Opinion

Looking to advance India's vision for region free from terror: PM ahead of SCO Summit

New Delhi, Aug 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he was looking forward to advancing India's vision for the SCO, anchored in security, connectivity and opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism. Ahead of his two-nation tour to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, the Prime Minister also said that he was confident that his visit will strengthen India's strategic partnerships in Central Asia and deepen the civilisational connect with the region. In his departure statement, Modi said the trip will advance the shared pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity, values that lie at the heart of India's engagement with the world. India has been an active and constructive member of the SCO since 2017. I look forward to advancing India's vision for the region, anchored in Security, Connectivity and Opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism, separatism and extremism, which continue to threaten peace and stability in our neighbourhood and beyond, he said. The Prime Minister said that at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, he will visit Tashkent on August 29-30 for a State Visit to Uzbekistan. In recent years, India-Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership has seen significant advancement, he said. I look forward to my discussions with President Mirziyoyev on further deepening our cooperation in trade and investment, digital connectivity, defence, energy, and on advancing our shared visions of 'Viksit Bharat' and 'Yangi Uzbekistan', he said. Modi said he will also visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, a tribute to the close cultural and people-to-people ties that bind our two countries. From Tashkent, at the invitation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Zhaparov, the Prime Minister will travel to Bishkek to participate in the 26th SCO Summit, marking 25 years of this important organisation. I also look forward to meeting President Zhaparov and other SCO leaders, and to attend the Opening Ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games, a celebration of the rich living heritage of Central Asia that India holds in deep respect, he said. Officials said Modi will address the SCO summit, where he will highlight India's priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity. The prime minister will also hold bilateral meetings with the SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit, they said.

Suspected Pak drone spotted along LoC in J-K's Poonch, search operation underway

Mendhar, Aug 29: A drone suspected to be from Pakistan was spotted hovering over forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, prompting security forces to launch a search operation in the area early Saturday, officials said. The drone was noticed at Balakote areas Behrooti village in Mendhar sector late Friday evening, and it moved towards the Mangalnar-Dabrote side near the border before returning to Pakistan, the officials said. They said Army troops guarding the LoC intensified surveillance and launched a search operation at first light to determine whether it had dropped or carried any suspicious material. Officials further said that the search operation is still underway and added that security forces remained on heightened alert along the border. At the same time, police, along with Army and paramilitary forces, have been engaging in a massive search operation in the vast forested districts of Udhampur, Kathua and Rajouri following information about suspicious movement, they added. According to officials, the joint search operation took place at Khuban, Nagain, Khtrail, Godu Falal, Padetar, Chor Mottu, Kia, Kheba, Bhed, Marta, Joffar, and the adjoining areas in the Udhampur-Kathua forest belt on Friday evening and is still underway. In Rajouri, another search operation was launched in Gaibas, Mithiyani, Mogla and Narla after villagers informed about the movement of two suspected armed persons, believed to be terrorists. Officials said there have been no contact with any suspected persons so far.

Israeli strikes kill 5 in Gaza, Iran touts Russian energy deal, and other news in Middle East

Dubai, Aug 28: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed five people on Friday, despite a fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States. Meanwhile, thousands of sailors remain stranded in the Persian Gulf by the Iran war, while Iran is touting an energy deal with Russia and the US has imposed restrictions on a major Egyptian bank for its ties with Iran. Here's a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East. Full coverage can be found here. Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 5 Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed five people, local hospital officials said Friday. Two brothers and another relative died in a strike on the family's home outside Khan Younis, officials at Nasser Hospital said. Israel's military said it was not aware of a strike in Khan Younis. Two separate Israeli strikes killed one person each in Gaza City on Friday, according to health officials at Shifa hospital. Israel's military confirmed it struck two separate areas in the city, without elaborating. The five deaths are the latest in Gaza since an October ceasefire deal attempted to halt a more than two-year war between Israel and Hamas. While the heaviest fighting has subsided, Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes, killing at least 1,303 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza. Thousands of sailors stranded by Iran war The UN's maritime agency said Friday that 19 seafarers have been killed and at least 6,000 remain stranded on hundreds of ships unable to leave the region since the start of the Iran war on February 28. There have been at least 70 attacks on international shipping in the Persian Gulf, according to the International Maritime Organisation. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez urged practical solutions and renewed cooperation to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. About 20 per cent of the world's traded oil and natural gas passed through the vital commercial waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf before the war. Iran and Russia look to revive energy deal Iran's ambassador to Russia on Friday said the two countries are seeking to deepen links between their energy grids by reviving a plan that dates to 2022, according to Iranian state media. Umud Shokri, a fellow at George Mason University, said the plan calls for piping 55 billion cubic metres of Russian gas annually into Iran, via Azerbaijan. He said that would help Iran weather US economic pressure by alleviating seasonal shortages of gas, though there are significant hurdles, as building out the infrastructure would be expensive and time-consuming. It is more than bluster, but not yet a game changer, Shokri said. US imposes restrictions on Egyptian bank The Trump administration is taking steps to limit an Egyptian bank's operations in the United Arab Emirates. Banque Misr, Egypt's second-largest bank, is accused of serving as an economic lifeline to Iran's leadership. But under a new rule proposed by the US Treasury, the bank's Emirati branches would be severed from access to the US financial system. Iran objects to US economic pressure Iran's Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned a new round of US economic measures against the country, calling them economic terrorism and saying Tehran would use all available means to counter them. The ministry said the sanctions violated international law and called on other countries to refrain from implementing them. It accused Washington of using the US dollar to pressure other countries into complying with its policies. Earlier this week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowed to fully sever Iran from the global economy and threatened countries that continue to do business with Iran with secondary sanctions. It was part of the US campaign to use economic pressure to try and wring concessions from Iran. Finland to stop providing UN agency aid for Palestine Finland said it will not extend an agreement to provide humanitarian aid with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA. Israel's Foreign Ministry, which has accused the UN agency of being a hotbed of terrorism, welcomed the news. UNRWA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Finland provided UNRWA with 5 million euros (USD 5.8 million) annually under a multi-year deal set to expire later this year. Ville Tavio, the country's foreign trade minister, said in a post on X that aid to Palestinian territories would instead be provided through other channels, such as the UN's World Food Programme. UK warns Israel against removing British officials The United Kingdom warned against any attempt by Israel to remove British officials from the Gaza ceasefire coordination centre on Friday, after reports that Israel was considering expelling UK officials. The UK government said any move to remove its officials would undermine shared efforts to implement the 20-point Gaza peace plan. The comments came in response to reports that Israel is considering expelling officials from Britain and other European nations from the monitoring centre. Israel has already removed two Dutch diplomats from the ceasefire centre. The country said Thursday that the decision was in response to a Dutch ban on the trade of Israeli products from the occupied West Bank and other anti-Israel measures.

UGC-NET results announced for 84 subjects; over 4,000 qualify for JRF

New Delhi, Aug 29: The results of the UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) for 84 subjects have been announced, with more than 4,000 candidates qualifying for the Junior Research Fellowship, the National Testing Agency has said. Out of 6.07 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam in 84 subjects, over 97,000 have qualified for PhD admissions and over 4,000 for JRF, a senior NTA official said late on Friday. The examinations were conducted in June, with the NTA releasing the UGC-NET answer key on August 16, nearly two months after the examination. The testing agency had also issued a special notice concerning the Sociology, Commerce and English papers after an expert committee found factual, typographical, translation and language-related errors in the question papers. Later, on the same day (August 16), it announced that the three examinations would be conducted afresh in September, citing the errors. The re-examinations are scheduled for September 9 and 10, for which candidates will not be required to pay an additional fee. The NET is conducted by the NTA to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the role of assistant professor and for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges.

Chatroo Kishtwar minors death case: Health worker arrested, total accused reach six

Ramban, Aug 29: A female health worker has been arrested in connection with the death of a minor girl from Chatroo in Kishtwar district, taking the total number of accused arrested in the case to six, officials said. The accused, identified as Sonika Parihar, a Female Multipurpose Health Worker (FMPHW) posted at District Hospital Kishtwar, was arrested during the ongoing investigation into FIR No. 34/2026 registered at Police Station Chatroo. The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The minors death under suspicious circumstances earlier this month sparked widespread outrage across Kishtwar and parts of the Chenab Valley. Protests, shutdowns and sit-ins were held in Chatroo, Kishtwar and parts of Doda and Ramban, with people demanding a transparent probe and strict action against those responsible. In view of the sensitivity of the case, SSP Kishtwar constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a detailed investigation. Officials said the probe has so far brought to light material related to the alleged sexual exploitation of the minor, her pregnancy, alleged attempts to terminate the pregnancy and the involvement of several individuals, including persons allegedly linked to her medical treatment. Police had earlier arrested five persons in the case, including a government school teacher and his brother. The teacher was subsequently suspended by the Education Department following his arrest. With Parihars arrest, the number of accused arrested in the case has risen to six. According to police, the role of the health worker emerged during the course of the investigation, following which she was arrested in accordance with the law. The SIT is continuing its probe using scientific and evidence-based methods to establish the sequence of events leading to the minors death and ascertain the individual roles of all persons allegedly connected with the case. Police said further arrests would be made if warranted by the evidence and that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found involved. The latest development comes amid continued demands from residents, civil society groups and political representatives for a fair and time-bound investigation. District Police Kishtwar reiterated that the investigation would be conducted impartially and thoroughly, and that no person found involved would be spared.

Centre approves 23 JKAS officers for induction in IAS

Centre on Friday approved and notified the names of twenty-three Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers for their induction in AGMUT cadre of Indian Administrative Service (IAS). President, as per the notification of Department of Personnel and Training of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has notified the select lists of State Civil Service officers of UT of J&K segment, in exercise of powers conferred by Rule 8(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, read with Regulation 9(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955. The select lists of these JKAS officers were prepared on April 24, 2026 under Regulation 5(5) and were approved on August 3, 2026, under Regulation 7(2). The names were cleared to fill up promotion quota vacancies in AGMUT cadre of IAS under State Civil Service category determined by the Government of India under Regulation 5(1) of the said Regulations in consultation with the state (UT) government for the select list of 2019 and select list of 2020. Select list of 2019 (SCS), prepared against vacancies arising between January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Includes the names of Secretary, Information Department Munir-ul-Islam; Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology Department Babila Rakwal; Commissioner Secretary, ARI and Trainings Department Shabnam Shah Kamili; Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Rachna Sharma; Mission Director, Skill Development Mission Leena Padha; Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment Rajinder Singh Tara; Managing Director J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Tariq Hussain Ganai; Mission Director, J&K ICDS Sajjad Hussain Ganai; Director General, J&K Rural Sanitation Anoo Malhotra; Secretary, Agriculture Production Department Nitu Gupta Besides them, the select list of 2019 also includes the names of Anil Koul, Dr Ghulam Nabi Itoo, Kusum Badyal, Vivek Sharma, Mohammad Harun Malik, Nisar Ahmad Wani, Jatinder Singh and Shamim Ahmad. As per the notification, the name of Nisar Ahmad Wani has been included in the list provisionally subject to grant of Integrity Certificate by the state (UT) government. Select list of 2020, prepared against vacancies arisen between January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, includes the names of Nisar Ahmad Wani; Commissioner, J&K State Taxes Prediman Krishen Bhat; Tariq Ahmad Zargar; Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Bhawani Rakwal; Managing Director, J&K Housing Board Smita Sethi and Director General, J&K Youth Services and Sports Anuradha Gupta. The name of Nisar Ahmad Wani, as per notification, has been included in the select list in addition to the normal size of the select list in accordance with the second proviso to Regulation 5(5) of the IAS (Appointment by promotion) Regulations, 1955. His name has been included in the list provisionally subject to grant of integrity certificate by the state government. Prior to this induction clearance, 16 JKAS officers were inducted into IAS in 2022.

Best practices from Kashmir to be showcased, replicated across states: NITI Aayog member

Member NITI Aayog Dr M Srinivas on Friday said that the successful initiatives and best practices emerging from Kashmir will be showcased and replicated in other parts of the country Talking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) Srinagar, Srinivas said that NITI Aayog will use the regions achievements as a benchmark for other states. Srinivas said the purpose of the NITI Aayog delegations three-day visit was to assess the progress across various sectors, identify bottlenecks and facilitate coordination between institutions and government departments. He said NITI Aayog works on the principles of cooperative and competitive federalism and extends its role to break the administrative silos and resolve the issues that may be hampering implementation at the ground level. We always tell people that this part of the country is doing well and there is a best practice. We will carry these best practices forward to other states and say, if Kashmir is able to do it, why dont you do it, Srinivas said. He said the delegation earlier held interactions with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Chief Secretary and various administrative secretaries of J&K to understand the progress of different departments and identify issues requiring intervention or coordination at the Centre. Our job is to see whether there are issues with a particular department or ministry which are creating hurdles from the Delhi side, he said. Basically, we have to break the silos, facilitate them and bring everyone on board, he added. About the delegations visit to CSIR-IIIM, Srinivas said the institutions health incubation centre has showcased promising work by young researchers, particularly in areas involving phytochemicals, floriculture and medicinal plants. He said the research was not confined to laboratories but was being directed towards addressing major health challenges, with teams working on pancreatic and breast cancer, Alzheimers and other brain diseases, as well as tuberculosis. The basic sciences are being bridged with patient care, longevity and other aspects, he said. Srinivas said Kashmir was performing well across sectors but stressed that there was a considerable scope for improvement by learning from successful models in India and globally. He said the best take away from the visit was the strong link between Kashmiri institutions and leading institutions across the country. The basic research taking place in the region must ultimately move towards commercialisation and reach society, he added. He said that the research ultimately has to reach mankind. The connectivity is already happening, but we will facilitate that connectivity, he added. On startups and innovation, Srinivas said Kashmir had significant potential because of the ideas emerging from its people. He said the existing incubation ecosystem could provide a platform for innovators to develop their ideas with the support and guidance of teachers and institutions. People can incubate their ideas here, get inspiration from the teachers here and then come back with social impact, he said. He further said the broader objective of the visit was to bridge the gap between institutions, departments and people besides bringing stakeholders on a common platform and facilitate interventions required to translate promising initiatives into measurable outcomes. During their visit, NITI Aayog team took a review of the institutes work in scientific research, innovation, entrepreneurship and societal initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir. The team interacted with scientists, scholars, officials and startups and reviewed various science-led initiatives being undertaken by CSIR-IIIM and its innovation ecosystem. They also visited the AIC-IIIM Bio-innovation Foundation, the Atal Incubation Centre at CSIR-IIIMs Srinagar Branch, and reviewed its incubation and entrepreneurship activities. Dr Srinivas said the existing incubation facilities at the institute provide an opportunity for young innovators and entrepreneurs to develop their ideas with mentorship and institutional support and translate them into ventures with wider social impact. Dr Srinivas also interacted with startups incubated at AIC-IIIM and reviewed their work in areas including wellness, medicines, healthcare and other emerging applications. He appreciated the efforts of young entrepreneurs in translating scientific ideas into innovative products and solutions and encouraged them to further strengthen their research, technology and market linkages. During his interaction with scholars and young researchers, Dr. Srinivas encouraged them to make the best use of the scientific ecosystem and opportunities available at CSIR-IIIM. He said researchers working in areas such as agriculture, phytochemicals, nutraceuticals, medicinal and aromatic plants had access to a unique range of opportunities and should recognise the importance of their work. He urged young scientists not to limit their focus to publications, citation indices and conventional academic parameters alone, but also consider the wider social impact of their research. Dr. Srinivas said researchers should examine how their scientific work could contribute to solving real-world problems, improving healthcare, addressing societal challenges and benefiting humanity. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between basic scientists, clinicians and other stakeholders to ensure that scientific discoveries move towards practical applications. Dr. Srinivas also encouraged scholars to strive for international standards in research and make full use of the facilities, mentorship and scientific ecosystem available at the institute. He said young researchers should continue to upgrade their skills and pursue higher levels of scientific excellence, noting that the opportunities available to them could help them contribute meaningfully at national and global levels.

Gasping for breath: Oxygen plant out of order at District Hospital Shopian

The oxygen generation plant at District Hospital Shopian has remained non-functional for nearly two months, causing inconvenience to patients and forcing the hospital to rely on oxygen concentrators and cylinders to meet emergency requirements. We were shocked to learn that the plant was not working, said Mohammad Rafiq, an attendant of a patient admitted to the hospital. He said the patient, who was suffering from a respiratory-related illness, developed breathing difficulties after his oxygen saturation level dropped significantly, prompting the family to shift him to the district hospital. Such patients require immediate oxygen support, and it is worrying when a facility meant to provide a continuous supply remains non-functional, Rafiq said. The hospital administration said patients were being managed through alternative arrangements, including oxygen concentrators. We patients are being managed through oxygen concentrators, said Arshad Qadri, Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Shopian. The oxygen generation plant was installed to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen within the hospital, particularly during emergencies when demand can rise sharply. Its prolonged non-functioning has, however, left hospital authorities dependent on backup arrangements. Ansar Hamid Sheikh, Executive Engineer, Mechanical and Hospital Division Anantnag, said the tendering process for repairing the plant had been completed and the facility would be made functional within the next two weeks. The tendering process has been completed, and the work will be completed within two weeks, Sheikh said. An official, who did not wish to be named, said non-functioning oxygen plants were not an isolated issue and that similar facilities at district hospitals across Kashmir often faced maintenance-related problems. He attributed the delays partly to limited funds allocated for the maintenance of such plants, saying hospitals frequently struggled to undertake timely repairs and keep critical equipment operational. The official also said district hospitals currently had liabilities of more than Rs 8 crore, further affecting their ability to meet maintenance and operational requirements. Civil society members have expressed concern over the prolonged shutdown of the plant, particularly because oxygen is a critical requirement for patients with respiratory illnesses and those in emergency care. The issue is very grave and the authorities must address it on a priority basis, said Mitha Gatoo, a social activist and civil society member from Shopian. He said hospital authorities had to depend on oxygen cylinders and concentrators in the absence of a functional oxygen plant, which could create difficulties when several patients require oxygen simultaneously. The non-functioning of such a crucial facility also results in patient referrals, Gatoo said. He that patients requiring higher levels of respiratory support may have to be shifted to other hospitals when adequate oxygen infrastructure is unavailable. Peer Shabir Ahmad, another civil society member, said the prolonged non-functioning of essential medical infrastructure raised questions about maintenance and accountability at public health facilities. Installing an oxygen plant is only the first step. There must also be a proper mechanism to ensure its regular maintenance and immediate repairs whenever it develops a fault, he said. He urged the health authorities to ensure that the plant was restored within the promised timeframe and that adequate maintenance arrangements were put in place to prevent similar disruptions in the future.

Centre committed to special provisions under Article 371for Ladakh: Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Friday said the Centre was committed to providing special constitutional provisions under Article 371 for the Union Territory of Ladakh as an exceptional case. Speaking at the Silver Jubilee Founders Day celebration of Druk Padma Karpo School in Shey, Leh district, Rijiju said the Ministry of Home Affairs was working to extend the special provisions to Ladakh under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under Article 371, Ladakh will receive special provisions that protect your culture, your land, your traditions, and your future, Rijiju said. He said Ladakh was very close to the heart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that the proposed provisions would help protect the regions cultural identity, land and local interests. Rijiju expressed hope that the provisions would materialise soon and that the people of Ladakh would benefit from them. He also said the Prime Minister had long wanted to visit Ladakh and interact with its people, adding that the visit could take place soon. The Union minister said Ladakh had witnessed a major transformation over the past decade, particularly in terms of infrastructure and connectivity. He highlighted improvements in road connectivity, saying journeys between different parts of the Union Territory that earlier took days could now be completed within hours. Referring to the recent creation of new districts in Ladakh, Rijiju said the move would benefit the local population. He also recalled that the demand for Union Territory status had remained pending for a long time before being fulfilled. On access to justice, Rijiju said a High Court bench would be established in Ladakh in the near future, providing greater convenience to the people. The development has since moved beyond the announcement stage. President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Union Territory of Ladakh (Sitting of Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Ladakh) Regulation, 2026, on August 27. The regulation provides the statutory framework for judges and Division Benches of the common High Court to sit in Ladakh. The regulation, however, does not create a separate High Court for Ladakh. The principal seat of the common High Court remains unchanged, while the Chief Justice may arrange sittings within Ladakh with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor. Rijiju also spoke about the importance of preserving Ladakhs cultural and traditional values while addressing students at the event. He urged young people to remain connected to their roots and traditions and cautioned against blindly following trends on the internet. He said online influences could sometimes have negative consequences and, in certain cases, contribute to violence and law-and-order problems. Rijiju also highlighted his own background as the first Buddhist to hold a position in the Union Cabinet and said the government was committed to providing equal opportunities to minority communities. Senior officials of the Ladakh administration and members of religious and civil society organisations were present at the event.

Govt takes MSME schemes to last mile in Tangdar, Keran

Srinagar, Aug 28:In a significant initiative to extend entrepreneurship development and MSME schemes to remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the Branch MSME Development and Facilitation Office (DFO), Srinagar, Ministry of MSME, organised entrepreneurship awareness and capacity-building programmes at Tangdar and Keran in Kupwara district. The programmes, organised with the support and coordination of the District Administration, Kupwara, marked the first such capacity-building and entrepreneurship awareness initiatives by the Ministry of MSME in the two remote border areas. The initiative aimed to take information about government schemes and programmes directly to residents of areas where access to formal entrepreneurship support and institutional guidance remains limited. The programmes focused on various schemes and initiatives of the Ministry of MSME and other government departments aimed at promoting self-employment, entrepreneurship, skill development and enterprise creation. Particular emphasis was laid on the Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), PM Vishwakarma and other entrepreneurship- and livelihood-oriented initiatives of the Union and J&K governments. Participants were briefed on eligibility criteria, application procedures, financial assistance, credit-linked support, skill development opportunities and other benefits available under various schemes. Officials also interacted with participants and addressed their queries on starting and expanding small enterprises. The programmes received an encouraging response at both locations. In Keran, a large number of students participated and showed keen interest in entrepreneurship, self-employment and enterprise development opportunities. At Tangdar, the programme witnessed particularly encouraging participation from women, who expressed interest in entrepreneurial activities and government support for starting small businesses and income-generating ventures. The interaction highlighted the potential for promoting women-led enterprises and strengthening household livelihoods through entrepreneurship in remote areas. A.K. Tamaria, Joint Director and Head of Office, MSME DFO Jammu, also participated in the programmes and interacted with the participants. He highlighted the importance of developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem that reaches every section of society, irrespective of geographical location, and urged participants to avail themselves of schemes implemented by the Centre and J&K governments. Assistant Director, Branch MSME DFO Srinagar, Saheel Alaqband, emphasised the importance of taking government schemes to the last mile. The objective of such programmes is not merely to conduct awareness activities, but to ensure that information about government schemes reaches those who need it the most. People living in remote and border areas often have limited opportunities and access to institutional guidance. It may be challenging to organise programmes in such locations, but that is precisely why such initiatives are important. If opportunities cannot reach these communities through conventional means, we must take the opportunities to their doorstep, he said. Officials from various departments and institutions, including Agriculture, Lead Bank and other concerned government agencies, also participated in the programmes. Their participation provided beneficiaries an opportunity to understand the convergence of various schemes and the support available from different institutions for establishing and sustaining enterprises. The initiative reflects the Ministry of MSMEs focus on inclusive enterprise development and last-mile delivery of government schemes in remote and underserved areas.

Jio emerges as largest net mobile subscriber gainer in J&K over decade

Srinagar, Aug 28:From having no reported mobile subscriber base in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2016 to serving 58.5 lakh users a decade later, Reliance Jio has emerged as the largest net mobile subscriber gainer in the J&K-Ladakh telecom circle. Since its commercial launch on September 5, 2016, Jio has significantly reshaped the telecom market in J&K, driving subscriber growth and intensifying competition in the sector. According to data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Jio had no reported mobile subscriber base in the circle in August 2016. Within its first month of operations, in September 2016, it had 0.8 lakh users. By June 2026, its subscriber base had risen to 58.5 lakh, representing a net addition of 57.7 lakh users and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 54.8 per cent. As of June 2026, Jio accounted for 41.7 per cent of the circles 140.1 lakh wireless connections. The expansion has taken place alongside overall growth in the regions telecom market, rather than being driven solely by the contraction of competitors subscriber bases. The total wireless subscriber base in the circle grew 46.3 per cent over the decade. Jio has also expanded its presence in the home broadband segment. The company says it has connected more than 5.6 lakh homes and business premises across J&K and Ladakh through its JioFiber and JioAirFiber services. It claims to be the market leader in the home broadband segment in the region. At the national level, Jio had around 53.33 crore customers as of June 2026, including approximately 28.5 crore 5G users. Jios entry into the market also triggered a sharp shift in telecom pricing and data consumption patterns. Before its launch, high call and data charges were major concerns for consumers. The companys initial strategy of affordable data and free voice calls intensified competition and accelerated the adoption of mobile internet. In 2016, average monthly mobile data consumption in India was below 0.2 GB per subscriber, while a gigabyte of data cost around Rs 228. Fewer than 10 million Indians had access to 4G networks, with average download speeds of around 2.5 Mbps. A decade later, the cost of a gigabyte of mobile data has fallen to roughly Rs 7.9, a decline of about 97 per cent, while active 4G and 5G subscribers across the country have risen to around 93.8 crore. On Jios network, the company says, an average subscriber now consumes 42.3 GB of data per month. The transformation has extended beyond pricing and connectivity, with telecom operators increasingly investing in network infrastructure, cloud technologies and 5G capabilities. Earlier generations of telecom networks relied heavily on imported proprietary hardware and software, leaving operators dependent on overseas vendors for equipment, technology upgrades and network roadmaps. Jio, meanwhile, has invested in developing an end-to-end, cloud-native standalone 5G network, which the company says is designed to meet the requirements of the Indian market and operating environment.

A legacy of giving: The land donations behind SKIMS

In the mid-1970s, as Jammu and Kashmirs political landscape was changing, plans for a major medical institute began taking shape. A series of land contributions, from private individuals as well as the government, laid the physical foundation for what is today the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at Soura, Srinagar. Among the private contributors, one name stands out Bhai Anant Singh Gauri, a pioneering cinema entrepreneur whose contribution is commemorated by a plaque at a SKIMS hospital ward. The origins of SKIMS can be traced to November 1972, when Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah established a public charitable trust with the objective of setting up a medical institute. The Sher-i-Kashmir National Medical Institute Trust was formally registered on May 19, 1973. Sheikh Abdullah was not the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir at the time and sought government cooperation for the project. He approached then Chief Minister Syed Mir Qasim for land at Soura, and the government responded by leasing 292 kanals and eight marlas of land at Zoonimar to the Trust in October 1973. The lease was granted at a nominal annual rent of Rs 101 for a period of 40 years. At the same time, private philanthropists contributed land and resources to support the proposed institute. Among the most prominent private contributions was that of Bhai Anant Singh Gauri, the Sikh businessman who established Palladium Talkies at Lal Chowk in 1932. Palladium was Kashmirs first cinema hall and among the earliest in North India. In 1978, Gauri and his family trust donated more than 50 kanals of land for the establishment of SKIMS. By then, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had returned as Chief Minister. In a letter dated January 14, 1978, Abdullah acknowledged the contribution and thanked Gauri for the land donated to the medical institute, describing the family as a great family of our State which is known for their numerous acts of philanthropy. In recognition of the contribution, SKIMS named Ward No. 4 after Gauri. Court records from subsequent litigation concerning the Trusts properties also show that Raj Sawhney, then Secretary of the Trust, donated around 60 kanals of land. A formal agreement between the government and the Trust was signed in December 1980, formalising the handover of the Soura land and related facilities for development of the institute. Under the agreement, the government assumed responsibility for construction, equipment, staffing and other project costs. Construction had begun in the mid-1970s, and the institution was declared a government hospital in 1979. It has since expanded considerably and today stands on a holding of around 1,000 kanals. While government land constituted the bulk of the property, private contributions from philanthropists such as Anant Singh Gauri and Raj Sawhney helped strengthen the foundation of an institution that has since evolved into Kashmirs premier tertiary-care centre. Director SKIMS Soura, Prof Mohammad Ashraf Ganai, said acts of philanthropy had played an important role in making an institution of such magnitude possible in Kashmir. SKIMS family, and I personally, wholeheartedly appreciate such gestures for public welfare, he said. Former Director SKIMS Soura, Prof Omar Javed Shah, said health universities represent hope, change, human aspiration and inspiration. He said that, apart from their core missions of providing the best possible healthcare, teaching, research and innovation, universities also nurture leaders and strengthen communities to tackle the challenges they face. Recalling Gauris contribution, Shah said, Philanthropy is associated with the action of expressing love to mankind. His donation was meant to improve humanity rather than solely serving the needs of the poor, he said.

Kashmir sees growing shift to high-density apple plantations

Baramulla, Aug 28: Kashmirs traditional apple-growing landscape is undergoing a gradual transformation, with an increasing number of growers shifting to high-density plantations in pursuit of higher productivity, better fruit quality and improved market returns. The shift, initially adopted by a relatively small number of progressive growers, has gained momentum in recent years as the government promotes modern orchard systems and growers increasingly look for ways to improve returns from limited landholdings. The Jammu and Kashmir Governments latest Budget 2026-27 states that about 1,119 hectares have been covered under the High-Density Plantation Scheme since 2017-18 up to December 2025, with financial assistance of Rs 139 crore. The government has further proposed bringing 1,455 hectares under high- and medium-density plantations during 2026-27. The broader transition is substantially larger when both high- and medium-density plantations are taken into account. According to the NITI Aayogs Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, 4,023 hectares were brought under high/medium-density plantations in 2023-24, following 4,776.88 hectares in 2021-22 and 2,540.04 hectares in 2022-23. The government has also approved a Revised Modified High Density Plantation Scheme covering 5,500 hectares of multiple fruit crops, including apple, walnut, almond and cherry, over five years from 2022-23 to 2026-27, with an overall 50 per cent subsidy provision. Recent parliamentary data also indicates that around 300 hectares of traditional apple and walnut orchards in J&K have been converted into high-density plantations under government schemes over the past five years, while another 909.13 hectares have been brought under new high-density plantations during the same period. In Baramulla, one of Kashmirs major apple-growing districts, the adoption of the system has also been significant. Data presented in Parliament showed that 599 beneficiaries in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency had been assisted under the High-Density Plantation Programme, covering 244.646 hectares between 2016-17 and 2025-26. The highest annual coverage was recorded in 2025-26, when 58.036 hectares were brought under high-density plantations and 277 beneficiaries were assisted. Chief Horticulture Officer, Baramulla, Javed Ahmad said the shift towards high-density plantations was gaining pace because of the economic advantages associated with the system. High-density orchards are developed through a specific technique and require the same level of care and management as traditional orchards, Ahmad said. He said growers were increasingly showing interest in newer apple varieties, particularly Gala, which has emerged as one of the preferred varieties in high-density plantations. We are importing Gala varieties which have tremendous market value. Gala has good colour and several other desirable characteristics, and our climate suits it well, he said. Ahmad said the department was also looking at introducing more varieties suited to Kashmirs climatic conditions. Gala, he said, was not a single variety but a family comprising several strains, offering growers greater options depending on market demand and growing conditions. The major difference between traditional and high-density orchards lies in plant density and the choice of rootstock. Unlike conventional orchards, where trees are spaced widely and allowed to grow into large plants, high-density plantations use dwarfing rootstocks that allow growers to accommodate a much larger number of plants in a given area. The density of plants is much higher in high-density orchards. We can plant more trees in the same area, Ahmad said. He said the selection of rootstock was particularly important, with M9 being widely used because of its dwarfing characteristics. The rootstock should not be vigorous. That is why the M9 is widely used, he said. Apart from allowing more plants per hectare, high-density orchards are gaining popularity because of the quality of fruit they produce. In a traditional orchard, a tree may produce 20 to 30 boxes, but only around 30 per cent may qualify as A-grade fruit. In high-density plantations, the proportion of A-grade fruit can be as high as 90 per cent, Ahmad said. The difference has significant implications for growers, as premium-grade apples generally fetch better prices in domestic and outside markets. The shift is also part of a wider government strategy to modernise J&Ks horticulture sector. The Economic Survey 2025-26 identifies high-density fruit plantation, introduction of high-value varieties and superior rootstocks, rejuvenation of old and senile orchards, mechanisation and expansion of cold-chain infrastructure among the key priorities for the sector. Jammu and Kashmirs horticulture sector remains a major contributor to the regional economy. The NITI Aayog roadmap notes that the area under major horticulture crops increased from 3.35 lakh hectares in 2020-21 to 3.45 lakh hectares in 2023-24, while production rose from 22.30 lakh tonnes to 26.43 lakh tonnes during the same period. For apple growers, the move towards high-density plantations represents a shift from the traditional emphasis on the number of trees and overall production towards productivity per unit area, fruit quality, marketability and profitability.

Shaher-Khaas traders reject electricity tariff hike, seek rollback

The Shaher-Khaas Traders Alliance, under the leadership of its president, Nazir Ahmad Shah, has categorically rejected and condemned the arbitrary hike in electricity charges announced by the Omar Abdullah-led government. Nazir Ahmad Shah, as per a statement, stated that this authoritarian move has sent shockwaves through both the commercial sector and ordinary households, who are already struggling under immense economic stress. We gave the National Conference (NC) a resounding mandate to represent our aspirations, protect our economic livelihood, and fight for our fundamental rights. We did not elect this government to subjugate, penalize, and harass the public through backbreaking measures like this unjustified electricity fare hike, Shah remarked. Nazir Ahmad Shah urged the Chief Minister to immediately roll back the decision. The Omar Abdullah-led government must put public interest before personal or bureaucratic interests. The public will not forget this betrayal at the ballot box, Shah said. The Shaher-Khaas Traders Alliance has called upon all trade bodies, civil society members, and the general public to stand united against this economic injustice, vowing to intensify protests if the arbitrary hike is not withdrawn.

43rd Ahad Zargar Day to be observed in Srinagar on August 30

The 43rd Ahad Zargar Day will be observed on 30th August 2026 at the Mausoleum of Ahad Zargar, Narwara, Srinagar, with great reverence, enthusiasm and fervour. The occasion, as per a statement, will commemorate the life, literary legacy and remarkable contribution of Ahad Zargar, one of Kashmirs most revered Sufi poets and literary figures. His poetry, spiritual thought and profound understanding of Kashmiri culture continue to resonate deeply with generations of Kashmiris. The day carries immense cultural and literary significance and provides an opportunity to remember and celebrate the enduring legacy of Ahad Zargar, whose contribution to Kashmiri literature, Sufi thought and the preservation of Kashmirs rich cultural ethos remains deeply cherished. The observance will be organised by the Ahad Zargar Memorial Research Foundation in association with the Kashmiri Sufi Gulokar Forum, Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Resh Wair Gulokar Society, and Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar. The participating organisations will come together to pay tribute to the legendary poet and reaffirm their collective commitment to preserving, promoting and taking forward the rich literary, spiritual and cultural legacy of Ahad Zargar for future generations. The Foundation has extended an invitation to poets, writers, scholars, cultural enthusiasts and admirers of Ahad Zargar to join the commemoration and honour the enduring legacy of one of Kashmirs most distinguished literary voices.

DRI seizes 76 kg methamphetamine in Assam, Mizoram; 2 arrested

New Delhi, Aug 28: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 76 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets in two intelligence-led operations in Assam and Mizoram and arrested two people under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. In the latest operation on August 25, DRI officers, assisted by personnel of the 38th Battalion of Assam Rifles, intercepted a 12-wheeler truck at Lalpani, around 40 km from Silchar near the Assam-Manipur border. The truck was identified from a convoy of vehicles travelling from Jiribam in Manipur. During a detailed search, officers found a specially fabricated concealed cavity behind the drivers seat containing 36 packets weighing 1 kg each and 100 smaller packets weighing 200 grams each. The packets contained pinkish-orange tablets suspected to be methamphetamine. Preliminary tests using a field detection kit indicated the presence of amphetamine. The 56 kg of suspected contraband and the truck were seized under the NDPS Act, and the occupant of the vehicle was arrested. In a separate operation on August 18, DRI officers intercepted a car on the Aizawl-Champhai Road at Bung Bangla, around 30 km from Aizawl. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 64 packets containing 20 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets. The drugs had been concealed in specially designed cavities in the rocker panels or side sills on both sides of the car and in the space between the fuel tank and the floor. Field tests indicated the presence of amphetamine. Preliminary investigation suggested that the drugs had been smuggled from Myanmar into Mizoram through the Zokhawthar-Champhai sector. The 20 kg consignment and the vehicle were seized, and the driver was arrested. The DRI said methamphetamine is a potent synthetic psychostimulant with a high potential for abuse and dependence. Its illicit use can cause serious physical and psychological effects, including cardiovascular complications, agitation, paranoia and psychosis. Methamphetamine is classified as a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, under which its illicit manufacture, possession, transportation and trafficking attract stringent penalties.

GCC remembers GH Kango, recalls his contributions to J&K

The Group of Concerned Citizens J&K(GCC) held a G.H. Kango Memorial meeting here on Friday, presided over by Khurshid Ahmad Ganai. Besides the Chairman of the Group, other Members, as per a statement, who spoke on this occasion included G.J.Nehvi, Syed Raza Shah Madni, Latif-ul-Zaman Deva , Mohammad Rafi, Er Hakim Iftikhar, Manzoor Ahmad Tak and Prof Dr Farooq Ahmad Peer. Some of Late GH Kango's old and young colleagues recalled fond memories of their personal or official association with him over many years. Others dwelt at length on his intellectual depth and administrative acumen. G.H. Kango's pioneering work in soil and water conservation is written large throughout Jammu & Kashmir. His insights and expertise in forest conservation and management were widely seen as superb and inspired a whole new cadre of professionals in Forestry, Environment & Ecology . They also referred to Late G H Kango's passionate striving as a philanthropist ever ready to reach out to the poor and the needy through his family Trust. Another interesting aspect of GH Kango's life, little known though, was brought forth by Mohammad Rafi. Kango Sb was a gifted Artist, an Illustrator of high caliber. We had the honour of hosting an Exhibition of his art works at MET Sopore and another event at Baghaat, he recalled.

EJAC condoles demise of former bureaucrat Ghazanfar Ali

The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) Jammu and Kashmir has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of former senior bureaucrat Ghazanfar Ali. In a heartfelt condolence message, Senior Trade Union Leader and President EJAC, Fayaz Ahmad Shabnam, as per a statement, expressed his profound sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. He described Ghazanfar Ali as a dedicated, upright and compassionate officer whose contribution to public administration would be remembered for a long time. Ghazanfar Ali held several important and key positions during his illustrious career, including Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Deputy Commissioner Shopian Director Rural Devlopment Department and Director Handicrafts, besides serving in various other important capacities in the administration. Recalling his personal association with the deceased, Fayaz Ahmad Shabnam said that he had the opportunity to work closely with Ghazanfar Ali during his tenure as Director Handicrafts. He said that his association with the late officer left a lasting impression, particularly because of his humble and generous nature.Mr. Shabnam said that he was an extremely polite, humble and generous person, always approachable and considerate towards his subordinates. Despite holding important positions, he remained grounded and treated everyone with dignity and respect. He further said that Ghazanfar Ali was known for his simplicity, decency and commitment to public service. Mr. Shabnam conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends, colleagues and admirers of the deceased and prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the departed soul eternal peace and Jannat-ul-Firdous and give the bereaved family the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

Nepal floods highlight Indias vulnerability to Himalayan river disasters

New Delhi, Aug 28:The devastating floods in Nepal have highlighted the vulnerability of the densely populated plains of northern India, particularly Bihar, to disasters originating in the Himalayas, reports international media. Nepals Himalayan rivers feed several major Indian river systems, including the Gandaki and Kosi, besides the Bagmati, Kamla-Balan and other rivers, before flowing into Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Bihar, one of Indias most flood-prone states, faces a particular risk because much of the catchment area feeding its major north Bihar rivers lies outside the state. According to government estimates, only around 35% of the land supplying water through rainfall, streams and smaller rivers to these river systems is within Bihar, with much of the remaining catchment located in Nepal and Tibet. Wednesdays disaster, reportedly triggered by a glacial collapse that sent a massive debris-filled surge downstream, has underlined the risks posed by events in the Himalayan region. The threat is not limited to the volume of water. Flash floods can carry huge quantities of sediment and debris, raising river beds and putting additional pressure on embankments and flood-control infrastructure. As a result, a disaster that begins in the Himalayan mountains can quickly develop into a major flood threat for communities across the plains of India.

Remember your troubles when you next vote: Yawar Mir

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leader Yawar Mir on Friday accused the National Conference of repeatedly making promises before elections and changing its position after coming to power, urging voters to remember their grievances when they next cast their ballots. People themselves brought the NC to power despite repeated disappointments. They need to introspect themselves as to why they have been making the same mistakes for the past 70 years, former Rafiabad MLA said. He said that voters should remember their present difficulties when they next go to the voting machine. He alleged that the NC had a long-standing political habit of saying one thing before elections and changing its position after coming to power. Yawar Mir said the opposition must move beyond merely criticising the NC and instead undertake an awareness campaign to explain to people the partys (NC's) failures on issues including its promises on Article 370 and Article 35A. The biggest role of the opposition is to make people understand that political power ultimately rests with voters and not with the person occupying a chair, he said. Yawar Mir questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his political positions, citing his earlier statement that he would not contest Assembly elections and his subsequent decision to contest from two constituencies. He also referred to NCs political history and accused the party of shifting positions on issues and political platforms, including the autonomy report and the PAGD. Mir said his party was not waiting for electoral power while acknowledging that it currently has no representation in the Assembly. He said the party was instead using protests and public interaction programmes to put forward its political position. Referring to the convention, he said the programme witnessed a sizeable gathering despite being held on Friday. The participation of people shows the peoples growing frustration with false promises and false slogans of National Conference, he added. A political worker of JK Apni Party meanwhile said that the party was founded by the leadership of Altaf Bukhari on the objective of keeping people away from false politics and unfulfilled promises. He appealed to voters to exercise their franchise carefully and choose political parties that would address rather than play with their problems after elections.

China suspends rescue operations near Nepal-Tibet border over fears of another flood

New Delhi, Aug 28:Chinese authorities have suspended rescue operations near the Nepal-Tibet border after a lake formed by debris from a landslide began filling with water, raising fears that it could burst its banks and trigger another flood, the BBC reported. Officials have been monitoring rising water upstream from Gyirong port, a key land crossing between Nepal and Tibet that was swept away by a torrent of mud and water following Wednesdays landslide. According to the BBC, hours of heavy rain have increased concerns that the newly formed lake could breach the debris blocking it and cause further flooding in the coming days. Rescuers in the area have reportedly been ordered to halt operations temporarily, citing reports in Chinese state media. More than 550 people have been reported missing on the Tibetan side, including around 260 foreigners. Many of those affected were pilgrims travelling towards Mount Kailash, a major Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site in Tibet. The latest disaster has caused heavy casualties on both sides of the border. At least 469 people have died in Nepal, with hundreds still missing, more than 48 hours after flash floods devastated the Himalayan border region. In Tibet, three people have been confirmed dead and more than 550 are missing, although it remains unclear whether some of the figures overlap. The disaster has disrupted an area visited by tens of thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year.

400 Indians safe on China side; 320 still uncontactable: MEA

New Delhi, Aug 28:The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said 400 Indian nationals stranded on the Chinese side of the border are safe and have contacted their families and travel agencies. However, 320 Indian nationals remain uncontactable or missing, while more than 100 people of Indian origin, who may hold other nationalities, are also unaccounted for. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing that 21 Indian nationals who had reached Kathmandu from the Chinese side arrived in New Delhi on Friday. Another 63 Indian nationals from Trishuli Power Plant-1 have been rescued, while 96 Indians who crossed from the Chinese side into Nepal will be evacuated. Jaiswal said the MEA control room in New Delhi and the Indian Embassys control rooms in Kathmandu are working round the clock to coordinate rescue and evacuation efforts. On the Chinese side, 400 Indians are safe, Jaiswal said, adding that many had contacted their families and travel agencies, while several families had also informed the MEA. On Nepals response to Indias offer of additional rescue assistance, Jaiswal said India was sending a tunnel-rescue team and a medical team. New Delhi has also offered Bailey bridges along with technical teams, with one Bailey bridge already deployed in Nepal. India has also offered the services of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, which are on standby and ready to assist. We await the response from the Nepal government, Jaiswal said.

Chota Amarnath Yatra flagged-off from Kaloosa, Bandipora

The annual Chota Amarnath Yatra was flagged off today from Sharda Mandir, Kaloosa, Bandipora, marking the beginning of the revered pilgrimage to the Chota Amarnath Holy Cave. The Yatra was flagged off by Senior Superintendent of Police Bandipora, Ajaz Ahmad Zargar, and Additional Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Zaffar Husson Shawl, in the presence of devotees, volunteers and local residents. The Yatra holds deep spiritual significance for devotees of Lord Shiva and reflects the districts rich tradition of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence. Pilgrims embarked on the sacred journey with devotion and faith, seeking blessings at the holy cave. Members of the Muslim community from the area were also present on the occasion and warmly welcomed the Yatris, extending their heartfelt greetings and best wishes for a peaceful, safe and blessed Yatra. The District Administration, in coordination with the Police and other concerned departments, had put in place necessary arrangements for the smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage. The arrangements included track development, sanitation facilities, langar services, medical support, security deployment and provision of safe drinking water along the route. The 15-kilometre Yatra proceeds from Arin-Dardpora through Shampthan and culminates at the Chota Amarnath Cave. Adequate security personnel, medical teams and volunteers were deployed at key locations to facilitate the pilgrims and ensure a safe and hassle-free journey. Among others, Additional Superintendent of Police Mir Murtaza Hussain Sohil, Assistant Regional Transport Officer Bandipora Mukhtar Ahmad Sofi and other officers of the district administration, volunteers, devotees and local residents were present on the occasion.

Thousands of devotees throng Dargah Hazratbal on Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW)

Srinagar, Aug 28:Thousands of devotees from across Kashmir on Friday thronged masjids and shrines to observe the Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), one of the most significant religious occasions in the Valley. Thousands of devotees assembled for special congregational prayers, recitation of Naat and Darood-o-Azkaar, and the traditional display of the revered holy relic at Dargah Hazratbal The largest congregation was witnessed at the revered Hazratbal Shrine, where devotees from different parts of Kashmir gathered from early morning. The shrine echoed with prayers and while emotional scenes were witnessed as the holy relic was displayed after the Friday prayers. Worshippers raised their hands in collective supplication, praying for peace, prosperity, well-being and harmony in Jammu and Kashmir. Devotees said the occasion provided them an opportunity to renew their spiritual connection with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Every year we eagerly wait for this blessed Friday. Offering prayers here and witnessing the holy relic fills our hearts with peace and reminds us to follow the Prophet's teachings of compassion, unity and humility, said Ghulam Mohammad, a devotee from Pulwama. The celebrations were marked by religious processions in several parts of the Valley, with roads and markets adorned with green flags, decorative lights and banners carrying messages expressing love and reverence for Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Volunteers and local organisations set up stalls at Hazratbal and other religious centres, distributing drinking water, refreshments and snacks among devotees as temperatures remained relatively warm during the day. Meanwhile, at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar, hundreds of devotees also offered the Friday congregational prayers led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. In his sermon, Mirwaiz highlighted the religious significance of the Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW). Large congregational prayers were held at Jenab Sahib Soura, Asar-e-Sharif Shahri Kalashpora, Khanqah-e-Maula, Ziarat Hazrat Dastgeer Sahib (RA), Syed Yaqoob Sahib (RA) Sonwar, Khawaja Naqshband Sahib (RA), Ziarat Makhdoom Sahib (RA), Lal Bazar and several other shrines and mosques across Kashmir. Officials said elaborate arrangements had been put in place following a series of coordination meetings held over the past several days involving the Waqf Board, district administration, Police, Traffic Police, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Health Department, Power Development Department, Jal Shakti and other agencies. Traffic regulation, sanitation, drinking water, healthcare facilities and transport services were strengthened to facilitate the smooth movement of devotees. Officials of the J&K Waqf Board said the shrine continued to benefit from the extensive renovation and beautification works undertaken over the past year to improve facilities and ensure greater convenience for devotees visiting Hazratbal. For the past twelve days, a festive atmosphere had prevailed across Kashmir as Eid-e-Milad celebrations gathered momentum. Markets surrounding Hazratbal and other prominent shrines remained abuzz with devotees purchasing religious items, sweets and food, while streets witnessed a steady influx of visitors. This is the busiest period of the year for us. We wait for these blessed days because devotees from every corner of Kashmir visit Hazratbal, which brings life to the markets and benefits hundreds of small traders, said Rayees Ahmad, a shopkeeper near the shrine. Authorities said the observance concluded peacefully across the Valley, with devotees appreciating the arrangements made by different departments and expressing hope that in the coming time, there will be even better arrangements for the convenience of devotees.

No development can justify environmental compromise: Tarigami

CPI-M MLA and chairman, Committee on Environment, J&K Legislative Assembly, M Y Tarigami has stressed that development must be sustainable and scientifically planned, particularly when it concerns ecologically sensitive areas and natural flood-management systems. His reiteration came in response to a memorandum highlighting serious environmental and flood-risk concerns over the proposed Plug-and-Play Industrial Park at Nowgam, Srinagar, submitted to him. The representation, submitted by the Peoples Environmental Council (PEC) in association with the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO), calls for a multidisciplinary review before the location of the proposed project is finalised. Tarigami, while receiving the representation, made it clear that the question of compromising the environment in the name of development could not arise. The memorandum points out that the proposed 50-acre project, involving an estimated investment of about Rs 104 Cr, is located in an area linked to the functioning of the Jhelum floodplain and raises concerns regarding flood absorption, drainage and climate resilience. He noted that the memorandum did not oppose industrialisation or employment-generating investment. Instead, it seeks to ensure that development takes place at an appropriate location without weakening Srinagars natural flood-management infrastructure or increasing risks to surrounding communities. It specifically urges the government to undertake a multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder assessment involving urban planning, hydrology, flood-risk management, ecology, disaster management and public-investment economics before taking a final decision, he pointed out, while referring to the representation. Tarigamis position assumed added significance in view of his recent interventions as Chairman of the Environment Committee. He has called for zero tolerance against environmental violations, scientific monitoring of natural resources and stronger environmental safeguards. The Committee has also recently stressed that wetlands are critical not only for biodiversity but also for flood mitigation, with conservation decisions to be guided by scientific data and public participation. The Nowgam issue therefore goes beyond a single industrial project. The larger question is whether development planning can proceed without undermining the natural systems that protect Srinagar from flooding, it was stated, while mentioning that the representation argued that protecting a flood basin was not anti-development; rather, it was a prerequisite for safe, resilient and sustainable development.

Heartbeats of a Healer

Some autobiographies are so sweet and touching that they read like warm poetry. They are full of gentle memories, a deep love for life, and tender moments that stay in your heart long after you have turned the last page. Same is true with the recently launched autobiography When the Heart Speaks by the Padma Shri Dr Upendra Kaul, a gold medallist in surgery and the first top cardiologist of India with Kashmir origin, known to Kashmiris as U Koul. This book is a sequential narrative of many chapters of Dr Kauls remarkable life as a cardiologist of international repute that he has exquisitely penned down with great love and patriotism for his birthplace Kashmir. Comprising 22 different chapters across 198 pages, the book has foreword by M.A. Pathan, Director Gauri Kaul Foundation (GKF), former Chairman Indian Oil Corporation & Former Resident Director Tata Group. Published by Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, it is dedicated warmly by the author to the memory of his immortal mother, Gauri Kaul. As soon as you open the book, you are greeted by pre-publication reviews from eminent personalities, beginning with honble Chief Minister, J&K, Omar Abdullah. The best traits of an autobiography include a first-person perspective, strict factual accuracy, a comprehensive chronological scope, authentic personal voice, and deep self-reflection on historical or societal context. And in When the Heart Speaks, Dr Kaul has obviously taken care of all that. From the very first chapter of his life i.e., From Khans to Kauls till the last one, Remote Outreach Areas of Gauri Kaul Foundation; the author sequentially carries the reader along and sums up his entire life journey of a cardiologist who has dedicated himself to humanity. Written in an intimate style, Dr Kauls When the Heart Speaks cordially makes the reader visualize every event, feel every relationship and connect with everyone emotion of the narrator. What makes the book truly remarkable is its simple and lucid language, easily understood by even an eighth-grade student. True to the saying a picture is worth a thousand words, Dr. Kaul has beautifully supported his 22 chapters with sequential photographs in the centre of the book. When the Heart Speaks is a frank and honest narrative. The author does not hide his reactions behind unfair incidents or people who misbehaved with him, though such occasions are few. But more than those painful memories, the book captivates the reader with cherished memories of loving family bonds, enduring personal friendships, and valued professional associations. The book is rich with anecdotes and episodes that uplift the medical profession. You will applaud the authors determination to walk miles to reach college, smile at his brief, innocent encounter with Charas, and appreciate how he broke class barriers to befriend a police constable who handled medico-legal cases in the hospitals emergency ward. Such personal vignettes appear on almost every page as the author journeys from his rural childhood in Kashmir to becoming a renowned cardiologist of national and international repute. The book also takes the reader on a fascinating voyagefrom Dr Kauls ancestral home in Hawal, Pulwama, to his rise as one of Indias topmost cardiologists. Along the way, he meets people from diverse backgrounds and shares his praiseworthy experiences with great candour. All these experiences have shaped Dr. Kaul and now reshape our understanding of who he truly is. For some, the book may not appeal at first glance, but once you delve deeper into its pages, you will find yourself reading it with love and interest. It beautifully shows how cardiology has evolved over the past few decades, blending the power of advancing science and innovative technology to bring remarkable relief to those suffering from serious heart and blood vessel diseases. This book is not just for students of cardiology; it offers a truly illuminating introduction to the history of cardiology in India. Throughout When the Heart Speaks, Dr. Kaul remained away from his caring family for long periods. No doubt one reason for that was the migration of Pandit fraternity in 1990, yet, on other hand, it was authors own urge to excel in medical profession especially in the area of cardiology. As Mr Kaul, himself writes in the chapter Beginning of Coronary Angioplasty in India: Home for me meant bed and breakfast. It wont be wrong if, as a reviewer, I divide the book into four keys area like how the author has spent his childhood in Kashmir, his schooling in the Valley, his journey to become a top cardiologist in the country and his travels around the globe to participate in conferences, seminars, lecture trips and official meetings regarding his own professional expertise on angioplasty i.e. opening blocked arteries of the human heart without surgery. To me, Dr Kauls When the Heart Speaks is a treasure trove of matured memories which he has so sweetly recollected in this second revised edition where as a globe trotter he has shown his keen interest in observation and exploration of the world. There are chapters in the book where he offers resonating reflections and poignant account of his childhood, culinary skills, the games and pranks he used to play. For instance, from chapter 11, A Dark Era in Kashmir Valley till chapter 18, My Experience with COVID; he doesnt want his sweet memories to remain untold that have laid indelible imprint upon his mind. Consequently, in the concluding chapters, Dr Kaul beautifully blends three of his deepest loveshis passion for cardiology, his longing for his birthplace Kashmir, and his devotion to his beloved mother, Gauri Kaulinto his most passionate project: the creation of the Gauri Kaul Foundation, an NGO, and the Gauri Heart Centre at Chanapora, Srinagar with no more heart attacks mission. No doubt, his love for his homeland Kashmir shines through every page of the book especially at page 176 where he writes: I have never been away from Kashmir for so long. Yet, he never stopped trying to return to his roots. It is true that life is like a wheel, where one finally comes back to where one began. As Dr Kaul believes, a person may change everything, but never his origin. He finally returned to his roots, and shares how his long-cherished dream of having his own house in Kashmir came true when in April 2013; he received a call from Mian Altaf, who told him that he had found an ideal place for him near Srinagar airport. However, this book cannot be called a perfect work of autobiography. Like many autobiographies, it has its flaws. The book seems to have been reviewed only by the authors close friends, which is why most pages are full of praise for him. The index pages were not necessary and have only increased the page count, as most readers do not read them. Moreover, at Rs. 950, the book is too expensive for the common reader. In nutshell, the book is first of kind in Kashmir and is a pioneer to the genre of autobiography. In short, this book is the first of its kind in Kashmir and a pioneer in autobiography. It is a must-read not only for cardiology students but for everyone, as it offers a fascinating account of the history of cardiology in India along with the story of a healers heart. Manzoor Akash, author, educationist & regular GK columnist, is a recipient of National Peace Award.

Crisis in GMC Baramulla as emergency drugsgo out-of-stock

Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla, the tertiary-care institution that caters to patients referred from hospitals across the district and across north-Kashmir, is grappling with a shortage of several essential medicines. These include drugs required in emergency cases and critical patients. Many anaesthetic drugs are also not available, reflecting the dire state of affairs at this medical college hospital. Other essential medicines such as Atropine, used in the management of certain emergency cardiac conditions, Hydrocortisone and Adiline (Isoxsuprine) too are currently unavailable at the institution. This raises concerns over the hospitals ability to promptly respond to emergency cases. An official of the GMC Baramulla said that the delay in supplies is due to delay from Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL). He said, we can't purchase medicine from the market on our own, However, what about patients, if there is a delay of three months in the drug supply, who will manage the patient care?, he asked. The sardid affairs can be gauged from the fact that the GMC Baramulla is without essential supply from last four months The question is in such delays and when hospital heads are unable to purchase it locally then what will happen to patient care? Do they have to wait for months for drugs to arrive? The shortage assumes significance as GMC Baramulla receives a steady stream of patients referred from district and sub-district hospitals, where complicated cases are shifted to the medical college for specialised treatment. A doctor at GMC Baramulla said the availability of emergency medicines is crucial in a tertiary-care facility, particularly when patients arrive in unstable conditions and require immediate intervention. Any delay in accessing essential drugs can complicate treatment and place additional pressure on doctors and attendants to arrange medicines from outside, he said. Muhammad Ashraf, a civil society member said Patients are referred to GMC Baramulla with the expectation that all necessary emergency facilities and medicines will be available under one roof. He said When essential drugs are unavailable, it affects the efficiency of emergency care. If there is delay in Government supply medicines, the GMC authorities need to ensure that essential drugs are made locally available so that patients do not suffer, Said Ashraf. The concerned residents said that shortages can occur due to delays in the supply and procurement chain. However, such gaps need to be addressed on priority at a tertiary-care institution that serves as a referral centre for a large population. The shortage has also raised questions over the adequacy of buffer stocks of essential emergency medicines, particularly those that may be required at short notice. Patients and attendants have urged the authorities to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential and life-saving drugs at GMC Baramulla, saying that a referral hospital should not leave critically ill patients waiting for medicines that are fundamental to emergency care.

The quiet science of trying again

A nursery classroom can reveal some of its most important lessons at the moment when nothing seems to be going right. A child is trying to fold a piece of paper and the edges will not meet. Another cannot thread the bead through the string. Someone grips a crayon too tightly and becomes frustrated when the line goes in the wrong direction. A child watches another attempt the same task and asks for help before trying again. To an adult, these may look like small difficulties in activities that are supposed to be simple. But development does not always reveal itself when children get everything right. Sometimes it becomes most visible when a child encounters something they cannot yet do, has to decide what to do next and discovers, with or without help, that the first attempt does not have to be the final one. This is an important way to think about learning in the early years because nursery education is often judged by what can be easily seen at the end of an activity. Adults look at the completed picture, the finished craft, the written number or the neatly arranged materials. Yet the finished product may tell only part of the story. The more revealing question can be what happened before the child reached it. Did the child understand the instructions? Could they remember the sequence? Did they notice their own mistake? Did they become frustrated and stop, or try another approach? Did they ask for help and then attempt the task independently? Did they remember what had worked the previous time? These moments expose the processes through which a child is gradually learning not simply to complete tasks, but to manage learning itself. The source material makes precisely this distinction, noting that the more significant learning may occur while a child is making something, rather than in the neatness of the finished product. Developmental science gives this everyday observation a wider meaning. Young children are still developing executive function, the set of cognitive processes that support working memory, attention, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. These capacities help children hold instructions in mind, resist distraction, pause before acting, adjust their behaviour and change strategies when circumstances require it. Harvards Center on the Developing Child describes these skills as developing gradually through experience and practice, with adults initially providing support and gradually stepping back as children become more capable of managing difficult tasks independently. In a nursery classroom, this development rarely announces itself with technical language. It appears when a teacher says, First fold the paper, then press the edge, and the child remembers both steps. It appears when a child begins an activity, realises that something is not working and pauses before trying again. It appears when a child is tempted to abandon a difficult task but stays with it for another minute. It appears when a teacher does not immediately take over, allowing the child the opportunity to work out part o f the problem independently. These ordinary moments are opportunities to practise the very capacities that will later support more complex learning. The source material points to this gradual movement from adult support towards independent action, particularly when children are given another opportunity rather than having a difficult task completed for them. That does not mean children should simply be left to struggle. The distinction between productive challenge and unnecessary frustration matters. Young children need adults who can judge when to intervene, what kind of help to provide and when to step back. Too much assistance can deprive a child of the opportunity to discover what they can manage. Too little can turn an ordinary learning challenge into an experience of helplessness. Good teaching therefore involves something more subtle than either helping immediately or refusing to help. It involves scaffolding. The adult provides enough support for the child to remain engaged with a challenge, then gradually reduces that support as the childs competence grows. Harvards developmental research describes this kind of scaffolding as developmentally appropriate support that helps children practise skills before they are expected to perform them independently. The significance of this becomes clearer when we think about mistakes. In many educational environments, errors are still treated primarily as evidence that a child has failed to understand something. But a mistake can also reveal what the child currently understands and where their thinking is breaking down. A child who folds paper incorrectly may not have failed in a simple sense. They may have understood the first instruction but not the spatial relationship required for the second. A child who loses track of a sequence may know each individual step but struggle to hold the instructions in working memory. A child who rushes through an activity may understand the task but find it difficult to regulate attention long enough to complete it carefully. For teachers, therefore, the mistake itself can be useful information. It can help reveal what kind of support the child needs next. Recent research is adding nuance to the question of how children learn from mistakes. A 2024 study involving kindergarten children found that children could improve their monitoring of errors with practice and that children receiving feedback performed more efficiently on an executive function task than those who trained without feedback. Research on corrective feedback more broadly also suggests that feedback can play an important role in childrens learning across areas such as literacy, mathematics and problem solving, although its effects depend on childrens age and individual differences and on how the feedback is delivered. That last point is crucial. Not all corrections are equally useful. There is something wrong with this gives a child very little information. Look at this edge. What happens if you line it up with this one? asks the child to inspect the problem. Try again provides encouragement, but What could you change this time? invites reflection. The difference may seem small to an adult, yet one response positions the teacher as the person who knows the answer while the other begins to position the child as someone capable of examining and improving their own approach. This is where learning begins to move beyond task completion and towards self-monitoring. A child gradually learns to notice not only what they are doing, but how they are doing it. They begin to recognise when they have forgotten an instruction, when something is not working or when they need another strategy. This does not mean that preschool children are suddenly engaging in sophisticated metacognition in the same way as older learners. These abilities are still emerging. But early forms of self-monitoring can appear in surprisingly ordinary moments, particularly when adults invite children to think about what happened and what they might try next. There is an important distinction here between giving a child an answer and helping a child become better at finding a way forward. Early childhood education needs both. There are times when a teacher should simply show a child how something works. There are other times when immediate demonstration removes the very problem-solving experience that would have helped the child develop. Knowing which response is appropriate is part of the expertise of early teaching. This is one reason repetition matters, but not merely because repetition helps children remember. Repetition creates opportunities for comparison between attempts. The first time a child cuts along a line, the scissors may wander. The next time, the child may hold the paper differently. Eventually, the child may notice that slowing down helps. A repeated song can become easier, but the deeper change may be that the child learns to anticipate what comes next. A familiar sequence gradually demands less conscious effort and leaves more attention available for other parts of the task. The source material notes that repeated experiences can turn unfamiliar actions into increasingly confident and independent ones. This matters for the developing brain because learning involves building increasingly efficient ways of dealing with information and action. A child does not begin nursery school with fully developed systems for sustained attention, working memory or self regulation. These capacities emerge over time and are shaped by experience. When children are repeatedly asked to remember instructions, wait, focus, adjust and try again, they are gaining practice with mental processes that will later support more complex academic and social demands. There is also a motivational dimension that is easy to miss. When a child discovers that they can move from I cant do this to I can do part of this, the experience can alter how they approach future challenges. The important psychological shift is not simply confidence. It is the emerging understanding that ability can be developed through effort, practice, feedback and support. In a nursery classroom, this may begin with something remarkably small: a child trying the scissors again after the first attempt went wrong. For adults, it can be tempting to celebrate only the final success. The child eventually makes the fold, finishes the picture or threads the bead, and everyone moves on. But from a developmental perspective, the more revealing moment may have happened slightly earlier, when the child was deciding whether to continue. Persistence is not just a personality trait that some children naturally possess and others do not. It is influenced by experience, by the level of challenge and by the ways adults respond when things become difficult. A child who repeatedly experiences adults solving every difficulty on their behalf may learn that challenges signal the arrival of an adult. A child who is regularly given encouragement, manageable support and another opportunity may begin to understand difficulty differently. The message becomes not You must do this alone, but You can work on this, and I will help when you need me. That distinction protects children from both dependence and unnecessary pressure. It also changes how teachers might think about progress. A childs development cannot always be measured by asking whether they can now do a task that they could not do last month. Sometimes the more interesting evidence is in how they approach the task. Do they begin without waiting for an adult? Do they remember what happened previously? Do they notice their own errors? Do they ask a more specific question when they need help? Do they remain engaged for slightly longer? Do they attempt a second strategy? The source material makes a similar point when it argues that the meaningful achievement may lie not in the finished product but in the change from one attempt to another. A child who once needed help with folding paper may later follow the first steps independently. A child who previously abandoned colouring may remain with the activity until completion. A child who once hesitated in group activities may begin participating more confidently. These developmental changes can be gradual and therefore easy for adults to overlook. This has consequences for assessment. If teachers record only whether an activity was completed, they may miss the developmental pathway that led to completion. Two children can produce identical work while having very different experiences. One may have understood the instructions immediately and completed the task independently. Another may have copied a peer or relied heavily on adult assistance. One may have experimented and corrected mistakes. Another may simply have reproduced the teachers example. The final product can look identical while the learning process has been very different. A richer view of assessment asks not only, What did the child make? but also, What did the child do when making it? Did the child plan? Did they remember? Did they persist? Did they adapt? Did they need less support than before? Did they notice a problem? Did they become more independent? These questions do not replace academic assessment. They make visible the developmental processes that underpin it. There is also a deeply human reason to protect these moments. Young children are learning what it means to encounter difficulty. They are beginning to form an understanding of themselves in relation to challenge. A classroom that treats every mistake as embarrassing can make children cautious about trying. A classroom that treats mistakes as information can create a very different emotional climate. This does not mean praising every error or pretending that all attempts are equally successful. It means helping children experience difficulty as something that can be examined rather than something that defines them. Long before children face examinations, complex projects or difficult decisions, they encounter the basic experience of not yet knowing how to do something. How adults respond to that experience can shape the childs developing relationship with challenge. The child who learns that difficulty is a signal to stop may approach future problems differently from the child who has repeatedly experienced difficulty followed by support, reflection and another attempt. This is why the most important learning in an early childhood classroom may sometimes be happening at the point where a child pauses, frowns, looks at what they have done and tries again. There is nothing spectacular about that moment. No impressive result is displayed. Yet the child may be practising attention, working memory, self regulation, cognitive flexibility, error monitoring and persistence, all within a task that an adult might barely notice. The broader lesson is not that children should be made to struggle more. It is that adults should become better at recognising what learning looks like while a child is struggling, trying, adjusting and gradually becoming more capable. Early education is not only about producing children who can complete tasks. It is also about helping children develop the mental habits that allow them to approach unfamiliar tasks in the first place. Perhaps the more revealing question in a nursery classroom is therefore not, Did the child finish? It is, What did the child learn about themselves while they were trying? A child who discovers that the first attempt can be changed has learned something about problem solving. A child who learns to pause and look again has learned something about attention. A child who asks for help and then continues independently has learned something about support. A child who makes a mistake, receives useful feedback and tries differently has learned that an error can contain information. And a child who once needed an adult to do something, but now looks at the problem and says, Let me try, may be showing one of the most important forms of early learning of all: not simply that they can do more, but that they are beginning to see themselves as someone capable of figuring things out. Vaishali Sharma has studied Education, History and Political Science at the University of Delhi and is based in New Delhi. Her interests include education, childhood, curriculum development, language, culture and social science.

Day 8: Protests continue across Kishtwar, Ramban against rape, death of 11-year-old girl

Protests and demonstrations continued for the eighth consecutive day across parts of Kishtwar and Ramban districts of the Chenab region on Friday, with people demanding justice for the minor girl from Chatroo whose death has triggered widespread public outrage. The sit-in protest at Chatroo continued on Friday, while peaceful demonstrations were held after Friday prayers at several places in Kishtwar district, including Kishtwar town, Chatroo, Marwah and adjoining areas. Protesters raised slogans seeking justice for the deceased girl and urged the authorities to ensure a fair, transparent and time-bound investigation. At Central Jamia Masjid Astangam, a peaceful protest was held after Friday prayers in solidarity with the bereaved family. Participants said that speaking out against injustice was a collective responsibility and appealed to the administration and investigating agencies to ensure that justice was delivered without delay. In Marwah, youth from Tiller village also expressed solidarity with the family. Participants called for an impartial investigation and stringent punishment for anyone found guilty in the case. Protests were also held in Banihal town of Ramban district, where demonstrators condemned the alleged involvement of a government school teacher and demanded his termination from service besides strict legal action against all those found involved. The emotional atmosphere was also witnessed at Chatroo, where a woman protester broke down in tears while appealing to the authorities to ensure justice for the minor and conduct a fair and impartial investigation. Protesters reiterated their demand for a speedy probe and exemplary punishment for those found guilty. Solidarity with the bereaved family has also been expressed outside the Chenab region. Earlier, a candlelight protest was organised at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where students, scholars and representatives of the JNUSU joined participants from Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. The protesters demanded a special Crime Branch investigation and a transparent probe into the circumstances surrounding the girls death. The death of the minor girl from Chatroo sparked public anger across the region. Police registered a case at Police Station Chatroo under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following allegations of sexual assault. A government school teacher and his brother were among the first persons arrested in connection with the case. Police subsequently arrested three more persons, taking the total number of arrests to five. According to police, provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were also incorporated into the case. The Education Department suspended the government teacher following his arrest. The developments have led to sustained protests across Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts, with political parties, social and religious organisations, students and civil society groups demanding a time-bound and impartial investigation, a fast-track trial and exemplary punishment for anyone found guilty. Authorities have maintained that the investigation is in progress and that further legal action will be taken on the basis of evidence. Protesters have meanwhile appealed to people to maintain peace and ensure that demonstrations remain peaceful while pressing the administration and investigating agencies to deliver justice to the deceased minor and her family.

Raksha Bandhan celebrated with cultural zeal in Rajouri, Poonch

The festival of Raksha Bandhan, symbolising the cherished bond of love and protection between brothers and sisters, was celebrated with traditional and cultural fervour across Rajouri and Poonch districts on Friday. On the occasion, sisters tied Rakhis on the wrists of their brothers and exchanged greetings, sweets and heartfelt wishes, reaffirming the bond of affection and mutual protection. A number of mass gatherings and community events were also organised at different locations, where sisters tied Rakhis to brothers as part of the celebrations. In a special gesture highlighting the bond between the armed forces and local communities, women and girls at several places also tied Rakhis on the wrists of Army personnel. The celebrations reflected the spirit of brotherhood, harmony and respect for the soldiers serving in the region. The festival witnessed enthusiastic participation from people across both districts, with homes, community spaces and public gatherings decorated to mark the auspicious occasion.

Ramban daughters celebrate festival with Army soldiers

The Indian Army organised Threads of Valour, a special Raksha Bandhan celebration at Maitra, bringing together nearly 300 daughters of Ramban with soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles in a heartfelt expression of trust and national unity. The gathering included students from various schools and colleges, Girls' Kabaddi Team, Girls' Boxing Team and NCC cadets of Government Degree College, Karol. Their participation added the values of physical confidence, teamwork, discipline and youth leadership to the occasion. The event was graced by MLA Ramban, Arjun Singh Raju, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mohd Alyas Khan, and Commanding Officer, Rashtriya Rifles, Nachlana. The celebration reflected the enduring relationship between the Indian Army and the people of Ramban. Daughters of Ramban tied Rakhis to soldiers, symbolising a bond founded on mutual respect, gratitude, trust and shared responsibility. The affectionate participation of the students and soldiers transformed the occasion into a memorable celebration of the Army-community relationship. The programme combined tradition with empowerment, awareness and aspiration. A self-defence demonstration introduced the students to the importance of confidence, alertness and personal safety. The participation of the girls' Kabaddi and Boxing teams further highlighted the growing presence of young women in sports and their commitment to physical fitness, resilience and excellence. A dedicated career-awareness session provided information on opportunities available to women in the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. The session encouraged the students to set ambitious goals and explore careers involving leadership and service to the nation. The presence of NCC cadets from GDC Karol reflected the role of NCC in developing discipline, character, confidence and a spirit of national service among young citizens. A weapons display familiarised the students with the professionalism, training, discipline and responsibility associated with military service. Cultural performances by the students showcased the talent, energy and rich cultural identity of Ramban. A specially created Messages to Soldiers Wall provided every participating girl an opportunity to write a personal message for the soldiers. Through words of affection, encouragement and gratitude, the students expressed their appreciation for the commitment and service of the Defence Forces. The wall emerged as a collective and lasting reflection of the emotional bond shared by the Daughters of Ramban and their soldiers.

Best of BS Opinion: Modinomics vs Manmohanomics is not a zero sum game

Today's opinions examine P Chidambaram's critique of the Modi government's economic record, the CJP's political dilemma, Imran Khan's global support and the changing advertising landscape

Zest with festivity marks Raksha Bandhan celebrations across Jammu

Raksha Bandhan the festival symbolising eternal bond between the brothers and sisters, was celebrated with usual fervour and festivity across Jammu division on Friday. Varied hues of celebrations marked the festivity that aptly reflected everywhere - the houses, markets, roof-tops, borders and the bright sky dotted by colourful kites. Spirits transcended age-groups and varied strata of society including the Home for Aged and Bal Ashram- as sisters tied beautiful, tastefully decorated Rakhis around the wrists of their brothers, the latter committed to their protection amid exchange of sweets and gifts. A gala ambience pervaded the markets, mainly the confectionery, gift shops and provision stores selling attractive Rakhis the sacred threat to be tied around the wrists. The shops trading in kites and kite threads too drew heavy crowds of youth, mainly youngsters. At the community level, the inmates of children homes, and the old age home also celebrated the festival with zeal. Security personnel deployed at far off places shared festivity with the civilians. Army, BSF, CRPF, Police personnel organised special events to align with the festive spirit. The celebrations actually began a day in advance as the girl students of Viraj Bal Bhawan School, Khanpur, Nagrota on Thursday visited Police Station Nagrota and celebrated Raksha Bandhan with the police personnel, symbolising the bond of trust, protection and mutual respect between the Police and the community. During the visit, the students were briefed about the working and functioning of the Police Station and taken on a guided tour of the premises, providing them an opportunity to understand the role and responsibilities of police personnel. The programme concluded with the distribution of goodies among the students as a token of affection and goodwill. Similarly, the girl students of Government Girls High School, Kana Chak, visited Police Station Kana Chak and celebrated Raksha Bandhan with police personnel. The programme was attended by SP Rural Jammu Ravinder Singh, SDPO Akhnoor and SHO Kana Chak along with other police officers, symbolising the bond of trust, protection and mutual respect between the Police and the community. During the programme, the girl students tied Rakhis to the police officers, expressing their affection and gratitude towards the police personnel for their commitment towards the safety and security of the community. On the occasion, school bags were also distributed among the students as a token of affection and goodwill.

A Commission thatcant Protect Children

In 2020, a citizen named Musab Omer approached the Jammu and Kashmir High Court with a simple complaint: the J&K Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JKSPCR), created by Parliament fifteen years earlier to protect the regions most vulnerable children, simply did not exist. Six years, one advertisement, 548 applications and several writ petitions later, it still does not exist in any meaningful legal sense, only a selection process legal experts call illegal from its first step, with results sitting undeclared, unlikely to survive scrutiny. This is the story of how, once compelled to act, the government constituted a child rights watchdog in a manner that violates the very statute creating it. How it all started ? Parliaments Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 required every State to set up a Commission to monitor child welfare and hold governments accountable. J&K did nothing for years, until Musab Omers PIL forced the issue; rules followed only in 2022, and nothing moved further until the High Court directed the government to act. On 15 June 2023, the Social Welfare Department advertised one Chairperson and six Member posts, listing the six qualifying disciplines exactly as prescribed in Section 17(2)(b) of the CPCR Act. On 30 May 2024, without explanation, the government withdrew this advertisement ab-initio, nullifying every application. Five months later, on 18 October 2024, a fresh advertisement appeared under the same file number, this time with a field nowhere found in Section 17(2)(b), and a changed scoring system favouring academics over interview performance and opening the door to Management graduates. Single word which broke the law Of the five disciplines listed in the new advertisement, four track the statute; the fifth, Management, appears nowhere in the Act. The Parliament listed six domains for a child rights body: education, child health and welfare, juvenile justice, elimination of child labour, child psychology or sociology, and laws relating to children. Management is not among them. When Parliament exhaustively lists the fields from which members of a statutory body may be drawn, no executive authority can expand that list by notification; doing so is ultra vires, void from the outset. The government has offered no explanation, leaving observers to ask whether Management was added to admit individuals lacking child-welfare expertise. A formula not used The advertisement prescribed a 100-mark merit formula, 60 for academics, 20 for experience, 20 for interview, capable of ranking all 548 applicants transparently before any interview. It was never applied. Instead, a Sub-Committee went straight to a shortlist: 21 names for Chairperson and 28 for Member on 25 October 2025, with no merit list, no marks disclosed, no criteria, and no reasons given for excluding candidates who should have topped the formula. If the merit formula was never going to be used, why advertise it? The likely explanation is that it lent the process an appearance of objectivity while selections were made on undisclosed grounds, precisely what the Supreme Courts 2025 Constitution Bench addressed in Tej Prakash Pathak, holding that an advertised formula binds the authority publishing it, and abandoning it midway violates Article 14. People left out ? Behind the legal abstraction are real exclusions. One candidate, a Srinagar lawyer and academic, holds a Ph.D. in Law on human rights, an LL.M. from a UK university, and nearly fifteen years of experience, including ongoing service on the Child Welfare Committee, Srinagar. Under the advertised formula he would nearly top the academic marks; instead, he was not shortlisted, given no explanation, and his representation ignored, one of several doctoral-qualified candidates passed over while management and administrative backgrounds advanced. Judicial intervention On 7 November 2025, candidate Shalini Sharma obtained a stay on finalization of results from the Jammu Bench, though interviews still proceeded that week and results were sealed and handed to the Court. On 20 November 2025, Dr. Shahid Ahmad Ronga v. Union of India was filed at the Srinagar Bench, challenging the process itself, the inclusion of Management, the missing merit list, and breach of Rule 4(3) of the JKCPCR Rules, 2022, which mandates fairness and transparency. On 1 July 2026, the Division Bench dismissed Ms. Sharmas petition as infructuous and vacated the stay, finding no bar to declaring results, though appointments would remain subject to Dr Rongas still-pending petition. Appointments made under a cloud of litigation, to a body meant to protect children, serve no one. Not the appointees. Not the Commission. And certainly not the children. Appointments could now be made while the legality of the process behind them remains sub judice, appointees serving knowing everything could be undone once the Court rules on Managements legality. The law is settled: natural justice requires reasons to be given for administrative decisions; publishing no merit list and ignoring representations satisfies neither that duty nor Rule 4(3)s promise of fairness. Executive action cannot travel beyond its parent statute, qualifications Parliament never prescribed cannot be added by advertisement. Amid the litigation, it is easy to lose sight of who this is for: J&Ks children, waiting since 2005 for an independent body to investigate violations of their rights. A Commission born of an illegal process will not serve them well, its authority perpetually contested, every order shadowed by its flawed origin. J&Ks children, unable to file petitions or appear before Division Benches, will bear that cost. What should be done ? When the High Court takes up WP(C) 2926/2025 on 29 August 2026, it faces a narrow question: does Section 17(2)(b) authorize Management as a qualifying discipline? If, as the statutes text suggests, the answer is no, the entire process and the shortlist built on it, collapses, and that list must never be published or acted upon in its current form. Only a fresh advertisement, an honestly applied merit formula, and a genuinely transparent shortlist can produce a lawfully constituted Commission. The more urgent question is whether the government will use the window opened by the 1 July 2026 order to declare results before the Court rules. Doing so would create a child rights body whose first act was to defy the statute that gave it life; not a child rights body, but a political exercise dressed in statutory clothing, born of an opaque process shaped by influences outside the law. J&Ks children deserve better. The rule of law demands it. The High Court, which set this process in motion, has both the authority and the responsibility to ensure its direction is honoured in substance, not merely in name. Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow. He is Founder & Chairman Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement

Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Tournament gets underway in Srinagar

The Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Tournament 2026 got underway at Polo Ground, Srinagar Friday with the quarterfinal stage producing closely contested matches and Khalsa Sports Club and KIC Baramulla advancing to the semifinals. KIC Baramulla, as per a statement, trailed 1-2 at half-time but fought back in the second half to seal a 3-2 win over KIC Tral, kicking off the knockout stage with a tightly contested match. Khalsa Sports Club made a strong start, going into the break with a 2-0 lead over KIC Kupwara. They kept up the pressure in the second half and finished the match 4-2, booking their place in the semifinals.

J&K Sports Council marks National Sports Day celebration with multi-sport events

The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council Friday organised a series of sporting activities across the Union Territory to mark National Sports Day, with young athletes participating in kabaddi, hockey, football, cycling, Wushu, volleyball, kho-kho and athletics under the theme, Khelega Bharat, Jeetega Bharat. As per a statement, a series of sporting activities were held across Budgam, Kishtwar and Ramban as part of Sports Week celebrations under the My Youth, My Pride initiative ahead of National Sports Day, with young athletes taking part in Wushu, football, volleyball, kho-kho and athletics events. A special Wushu activity was held at the Indoor Sports Hall, Budgam, drawing over 90 young athletes across age categories and genders. Conducted under the supervision of the Indoor Sports Hall's In-Charge Manager in collaboration with Khelo India Wushu Mentor Maqsood Ahmad Rather, the event gave grassroots athletes a platform to showcase their skills and discipline. Medals and certificates were distributed to winners and participants at the close of the event. Ahead of National Sports Day, Khelo India Mentors Sandeep Singh, Rohit Chohan, Rajesh Kumar, Mohd Aris Khan, and Aman Verma, along with Groundman Bitto Ram, organised Volleyball, Kho-Kho, and athletics competitions at the Indoor Sports Hall, Kishtwar. The event, held under the leadership of J&K Sports Council Secretary Nuzhat Gull and District Sports Officer Bashir Ahmad, drew around 100 players, 6 officials. Tehsildar Kishtwar Suman Sharma attended as Guest of Honour, commending the initiative and urging youth to take up sports for fitness and character-building. At Govt. Model Hr. Sec. School, Banihal, Khelo India Centre Mentors organised a football activity as part of the Khelo India Jeetega India campaign. The event saw participation from 40 players and officials. Together, these activities reflect the J&K Sports Council's continued push to expand grassroots sporting opportunities across the Union Territory, identify emerging talent, and build a culture of fitness and discipline among the region's youth ahead of National Sports Day. At Indoor Sports Complex, Doda, a Kabaddi competition was organised. Around 40 participants took part in the competition. The participants displayed great enthusiasm, discipline and sportsmanship throughout the event. The Programme was organized by the Incharge, Sports Stadium Doda, with the support of the concerned officials. In a separate event, National Sports Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm under the banner of the J&K Sports Council at K K Hakku Stadium, with the aim of promoting sports, fitness, discipline and a healthy lifestyle among the youth. The occasion was graced by Ramesh Sharma, IAS, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, as the Chief Guest. Various sports activities were organised to mark National Sports Day, witnessing enthusiastic participation from athletes, coaches, officials and sports enthusiasts. The Chief Guest interacted with the players and encouraged them to participate actively in sports and make physical fitness an integral part of their lives. He highlighted the important role of sports in developing discipline, confidence, teamwork and sportsmanship among the younger generation. The dignitaries appreciated the efforts of the J&K Sports Council in promoting sports culture and providing opportunities and platforms to budding sportspersons. As part of the celebrations of National Sports Day 2026, the Khelo India cyclists of Budgam participated in a special cycling activity aimed at promoting fitness, endurance, discipline and the sporting spirit among young athletes.

BCCI trying to arrange county games for Auqib Nabi

Keeping an eye on India's next Test tour of New Zealand, the BCCI is in talks with a few English counties to get a short-term contract for talented pacer Auqib Nabi during the final few rounds of the Championship. Nabi, last Ranji season's highest wicket-taker with 60 scalps, and Gurnoor Brar didn't get a look-in in the playing XI for the two Tests against Sri Lanka recently. While Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna have earned much-needed workload related breaks, Gurnoor Brar will be linking up with the North Zone side for the semi-final against South Zone starting November 30 at the Centre of Excellence. It was a decision taken by the Indian team think-tank (team management and selection committee) that Gurnoor will be playing the Duleep Trophy. Already Arshdeep (Singh) and Anshul (Kamboj) are in playing eleven and Gurnoor will replace Sunil Kumar. So, BCCI is looking for at least two to three red-ball games for Auqib in England, which will be handy, a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

The warning Kishtwar already documents

Sometime on a Wednesday morning this month, a wall of water came down the Bhotekoshi on the Nepal-China border. It began with a magnitude 4.4 tremor about a hundred kilometres north of Kathmandu. Minutes later, researchers believe, an ice avalanche broke loose in the Lhende Khola and pushed a surge into Rasuwa and Nuwakot. By the time the water reached the plains it had taken out hydropower stations and buried villages, and a mudslide in Gyirong county on the Tibetan side added to the count. Officials in both countries have confirmed at least 98 dead ( at the time of writing this column), with hundreds missing. Early Indian reports suggested more than a hundred Indian nationals were on the Kailash pilgrim route that runs through the same valley. The detail that should trouble Indian planners is not the death toll. It is that the same stretch of river did this in July 2025, when a supraglacial lake drained upstream in Tibet and killed nine people. Fourteen months, twice. The mountain gave the same warning on two occasions, and on both it was filed as an isolated tragedy rather than read as a pattern. I have been thinking about that pattern because of a document produced by the District Disaster Management Authority in Kishtwar: its Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Management Plan for 2024-25. It is a serious piece of work by the districts own officials, and it is unusually candid. It is also, read closely, an inventory of everything that has not yet been built. Kishtwar is known to most Indians for its mountain scenery and, increasingly, for its dams. Very few know that it holds the largest concentration of glacial lakes anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir. By the DDMAs own assessment, the district contains 197 glacial lakes, 36.08 per cent of every glacial lake in the Union Territory, spread over roughly 392 hectares in the upper Chenab basin. Most are small. About 91 per cent are under five hectares. The risk sits with the exceptions, the ones still growing as the glaciers behind them retreat. The plan singles out four. Mundiksar and Hangu are classified High Risk. An unnamed lake near 33.94N, 76.02E, and Patla Pani are classified Moderate Risk. These are not activist estimates. They were compiled by the district administration with the UTs disaster management department and cross-checked against the seventeen-parameter scoring framework the Central Water Commission finalised in October 2024, which weighs lake size, dam type, seismic exposure, freeboard and distance to habitation. Mundiksar is the one worth sitting with. At about 4,071 metres and 39.44 hectares, it has expanded visibly over four decades as its parent glacier has pulled back, a change the plans own satellite comparisons from 1980 to 2020 document in detail. It is on the National Disaster Management Authoritys lake registry. And yet, by the plans own expedition record, current as of November 2024, no field survey report had been received for any of Kishtwars three most concerning lakes. Mundiksar, Hangu and the unnamed lake were all assigned to the Central University of Jammu for physical assessment. All three appear in the districts own table as Not Received. Two lakes elsewhere in the valley, Sheshnag and Sona Sar, had their reports filed on schedule. Kishtwars had not. This is not a failure of scientists. It is a resourcing gap, and the plan says so plainly: the district lacks access to advanced technology and equipment and depends on national institutions for timely data. The scale of that gap is easy to state. Across all Himalayan river basins in India, the CWCs satellite programme actively tracks 902 glacial lakes and water bodies. Of those, 15 glacial lakes and 16 water bodies fall within the whole of Jammu and Kashmir. One district holds 197. On the UTs own 24-lake priority watchlist, Kishtwar contributes three, against nine for Ganderbal and eight for Anantnag. Its share of formal study attention has not caught up with its share of the hazard. What makes this a national question rather than a district one is what sits downstream. Kishtwar is becoming one of Indias most important hydropower corridors, home to the Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar and Dangduru projects under Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited. The DDMAs plan states directly that these face real exposure to GLOF-driven surges, sediment loads and structural damage. India has committed enormous public capital to harnessing the Chenab. The same report that documents the risk to that investment is the one whose surveys on the critical lakes remain incomplete. Add one more fact and the calculus changes again. Kishtwar sits in Seismic Zone IV. A flood here would not require an unusual monsoon. A moderate earthquake could destabilise an already weakened moraine dam on its own, which is precisely the sequence that played out in Nepal this month. Two independent hazards capable of triggering each other are harder to predict and far more expensive to manage than either alone. The plan does not stop at description, to its credit. It calls for automated real-time sensors on high-risk lakes, an early warning system built with the India Meteorological Department, controlled drainage and reinforcement of unstable moraine dams, and evacuation mapping done before rather than after an event. It points to Section 10.3.6 of the NDMAs 2020 GLOF guidelines, which allows District Planning and Development Council funds to be earmarked for exactly this work. Every one of these is sound. Not one is self-executing. A plan that recommends a drainage tunnel is not a drainage tunnel, and a committee that meets twice a year is not a sensor transmitting live data from 4,000 metres. The plan names five tehsils as most exposed: Padder, Machail, Dachhan, Marwah and Warwan. Marwah and Warwan it calls Shadow Areas, the districts own term for places so remote that emergency response is stretched thin in ordinary times, let alone during a flood that arrives with minutes of notice. I did not expect to find my own familys valley on that list. Dachhan is on it, in the districts own words, and I cannot write around that. It is also the reason I think the rest of the country should read this document rather than wait for it to be quoted in a post-disaster inquiry. Kishtwar has what Rasuwa did not: a report that already names the lakes, the villages and the projects at risk. Disasters are rarely sudden. They begin years earlier, in surveys marked Not Received, while the lakes keep expanding on a schedule of their own. Lokesh Dhar is a public policy researcher and consultant.

Nepal GLOF tragedy puts spotlight on Kashmirs lagging preparedness

Srinagar, Aug 28:The recent glacial lake outburst flood in Nepal has sharpened focus on vulnerabilities at home. There is a chasm in J&K, between the on-ground preparedness here, compared with other Himalayan states. Five glacial lakes in the Kashmir Himalayas, the Bramsar, Chirsar, Nundkol, Gangabal and Bhagsar, have been classified as having very high susceptibility to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). This was revealed by a study by Department of Geoinformatics, University of Kashmir, published in the Journal of Glaciology. The lakes, as per the study, threaten roughly 2704 buildings, about 15 major bridges, stretches of road and one hydropower plant in Ganderbal, Shopian, and Kulgam districts. Associate Professor at Department of Geoinfomatics, University of Kashmir, Irfan Rashid, said the lakes are not unstable at present, but nevertheless isky. In a few years, the lakes like Gangabal may be a risk. Gangabal has Harmukh glacier upstream, and it is on a steep slope. In view of disaster like that of Nepal, we must take into account such factors as well, he said. In addition, Rashid said, glacial-lake volume assessment could help in improving data that Government must take into consideration. Our urban planning and disaster mitigation policies need to take into account the environment and geological research carried out by academia here, he said. Rashid said that Chirsar and Bramsar, two glacial lakes in Kulgam district have an ice-contacts - lakes have formed at the terminal point of the glacier. Among lakes in Kashmir, these have the highest susceptibility to GLOF, he said. Earlier this year, a reply to a starred question in the Legislative Assembly had the government acknowledging the findings. The government outlined a roadmap that included continuous remote-sensing and field monitoring, installation of early-warning systems, bathymetric surveys planned for 2026, development of ecozonation plans, and integration of GLOF scenarios into district disaster plans. The work on mountain-specific early-warning prototypes that combine satellite data, field observations and real-time sensors is already underway at University of Kashmir. However, these measures have largely remained on paper only. Many Himalyan states have made progress. Sikkim now has operational water-level sensors, automatic weather stations and Indias first dedicated GLOF early-warning system. This followed the 2023 South Lhonak disaster. Himachal Pradesh has a C-DAC prototype which has been tested at Sissu and is being scaled up. J&K has no real-time monitoring hardware or functional early-warning network. Bathymetric surveys needed for accurate flood modelling are a far call. Dr Rashid said risk mitigation in Himalayas will require study of thousands of lakes. This, he said, is a serious and long-term exercise. The national GLOF Risk Mitigation Programme has initially prioritised Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. Kashmir and Ladakh were added later. While the scientific baseline in Kashmir has a solid scientific strength, the absence of installed sensors, operational alerts and completed field assessments leaves it lagging. This is crucial as climate-driven glacial risks are rising across the Himalayan range.

MHA panel flags rise in secondary school dropout rate to 12.6% in J&K

Srinagar, Aug 28:A Parliamentary panel examining the functioning of Jammu and Kashmir has expressed concern over a rise in the dropout rate at the secondary level, which reached 12.60 percent in 2024-25, and called for a focused retention programme to prevent students from leaving education after the elementary stage. The observation was made in the 260th Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on the Review of Administrative Governance, Socio-Economic Development and Internal Security in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir; and Border Security Management and Preparedness in the UT of Ladakh. The report was presented in Parliament on August 7, 2026. The committee noted that dropout rates had improved at the primary and upper-primary levels. It said the primary-level dropout rate declined from 8.97 percent in 2023-24 to 1.50 percent in 2024-25, while the upper-primary rate fell from 4.30 percent to 3.20 percent. However, it flagged the reversal at the secondary stage. The committee, however, expresses concern that the dropout rate at the secondary level increased to 12.60 percent in 2024-25, the report said. It also pointed to a steep decline in the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) as students move through successive stages of education. It further notes that the Gross Enrolment Ratio declines sharply from 114.2 at the primary level to 77.0 at the upper-primary level, 65.4 at the secondary level and 53.7 at the higher-secondary level, the committee said. These figures indicate continuing weaknesses in student retention and transition, particularly after the elementary stage, it observed. The panel recommended that the roadmap for achieving universal enrolment be implemented in mission mode, with clearly defined annual, district-wise and stage-wise targets. It further recommended that progress be reviewed at least twice a year at the level of the Chief Secretary and that corrective action be taken in districts and educational zones that fail to meet prescribed targets. The committee has also proposed a dedicated intervention to address secondary-level dropout. The committee further recommends the formulation of a focused Secondary School Retention Programme to address the sharp rise in dropout at the secondary stage, the report said. It recommended that the programme provide targeted scholarships, free or subsidised transportation, hostel and residential facilities, digital devices, remedial and bridge courses, career counselling and vocational exposure. The panel called for special attention to girls, children from economically weaker families, tribal and migratory communities, children with disabilities and students living in border, mountainous and snow-bound areas. It also recommended that every school identify students at risk of dropping out based on prolonged absence, poor academic performance, financial distress or other vulnerabilities, followed by timely counselling and household-level follow-up. The committee also raised concerns related to teacher availability in difficult areas and recommended a transparent, data-driven and subject-wise assessment of enrolment, vacancies and geographical requirements. Schools in rural, border and difficult areas should not be left without teachers in core subjects, it said, while recommending appropriate incentives, accommodation and minimum-tenure provisions to attract and retain qualified teachers in such areas. The panel further recommended that the proposed interventions in higher education be converted into a time-bound implementation plan, with priority given to districts with low higher-secondary and higher-education participation. It also observed that any proposed Digital University should comply with regulatory and quality-assurance requirements, have reliable digital connectivity and should supplement, rather than substitute, physical institutions. On vocational education, the committee recommended aligning skill-based programmes with Jammu and Kashmirs economic and employment potential, including tourism, hospitality, horticulture, agriculture, handicrafts, healthcare, information technology and renewable energy. Structured partnerships with industry and local enterprises should provide students with apprenticeships, internships, entrepreneurship support and Earn While Learn opportunities, it said. The committee also recommended that the Administration maintain programme-wise data on enrolment, completion, apprenticeships, placements and average earnings to assess the actual employment outcomes of such programmes.

J&K sets target of 11,000 MW hydropower capacity by 2035

Srinagar, Aug 28:Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness a major transformation in its power landscape, with the government charting a comprehensive, time-bound roadmap to raise its operational hydropower generation capacity to 10,969.65 MW by December 2035, more than three times the present installed capacity of 3540.15 MW. The ambitious roadmap, aimed at strengthening energy security, reducing dependence on external power and creating the foundation for long-term economic growth, was reviewed in detail during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo on Friday. The meeting besides ACS Power was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Law; Secretary, Revenue; MD, JKPCL; concerned Deputy Commissioners; Heads of Power Projects and Representatives from NHPC along with senior officers from the Power Development Department. The meeting focused on the physical and financial progress of major hydropower projects under execution, their construction and commissioning schedules, as well as the milestones required to ensure timely addition of generation capacity over the coming decade. The Chief Secretary stressed the need for sustained inter-departmental coordination, rigorous project monitoring and timely resolution of bottlenecks to maintain the pace of execution and unlock J&Ks considerable hydropower potential. The ACS, PDD, Ashwani Kumar took this occasion to remark that Jammu and Kashmir has an identified hydropower potential of 14,635 MW, of which around 24.21 percent has so far been harnessed across the UT, Central Sector and Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects. He said that Chenab Basin constitutes the largest share of the identified potential with 11,283 MW (77.1 percent), followed by the Jhelum Basin with 3084 MW (21.1 percent) and the Ravi Basin with 500 MW (3.4 percent). Emphasising that the departments now put in place a phased capacity-addition strategy to systematically tap this vast potential and move J&K towards a position of greater energy self-reliance and eventual power surplus. Giving out the details the Managing Director (MD), Jammu & Kashmir Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL), Rahul Yadav revealed that under the roadmap, the first major capacity additions are targeted by the end of 2026, when 1636 MW is slated to be added through the commissioning of 1000 MW PakalDul HEP, 624 MW Kiru HEP, and 12 MW Karnah HEP, taking the cumulative installed capacity to 5176.15 MW by December 2027, commissioning of the 37.5 MW Parnai HEP is scheduled to take the cumulative capacity to 5213.65 MW, he said. The MD further elucidated that the year 2028 will mark another significant jump, with 1390 MW targeted through the 540 MW Kwar HEP and 850 MW Ratle HEP, raising the cumulative capacity to 6630.65 MW. By December 2029, a further 500 MW is expected from Central Sector projects, including 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II and 240 MW Uri-I Stage-II, taking the total generation capacity to 7103.65 MW, Rahul said. Moreover it was highlighted that the subsequent phase, covering 2031-2035, will see progressive commissioning of major projects in the pipeline, including 820 MW Kirthai-II, 390 MW Kirthai-I, and the 1856 MW Sawalkote HEP. With these additions, J&K is envisaged to reach an installed hydropower capacity of 10,969.65 MW by December 2035. Reviewing the progress of projects presently under construction, the Chief Secretary called for close monitoring of construction milestones and coordinated resolution of issues affecting project execution so that the targeted commissioning schedules are adhered to. He took detailed stock of each undergoing HEP from its Project Head. It was divulged that the 1000 MW PakalDul HEP has achieved 85 percent physical progress and 77.54 percent financial progress. Filling of the Concrete Face Rock-Fill Dam (CFRD) has reached 89 percent, while testing and commissioning of units 3 and 4 is scheduled for March 2027, followed by units 1 and 2 in May and June 2027. The 624 MW Kiru HEP has recorded 88.75 percent physical progress and 73.21 percent financial expenditure. Dam concreting up to the deck slab has reached 98.99 percent, with final testing and commissioning targeted for March 2027. The 540 MW Kwar HEP has achieved 37.82 percent physical and 42.11 percent financial progress. Excavation of the power house cavern is 99.6 percent complete, placing the project on course for commissioning by March 2028. The 850 MW Ratle HEP, meanwhile, has registered 31.53 percent physical progress, with excavation of its underground power house cavern completed. The revised contractual milestones envisage full commissioning of the project by November 2028. Among UT-sector projects, the 12 MW Karnah HEP has reached 93 percent completion and is on track for wet commissioning, while the 37.5 MW Parnai HEP has achieved 72.5 percent physical progress, with 98 percent excavation of its Head Race Tunnel (HRT) completed. The planned expansion is expected to have far-reaching implications for Jammu and Kashmirs development trajectory, providing a stronger and more reliable energy base for industry, infrastructure, tourism, services and emerging economic activities. The decade-long roadmap thus represents a significant step towards transforming Jammu and Kashmir from a power-constrained economy into a more energy-secure and self-reliant region, with hydropower emerging as a key driver of its future economic growth.

Industry seeks reconsideration of 10% electricity hike

Srinagar, Aug 28:The industrial sector has challenged the Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Regulatory Commissions revised power tariff, questioning how an increase of nearly 10 percent was imposed on industrial consumers when the tariff proposal placed before stakeholders had envisaged a 5 percent across-the-board hike. The challenge has been made through a 17-page review petition filed before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) against Order No 06 of 2026 dated August 20, which revises the tariff applicable to industrial consumers from September 1, 2026. The petition seeks a limited review of the industrial tariff rather than reopening the entire tariff determination. At the heart of the FCIK's petition is what the industry describes as a striking departure between the proposal subjected to stakeholder consultation and the tariff ultimately imposed. The tariff proposal contemplated a 5 percent increase across the board. However, the final order raises the LT Industrial Supply energy charge from Rs 4.20/kVAh to Rs 4.60/kVAh, an increase of 9.52 percent, while the HT industrial tariff at 11 kV rises from Rs 4.10/kVAh to Rs 4.50/kVAh, or 9.76 percent. Fixed and demand charges have also been enhanced. The petition argues that the widely reported overall increase of 6.83 percent does not reflect the actual burden on individual categories. The 6.83 percent figure represents the aggregate increase in tariff revenue, from Rs 7352.87 crore under the existing tariff to Rs 7854.94 crore under the revised tariff. For industry, however, the increase in the principal energy charge is approaching 10 percent - almost twice the 5 percent proposal placed before stakeholders. FCIK has not disputed JERCs statutory authority to depart from the tariff proposed by the distribution companies. Instead, the petition questions the absence of a clear category-specific justification for imposing a substantially higher increase on industrial consumers. It argues that where the final tariff imposes upon a particular category a burden approaching twice that contained in the proposal subjected to consultation, there should be a clear and specific justification, particularly in the interests of transparency and effective stakeholder participation. One of the strongest arguments raised in the petition relates to the absence of category-wise and voltage-wise Cost of Supply data. The petition points out that JERC itself recorded that the required data was not available with the distribution licensees and that the necessary information had not been submitted despite earlier directions. The commission consequently reiterated its direction for the data. The industry has questioned how a near-10 percent increase in industrial energy charges can be justified when the data required to establish the actual cost of supplying industry at different voltage levels is admittedly unavailable. The petition further argues that the combined Average Cost of Supply of Rs 6.88/kWh determined by JERC is a system-wide average and cannot establish the actual cost of serving LT industrial consumers, 11-kV HT consumers or consumers connected at higher voltages. Nor, it says, does the average establish the technical or commercial losses specifically attributable to industrial consumption. The petition therefore questions the basis for imposing a disproportionately higher increase on industry using a system-wide methodology. Another major argument concerns distribution losses. Industrial consumption in the organised sector is substantially or essentially metered, while HT industrial consumers are subject to precise energy and demand metering. Yet the tariff order proceeds on distribution-loss assumptions of approximately 19 percent for KPDCL and 15 percent for JPDCL, while also recording that actual losses remain above approved targets. The petition says the order does not establish, category-wise and voltage-wise, how much of these losses arise from technical losses, theft or pilferage, unmetered consumption, defective billing, collection failures or other commercial inefficiencies. The industry has accordingly argued that efficiently metered consumers should not be made to bear costs generated elsewhere in the distribution system. The petition invokes JERCs own stated principle that inefficiencies cannot be passed on to the consumers, arguing that this principle must have practical consequences rather than remain merely an observation in the tariff order. The treatment of collection efficiency has also been questioned. The DISCOMs have projected revenues at 93 percent collection efficiency, effectively recognising a 7 percent non-collection component. The petition argues that once electricity has been supplied, metered and billed, failure to recover dues from one consumer should not result in an additional burden on another consumer who regularly pays electricity bills. It has consequently asked JERC to reconsider whether the 93 percent collection-efficiency assumption is consistent with the principle that collection efficiency is a controllable parameter. The petition also places more than Rs 102 crore in bad-debt provisions under scrutiny - Rs 51.80 crore for KPDCL and Rs 50.96 crore for JPDCL. It argues that there is no demonstrated basis for assuming that these bad debts arise proportionately from industrial consumers and has sought category-wise disclosure of arrears, including government, domestic, commercial and industrial arrears, amounts written off, recovery proceedings and the ageing of outstanding dues. Power purchase expenditure has also been cited, though the industry has clarified that it is not seeking denial of legitimate power-purchase or establishment costs. The approved combined net ARR stands at Rs 10,275.72 crore, while power-purchase expenses including transmission charges account for approximately Rs 4343.11 crore for KPDCL and Rs 4342.35 crore for JPDCL. The issue raised is how the overall ARR is allocated among consumer categories when category-wise and voltage-wise cost of supply data is unavailable. The review petition further challenges the impact of the tariff on an industrial sector already operating under difficult conditions. It points to geographical remoteness from major markets and raw-material sources, high freight costs, difficult topography, climatic constraints and, in Kashmir, a limited effective working season. It says a significant number of industrial units are operating at low capacity utilisation and struggling for viability. Against this backdrop, the petition argues that a near-10 percent increase in a fundamental manufacturing input would increase production costs, depress capacity utilisation and reduce the competitiveness of locally manufactured goods. The industry has also drawn attention to the DISCOMs own projections, which indicate limited industrial expansion over the next three years. KPDCL projects LT industrial connected load to increase from 184.94 MW in 2026-27 to only 190.53 MW in 2028-29, while HT industrial load is projected to rise from 160.16 MW to 168.84 MW. HT-PIU connected load remains stagnant at 4.57 MW. JPDCL, meanwhile, projects LT industrial connected load at 114.011 MW throughout the three-year period, with HT Industrial Supply and HT-PIU remaining at 565.681 MW. Its industrial consumer numbers are also projected to remain virtually unchanged. The petition contrasts this weak industrial outlook with the much stronger growth projected in other categories. KPDCLs domestic consumers, for instance, are projected to rise from about 13.07 lakh to 17.03 lakh during the same period, while industrial consumer growth remains negligible. The industry argues that the tariff order therefore creates a paradox: it projects little industrial growth while simultaneously making electricity, a fundamental industrial input, substantially more expensive. The review petition has also questioned the effectiveness of stakeholder consultation. It states that the industry did not receive effective prior intimation that would have enabled it to obtain and study the tariff petitions, consult constituent industrial associations and prepare informed written objections. At the Srinagar hearing, only three persons attended. The petition says the industrial representative was contacted by a JERC official only after the hearing had commenced, leaving no adequate time to study the petition or consult members. More importantly, the petition argues that no stakeholder had an opportunity to specifically object to the eventual near-10 percent industrial increase because the proposal subjected to consultation was for a 5 percent increase. It maintains that even a stakeholder who had fully studied the tariff petitions could not have made an informed objection to the specific regulatory basis for raising the LT industrial tariff by 9.52 percent and the HT 11-kV tariff by 9.76 percent. The petition also asks JERC to consider the cumulative effect of the revised base tariff, fixed and demand charges and the time-of-day tariff. While ToD is not made a principal ground of challenge, the industry points out that multi-shift and continuous-process industries have limited flexibility to shift consumption to lower-cost periods. The petition describes its case as a cumulative one, bringing together the difference between the 5 percent proposal and the 9.52-9.76 percent industrial increase, absence of cost of supply data, continuing distribution losses, 93 percent collection efficiency, more than Rs 100 crore in bad debts, and the difficult financial condition of existing industry. Among the principal reliefs sought is a stay on the enhanced industrial tariff pending disposal of the review petition, with existing LT and HT industrial consumers to continue being billed at the pre-August 20 tariff, subject to adjustment after the final determination. The petition has also sought reconsideration of the LT energy charge of Rs 4.60/kVAh and HT 11-kV energy charge of Rs 4.50/kVAh. Alternatively, it has asked that any industrial tariff revision be restricted to not more than the 5 percent increase contained in the proposal, subject to stakeholder consultation, pending reliable category-wise and voltage-wise Cost of Supply data. It has further asked JERC to direct KPDCL and JPDCL to furnish category-wise and voltage-wise cost of supply, technical losses, commercial losses and theft, collection efficiency, arrears and bad debts, network costs and the calculations used to justify the differential increase in industrial energy charges. The petition concludes by stressing that industry is not seeking exemption from paying the legitimate cost of electricity it consumes. Its objection, it says, is to being made to bear costs arising from losses, non-collection or other inefficiencies without evidence establishing that such costs are attributable to industrial consumers. The central question posed before the regulator is: When the utilities sought 5 percent, what category-specific cost or efficiency finding justified imposing nearly 10 percent upon industry - particularly when the data required to establish the actual cost of serving industry is admittedly unavailable?

57-day Amarnath Yatra concludes with Raksha Bandhan Puja

Srinagar, Aug 28: The 57-day annual Amarnath Yatra 2026 concluded Friday with the traditional Samapan Puja at the Amarnath Cave shrine, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of lord Shiva, reached the 3880-metre-high shrine for the traditional Pujan and Darshan. It was installed inside the cave amid prayers and Vedic chanting. Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the holy mace, led the rituals. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha performed the Samapan Puja and formally marked the conclusion of the annual yatra. The rituals are rooted in the traditional belief that lord Shiva narrated the tale of immortality to Goddess Parvati at the Amarnath cave shrine. LG Sinha thanked the security forces, locals, Shri AmarnathJi Shrine Board officials, and volunteers for ensuring the smooth and peaceful conduct of the pilgrimage. More than 4.80 lakh yatris undertook the yatra since it began July 3, using the traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The yatra was suspended August 9 on both routes due to adverse weather and damage to the yatra tracks. The yatra concluded peacefully amid extensive security arrangements along the routes. According to Shri AmarnathJi Shrine Board (SASB) - helicopter services remained suspended throughout the yatra. After the rituals, Chhari Mubarak will return to Panchtarni and proceed through Sheshnag and Chandanwari before reaching Pahalgam on August 29. The annual yatra will formally conclude August 30 with prayers followed by the traditional Visarjan ceremony in the Lidder River.

Anti-terror operations remain priority: IGP Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 28:Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, Sujit Kumar on Friday said that anti-terror operations remain the first priority of J&K Police, even as he used his first ground visit after taking charge to review inter-agency coordination and seek public cooperation during large Friday congregations at Hazratbal. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his assessment in Srinagar, including at Hazratbal, Sujit Kumar said the operational focus had not shifted with the change of command. Our operations were the first priority in the past, and they remain the first priority today as well, he said when asked about the recent intensification of counter-insurgency action across the Valley. In the last few days, multiple operations have been conducted in Kashmir, and significant recoveries have been made. The statement comes against a backdrop of successive joint actions by J&K Police, the Army and CAPFs in Shopian, Pulwama, Sopore and Kulgam, in which hybrid terrorists and overground workers were arrested and arms, grenades, ammunition, an IED and incriminating material recovered. The 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer assumed charge on Thursday evening after being shifted from IGP Security, J&K. He succeeds V K Birdi, who has proceeded on central deputation. Within hours of taking over, Sujit Kumar was on the ground on Friday - the day following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) - to inspect arrangements where large gatherings were expected for weekly prayers. I joined you yesterday, and today we are here - first, to assess the coordination of our police team and other agencies, and similarly, we are checking the coordination in other parts of Srinagar where there are bigger congregations, he said. DGP NalinPrabhat had already directed foolproof cover at major religious sites, particularly DargahHazratbal, ahead of Milad and the Friday that followed. IGP s visit was aimed at testing that grid in real time: Police-Army-CAPF synergy, movement management and response readiness around high-footfall locations. Extending greetings on the occasion, the IGP appealed for public support even while acknowledging the inconvenience of security deployments. Many people are offering prayers today, so we seek your cooperation. We understand movement is difficult for the public. I congratulate everyone and want to assure the people that the Zonal Police is always there for you, he said. The message of uninterrupted operations and visible presence among worshippers - set the tone of the new tenure. Sujit Kumar has earlier served as DIG Central Kashmir and DIG CID, and has experience of counter-insurgency, hybrid-terror networks and law-and-order management in the Valley.

M K Sinha takes over as CID chief, reviews J&K intelligence setup

Srinagar, Aug 28:Senior IPS officer M K Sinha on Friday took charge as the new Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Jammu and Kashmir, succeeding Nitish Kumar, who has been transferred and posted as ADG Armed Police J&K. Soon after assuming charge, Sinha held a meeting with senior officers of CID headquarters and reviewed the overall functioning of the department, including its intelligence-related responsibilities. He was briefed on the functioning of various wings and ongoing work, officials said. Sinha, a 1996-batch IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre, was serving as ADG Headquarters at Police Headquarters, J&K, before his latest posting. He had held the ADG Headquarters assignment since May 2021 and was also given additional charge of the Security Service Group (SSG) J&K in June 2023. His appointment as ADG CID comes as part of a major reshuffle of the J&K Police administration ordered by the Home Department on August 27, involving 14 senior IPS and JK Police Service officers. The reshuffle also saw Nitish Kumar, a 1999-batch IPS officer, moved from ADG CID and Director, State Investigation Agency (SIA), to ADG Armed Police J&K. Sinha brings with him extensive experience in policing, intelligence, investigation and administration. During his career in Jammu and Kashmir, he has served in several important field and headquarters assignments. Among his earlier postings were SDPO Samba, SSP Border Jammu, officiating SSP Jammu, SSP Rajouri, SSP Vigilance Jammu, SSP Kathua and AIG Telecom and Information at Police Headquarters. He subsequently served as DIG Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range and DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range. He served as IGP Jammu Zone from December 2018 before moving on to other senior assignments. Prior to his promotion to the ADG rank, he served as IGP Crime, J&K. Sinha also has significant experience on central deputation. He served in the Cabinet Secretariat. The J&K government had sought his repatriation in late 2018, following which he returned to J&K and was appointed IGP Jammu Zone. Sinha is also a National Defence College course graduate and was awarded the gold medal for the best thesis, reflecting his experience in strategic and security-related matters. He was empanelled in 2024 for ADG-level posts at the Centre. As ADG CID, Sinha will oversee one of the key components of the J&K Police security architecture, with the department playing an important role in intelligence gathering, analysis and coordination with other security and law-enforcement agencies. The CID also works closely with various agencies on matters concerning internal security, counter-terrorism investigations and the assessment of emerging security threats.

Srinagar sizzles at 33.5C

Srinagar, Aug 28:Jammu and Kashmir remained hot and humid Friday, with Srinagar recording 33.5 degrees Celsius, its highest temperature in August 2026 so far. The brief heat spell is expected to peak Saturday, with temperatures likely to rise slightly before easing from August 31, the Meteorological Centre said. Srinagar's maximum temperature rose from 32.9 degrees Celsius Thursday to 33.5 degrees Celsius Friday. Kupwara also recorded 33.5 degrees Celsius, up from 33.3 degrees Celsius. Qazigund recorded 32.6 degrees Celsius, Kokernag 31 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 27.3 degrees Celsius and Gulmarg 23.8 degrees Celsius. In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded 34.6 degrees Celsius, Katra 32.5 degrees Celsius, Banihal 30.4 degrees Celsius, Bhaderwah 30.6 degrees Celsius, and Batote 28.1 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures in Kashmir also remained generally high and above normal, while those in the Jammu region mainly stayed close to normal. The weather office forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers at scattered to many places on August 31. Brief spells of intense rain may occur during the early morning and afternoon. Hot and humid conditions are likely to continue into the first week of September, even as temperatures gradually decline. Isolated rain or thundershowers are expected on September 1 and 2. Similar conditions are forecast from September 3 to 5, with rainfall activity largely confined to isolated areas. The MeT office warned that intense localized showers could trigger flash floods, mudslides and landslides in vulnerable areas. August has largely remained dry in the Valley. Temperatures generally hovered around 30-32 degrees Celsius in the plains. Rainfall was mostly limited to isolated showers, including some intense spells in higher reaches. The current heat spell is expected to be brief, with temperatures easing from August 31. Srinagar had recorded 35.3 degrees Celsius on June 29 and 35.5 degrees Celsius on June 30-the highest for the month. Temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius on July 17 and 35.9 degrees Celsius on July 18, the highest of the summer so far.

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Donald Trump's latest executive order renames Lake Ontario to Lake America, a unilateral rebranding effort. This action underscores the limitations of such unilateral spin and its impact on international relations. While renaming efforts continue, real-world consequences like retaliatory tariffs remain significant. Trump's attempts to redefine outcomes face challenges before upcoming elections. The article suggests his perception of reality is detached from current events.

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Saptadhara is seven streams of rhetoric, not a growth strategy

Prime Minister Modi's Saptadhara initiative outlines seven development streams for India. This plan reiterates existing goals without detailing necessary reforms for faster growth. India's current growth rate is strong but insufficient for high-income status by 2047. Job creation remains a significant challenge for the educated and impatient young population. Political hurdles prevent the implementation of radical reforms needed for true progress.

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The recent Closing Auction Session has led to dramatic swings in the market, resulting in major losses for investors. While the intention behind the new system was to enhance mutual fund assessments, it has instead spiraled into chaos. Regulators have taken action against those found manipulating the session and acknowledged systemic flaws, emphasizing the need for a robust securities lending framework to stabilize future sessions.

Luxury litigation, poor pay the price

The Supreme Court has issued a warning against what it terms 'luxury litigation', leading to the dismissal of a persistent case. With over 5.6 crore trials pending in Indias courts, the issue is severely hindering justice. Chronic vacancies and procedural inefficiencies are largely to blame. Wealthy individuals may bear the financial strain, while those less fortunate face ongoing challenges. Effective case management and expedited judicial appointments are essential for improvement.

Death toll rises to 579 in Nepal; rescue operations resume at full pace

Kathmandu, Aug 28: The death toll from flash floods in central Nepal rose to 579 on Friday, with more bodies recovered as search and rescue operations resume at full pace after a brief slowdown due to fear of fresh floods following an increase in the water level in the Bhotekoshi River area. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said rising water levels at the site of a devastating flash flood earlier this week increased the risk of another flood in the area. The water level mixed with mud has increased at the same place where the flash flood occurred on Wednesday, and there is a risk of more flooding in the area, the NDRRMA said. The warning came after a massive flash flood swept through Rasuwa and other parts of central Nepal on Wednesday, killing hundreds and causing widespread damage to settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. The NDRRMA urged people involved in search and rescue operations, as well as those staying in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli areas for various reasons, to remain highly alert and immediately move to safer places if they face any risk. Nepal Police on Friday said 579 bodies were recovered from eight districts of the Himalayan nation, with thousands still missing. According to the police, 233 dead bodies have been recovered from Chitwan district, 154 from Nawalparasi East, 46 from Gorkha and 40 from Dhading. Similarly, 37 dead bodies were recovered from Nuwakot, 30 from Tanahu, 27 from Nawalparasi West, and 12 from Rasuwa. Five people have been killed in Gyirong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region, according to Chinese authorities. At least 1924 people, including 86 security personnel, 517 foreign tourists and 127 Nepali travellers, have been missing since Wednesday morning when the flash floods hit Rasuwa and adjoining districts of Nepal. So far, 1,545 injured and stranded people have been rescued from various affected regions. Among them, 84 are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Kathmandu, where families are desperately searching for their loved ones. So far, 4451 people have been rescued from different affected areas. These include 129 foreign nationals, including 85 Indians, and 191 people trapped in tunnels of various hydropower projects. Altogether, 101 injured people are undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Kathmandu. Search and rescue operations continued for the third day of the tragic incident with the mobilisation of 7,451 security personnel, including 2,391 Nepal Army personnel, the police statement said. Helicopters have been used to reach isolated areas and evacuate survivors, while ground teams continue searching riverbanks and downstream settlements, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported. Morgues in hospitals in Nepal in several areas are running out of space as more bodies swept away by the floods downstream are being recovered. Bodies recovered from Rasuwa and Nuwakot have been found as far downstream as Chitwan, Tanahun, Nawalparasi, Gorkha and other districts, with morgues in several areas running out of space. Meanwhile, the Nepal government has decided to halt all examinations from August 29, given the situation that developed following the devastating natural disaster. Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah and members of his cabinet have decided in a cabinet meeting to donate a month's salary to the disaster relief fund. The cabinet also directed the finance ministry to prepare a relief, concessional financing and rehabilitation package for individuals and businesses affected by flash floods. In another development, Nepal has denied refusing assistance from friendly countries and the international community, saying it wants to prioritise maximum deployment of its own security forces, which are familiar with local environmental conditions and rugged terrain. Speaking to the National News Agency (RSS), Nepal foreign minister Shisir Khanal said that International assistance was not rejected but that the rescue strategy was decided based on national capacity, immediate need and Nepal's unique geographical situation. Meanwhile, China sounded a Level-IV alert late on Thursday, saying a large barrier lake had formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers in Nepal. Chinas emergency response system for natural disasters has four levels, with Level-I being the highest and Level IV the lowest. Chinese authorities had informed Nepal that around 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated in the lake, with another 3 million cubic metres potentially entering it over three days, raising concerns about a possible breach. The lake had formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, which originate in Tibet and flow into Nepal as part of the Bhotekoshi river system.

Aga Ruhullah to quit Lok Sabha, NC on Nov 3, cites lies and betrayal | GKTV report

Resignation will come, says MP Ruhullah; writes open letter to Farooq Abdullah

MP Ruhullah writes to Farooq Abdullah, questions partys stand on Article 370 GK WEB DESK Srinagar, Aug 28: Srinagar MP and JKNC leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Friday wrote a letter to party president Dr Farooq Abdullah and questioned partys leadership position on the restoration of Article 370, which was taken away by New Delhi on August 05, 2019. He said the demand for restoration of constitutional guarantees cannot be abandoned merely in favour of statehood. In a letter dated August 28, 2026, addressed to the party president, Mehdi referred to remarks made during a press statement on August 25 in which the leadership had questioned how long people would be a slave and urged them to stand on their feet. Mehdi said those remarks resonated with the frustration felt by many in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly over the perception that the regions demands were being pursued from a position of supplication before the BJP-led government at the Centre. However, he questioned why the same political position was being criticised when he raised similar issues. I refuse to believe that your statement is merely hollow posturing for public consumption, while your politics reflects something entirely different, Mehdi said in the letter, adding that such a situation would be personally disappointing to him. Questions begging remark on Article 370 Referring to the statement that you want 370, but you beg from Delhi, Mehdi argued that the demand for Article 370 restoration was not an unreasonable political position. He pointed out that restoration of Article 370 had also featured in the BJPs 2024 Assembly election manifesto, while the Supreme Court had recognised the constitutional history surrounding the provision. According to Mehdi, the JKNCs position should therefore not be treated as fundamentally different from the position it had itself taken earlier. He further argued that accepting statehood as the outer limit of Jammu and Kashmirs political aspirations could amount to legitimising and normalising what he described as the constitutional changes made in August 2019. Mehdi said the party had come to power with commitments relating to the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, but was now increasingly presenting statehood as the principal political objective. He referred to the argument that the very regime which abrogated Article 370 will never restore it, and questioned whether such an argument was sufficient justification for abandoning the larger demand. He said the issue was not simply about political positioning but concerned the dignity, constitutional guarantees and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Mehdi also raised broader concerns over employment opportunities, land, natural resources, religious rights, traditions, language and environmental protection. He noted that a large proportion of Jammu and Kashmirs population is young and said uncertainty over employment and opportunities was becoming a major concern. Our job as elected representatives is to fight this constant degradation and dehumanisation and not to adjust our aspirations to what the BJP is willing to concede, Mehdi said. The Srinagar MP said elected representatives had a responsibility to ensure that the political and constitutional changes of August 2019 did not become accepted as the new political normal. He also argued that restoration of statehood should not be presented as an adequate substitute for the constitutional provisions and protections that were altered in 2019. Mehdi stressed the need to continue seeking constitutional guarantees for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including protections concerning their land, resources, culture and traditions. He questioned how his position on these matters could be considered objectionable, particularly within the JKNC. In another pointed reference, Mehdi reminded the party leadership that it had previously served as Chief Minister when the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed the Autonomy Resolution. He questioned why raising the issue of constitutional guarantees had now become so controversial. What has changed the aspirations of our people, or the JKNCs willingness to stand up for them? he asked. Mehdi said he was raising these questions not out of disrespect but because he remembered the party leaderships earlier political position and its role in seeking greater constitutional autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. The Srinagar MP said there were many more questions that could be raised but that, for the time being, he would await a response from the party leadership. He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir also had a right to know what the JKNC truly stood for on the question of constitutional guarantees and the political future of the region. Mehdi further stated that his resignation from the party would come and that he would have resigned even without being asked to do so, but insisted that accountability must precede his departure. The letter also addressed what Mehdi described as a disrespectful attack made against him while demanding his resignation, indicating that the disagreement had developed beyond a policy dispute into a wider political confrontation within the party. The letter highlights growing differences over whether the restoration of statehood should remain the principal immediate objective of Jammu and Kashmirs political leadership or whether demands for the restoration of Article 370 and broader constitutional safeguards should continue to remain central to the JKNCs political agenda.

18 J&K civil service officers included in IAS promotion select lists

Srinagar, Aug 28: The Government of India has notified the Select Lists of State Civil Service (SCS) officers of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for induction into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) under the promotion quota for the 2019 and 2020 selection years. The notification was issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training, on August 28, 2026, a copy of which lies with news agency JKNS stated that, in exercise of powers under the Indian Administrative Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, read with the IAS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955. The Select List for 2019, prepared against vacancies that arose between January 1 and December 31, 2019, includes 18 officers of the J&K segment of the State Civil Service. The officers included in the 2019 Select List are Babila Rakwal, Anil Koul, Shabnam Shah Karnili, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Itco, Rachna Sharma, Leela Padha, Kusum Badyal, Vivek Sharma, Rajinder Singh Tara, Tariq Hussain Ganai, Munir-ul-Islam, Mohammad Harun Malik, Nisar Ahmad Wani, Jatinder Singh, Sajjad Hussain Ganai, Anoo Malhotra, Shamim Ahmad and Nitu Gupta. The Select List for 2020, prepared against vacancies arising between January 1 and December 31, 2020, includes five officersNisar Ahmad Wani, Prediman Krishan Bhat, Tariq Ahmad Zargar, Bhawani Rakwal and Smita Sethi. The notification states that the Select Lists were prepared on April 24, 2026, under Regulation 5(5) and approved on August 3, 2026, under Regulation 7(2), for filling promotion-quota vacancies in the AGMUT cadre of the IAS under the State Civil Service category. The name of Nisar Ahmad Wani in the 2019 Select List has been included provisionally, subject to the grant of an Integrity Certificate by the State Government. His name in the 2020 Select List has also been included provisionally subject to the same requirement. The Centre has further noted that the name of one officer in the 2020 Select List has been included in addition to the normal size of the Select List in accordance with the second proviso to Regulation 5(5) of the IAS (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955. The notification marks a significant step in the induction of eligible J&K State Civil Service officers into the IAS against the promotion quota vacancies in the AGMUT cadre.

Govt to allocate fortnightly sugar sale quota to mills from September to prevent artificial scarcity

New Delhi, Aug 28: The government on Friday said retail prices of sugar have started to ease with ex-mill rates declining by around 20 per cent in the last few days and announced that it will allocate a fortnightly sale quota to mills from September to ensure smooth supply and prevent artificial scarcity. At present, the food ministry allocates a monthly quota to mills for the sale of sugar. In an official statement, the Food Ministry said it is closely monitoring availability and prices of sugar, while asserting that there is no shortage of sweetener in India. The ministry said it carried out physical verification of stocks in sugar mills and the exercise revealed that some mills were holding more stocks than declared in monthly returns, while some mills sold less stock than their monthly allocations. The Government has also observed that, in certain cases, sugar sold by mills at the beginning of the month was being dispatched or lifted by buyers only towards the end of the month. This practice contributed to artificial scarcity in the market, the statement said. To address this problem, the government has decided to introduce a fortnightly sugar allocation system from September, replacing the existing monthly quota system. Under the fortnightly quota, mills will have to sell at least 40 per cent of the allocation in the first week and the remaining quantity in the succeeding week. Commenting on the benefits of the new measure, the ministry said it will help to monitor the demand and supply situation, respond quickly to changes in market conditions and prevent artificial scarcity. It can release additional stocks if required to maintain adequate market availability. Sugar mills have already been directed to ensure that sugar sold is dispatched from the mill within seven days of sale, the ministry said. These two measures fortnightly quota allocation and mandatory dispatch within seven days would significantly improve the entire supply chain. Bulk consumers of sugar have been asked not to hold stocks in excess of their operational requirements. Talking about the prevailing high sugar prices, the government said it has taken a series of proactive measures to ensure adequate availability of sugar and prevent artificial tightening of supplies in the domestic market. To control prices, the Centre has recently allowed imports of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar by October 31. It has imposed stock holding limits on dealers, as well as bulk consumers like beverage makers. Exports were already banned a few months back. As a result, the ex-mill sugar prices have declined by around 20 per cent in recent days, while retail sugar prices have also started coming down. Given the normal transmission of changes through the supply chain, retail prices are expected to follow the downward movement in ex-mill prices shortly, the ministry said. The food ministry noted that the downward trend in ex-mill and retail prices proves that the recent surge was primarily on account of hoarding and speculation. The ministry said that a nationwide drive for physical verification of sugar stocks at mills was carried out, which reaffirmed the comfortable availability position. In several cases, sugar mills were found to be holding stocks higher than those declared in their monthly returns submitted to the Government, the statement said. The ministry asserted that there is no shortage of sugar in the country and there is no justification for panic buying or excessive stocking. In some cases, sugar mills were also found to be resorting to short selling, which means selling less sugar than the quantity allocated to them under the monthly quota. Such practices tend to unnecessarily constrain market supplies despite adequate physical stocks. In the next 2026-27 marketing year starting October, the ministry said that the sugarcane crushing for the new season will commence from 15th October. More than 10 lakh tonnes of sugar will be produced during the month. Mills have been permitted to sell sugar produced during October without any restriction. This will ensure that new-season production becomes available in the domestic market at the earliest. Sugar production is expected to be around 45 lakh tonnes in November, providing substantial additional supplies for domestic consumption, the statement said. The government said it would take all necessary measures to ensure supply at reasonable prices across the country, particularly during the forthcoming festive season. According to industry body ISMA, India's net sugar production (after diversion to ethanol) is estimated at around 279 lakh tonnes in the 2025-26 marketing year (October-September), while the opening stock was 50 lakh tonnes. The annual domestic demand is projected at 280-285 lakh tonnes, while the country exported 8 lakh tonnes of the sweetener before the government imposed a ban. ISMA has projected the closing stock at 35 lakh tonnes at the end of September. The association noted that 30 lakh tonnes of sugar is estimated to be diverted in the current marketing year from the gross sugar output of 309 lakh tonnes. ISMA initially estimated that the country's gross sugar output would be 345 lakh tonnes for the 2025-26 marketing year, but later revised downwards as the sugarcane crop was affected by bad weather and pests.

High-powered task force invites suggestions on examination reforms

New Delhi, Aug 28: A government-constituted task force on Friday invited suggestions on reforms in public examination including accountability and institutional arrangements. The Centre had in July announced constitution of the High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) with Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani as chairperson, to examine and recommend comprehensive reforms related to conduct, security, design and governance of public examinations, and those conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), in a move to address students' concerns over paper leaks. The task force is examining measures for strengthening institutional systems and processes, ensuring examination integrity and security, deploying appropriate technologies, augmenting examination infrastructure, promoting accessibility and inclusion, and safeguarding student well-being, a statement issued by the Union ministry of personnel said. The objective is to develop a robust, secure, transparent, equitable and future-ready public examination system, it said. As part of this exercise, the HPTF considers it extremely useful to benefit from the experience, knowledge and perspectives of all stakeholders, the statement said. Suggestions are therefore invited from students and candidates, parents, teachers and academic institutions, examination-conducting and test-indenting bodies and civil society organisations among others. Suggestions may relate to the conduct and security of public examinations, examination design and assessment methodology, governance, accountability and institutional arrangements, and prevention, detection and redressal of examination malpractices, the statement said. Use of technology, including secure computer-based testing, creation and augmentation of examination infrastructure, inclusive examination framework for better access across social, economic, regional and linguistic groups, transparency, grievance redressal and stakeholder communication are some other areas on which suggestions may be sent. Besides, suggestions are also invited on measures to promote student well-being throughout the examination process, and on any other measure that may add value in the examination system, it said. Stakeholders were requested to submit their suggestions by September 13, 2026, through a website or via phone. Suggestions can also be sent via WhatsApp or email. Submissions may be made in English, Hindi and regional languages, the ministry said. The inputs received through this public consultation will assist the HPTF in formulating its recommendations to the government, it said, urging active, constructive and wide-ranging participation from all stakeholders.

DDWS urges States, UTs to facilitate student participation from local academic institutions under JJM 2.0

New Delhi, Aug 28: In a significant initiative to strengthen field-based learning and knowledge-sharing, the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, has urged States/UTs to encourage local colleges, universities and academic institutions to document and publish best practices emerging under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0. Jal Jeevan Mission has emerged as a significant developmental initiative in the rural drinking water sector, since its commencement and this has led to the emergence of several noteworthy best practices across States/UTs in areas such as community participation, source sustainability, water quality management, operation and maintenance, technology adoption and decentralised governance. Recognising the value of these field-based innovations, States/UTs have been encouraged to undertake the following which includes: (1) Engage local colleges, universities and academic institutions to study and document selected case studies and best practices under JJM 2.0; (2) Disseminate findings of these studies through academic journals, institutional reports, newsletters, research papers, websites and other suitable platforms to facilitate evidence-based knowledge-sharing and replication; (3) Identify suitable case studies & tour sites and facilitate necessary coordination with local academic Institutions/Schools, District Water and Sanitation Missions (DWSMs) and Gram Panchayats; and (4) Organise tour for Higher Secondary/Senior Secondary students from nearby schools to Multi Village Schemes (MVS), Water Treatment Plants (WTPs), Intake Wells, modern technologies such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Internet of Things (IoTs) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited Water Testing Laboratories. The initiative envisages that at least one student tour and one published case study/best practice with local academic institutions shall be undertaken in each district by the end of September 2026. Through this initiative, JJM 2.0 seeks to deepen the culture of learning from the field, encourage innovation and make successful rural water supply practices more visible and accessible, thereby contributing to the sustained strengthening of rural water security.

Sushilkumar Shinde lauds Sanjay Nahars three decades of social service

Pune, Aug 28: I salute the work of Sanjay Nahar, who was the first to reach every part of the country where there were problems and sorrows, and who gave the message that 'Maharashtra is with you' - not in his own name, but on behalf of Maharashtra, and who has continuously kept the yajna of social service alive, said former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. He was speaking from the presidential chair at function organized to mark a triple occasion - the release of 'Sarhadcha Sangati', a felicitation volume on renowned social worker and founder-president of Sarhad Sanjay Nahar, and the 30th anniversary of Sarhad. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari was present online. Maharashtra's Minister for Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil, Minister of State for Urban Development and Transport Madhuri Misal, President of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh Girish Gandhi, former MP Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil, ABP Editor Rajiv Khandekar, Assam MP Pramod Bodo, Ladakh MP Mohammed Haneefa Jan, senior entrepreneur from Jammu and Kashmir Mushtaq Chaya, Editor of Greater Kashmir newspaper Fayaz Kaloo, were present on the occasion. An audio-visual film on the work of Sarhad and Sanjay Nahar was shown. Former Union Home Minister Shinde said, When no one dared to go to Punjab after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Nahar went to burning Punjab. He visited hamlets and settlements. He met the grieving, orphaned souls there. He consoled them. He came out on the streets and helped them directly. In a difficult situation, he gave the message that Maharashtra is with you. As soon as the situation became serious in Kashmir, he reached Kashmir. Taking full responsibility for the future of orphaned children, he arranged for their accommodation and education in Pune. There is no gap between Nahar's thought and action. Without fearing adverse conditions, death threats and attacks, he has continued the yajna of social service like a vow. His life of action is inspiring. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, Sanjay Nahar's work of public awakening to keep national unity and integrity intact is a matter of pride. When conflict flared up in the border areas of the country, Sanjay Nahar made organized efforts to awaken patriotism. In burning Punjab, he undertook 21 peace marches with a sense of social responsibility. He has risen above all differences, preserved the bond of humanity and brought about qualitative transformation in many areas. At a time when the crisis of thoughtlessness rather than difference of opinion is visible all around, Sanjay Nahar has created an ideal of social work by maintaining social sensitivity. Chandrakantdada Patil recalled some memories from the time of the student movement. Wherever there is a problem in the country, there is Sanjay Nahar. Sanjay is a personality who is constantly striving and active to make the feeling of integrity flourish. He has worked to remove wrong, inappropriate thoughts from the minds of students and inculcate right, patriotic thoughts. Madhuri Misal described Sanjay as a person who has been associated with a bond of affection since the student movement and who has maintained continuity of service for the nation through relentless struggle. Ladakh MP Haji Haneefa Jan said that Sanjay Nahar has shown the path of development, employment and education by exploring many different possibilities of tourism in Ladakh and Kashmir.

Huge rush of devotees at Dargah Hazratbal on Friday following Eid-e-Milad (SAW)

Article 370 abrogation inflicted deep wound on J&K peoples emotions: Altaf Bukhari

Srinagar, Aug 28: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday said that the abrogation of article 370 inflicted a deep wound into the emotions of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Congress and BJP are equally responsible because Congress had already hollowed this article out over the years while BJP revoked it completely. He made these remarks today while addressing a public convention in Tral today. The event, organised by the party, attracted a large gathering of local people, besides party workers from across the town. Apni Party leader further said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had a deep emotional attachment to Article 370, despite the fact that its provisions had already hollowed out and eroded over the decades. Article 370 provided constitutional protection to our land and jobs, and that is why, following its abrogation along with Article 35A on August 5, 2019, the Apni Party pursued the matter with the Centre and ensured that the people of J&K must retain exclusive rights over land and employment in J&K. We succeeded in convincing the Centre and protected these rights, resulting in the introduction of the domicile law, he said. However, Bukhari said that there is a need for a dialogue between the Centre and the people of Jammu and Kashmir to address their issues. He said, There is an urgent need to make New Delhi understand the importance of initiating a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, to address their genuine issues and concerns. This is imperative to bridge the existing trust deficit. Since the elected government has failed to address the pressing issues being faced by the people here, we will urge the Centre to engage directly with them to ensure that these issues are addressed effectively. We hope that our frequent appeals in this regard reach the Centre and that it initiates a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as it had promised, he added. He also take a dig at the ruling NC and said that this party has always prioritised its power on the interests of the people in Jammu and Kashmir. He further said, NC has never fulfilled the promises it has made to the people. Its poll promises are the most recent example of this. It sought votes by promising to provide one lakh jobs soon after assuming power. It had also promised 200 units of free electricity, free gas cylinders, the regularisation of daily wagers, and much more. However, all these promises have proved to be hollow and remain unfulfilled. He urged the people to rid themselves of these traditional parties, which have always misled and deceived them with false promises and emotional slogans. He went on the say, During its election campaign, the NC had claimed that, after assuming power, it would ensure the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. However, it has now reduced its demand to the restoration of statehood alone. This is nothing but political drama, and they have always resorted to such tactics. In his speech, Bukhari also highlighted the local pressing issues that the people in Tral are facing. He expressed grave concern over the lack of adequate facilities and infrastructure at local hospitals and schools. He said, I dont know what the local MLA, who has been given the mandate to ensure that such issues are addressed, is doing. Since he is a public representative, he must ensure that these issues are properly addressed. He should speak to the concerned Minister, and if that doesnt work, he must take the people who voted for him out in protest. This is not about anything personal; it is about the public mandate. Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said that Tral has great potential for tourism, which, if properly explored and developed, can bring economic benefits to the local people and create much-needed employment opportunities for the youth. He said the area is blessed with abundant natural resources and scenic beauty, which should be utilised effectively for sustainable development, livelihood generation, and the overall prosperity of the local population. Bukhari expressed concern over the arrests of youth and said that the Apni Party is continuously striving to ensure that random arrests are stopped and that those detained are released so that they can return to a normal life. Talking about the Sikh community, Bukhari demanded political reservation for the community to ensure that its rights are fully protected. He said that the Sikh community has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the Muslim community, even during the most challenging times of violence and bloodshed in J&K. Addressing the gathering, former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir said that Apni Party is a party of the masses and will always remain the voice of the people. He said this party will continue to raise genuine public issues and grievances with the concerned authorities to ensure their timely redressal. He said, We are not here today to seek your votes, as there are no elections scheduled in the near future. We are here to tell you that Apni Party is truly a peoples party and will always stand by the people, no matter what. We need your support. Join hands with Apni Party and help strengthen it. Together, we can ensure that the rights and interests of our people are protected, while working collectively for sustained peace, prosperity, and development in Jammu and Kashmir. He further said, The difference between Apni Party and the traditional political parties is that Apni Party focuses on genuine public issues and works to address the concerns of the people, while traditional parties continue to mislead and befool the public with false promises and emotional slogans. Apni Party is here to prevent exploitative political forces from misleading our youth and pushing them towards a path of jails and graveyards. We envision a peaceful, prosperous, and dignified future for our youthone where they have opportunities to grow, succeed, and contribute positively to the future of Jammu and Kashmir, he added. On this occasion, NC worker Karan Singh, PDP worker Mohammad Amin, Social Activist Muzafar Bhat, Mohammad Younis Dar from congress joined Apni Party. The party leaders greeted these new entrants into the party fold. Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Ghulam Hassan Mir, the prominent party leaders who were present on the occasion included partys Chief Spokesperson & State Secretary Muntazir Mohiudin, District President Kupwara Raja Manzoor, State organisation & Spokesperson Dr Harbaksh Singh, District President Budgam Advocate Owais Ashraf Shah, District Vice President Pulwama Sofi Akbar, District Vice President Pulwama Abdul Qayoom Mir, Secretary Pulwama District Syeed Tajala Andrabi, Youth President District Pulwama Junaid Mir, Abdul Rahman Gojir, Ghulam Hassan Goursi, Ghulam Hassan Choupan, Abdul Majid, Rashid Gojir, Youth Leaders Huq Nawaz, Zahid Bhat, Sajad Naikoo, Bita, Imtiyaz Mulvi, Irfan, Junaid, Javeed,Amir Reshi, Asif, Nirmal Singh, Abdul Rashid, Lucky Singh, Mohammad Shafi, Gul Dar, Shabir Baba, Yusuf Gojir, Mushtaq , Nund Kak, Bashir Ahamed , Jangi Singh, and others.

Aga Ruhullah to resign as Srinagar MP, NC member on November 3: Report

Srinagar, Aug 28: Srinagar Member Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Friday said that he will resign from Lok Sabha as well as National Conference on November 3, the 26th death anniversary of his father Aga Syed Mehdi. The disgruntled MP blamed NC leadership for reneging on its election promise to fight for the restoration of J&Ks special status under Article 370 and 35(A). Ruhullah confirmed to NDTV that he has decided to resign from Parliament and the primary basic membership of the National Conference due to a widening rift with his party on ideological grounds. NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah, few days back had dared rebel MP from Srinagar Aga Ruhullah to resign his Lok Sabha seat and face a fresh election. Aga Ruhullah said he has decided to resign because he doesn't want to be part of lies and betrayal. I will formally send my resignation letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker and NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah on November 3, the 26th death anniversary of his father, who was killed by militants in an IED blast, Aga Ruhullah told NDTV. The MP is planning a major public rally in his stronghold Budgam on his fathers death anniversary where he will formally release his resignation letter and the reasons for quitting as MP. Yes, I am resigning from the party and as Srinagar MP. I have a few commitments before I formally submit my resignation. I have to disburse funds under MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme). I have also invited some MPs for a conference in Srinagar as part of my efforts to fight for restoration of J&K's constitutional rights, Aga Ruhullah told NDTV. The Srinagar MP has often blamed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for abandoning the party's ideology and its commitment to fight for the restoration of special status under the abrogated Article 370. After resigning, Aga Ruhullah plans to take on the ruling National Conference and fight the by-election from the same seat. Once by-elections are announced, I will consult people and I may contest the by-election as an independent candidate, he said. Ruhullahs relations with the National Conference have been strained for a while. In October last year, the party lost the by-election for the Budgam Assembly seat, which was vacated by Omar Abdullah who had won two seats in the 2024 Assembly election. The loss was attributed to Aga Ruhullah's refusal to campaign for the party candidate and his strong criticism of the Chief Minister. After the party's defeat, Omar Abdullah said that Aga Ruhullah had committed political suicide. Aga Ruhullah blames the National Conference for lies and betrayal for not fighting for constitutional guarantees after making a commitment to the people in its election manifesto. During elections, they (NC) promised to fight for restoration of Article 370. They put it in their manifesto. But soon after winning elections, they reneged on their commitment, he said. He said the NC is now making excuses that the BJP, which abrogated Article 370, will never restore it. He said such logic only exposes its lies. Wasn't BJP there when they made such a commitment in the election manifesto? It was the same BJP when they went to people with the commitment promising that they will fight for restoration of special status, asked Aga Ruhullah. It's clear that they lied to people during elections and I will not be party to this lie and betrayal... My commitments do not change according to situations. I will follow my conviction and principles, he said. Talking to reporters in Srinagar on Tuesday, Farooq Abdullah while responding to Mehdi's claim that his 2024 Lok Sabha victory came solely due to his personal credibility rather than the party's mandate, said, If you think people voted for you, resign and go back to them. We will see how many votes you get. The very next day, Mehdi responded, It is not possible that Dr Sahib asks me for something and I send him back empty-handed.

Mirwaiz calls for urgent protection of Kashmirs fragile ecology

Raksha Bandhan celebrations among Kashmiri Pandits in Anantnag remain subdued amid recent threats

President Murmu paves way for High Court bench in Ladakh

Leh, Aug 28: President Droupadi Murmu has issued a regulation that establishes a bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in the Union Territory of Ladakh, paving the way for bringing higher judicial services closer to the people of the region. The regulation, titled 'The Union Territory of Ladakh (Sitting of the Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Ladakh) Regulation, 2026,' was promulgated by President Murmu on August 27 and published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on the same day. Issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the regulation seeks to establish a high court bench in Ladakh and address related matters, fulfilling a long-standing demand from the people of Ladakh for improved access to higher judicial remedies in the geographically remote area. Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena welcomed the promulgation, stating that the notification was issued within seven days of the Union Cabinet's decision. He emphasised that this quick action demonstrates the Centre's commitment to addressing the aspirations of the people of Ladakh. On August 20, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal to enable sittings of a high court bench in Ladakh, aiming to make justice more accessible, especially for residents of remote and far-flung areas. Saxena expressed gratitude to the prime minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the historic step towards bringing the high court closer to the people of Ladakh. For a geographically challenging region like Ladakh, access to justice cannot be separated from physical accessibility. This decision will substantially ease the difficulties faced by our people in accessing higher judicial remedies and will strengthen their faith in our justice delivery system, the lieutenant governor said. Having high court sittings within Ladakh is expected to decrease the time and expenses incurred by litigants who currently have to travel outside the Union Territory for high court proceedings. The move will also make the justice delivery system more accessible to ordinary citizens, litigants, advocates and other stakeholders, while facilitating access to constitutional and legal remedies closer to their homes. Saxena stated that the measure would ensure easier, faster and more accessible access to justice for the people of Ladakh. According to the regulation, the principal seat of the common High Court will continue to be at the same place where the principal seat of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was located before the commencement of the regulation. However, the judges and divisions of the High Court may also hold sittings in other locations within the Union Territory of Ladakh as designated by the Chief Justice, with the approval of the lieutenant governor of Ladakh. The regulation further provides that the chief justice may, in his discretion, order that any case or class of cases arising in the Union Territory of Ladakh be heard at Srinagar or Jammu, as the case may be. The regulation extends to the whole of the Union Territory of Ladakh and will come into force on a date to be appointed by the Administrator by notification in the Official Gazette. The promulgation comes within a week of the Union Cabinet's decision on August 20 to enable sittings of a High Court bench in Ladakh.

India to procure Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems from US: Gor

India has sealed a deal with the US to procure Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems to bolster the Indian Army's combat prowess. US Ambassador Sergio Gor said the agreement reflects a bilateral defence partnership that is growing deeper, more capable, and more consequential. It is not immediately known the number of Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems India is procuring or the overall cost of the procurement. The United States welcomes the Indian Army's signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the purchase of the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system through the US Foreign Military Sales process, an American readout said. It said the milestone reflects the enduring partnership between the US and Indian armed forces and opens the door for future collaboration between the US and Indian defence industries. The Javelin agreement demonstrates the depth of US support for the Indian Army and creates new opportunities for our defence industries to work togethe

'Anti-terror operations remain priority': IGP Sujit Kumar, says Zonal Police is always there for you

Srinagar, Aug 28: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone Sujit Kumar on Friday assured people that the Kashmir Zonal Police is always there for their safety and security, while saying anti-terror operations remain the forces top priority. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to Hazratbal in Srinagar, IGP Sujit Kumar said the police is focused on ensuring smooth and peaceful congregational prayers amid large gatherings on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW). I congratulate everyone and want to assure the people that the Zonal Police is always there for you, Kumar said. He sought public cooperation in maintaining peace and law and order, while acknowledging that security arrangements could sometimes cause inconvenience to commuters. Many people are offering prayers today, so we seek your cooperation. We understand movement is difficult for the public, he said. On the recent increase in counter-terror operations in Kashmir, he said operations had been the forces priority in the past and would continue to remain so. Our operations were the first priority in the past and they remain the first priority today as well, he said. Sujit Kumar, who took charge as IGP Kashmir on Thursday evening, was on his maiden ground visit to Srinagar after assuming office. During the visit, he reviewed security arrangements and coordination between the police and other security agencies at locations witnessing large congregations.(KNO)

Anti-militancy operations first priority, public cooperation vital: Kashmir IGP Sujit Kumar

Dementia & Memory Loss | Dr. Zubair Saleem in conversation with Dr. Basanti Salati Ganjoo

Womans body recovered from Jhelum near Nawa Kadal

Srinagar, Aug 28: An unidentified woman was found dead in the River Jhelum near Nawa Kadal area of Srinagar on Friday, officials said. An official said that the woman was found in the river near Nawa Kadal and was retrieved by locals. He said she was soon shifted to a hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead on arrival. The official said the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained immediately, while further proceedings have been taken up.(KNO)

They're blatantly trying to kill him in there: Imran Khan's sons voice fears for his safety

London, Aug 28: Jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricket great Imran Khan's sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, have expressed fears for their father's safety in prison, saying latant attempts are being made to kill him in there. The brothers appeared in an 18-minute interview on Sky Sports that was conducted by former England captain Mike Atherton, a signatory to the letter recently sent by 21 international greats of the game to the Pakistan government, demanding proper medical care for Imran. It's very, very clear what they're doing, which is they're just blatantly trying to kill him in there. They just want to keep him in there as long as possible and hopefully just silence him, said Kasim, voicing grave concerns about the current state of his 73-year-old father. The last time he was able to speak to our aunties and anyone else, he said the conditions have severely worsened recently. He has been relating it to other political prisoners who have been killed or who have died in prison. Right now, it is worse than ever, completely isolating him more than 23 hours a day in a cell, he added. The interview, which was aired during the lunch break of the second Test between England and Pakistan at the Lord's on Thursday, triggered a protest from the visiting team's Cricket Board which threatened to pull its players out of the match, according to well-placed sources. The PCB eventually filed a complaint with the broadcaster, expressing displeasure at the telecast. Besides being a politician, Imran is an iconic figure in international cricket, having led Pakistan to its first and only ODI World Cup triumph in 1992. He underwent a medical examination recently on the instructions of Pakistan's Supreme Court. He was taken to Shifa Hospital in Islamabad before being shifted back to the prison within hours of the check-up. Sulaiman said Imran has not been examined by independent doctors. ...it just makes us think, what are they hiding? Why are they so fearful of allowing him to get reported on by an unbiased, neutral doctor? Sulaiman said. We were cautiously optimistic (when court ordered medical check-up). Our fears were confirmed when, instead of being taken to the private hospital, where he was meant to be taken, he was just taken to a government medical facility for a few hours, and then taken straight back to jail, he alleged. He had an eye patch on for the eye situation, seemed visibly stressed, and that is something that is very hard for us to imagine because he embodies a very calm, assured presence, every time I have ever seen him, including being at gunpoint. A car we were in was robbed, and he was the calmest person there, including the robbers, he quipped. The two brothers said they have not seen Imran in flesh and blood since 2022 when he survived an assassination attempt and their last telephonic conversation with him was in March this year. Asked to share the details of that call, they said Imran had sounded stoic despite the difficult circumstances. Imran has been held at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail since 2023 after being found guilty of corruption charges by the country's courts. The two brothers reiterated that their attempts to visit him are being actively thwarted by denial of visa. We tried to visit him. But the visas we applied for were blocked for technical reasons, Kasim said. ...Well, there's (also) probably a small risk that we'd be arrested, added Sulaiman. But ultimately, we just want to see him at this point...not to make any sort of noise and just minimal publicity, he added.

Third Vande Bharat on Jammu-Srinagar route soon: MoS Jitendra Singh

Jammu, Aug 28: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Friday said that the third Vande Bharat train between Jammu and Srinagar will be launched soon, terming it a major development for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In a video message, Singh said that the Ministry of Railways has also approved a halt at Udhampur following a demand raised by the public. He said the approval for the Udhampur halt was particularly significant as it was earlier believed that a stop there would not be feasible. Singh also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Railways and the Railway Minister for the development. Reflecting on the expansion of the railway network in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said that when the Jammu railway station was established in 1972, it took nearly five decades for the railway network to advance further into the region. He said the expansion gained momentum after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, with railway connectivity extended to Kathua and subsequently to Udhampur and the Kashmir Valley. Singh further said that railway connectivity to the Kashmir Valley was once considered difficult because of the mountainous terrain, but the project was completed despite several challenges. He also highlighted the construction of the worlds highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Reasi as a major engineering achievement. He said the railway journey has also emerged as an attraction for tourists, with many visitors travelling by train from Jammu to Srinagar to experience the scenic beauty along the route.(KNO)

Miffed with Sky's interview of Imran's sons, PCB considered pulling players out of Test against Eng

Karachi, Aug 28: The Pakistan Cricket Board had considered not sending its players to the field after lunch break on the opening day of their second Test against England at Lord's but eventually settled for a complaint after host broadcaster Sky Sports aired an interview of jailed former PM Imran Khan's sons. The PCB, when contacted, refused to comment on the matter but sources aware of the development said a formal complaint has been sent to Sky Sports over the matter. Former England skipper Mike Atherton conducted the 18-minute interview with Imran's sons, Kassim and Suleman. The two expressed fears about the well-being of their 73-year-old father, who is a celebrated former captain under whom the country won its first and only ODI World Cup in 1992. The PCB had objected to the telecast of the conversation recorded on Wednesday and even considered keeping its players off the field after lunch in protest if Sky went ahead with the broadcast, sources aware of the developments said. However, the visitors did take the field as scheduled and England ended the day at 248 for nine on Thursday. The PCB learned about the interview after Sky ran a teaser for the segment ahead of the Test. The Bard, it is learnt, contacted the broadcaster, asking it not to air the interview. In Pakistan, PTV, which is broadcasting the series, did not show the interview. Imran's health has become a major talking point globally in recent weeks. He was recently taken for medical examination at the Shifa Hospital in Islamabad on the directions of Pakistan's Supreme Court but was brought back to the prison after a check-up. Atherton and 20 other former captains including India great Sunil Gavaskar sent a letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a few days ago asking him to ensure proper medical care for Imran, who is believed to have lost significant vision since his imprisonment.

Two hand grenades recovered during naka checking in North Kashmir's Baramulla

Baramulla, Aug 28: Two hand grenades were recovered from a man during a naka checking operation at Wussan Bangil in Kunzer area of north Kashmirs Baramulla district, officials said. The checking was being conducted by a joint party comprising personnel from Police Station Kunzer, SOG Kunzer, CRPF 176 Battalion and Armys 2 Rashtriya Rifles. During the checking of vehicles and pedestrians, a man allegedly attempted to flee after noticing the security personnel. He was, however, apprehended at the spot. The man was identified as Shakir Nabi Lone, a resident of Hardu Aboora, Kunzer. Two hand grenades were allegedly recovered from his possession during a personal search. Following the recovery, FIR No. 115/2026 has been registered at Police Station Kunzer under relevant provisions of law. Further investigation into the case is underway. [KNT]

Apple freight by rail: Kashmir Horticulture Director Ghulam Jeelani Zargar speaks to GKTV

Anantnag Police book political leader in Rs 8.25 lakh job scam case

Anantnag, Aug 28: Anantnag Police has booked a political leader in alleged 8.25 lakh rupees job scam case, oficials said on Friday. The officials said the accused, identified as Aabid Hussain Nengroo, has been booked in FIR No. 283/2026 registered at Police Station Anantnag. Police said the accused duped job aspirants of more than eight lakh rupees, promising them SPO jobs. They further said that the accused also promised Pahalgam tent permission for Amarnath Yatra in lieu of money. Further details are awaited as Investigation is underway, police said.

Death toll from Nepal-Tibet flash flood climbs to 469, search ops continue

The death toll from flash floods in central Nepal rose to 469 on Friday, with more bodies recovered as search and rescue operations continued for the third day following the disaster. In a statement, Nepal Police said the bodies were recovered from eight districts of the Himalayan nation. According to the police, 178 dead bodies have been recovered from Chitwan, 110 from Nawalparasi East, 44 from Gorkha, 37 from Nuwakot and 33 from Dhading district. Similarly, 28 bodies have been recovered from Tanahu, 27 from Nawalparasi West and 12 from Rasuwa. So far, 1,545 injured and stranded people have been rescued from various affected regions. Among them, 84 are currently undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Kathmandu. Search and rescue operations continued for the third day of the tragic incident with the mobilisation of 7,451 security personnel, including 2,391 Nepal Army personnel, the statement said. An ice-rock avalanche triggered by a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet b

'May The Bond Of Love, Affection Remain Forever': PM Modi Extends Greetings On Raksha Bandhan

PM Modi and Amit Shah greeted the nation on Raksha Bandhan, highlighting love and trust. In Gaya, students prepared a tricolour Rakhi for PM Modi and over 1,000 Army-emblem Rakhis for soldiers.

Scientists Find Clues In Satellite Imagery To the Cause of Catastrophic Floods in Nepal and Tibet

As rescue teams searched Thursday for missing people following catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-China border, Earth scientists reviewed satellite imagery for clues to the cause and assessed the devastation. The flooding killed hundreds of people in Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday.

Worlds 1st AI-assisted brain surgery successfully removes tumour

The worlds first patient to undergo brain surgery with live artificial intelligence assistance has had his tumour successfully removed, the BBC reported. Rhys Hibbert, a 48-year-old father of two from Bedfordshire, underwent the pioneering procedure at University College London Hospital. Surgeons said he could have lost his sight as the tumour was pressing on his optic nerves. The AI system analysed a live video feed during the operation and identified the likely location of crucial blood vessels and nerves, helping surgeons determine the safest areas from which to remove the tumour. Hibbert had an 11mm non-cancerous tumour on his pituitary gland, which sits close to the carotid arteries and optic nerves. His peripheral vision had begun to narrow, while he also suffered from fatigue and dizziness. The operation was performed through the nose using an endoscope. The tumour was partly hidden behind bone and a tough membrane, making it difficult for surgeons to identify the safest route for removal. The experimental AI tool, described as being similar to a surgical ChatGPT, tracked surgical instruments and highlighted important anatomical structures on a second screen in real time. Prof Hani Marcus, one of the surgeons, said the system had been trained using hundreds of videos of pituitary tumour operations and could act as an expert second pair of eyes. However, the surgeons retained full control of the procedure. The research team, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Google, now plans a larger clinical trial. Hibbert said his vision had improved significantly after the operation. Its given me my life back, he told the BBC.

New Delhi sends second relief consignment to flood-hit Nepal

New Delhi on Thursday sent a second consignment of relief material to flood-hit Nepal, with a military transport aircraft carrying 37.5 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, medicines and food packets. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the latest consignment followed the dispatch of 10 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) material to Nepal on Wednesday. A second flight has just taken off, carrying 37.5 tonnes of HADR material, medicines & food packets for Nepal, Jaishankar said in a social media post. India remains in close and continuous touch with the Nepalese authorities. We will continue to strongly support the ongoing relief efforts, he said. India has stepped up assistance following devastating flash floods along Nepals border with Tibet, which have killed at least 270 people and caused widespread destruction. The first consignment sent yesterday evening included temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicines. The relief effort was launched after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah and assured him of Indias support. More relief supplies are expected to be sent in the coming days as Nepal continues rescue and relief operations.

Nepal floods: 288 Indians uncontactable, 200 stranded in Tibet seeking evacuation

As rescue operations continued along the Nepal-Tibet border following devastating flash floods and landslides, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday that 288 Indian nationals remained uncontactable in Nepal and Tibet, while around 200 Indians stranded in Tibet were seeking evacuation. Randhir Jaiswal said, The first group of 73 people who are working on the Trishuli-1 power project. Then, two separate groups of 37 and 49 nationals from Tamil Nadu, who travelled for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Samrat and Fly Everest Travels. There is a group of 32 Indian nationals from West Bengal who travelled with the help of Samrat Travels in Timure, which is in Rasuwa district. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the missing Indians included those working on hydropower projects and tourist groups. These are five major groups who comprise, by and large, 288 people that we are talking about, he added. Twenty-one Indians from Tamil Nadu were rescued, he said, and were being brought back. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said the government was working with local authorities to locate those who could not be contacted. There may be some people who are missing there and we are trying our best to locate them through the local authorities, Jaiswal said at a press briefing. The scale of the disaster continued to grow. Nepal Police said more than 300 bodies had been recovered from areas affected by Wednesdays floods, while Nepals National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that 826 people remained missing. A Nepal police update reported by International media says the death toll has risen to 359, as of 17:00 local time Nepal officials reported that rescuers were searching for survivors after massive flash floods destroyed homes, washed away roads and swept away bridges along the Nepal-Tibet border. Nepal Tourism Board spokesperson Sunil Sharma told the BBC that 644 tourists remained unaccounted for following the Bhotekoshi floods. They included 178 Indians, 127 Nepalis, 53 Ukrainians, 51 Malaysians, 65 Americans, 35 Australians and 33 British nationals. We are coordinating with the relevant authorities for their search and rescue, Sharma said. Nepal Tourist Police Deputy Superintendent Bisworaj Adhikari told the BBC that authorities were continuing to collect information from tour operators about tourists who had travelled to the affected region. The disaster has particularly affected routes used by pilgrims and tourists travelling towards Mount Kailash and Mansarovar in Tibet, as well as trekking areas including Langtang and the religious site of Gosain Kunda. At least 77 people reported missing in Nepal were travelling with the Isha Foundation, founded by spiritual leader Sadhguru. The group had completed its Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage and was returning to Kathmandu when contact was lost, according to foundation coordinator Maa Gambhiri. She told ANI that a member of the foundation team spoke to group leader Praveen at around 9.05 am local time on Wednesday. When they attempted to contact him about 10 minutes later, there was no response. We couldnt get through to him or anyone else. It seems the incident occurred within those ten minutes, she said. The group includes people from the US, Australia, Britain and several European and Asian countries, with many of Indian origin, she said. In Tibet, China said the number of people missing in the mudslide disaster in Gyirong county had risen to 558, including 260 foreign nationals. Three deaths have been confirmed in the region, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said around 100 Chinese nationals were also reported missing in Nepal. He said Beijing was maintaining close communication with Nepal and supporting joint search-and-rescue operations. The two sides of the border continued to face the threat of further landslides. Basanta Raj Adhikari, director of the Centre for Disaster Studies at Tribhuvan University, told BBC Newsday there was a possibility of second and third waves of flooding or landslides. We dont know yet, he said, adding that experts were in contact with colleagues in China monitoring the situation. There isnt high rainfall, but [a] landslide might happen, Adhikari said, linking the increasing risks in the Himalayas to climate change. We are observing but we didnt know that that would happen on [a] particular day, he said s reported by BBC.

TAAI J&K Chapter elects new team for 202628

The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Jammu & Kashmir Chapter, held its Members Annual Meeting for 202526 at Radisson Collection Hotel & Spa, Srinagar, followed by the election of office bearers for the 202628 term. The meeting was attended by a large number of TAAI members, along with prominent heads and representatives of various travel trade associations and stakeholders from the tourism industry. Irshad Hazari was elected Chairman, Rahil Bashir Honorary Secretary and Muzamil Jan Honorary Treasurer for the 202628 term. The newly elected office bearers expressed gratitude to the members for placing their confidence and trust in the new team. The new team reaffirmed its commitment to working collectively for the growth and development of the travel and tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir and to further strengthening the TAAI J&K Chapter. The meeting also provided an opportunity for members and tourism industry representatives to discuss the importance of collective efforts in promoting the regions travel trade and addressing issues affecting the sector.

JSW MG Motor India unveils Hector Tomahawk in EV, PHEV variants

JSW MG Motor India has unveiled the Hector Tomahawk, the first vehicle engineered on its Advanced Drive Architecture Platform Technology (ADAPT), which the company describes as Indias first multi-new-energy-vehicle (NEV) platform. The new SUV will be offered in both electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) versions, expanding the companys NEV portfolio and giving customers a choice based on their driving requirements. Under an introductory Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) offer available for a limited number of bookings, the Hector Tomahawk EV is priced at Rs 13.99 lakh plus a battery rental of Rs 4.90 per km. The PHEV starts at 21.79 lakh plus Rs 3.20 per km in battery rental. The company said the Hector Tomahawk combines intelligent technology, premium comfort, safety features and electrified performance, while offering the space and connected features expected in a SUV. Parth Jindal, Director, JSW MG Motor India, said the launch marked a milestone in the companys efforts to build a sustainable mobility ecosystem in India. He said the EV and PHEV variants reflected the companys focus on offering mobility solutions while supporting the countrys transition towards cleaner transportation. Anurag Mehrotra, Managing Director, JSW MG Motor India, said the future of mobility would involve multiple technology pathways rather than a single solution. He said the Hector Tomahawk was the first SUV to bring the ADAPT platforms multi-NEV approach to market, combining EV and plug-in hybrid technologies to address consumer needs and driving patterns.

Alkhuddam makes comeback in Hajj 2027 quota list

Alkhuddam Hajj and Umrah Services has been found eligible for registration as a Hajj Group Organiser (HGO) for Hajj 2027, bringing relief to the organisation. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, in a notice dated August 22, 2026, published the list of eligible HGOs after scrutinising applications submitted through the HGO portal. The ministry said applications were evaluated against the eligibility conditions prescribed under the HGO Policy for Hajj 2027, including submission of required documents, fulfilment of eligibility conditions, financial eligibility, experience and compliance with the provisions of the policy. The development was welcomed by Sheikh Feroz, Managing Director of Alkhuddam Hajj and Umrah Services, who expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah and the Ministry of Minority Affairs for considering his application for qualification for the Hajj 2027 quota. I express my gratitude. All praise and thanks belong to Almighty Allah, who has blessed us with the restoration of the Hajj quota for Alkhuddam Hajj and Umrah Services, he said. Describing the development as more than a professional achievement, he said it represented hope after a difficult period. This moment is not just a professional achievement for meit is a sign of Allahs mercy, a ray of hope returned, and a response to sincere duas made in hardship and uncertainty, he said. Feroz said he had remained hopeful despite the challenges. When we were going through difficult phases, I never lost faith that Allah would open doors again. Today, that belief is strengthened, he said. He also thanked the Ministry of Minority Affairs for once again placing its trust in Alkhuddam, describing the approval as both an honour and a responsibility. The ministry notice states that eligible HGOs have been classified into Category-I Non-Lead, Category-II Experienced Applicant and Category-II New Applicant categories, while the list of Category-I Lead HGOs had already been published on August 12. Under the HGO policy, selected Lead HGOs are required to constitute Combined HGO Groups (CHGOs) by inviting eligible HGOs from different categories. Each CHGO must include at least one Category-I Lead HGO, one Category-I Non-Lead HGO and one new Category-II HGO, with the total quota preferably kept close to 2,000. Feroz also thanked his patrons, well-wishers, colleagues, friends and family for their support and prayers during the difficult period. He said the renewed opportunity would be approached with full sincerity, dedication and respect for the pilgrims served by Alkhuddam. May Allah accept our intentions, make this responsibility successful, and grant ease, safety, and honour to every pilgrim connected through Alkhuddam, he said.

11 officers transferred in J&K Finance Department reshuffle

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday ordered a major reshuffle in the Finance Department, transferring and posting 11 officers with immediate effect. The changes have been ordered as part of the administrations efforts to streamline financial management and improve administrative efficiency across various departments. The latest order also follows an earlier reshuffle issued by the government on August 4. Rajesh Chander Kotwal, who was serving as Director Accounts and Treasuries, Jammu, has been transferred and posted as Director Finance, School Education Department. He replaces Kulbushan Kumar, who has been shifted to the ARI & Trainings Department and will also hold additional charge of the Tribal Affairs Department. Anil Kumar Dogra has been appointed as Director Accounts and Treasuries, Jammu, replacing Kotwal. Santosh Kumari has been transferred from the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation to the Labour and Employment Department. Among the officers promoted to the rank of Director Finance, Shahid Majeed Kakroo has been posted as Director Finance, Jal Shakti Department, while Manav Gupta has been appointed Director Finance, Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation. Amit Mahajan has been posted as Director Finance, Cooperative Department, while Premlata Patial has been appointed Director Finance, Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL). Harjeet Kour, who has also been promoted to the rank of Director Finance, has been directed to await further orders regarding her adjustment within the Directorate General of Accounts and Treasuries. Rashim Deepika, who was holding additional charge of the Cooperative Department, has been relieved of the additional responsibility. She will continue to serve in the Tourism Department. Naila Zahoor has been posted as Director Finance, Youth Services and Sports Department, and Jasvinder Singh has been relieved of the additional charge of the post. The reshuffle affects several key departments, including School Education, ARI & Trainings, Tribal Affairs, Jal Shakti, Labour and Employment, Cooperative, Tourism, Youth Services and Sports, and the power sector. The government order said the transfers and postings would take effect immediately. The move is expected to bring fresh administrative assignments to the financial management wings of several departments and streamline the functioning of the Finance Department and its associated offices.

SKUAST-K trains Ladakh veterinarians in future-ready livestock farming

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has concluded a two-week capacity-building training programme for veterinary officers from Ladakh, equipping them with next-generation knowledge, skills and technology-driven approaches to livestock farming suited to the regions challenging agro-climatic conditions. The training programme on Future-Ready Livestock Farming was organised by the Division of Livestock Production and Management (LPM) at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shuhama. The initiative aimed to strengthen the technical and professional capacities of field-level veterinary officers and to familiarize them with emerging technologies and modern approaches to livestock development. Speaking at the valedictory function, Prof. Riaz Ahmad Shah, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir, who was the chief guest on the occasion, appreciated the efforts of the Division of LPM in organizing the programme and emphasized the importance of continuous capacity building of veterinary professionals working at the field level. Prof. Hilal Musadiq Khan, Head, Division of LPM, said the programme had been designed to provide participants with a holistic understanding of modern livestock production and management practices. Prof. Masood Saleem Mir, Associate Director Extension, highlighted the importance of taking scientific innovations and modern livestock management practices from the University to the field. Prof. M. T. Banday, Senior Professor, Division of LPM and former Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, emphasized the need to integrate scientific knowledge with locally suitable livestock production practices to address emerging challenges in the sector. Prof. I. U. Sheikh, Professor, Division of LPM, expressed hope that the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme would translate into practical interventions in the field and contribute towards making livestock farming in Ladakh more productive, sustainable and technology-driven. The programme concluded with the distribution of certificates among the participating veterinary officers. Dr. Henna Hamadani, Organizing Secretary, conducted the proceedings of the valedictory function. Other faculty members of the Division, Dr. Raoof Ahmad Pattoo and Dr. Shiekh Adil, were also present on the occasion.

Cooking up success: Women SHGs turn culinary skills into businesses

At around 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sumi Jan, 32, was busy preparing kehwa, carefully mixing almonds, saffron and other ingredients, while her fellow workers served biryani, rice and other dishes at a small food outlet on the premises of the Deputy Commissioners office in south Kashmirs Kulgam district. Jan and four other women came together under the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) to establish the outlet under the brand name Umeed Ka Zaika. The venture, which began around five months ago, has already recorded a monthly turnover of more than 2 lakh, Jan said. I formed a Self-Help Group a few years ago and later started this venture nearly five months ago, she said. The five women jointly operate the outlet, dividing responsibilities among themselves. Their work ranges from preparing traditional dishes and beverages to serving customers and handling the day-to-day management of the business. Jan said the group initially started with a small setup but has gradually built a regular customer base. The members divide the work according to their roles, with some concentrating on cooking while others handle serving customers and other daily operational responsibilities. She said the training and institutional support provided before the outlet was established helped the women understand the basics of running a food business. This included preparing a menu, managing customers and handling the financial aspects of the enterprise. A similar outlet is being run by Sabza Begum at a sub-district hospital in Poonch, where she and other women serve homemade food to patients, their attendants and hospital staff. We started it just a month ago, but the response has been overwhelming, Begum said. She said the income generated through the outlet was sufficient to help the women meet their basic household expenses, providing them with an additional source of livelihood. We were given proper training before starting this venture, she said. The two ventures are part of Umeed, an initiative of JKRLM and Kudumbashree NRO aimed at helping women associated with Self-Help Groups develop food-based enterprises and gradually move from small household-level economic activities towards organised businesses. Under the initiative, women are provided training and support to establish and manage food outlets. The programme seeks to help them convert existing cooking and food-preparation skills into structured, income-generating enterprises. The initiative is also creating opportunities for women who may have limited access to formal employment but possess skills that can be developed into viable businesses. For women such as Jan and Begum, the model provides a collective way of entering the market. Instead of operating individually, several SHG members work together, share responsibilities and participate in the income generated by the enterprise. The food outlets are part of a broader effort by JKRLM to diversify the livelihoods of women associated with Self-Help Groups. While many SHGs continue to remain engaged in activities such as agriculture, livestock rearing and handicrafts, newer livelihood opportunities are emerging in areas including food processing, catering and retail. The approach also seeks to take Self-Help Groups beyond their traditional role in savings and credit by helping members establish enterprises capable of generating sustained income. For Jan, the Kulgam outlet has already developed into an enterprise generating a monthly turnover of more than 2 lakh within five months of its launch. For Begum and her colleagues in Poonch, the hospital outlet is only a month old but has already attracted a strong response from patients, attendants and hospital staff. The experiences of the two groups point to a wider shift in the way women-led Self-Help Groups are approaching livelihood generation. With training, collective effort and institutional support, skills traditionally associated with household work are being taken into the marketplace and developed into organised enterprises. For the women running the two outlets, cooking is therefore no longer confined to the household. It has become a means of earning, contributing to family expenses and building a collective livelihood.

GDCT demands fast track trial, maximum punishment in Chatroo minor girls death

The Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust (GDCT) on Thursday demanded that a dedicated fast-track court be constituted for the expeditious trial of a case related to Chatroo minor girls death, with the proceedings conducted on a day-to-day basis. While expressing profound shock, grief and outrage over the alleged rape and murder of an innocent tribal Gujjar-Bakerwal minor school girl at Gurinallha, Chatroo, Kishtwar, GDCT, in a press conference at its complex in Gujjar Colony, Jammu, also sought that the investigation be completed expeditiously and impartially, preferably within a time-bound period of 15 days. Chairman GDCT, Arshad Ali Choudhary, said that such a barbaric crime against an innocent girl could not be allowed to undermine the sense of safety and dignity of children belonging to marginalized and tribal communities. While addressing the presser, Anwar Choudhary, general secretary, Mohammad Sadiq Azad and Financial Advisor Bashir Ahmed demanded that the investigation be pursued from all possible angles and that no individual involved, directly or indirectly, should escape the process of law. Zulkarnain Chowdhary, who recently led a fact-finding team to the crime spot at Chatroo, apprised the gathering of information emerging from the ground. He stated that the information gathered during the visit warranted a thorough investigation into the possibility of involvement of additional persons or accomplices. He accordingly demanded that the investigating agency widen the scope of investigation, identify and bring every person involved to justice, strictly on the basis of evidence and due process of law, within a time-bound period of 15 days. They demanded that the accused be prosecuted under all applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant laws and senior administrative and police authorities should closely monitor the investigation to ensure transparency, accountability and freedom from any political, social or local interference. All available evidence be preserved and secured, including CCTV footage, forensic material, digital evidence and other relevant material, and the chain of custody of such evidence be maintained in accordance with law. A comprehensive safety audit of schools in remote and tribal areas be undertaken by the concerned authorities, with particular attention to the safety of girl students and vulnerable children, they demanded. They also sought adequate compensation, legal assistance and psychological support be provided to the victims family without delay, in accordance with applicable government schemes and legal provisions. Special measures be undertaken for the protection of tribal girl students residing in or travelling through remote and geographically difficult areas, so that such incidents are prevented in the future, they asserted.