sites, manuscripts, museums and cultural institutions as instruments for strengthening identity and promoting mutual understanding. The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the significant efforts undertaken in Jammu Kashmir for heritage conservation under the leadership of Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He noted that heritage revival projects are being implemented across the Union Territory through restoration of monuments, archival modernisation, archaeological research and cultural infrastructure development. It is pertinent to mention that preservation work has been initiated on 106 heritage projects under the first two phases, with over 40 projects already completed. Under Phase III, 321 projects have been identified and 312 have received administrative approval. The digitisation work of historical records is ongoing in the Jammu and Srinagar archives, with nearly 96.8 lakh pages digitised so far, representing about 68 per cent of available documents. Under Mission Gyan Bharatam, the surveys have identified 43,000 manuscripts and digitisation efforts are progressing steadily. The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted ongoing work related to the Sufiana School in Srinagar, the modernisation of Abhinav Theatre and Kala Kendra in Jammu, restoration of Mubarak Mandi and research into recently discovered Kushan-era Buddhist remains in Baramulla district. Speaking about Naranag Heritage Complex in Ganderbal, the Lieutenant Governor welcomed the research and documentation initiatives undertaken by Kakini Building Humanity and expressed hope that conservation and restoration activities would commence after completion of necessary procedural requirements. He also appreciated efforts connected with the Harmukh-Gangbal pilgrimage, describing it as a symbol of the regions enduring cultural and spiritual traditions. I believe that Naranag has its own distinct historical and spiritual dignity, where faith, geography, and collective memories are deeply intertwined. Therefore, I am extremely pleased that Kakini Building Humanity has also established a chair at the Indian Heritage Institute, he said. The Lieutenant Governor reaffirmed that Jammu Kashmir has a long tradition of harmony and equal respect for all faiths. He emphasised that the heritage of every community must be preserved with sensitivity. The vaakhs of Yogini Lalleshwari and Nund Rishi still reach peoples hearts across centuries, because their words contain eternal truths that are untouched by the passage of time. Preserving this tradition of harmony is our collective public responsibility, he said. The Lieutenant Governor said Kashmiri Pandit's contribution to Kashmirs literary, spiritual and cultural heritage is invaluable and their dignified return would help restore the Valleys complete social and cultural fabric. The Lieutenant Governor commended the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, scholars, archivists, museum professionals and all stakeholders associated with heritage conservation. He also lauded former army officers and civil society organisations for their continued contribution to cultural preservation and nation-building. Padma Vibhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Kuldeep Krishan Sidha; Adv. Raja Ashraf Ali Khan, Swamini Vishwa Nireeshwari Lakshmi Priya Mata, Ramesh Hangloo, Ar. Balaji Dhar and Ar. Shravanthi were felicitated for their contribution in the field of culture and heritage. Maj Gen R.K Raina (Retd.), Chairman Kakini Building Humanity, Cdr. Sanjay Kaul (Retd.), Dr. Aanchal Khurana, Vice President, Kakini Building Humanity; Ramesh Kumar, Secretary, Culture Department; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Rajiv Omprakashn, DIG CKR; Dr. GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, senior officials and prominent citizens from different walks of life were present.

Snowfall begins in Sonamarg

Altaf Bukhari seeks general amnesty for people booked during 1990s turmoil

Kashmir plans skiing, snowboarding tournaments to promote winter tourism

Srinagar, Nov 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department is gearing up for the winter tourism season, with preparations having reached their final stage and a series of winter sports events planned to attract more visitors to the Valley. Director Tourism Syed Qamar Sajjad said the department was ready to organise events and activities during the winter season, particularly around the New Year, to proDrag lift at Gulmarg to be fully functional this season, says Director Tourismmote Kashmir as a winter and adventure tourism destination. Our preparation is at the final stage. We are always ready for the shows and events conducted against the backdrop of winter, especially with the coming of the New Year, Sajjad said. He said the department would also organise an event on November 16, described as the Harud Carnival, to showcase Kashmir's autumn season, its cultural significance and the influence of weather on local traditions. Sajjad said the golden hues of autumn, particularly in Chinar gardens, offered a distinctive visual experience for tourists. When you visit the Chinar gardens, you feel as if gold has been scattered everywhere. Obviously, this golden colour has its own impact on tourists and makes the surroundings visually appealing. Where you see greenery, you later witness the same landscape in golden colours, he said. On winter tourism activities, Sajjad said the department planned to organise one or two tournaments, particularly in skiing, which remains among the most popular winter sports in Kashmir. Besides skiing, the department would organise snowboarding competitions and snow races to give greater exposure to winter and adventure tourism in the region. Our effort will be to ensure maximum exposure for our winter tourism and adventure tourism, he said. Sajjad also said the department had undertaken repairs of drag lifts ahead of the winter season, adding that the drag lift at Gulmarg would be fully functional this year. We have also repaired our drag lifts this year. The drag lift at Gulmarg will also be fully functional this season, he said. Expressing optimism about the upcoming season, the Director Tourism said he expected winter tourism to perform well. I feel this year's winter season will be very good, Inshallah, he said.

Govt plans special session of Parliament to pass women's quota amendment bill, confident of 15-18 vote margin

The move comes after a similar Constitution amendment bill failed to secure the required numbers in the Lok Sabha during a special sitting of the Budget Session on April 17

India, South Africa hold 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations

New Delhi, Nov 12: The 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and South Africa was held in Pretoria on 11 November 2026. The Indian delegation was led by Mr. Janesh Kain, Joint Secretary (East & Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs and the South African delegation was led by Ambassador David Malcomson, Acting Deputy Director General, Directorate of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). In a press statement, The Minbistry of Foreign Affairs said, During the consultations, both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of the Strategic Partnership, including high-level exchanges, institutional mechanisms and cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, defence & security, development partnership, science & technology, education, counter-terrorism, cheetah conservation, culture and people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in multilateral fora, it said. India and South Africa share historically close and friendly relations marked by regular high-level visits and other exchanges. The year 2027 will mark the 30th anniversary of establishment of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries providing an important milestone to further strengthen and diversify bilateral cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen the India South Africa Strategic Partnership and agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in India at a mutually convenient date, the statement said.

Technological superiority key to enhancing operational readiness against emerging threats: Rajanth Singh

New Delhi, Nov 12: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon the Defence Forces to strengthen and sustain both offensive and defensive dimensions of the element of surprise to maintain operational readiness against conventional and emerging threats arising from rapid technological advancements and the evolving nature of modern warfare. Addressing the Air Force Commanders Conference in New Delhi on November 12, 2026, he emphasised the need to continue bolstering intelligence and surveillance capabilities, enhance integration among systems and identify potential threats before they unfold. Our Defence Forces must develop capabilities and methods that leave the adversary with no time to react or recover, while simultaneously ensuring that we are never caught off guard by an unexpected move from the enemy. Surprise can manifest in various forms, both conventional and electronic. Our intelligence and surveillance mechanisms must be further strengthened and operational preparedness enhanced to ensure that our personnel remain alert, agile and equipped to respond effectively to any emerging challenge, said the Raksha Mantri. Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that contemporary conflicts are extending beyond traditional battlefields into non-contact domains, with missiles, drones and advanced weapon systems playing a significant role. Referring to the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, he stated that drones and air defence systems have emerged as critical components of modern warfare. He exhorted the Commanders to remain prepared for emerging challenges such as kamikaze drones, surveillance and counter-drone operations. Raksha Mantri called upon the Indian Air Force (IAF) to develop dedicated doctrines and architectures for emerging domains of warfare, including electronic, cyber and space. He emphasised that enhanced preparedness in these domains would strengthen the ability to address future challenges. Victory in future conflicts would depend not merely on the number of aircraft, but also on technological sophistication, speed of response and precision of preparations, he said, urging the Commanders to make these emerging challenges a core priority, with focus on integrating them into institutional thinking, planning and operational processes. Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that the Defence Forces are undergoing a transformative phase, encompassing reforms in wide-ranging areas, including organisational structures, jointness & integration, and operational concepts. He added that the changing security environment necessitated continuous adaptation and a forward-looking approach to military preparedness. Raksha Mantri commended the IAF for effectively implementing its doctrines and operational methods during and after Operation Sindoor, appreciating the professionalism, restraint & judgement demonstrated by the air warriors in successfully executing their assigned tasks. He stated that the lessons learnt during the operation were clearly reflected in the IAF's evolving operational procedures, particularly through the increased emphasis on drones and air defence systems, which are vital to national security. These lessons, he added, are shaping the pace and direction of the transformative changes underway in the Defence Forces. Highlighting the coordinated and complementary contributions of all the three Services effectively demonstrated during Op Sindoor, Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Forces for the synergy and integration. He underlined that jointness and integrated efforts must continue to guide military planning and operational execution. While appreciating the IAF for enhancing the skills and capabilities of its personnel in keeping with rapid technological advancements, Raksha Mantri urged the Commanders to sustain efforts towards training air warriors in emerging technologies. He underscored the importance of leveraging the technological knowledge and expertise of young recruits, stating that their capabilities could contribute significantly to stronger decision-making and organisational development. On the Second Tour of Duty for Agniveers, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the decision was taken following feedback received from the Defence Forces, reiterating the Government's commitment to incorporating the Services suggestions into policy decisions. He expressed confidence that the Second Tour of Duty initiative would contribute to further bolstering the three Services. As part of this conference, Raksha Mantri launched a suite of Artificial Intelligence (Al) applications developed in-house by the IAF's Al Centre of Excellence of the Unit for Digitisation, Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Application Networking (UDAAN). The applications will be utilised to automate and expedite tasks across the domains of operations, administration and aerospace safety, and are deployed on the IAFs secure network. The initiative marks a significant milestone in the IAF's pursuit of technology-driven transformation and enhanced operational capabilities. The inaugural session was also attended by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, and Secretary (Defence Finance) Shri Vishvajit Sahay. Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of all Commands of IAF, all Principal Staff Officers & all Director Generals. The two-day conference is being attended by the Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of all Commands of IAF, all Principal Staff Officers & all Director Generals. The theme of this years conference is The Year of Empowerment: Maximising Efficiency Through Decentralisation. The conference provides a forum to the senior leadership of the IAF to discuss critical issues pertaining to operations, maintenance and administration.

Terrorism will never succeed In Kashmir: Farooq Abdullah

Bandipora-Gurez road closed after snowfall blocks Razdan Pass

Bandipora, Nov 12: The Bandipora-Gurez road was closed to traffic on Thursday following continuous snowfall that blocked the route to the north Kashmir valley in Bandipora district. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Gurez confirmed that the road was closed amid moderate snowfall across Razdan Pass, which connects Gurez valley with the rest of the district. An Officer Commanding (OC) of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) said snowfall had continued since morning and machinery had been deployed for snow clearance. Snowfall has continued since morning and the machinery is on the road clearing the snow, he said. He added that the snow depth on the pass had reached around six inches. Meanwhile, moderate to light snowfall was recorded across several hamlets and upper reaches of Gurez valley, including Peer Baba, Kanzalwan, Bagtore, Tulail, Kilshay and Gujjran, among other areas.

Kulgam attack aftermath: Search operation widened, two injured CRPF personnel discharged

NHM staff demand fair salary increments

One Nation One Ration Card records over 233 crore portability transactions since launch

New Delhi, Nov 12: The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme has recorded over 233 crore inter-state and intra-state portability transactions since its inception, distributing more than 614 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of foodgrains, according to information shared by the Department of Food and Public Distribution on Thursday. Launched in 2019, ONORC is a major reform of the Public Distribution System (PDS), enabling beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to access their entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country without requiring a new ration card. The scheme has been implemented across all 36 States and Union Territories, covering 100 per cent of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) beneficiaries. It facilitates approximately 3.27 crore portability transactions every month. The initiative is aimed at supporting migrant workers and their families by ensuring access to subsidised foodgrains wherever they reside, while strengthening PDS access for NFSA beneficiaries across the country. The government has complemented ration portability with digital authentication, data-driven targeting and technology-enabled distribution to improve transparency and last-mile delivery. As of October 2026, ration card and beneficiary databases have been 100 per cent digitised across all States and Union Territories, covering around 78.65 crore beneficiaries. These databases are accessible through the public transparency portals of States and Union Territories. Of the 20.51 crore ration cards in the Central System, 98.8 per cent, or 20.27 crore, have been Aadhaar-seeded. The total number of beneficiaries seeded with Aadhaar stands at 76.97 crore. As of September 30, 2026, e-KYC had been completed for 71.52 crore beneficiaries, accounting for 91 per cent of the total. Transparency portals, online grievance systems and toll-free helplines are operational across all States and Union Territories. Online foodgrain allocation has been implemented nationwide, while supply chains have been computerised in 31 States and Union Territories. Out of a total of 5.51 lakh Fair Price Shops, 99.8 per cent, or 5.50 lakh, are operational with electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices. Under the Rightful Targeting initiative, Aadhaar and PDS data analytics flagged 5.95 crore suspicious records, leading to the deletion of 2.58 crore duplicate or ineligible entries under Rightful Targeting Version 1. The information also mentions that Rightful Targeting Version 3 flagged 63 lakh records, of which 68 lakh were deleted. Under the Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS (SARTHAK-PDS), initiatives such as NIRMAL and SAKSHAM are aimed at strengthening data architecture, analytics and real-time data integration, including Vehicle Location Tracking Systems, from procurement to distribution. The SARTHAK-PDS scheme provides financial support for intra-State movement, handling and Fair Price Shop dealer margins. It also aims to create a unified, citizen-centric and interoperable PDS architecture, ensure last-mile delivery, minimise leakages and strengthen food security under NFSA. The scheme is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2031. The Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART-PDS), under the SARTHAK-PDS umbrella, digitally integrates ration cards, distribution, supply chains and grievance redressal, while addressing technology gaps at the State and Union Territory levels through an integrated central system. As part of technology-driven reforms, the Department has also launched the Mera Ration mobile application, which is available in 13 languages. The app enables beneficiaries to check monthly foodgrain entitlements, view past transaction details, verify Aadhaar-seeding status, check eligibility for national portability, register voluntarily for ONORC and locate nearby Fair Price Shops using GPS. The application also provides map-based navigation to the nearest Fair Price Shop, helping beneficiaries, particularly migrants, locate shops and access their foodgrain entitlements in a new area. The department said ONORC has made foodgrain access portable, nationwide and technology-enabled. Along with digitised beneficiary databases, e-PoS-enabled Fair Price Shops, the SARTHAK-PDS framework and the Mera Ration app, the initiative is aimed at making the system more transparent, integrated and beneficiary-centric.

Dr Kewal Krishan Pandita appointed as Medical Superintendent of AIIMS Awantipora

Srinagar, Nov 12: Dr Kewal Krishan Pandita, has been appointed as Medical Superintendent of AIIMS Awantipora on deputation for a period of three years. Prior to his new assignment, Dr Pandita was serving as a faculty at AIIMS Bhopal. He has a longstanding association with the healthcare system of Jammu and Kashmir as he also served as MD in Hospital Administration (2007) SKIMS Soura

Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital kills 6 people, health authorities say

Cairo, Nov 12: An Israeli airstrike targeting the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed six people and wounded at least a dozen more, Gaza's Health Ministry said. The strike was carried out early Thursday, according to the Israeli military, which said it struck a senior Hamas terrorist and other militants, without providing evidence.

Suspected Pakistani drone seized near IB in J-K's Samba

Jammu, Nov 12: A suspected Pakistani drone was recovered from an agricultural field near the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, officials said. The drone, identified as a DJI Matrice 300 RTK, was recovered from Border Outpost Lalfamkima about 800 metres from the IB during a search operation by the Border Security Force (BSF), the officials said. However, they said no payload was found attached to the drone at the time of its recovery.The drone was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for detailed examination, the officials said. They said the investigators are expected to analyse the device to establish its technical details and gather information that could help determine its origin, ownership and possible flight history. The BSF launched the search operation after the troops observed the suspected drone movement from across the border in the early hours of the day and activated the anti-drone mechanism, the officials said.

Shopian secures third rank among clean Himalayan cities in national cleanliness survey

Shopian, Nov 12: Shopian town in south Kashmir has secured the third rank nationally in the Clean Himalayan City category under the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26, bringing recognition to the towns cleanliness and waste-management efforts. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Deputy Commissioner Shopian Charandeep Singh and Municipal Council Chief Executive Officer Suhail Malik received the award on behalf of the town. For residents, the recognition is a moment of satisfaction as well as a reminder of the responsibility of keeping public spaces clean. It is really a proud moment for our district that we made it to the third rank, said Bashir Ahmad, a local resident. He said the achievement should encourage people to take greater responsibility for maintaining cleanliness rather than leaving the task entirely to municipal authorities. Now it is the collective responsibility of all citizens to keep our area clean. The administration and municipal workers can do their part, but public cooperation is equally important, he said. The recognition comes amid growing attention to cleanliness and sustainable waste management in smaller Himalayan towns, where urban expansion, increasing commercial activity and tourism can put pressure on civic infrastructure. Shopians ranking reflects the efforts of the Municipal Council, sanitation workers, the district administration and residents in maintaining public spaces and improving waste-management practices. For sanitation workers, whose daily work often goes unnoticed, the award also brings recognition to their contribution to the towns civic environment. The challenge now will be to sustain the performance and ensure that cleanliness becomes a regular civic practice rather than an exercise driven by rankings and awards. Residents say maintaining clean streets, preventing littering and ensuring proper disposal of household and commercial waste will require consistent public participation. The third-place ranking has placed Shopian among the better-performing Himalayan urban centres nationally, but residents say the real measure of success will be whether the town can maintain and improve its cleanliness standards in the years ahead.

Extra pace is 'good' but Aquib Nabi backing his domestic skills to succeed in international cricket

Mount Maunganui, Nov 12: Extra pace has its benefits but Indian pacer Auqib Nabi says he is relying more on seam movement and skills acquired over the years in the domestic circuit to make a mark in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. Nabi, who has played three ODIs after making a forgettable debut against the West Indies at home, relies on movement in the air and off the pitch to fox the batters. He bowls in the 130kmph range. Speaking to reporters ahead of the fourth ODI against the Black Caps here, Nabi was asked if he plans to increase his pace. India lead 2-0 in the series after the third match was washed out. Obviously, if you have the pace, it's very good. But my skill, I back that. I have done well in domestic cricket. Here, I have come on skill. if there is pace, it is a plus factor. But I back my skill. What I did well in domestic will be useful here as well, said Nabi. Nabi has got the opportunity to bowl in the nets to the trio of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on the tour of New Zealand. He bowled to them extensively on Thursday. Actually, this is my first time putting a ball in New Zealand. So, it is a little different here. Here, you have to depend more on the seam movement. Because the top level batsmen play swing. So, that was their feedback (the trio). Here, if you do scramble seam or hit the deck, there is a chance to get more wickets here. That is what they told me, added Nabi on his conversations with the high-profile top-order batters. He will be staying back to help the team's preparations ahead of the two-Test series beginning November 19.

Attack on CRPF post: Search operation resumes to track down two terrorists

Security forces on Thursday resumed the search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district to track down two terrorists, who attacked a CRPF post injuring three personnel, officials said. Two heavily armed terrorists emerged from a dense cluster of trees and opened fire at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) post in the South Kashmir district on Wednesday, injuring three CRPF personnel, one of them critically. The two men disappeared into the forested area after the attack that took place around 2.15 pm near Mir Bazar, about 75 km from Srinagar and just a km from the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Immediately after the attack, security launched a massive cordon and search operation in the area to track down the terrorists. On Thursday morning, the security forces resumed the searches, the officials said. They said the forces have erected barricades and deployed armoured vehicles at several places in the district. Checking and frisking of vehicles is being under

Baramulla Police seize two grenades, suspect held In Tangmarg forest operation

Baramulla, Nov 12: Baramulla Police achieved a major success during an Area Domination Patrol (ADP) in Baderkoot forests, recovering two hand grenades and apprehending one person. In a handout, the police said that in a joint operation with CICT Ftr BSF (112/06 Bn), 2RR and CRPF 176 Bn, police apprehended a suspicious individual, identified as Ghulam Jeelani Reshi of Baderkote, Tangmarg, from the Baderkote forest area. One hand grenade was recovered from his possession, and on his disclosure, another concealed grenade was subsequently recovered from the forest. An FIR has been registered at Police Station Tangmarg, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the source, intended use and possible links of the recovered explosives. Baramulla Police reiterated its unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and security and appreciated the coordinated efforts of all security forces in ensuring the safety of the area.(GNS)

Bullet-riddled bodies of two missing SPOs recovered in Kishtwar, weapons missing

Kishtwar, Nov 12: The bullet-riddled bodies of two Special Police Officers (SPOs) who had gone missing in Kishtwar district have been recovered, officials said on Thursday. Officials said that the deceased have been identified as SPO Rashpal Kumar, Belt No. 65, Age 45 years and SPO Bobby Chand, Belt No. 920, Age 57 years. Both were residents of Kiyar Dachhan and were posted with SOG Kiyar Sector Dachhan, District Kishtwar. The duo had gone untraceable on November 10 after they were detailed for rotation duty at army Camp Dharna, Sector Marwah. They had failed to report to the said TOB for duty. Officials said their bodies, bearing bullet injuries, were recovered from the forest area in Dachhan sector. Their service weapons were not found at the spot. A massive search and cordon operation had been launched after they went missing. Security forces have now intensified the operation in the area to trace the attackers. Further details are awaited.(GNS)

LoP Sunil Sharma condemns Kulgam firing on CRPF personnel, vows fight against terrorism

NIA team to visit Kulgam terror attack site to collect samples

Srinagar, Nov 12: A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will visit the site of terror attack on a CRPF checkpoint in south Kashmirs Kulgam district to collect samples and examine forensic evidence. The team will visit Akhran near Mir Bazar, where terrorists opened fire on a CRPF checkpoint on Wednesday afternoon, injuring three personnel. The NIA team will collect samples from the spot as part of the examination of the attack site. The forensic material is expected to help investigators establish the sequence of events and gather evidence related to the firing. According to officials, the terrorists opened fire on CRPF personnel around 2:15 pm. The security personnel retaliated, forcing the attackers to flee from the spot on their motorcycle. Three CRPF personnel sustained bullet injuries and were shifted to a hospital in Anantnag for treatment. Following the attack, police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the attackers. Security has also been intensified across Kulgam and other parts of south Kashmir.

18 terrorists, 11 personnel killed as police party comes under attack in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Peshawar, Nov 12: Eighteen terrorists were killed and at least 11 personnel died when a police team came under attack while returning from an operation against illegal gold mining in Kohat district of Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday. In a statement, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police public relations director said the personnel were conducting a joint operation with the local civil administration in the Darabukach locality near Kohat city. When the police party was returning after completing the operation, Fitna-al-Khawarij attacked the police party at the behest of criminal elements, the statement read. Police personnel fought the attackers with great bravery and courage, as a result of which 18 khawarij were sent to hell, it said, adding that 10 police personnel were killed. Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. According to the statement, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and local civil administration had conducted an operation against elements involved in illegal gold mining in Darabo Kuch. The incident has also reportedly exposed an alleged nexus between criminal elements and Fitna-al-Khawarij, the statement said. The police team, which was going to Gumbat Kohat area of Kohat district, came under fire in the Darbokach Jalandhar Banda area, located between Kohat and Karak, police spokesperson Muhammad Nauman Zeb said. The deceased included DSP Gambat Haider Zaman and Sub-Inspector Mukhtiar, Zeb said. Five police mobile vehicles were also set on fire during the assault, he said. The police spokesperson said the attackers continued firing at police personnel, resulting in a heavy exchange of fire. Additional police vehicles were dispatched to the scene, while a heavy police contingent was called in to respond to the attack. Following the attack, an emergency was declared at the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital, Zeb said. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed grief over the killing of the police personnel and sought a detailed report, as per an official statement issued by his office. According to Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the countrys security environment continued to show considerable volatility from October 30 to November 5, with renewed terrorist activity in parts of KP and the former tribal districts, alongside intensified counterterrorism operations and changing patterns of militant violence. The northwestern province has been under governors rule and emergency since October 11, when the federal government took the measures, citing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led KP governments deliberate disengagement from the counterterrorism fight.

No delays in development works: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directs officials

Udhampur, Nov 11:Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a comprehensive review meeting in Udhampur to assess the districts developmental scenario, progress of ongoing projects and delivery of essential public services, directing officials to accelerate project execution and ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach people in a timely manner. During the visit, the Chief Minister e-inaugurated four developmental projects of the Rural Development Department (RDD), completed at a cumulative cost of 5.06 crore, strengthening grassroots development infrastructure in the district. The inaugurated projects include the District Development Council (DDC) Building at Udhampur, constructed at a cost of 235.76 lakh; Block Development Council (BDC) Building at Parlidhar, costing 80.17 lakh; BDC Building at Jaganoo, completed at a cost of 84.41 lakh; and BDC Building at Sewna, constructed at a cost of 106.32 lakh. The projects have been executed under the CAPEX budget and cater to Udhampur East, Ramnagar and Chenani constituencies. During the review meeting, the Chief Minister directed all departments to accelerate the execution of ongoing developmental works, with particular emphasis on improving physical progress and ensuring optimal financial utilisation. He stressed that developmental projects must move forward in a coordinated and time-bound manner, with accountability at every level. Calling for closer monitoring of projects being executed under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), the Chief Minister directed that their progress be reviewed fortnightly to identify bottlenecks, address implementation-related issues and ensure timely completion. He emphasised the need to maximiseutilisation of allocated funds and ensure that the district derives full benefit from the available financial assistance. The Chief Minister also stressed the timely release of funds under various development and relief schemes, particularly the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), observing that delays in fund disbursement should not impede public works or deprive beneficiaries of timely assistance. On issues concerning project implementation, Omar Abdullah directed district authorities to expedite pending forest clearances in accordance with prescribed rules and procedures, while ensuring close coordination with the concerned departments to avoid unnecessary delays in developmental works. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Ananth Dwivedi gave a detailed presentation on the districts overall developmental profile, sector-wise achievements, ongoing projects, financial and physical progress, and preparedness for the winter season. Reviewing major infrastructure initiatives, the meeting was apprised of the progress of the Government Medical College (GMC), Udhampur, at Baili, which has achieved 88 per cent overall physical progress. Updates were also shared on national highway projects along NH-244, NH-44 and NH-1A, besides the Mantalai tourism development project being undertaken under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, for which the Request for Proposal (RFP) is scheduled to close in November 2026. Winter preparedness also featured during the meeting. The Deputy Commissioner briefed the meeting on the comprehensive road clearance mechanism covering 124 roads spanning approximately 775 kilometres, supported by the deployment of requisite machinery. The arrangements also include buffer stocks of power poles and transformers, availability of water tankers and medical supplies, and advance stocking of ration in snow-bound areas to ensure uninterrupted essential services during winter. The meeting also reviewed progress under the District and UT CAPEX budgets, tribal affairs initiatives, PMGSY road connectivity, MGNREGA employment generation and completion of houses under PMAY-G. In the water and power sectors, discussions covered implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, urban water supply projects under AMRUT 2.0, smart metering and infrastructure augmentation under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The Chief Minister emphasised the importance of reliable public utilities, particularly during the winter months. The health and social welfare sectors were also reviewed, with the presentation covering PMJAY-SEHAT coverage, efforts towards TB elimination, institutional deliveries, social security pension coverage and initiatives under Mission Shakti. In the agriculture and allied sectors, the Deputy Commissioner highlighted the implementation of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), functioning of KisanKhidmatGhars, issuance of Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) and progress in generating Agristack Farmer IDs, in which Udhampur has emerged among the leading districts in the Union Territory. The review further covered industrial development, including the Industrial Infrastructure Development Centre at BattalBallian, distribution of property cards under the SVAMITVA scheme, regulation of mining activities, revenue generation and targeted food distribution through the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. On public grievance redressal, the meeting was informed that the district had achieved a disposal rate of 96 per cent of grievances received through the JK Samadhan portal. The Chief Minister stressed the importance of responsive administration and timely resolution of public grievances. Several deputations also called on the Chief Minister during his visit and apprised him of various public issues and demands concerning their respective areas and sectors.

CPCB defends AQI reporting methodology amid post-Diwali controversy

Srinagar, Nov 11A day after the reliability of air quality data reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) came under scrutiny following the sharp deterioration in air quality during the post-Diwali period, the national pollution watchdog issued a detailed clarification. The methodology for calculating and reporting the National Air Quality Index (NAQI) is scientific and reliable. Kashmir too has seen its air quality readings circulating across online platforms. The readings have created considerable concern and sparked questions about the actual state of pollution here. The J&K CPCB has clarified that readings being shared online are not reliable, and data from monitoring stations show air quality is moderately polluted at some places and good in Srinagar. The stark difference between readings available on official monitoring platforms and those circulated by private applications has added to public confusion. People have been increasingly relying on online air quality updates. In its clarification dated November 10, the CPCB has addressed concerns about the capping of AQI at 500. The Board has maintained that these differences arise primarily from variations in measurement techniques, averaging periods and data validation standards. It should not be construed as under-reporting. The CPCB has sought to explain that the National Air Quality Index is not intended to showcase every short-lived dip in air quality. Instead, it is designed to communicate the likely health implications of prevailing air quality, the Board has said. Under the National Air Quality Index, eight pollutants are monitored in India. These are PM2.5, PM10, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ammonia, ozone and lead. The index is generated using pollutant sub-indices calculated on the basis of the preceding 24-hour average. Carbon monoxide and ozone use an eight-hour average though. The highest sub-index among the pollutants is the overall AQI for that hour. The CPCB has said this approach is consistent with international practices. It is the same practice followed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and China. A major point addressed in the clarification concerns the apparent capping of AQI at 500. The CPCB has explained that 500 is the upper limit of the Indian index. It represents the highest category of health concern, labelled Severe. An AQI of 500 and higher falls within the same health-impact category. CPCB has also addressed complaints about missing readings during extreme pollution on and Diwali. According to the CPCB, particulate matter analysers installed when the NAQI was introduced were calibrated for a measurement range of 01,000 micrograms per cubic metre. Readings beyond the calibrated range are automatically treated as outside the instruments measurement range. These are excluded from the computation.

The Grey Race

Srinagar, Nov 11:Air Quality Index (AQI) readings compiled by Airleaf have turned into an India-Pakistan race. Cities in India and Pakistan overwhelmingly fill the list of the worlds most polluted urban centres as per the rankings released on 10 November 2026. This is perhaps the starkest picture of a regional air quality crisis faced by the subcontinent. The entire top 50 polluted cities are either in India or Pakistan. Qadirpur Ran in Pakistan recorded the highest reading at an extreme AQI of 1065, followed closely by Multan at 983. Gwalior, India ranked third with 816. The top 10 was dominated by a mix of Pakistani cities - Dera Ghazi Khan had an AQI of 716. RenalaKhurd had 700 and Okara 700. Indian cities had Kota with 698, Jodhpur 694, Unnao 693 and Kanpur 693. Down the list, the pattern continues - Pakistani cities such as Kasur, Charsadda, Arifwala, Pattoki, Phool Nagar and Bahawalpur are in the upper ranks. Indian cities including Hapur, Meerut, Soyibug, Lucknow, Palwal, Bhopal, Ambala, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Varanasi, Ludhiana and Ghaziabad also register dangerously high levels. Even cities lower in the top 50 recorded AQI values well into the very unhealthy and hazardous categories. On the US EPA scale used in the rankings, an AQI between 201 and 300 is classified as very unhealthy. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous. Many Indian and Pakistani cities have readings above 500, and in several cases above 700 or even 1000, show severe pollution that poses serious health risks to the entire population. Prolonged exposure to polluted air is known to aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and reduce lung function. Post-monsoon and in early winter months, meteorological conditions often trap pollutants close to the ground.

Light snow in Kashmir heights, Mughal Road shut ahead of fresh spell

Srinagar, Nov 11: Higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Wednesday under the influence of a feeble Western Disturbance, while a stronger system is expected to bring widespread rain to the plains and moderate to heavy snowfall in higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir from November 12 to 14. The fresh precipitation prompted authorities to close the Mughal Road ahead of the forecast spell after snowfall and rain made the Peer Ki Gali stretch slippery. Gurez and Tulail valleys in north Kashmir also received fresh snowfall. Officials said the Mughal Road, which connects south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch districts, was closed as a precautionary measure. Commuters have been advised to avoid the route until further clearance. Director Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said the ongoing feeble Western Disturbance was causing light precipitation over isolated higher reaches, while a relatively stronger system would trigger the main weather activity from the early hours of November 12. This is a significant weather system. While rainfall will dominate in the plains, we expect light to moderate snowfall across tourist places, marking the seasons first snowfall in Doodhpathri, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg, Ahmad said. He said higher reaches and mountain passes, including Peer Ki Gali, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Zojila, Razdan Pass and Sadhna Top, were likely to receive moderate to heavy snowfall, with accumulations of one to two feet possible at some locations. The Meteorological Centre has also indicated a 50 percent possibility of light snowfall or mixed precipitation over the plains of Shopian, Kulgam, Kupwara, Bandipora and adjoining areas. The main spell is expected to intensify on November 12 and continue until the morning of November 14. While widespread rainfall is likely in the plains, middle reaches may receive light snowfall and higher reaches moderate to heavy snowfall. The upper reaches of Chenab Valley, including Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban, and the PirPanjal range in Rajouri and Poonch districts are also likely to receive snow. The weather system could disrupt traffic on several important mountain routes, including the Srinagar-Leh highway via Zojila, Mughal Road, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Razdan Top and Sadhna Pass. These routes connect Kashmir with Ladakh, Rajouri-Poonch, Kishtwar, the Warwan-Marwah valleys, Gurez-Tulail and Karnah. Snow accumulation and reduced visibility could temporarily affect movement, particularly at higher elevations. In view of the forecast, the Bandipora district administration has temporarily prohibited tourists from visiting Gurez and Tulail Valley and asked those already staying there to plan their departure immediately in coordination with the District Control Room. Candidates scheduled to appear in the Accounts Assistant written examination on November 15 have been advised to plan their journeys in advance and reach their examination centres before weather conditions deteriorate. The administration has also advised expectant mothers living in upper reaches, whose expected dates of delivery fall within the next month, to shift to nearby hospitals to ensure timely medical assistance in case snowfall disrupts road connectivity. Residents have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel to Gurez and other higher reaches and refrain from organising social gatherings in vulnerable areas during the forecast period. Meanwhile, the Anantnag district administration has activated its District Emergency Operation Centre round the clock to deal with weather-related emergencies and public grievances. Departments, including Public Works (R&B), Mechanical Engineering, Revenue, Flood Control, PMGSY, Urban Local Bodies, KPDCL, Jal Shakti and Health and Medical Education, have been directed to take precautionary measures and keep manpower and machinery ready. The administration has issued helpline numbers 01932-227112, 9697982527, 7780885759 and 9419091681 for public assistance. Farmers have also been advised to suspend harvesting operations on November 12 and 13 and ensure that harvested crops are safely stored to prevent damage from rain and snowfall.

SKUAST-K eyes global recognition with Vision 2030

Srinagar, Nov 11:Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) is pursuing an ambitious roadmap to establish itself as a globally recognised institution, with a focus on academic expansion, research-driven innovation, entrepreneurship and stronger engagement with farming communities. Vice-Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai outlined the universitys transformation and Vision 2030 roadmap during a Meet the Press programme at its Shalimar campus on Wednesday, highlighting significant growth in academic programmes, student enrolment, research output and international collaborations. He said the number of undergraduate programmes offered by the university had increased from four to 15, while its total student enrolment had grown from around 2,100 to more than 5,900. The growing interest among students from outside Jammu and Kashmir, he said, reflected the universitys expanding academic standing. About 35 per cent of our students are now from outside Jammu and Kashmir, Prof Ganai said, adding that 35 international students were currently pursuing their studies at the university. He said SKUAST-K had also strengthened its international engagement through student exchange programmes and other academic initiatives aimed at exposing students and researchers to global practices in agriculture and allied sectors. Highlighting the universitys performance in national rankings, the Vice-Chancellor said its position among State Agricultural Universities had improved from 37th in 2019 to third in 2025. He attributed the improvement to sustained efforts in education, research, innovation and extension activities. On the innovation front, Prof Ganai said the university had secured more than 146 patents over the past four years, which he described as the highest number among State Agricultural Universities. The institution has also established more than 20 Centres of Excellence, supported over 126 student and faculty startups and facilitated the launch of 62 products developed through research, he said. He said the university was increasingly focusing on translating scientific research into practical solutions for agriculture and horticulture, particularly in areas such as productivity enhancement, pest management, organic farming and climate-resilient practices. Referring to rice research, Prof Ganai said SKUAST-K had made significant contributions to improving productivity through scientific interventions and improved cultivation practices. He said rice productivity had increased from nearly one tonne per hectare to around 10 tonnes per hectare under improved practices. The universitys extension network had also expanded, with more than 2,000 KisanKhidmatGhars established at district and panchayat levels to provide farmers with technical guidance and support. The Student Rural Entrepreneurship Programme, he said, had engaged more than 4,000 students and adopted over 350 villages for sustained rural engagement, connecting young professionals with farming communities. Prof Ganai also highlighted the universitys role in implementing major agricultural development initiatives, including the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), with an outlay of Rs 5,013 crore, and the J&K Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP), involving initiatives worth more than Rs 1,800 crore. These programmes are aimed at creating over 18,000 agri-entrepreneurs and providing skill development opportunities to around 2.5 lakh people across Jammu and Kashmir over the next five years, he said. Outlining the universitys Vision 2030, the Vice-Chancellor said the focus would remain on quality education, research-led innovation, entrepreneurship, technology transfer and inclusive rural development, with the larger objective of securing global recognition for the institution. During the programme, SKUAST-Ks Draft Media and Communication Policy was also released. The policy seeks to provide a framework for transparent, accurate and coordinated communication by the university. The session was coordinated by Nasir Ahmad Dar, Coordinator, DIQA, and was followed by an interaction between media representatives and the Vice-Chancellor on the universitys achievements, priorities and future roadmap.

Agricultural universities can transform food security concerns into solutions: LG Manoj Sinha

Srinagar, Nov 11:The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, today inaugurated 4 key infrastructure facilities at SKUAST-Kashmir and emphasised the crucial role of agricultural universities in delivering practical solutions to challenges related to food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development. Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said that agricultural universities are unique institutions where concerns and aspirations linked to a nations food security can be transformed into concrete solutions. He noted that the four facilities inaugurated today collectively reflect a comprehensive vision of smart agriculture and rural advancement. The Lieutenant Governor inaugurated a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT)-based irrigation and fertigation system, designed to provide crops with water and nutrients in the right quantity and at the right time. He observed that the technology has significant potential to benefit small and marginal farmers by reducing labour-intensive irrigation practices and dependence on conventional energy sources. The Lieutenant Governor also inaugurated the Prototype Design and Development Centre, which will help translate innovative concepts into practical agricultural tools and technologies. He expressed confidence that the facility would promote mechanisation and bridge the gap between laboratory research and field-level application. Highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship, the Lieutenant Governor described the newly established Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship as a transformative initiative. He encouraged students to become job creators by establishing enterprises in areas such as seed testing, cold-chain management and soil health services. He asked the university to develop the directorate into a platform that provides mentoring, guidance and assistance in accessing capital for young entrepreneurs across Jammu and Kashmir. The Lieutenant Governor also inaugurated the Health and Wellness Centre, describing it as an important addition to the universitys infrastructure for the well-being of students and faculty members. Calling for sustained action, the Lieutenant Governor asked SKUAST-Kashmir to take the new irrigation technology to villages within the coming year and actively involve farmers in its improvement. He stressed the need to convert data collected through sensors into simple agricultural advisories in local languages and deliver them to farmers through digital platforms. The Lieutenant Governor further encouraged the university to facilitate the establishment of at least 100 student-led startups, strengthen linkages among laboratories, cooperative societies, farmer-producer organisations and farmers, and place youth and women farmers at the centre of future programmes. We must make data and technology partners of the farmer. Our goal should be to establish at least 100 student-led enterprises and startups from the SKUAST-Kashmir campus within the coming year. The University must become a strong bridge between laboratories and cooperative societies, between farmer-producer organisations, and between researchers and small and marginal farmers. I want youth and women farmers to be at the centre of every programme, he said. Emphasising the growing challenges posed by climate change, the Lieutenant Governor called upon the university to make sustainable development and environmental stewardship central to its identity. He underlined that the true measure of progress lies in improving farmers incomes, strengthening their economic security and expanding opportunities in rural areas. The identity of Jammu Kashmir lies in its hardworking farmers, artisans, and its rich traditions of agriculture, horticulture, and handicrafts. HADPs projects and farmer-centric policies in the past 6 years have played an important role in strengthening Jammu Kashmirs rural economy and creating new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship among youth. The real success of any modern technology or modern tools will come only when their benefits reach the small farmers in villages and bring about a real increase in their incomes. I believe that the greatest test of any change is how much positive difference it makes in a farmers life. The true measure of our progress should be the rising income of farmers, their economic security, a better future for their families, and the new opportunities emerging in rural areas, he said. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor released a coffee table book highlighting the achievements and institutional journey of SKUAST-Kashmir. A Multi-Tier Data Management and Accreditation Workflow System, aimed at strengthening institutional data management and accreditation-related processes was also launched. Javid Ahmad Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, Finance, Mining and Cooperatives; Prof.Nazir Ahmed Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir; Prof Mohammad Ashraf Ganie, Director, SKIMS; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar; Prof AzmatAlam Khan, Registrar SKUAST-K, HoDs, senior officials, faculty members and students attended the inaugural ceremony.

GMC Srinagar holds CME on evolving perspectives in ophthalmology

Srinagar, Nov 11:The Postgraduate Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, organised a one-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme titled Ophthalmology: Evolving Perspectives at Government Dental College auditorium here on Wednesday. Held under the patronage of GMC Principal and Dean Prof. (Dr) Iffat Hassan Shah, the programme brought together eye care specialists, faculty members and postgraduate scholars to discuss emerging clinical practices, advanced surgical techniques and modern diagnostic standards in ophthalmology. Prof. (Dr) Afroz Khan, Head of the Department, was the Organising Chairman, while Dr Asif Amin Vakil and Dr Shahnawaz served as Organising Secretary and Co-Organising Secretary, respectively. Prof. (Dr) Bashir Ahmad, former Head of the Department, attended as Guest of Honour, while Prof. (Dr) Abdul Nasti, also a former HoD, was the Special Invitee.

Cabinet clears Rs 3,230-crore Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at North, South Blocks

New Delhi, Nov 11: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at the historic North and South Block complex in New Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 3,230 crore. Envisaged as a landmark civilizational museum showcasing Indias rich and diverse heritage, the project will transform the historical government buildings into a major public cultural institution while preserving their architectural character. With a proposed built-up area of around 1,78,509 square metres, the museum is expected to have the worlds largest display area. The project will be implemented in phases between 2026-27 and 2030-31. The first gallery, based on the theme of Adornment, is expected to open to the public in the North Block in the latter part of 2027. According to the government, around 1.8 million objects have been identified from the National Museum and other museums under the Ministry of Culture, 52 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) site museums, state museums and private collections for display at the proposed museum. Other galleries will cover themes such as architecture and cityscapes, mathematics and astronomy, languages and scripts, faith and spirituality, and Indias historical connections with the world through trade and ideas. The museum will combine traditional exhibitions with modern museum practices, immersive technologies and visitor-friendly facilities. It will also have collection storage and conservation facilities, landscaping, intelligent building systems and other associated infrastructure. The museum project was announced by the Prime Minister on May 18, 2023. Following the relocation of government offices from the North and South Blocks, the buildings are being repurposed for cultural and public use. The government said the museum would serve as a major destination for domestic and international tourists while providing opportunities for education, research and engagement with Indias civilizational heritage. It is being designed to accommodate around one crore visitors annually. The project is also expected to generate employment for artisans, craftspeople, researchers, museologists, designers, performers and other professionals, besides supporting tourism and hospitality-related livelihoods. It will promote domestic manufacturing of museum materials and products under the Make in India initiative. The museum is expected to generate revenue through ticket sales, food and beverage facilities, events, venue rentals, guided tours, digital experiences and retail outlets. The proposal was appraised by the Public Investment Board on July 27, 2026, and the Ministry of Culture has concurred with its recommendations.

KWO organises seminar on womens contribution to education

Sopore, Nov 11:Kashmir Womens Organisation (KWO), in collaboration with Makhdoomia Model High School, Warpora, Sopore, on Wednesday organised a seminar to mark National Education Day, focusing on the contribution of women to education and their role in shaping society. The seminar witnessed participation from students and teachers, who shared their views on the role of women in promoting education and creating opportunities for future generations. Chief Guest Dr Darakshan Hassan Bhat addressed the gathering and recalled the contributions of prominent women who played a significant role in advancing education and empowering society. She referred to historical figures including Lal Ded, Habba Khatoon, Arnimal, Pandita Ramabai and Savitribai Phule, whose contributions continue to inspire generations. Dr Darakshan also recalled the vision of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India's first Education Minister, who believed in the spirit of unity in diversity. She said every section of society, irrespective of caste, gender, religion or community, had contributed to the country's development and stressed the need to uphold this inclusive vision while working towards Viksit Bharat. Speaking about India's educational journey since Independence, she referred to the progress made in literacy, particularly among women. From an estimated literacy rate of 8-9 percent in the early years after Independence, the country had made considerable progress, with female literacy witnessing significant improvement over the decades. She also spoke about various government schemes, programmes and policies that had created greater opportunities for girls and women in education. Kashmir, too, was witnessing a positive transformation, with growing awareness, improved access to educational opportunities and increased participation of women in different fields. The seminar emphasised the role of women in strengthening educational institutions, shaping society and building a progressive nation. It also called for recognising the contributions of women from earlier generations while encouraging young people to participate actively in the country's educational and social development. Through the initiative, KWO reiterated its commitment to promoting women's education, awareness and empowerment and providing platforms for meaningful discussions on issues concerning an inclusive and developed society.

7 arrested in Shopian apple theft case, 83 boxes recovered

Shopian, Nov 11:Police have arrested seven persons in connection with an apple theft case in Shopian district and recovered 83 stolen apple boxes. Three vehicles allegedly used in the crime have also been seized. According to police, Police Station Heerpora received a call during the evening hours regarding the theft of apple boxes from the orchard and shed of Mohammad Yousuf Wagay, son of Abdul Karim Wagay, a resident of Amshipora. Acting on the information, a police team from Heerpora police station, with the assistance of local residents, intercepted three Tata Mobile vehicles a short distance from the spot. The accused had allegedly loaded the stolen apple boxes into the vehicles and were leaving the area when they were intercepted. The seven arrested persons have been identified as Gulzar Ahmad Mallah, son of Ghulam Rasool Mallah, Reyaz Ahmad Lone, son of Mohammad Ashraf Lone, Muzamil Ahmad Wani, son of Ali Mohammad Wani, Ashiq Hussain Lone, son of Bashir Ahmad Lone, Umar Hussain Wani, son of Mohammad Ashraf Wani, Tehzeel Ahmad Lone, son of Bashir Ahmad Lone, and Shahid Ahmad Wani, son of Mohammad Ashraf Wani. All are residents of Keller area. Police said 83 stolen apple boxes were recovered and the three vehicles allegedly used in the theft were seized. The vehicles bear registration numbers JK04G-5507 and JK13H-8514, while the registration number of the third vehicle was not specified. A case (FIR No. 126/2026) under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Heerpora, and further investigation is underway. Police urged people to report suspicious activities to the nearest police establishment and assured prompt action against criminal activities.

DDC Pulwama reviews progress of Mission YUVA

Pulwama, Nov 11:District Development Commissioner (DDC) Pulwama, Kuldeep Krishan Sidha, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting on the implementation and progress of Mission YUVA at Circuit House, Pulwama. The meeting was convened to review the overall progress of the scheme, assess the status of applications at different stages and address issues affecting timely processing, sanctioning and disbursement of financial assistance to aspiring entrepreneurs. During the meeting, a detailed review was undertaken of various aspects of Mission YUVA, including district-wise applications received, application verification, DLIC approvals, bank-wise pendency, age-wise analysis of cases pending with banks, reasons for rejection of applications by banks, and the status of cases reprocessed after rejection. The meeting also examined cases pending with banks for the second time, sanctioned cases awaiting disbursement, and output tracking, including progress reports, completion reports and their verification by the concerned authorities. Taking note of the pendency of cases at various bank branches, the DDC directed the Lead District Manager and concerned bank authorities to undertake regular monitoring and ensure expeditious disposal of all pending cases. He observed that unnecessary delays and prolonged pendency, particularly cases remaining unresolved beyond two to three months, would not be acceptable. The DDC stressed that the scheme must be implemented in mission mode, with focused efforts to clear all pending cases and achieve substantial progress within the current month. He directed all concerned officers and bank representatives to ensure that every eligible case is processed, with particular emphasis on timely disbursement and completion of entrepreneurial units. He further directed that the updated status of cases be furnished every Saturday, ensuring continuous monitoring and accountability at every level. The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner, Pulwama, Additional Deputy Commissioners of Pulwama, Awantipora and Tral, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Pulwama; Zonal Head, J&K Bank, Pulwama; Lead District Manager, Pulwama; Cluster Heads of J&K Bank; all Branch Managers of district Pulwama; SBDU Lead, Mission YUVA Pulwama; and BHD Leads of Pulwama, Tral and Awantipora.

Oil Tanker union raises movement restrictions at Ramban with SSP Traffic Jammu

Jammu, Nov 11:A delegation of the J&K Oil Tanker Union, led by its President Ranjit Singh Raina, on Tuesday met SSP Traffic Jammu City Amit Bhasin and raised concerns over the halting of oil tankers at Ramban due to ongoing infrastructure development and construction work along the National Highway. The delegation, comprising Ranjit Singh Raina, Spokesperson Harasis Singh and senior member Surinder Singh, apprised the SSP of the difficulties being faced byoil tanker operators and drivers due to restrictions on vehicular movement in the Ramban stretch. During the meeting, the representatives also highlighted other issues concerning tanker drivers and their day-to-day operations. SSP Amit Bhasin gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured them that the matter was being looked into by the authorities. He further assured that the road would be made available for the smooth movement and operation of oil tankers within the next two weeks. Later, Harasis Singh said the delegation had also brought other concerns of tanker drivers to the notice of the SSP. He described the response as positive and expressed hope that the issues raised would be addressed through appropriate action.

CUK begins three-day workshop on tourism employability skills, celebrates National Education Day

Ganderbal, Nov 11: The Department of Tourism Studies (DTS), Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), commenced a three-day skill development workshop on Interview Preparation Techniques and Employability Skills in the Tourism and Hospitality Sector at its Green Campus. Speaking at the inaugural session, Dean Academic Affairs Prof. Shahid Rasool stressed the need to promote unexplored tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir while preserving their ecologically fragile character and maintaining the carrying capacity of established destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. In contemporary times, employers are not only interested in how much knowledge you possess, but more importantly, in how effectively you can apply that knowledge through practical skills, abilities and performance, he said. Describing tourism as a service-based industry, Prof. Rasool said artificial intelligence was likely to have a significant influence on tourism and hospitality businesses in the coming years. He stressed that the workforce must prioritise empathy, understanding and compassion to identify tourists' needs, provide personalised services and create positive customer experiences. Dean, School of Business Studies, Prof. Syed Zahoor Geelani, emphasised the importance of communication and soft skills in the tourism and hospitality industry. He said effective communication between employees and guests helped in understanding customer needs, resolving complaints, building trust and delivering quality services. Better communication and soft skills shall help to understand clientele needs, resolve complaints, build trust and deliver quality services, he said, adding that verbal, non-verbal and interpersonal communication skills contributed to guest satisfaction and memorable tourist experiences. Coordinator, Department of Tourism Studies, Dr. Shahnaz Akhter, spoke about the importance of interview preparation and employability skills in building students' confidence, communication abilities and professional behaviour. She said skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, customer service and adaptability were essential for meeting industry requirements and improving career opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector. Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Ashaq Hussain Najar said the workshop aimed to provide MBA-TTM and B.Voc-THM students with practical knowledge and techniques for preparing for job interviews. He said the programme would also focus on developing essential employability skills, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving and professional etiquette, while enhancing students' confidence, career readiness and understanding of industry expectations. Assistant Professor Dr. Abid Suhail Nika moderated the session, while Assistant Professor Dr. Adil Amin Nazki proposed the vote of thanks. Meanwhile, Universitys The School of Education, , celebrated National Education Day by organising a panel discussion on priorities of higher education under NEP 2020 at Tulmulla campus on Wednesday. Vice-Chancellor Prof. A Ravinder Nath stressed learner-centric, inclusive and multidisciplinary education. Dean Academic Affairs Prof. Shahid Rasool highlighted the role of technology and AI in education, while Prof. Bilal Rafiq Shah of MANUU, Srinagar, stressed the need for teacher training and institutional reforms. Registrar Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir said effective implementation of NEP 2020 could improve graduate employability. Head, Department of Education, Prof. Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, stressed the importance of classroom interaction and student participation. Dean School of Education Prof. C Naseema was also present. Faculty members, research scholars and students participated in the discussion. Students also presented a skit and a song.

Amul raises milk prices by Rs 2-4 per litre effective today

New Delhi, Nov 11:Dairy major GCMMF, which sells products under the Amul brand, has raised milk prices by Rs 2-4 per litre effective Thursday, citing a sharp increase in input costs. In a statement on Wednesday, Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) said it has increased prices of fresh pouch milk by 4-5 per cent in major milk variants/packs across India effective November 12, 2026. The price of our largest-selling Amul Taaza toned milk with 3 per cent milk fat has been increased by only Rs 2 per litre (3.3 per cent increase) and Amul Gold Milk with 6 per cent milk fat by Rs 4 per litre (5.5 per cent rise), GCMMF said. It had last raised rates in May this year. The price is being hiked due to a steep rise in input costs of milk production and processing, it said. GCMMF pointed out that there has been a significant increase in the cost of green and dry fodder, cattle feed ingredients like oil cake, maize and molasses, milk packaging film and fuel during the year. In the current challenging environmental circumstances due to low and uneven rainfall in Gujarat, as well as many parts of India, we are constrained to increase the consumer price of milk to pay better prices to our producers and support them in these difficult times, the co-operative said. GCMMF said its member unions have increased farmers procurement price by 4-5 per cent in the last one year, and a similar revision will further support our farmers. It highlighted that 80 per cent of the revenue collected from consumers through the Amul co-operative structure is returned to 36 lakh milk producers. A major portion of the increase in milk retail prices will go back to milk producers, and they will continue to be encouraged to increase milk production, GCMMF said.

FCIK slams RBI Regional office over ritual reviews amid deepening MSME distress

Srinagar, Nov 11:The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has sharply criticised the Reserve Bank of Indias Regional Office, Jammu, for failing to deliver tangible relief to distressed MSMEs despite successive meetings, repeated assurances and longstanding credit and rehabilitation mechanisms. Reacting to the 72nd Meeting of the Empowered Committee on MSMEs for J&K and Ladakh, FCIK said routine exhortations on liberal financing, credit guarantees and revival had displaced scrutiny of actual implementation. After 72 meetings, disclose how many enterprises were rehabilitated, financing deficiencies corrected and decisions implemented. Meetings held cannot be equated with results achieved, FCIK stated. The Federation said RBIs Regional Office must ensure that local economic conditions inform national banking policy, pursue corrective action on credit bottlenecks and recommend region-specific interventions. Having witnessed industrial distress for decades, the office must explain what it recommended, what action followed and why the same unresolved issues keep returning to its agenda. FCIK asked. FCIK said enterprises, particularly in Kashmir, had lost thousands of working days to turmoil, shutdowns, restrictions and natural calamities while interest, idle wages and statutory liabilities accumulated. Working capital was consumed by unavoidable expenses, while underfinancing, delayed assistance and costly emergency borrowings in the shape of overdraft with interest up to @18% pushed viable businesses into distress. Has the Regional Office placed a comprehensive assessment of disruption-related debt before the RBI Governor? What special measures has it recommended? Enterprises cannot remain indefinitely trapped between unserviceable debt and the loss of productive assets and family properties. FCIK observed. The Federation demanded meaningful resolution of legacy stress through rehabilitation, realistic restructuring and affordable settlements reflecting borrowers repayment capacity, the causes of distress and the need to preserve viable businesses. Expressing concern over complaints that banks allowed MSME accounts to become NPAs without timely intervention under RBIs Framework for Revival and Rehabilitation, FCIK questioned the Regional Offices monitoring. The framework requires early identification of stress and corrective action. Why do entrepreneurs report that meaningful engagement begins only with a recovery notice? Where are the assessments of rectification, restructuring and viability? asked FCIK. FCIK demanded a bank-wise account of eligible enterprises identified before NPA classification, considered for corrective action, restructured, revived or referred for recovery, with reasons for rejecting rehabilitation. What action has the Regional Office secured where banks bypassed these safeguards? Protection confined to paper offers no protection at all. FCIK observed. The Federation said NPA classification was often followed by SARFAESI notices and e-auction announcements while rehabilitation or settlement requests remained unresolved. Name and shame practices continued without giving distressed MSMEs a fair opportunity for rehabilitation or settlement, making revival even harder. In a closely knit society, public recovery campaigns damage an entrepreneurs reputation, business ties and chances of revival. FCIK also questioned repeated appeals for TReDS adoption without securing effective participation by government departments and PSUs purchasing from MSMEs. What has the Regional Office done to secure UT Government directions for their registration and time-bound acceptance of eligible invoices? Seller registration alone cannot unlock finance: public buyers must participate and accept invoices before those receivables can be discounted, observed FCIK. FCIK demanded disclosure of departments and PSUs on-boarded, invoices accepted, amounts financed and acceptance timelines, with deadlines to address gaps. Repeated references to TReDS at meetings do not release money trapped in unpaid bills. The Regional Office must help remove the administrative barriers preventing its use. The Federation further questioned its efforts to secure local access to debt adjudication for J&K borrowers compelled to pursue proceedings in Chandigarh at considerable expense and inconvenience. Acknowledging that establishing a Debts Recovery Tribunal falls within the Central Governments authority, FCIK demanded disclosure of the Regional Offices recommendations and follow-up for a tribunal in J&K or regular circuit sittings in Srinagar and Jammu. A remedy must be practically accessible, particularly when an entrepreneurs productive assets and home are at stake. Recalling its 2005 engagement with then RBI Governor Dr. Y. V. Reddy along 15 Deputy and executive Governors in Srinagar, FCIK said substantive dialogue had helped secure concessions and strengthen monitoring through Empowered Committees. Yet these committees, along the State Level Inter-Institutional Committee and its subcommittee, intended to rehabilitate sick units, failed to deliver and were subsequently abandoned. What happened to earlier concessions and rehabilitation mechanisms? Why did they disappear or become ineffective and what functioning alternatives replaced them? it asked. Urging the RBI Governor to review the Regional Offices performance, FCIK sought a time-bound programme for legacy-debt resolution, enforcement of rehabilitation safeguards, effective TReDS participation and accessible debt adjudication. The Regional Office must answer for the gap between RBIs stated objectives and entrepreneurs experience. Enterprises that survived decades of disruption deserve effective intervention. Another meeting ending with another assurance is no longer an acceptable response, FCIK concluded.

Bear captured alive in Ganderbal after days of panic

Ganderbal, Nov 11: A wild bear that had triggered panic among residents of Gutlibagh and adjoining areas of central Kashmirs Ganderbal district was captured alive by a Wildlife Department rescue team on Wednesday following an operation lasting several hours. Residents had reported repeated sightings of the animal near residential areas and orchards over the past few days, prompting concerns about public safety. Its presence near human habitations had restricted movement, with farmers and residents avoiding outdoor activities during early morning and evening hours. Acting on the reports, a specialised team from the Wildlife Control Room, Ganderbal, launched a rescue operation and successfully tranquilised and captured the animal. The bear was successfully tranquilised and captured alive following hectic efforts by our field teams. Our primary objective was to ensure zero harm to the public or the animal, a senior Wildlife Department official involved in the operation said. Officials said the bear had been moved away from the residential area and would be released in the higher reaches of the districts forest areas, away from human habitation. The successful operation brought relief to residents who had been concerned about the animals repeated presence near their homes and orchards.

Moodys pegs Indias FY27 GDP growth at 7%, aided by robust consumption, investment

New Delhi, Nov 11:Moodys Ratings on Wednesday said the Indian economy is expected to grow at 7 per cent in the current fiscal compared to 6.5 per cent pegged earlier, aided by robust consumption, improving investment dynamics and strong macroeconomic fundamentals. In its Global Macro Outlook 2027-28, Moodys, however, said that near-term risks to growth persist as household consumption remains vulnerable to intensifying and broadening price pressures, with headline inflation close to the upper end of the RBIs inflation target range, while a deficient monsoon and El Nino conditions weigh on agricultural output and rural demand. Retail inflation rose to 5.54 per cent in September 2026. Indias broad-based economic momentum and demonstrated resilience to the energy supply shock warrant upward revisions to our 2026-27 growth forecasts to 7 per cent from 6.5 per cent, it said. RBI estimates GDP growth of 7.1 per cent in the current fiscal, in line with OECD projection. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), ADB and S&P Global Ratings have projected a 7 per cent growth, while Fitch Ratings expects Indias GDP to grow 6.9 per cent. Moodys said robust consumption, improving investment dynamics and strong macroeconomic fundamentals imply that the economy appears well positioned to sustain growth near 7 per cent over the medium term. A sustained private investment boom that materially boosts manufacturing, employment and productivity could lift growth rates above Moodys baseline projections. India has adjusted to the energy price shock better than previously assumed, helped by its ability to diversify crude and gas supplies and buffer consumers from the immediate price impact through state-backed oil marketing companies and tax cuts. India is also home to the worlds largest single-site refining complex, and its large and sophisticated refining capacity has helped limit fuel supply disruptions while supporting its role as a major exporter of refined petroleum products, Moodys added. High frequency indicators, including robust capital goods production and imports, accelerating industrial credit growth and rising capacity utilisation, suggest that India may be at the cusp of a new private capex cycle after several years of corporate and banking- sector balance sheet repair, the US-based agency said. Broader economic activity also remains solid amid expanding manufacturing and services purchasing manager indexes and double-digit year-on-year growth in goods and services tax revenue, vehicle sales and merchandise exports, it added. However, Moodys said with the RBI on track to raise rates further, tighter monetary policy could delay the recovery in private investment. Moodys said emerging markets face a more challenging external environment heading into 2027 with higher energy prices, elevated global interest rates and persistent trade and geopolitical uncertainty adding to inflation and financing pressures. At the same time, concerns over the returns on AI investment have emerged as an additional source of volatility. Quoting Institute of International Finance data, Moodys said non-resident portfolio flows to emerging markets recorded USD 33.8 billion in outflows in October, following USD 19.3 billion in September, with the pullback concentrated in equities, particularly in Asia. As investors become more selective, economies with strong domestic growth drivers, credible policy frameworks and solid buffers should remain relatively resilient, Moodys added.

Celebrating Sopores Literary Heritage: JKAACL, SHALS organise seminar on Ibn-e-Ismails Life and Literacy legacy

Sopore, Nov 11:The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL), in collaboration with the School of Humanities, Arts, Languages and Society (SHALS), ISS Kashmir, Sopore, organised a one-day literary seminar on Wednesday to revisit the life and literary contributions of noted writer Ibn-e-Ismail. Titled Ibn-e-Ismail: Fun Aur Shakhsiyat, the seminar brought together writers, scholars, academicians and literary enthusiasts to discuss his literary journey, creative work and enduring contribution to the literary landscape. Addressing the gathering, Aashiq Hussain Zaki, director of SHALS, said Sopore had a rich literary and intellectual heritage and had produced several distinguished writers, scholars and intellectuals. He described Ibn-e-Ismail as a remarkable literary personality from the region whose contribution deserved greater recognition, documentation and scholarly appreciation. Zaki stressed the need to preserve and celebrate the legacy of such literary figures to inspire future generations. The programme began with a welcome address by Zaki, while Mohammad Salim Salik, editor of Sheeraza Urdu, JKAACL, spoke about the objectives and significance of organising the seminar. Noted writer Nasir Zameer delivered the keynote address, offering insights into Ibn-e-Ismails literary personality, creative vision and contribution. The seminar was presided over by Hassan Anzar. Yousuf Mashoor, Shahid Delnavi, Salim Salik and Mohammad Iqbal Lone were among the distinguished guests present on the occasion. A special Mehfil-e-Afsana formed an important part of the programme, featuring noted writers Dr Reyaz Towheedi, Dr Faiz Qaziabadi, Ayub Dilber, Tariq Shabnum and Adil Naseer, who shared their literary contributions. The event also witnessed the release of Zakham Jo Boltay Hain, authored by Bashir Athar. Dr Rafia Wali presented the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the participating writers, scholars, guests and organisers. The seminar provided a platform to revisit the contributions of Ibn-e-Ismail while reaffirming Sopores rich literary and intellectual heritage.