Opinion

President Murmu Gives Assent To Bill to Renaming Kerala As Keralam

President Murmu referred the Bill to the state legislature for its views, following which the Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution agreeing with the Bill

Two years have passed, where is statehood?: Tanvir Sadiq hits out at BJP

Jammu, Aug 17: National Conference leader and MLA Tanvir Sadiq on Monday hit out at the BJP over its protest in Jammu, saying the party had every democratic right to demonstrate but should first answer questions over the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, pending reservation issues and alleged backdoor appointments. Reacting to the BJP's protest against the Omar Abdullah-led government, Sadiq said there was nothing wrong with political parties holding demonstrations, but accused the BJP of resorting to drama and theatrics to remain politically relevant. It is the democratic right of any political party to protest. The BJP has the same right. Absolutely, let them protest, Sadiq said. But the kind of drama and theatrics that the BJP leaders and their president are carrying out todaytwo years have passed. Sadiq said the BJP should instead explain why the commitments of delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood had not been followed through. They should first look within themselves and ask: we were promised delimitation, elections and then statehood. Even after two years, statehood has not come, he said. He alleged that the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had been destroyed and divided into two parts and accused the BJP of making the region dependent on the Centre. They have made us dependent on them for everything, Sadiq said, arguing that the economic and administrative situation would have been different had the changes not been made. He also targeted the Centre over the absence of an Advocate General and the pending reservation file, saying the BJP should explain why, in his view, it is creating obstacles in everything. Sadiq also challenged the BJP over its opposition to alleged backdoor appointments, referring to a recent government press conference on the issue and reports that the BJP planned to gherao the SPSC. My simple question is this: every agency in this country is with the BJP. It would take them just a minute to order an investigation into this, he said. He called for a full investigation, saying, Let there be a proper investigation. The truth will come out. Sadiq further accused the BJP of deliberately misleading people over the issue. If the National Conference or anyone else had made backdoor appointments, they would have investigated it from day one, he said. They deliberately want to mislead the people, and that is the same drama they staged in Jammu today. Taking a swipe at former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Sadiq also revived the National Conference's criticism of the PDP-BJP alliance. Wasn't Mehbooba Mufti the same person who brought the BJP here? he asked, recalling that the National Conference had opposed the alliance. We pleaded with her, saying, for God's sake, don't bring the BJP here; this state will be destroyed, he said. Sadiq said Omar Abdullah had even offered unconditional support at the time to prevent the BJP from entering government in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, all this crying from a distance looks like crocodile tears, he said. Sadiq concluded by positioning the National Conference as the principal political force fighting for Jammu and Kashmir's rights. Today, there is only one political partythe National Conferencethat is fighting both inside the Assembly and outside it for its rights and constitutional rights, he said.

BJP should look within before protesting against Omar Abdullah government: Tanvir Sadiq

Two Air India Group pilots fail initial drug test

New Delhi, Aug 17: Two pilots of the Air India Group have failed the initial drug test as their results came on-negative and their samples have been sent for confirmatory tests, according to a source. On August 13, Air India and Air India Express started mandatory psychoactive substance testing of all their pilots, expanding checks beyond regulatory requirements. These tests were made mandatory following the August 4 incident, when the captain of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight, that suddenly lost altitude, tested positive for marijuana. The source on Monday said psychoactive substance tests have been completed for around 400 pilots of the Air India Group so far. Of them, the initial screening test results have come on-negative for two pilots, the source said. Specific details could not be immediately ascertained. There was no official comment from Air India. The two Tata Group-owned airlines have more than 5,000 pilots. The comprehensive screening covers substances and medications prohibited under prevailing aviation regulations. On August 4 Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320neo flying from Phuket to Delhi, suddenly lost about 300 feet (91 metres) in altitude during cruise amid turbulence. The aircraft was carrying 145 people, including 137 passengers and eight crew members. At least 24 people were injured in the incident. The flight's pilot-in-command tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test. The pilot had initially tested on-negative for a psychoactive substance, with the confirmatory test subsequently identifying marijuana, sources had said.

The 60-day deadline for an Iran peace deal is expiring. Here's where things stand

As the deadline for a resolution on the US-Iran nuclear deal has passed without any advancements, both countries remain firmly entrenched in their positions related to the Strait of Hormuz. Following the collapse of the interim agreement, tensions have de-escalated, yet Iran demands the lifting of blockades and reparative actions, whereas the US persists with its economic pressure.

Bear attacks continue in Khonmoh Srinagar, man injured in third incident in 24 hours

Srinagar, Aug 17: A 30-year-old man was injured after being attacked by a bear in the Khonmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday, officials said. An official told the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) that the man was attacked and injured in Sarhandi Colony, Khonmoh. He said the injured was shifted to SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, where his condition is stated to be stable. The injured was identified as Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat (30), son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, a resident of Sarhandi Colony, Khonmoh. Notably, this is the third bear attack reported in Khonmoh within the past 24 hours, following an attack on a man earlier this morning and a 57-year-old woman on Sunday in the area.(KNO)

Tariq Karra calls BJPs Vande Mataram protest a diversionary tactic

BJP mounts major protest against NC govt in Jammu, accuses it of failing on promises

Jammu, Aug 17: Hundreds of BJP workers, led by Jammu and Kashmir party president Sat Sharma, took to the streets here on Monday to protest against the National Conference-led government, accusing it of failing to fulfil its election promises and address unemployment and development issues. Carrying placards and party flags, the BJP activists gathered at Dogra Chowk, Maheshpura, and Panjtirthi before marching separately toward the Civil Secretariat via Shalimar Road under the leadership of Sharma, Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, and Leader of Opposition in the J-K Assembly Sunil Sharma, raising slogans against the NC-Congress alliance. Several senior party leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alleging large-scale corruption and complete failure of governance. Protesters also set ablaze effigies of the NC-Congress government, while police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in large numbers along the march routes and the Civil Secretariat. Women workers of the BJP Mahila Morcha also participated in the demonstration. Thousands of BJP workers, MPs, legislators and common people are on the roads to express their anger against the NC-led government. The elections were held after a long gap, and the National Conference came to power after making several promises before the elections. But now, when it is time to actually work, they keep raising the issue of statehood to mislead the public, the J-K BJP president said. He claimed that since the government has failed to meet the public's expectations, it's using the statehood issue merely to distract people. They know that people will question them. They have already seen the results in Nagrota and Budgam (by polls), and they know what their situation is going to be. National Conference is a completely failed political party. Unfortunately, our misfortune is that their alliance is with a political party (Congress) which has no respect for the national anthem or the national song, he said. He assured that the BJP wants the government to work effectively and would play the role of a constructive opposition. Sharma warned that the BJP would escalate its agitation if the government did not address public concerns, planning future protests at district, town, and local levels. BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma claimed that the National Conference-led government had failed to tackle basic issues facing the public. He alleged that the government had been unable to ensure adequate civic amenities, including proper roads, electricity and drinking water, despite repeated assurances. He accused the NC government of losing the public's confidence and demanded that it take responsibility for its failures and resign. The leader of opposition also launched a scathing attack on the National Conference government, accusing it of large-scale corruption, administrative failure and poor governance. He said the BJP had initially sought to play the role of a constructive opposition, but alleged that the government's continued failures had left the party with no option but to take its fight to the streets. MLA Sham Lal Sharma said the government would be held accountable from the floor of the Assembly to the streets and alleged discrimination against the people of the Jammu region. MLA Vikram Randhawa also targeted Chief Minister Abdullah, alleging that the government was more focused on protocol and political posturing than addressing the pressing concerns of the people. BJP Mahila Morcha president Neha Mahajan said she specifically raised questions regarding employment opportunities for youth, measures to tackle unemployment, and commitments made towards women. The BJP leaders also said the Centre had already indicated that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time and questioned the NC government over its alleged failure to deliver on the promises made to voters.

J&K LG Manoj Sinha flags off Budha Amarnath Ji Yatra

AI manager fires human worker in real-world experiment

New Delhi, Aug 17: An artificial intelligence system powered by Anthropics Claude has reportedly fired a human worker while managing an experimental retail store in San Francisco, highlighting the emerging possibilitiesand risksof AI taking on managerial roles. The Indian Express, citing a report by Time, said the AI system, named Luna, was put in charge of a real-world retail store operated as an experiment by AI research startup Andon Labs. According to the report, Luna was tasked with running various aspects of the store, including hiring and managing employees, selecting products and handling day-to-day operations. The AI reportedly decided to terminate a worker over repeated attendance issues. The employee had allegedly been late for a significant number of scheduled shifts. However, the decision was not entirely autonomous. Time reported that human researchers intervened and prompted the AI to reconsider the employee's performance before the termination decision was ultimately carried out. The experiment was designed to examine how AI agents perform when given responsibility for running a real-world business and interacting with human employees. Andon Labs has said the experiment is controlled and that the workers remain formally employed by the company, rather than by the AI system itself. The company also maintains that no employee's livelihood depends solely on an AI's judgment. The experiment comes amid growing debate over whether AI systems could eventually take on managerial roles traditionally performed by humans. While AI is increasingly being deployed to automate individual tasks, the San Francisco experiment presents a different scenarioan AI making decisions about human workers themselves. The development also raises questions about accountability, transparency and the safeguards that should be in place when AI systems are entrusted with consequential workplace decisions.

Short: Rescuers dig through rubble in quake-hit Indonesia; death toll at 53

Rahul Seeks Accountability over UGC-NET Exam Cancellation by NTA

Gandhi said thousands of candidates who prepared for years, filled forms, paid the fees, travelled to distant centres, must now do it all again in September

Former Member Parliament Dharampal Sharma passes away

Jammu, Aug 16: Veteran Congress leader from Jammu and Kashmir and former Member Parliament (MP) Dharampal Sharma passed away at his residence in Jammu on Sunday. Being nonagenarian, he was not keeping good health for the past some time, due to age-related ailments. Dharampal Sharma also served as an MLA in J&K Legislative Assembly from Akhnoor segment for four terms. He represented Congress in Rajya Sabha from 1988 to 1994. His last rites will take place today at Shastri Nagar cremation ground at 1 pm. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, on behalf of the party, expressed profound grief and sorrow over the sad demise of veteran Congress leader and prayed for courage to the bereaved family to bear an irreparable loss. Entire rank and file of the Congress party deeply condoles the sad demise and prays for peace to the departed soul, Ravinder Sharma said, in a condolence message.

Six dead, several injured in stampede at Bihar temple

Lakhisarai: At least six people were killed, and several others were injured in a stampede at the Ashok Dham temple in Bihars Lakhisarai district on Monday, officials said. The incident occurred due to a heavy rush of devotees at the temple to offer water to lord Shiva in the holy month of Shravan. #WATCH | Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Rescuers dig through rubble in quake-hit Indonesia; death toll at 53

Ruteng, Aug 17: A day after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake jolted eastern Indonesia, rescue teams recovered six more bodies Sunday, raising the death toll to 53, while many of the thousands displaced spent the night outdoors in fear of aftershocks. Rescuers dug through debris looking for anyone buried beneath landslides triggered by the quake across six regencies on Flores, a predominantly Catholic island in the Muslim-majority country. They focused on three regencies that remained inaccessible -- hardest-hit Manggarai, East Manggarai and Nagekeo. We have cleared most landslides and reopened roads to previously isolated villages, although communication disruptions and power outages continue to hamper search efforts, said Fathur Rahman, head of the search-and-rescue office in Maumere, the capital of Sikka regency. More than 900 homes were destroyed and 450 more damaged in East Nusa Tenggara province, forcing about 5,000 people into temporary shelters. At least 241 homes were damaged in the Flores region alone, said Abdul Muhari, the National Disaster Management Agency's chief for disaster prevention. The quake occurred at a depth of 10 km shortly before 6 am local time Saturday, the US Geological Survey said. Residents fled in panic as tsunami warnings were issued and later lifted. Authorities have since recorded at least 995 aftershocks, but only 46 were felt by residents, Muhari said, adding that 135 people were injured. Many residents at Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo National Park, one of Indonesia's best-known tourist destinations, spent the night outside because of the aftershocks. The shaking was terrifying, so intense that my house nearly collapsed, said farmer Anastasia Imad, speaking from a makeshift tent beside her damaged home. We feared the aftershocks would bring it down on us while we slept. Landslides blocked sections of the Trans-Flores Highway, a roughly 700-km road linking communities across the mountainous island. Relief workers distributed rice, ready-to-eat meals, drinking water, blankets and medicine, while emergency shelters were set up for displaced residents. Authorities said restoring electricity and communications, as well as delivering aid to remote villages isolated by landslides, were among the biggest challenges. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of seismic faults and volcanoes. Flores has experienced some of the country's deadliest disasters. A powerful earthquake and tsunami in 1992 killed about 2,500 people on the island. In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake triggered a tsunami on the island of Sulawesi that killed more than 4,400 people. In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 quake off Sumatra unleashed a tsunami that killed about 230,000 people in a dozen countries.

Sufi Poetry collection Bayaz-e-Wahab Khar unveiled

The complete poetry anthology Bayaz-e-Wahab Khar, based on the works of renowned Kashmiri Sufi saint and poet Wahab Kar was formally unveiled on Sunday during a special ceremony held at Wahab Khar Hall, Shar Shali area of Pampore Tehsil. The event was presided over by noted intellectual and writer Dr. Satish Vimal and was attended by prominent poets, writers, scholars, intellectuals, religious scholars and people from various walks of life. Among those present were Mushtaque Barq (The Chief Editor of the anthology), writer and critic Dr. Ghulam Nabi Haleem, editor Fayaz Arif, Professor Javaid Ahmad Dar, famed musician Krishan Ji Langu and Advocate Ashiq Hussain, besides several other prominent personalities. A special musical programme was also organised during the event, in which eminent folk artists presented Sufi compositions, including selected verses of Wahab Sahib Khar. The soulful performances added to the spiritual and literary ambience of the gathering. In his presidential address Dr Satish Vimal said that this is a well researched anthology of Wahab Khar comprising of all authenticated poetic compositions of the spiritual bard with corrected text after years of research work by a team of experts headed by Mushtaque Barq. The poetry of Wahab Khar is the significant spiritual treatise of Kashmir. The work done by Idara-e-Auqaf Wahab Khar shrine is praiseworthy. Sheikh Waseem of Kitab Mahal has added to the quality of the publication. It is hoped that the translations of Wahab Khars selected compositions is done for wider readership in near future, said Dr Satish Vimal.

Prof Wasiq Abass Dar invited to Kings College London

Kashmiri legal scholar Professor (Dr.) Wasiq Abass Dar has been selected to serve as Visiting Faculty at the prestigious Centre for Transnational Legal Studies (CTLS), London, hosted by Kings College London, for the Autumn/Fall 2026 semester. Prof. Dar will teach courses on International Investment Law and International Commercial Arbitration at CTLS, an internationally recognised centre for the study of transnational legal issues. His selection followed a competitive two-stage process involving an initial screening of candidates and interactive interviews before a specialised selection panel. Prof. Dar is currently serving as Associate Professor and Associate Dean at Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), India. He is recognised for his academic and professional work in the field of international dispute resolution, with particular expertise in international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration and contract law. He has previously held visiting academic appointments at Cornell Law School, New York, and Kings College London. In addition to his academic work, he has extensive practical experience in international arbitration and has assisted arbitral tribunals in high-value commercial disputes. His scholarly work has been widely published in the fields of international commercial law and dispute resolution. Adding to his growing international academic engagements, Prof. Dar has also been invited as a speaker at the 2026 Brunel Summer Programme on International Arbitration, organised by Brunel Law School, Brunel University London, in September this year. He will share the platform with leading international experts in the field of international arbitration. Prof. Dars selection at CTLS, along with his forthcoming engagement at Brunel University London, represents another significant international academic recognition for a scholar from Kashmir and highlights the growing global presence of Kashmiri academics in specialised fields of legal scholarship.

RNAF empowers LoC border children with computer labs, skill centres

In the remote border areas of Karnah and Tangdhar along the Line of Control, where geography and years of instability have long limited opportunities, the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation (RNAF) is building pathways to a brighter future through education, digital learning and vocational skills. The foundation has established educational and skill development centres in some of the most underserved villages and madrasas in the area, ensuring that children receiving religious education also gain modern digital literacy and practical skills for financial independence. At Madrasa Islamia Rozat-us-Salahat in Bagballa, Karnah, RNAF has set up both a Computer Centre and a Skill Development Centre for girls. Students are being introduced to digital tools alongside practical vocational training, including tailoring, aimed at building confidence, self-reliance and entrepreneurship. A similar Skill Development Centre is planned at Amrui Girls Madrasa in Tangdhar, where vocational programmes will complement computer education. At Baba Shah Hamidan Madrasa in Tangdhar, a dedicated Computer Centre for boys is introducing students to technology and digital learning. The centres are equipped with computers and educational software for basic literacy, typing, internet use and access to digital resources. One of the foundations most significant steps has been the establishment of the first-ever Computer Lab in Amrui, one of the villages situated directly on the Line of Control. For years the village lacked basic educational infrastructure. The lab has opened a gateway to digital learning for local children and is seen by residents as a symbol of hope and inclusion. For a young girl in a remote village, technology is more than a learning tool; it is the confidence to realize her voice matters and her mind is boundless. If we expect her to lift up her community, we must refuse to let geography dictate her limits. True digital inclusion ensures she has a seat at the table to shape her own destiny, said Rouble Nagi, Founder and Chairperson of RNAF. Speaking about the broader vision, Nagi said that modern education must harness digital tools to make learning more equitable, relevant and career-ready. We will continue investing in teachers, infrastructure and technology because I firmly believe that education is the most powerful anti-poverty programme. Our students are talented, capable and deserving of every opportunity. With the right support, they can compete globally and thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world. The initiatives, often undertaken with support from the Indian Army, form part of RNAFs wider effort in border areas of Kupwara district. The foundation has been expanding computer and skill centres in Tangdhar and Karnah, with additional facilities planned in nearby villages. These programmes are particularly significant for girls in remote communities, where opportunities for economic independence have traditionally been limited. By equipping young women with employable skills, RNAF aims to create a generation that can contribute meaningfully to their families, communities and the larger economy. Digital literacy is helping students develop critical thinking, problem-solving abilities and technological skills essential for higher education and the modern workforce. Vocational training, especially in tailoring and related skills, offers pathways to sustainable livelihoods. Locals have welcomed the centres as historic firsts that bring modern facilities to places long deprived of them. Through its continued work along Indias frontiers, the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation remains committed to ensuring that children and youth in these areas receive opportunities comparable to their peers elsewhere. By combining education, digital learning and vocational training, the foundation is transforming not only classrooms but also futures in the border villages of Karnah and Tangdhar.

BRO starts work on RBDK road in Uri

Residents of Isham, Darkdote and Nawa Runda areas of Uri have expressed appreciation for the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for the ongoing progress on the Red Bridge-Dheriya-Kathi (RBDK) road, saying the project has brought a visible improvement in connectivity in the strategically important region. The residents said the completion of the Wet Mix Macadam (WBM) layer and the ongoing Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) and Bituminous Concrete (BC) works have significantly improved the road surface. They said the work was progressing at a fast pace while maintaining technical standards and quality control despite the challenging terrain and climatic conditions. Aftab Ahmad Kohli, Lumberdar of Halqa Nawarunda, said the improved road had brought considerable relief to residents who had long faced difficulties while travelling. Mohd Arif, Chowkidar of Nawarunda (Dardkote), also appreciated the efforts of the BRO and said the upgraded road would improve access to essential services for residents. The residents said better road connectivity would not only facilitate the movement of local residents but also improve access to healthcare, education and other essential services. They also said the upgraded road was expected to facilitate the smooth movement of Army vehicles and strengthen connectivity in the strategically significant area. The residents particularly appreciated the role of Project Beacon and HQ 53 RCC in supervising and executing the project, saying the agencies had maintained a focus on workmanship and quality. They expressed hope that the remaining works would be completed at the earliest and that the road would emerge as a reliable all-weather communication link for the people of the region. The residents extended their gratitude to BRO personnel and all agencies associated with the project, describing the road upgrade as important for both the local population and national interest.

Sochalyari village craves for mobile connectivity

The residents of Sochalyari village in north Kashmirs Handwara Sub District said that the area lacks mobile connectivity due to which they were subjected to severe hardships. They said that at a time when people have access to 5g mobile internet across Kashmir, they were still without mobile connectivity. We have to walk several kilometers to reach a specific place where our mobiles catch a signal following which we make a call at the time of emergency. Rest of the time our mobiles are mere playing gadgets, said, a local resident. The students of our area face most of the brunt due to lack of mobile connectivity. The students of different classes arent able to clear their doubts online, even those preparing for different SSB posts are also suffering due to lack of mobile internet, he added. The residents have appealed authorities for redressal of their grievances so that the hardships being faced by them may end.

People rue lack of basic facilities at PHC Magam

The residents of Magam and adjoining villages have complained about inadequate healthcare and lack of basic diagnostic facilities at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Magam in north Kashmirs Handwara sub-district. Residents said that the health centre which was established in 1987 has never remained a priority for concerned authorities. The inadequate staff at PHC Magam has always been a problem due to which patient care has badly hit. This health centre lacks the entire basic infrastructure required for its smooth functioning, Shabir Ahmad a local told Greater Kashmir . Only few doctors and paramedics are posted here which does not suffice the need and is telling upon the smooth functioning of the health centre, he added. The residents said that due to lack of most of the diagnostic facilities here, patients usually prefer to move to Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara which tells upon the inhabitants economically because majority of them belong to the poor class. Residents said that although they have been pressing since many years for specialised doctors including gynecologist but to no avail. Residents demanded that the health centre be shifted to the plain area. They said that since the health centre is located at hilly area so patients don't prefer to visit the centre. Residents have requested concerned authorities and MLA Langate Shiekh Khursheed to look into the matter personally and redress their grievances, so that people can have a sigh of relief.

Government Medical College Srinagar MO waiting list awaited by aspirants

The waiting list for Medical Officer posts at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar has not been released for two months. The list, as per the aspirants is stuck at the Civil Secretariat pending approval. The prolonged delay has left selected candidates in uncertainty, and affecting the timely filling of critical vacancies. Pushed by the ambiguity regarding the release of list, the JK Medical Association today sought that the matter be fast-tracked. Dr. Wasim Khan, Chairman of the association made a post on X account of the association, and requested urgent intervention from the Principal of Health and Medical Education department. He flagged the issue to various functionaries of the Government so that the list can be issued without further delay. These appointments are being made on an Academic Arrangement Basis under S.O. 364 of 2020. The GMC Srinagar conducts the selection, prepares the merit and waiting lists, and forwards them to Health & Medical Education. The final sanction and approval is made by this department before the engagement orders are issued. The main selection list for Medical Officers was processed earlier this year, and engagement orders issued in February 2026, The corresponding waiting list was sent for clearance thereafter. No progress was made after that, the aspirants said. The engagement order documents circulating with the complaint show a substantial list of candidates. The appointments are temporary in nature, initially for one year. Similar delays have been reported in other recent Academic Arrangement recruitments in GMCs. The same association had recently highlighted the non-publication of the Junior Resident waiting list at GMC Handwara. Doctors are of the opinion that faster clearance of such lists is essential to address staff shortages and improve patientcare. GMC Srinagars associated hospitals, including SMHS Hospital have reeled under gross shortage of doctors. Medical Officers and other junior rung of medicos is considered the backbone of healthcare delivery in hospitals.

PDP leaders review developmental projects in Sanatnagar, Chanapora

A delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Srinagar unit, led by party senior spokesperson and Constituency In-charge Chanapora Mohammad Iqbal Tramboo along with Zuhaib Mir, Syed Tajamul, Arif Laigroo, Dr Ali Mohammad, Fayaz Reshi, Bilal Sofi, Farooq Ahmed, Muhammad Altaf and Bilal Dobhi visited Sanatnagar to take stock of newly undertaken developmental projects in various mohallas and residential colonies of the area. As per a press release, during the visit, the leaders interacted with local residents and reviewed the progress of various developmental works being executed across different mohallas and residential colonies. The delegation appreciated the timely response of the Srinagar district administration to issues raised by residents and expressed gratitude to the administration for addressing public concerns and facilitating developmental works. The PDP leaders emphasized that the timely execution of basic developmental projects is essential for improving civic amenities and ensuring better living conditions for residents. They also urged the concerned departments to maintain regular monitoring of ongoing works and ensure their completion within the stipulated timelines while upholding quality standards. The delegation reiterated that the PDP would continue to remain closely connected with the people and take up their genuine issues with the concerned authorities for timely redressal.

J&K NEET-UG 2026 seat matrix likely in a couple of days: JKBOPEE

Over 6,000 medical aspirants across Jammu and Kashmir are awaiting the release of the NEET-UG 2026 seat matrix, with the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) likely to notify the updated matrix within the next couple of days. Chairperson JKBOPEE, Prof. Minu Mahajan, said the seat matrix is expected to be uploaded on the official BOPEE portal on August 15 or a couple of days later. This year, 6,136 candidates from across categories have qualified NEET-UG in Jammu and Kashmir and are awaiting details of the college-wise and category-wise distribution of seats. The reservation structure is also being closely watched by candidates, as it has remained one of the most debated aspects of medical admissions in J&K. Under the existing reservation policy applicable to government medical colleges, 8 per cent of seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes, while Scheduled Tribes have 20 per cent reservation, divided equally between the two ST categories. Other Backward Classes have 8 per cent reservation, while Residents of Backward Areas (RBA) have 10 per cent. A 4 per cent reservation is available for candidates belonging to areas along the Line of Actual Control and the International Border. The Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category has 10 per cent reservation, while 4 per cent of seats are reserved horizontally for Persons with Disabilities (PwD). Horizontal reservations are also applicable to children of defence personnel, ex-servicemen, paramilitary personnel and UT police personnel. The reservation provisions are applicable to government colleges only. Whether the existing reservation structure will remain unchanged for the 2026 admission cycle is likely to become clearer with the release of the final seat matrix. For now, there has been no indication of any change in the category-wise reservation structure. The notification of the seat matrix will mark the beginning of the next stage of the admission process. Online choice filling and seat allotment for MBBS and BDS courses in government and private medical and dental colleges across Jammu and Kashmir are expected to commence soon after. Candidates have already completed the registration process and are now awaiting the detailed distribution of seats across institutions and categories. The total number of MBBS seats in J&K has increased to 1,675, potentially providing more opportunities to NEET-qualified candidates this year. According to the JKBOPEE information brochure for the 2026-27 academic session, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and GMC Srinagar have been listed with 213 MBBS seats each. However, the National Medical Commission (NMC) last month approved an increase in the intake of both colleges to 250 seats each. The updated seat matrix is therefore expected to reflect the revised intake, subject to final notification by BOPEE. SKIMS Medical College, Srinagar, and GMCs Anantnag, Baramulla and Rajouri have 128 MBBS seats each as listed in the brochure. GMC Kathua and GMC Doda have 127 seats each, while GMC Handwara and GMC Udhampur have an intake of 85 seats each. The private Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences (ASCOMS), Jammu, has 150 MBBS seats. Besides MBBS, the seat matrix includes 108 BDS seats. Government Dental College, Srinagar, and Government Indira Gandhi Dental College, Jammu, have 54 BDS seats each.

Formal child adoption remains low in J&K; CARA records 42 cases in 2025-26

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 42 children adopted through the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) during 2025-26, a figure substantially lower than adoption numbers reported by several major States, according to data presented by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in the Rajya Sabha. The State/UT-wise data, furnished in response to a parliamentary question answered on August 12, shows that Maharashtra recorded the highest number of CARA-facilitated adoptions during the financial year, with 792 cases. Gujarat followed with 547, while Tamil Nadu recorded 501 adoptions. Karnataka accounted for 377 cases, followed by Odisha with 308 and Telangana with 307. Jammu and Kashmirs 42 adoptions were also lower than the figures reported by several northern and neighbouring States. Rajasthan recorded 172 adoptions, while Punjab reported 49, only seven more than J&K. Uttar Pradesh registered 231 cases, Haryana 68, Uttarakhand 30, Himachal Pradesh 14 and Delhi 109. Among other States, Assam recorded 186 adoptions, Kerala 170, Andhra Pradesh 140, Bihar 125 and Chhattisgarh 114. West Bengal reported 237 cases, Madhya Pradesh 221 and Jharkhand 60. The data also showed considerable variation among the northeastern States. Meghalaya and Nagaland reported 13 adoptions each, Mizoram 78, Tripura seven, Arunachal Pradesh five and Manipur four. Sikkim recorded 28 cases. Smaller Union Territories and States also reported relatively modest numbers. Goa recorded 25 adoptions, Chandigarh 18, Puducherry 15 and Andaman and Nicobar Islands 11. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu reported five cases. No adoption through CARA was recorded in Ladakh or Lakshadweep during 2025-26. Across the 36 States and Union Territories listed in the annexure, the reported number of CARA-facilitated adoptions stood at 5,022 during the financial year. J&Ks 42 cases therefore accounted for less than one per cent of the reported national total. The Ministry, however, has clarified that adoption figures should be viewed in the context of the availability of children who have been declared legally free for adoption. The waiting period for prospective adoptive parents depends not only on the number of applicants but also on the availability of legally free children and the age group preferred by prospective parents. The government is seeking to strengthen the adoption infrastructure through Mission Vatsalya. States and UTs have been advised to establish at least one Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) in every district under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Adoption Regulations, 2022. As of July 29, 2026, 795 SAAs had been approved across the country under Mission Vatsalya. These agencies support the formal adoption process and provide residential care to adoptable children below six years of age. The adoption system has also been substantially digitised. All SAAs are required to operate through the integrated CARINGS-Mission Vatsalya platform, which facilitates digital processing of cases from referral and matching to documentation. The system also allows authorities to monitor compliance through real-time dashboards at the Central and State levels. The Ministry said District Magistrates have been empowered to issue adoption orders under the Juvenile Justice Act and Adoption Regulations. Prescribed timelines have been laid down for different stakeholders, while CARA undertakes regular monitoring and follow-up with States and UT administrations to reduce delays. The Centre is also using Mission Vatsalya for awareness campaigns promoting legal adoption and foster care. Nationwide and local outreach programmes, workshops, seminars and orientation sessions are being conducted, while CARA uses print, electronic and social media platforms to spread information on legal adoption procedures.

Mehbooba visits flood-hit Rajouri, seeks Govt job for missing workers son

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday visited several flood-affected areas of Rajouri district and met families impacted by the devastating floods of July 19. Accompanied by senior PDP leaders, Mehbooba visited affected localities, interacted with families and expressed solidarity with those who suffered losses in the disaster. During the visit, she also met the family of Abdul Ghani, a daily-wage worker of the Jal Shakti Department who went missing while performing his duties at a water pumping station in Palangarh village of Thanamandi on July 19. The pumping station was washed away after the river swelled following heavy rainfall. Ghani has remained missing since then despite extensive search operations. Speaking to the media, Mehbooba urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to provide a government job to Ghanis son as part of the rehabilitation of the bereaved family. She said Ghani had worked as a need-based worker with the Jal Shakti Department for nearly three decades and went missing while performing official duties. Mehbooba said the government had a moral responsibility to provide adequate financial assistance and rehabilitation to the family, particularly given its difficult economic circumstances. She urged the administration to extend immediate support and take concrete measures to secure the future of Ghanis dependants. The PDP president also expressed concern over what she described as the lack of immediate measures to address the continuing threat of floods in vulnerable areas. I have come to know that there is a need for immediate construction of flood-prevention walls and bunds in many vulnerable areas, but nothing has been done by the government even after 27 days of the tragedy, she said. Mehbooba said residents continued to spend sleepless nights whenever it rains because of the persistent threat of flooding. She further claimed that several water supply schemes in the district were damaged in the floods and that their restoration was still awaited. She called for urgent preventive measures in vulnerable areas and faster restoration of essential services affected by the July 19 floods.

LG addresses inaugural function of Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Yatra

On the auspicious occasion of the commencement of the sacred Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Yatra, the Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha today graced the inaugural function. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor said that the yatra is not merely a physical journey but a profound inward journey towards self-realisation and the eternal consciousness of Lord Shiva. He emphasised that the pilgrimage to Baba Budha Amarnath Ji is a sacred path of devotion, discipline, and unity. The Lieutenant Governor reminded the gathering of the eternal teachings of Lord Shiva- truth, duty, discipline, and compassion. He recalled the spiritual significance of the shrine, where Maharishi Pulastya performed penance and received Lord Shivas blessings, ensuring that the site would remain a centre of faith and devotion for generations. The Lieutenant Governor noted that the sacred river flowing alongside the shrine, known as Pulast Ganga, and the historical traditions of Pulast Nagari (now Poonch), reflect the deep spiritual heritage of the region. He underlined that the yatra is not only a religious pilgrimage but also a symbol of Indias unity in diversity, as thousands of devotees from across the nation walk together, chant together, and surrender together at the feet of Lord Shiva. This Yatra holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. That is why thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the country gather here every year and undertake the yatra together. They walk together and chant the name of lord Shiva together. It is also a symbol of unity in diversity, strength through spirituality and peace through surrender to the Lord Shiva, the supreme power, the Lieutenant Governor said. Drawing upon the episode of Lord Shiva consuming poison during the Samudra Manthan, the Lieutenant Governor stressed that true leadership and devotion lie in absorbing hardships for the welfare of others. He urged pilgrims to imbibe this lesson of patience, sacrifice, and spiritual strength during the yatra. The Lieutenant Governor also commended the efforts of the Baba Amarnath and Budha Amarnath Yatri Nyas, along with the volunteers of Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, who have organised the yatra with devotion and discipline for over two decades. He remarked that discipline, when combined with devotion, illuminates the path for present and future generations. The Lieutenant Governor prayed for the success of the yatra, wishing that Lord Baba Budha Amarnath Ji bless every pilgrim with strength, wisdom, courage, and peace. He called upon devotees to follow the path of dharma and truth in their daily lives, thereby strengthening the nations unity and spiritual fabric. The worship of Lord Shiva permeates the entire cultural and spiritual fabric of India. From Kedarnath in the north to the sacred Rameshwaram in the south, and from Somnath in the west to Tarakeshwar in the east, Lord Shiva embodies the unifying consciousness of our civilisation while binding this vast nation together in harmony amidst its diversity, he said. The yatra will commence tomorrow morning from Bhagwati Nagar with a flag-off ceremony. The Lieutenant Governor extended his heartfelt wishes for a safe, smooth, and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage for all devotees. Swami Dinesh Bharti Ji, Milind Parande, Organising General Secretary, Vishva Hindu Parishad; Kishan Prajapat, National Convenor, Bajrang Dal; Rajesh Gupta, President Vishva Hindu Parishad, J&K; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; senior officials and prominent citizens from different walks of life were present.

Attempts being made to disrupt peace in J&K: LG Manoj Sinha

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday asserted that attempts were being made to vitiate the atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir, however the administration, Police and security forces would not allow any such attempt to disrupt peace to succeed . In a subtle dig at the detractors prophesying that there would be no shoulders in J&K to carry the tricolour post Article 370 abrogation, LG Sinha reiterated that the challenge was met with a resounding response visible everywhere in the current changed scenario and the national flag was being carried by strong and resolute shoulders with pride, respect and commitment. He was responding to the concerns expressed by the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community members about their safety and related aspects in the backdrop of recent terror incidents in Kashmir and alleged threats issued to them. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was addressing the community gathering during a programme related to the foundation day celebration of KP Volunteers, a humanitarian organisation and felicitated its volunteers for their selfless service to the society, here in Jammu. LG Sinha maintained that the way he (LG) understood the problems pertaining to Kashmiri Pandits and their concerns, probably many of the community members themselves could not comprehend it. Im saying it with a great sense of responsibility. Attempts have been made and are being made to resolve those issues and concerns and it is an unrelenting process. The attempts to vitiate the atmosphere and disturb peace here are also made recurrently. But there is no need to worry or feel troubled. All such concerns are being taken care of, at the right quarters. All such measures warranted to tackle that scenario and address those concerns are being taken, he assured. Lieutenant Governor reiterated that the administration was alive to the concerns, including those related to security threats to the community. It is not that the concerned quarters have woken up to such concerns now. The concerned quarters have already been in pro-active mode. Some people also indulge in peddling rumours to serve the cause of vested interests. But I assure you that the entire administration, Police and security forces are resolute in their approach to safeguard peoples security, fully committed to ensure a peaceful environment, LG Sinha asserted and added, The nefarious designs of those who attempt to disrupt peace will not be allowed to succeed, at any cost. Admitting that there were many challenges, the Lieutenant Governor stated that they (challenges) were confronted head-on and resolved. Agreed, there are many challenges as you (KP community members) have mentioned. But there was a bigger challenge than that. It used to be said that there would be no shoulder to carry tricolour here (in J&K). But see the changed scenario, now you not just find countless shoulders but very strong and resolute shoulders to uphold the national flag with pride and respect. You would have witnessed that impactful message of change in the current scenario, he averred. Advising the community to look towards its bright future instead of getting stuck in the past, he said that they were true well-wishers of the community, who were pushing it (community) to forget its past sufferings and wounds to move forward. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor lauded the KP Volunteers six-and-a-half years of tireless work in serving the needy and upholding the values of compassion, duty and humanity. He emphasised that true service was in performing ones duty without expectation of reward. He said KP Volunteers exemplified that spirit, having never sought fame or wealth but embraced service as a sacred duty. The Lieutenant Governor recalled how the organisation began in April 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a single bag of rice donated by the Jammu Ashram of Swami Nand Bab Sahib sowed the seed of a selfless service revolution. He said KP Volunteers had since grown into a trusted platform for humanitarian service across UT of Jammu Kashmir. I am proud that you have made the welfare of others your guiding principle. I believe that KP Volunteers is also living proof that when service is selfless, it continues to grow like light spreading from one lamp to another. I have seen the achievements of the campaigns being conducted continuously by your organisation, and I can say that these figures tell the story of the far-reaching nature of your selfless service. Behind every statistic is a human being and a life that has been touched by assistance, the Lieutenant Governor said. Highlighting the organisations achievements, the Lieutenant Governor noted, Under the Family Adoption Programme, 164 families receive monthly assistance in ration, medicines, and education and through the Emergency Assistance Programme, a number of families have been supported in times of crisis, including surgeries and debt relief. It was also informed that nearly 10,000 online medical consultations were provided during the pandemic and more than 6,500 emergency blood donations were facilitated. The financial Support was also extended for the marriages of daughters from economically weaker families. These are not merely achievements but they are important milestones in a journey of compassion and service, he said. LG Sinha also praised KP Volunteers for adopting Direct Benefit Transfer mechanisms, ensuring accountability and transforming service into a sacred human bond. He described the organisations 411 active volunteers worldwide as the priceless jewels of the Kashmiri Pandit community and urged that their numbers be expanded to meet future challenges in poverty, healthcare, and education. The Lieutenant Governor also outlined four key priorities for the future- Expanding educational assistance to empower youth, strengthening healthcare support, creating a global volunteer network and empowering women through skill development and entrepreneurship, with greater leadership roles for women volunteers. Education is the most powerful instrument for the welfare of all. Empowering children with knowledge and education will prove to be the finest gift we can offer them. There is an urgent need to utilise the potential of the Kashmiri Pandit community settled across the world, as well as that of the Indian diaspora, in order to expand compassion and service and ensure that financial constraints do not obstruct various initiatives, he said. LG Sinha observed that the Kashmiri Pandit community made unique contributions to nation-building, education, philosophy and culture. He said from ancient times to the modern era, scholars, saints and leaders from the Kashmiri Pandit community played a significant role in strengthening the intellectual, cultural and administrative foundations of the country. KP Volunteers should draw inspiration from these great personalities and dedicate themselves to the field of service. Your objective should be to work together to build a future as glorious as your past. You have kindled the flame of service. It is now the responsibility of the entire community to carry this flame forward, he stated. Let us resolve today that we will never allow compassion to diminish. Let us pledge that every hungry child will receive food, every child will receive quality education, every young person will have employment, every sick person will receive medicine, and every struggling family will have the opportunity to live with dignity and honour, the Lieutenant Governor said. Responding to the gatherings demands, LG Sinha reiterated his commitment to the welfare of every member of the Kashmiri Pandit community. Meritorious students were also felicitated on the occasion. Vikram Koul, founder, KP Volunteers organisation; Kuldeep Khoda, former DGP; Dr Arvind Karwani, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner; prominent citizens, members of KP volunteers and people from different walks of life attended the event. Shridhar Patil, DIG JSK Range; Dr Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu and other senior officials were also present.

Srinagars open spaces need protection amid rapid urbanisation: EPG

The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has urged Minister for Youth Services, Sports and Food & Supplies Satish Sharma to safeguard Srinagars sports grounds, playgrounds and open spaces from encroachment, diversion for non-sports activities, fragmentation and neglect. The group said the issue has acquired greater urgency amid the growing problem of drug addiction among young people in Jammu and Kashmir. Accessible sports and recreational facilities, it said, are vital for keeping youth engaged in constructive and disciplined activities. While the Government and society are making concerted efforts to address the growing menace of drug addiction, it would be counterproductive to simultaneously allow the shrinking or diversion of existing spaces where young people can participate in sports and recreation, EPG said. EPG said Polo Ground has served Srinagar for decades as a major sporting and recreational facility and remains an accessible space for young people, sports enthusiasts and the wider community. The ground supports sporting activities, including hockey, football, rugby and athletics, besides being one of the few open spaces remaining in central Srinagar. It would be contradictory to speak of strengthening sports infrastructure and encouraging youth to take up sports while allowing grounds in urban areas to be progressively reduced or diverted for other purposes, it said. EPG urged the Minister to ensure protection of Polo Ground, S.P. College Ground and other sports facilities, playgrounds and public open spaces from avoidable fragmentation or loss. Every available sports and recreational space becomes more important when the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are facing the growing challenge of drug addiction. We need more grounds, more playgrounds and more accessible recreational spacesnot fewer, EPG said. The organisation said it was not opposed to infrastructure development, but maintained that such projects should follow sustainable urban planning and protect existing sporting and environmental assets. EPG urged the Government to ensure that no intervention compromising the sporting utility, open character or heritage value of Polo Ground is permitted without assessment and consultation with sports bodies, urban planners, environmental experts and other stakeholders.

Mirwaiz to deliver sermon at Naqshband Sahib (RA) shrine on Khawaja Digar today

Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar has announced that as per tradition, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq will, deliver a sermon at the revered Shrine of Hazrat Khawaja Naqshband Sahib (RA), Khawaja Bazar, Nowhatta on the auspicious occasion of Khawaja Digar on Monday, 3rd Rabi al-Awwal. The sermon will be delivered from 4:00 pm followed by congregational Asr prayers at 5:30 pm at the historic Astaani Aaliya. The Anjuman has urged devotees to participate in large numbers in this blessed gathering, continuing the centuries-old legacy of the Mirwaizeen of Kashmir.

Female commuters seek safer, less crowded e-bus service in Srinagar

Growing overcrowding in Srinagar's Smart City e-buses has become a major concern for commuters, particularly women, with passengers urging authorities to increase the fleet, strengthen monitoring and expand services to underserved areas. The issue has gained fresh attention in recent weeks amid concerns over women's safety in packed buses, where commuters say travelling during peak hours has become increasingly difficult. Every morning and evening, office female passengers including employees, students and other passengers struggle to board e-buses as vehicles on busy routes are often filled beyond comfortable capacity. Passengers said the rush has increased considerably since the introduction of free bus travel for women, a move that has encouraged greater use of public transport. While welcoming the initiative, they said the existing number of buses has failed to keep pace with the rising demand. These buses have made travelling easier, but overcrowding has become a serious issue. Women often find themselves standing in extremely congested spaces, making the journey uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe. More buses should be introduced, especially during office and school hours, said Shabnam, a commuter from Bemina. Another passenger, Irfan Ahmad of Rajbagh, said overcrowding not only causes inconvenience but also raises safety concerns. People keep squeezing into already packed buses, making it difficult even to move. Authorities should increase the frequency of buses on busy routes so passengers don't have to travel in such conditions, he said. Commuters also said several areas on the outskirts of Srinagar, including the Hazratbal belt, continue to receive limited e-bus services. They urged authorities to extend operations and deploy more buses on these routes to provide better connectivity and reduce dependence on overloaded public transport. Residents of many peripheral areas still don't have adequate access to e-buses. Expanding services there will benefit thousands of passengers and also reduce pressure on buses operating within the city, said another commuter. Greater Kashmir has carried a series of reports highlighting the problem of overloading in public transport, including e-buses and cabs. Responding to the concern, a traffic department official said enforcement drives against overloading have been intensified across the city. Our teams are conducting regular inspections of e-buses, cabs and other public transport vehicles. We appeal to commuters to cooperate with enforcement personnel, avoid forcing themselves into overcrowded vehicles and exercise patience while additional measures are being implemented, the official said. Passengers said that while enforcement is necessary, a lasting solution lies in increasing the number of buses, improving service frequency and extending routes to areas that remain inadequately served. They said such measures would not only reduce overcrowding but also make public transport safer, more reliable and more convenient for thousands of daily commuters, particularly women.

'Employees flag poor implementation of well-being policy at workplaces'

New Delhi, Aug 16: A large number of employees across sectors see poor implementation of well-being policies at the workplace as key to rising stress level, pointing to a widespread gap between having a formal policy and real-life experiences, said a report released on Sunday. The report, 'Beyond the Policy: Lived Experience and Micro-Rituals in Employee Wellbeing', said that 42 per cent of employees find their employers, despite having a policy for workers' well-being, fail in effective execution. The report by workforce solutions and HR services provider Genius HRTech and market research firm DigiPoll is based on inputs from 1,884 employees across sectors, including information technology, manufacturing, finance and BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance), hospitality, FMCG, among others, in an online survey during July 1 and August 3, 2026. While 21 per cent of respondents said well-being is embedded in their everyday work culture, 42 per cent felt good policies exist, but execution varies, indicating that implementation remains a key challenge for organisations, the report said. It also found that pressure created by always-on-work culture is a major stressor, with 42 per cent of respondents identifying constant availability demands as their biggest source of workplace stress. This is followed by unrealistic deadlines and expectations, cited by 21 per cent, it stated. At the same time, 52 per cent said feeling trusted and empowered contributes most to their sense of well-being at work, suggesting that while intrusive culture, micro-management and demeaning behaviour from managerial levels create problems, autonomy and trust can play a significant role in countering workplace stress, said the report. Managerial behaviour has emerged as one of the strongest influences on employees' well-being, with 47 per cent of respondents saying more empathetic managers would make them more comfortable discussing burnout or stress at work, highlighting the importance of leadership behaviour in creating psychologically supportive workplaces, the finding said. Recognition has also emerged as a powerful workplace well-being driver, with 37 per cent identifying recognition of contributions and employee feedback as the managerial action with the strongest positive impact. Employee well-being cannot be treated as just a policy document or an annual initiative. It is experienced through everyday interactions, how managers communicate, whether employees feel trusted, how contributions are recognised and whether people feel safe speaking about challenges. The findings reinforce that organisations need to move from having well-being policies to creating workplace cultures where those policies are lived, Genius HRTech chairman R P Yadav told PTI. Further, the report found that 36 per cent of respondents considered fair workload distribution the most important aspect of a healthy workplace culture, followed by mutual trust and respect at 24 per cent. Well-being has also emerged as a key consideration for employees when evaluating their jobs, with 42 per cent identifying it as a top priority, added the report.

Jammu Runs for Unity | JMCs marathon evokes overwhelming response

An overwhelming participation marked as the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) on Sunday organised the Jammu runs for unity marathon at Bahu Plaza, promoting the message of unity, cleanliness, responsible citizenship and devotion, particularly in the spirit of a clean and environmentally responsible Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. The marathon was flagged off by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, in the presence of Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Dr Devansh Yadav, along with senior officers of the Corporation, including the Joint Commissioner (H&S), Joint Commissioner (Admin) and Health Officer. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from thousands of residents of Jammu, including children, youth and citizens from different sections of society. The overwhelming response reflected the strong spirit of unity, community participation and collective responsibility among the people of Jammu. The marathon aimed to bring citizens together while spreading awareness about cleanliness, environmental protection and responsible civic behaviour. It also highlighted the importance of keeping the city, public spaces and pilgrimage routes clean, hygienic and sustainable, especially during the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. At the conclusion of the event, certificates and prizes were distributed to the winners in the respective categories. The participants were felicitated for their outstanding performance and enthusiastic participation. In the 5 km Mens category, Vivek Sharma secured first position, followed by Raghav Sharma in second place and Mohd Kaif in third place. In the 5 km Womens category, Kriti Devi secured first position, Neelam Dutta second and Sheetal Devi third place. In the 10 km Mens category, Balvinder Singh secured first position, Suraj Kumar bagged second and Rohit Sharma got third position. In the 10 km Womens category, Dishu Thakur secured first position, Deepanshi second and Aditi Kohli third place. The successful conduct of the marathon reaffirmed the Jammu Municipal Corporations commitment to engaging citizens in initiatives that promote a cleaner, greener, healthier and more united Jammu. The event also underscored the importance of collective action and responsible citizenship in making Jammu a cleaner and more sustainable city, officials stated.

Srinagar Premier League 2026 |Downtown Heroes FC beats Kanwal Football Club 30

Downtown Heroes FC produced a strong second-half performance to secure a convincing 30 victory over Kanwal Football Club in an exciting Srinagar Premier League encounter played at TRC Turf, Srinagar, on Sunday. The match, as per a DFA statement, began with both sides showing determination and discipline from the opening whistle. With three points at stake, Downtown Heroes FC and Kanwal Football Club looked to establish control of the game, resulting in a competitive first half. Despite several attacking attempts from both teams, neither side managed to break the deadlock before the interval. The first half ended 00, with both defenses holding firm and the goalkeepers keeping their sides in contention. The second half, however, brought a completely different momentum to the contest. Downtown Heroes FC returned from the break with greater attacking intent and began putting sustained pressure on the Kanwal defence. Their increased intensity eventually paid off as they found the breakthrough and changed the complexion of the game. With the opening goal, Downtown Heroes FC gained confidence and continued to push forward. Kanwal Football Club attempted to respond and get back into the contest, but Downtown Heroes FC remained organised and continued to threaten in the attacking third. The pressure eventually resulted in a second goal for Downtown Heroes FC, giving them a valuable cushion and putting Kanwal Football Club in a difficult position. Kanwal Football Club continued to fight until the final whistle, searching for an opportunity to reduce the deficit. However, Downtown Heroes FC maintained their composure and defensive organisation while continuing to look dangerous on the counter and through their attacking movements. As the match entered its final stages, Downtown Heroes FC added a third goal, completing an impressive second-half display and putting the result beyond doubt. The final whistle confirmed a 30 victory for Downtown Heroes FC, following a goalless first half and a dominant attacking display after the restart. For Downtown Heroes FC, the result will provide significant confidence as they continue their campaign in the Srinagar Premier League. Their ability to remain patient during a difficult first half before producing three goals after the break highlighted their determination and attacking quality. For Kanwal Football Club, the result will be disappointing after they managed to keep Downtown Heroes FC scoreless during the opening 45 minutes. The team showed resilience in the first half but struggled to contain the increased pressure following the restart. The encounter once again showcased the competitive nature of the Srinagar Premier League, with both teams demonstrating commitment and fighting spirit throughout the match. The atmosphere at TRC Srinagar added to the occasion as football fans followed an entertaining contest that remained goalless at half-time before coming alive in the second period. With the 30 victory, Downtown Heroes FC Walk away with all three points, while Kanwal Football Club will look to regroup and return stronger in their upcoming fixture. The match was another important chapter in the ongoing Srinagar Premier League campaign, where every point matters and every performance can have an impact on the standings.

Remote Bani villages struggle with poor mobile connectivity

Several remote and hilly areas of Bani tehsil in Kathua district continue to face poor or completely absent mobile and internet connectivity, causing serious inconvenience to inhabitants despite the installation of telecom towers at several locations. Local inhabitants said that while private telecom operators, particularly Airtel and Jio, have installed towers at various locations, the network remains extremely weak in many pockets, leaving several villages with poor or unreliable connectivity. Internet connectivity is a distant dream; in some areas, we even have to step outside our homes to make a phone call, they maintain, expressing frustration over the persistent communication problem. Main affected areas include Badhyal (Lowang), Bharmota, Doulka, Ghuttu, Kanthal, Sandroon, Sitti, Chandyar, Dhaggar, Dhaman, Duggan and several other remote pockets across the tehsil. According to local inhabitants, except for Bani town, where connectivity is comparatively better, many surrounding areas continue to struggle with weak signals and slow or unavailable internet services. Inhabitants alleged that repeated complaints and representations to the district administration and telecom operators failed to bring any substantial improvement. We have approached the district administration as well as officials of Jio and Airtel several times, but every time we receive assurances. The problem, however, remains exactly where it was, they alleged. The poor connectivity has affected students, employees, businesses and people dependent on digital services. Students, particularly those preparing for competitive examinations, said they faced difficulties attending online classes, downloading study material, submitting online forms and accessing educational resources. The problem becomes even more serious during medical emergencies, accidents and other urgent situations when people are unable to make timely calls to ambulances, doctors or emergency services, they point out. Residents said mobile connectivity and internet access were no longer luxuries but essential services, particularly in remote and hilly areas. The lack of connectivity is hurting our health, education, business and administration, they said. They allege that the issue is not limited to Airtel and Jio. Even at important tourist destinations such as Sarthal and Chattergala, BSNL towers have reportedly been installed, but in some locations the towers are either not functioning properly or provide extremely poor coverage, they point out. What is the point of installing a tower if it does not function properly? Whenever we try to make a call, it gets disconnected immediately. Unless the signal is properly upgraded across the entire area, merely installing towers serves little purpose, inhabitants rue. Local social activist Mudasar Ali of Bani said telecom companies and authorities needed to conduct a proper assessment of the ground situation instead of relying merely on the installation of towers. The people of Bani are regular telecom users and pay for these services. Thousands of families depend on mobile phones for communication, education, business, digital payments and emergency services. With a population of around 80,000 in the area and several mobile phones in almost every household, it is difficult to understand why reliable connectivity remains unavailable in so many pockets, Ali said. He urged Airtel, Jio, BSNL and other concerned telecom operators to inspect the affected areas, identify coverage gaps and take immediate technical measures, including upgrading existing infrastructure and installing additional towers or network equipment wherever required.

From Lolab to Makkah: Kashmiri youth embarks on bicycle journey for Umrah

A young man from Lolab in north Kashmirs Kupwara district has embarked on a bicycle journey to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, travelling across several countries on a journey expected to take around six months. Parvaiz Ahmed, a resident of Devar village in Lolab, passed through Ramban and Banihal along National Highway-44 on Saturday evening while heading towards Jammu. Speaking about his journey, Parvaiz said he first plans to reach Delhi and then travel through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran and the United Arab Emirates before reaching Saudi Arabia. He said he began his journey from his native village on August 10. After reaching Srinagar, he stayed there for a day to get his bicycle repaired before resuming the long journey. Parvaiz said he was undertaking the journey with the hope of reaching Saudi Arabia safely and performing Umrah. He appealed to people to pray for the safe and successful completion of his journey. He also expressed the hope that Allah would bless the country with peace, harmony and prosperity. His unique journey along NH-44 attracted the attention of locals and travellers, many of whom wished him a safe journey and success in reaching Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.

CEAT Ladakh Enduro Park earns Asias highest-altitude motorcycle training arena recognition

Leh, Aug 16: CEAT Limited has announced that its Ladakh Enduro Park has been recognised by the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records as Asias highest-altitude motorcycle training arena. Located at around 3,500 metres above sea level in Leh, the permanent, purpose-built off-road training facility has trained more than 2,500 riders since opening on August 7, 2024. The facility combines Ladakhs challenging high-altitude terrain with a professionally designed track and purpose-built obstacles to help riders develop off-road skills, confidence and motorcycle control. The recognition was announced at a felicitation ceremony held at the Park on Saturday, attended by CEAT officials, adventure riders and members of Ladakhs motorcycle community. CEAT Chief Marketing Officer Lakshmi Narayanan B said the recognition marked a significant milestone for the company, adding that the Park was conceived as more than an off-road track and aimed to provide a structured platform for riders to learn and improve their skills. The Park offers a three-level training programme covering terrain navigation, body positioning, motorcycle control and obstacle management. CEAT has also partnered with the Ladakh Bike Rental Cooperative Association to conduct a Marshal Training Programme. The programme covers off-road riding, first aid and CPR, emergency response, hand signals, motorcycle setup and customer communication. Participants receive certification upon completion. The initiative also seeks to create opportunities for local riders and marshals to develop professional skills and pathways into marshalling and competitive riding, strengthening Ladakhs growing motorcycling ecosystem.

Back-to-back hailstorms deepen losses for Shopian apple growers

Shopian, Aug 16: Thousands of apple farmers in south Kashmirs Shopian district are counting fresh losses after back-to-back hailstorms damaged orchards across dozens of villages, renewing demands for a comprehensive crop insurance scheme to protect growers from increasingly frequent weather shocks. The latest hailstorm on August 14 battered villages including Kapran, Mandujan, Feripora, Pudsoo and Batgund, damaging apples that were approaching harvest. Mohammad Irfan, an affected farmer, said marble-sized hailstones pounded his orchard, leaving bruises on the fruit and making much of the crop difficult to sell at premium prices. He said his orchard suffered nearly 100% damage. Without any protection, we are exposed to mounting losses, Irfan said. The repeated weather events have heightened concerns among growers, many of whom say they have limited options for recovering losses from damaged crops. Political leaders and farmers groups have renewed their calls for the introduction of a crop insurance scheme in Jammu and Kashmir. Zahoor Ahmad Rather, president of the J&K Apple Farmers Federation, said growers were yet to recover from earlier weather shocks when another hailstorm struck the region. Without a comprehensive insurance scheme, farmers will continue to bear the brunt of the weather, Rather said. He said the government should introduce an insurance mechanism that covers crop losses caused by hailstorms, strong winds and other extreme weather events, arguing that repeated damage was making apple cultivation increasingly risky for small and medium growers. Rather said that some farmers have lost their entire crop to gusty winds and hailstorms. The latest storm came less than two weeks after intense winds and hailstorms wreaked havoc on apple orchards in more than two dozen villages of south Kashmir on August 6. The successive weather events have raised fears of a wider impact on the regions apple economy, with growers facing losses at a critical stage of the production cycle. Apples damaged by hail are often downgraded in quality and fetch substantially lower prices, while severely damaged fruit may have little or no market value. A senior official in the Horticulture Department on Sunday said the extent of damage from the latest hailstorm was being assessed. Assessment is currently under way, the official said, adding that some villages had suffered more than 90% damage. For farmers, however, the immediate concern is not only the scale of the latest losses but the lack of a financial safety net against recurring weather shocks. With hailstorms and high winds becoming a recurring threat during the growing season, growers say compensation after every disaster is not enough and want a structured insurance system that can provide timely support and allow them to continue investing in their orchards.

Damaged footpath turns into dumping spot at Prem Nagar Chowk

In the heart of Jammu city, a damaged footpath at Prem Nagar Chowk near Jogi Gate has become a major cause of concern for local residents. The 10-metre-long footpath lies in a dilapidated condition and has turned into a dumping spot, with garbage, mud and debris accumulating at the site. The neglected area has also witnessed the growth of bushes, while the nearby drain remains clogged with soil and waste. Stray dogs frequently use the spot, further worsening the sanitation situation and causing inconvenience to residents and pedestrians. The damaged footpath stands in stark contrast to the beautification works being carried out across Jammu under the Smart City project, where modern footpaths, electric poles and other civic infrastructure have been developed. Residents have appealed to Jammu Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dr Divyansh Yadav to take immediate cognizance of the issue and ensure early repair and restoration of the footpath.

J&Ks artisan base swells to 4.61 lakh, 13,264 added in a year

Srinagar, Aug 16: Jammu and Kashmirs handicrafts and handloom sector is undergoing a broad push towards formalisation, financing and market expansion, with 4,61,381 artisans and weavers now registered across the Union Territory and 13,264 more added during the current financial year. The expansion in the registered workforce comes as the sector seeks to build on a strong export performance, with handicraft exports reaching Rs 817.39 crore in 2025-26 and another Rs 73.85 crore recorded in the first quarter of the current financial year. Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, highlighted the export figures during a review of the sector, while officials outlined a series of measures aimed at addressing some of the long-standing constraints faced by artisansfrom access to institutional credit and product certification to skills, branding and markets. Of the 13,264 artisans and weavers newly registered this year, 7,919 are from Kashmir and 5,345 from Jammu. The registration numbers, however, tell only part of the story. The department has identified a sizeable financing gap among the artisan community, with 1,63,875 artisans in Kashmir and 34,520 in Jammu analysed for coverage under credit schemes. Around 56 per cent of those assessed have been covered under credit schemes, while the remaining 44 per cent have been identified for focused financial onboarding. Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, Mussarat-ul-Islam, said the department was promoting the Credit Card Scheme for Artisans and Weavers, under which beneficiaries can access credit of up to Rs 2 lakh with a 7 per cent interest subvention for five years. During the current financial year, 2,750 cases have been sponsored under the scheme, resulting in disbursement of Rs 868.60 lakh so far to artisans across J&K. The department is also attempting to make the subsidy and credit process more efficient. Data synchronisation and automated interest subsidy mechanisms are being strengthened through J&K Bank API integration and Aadhaar seeding, officials said. The objective is to reduce delays and improve the delivery of financial benefits to beneficiaries. A parallel effort is underway to strengthen quality certification, particularly for Pashmina, where authenticity and quality directly influence the market value of the product. The Pashmina Testing and Quality Certification Centre (PTQCC) has been upgraded with five categories of advanced equipment, including a Projection Microscope, OFDA-4000, two High-Resolution Digital Microscopes and a Scanning Electron Microscope. The technological upgrade has nearly tripled the centres testing capacity. The testing waitlist has fallen by around 40 per cent, with the waiting period now reduced to 30-45 days, while the centre is now handling between 120 and 140 tests a day, officials said. The department is also expanding common infrastructure for crafts outside the traditional Pashmina and carpet ecosystem. Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Jammu, Mohammad Nazir Sheikh, informed the review that three Common Facility Centres focused on bamboo product diversification and agarbatti manufacturing have been completed at Sallan, Sumb and Billawar. The centres have been completed at project costs of Rs 2.87 crore, Rs 3.42 crore and Rs 3.39 crore respectively. In Budgam, the proposed Sonpah Craft Village has moved forward with the formal transfer of land to the Industries and Commerce Department. The project has a total cost of Rs 10 crore, against which the first tranche of Rs 4.50 crore has already been released. The government is simultaneously expanding the use of geographical indication (GI) protection to strengthen the identity and traceability of J&Ks traditional products. As many as 63 crafts from J&K have been registered under the GI framework, including 39 from Kashmir and 24 from Jammu. The department has issued 97,178 GI labels so far, including 14,714 during the current financial year. The Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT), Srinagar, has taken the authentication exercise further by GI-tagging and labelling 22,500 carpets using QR-code technology. The QR-based system provides an additional mechanism for authentication and traceability, potentially allowing buyers and other stakeholders to verify the identity of registered products. The GI portfolio is also being expanded. Six Kashmir crafts, including Copperware and Wagguv reed mats, have been proposed for GI registration, while 10 new dossiers for Jammu craftsincluding Jammu Dogri Suit and Palm Leaf Craftare under evaluation. The government is also seeking to connect traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design and newer consumer markets through institutional collaborations. Training programmes under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) initiative are being conducted in collaboration with NIFT Srinagar. A proposal for dedicated 15-day, one-month and one-year certificate and diploma courses has also been submitted to the Administrative Department. On the digital commerce front, 1,871 artisans and weavers have so far been onboarded onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The move provides artisans another route to reach consumers and markets, potentially reducing their dependence on conventional intermediary channels. The scale, however, remains relatively small compared with the overall registered artisan base, making wider digital adoption a key challenge for the department. Physical retail infrastructure is also being planned as part of the market-access strategy. The proposed PM Ekta Mall at Rail Head, Jammu, is expected to move into the tendering stage shortly. Officials have targeted allotment of the work by mid-October, with construction expected to commence by the end of the month. In Srinagar, the proposed PM Unity Mall at Kashmir Haat is planned over 1.77 lakh square feet and will have 61 commercial units. The project is scheduled to enter the tendering stage, with the e-NIT proposed to be floated and bids opened on September 14, 2026. The proposed malls are intended to provide prominent and dedicated platforms for handicrafts, handlooms and other locally produced goods, giving artisans and producers access to organised retail spaces. For a sector that now has more than 4.6 lakh registered artisans and weavers, the scale of the challenge is considerably larger than simply expanding registration.

Census 2027 | Population enumeration to begin in Ladakh, J&K snow-bound areas from September 1: CPCO Amit Sharma

Leh , Aug 16: Chief Principal Census Officer for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Amit Sharma said the second phase of Census 2027, Population Enumeration, will begin in Ladakh and Snow-Bound non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir from September 1, following the successful completion of the house-listing operation. Addressing a press conference, Amit Sharma, Chief Principal Census Officer (CPCO) and Director Census Operations (DCO), Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh UTs, disclosed that the Directorate has completed key preparations for Population Enumeration (Phase-II) of Census 2027 in the Union Territory of Ladakh and the notified snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir. He stated that while the entire Union Territory of Ladakh will be enumerated during September 2026, Population Enumeration in the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir will also be undertaken during the same period. The exercise assumes particular significance as Ladakh will be the first Union Territory to be completely enumerated during the second phase, providing the first comprehensive Census-based demographic picture of Ladakh in its present administrative configuration, with 00:00 hours of October 1, 2026 as the reference date for population data. Sharma mentioned that on the 15th August, the 80th Independence Day, the Prime Minister, while addressing the citizens from the rampart of Red Fort, Delhi, specially appealed to the public of the nation to participate in self-enumeration for upcoming Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027 in a big way by sharing accurate data which shall indeed lay a strong foundation towards making India, a developed nation by 2047. CPCO Amit Sharma shared that, as the entire Union Territory of Ladakh is snow-bound during the winter months, so Ladakh will emerge as the first one amongst all states/UTs in the nation to complete Census 2027 exercise by the end of September itself. Emphasising the digital nature of Census 2027, Amit Sharma said that the Census is being conducted through a digital mode, marking a significant transformation in the conduct of the decennial Census. He further informed that Self-Enumeration (SE) for Phase-II will be available from 17 August to 31 August 2026, which shall be limited to the geo-fenced snow-bound areas only and it shall be available on the weblink se-snowbound.census.gov.in for the public residing in these areas. Sharma said, an estimated 637 Enumeration Blocks (EBs) will be created for complete coverage of Ladakh during September 2026. The exercise will be preceded by Self-Enumeration from August 17 to 31, 2026, followed by field Population Enumeration from September 1 to 30, 2026. The field exercise will build upon the digital framework created during Phase-I, when 579 House Listing Blocks across 17 Charges were covered in Ladakh through digital means. He shared that in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the second phase will cover the snow-bound areas spread across 16 districts and 95 Charges, for which an estimated 4,146 Enumeration Blocks are being formed. The districts covered are Poonch, Kathua, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Kupwara, Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam. These Enumeration Blocks will build upon the 3,769 House Listing Blocks covered across these 95 Charges during Phase-I, providing the operational framework for the forthcoming individual-level enumeration. CPCO Amit Sharma said that the decision to undertake Population Enumeration in these areas during September 2026 has been guided by the geographical and climatic conditions of the region. The timing has been planned to ensure that snow-bound and difficult-to-access areas can be reached effectively before the onset of harsher winter conditions. In Ladakh, where settlements are widely dispersed and terrain presents unique operational challenges, special attention is being given to Enumeration Block demarcation, field logistics and deployment of trained personnel so that geographical difficulty does not become a barrier to complete and accurate enumeration. CPCO Amit Sharma expressed confidence on the preparations for Ladakh and the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir also include arrangements for special charges, including establishments of military and paramilitary forces. Coordination is being undertaken with the concerned authorities to ensure that all eligible population groups and establishments falling within the Census framework are appropriately covered. This forms part of the Directorate's broader objective of ensuring that difficult geography, institutional location or mobility does not result in any eligible population being left outside the Census coverage. Sharma told that second phase follows the successful completion of the House Listing Operations from June 1 to June 30, 2026, across both Union Territories. The first phase achieved 100 per cent digital data collection without major technical difficulties. In Jammu & Kashmir, 24,071 House Listing Blocks were created across 295 Charges, while Ladakh covered 579 House Listing Blocks across 17 Charges. More than 27,000 Census kits were dispatched to Charges in Jammu & Kashmir, while more than 800 kits were distributed in Ladakh, with additional stock maintained as reserve. Amit Sharma stated that Population Enumeration will generate detailed information relating to population distribution, household characteristics, demographic composition, education, economic activity, migration, disability, language, fertility and other population characteristics. For Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, such information will be particularly valuable in understanding demographic patterns across remote, rural, urban, border, tribal and high-altitude areas and in strengthening the evidence base for future planning and policy formulation. Emphasising the importance of public cooperation, Amit Sharma urged all residents of Ladakh and the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir to actively participate in the forthcoming Population Enumeration and provide complete and accurate information to Census Enumerators and Supervisors. He stressed that the success of the second phase will depend on close coordination between the administration, Census functionaries and residents, particularly in areas where terrain and weather make field operations more challenging. Sharma expressed confidence that the extensive preparations, structured training, digital systems and field-level coordination put in place by the Directorate would ensure the complete, accurate and timely conduct of Population Enumeration in Ladakh and the snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, marking another significant milestone in the implementation of Census 2027 through digital means. He appealed to all residents of Ladakh UT and residents of snow-bound areas falling in sixteen districts of J&K UT to actively participate in the Self-Enumeration process and contribute to this important nation-building exercise. He urged public to make use of the digital Self-Enumeration facility residing in these areas and ensure that their information is accurately recorded.

Bangladesh asks India to create conducive environment for Bangladesh PM visit to India

Dhaka, Aug 16: Bangladesh has asked India to create a conducive environment for a possible visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to New Delhi, even as Dhaka pressed for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives, The Daily Star reported on Sunday. Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shahidul Karim said Dhaka had made its position clear to India regarding Rahmans proposed visit. We have made our position clear on this matter. We are of the view that an appropriate environment needs to be created for this visit, Karim said during a media briefing, according to The Daily Star. He said Bangladesh had requested Indian authorities to expeditiously act on its demand for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and others. According to the newspaper, Bangladesh and India have remained in contact for several weeks over the possibility of Rahman undertaking a bilateral visit to India. Diplomatic sources have indicated that the Bangladeshi Prime Minister could visit India between August 20 and 25, although the specific dates are still under discussion. The proposed visit comes amid uncertainty over Rahmans possible travel to New Delhi in connection with the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12-13. The Bangladesh spokesperson reiterated Dhakas balance-first policy in conducting relations with other countries, including its neighbours. He said Bangladeshs foreign policy would be guided by sovereignty, equality, national dignity, non-interference in each others internal affairs and mutual benefit. Rahman met Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi last week and, according to reports, raised the issue of Sheikh Hasinas extradition. Trivedi subsequently held a one-to-one meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on August 11, a day after his meeting with Rahman in Dhaka. The developments come as Bangladesh seeks to recalibrate its ties with India following major political changes in Dhaka.

Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth to visit Nepal from August 17 to 19

New Delhi, Aug 16: Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth will undertake an official visit to Nepal from August 17 to 19 to further strengthen defence cooperation and military-to-military ties between the two neighbouring countries, the Army said on Sunday. During his three-day visit, General Seth will hold meetings with senior Nepalese military and civilian officials and discuss issues of mutual interest. On August 17, the Army Chief will lay a wreath at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel and receive a Guard of Honour at the Nepali Army Headquarters. He will also meet the Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepali Army and receive a briefing from the Director General Military Operations of the Nepali Army. General Seth will later attend an investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, where Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel will confer on him the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepali Army. The conferment of the honorary rank is part of the unique tradition between the Indian and Nepali armies, under which the army chiefs of the two countries are accorded honorary general ranks by the other country. On August 18, General Seth will address student officers undergoing the Army Command and Staff Course at Shivapuri. He will also interact with instructors and foreign student officers and meet senior dignitaries to discuss matters of mutual interest. The Army Chief will travel to Pokhara on August 19, where he will attend an ex-servicemen rally, felicitate Veer Naris and gallantry awardees, and interact with Indian Army veterans before returning to India later that day. The Army said the visit highlights the deep-rooted historical, cultural and military ties between India and Nepal and will provide an opportunity to explore new avenues of cooperation between the two armies. India and Nepal share close historical, social and cultural ties, often described as the Roti Beti Ka Rishta. The Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodhgaya links further underline the close people-to-people connections between the two countries. The two countries also share a commitment to democratic values and regional peace and stability, the Army said, adding that these shared interests form the basis of their close and enduring partnership.

Proud to be 'dimagi Naxal': Cong's P Chidambaram hits back at PM

New Delhi, Aug 16:Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'dimagi naxal' remark, and said, I am proud to be a dimagi naxal. Chidambaram's dig at the PM came a day after Modi warned the country about the 'dimagi naxals' who have allegedly entrenched themselves in the system and continue to pose a threat to society by manipulating policies. Modi urged the citizens to identify and isolate them. Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, the prime minister said the country had succeeded in removing armed Naxalism from the forests but warned that its ideological supporters were seeking opportunities to promote violence and anarchy.

Best of BS Opinion: Quick fixes cannot substitute for structural reform

We see a pattern in messages across these pieces: Temporary management can buy time, but durable change needs structural reform

Israel intensifies strikes on Southern Lebanon killing 11 as Iran-Oman talks continue over Strait of Hormuz

New Delhi, Aug 16: Israel has intensified its military operations in southern Lebanon, killing at least 11 people in what Al Jazeera described as the deadliest attacks since a US-brokered ceasefire framework was agreed in June, while tensions between Iran and the United States remain high over the Strait of Hormuz and the future of negotiations. Israeli forces continued to bombard southern Lebanon on Saturday, with explosions reported near Ali al-Taher Heights following a series of attacks that left at least 11 people dead. In an overnight Israeli strike hit a family home in Ansar in southern Lebanon, killing at least seven people, including children, according to Al Jazeera. The latest attacks have raised fresh concerns about the durability of the US-brokered ceasefire framework reached between Israel and Lebanon in June. Lebanese and Iranian authorities have condemned the strikes, while the Arab League described the escalation as a serious threat to efforts to resolve the conflict. An Arab League spokesperson said the attacks could undermine attempts to end the fighting and accused Israel of seeking to prolong the confrontation and impose a new reality on the ground. The Arab League also called on the international community, particularly Washington, to restrain Israel and ensure compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Adopted in 2006, the resolution calls for an end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and requires the cessation of attacks by Hezbollah and offensive military operations by Israel. The US State Department, however, told Al Jazeera that Hezbollah bears responsibility for the continued presence of Israeli forces on Lebanese territory. The US official described Hezbollah as the principal obstacle to Lebanon's economic recovery and said a proposed pilot zone arrangement remained the most viable route towards peace. Under the arrangement, Israeli forces would withdraw from certain areas while Lebanese troops would move into them. The latest violence comes amid continuing uncertainty over whether the June ceasefire framework can hold as Israel maintains military positions and carries out strikes in parts of southern Lebanon. The escalation also comes against a wider regional backdrop, with Yemen's Houthis launching another ballistic missile towards the government-held city of Marib, according to local officials, while Syrian civil defence teams dealt with a fire reportedly caused by Israeli forces firing flares in the town of al-Rafid. Meanwhile, Hamas political bureau chief Khalil al-Hayya is expected to travel to Cairo for talks aimed at consolidating the Gaza ceasefire. Iran-US standoff deepens as Tehran links Hormuz reopening to US actions On the Iran-US front, the immediate focus remains on the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, where Tehran says it is continuing discussions with Oman on possible new shipping routes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran and Muscat could reach an agreement soon on a new route through the waterway. But he stressed that reaching an agreement on shipping routes and reopening the Strait of Hormuz were two separate issues, according to Al Jazeera. Araghchi said reopening the waterway would depend on Washington fulfilling conditions under a memorandum of understanding signed in June. Among Tehran's demands are an end to US sanctions and the release of Iranian assets, he said. Irans foreign minister said that Tehran and Oman may reach an outcome soon on a new route in the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported. However, Araghchi made clear that any decision to reopen the waterway would depend on the fulfilment of wider conditions by the United States. The comments underline the distance that remains between Tehran and Washington despite diplomatic messages being exchanged through intermediaries. Araghchi said on Friday that no decision had been taken on returning to direct talks with the United States. Qatar and Pakistan, meanwhile, have been exchanging messages between the two sides in an effort to keep diplomatic channels open. The standoff has been further complicated by US President Donald Trump's comments on the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has said that after what he described as defeating Iran, he would declare the strategic waterway US territory. Tehran responded sharply, saying on X that the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian. US officials, meanwhile, have indicated that Washington could maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports indefinitely and impose additional economic measures on Tehran. The Trump administration has increasingly signalled that it would prefer economic pressure to launching another major military offensive. For Iran, however, the reopening of the Strait remains tied to broader political and economic demands. The waterway is crucial to global energy supplies, making the dispute over its status and shipping routes a major international concern. The developments also highlight the fragile nature of the wider regional situation. While diplomatic efforts involving Oman and other intermediaries continue, the continuing violence in Lebanon and the unresolved confrontation between Iran and the US leave the region facing the risk of another escalation.

A block is never just a block

There is a peculiar question that follows children into school almost as soon as they are old enough to speak: What are they learning? We ask it of parents, teachers and, increasingly, of the children themselves. Are they recognising letters? Can they count? Can they write their names? Can they identify colours and shapes? Are they school ready? These questions are not unreasonable. But when asked too early, and too narrowly, they can obscure a more fundamental question: What does learning actually look like in the early years? For a three-year-old, learning is rarely a neat progression from instruction to answer. It is more likely to appear as an elaborate pretend game, a child watching another child before joining in, a block being transformed into a building, or a conversation that begins with Spider-Man and somehow arrives at ideas about good and evil. The difficulty is that much of this learning is difficult to display on a worksheet. And perhaps that is precisely why we underestimate it. Early childhood education has historically occupied an uncomfortable position within formal schooling. We recognise childhood as a period of rapid development, yet we repeatedly attempt to organise it through the logic of later schooling. The pressure begins early: children are expected to demonstrate literacy, numeracy, writing and other recognisable academic competencies, at the cost of the less visible capacities that make later learning possible. The irony is that developmental research and educational thought have repeatedly told us that young children learn through experience, interaction, exploration, play and language. Yet educational practice can still treat these as preliminary activities, something children do before the real learning begins. The foundational years demand a broader conception of learning precisely because children at this stage are constructing the foundations upon which later academic learning will depend. Their capacity to communicate, collaborate, regulate emotions, represent ideas in different forms such as through plasticine or drawings, ask questions and make connections is not separate from academic development. It is part of the ecology in which academic development becomes possible. John Deweys understanding of education as rooted in experience reminds us that learning is not simply the transmission of information from teacher to child. Experience becomes educational when it contributes to growth and opens possibilities for further experience. For young children, this makes play particularly significant. Play is not merely an interval between lessons; in fact, it is one of the principal ways in which children encounter, test and reinterpret their surroundings. A child building something, pretending, sorting, experimenting or negotiating is actively making sense of experience. Lev Vygotskys work takes this argument further by placing social interaction at the centre of cognitive development. Children do not develop their capacities in isolation. Their thinking is mediated through language, relationships, cultural tools and interactions with others. A childs negotiation over a toy, therefore, can be a significant learning moment, not just a simple pause in what they are doing. It can become an encounter with turn-taking, perspective, language, social rules and cooperation. When children attempt to resolve a disagreement, they are not simply learning how to behave; they are learning how to live with other people. The question, then, is not whether such encounters constitute learning. The more important question is whether our educational systems are prepared to recognise them as learning. Indian educational ideas remind us that early childhood should not be treated as a miniature version of formal schooling. Gijubhai Badhekas work challenged rigid and authoritarian approaches to childrens education and placed importance on freedom, affection, stories, play and the childs experience. Tarabai Modaks experiments in early childhood education similarly demonstrated the value of developing pedagogical practices that emerged from childrens surroundings and lived realities rather than simply imposing formal school structures upon them. Their work invites us to consider what early education might look like if the child were treated not as an incomplete student waiting to become school-ready, but as an individual already capable of curiosity, interpretation and meaning-making. These ideas are not relics of an earlier educational imagination. They remain remarkably relevant to India today. The National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage, developed within the framework of the National Education Policy 2020, places play, activity, exploration, interaction and childrens experiences at the centre of foundational learning. It recognises that young children learn through multiple modes and that the foundational stage cannot simply reproduce the pedagogical methods of later schooling. The policy direction is therefore encouraging. The challenge is to ensure that the philosophy travels from policy documents into the everyday life of classrooms. That requires us to imagine what those classrooms should actually become. An ideal early childhood classroom should not be designed primarily around the question of how much content can be delivered. It should be designed around the question of how much meaningful thought, interaction, movement, exploration and expression it can invite. It should be a space in which children can encounter materials without being told that there is only one correct way to use them. A block should be allowed to become a house, a bridge, a vehicle, a person or something that has no name at all. Paper should be available not only for reproducing what an adult has demonstrated but for drawing, experimenting and representing ideas. Stories should invite questions rather than merely test recall. Spaces should allow children to move, pause, work together and sometimes work alone. The physical environment itself can become part of pedagogy. Classrooms for young children should ideally invite children to see themselves as participants in the space rather than visitors within an adult-designed room. Materials should be accessible. Childrens work should be visible. There should be opportunities for drawing, construction, dramatic play, reading, movement and quiet observation. Where possible, children should have access to natural light, outdoor spaces and views of the natural world. A classroom that allows children to notice a tree, observe changing light, hear birds or watch the weather is already connecting the indoor world of schooling with the world children are trying to understand. A child who can reach for a material, choose between possibilities, return to an unfinished construction and decide how to use a space is being given repeated opportunities to exercise judgement. Over time, such experiences can foster independence and a sense of responsibility for ones own learning environment. Children think through movement, drawing, construction, dramatic play, gesture, sound, objects and conversation. Malaguzzis idea of the hundred languages of children remains powerful because it asks education to expand its understanding of what counts as expression. Indian classrooms can ask the same fundamental question: How many ways are we allowing children to think? A classroom designed around this question could foster creativity, confidence, communication, collaboration, curiosity and the ability to approach uncertainty without immediately demanding an answer. It could give children repeated experiences of forming an idea, testing it, changing it and trying again. These are dispositions that become increasingly important as children move through formal education. There is another misconception that deserves attention: the idea that free play means the absence of pedagogy. It does not. The distinction is between an environment in which children are merely left alone and one in which they have meaningful opportunities to explore while attentive adults observe, listen and intervene thoughtfully. The latter requires considerable pedagogical judgement. A teacher must know when to step in and when to wait, when to resolve a conflict and when to allow children to negotiate, when to answer a question and when to return it to the group, and when a behaviour requires an immediate boundary and when it requires closer observation. This is not less teaching. It is a different kind of teaching. Indeed, it may demand more from the teacher than conventional instruction. In a highly structured lesson, the teacher often knows what children are expected to do and what a successful response should look like. In an exploratory environment, the teacher has to observe what children are actually doing and make pedagogical decisions in response. Consider childrens questions. Young children ask questions that adults can easily dismiss because they appear disconnected from the formal curriculum. A child may ask whether birds have different names and different sounds just as humans do, and then wonder how people can produce different sounds while having the same body parts. On the surface, this may sound like a passing curiosity. In fact, the question contains several layers of conceptual thinking: comparison, classification, observation, language, identity and causation. The most educational response may not be to provide a complete answer. It may be to protect the question. A teacher can ask children to investigate, speak to adults at home, observe something in their surroundings and return with what they have discovered. In doing so, the question moves beyond the classroom. The child begins to experience knowledge not as something that exists only in the teachers possession, but as something that can be pursued. That distinction is crucial for the development of inquiry. The teacher does not lose authority by saying, I dont know; lets find out. Instead, the teacher models intellectual curiosity. The classroom becomes a community in which uncertainty is not treated as failure but as the beginning of investigation. This is where the curriculum becomes genuinely responsive. Planned learning should remain open to the questions, interests and experiences children bring into it. This connects with the idea of an emergent curriculum: curriculum that develops through attentive observation of childrens interests and responses rather than being determined exclusively in advance. Such a curriculum can also foster a different relationship between teachers and children. Instead of asking only whether children have reached predetermined outcomes, teachers begin to ask what children are noticing, what they are trying to understand and what experiences might help them move their thinking forward. But there is a tension here that educators should not ignore. Children need freedom, but they also need structure. They need opportunities to choose, but they also need adults who establish boundaries. They need to express anger, but they also need to learn that hurting another person is unacceptable. This becomes particularly important when considering conflict. A young child who grabs a toy, refuses to share or hits another child is not necessarily displaying a fixed behavioural trait. Young children are still developing emotional regulation, language and social understanding. They may experience strong emotions before they possess the vocabulary necessary to communicate them. They need adults who can help transform an impulse into language. Dont hit is necessary, but it cannot be the entire pedagogy. The child also needs to learn how to say, I want a turn, I am angry, Can I play? or I dont like that. In this sense, early childhood education is also the development of a language through which children can express desire, disagreement, fear, affection and frustration. The same is true of emotional development. A classroom in which children are permitted to name emotions, talk about experiences and seek comfort can foster emotional vocabulary and self-awareness. A classroom that treats every expression of frustration as disobedience may instead teach children to suppress the expression without necessarily helping them understand the emotion. This does not mean that every behaviour should be accepted. It means that discipline should have an educational purpose. The aim should not simply be to produce quiet children. It should be to help children gradually become capable of managing themselves, understanding others and participating responsibly in a community. This is also why the apparently insignificant conversations that occur during transitions can matter. Children sometimes talk most freely when adults are not formally questioning them. While putting materials away, waiting, washing hands or preparing for the next part of the day, a child may suddenly mention a sibling, a friendship, something that happened at home or a worry that has been occupying their mind. Such moments remind us that listening is itself a pedagogical practice. A child who is quiet may be tired, uncertain, absorbed, uncomfortable or simply unwilling to speak. A child who talks constantly may be processing experience rather than merely disturbing the class. A child who repeatedly chooses the same activity may be developing an interest that the curriculum has not yet recognised. It is therefore important that early childhood care and education deserves greater seriousness in public discussions about teacher preparation. We frequently debate curriculum documents, assessment systems and infrastructure while paying less attention to the sophisticated observational work required of an early childhood educator. To work well with young children, a teacher must understand development, language, social interaction, play, family contexts and classroom relationships. They must be able to observe patterns without rushing to judgement and document learning without reducing children to checklists. The classroom we should aspire to, therefore, is not simply one with more toys or brighter walls or fully air-conditioned. It is one in which the environment, curriculum and adults work together to communicate a particular message to children: Your ideas matter. Your questions are worth pursuing. You can make choices. You can make mistakes. You can change your mind. Other people have ideas too. Imagine what such an environment could foster over several years. It could foster children who are not afraid to ask questions because questioning has not been treated as interruption. It could foster children who are able to collaborate because they have repeatedly experienced shared problem-solving. It could foster children who can tolerate frustration because they have been given opportunities to persist rather than having every difficulty solved for them. It could foster children who can imagine alternatives because their play has not always been restricted to predetermined outcomes. It could foster children who see learning as something they participate in rather than something that happens to them. Is a child school-ready because they can write their name at three? Or because they can ask for help, wait for a turn, listen to another person, persist with a difficult problem, express disagreement without hurting someone, enter a group, leave a group, ask a question and change their mind? A worksheet tells us what a child has produced at a particular moment. Observation can sometimes tell us how a child is thinking. A finished drawing tells us what has been put on paper. Conversation can reveal why it was drawn. A correct answer tells us that an answer has been reached. A question can reveal that thinking has begun. Early childhood education should not be an argument against knowledge, literacy or numeracy. Children deserve rich opportunities to develop all of these. The argument is against treating these domains as the only credible evidence that education is taking place. A child can learn letters while playing with language, develop mathematical thinking while constructing with objects, encounter science while observing the natural world and develop communication while negotiating a pretend game. If we take the foundational stage seriously, then we also need to take seriously the environments in which children learn. An early childhood classroom should be a place that invites exploration, movement, conversation and reflection. It should make childrens thinking visible without turning every piece of childrens work into an assessment exercise. It should provide opportunities for both collective activity and solitude. It should connect children with nature and their immediate surroundings. It should be orderly enough to provide security and open enough to permit possibility. Most importantly, it should communicate trust. The real investment, however, is in adults who know how to notice. A responsive curriculum does not mean abandoning planning. It means recognising that planning cannot account for everything worth learning. It leaves room for the unexpected, the questions, the conflicts, the game that changes directions and the childs observation. This requires a certain humility from teachers. The adult is not always the most interesting person in the room. Sometimes the most important idea comes from a three-year-old. That should not diminish the teachers authority. It should deepen it. A teachers expertise lies partly in recognising which childrens ideas can become opportunities for further inquiry and in creating the conditions in which those ideas can develop. This is why early childhood teaching should not be mistaken for a simpler form of teaching. Working with younger children may require fewer conventional lessons, but it demands extraordinarily careful observation, interpretation, responsiveness and care. The question we should therefore be asking about nursery education is not simply, What did the children complete today? It should be: What did they notice? What did they wonder about? What did they negotiate? What did they try to represent? Whom did they listen to? What did they find difficult? What did they return to? And what questions did they leave us with? A block is never merely a block when a child is using it to represent an idea, negotiate with another child or reconstruct a memory. A question is never merely a question when it reveals a childs attempt to make sense of the world. The challenge before early childhood education in India is therefore not to choose between play and learning. It is to recognise that, in the foundational years, play can be one of the principal forms through which learning becomes possible. And perhaps the larger challenge is to build classrooms worthy of that understanding: classrooms where children are not hurried into becoming older versions of schoolchildren, but are given the time, space, relationships and intellectual freedom to become thoughtful human beings. If we can create such classrooms, we may discover that the purpose of early education is not simply to prepare children for the next class. It is to give them a strong beginning from which they can keep learning, questioning, imagining and making meaning for the rest of their lives. 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.

A Yatra of Faith and Endurance

Over these past weeks, I have been closely following the reports, updates and developments surrounding this years Amarnath Yatra. Despite some genuine challenges along the way, the positivity running through most of what I read and heard was hard to ignore. With the holy pilgrimage now entering its concluding weeks, it felt like the right moment to share and highlight some of these observations. Every summer, the mountains above Pahalgam and Baltal echo with chants of Bam Bam Bhole. Thousands of feet shuffle along the stony Himalayan path to the holy cave, and convoys hum through the Jammu-Srinagar highway well before dawn. This year, somehow, it all felt a little more alive than usual. As the 57-day Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra draws towards its August 28th close, the numbers, the feedback, and the ripple effects across Jammu and Kashmirs economy add up to a story worth telling, not merely as a matter of faith, but as a case study in what a well-run pilgrimage can do for a region still working to rebuild its confidence. The story of this years Yatra unfolded less through dramatic headlines and more through a steady accumulation of encouraging signs. By the first week of August, over 4.7 lakh pilgrims had already had darshan at the holy cave, placing 2026 among the strongest years in over half a decade, second only to the record 5.12 lakh of 2024. The season opened with real intensity; over 85,000 devotees in the first four days alone, and nearly 29,000 on a single day despite heavy rain. Six days in, turnout was already running 28 percent ahead of last year, a signal of restored trust in the journeys safety. None of this happened by chance. It came alongside a six-day weather suspension and a precautionary one-day security halt, both absorbed without denting momentum, and both followed by an orderly resumption. That, more than the fair-weather stretches, speaks to the administrations preparedness. What struck me most about this years Yatra is not simply that more people came, but how they responded to what they found once they got there. Through the official mobile application, website and digital kiosks, authorities collected over 34,000 pieces of pilgrim feedback across the season. More than 98 percent of respondents rated cleanliness arrangements and toilet facilities as good, with only isolated complaints about water and power supply at a handful of locations. For a pilgrimage moving lakhs of people through fragile mountain terrain over nearly two months, that is a remarkable approval rating, and one that has not received the attention it deserves. Behind that number lies a genuinely impressive logistical effort. Nearly 300 metric tonnes of solid waste, generated by over 4.5 lakh devotees, was scientifically segregated, recycled, composted and disposed of under a Zero-Landfill approach, so that the ecologically sensitive Himalayan corridor was not left scarred by the very devotion that moves through it. Much of this owes to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhas own Zero-Landfill push, which went beyond policy directives to on-the-ground tools such as the Trayambakam app, allowing pilgrims to report waste in real time, and the Swaha utensil bank, which encouraged reusable utensils over disposables at base camps and langars. He has also played a role in mobilising corporate participation through CSR, most notably ONGCs `240 crore investment in Yatri Bhavans and permanent hospitals across Baltal, Nunwan, Bijbehara and Chandanwari-Pahalgam, and J&K Banks provision of a dedicated vehicle for pilgrim transport and emergencies. In an age when religious tourism the world over struggles to reconcile scale with sustainability, this is a template worth studying, in India and elsewhere. One aspect of this years Yatra that has not received nearly enough attention is what it did for Jammu and Kashmirs wider tourism economy. Lieutenant Governor Sinha, while reviewing arrangements at the Pantha Chowk transit camp in Srinagar, called the surge in pilgrim numbers a positive signal for the Union Territorys tourism sector as a whole, and the ground reality bore that out. Hotels, houseboats, taxi operators, handicraft sellers and local markets across the Kashmir Valley all reported brisk business, as pilgrims combined their spiritual journey with visits to Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri and Srinagar itself. Several temples maintained by the J&K Dharmarth Trust, including the Gouri Shankar Temple in Pahalgam, the Maharani Shiv Temple in Gulmarg, and the Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar, also saw a marked rise in devotee footfall through this period. Jammu, too, made a deliberate and thoughtful push to turn pilgrim traffic into a fuller regional experience. Its tourism stakeholders worked hard to ensure the city was not merely a transit point but a stop worth pausing for with hoteliers, taxi unions and industry bodies alike rolling out discounts and packages to draw pilgrims into an overnight halt. More imaginative still was the Jammu district administrations Raahi Hop initiative, a free bus service for yatris that doubled as an introduction to Dogra culture and heritage, turning what could easily have been a purely transactional transit stop into a genuine cultural touchpoint. Add to this an expanded fleet of roughly 200 state transport buses along the Jammu-Srinagar corridor, and fixed, transparently displayed fares on taxis and autos to prevent overcharging, and it becomes clear that this years Yatra was supported by an ecosystem thinking well beyond the cave shrine itself. None of this erases the Yatras genuine physical demands, or the real challenges of moving lakhs of pilgrims through high-altitude terrain for nearly two months. But taken together - the turnout, the satisfaction ratings, the environmental stewardship, and the effort to weave the pilgrimage into the regions wider tourism fabric - this years Yatra offers a rare, coherent story of things going right. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also chairs the Shrine Board, brought a hands-on, almost daily engagement to this years Yatra, from reviewing arrangements at base camps to personally driving the sustainability push. Equal credit belongs to the security forces and the Jammu & Kashmir Police, whose professionalism and quiet vigilance remain the foundation on which every successful pilgrimage ultimately rests. But beyond the administration and the statistics, what stood out to me most is that this remains, at its heart, a peoples Yatra. It is sustained not just by the Shrine Board or the security apparatus, but by ordinary residents of Jammu and Kashmir, who welcomed pilgrims and visitors with warm hearts and genuine hospitality, year after year, without needing to be asked. If there is one area that still holds real scope for development, it is this: weaving Yatra tourism more closely into the everyday tourism fabric of Jammu and Srinagar. This will not be without its challenges. Security, carrying capacity, and the complexity of managing pilgrim and leisure traffic together are real constraints that cannot be wished away. But the potential is vast and still largely untapped, and this years Yatra has shown just how much momentum and possibility already exists, if that convergence is approached with intent. For a region whose tourism story has too often been written by disruption, this years Amarnath Yatra was written instead by preparation and quiet resilience. That is worth saying plainly, and worth building on. In the end, the measure of a pilgrimages success lies not only in how many reach the cave, but in how well the region around them is left standing, and thriving, once they do. The writer is an Advocate and Trustee of the J&K Dharmarth Trust, and a member of the erstwhile Dogra royal family.

When she left this world

People often say time dulcifies the grief, but I learned that time does not heal the loss of a mother, it simply teaches us how to carry the ache quietly. Baji Maa was much more than the woman who gave me life. She was my comfort, the person with whom I could share my heart openly without any hesitation or fear of judgement. With her, I never had to be strong. She listened not only to words but also to the silence. Her words gave me peace and strength. After her passing, life continues as always. But, in never the same way. The house still stands, the doors still opened, yet the warmth that once made it home quietly disappears. Baji Maa left behind no grand monument, yet the legacy lives quietly in every prayer, she whispered for her children, every sacrifice she made without complaint and every life she touched with her gentle heart. Her greatest value was not wealth, but the love, kindness and values she left behind. On my mothers 4th death anniversary, I choose gratitude over sorrow. I feel gratitude that I was blessed with Baji Maa whose love shaped my character and whose prayers became the foundation of my life. My gratitude does not erase the pain of her absence. It just allows me to look beyond what was taken from me and appreciate what was given. Perhaps, after enough time has passed, the most beautiful way to honour someone is not to remain broken by their absence, but to live with gratitude for their presence. To remember them, not only with I miss you but also with Thank you. Thank you for the time. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the love. Thank you for being part of my life. And that is what I hold on to, today. Her absence is a pain I will always carry, but so is her love. She will forever remain a part of me.

Spare Jhelums flood plains!

Why have successive regimes failed to increase the carrying capacity of river Jhelum, to mitigate flood threats? The problem lies with lack of planning, a disregard towards sustainable development! While Kashmir grapples with flood threats every time it receives incessant rains, government and people engage in blame game over destruction of river Jhelum and encroachment of its floodplains. Amid the chaos, a new proposal has surfaced up to construct a plug-and-play industrial park in Srinagars Nowgam area which forms part of the rivers flood plains. Nowgam Industrial Park will spread across 50 acres with a projected investment of Rs 104.02 crore. The project will be executed under the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA), a flagship Central scheme aimed at developing next-generation Plug-and-Play Industrial Parks. The Nowgam project will focus on the horticulture value chain, food processing, warehousing, light manufacturing and digital services. A welcome development indeed as it will generate employment avenues and prove boon for the horticulture sector. But authorities must conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment of the project site and determine the impact of the project in case Jhelum swells during floods. We have to understand the topography of Jhelum and the role of its floodplains. Jhelum, considered to be Kashmirs lifeline, spans 175 sq kms from south to north Kashmir. Jhelum meanders in a serpentine way from south to north Kashmir and settles in Wullar, Asias largest freshwater lake, before pouring into other side of Kashmir, across the Line of Control through the Uri area of north Kashmirs Baramulla district. The five upstream watersheds of Upper Jhelum BasinLidder, Kuthar, Bringi, Sandran, and Vishav, all drain into the river. The right bank tributaries of Jhelum are Lidder and Kuthar, which originate in the Greater Himalayan Range. The left bank tributaries are the Bringi, Sandran, and Vishav, which originate in the Pir Panjal Range. The problem starts when Jhelum water from south Kashmir reaches Srinagar. The rivers topography makes Srinagar the most vulnerable area to flooding in J&K. Wetlands on the left and right of Jhelum in Srinagar act as reservoirs of the floodwaters. Ecologically important wetlands in the Jhelum floodplains like Hokersar, Bemina wetland, Narakara wetland, Batamaloo nambal, Rakh-e-arth, Anchar lake and Gilsar reduce pressure of Jhelum during floods. Vast chunks of open land from Shalina, Kandizal, Lasjan and Nowgam act as Jhelums floodplains. Ironically in absence of regulation by authorities, wetlands in Srinagar and even the floodplains have been extensively encroached upon, filled up and dotted with constructions. Flood events over the decades have shown how geomorphic, climatic, and socio-economic settings have exacerbated its flood risk especially in Srinagar. The problem has been compounded by weak flood control infrastructure, shrinking wetlands, deforestation, massive urbanisation of floodplains, and siltation, filling of Jhelums watercourses. Earth filling and construction has swallowed wetlands and floodplains at Nowgam, Lasjan, Mehjoor Nagar, Bemina, Hokersar, Zainakote, Narbal, Soibugh, Hyderpora and Pir Bagh. The construction of Bypass through Gallander and Pampore, together with the Srinagar Semi Ring Road project and Railway Track hamper flow of Jhelum water during floods. During the recent floods on September 4 last year, Jhelum flowed through its erstwhile encroached floodplains from Shalina to Lasjan areas, Soiteng, Nowgam, Vyethpora, Gopalpora, Padshibagh, Mehjoor Nagar. People of these areas were shifted to safer places amid breach at Shalina-Jhelum embankment. It was a practice of Dogra rulers to breach the Kandzal area to save Srinagar from floods. Excess water of Jhelum used to be diverted through the Kandzal area and the waters would spread to Nowgam areas. However, there have been massive constructions not only in Kandzal areas but adjoining flood plains spreading upto Nowgam. The built-up area within the floodplains of Jhelum has increased by four times from 55.47 sq. km in 1972 to over 200 sq. km. It is shocking that the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has not undertaken dredging in Jhelum and other flood channels for the period from March 2020 to March 2025. It is claimed that since devastating floods in September 2014, the carrying capacity of Jhelum has been increased from 30800 cusecs to 41000 cusecs. As per experts, there is a shortfall of 60000 cusecs as 2014 floods generated over 1 lakh cusecs of water submerging habitations around the river. The National Green Tribunal had last year stalled construction of an industrial estate in Trenz village, South Kashmirs Shopian district, citing serious environmental and flood-related concerns, following a petition filed by environmental activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat. The petitioner stated that the project site, covering approximately 500 kanals of government land, falls within the natural floodplain of the Rambiara River and poses a severe threat to downstream communities, agricultural lands, and apple orchards. This project site is within the natural floodway of the river. Kashmir valley is one of the most flood hazard-prone regions in the Himalayas. The valley has been witnessing frequent floods for centuries. It witnessed floods on regular intervals with major ones in 1903, 1905, 1909, 1928, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2006 and the devastating one in 2014. Experts maintain that floods are mostly caused by the filling up of Jhelums flood plains and backwater effects due to low outflows from Wullar Lake which over the decades has lost its carrying capacity by heavy accumulation of silt. Government must on priority increase the carrying capacity of Jhelum. Given the climatic changes and erratic weather pattern in J&K, the Government must ensure to go for sustainable development. Loss of 31 human lives and massive destruction of property by recent spree of flash floods triggered by incessant rains and cloudbursts in J&K must serve as eye-opener. We cant afford to disturb and damage nature more and must for sustainable development and conduct Environmental Impact Assessment before executiveny any project in eco-fragile areas. We need to understand that development cant be done at the cost of the environment! Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir

Creating more spaces

Gone are the days when parents would reprimand their children if they were found playing a sport. Sport, then, was taken as distraction form studies, hence waste of time. Though it is still true that parents would not like their children to spend excessive time on anything other than focussing on studies and building a better career path, but the approach towards sports activities has undergone a decisive change. The reasons for this change are obvious and concrete. One of the major reasons is the going up of stress levels. As we experience it now, our children are faced with a cut throat competition in terms of exams. The receding chances of government jobs has added more pressure to our children. In such a situation many children undergo mental stress, and that manifests in ailments. In many cases this pressure results in a disaster when our young adults start indulging in drugs. This situation has led us to the realisation that our young adults should be given chance to relax themselves. The most natural and fruitful way to do that is to get them involved into sporting activities. The second reason is that digital addiction has turned our children into zombies. To fight against this menace, one way is to engage children and young adults into physical activities. It not only adds to their mental health, but also builds them physically. The third reason is sports itself. We have seen over the years different sporting activities turning into career paths for many youngsters. It has also given birth to the idea of following a sport dedicatedly in a professional way, and find some worthwhile career in the activity. All these reasons have, cumulatively, added importance to sports. But the question remains; where are the spaces and where are the facilities. The spaces naturally available some decades back in our Mohallas are no more there. So the onus is on government to create sporting spaces. To this end, all the concerned departments should join hands and create a proper, easily accessible infrastructure spread across J&K. The way life is developing pace, getting digitised, braving stresses, it should be in the top slots of government priorities.

J&K approved diversion of 1086 hectares of forest land in 3 years: Centre

Srinagar, Aug 14:Jammu and Kashmir has had 1086.01 hectares of forest land approved for non-forestry use during the last 3 years and the current financial year up to August 6, 2026, the Centre told the Rajya Sabha. The figure accounts for 1.31 percent of the 82,817.92 hectares cleared across the country during the period. J&Ks diversion was substantially higher than Ladakhs 3.98 hectares. Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest diversion among states at 22,027.02 hectares, followed by Odisha with 10,098.99 hectares, and Arunachal Pradesh with 7828.31 hectares. Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change KirtiVardhan Singh said proposals are examined on a case-to-case basis, considering their likely impact on forests, wildlife, and the environment. He said diversion is allowed only when unavoidable and site-specific, with the area restricted to the bare minimum required for a project. Approvals carry conditions including compensatory afforestation, Net Present Value payments, soil and moisture conservation, and wildlife and catchment-area treatment measures wherever applicable. Singh said the Forest Survey of India (FSI) conducts a biennial forest-cover assessment using remote sensing backed by intensive ground verification. The India State of Forest Report 2023 put Indias forest cover at 715,342.61 sq km, or 21.76 percent of its geographical area, up 156.41 sq km from 2021. The government said prior approval and mitigation measures are intended to minimise ecological impacts from projects requiring forest land.

Sainik School Manasbal loses its marching order

Srinagar, Aug 16:The Sainik School Manasbal, established with the objective of preparing young boys academically and physically for entry into the National Defence Academy (NDA) and other walks of life, appears to be struggling to retain the institutional strength and academic ecosystem that once defined it. The school, envisioned as an institution for nurturing discipline, leadership, patriotism, and a spirit of service among students has witnessed a decline in enrolment over the years. At the same time, regular recruitment of faculty has reportedly not kept pace with the requirement, raising concerns over the academic functioning of the institution. An official privy to the development told Greater Kashmir that the School Education Department (SED) has deputed teachers to the residential school to meet its teaching requirements. The specialised teachers from SED were deputed to SainikschoolMansbal as no faculty was recruited in the institution to fulfill the requirement of the students, the official said. He said no steps were taken to plug the gaps in terms of the recruitment of the faculty. The Sainik School Manasbal was established to prepare students not merely for competitive examinations but also to inculcate sound character, team spirit, dedication to purpose, patriotic outlook, and the desire to serve the country with efficiency. However, the school has witnessed decline in enrolment and dependence on deputed teachers as well. An official said the total intake capacity of the school is around 480 students but the current enrolment of the schools is only around 350. At the time of admission, the seats get filled but after few months, the students discontinue from the schools, leaving the seats vacant, the official said. The school runs classes from 6th to 12th and each class up to 10th has two sections. The intake for each class is around 80 with 40 students in each section from class 6th to 10th. Class 11th and 12th has only section each. Presently, the enrolment is only 350 because some students have left the school midway for different reasons, the official said. He said the school has witnessed a decline in the pass percentage in CBSE exams over the past few years as well. The school does not have a permanent principal. A permanent head can bring the school back on track. But it is being run on short term measures by giving additional assignment to an official, the official said. The school traditionally had a regular principal as the government would appoint a senior retired Army officer to head the institution. The tradition was followed as a distinctive feature of the Sainik School, where military discipline, leadership, and academic preparedness form an integral part of the educational model. However, over the past few years, the post of Principal has reportedly been managed through additional charge arrangements rather than a dedicated full-time appointment. At present, the charge of principal of the Sainik School Manasbal has been given to Chief Education Officer (CEO), Kupwara, as an additional assignment. The arrangement has triggered concerns over the smooth functioning of the school. Sainik School requires focused academic and administrative leadership, particularly at a time when declining enrolment and faculty shortages are already posing challenges, the official said. J&K Sainik School Mansbal was established on August 5, 1980, pursuant to the decision taken by the State Cabinet. The school was established under the aegis of J&K Sainik School Society vide Government Order No 1248-Edu of 1980 dated August 5, 1980. The foundation stone of the school was laid by Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, then Chief Minister of the State, on October 29, 1980, and the school started functioning from September 14, 1981. Admission in the school is open to domicile of J&K and Ladakh. The aim of the school is to prepare boys academically and physically for entry into National Defence Academy and other walks of life. Sound character, team spirit, dedication to purpose, patriotic outlook, and the desire to serve the country with efficiency are the qualities being promoted amongst the students at the school, reads a message on school website. Talking to Greater Kashmir, Minister for Education SakinaItoo acknowledged the issues at Sainik School Mansbal saying that the department will soon appoint a permanent principal for the institution. I have asked the Secretary School Education Department to make a panel of candidates for appointment of the principal, Itoo said. In the past, the government would appoint a retired Army officer as principal of the school to maintain discipline and to serve the purpose for which the school was established. We are also planning to appoint a retired Army officer as the principal of the school, she said.

CS orders faster rollout of MHA-approved Rs 1579-Cr disaster package

Srinagar, Aug 16:Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Sunday reviewed the implementation of the Recovery and Reconstruction (R&R) Plan-2025 and utilisation of the disaster recovery assistance sanctioned for Jammu and Kashmir by the Centre directing departments to accelerate project formulation and execution while ensuring that every reconstructed asset is made more resilient to future disasters. The Chief Secretary took detailed stock of the Rs 1579.09 crore recovery package approved by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the NDRF and SDRF R&R Funding Window. The same was approved through MHA for Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) for damages caused by floods, cloudbursts, landslides and other disasters to the tune of Rs 1534.58 crore, besides Rs 44.52 crore for the dedicated Ramban District recovery plan following the April 2025 cloudburst and flash floods. Reviewing the progress, the Chief Secretary noted that departments have so far prepared costed action plans amounting to Rs 1225.78 crore, leaving a balance of Rs 353.31 crore to be operationalised by the Jal Shakti and Agriculture sectors. Emphasising that disaster recovery should not merely restore damaged infrastructure to its pre-disaster condition, the Chief Secretary directed all executing agencies to strictly follow the Build Back Better (BBB) approach. Dulloo also called for strict cross-verification of beneficiary lists and project proposals with major ongoing schemes, including PMAY-G, JalJeevan Mission, AMRUT, SASCI, NABARD, PMGSY and Samagra Shiksha, to eliminate any possibility of duplication and ensure optimal use of public resources. He called for reconstructed assets to incorporate appropriate disaster-resilient features, including compliance with Seismic Zone IV/V requirements, elevated plinths and slope stabilization measures, wherever applicable. The departments were also asked to optimally utilise both norm-based and flexible assistance available under the approved recovery framework to meet incremental resilience requirements. The Chief Secretary further directed that all projects be geo-tagged forthwith and uploaded on the BEAMS digital platform, creating a unified digital record for monitoring progress, financial utilization and physical outcomes. Giving the sector-wise review, the Principal Secretary, DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti revealed that significant progress has been achieved in several components of the recovery programme. In the social sector, he highlighted against an approved allocation of Rs 289.40 crore, departments have formulated plans amounting to Rs 262.11 crore. Similarly in the Housing component 100 percent commitment of its Rs 193.19 crore allocation, covering 9083 households, including 5227 fully and 3856 severely damaged houses has been achieved. With respect to the Roads and Bridges component, it has emerged as one of the strongest performing infrastructure segments, with its entire Rs 461.64 crore allocation planned for restoration of approximately 1230.7 km of roads and 4494.5 metres of bridges. Additionally, the power sector has planned utilisation of Rs 70.08 crore against Rs 72.97 crore, targeting restoration of more than 21,000 poles, 1100 circuit kilometres of conductors and 800 transformers, benefiting around 1.45 lakh consumers. The meeting was apprised that the drinking water and sanitation has so far formulated plans for Rs 59.02 crore against Rs 139.65 crore, while Irrigation and Flood Control has planned Rs 93.01 crore against Rs 199.79 crore and are in a process of utilising the full kitty of funds available. In the productive sectors, agriculture has formulated plans worth Rs 168.36 crore against Rs 223.67 crore, covering 45 packages relating to crop inputs, land reclamation and restoration of research infrastructure at SKUAST-Jammu. Animal husbandry and livestock has planned Rs 8.86 crore against Rs 10.28 crore, while horticulture has fully utilised its Rs 3.87 crore allocation to support 3493 farmers. The Chief Secretary also reviewed the dedicated Rs 44.52 croreRamban recovery plan prepared in response to the cloudburst and flash floods of April 19-20, 2025. The plan includes Rs 23.24 crore for roads and bridges, Rs 3.34 crore for irrigation and flood control, Rs 1.78 crore for education and Rs 1.48 crore for animal husbandry and livestock, with approved and proposed allocations fully reconciled in these components. The Chief Secretary directed that household relief under the recovery programme be disbursed strictly in accordance with the 30:40:30 progress-linked Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) pattern, ensuring that payments remain aligned with actual progress of reconstruction. He directed block, sub-divisional, and district-level nodal officers to ensure complete resolution of E-Samadhan and CPGRAMS grievances within 15 days, making grievance redressal an integral part of the recovery monitoring mechanism. The Chief Secretary underscored that the recovery programme should result not only in timely restoration of damaged assets but also in a more resilient and disaster-ready J&K, with every rupee sanctioned translating into durable public infrastructure and tangible relief for affected communities. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Additional Chief Secretary, PWD; Principal Secretary, DMRR&R; Director, CD and SDRF; Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir; and other senior officers. Deputy Commissioners from all 20 districts participated virtually.

AI wont create Indias jobs crisis, but it could deepen it

Educated youth face a challenging job market with fewer middle-skill opportunities. Many new jobs are in low-productivity agriculture or informal services. AI threatens cognitive jobs, widening the existing skills divide. India must create productive non-farm work and expand tech-complementary roles. Targeted AI skilling is crucial to secure the demographic dividend.

Public education needs public money

Students across the nation have taken to the streets, drawing attention to the overwhelming resource deficit in education. With public funding stagnating and not meeting government commitments, many students are now gravitating towards private schools. This shift in enrollment is leading to the closure or merging of numerous government institutions. To enhance the quality of state schools and foster future development, a significant increase in public investment is imperative.

This hotspot is getting hazardous

Global humid heat exposure has surged significantly, with India experiencing a nineteenfold increase. Poor urban planning and construction have intensified heat traps in Indian cities. This humid heat stress poses serious health risks, impacting vital organs and vulnerable populations. Productivity losses have risen dramatically, affecting workdays and wages for many. Addressing humid heat stress requires urgent policy and political prioritization for human health.

GS, the ultimate tech frontier to tap into

Genuine stupidity is presented as a revolutionary technology surpassing artificial intelligence. This concept requires no advanced infrastructure, relying solely on human ingenuity. Corporations and governments will embrace this trend, announcing strategic pivots and unrealistic promises. Investors will support startups focused on this concept, with delivery being secondary. Universities and consultants will also adapt, offering new degrees and explanations for its adoption.

Tech mastery and magic

Mystery can evoke fear or excitement depending on individual attitudes and dispositions. Adam Waytz notes our era offers immense explainability and information access. Generative AI further expands this readily available knowledge base for everyone. However, this information overload risks leading to disenchantment and a loss of wonder. Embracing mystery can help regain intellectual humility and foster mutual understanding.

RBI's $56.8 billion forex drive: How diaspora deposits reshape India's currency risk and balance sheet

India's special forex package has successfully garnered over fifty-six billion dollars in deposits, surpassing expectations. This increased inflow has prompted an extension of its deadline, ushering in a new era of currency risk for the central bank. Unlike previous models, banks now focus more on leveraging their assets than merely banking on deposit spreads, ensuring that the impact of these inflows will extend beyond the current deposit frame.

'Vande Mataram' row: BJP protests against Sonia Gandhi outside Congress office in Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug 16: Jammu and Kashmir BJP workers protested outside the Congress office here on Sunday over opposition party leader Sonia Gandhi allegedly objecting to the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at an Independence Day event in Delhi. Carrying BJP flags, the protesters raised slogans against Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. They also burnt effigies of the Congress leaders. They were prevented from reaching the main gate of the Congress office by police personnel, who were deployed in numbers to maintain law and order. The BJP on Saturday accused Sonia Gandhi of objecting to the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the Independence Day function at the Congress headquarters in Delhi. The Congress, however, denied the charge, asserting that she was only asking for a chair for party chief Mallikarjun Kharge as he had been standing for a while. Addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh on Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanded that the Congress apologise to the people and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who wrote Vande Mataram, for insulting the national song.

India to host BRICS environment group meetings on Monday and Tuesday

New Delhi, Aug 16: India will host the BRICS Senior Officers' Meeting of the Environment Working Group (EWG) and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development on Monday, followed by the 12th BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting the next day. The event will be held at Bharat Mandapam here under the overarching theme of India's BRICS Chairship 2026: 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', said a statement issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Sunday. The BRICS EWG was established in 2015 during the first BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting in Moscow. It was envisioned as a platform for BRICS to address fundamental environmental priorities, exchange experiences, share best practices and strengthen collective action among member countries. The Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development was established in 2024 as a mechanism for cooperation on climate change issues among BRICS member countries. The BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting will bring together ministers, senior officers, policymakers and experts from the member countries to engage in substantive discussions, foster consensus and strengthen environmental cooperation, the statement said. It said the Senior Officers' Meeting will include an inaugural session and deliberations on the priorities of the BRICS EWG and the Contact Group on Climate Change and Sustainable Development. The priorities include promoting sustainable lifestyles, afforestation, forest fire management and disaster resilience. During the BRICS Environment Ministers' Meeting, there will be deliberations on the outcome document and thematic discussions that underscore the collective commitment of the member countries to environmental cooperation and sustainable development, the statement said.

Rajouri road accident: Two die, 2 critical among 6 injured

Rajouri, Aug 16: Two persons have succumbed to injuries while two others are in critical condition after an Eco vehicle met with an accident at Kandi Morha in Kotranka sub division of Rajouri district. Officials told GNS that the accident took place on Sunday when the vehicle, bearing registration number JK11D-7667, was on its way from Kandi to Mohra. Six persons were injured in the mishap and were shifted to Government Medical College, Rajouri for treatment. Officials said that two of the injured later succumbed, while two others remain critical and are undergoing treatment. The condition of the remaining two is stated to be stable. Police have taken cognizance of the incident and further investigation is underway.

Don't just adapt but lead in determining use of technology to reshape legal system: CJI to NLUs

Jodhpur, Aug 16: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday urged the national law universities to move beyond merely responding to technological change and instead take the lead in determining how technology should reshape the legal system with justice, fairness and human judgment remaining at its core. Addressing the Vice Chancellors' Conclave 2.0 at National Law University, Jodhpur, the CJI said that the legal profession can no longer remain a late adopter of technology and rejected an outright prohibition of tools like generative AI in legal education. Academic integrity and the responsible use of artificial intelligence must become important components of curriculum and pedagogy. Change of this nature does not wait for institutional comfort, the CJI said. The conclave was on the theme Legal Technology and its Roadmap: Positioning Law as a Leader in Legal Technology. The CJI said that technology was already reshaping the legal ecosystem, from drafting contracts and conducting due diligence to legal research, evidence management and dispute resolution. He said that law schools have to become the first line of response to this transformation. The CJI said that graduates would increasingly work with tools capable of reading thousands of precedents within seconds, identifying legal and regulatory risks and supporting courts and dispute-resolution mechanisms. However, he said, familiarity with technology alone would not be sufficient. A graduate who understands only the output of a technological tool would remain dependent on it, while one trained to question assumptions, verify conclusions and exercise independent judgment could use technology without surrendering responsibility, he said. The CJI also addressed the growing debate over the use of generative AI in legal education. While acknowledging legitimate concerns that students could become dependent on AI, lose the ability to construct arguments independently or mistake convincing-looking answers for accurate ones, he rejected an outright prohibition on such tools. He advocated their transparent and supervised use in classrooms so that students learn both their capabilities and limitations. The CJI said that institutions that resist inevitable technological change risk losing their opportunity to shape it. He said that legal education should not stop at adaptation because adaptation merely responds to change after it has occurred. Instead, law universities should anticipate technological developments, shape their direction and ensure that technology evolves in service of law and its underlying values, the CJI said. For this, he stressed collaboration among National Law Universities and called for serious research on algorithmic accountability, data protection, digital access to justice and the changing relationship between technology and dispute resolution. Let technology make legal institutions and services more capable, but let our values determine the direction in which that capability is used, he said, adding that innovation should make justice faster but never make it less fair.

Suspicious movement triggers search operation in J-K's Udhampur

Jammu, Aug 16: Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday launched a joint cordon-and-search operation in the Ramnagar forest area of Udhampur district after receiving inputs about the suspicious movement of two unidentified persons there, officials said. A joint team comprising the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Special Operations Group (SOG), Army and other security agencies has cordoned off the Jophar area and launched an intensive search operation to track down the suspected individuals and eliminate any possible security threat, they said. Senior officers are present at the site to supervise the operation, which includes vehicle checking, the officials said. Searches are being conducted at multiple locations, they said.

Six injured, four critically after vehicle skids off road in J-K's Rajouri

Rajouri, Aug 16: At least six people were injured, four of them critically, after a vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a ditch in the Kandi Mohra area of Rajouri district on Sunday, officials said. An official told the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) that six people were injured after the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a ditch in the Kandi Mohra area. He said the injured were initially provided first aid at CHC Kandi, while four critically injured persons were shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri for further treatment. The injured were identified as Mohd Azam (60), son of Mir Baz; Ibrar Ahmed (35), son of Mohd Azam; Imtiaz Ahmed (18), son of Mohd Azam; Shamim Akhter (22), wife of Ibrar Ahmed; Mohd Shakeel (22), son of Munshi Khan and Khadam Hussain, all residents of Rehan, Kotranka tehsil of Rajouri district. Police have taken up an investigation into the incident.

Food Safety Deptt keeps watch over pilgrims' plates

Baltal (Ganderbal), Aug 15: While thousands of pilgrims trek through the mountains to the Holy Cave, Food Safety Department teams are keeping a close watch on the food being served along the Amarnath Yatra routes. The department, working under the Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drugs Administration, has deployed teams at major transit points and base camps, including Baltal and Pahalgam, to inspect langars and other food outlets. Mobile Food Testing Vans have also been deployed to check food items and drinking water on the spot. Officials said teams are inspecting raw-material storage, cooking areas, utensils and water quality during daily checks. So far, 576 food samples have been tested and 354 langars inspected, officials said. They said the department has also organised 144 awareness programmes involving more than 1,200 people and held 103 training sessions during the Yatra. Officials said expired, damaged or substandard food items found during inspections are destroyed on the spot. The department is also training food handlers and sewadars on basic hygiene and safe food handling. They are being advised to use masks, hairnets and gloves and take precautions against cross-contamination. Officials said teams are also checking compliance with the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Boards food guidelines, including restrictions on excessive oil, salt and sugar. Heavy fried food, carbonated drinks and other prohibited items are not allowed along the high-altitude routes. Serving thousands of pilgrims at high altitudes requires absolute vigilance. Our goal is simple: ensure every pilgrim receives wholesome, safe food so they can complete their holy pilgrimage in good health, a senior food safety officer at Baltal base camp said. Food inspections and sample testing will continue through the Yatra period, officials said.

No need to worry; administration, security forces committed to maintaining peace: Lieutenant Governor

Jammu, Aug 16: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Sunday said there is no need for people to worry over attempts to disturb peace in the Union Territory, asserting that the administration and security forces are fully committed to maintaining peace. Sinha made the remarks while responding to demands being raised at a programme of displaced Kashmiri Pandits on security for KP employees in the valley due to recent terror incidents. There are many challenges, including the one you mentioned. But I believe there are even bigger challenges that we have to address, the LG said at the annual-day function of the Kashmiri Pandit Volunteers (KPV) here. He said the biggest challenge in the past was the perception that no one would be willing to carry the national flag in Jammu and Kashmir. But you have seen today that there are so many shoulders -- and such strong shoulders -- ready to carry the tricolour. What you have witnessed today is a powerful example of that change, Sinha said. On recent terror incidents and attempts to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir, he acknowledged that such efforts are being made but asserted that there is no need for people to panic. Attempts are being made to disturb the atmosphere again. There is no need to worry. The necessary concerns are being addressed, and this has not started today, such efforts have been underway for some time, Sinha said. There are also people who spread rumours. I assure you that the administration and security forces are fully committed to maintaining peace. Anyone who attempts to disrupt the prevailing peace will not be allowed to succeed in their designs, he said. On a KP leader's demand on enhancement of relief, the LG said the government is making continuous efforts to resolve issues. I would like to say, with a full sense of responsibility, that efforts have been made to find a solution and these efforts are continuing. While some issues can be resolved, others cannot be addressed immediately. Nevertheless, continuous efforts are being made to resolve all matters that can be addressed at the earliest, he said. The remarks came after KPV founder Vikram Kaul in his address urged the government and the LG not to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, citing security concerns and the challenges facing the Union Territory, to enhance monthly relief and ensure long term security to KP employees in the valley in the wake of terror attacks.

Vajpayee was an 'Ajatshatru' who never compromised on principles: Amit Shah

Jaipur, Aug 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday described former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as an Ajatshatru, who had no enemy and never compromised on his principles. He said that Vajpayee remained committed to his ideology during his time in the Opposition as well as while in power. Shah was addressing a public meeting in Chittorgarh's Nimbahera after unveiling a statue of Vajpayee. Atal Bihari Vajpayee remained in the Opposition for 40 years, but his ideology always remained paramount. He lived his life according to his principles, Shah said. Vajpayee went to jail, faced lathi charges and endured the atrocities of the Congress, but never compromised on his principles, he added. Shah mentioned that when Vajpayee became prime minister, he became the country's first non-Congress prime minister and took several major decisions. Despite global pressure, he made India a nuclear power through the Pokhran tests, the Home Minister said, adding that Vajpayee also worked to connect every village with roads. He noted that the former prime minister launched the Swarn Chaturbhuj project, expanded the national highway network and introduced several initiatives during his tenure. Shah also credited Vajpayee with establishing a separate ministry for tribal development, saying there had previously been no dedicated ministry for the welfare of tribal communities. The beginning made by Atal ji has been taken to its conclusion by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah said, referring to the BJP government's initiatives for tribal welfare. He said the election of Droupadi Murmu, who comes from a tribal background, as the President of India was a reflection of the progress made in this regard. Neither did he leave his principles while in power nor while in the Opposition. That is why he is known as 'Ajatshatru' -- a great man who had no enemies, Shah said.

In one of its largest aerial attack, Ukraine kills at least 6 in Russia

Moscow, Aug 16: Ukraine launched hundreds of drones across Russia Sunday, killing at least six people in one of Kyiv's largest aerial attacks of the war. Russia's Ministry of Defense said that it had destroyed 822 drones overnight, with 600 headed toward the Russian capital. Five people were killed in Russia's southwestern Rostov region, where three towns came under attack, local Gov. Yury Slyusar said. An 83-year-old man was killed after a Ukrainian drone hit a private home in the Moscow region.

FDA notice to Shah Rukh, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over Vimal Elaichi ad

Ex-PDP MLA Aijaz Mir claims he was detained ahead of Shopian farmers protest over crop insurance

Shopian , Aug. 16: Former PDP MLA from Wachi, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, on Sunday said he was detained by police at his residence in Zainapora in south Kashmirs Shopian district ahead of a proposed protest at Ghanta Ghar, Shopian, demanding the introduction of a comprehensive crop insurance scheme for apples and cherries. Mir told Greater Kashmir that police had locked the gate of his residence and prevented him from leaving. They have also sealed the roads, he alleged. Mir had called on farmers to gather at Gole Chowk, Shopian, to press for the introduction of a comprehensive crop insurance scheme amid growing concerns over weather-related losses. Recent hailstorms and windstorms have damaged apple orchards across Kashmir, spelling losses for hundreds of growers across more than two dozen affected orchards. With growers lacking a comprehensive insurance safety net, farmers have been left exposed to mounting losses from extreme weather. Despite his detention, Mir said the protest went ahead. Taking to X, he said, Despite being placed under house detention today, the voice of our farmers could not be silenced. Hundreds of fruit growers gathered at Ghanta Ghar, Shopian, and peacefully protested in support of our genuine demands. The protesters also sought adequate compensation for affected growers and measures to safeguard the horticulture sector, a key pillar of Jammu and Kashmirs rural economy. Reacting to Mirs detention, PDP leader Iltija Mufti criticised the move, alleging that it was aimed at preventing a peaceful sit-in by Mir and hundreds of Kashmiri apple farmers seeking a comprehensive crop insurance scheme. Detaining PDPs ex MLA Wachi Aijaz Mir sahab to scuttle a peaceful sit in by him & hundreds of Kashmiri apple farmers demanding a comprehensive insurance crop scheme shows high handedness & intolerance. Horticulture the backbone of J&Ks economy is reeling under losses worth pic.twitter.com/JyO2dN7IGf Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) August 16, 2026 In a post on X, Mufti described the detention as an act of high-handedness and intolerance and said horticulture, which she called the backbone of Jammu and Kashmirs economy, was reeling from losses worth hundreds of crores because of the governments apathy and refusal to address farmers concerns. Our farmers deserve a secure, dignified livelihood, she said.

Govt sets LPG production targets for refiners; Reliance gets largest quota

The lion's share of the planned output has been set from Reliance Industries Ltd's older refinery, which would have to produce up to 18,000 tonnes a day of LPG

Rescuers dig through rubble, landslides after Indonesia quake kills 47

Labuan Bajo, Aug 16: Searchers dug through collapsed buildings and landslide debris Sunday in eastern Indonesia as they searched for bodies and possible survivors a day after a powerful earthquake killed at least 47 people, injured more than 100 and displaced thousands. At least 24 people died in Manggarai regency and 17 in neighbouring East Manggarai, with additional fatalities reported in Sikka, Ngada and Ende regencies, the National Disaster Management Agency said. Rescuers were still searching for villagers feared buried beneath landslides triggered by the quake across six regencies on Flores, a predominantly Catholic island in Muslim-majority Indonesia. The USGS said the magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara province. The quake, at a depth of about 10 kilometres off the coast of Flores, rattled much of the island and sent residents fleeing in panic. Tremors were also felt in neighbouring West Nusa Tenggara and parts of southern Sulawesi. The disaster agency said the quake destroyed more than 900 homes and damaged nearly 450 more, forcing about 5,000 people into temporary shelters. Thousands more spent the night outdoors, fearing strong aftershocks. At least 167 public facilities, including schools, health centres and churches, were also damaged. Relief workers have begun distributing rice, ready-to-eat meals, drinking water, blankets and medicine, while emergency shelters were being set up for displaced residents. Authorities said restoring electricity and communications as well as delivering aid to remote villages isolated by landslides remained among the biggest challenges. The quake also struck Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo National Park, one of Indonesia's best-known tourist destinations. Landslides blocked sections of the Trans-Flores Highway, a roughly 700-kilometre road linking communities across the mountainous island. Many residents continued to sleep outside rather than risk returning to damaged homes. The shaking was terrifying, so intense that my house nearly collapsed, said Anastasia Imad, a farmer in Labuan Bajo, speaking from a makeshift green tent beside her damaged home. We feared the aftershocks would bring it down on us while we slept. Rescue teams resumed searches Sunday in areas that had remained inaccessible since the quake, particularly in Manggarai, East Manggarai and Nagekeo regencies. We have cleared most landslides and reopened roads to previously isolated villages, although communication disruptions and power outages continue to hamper search efforts, said Fathur Rahman, head of the Search and Rescue Office in Maumere, the capital of Sikka regency. He said rescuers were focusing on searching the rubble of collapsed homes and other buildings for possible victims. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped arc of seismic faults and volcanoes. Flores has experienced some of the country's deadliest disasters. A powerful earthquake and tsunami in 1992 killed about 2,500 people on the island. In 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake triggered a tsunami on Sulawesi that killed more than 4,400 people. In 2004, a magnitude 9.1 quake off Sumatra unleashed a tsunami that killed about 230,000 people in a dozen countries.

PM Modi pays tribute to Atal Vihari Vajpayee on death anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He called Vajpayee an extraordinary statesman with remarkable vision. Vajpayee dedicated his life to the service of the nation. His words and leadership inspired generations and strengthened the country. Focus on good governance and public welfare will continue to guide us.

Iran claims Qatar is holding pilots, Israeli strikes kill 11 in Lebanon, and other Middle East news

Cairo, Aug 15: Iran said Qatar was holding three of its pilots who had been missing since March, which Qatar denied. The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of again attacking one of its vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran-backed Houthis again struck a Red Sea port in Yemen. And in southern Lebanon, 11 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, some of the deadliest since a shaky truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah went into effect on June 20. Here's a look at the latest developments on Saturday in the Iran war and the wider Middle East. Full coverage can be found here. Iran says Qatar is holding 3 of its pilots Qatar's armed forces captured and were holding three pilots who went missing in March when their jets were downed, the Missing Persons Committee of Iran's Armed Forces General Staff said. Qatar, however, denied it. Until now, Tehran had said it had no information about their fate. This is the first known case in the war where Iran has said a regional country is holding its fighters. Qatar on March 2 said its air force shot down two Iranian bombers as Tehran lashed out against countries hosting US military bases in the opening days of the war. Saturday's statement alleged that Qatar had not allowed the pilots to meet or communicate with families or Iranian officials handling their cases. Iran asked the International Committee of the Red Cross president for help. The letter said a fourth pilot was killed while on the mission targeting an enemy military base in Qatar, state media reported. A spokesperson with Qatar's foreign ministry, Majed Al Ansari, later denied the claims and indicated on X that the pilots had been shot down and that Qatar's search and rescue teams found the remains of one. He said Iran was invited in April to visit and be briefed on those efforts, with no response. A tanker is attacked in the Strait of Hormuz The tanker owned by Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil and gas company ADNOC was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the Emirati state-run WAM news agency said Saturday. There were no injuries in the Friday evening attack, the agency reported. It was the third such attack on a vessel operated by ADNOC in the critical waterway in the last week. The United Arab Emirates in a statement called on Iran to stop the unprovoked strikes. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said a bulk carrier was struck in the hull by an unknown projectile on Friday. It was not immediately clear if it was the same vessel. Iran asserted control over the strait after the war started on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes. About one-fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas passed through the waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf before then. Talks between the US and Iran have stalled while Iran is in discussions with Oman about how to manage the strait that runs between them and had been considered an international waterway. Israeli strikes kill 11 in southern Lebanon Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people Saturday. Lebanon's Health Ministry and state news agency said one strike targeted a home on the edge of the village of Ansar and killed seven people, including three children, and wounded two. The second, on the village of Deir al-Zahrani, killed four and wounded 17. Israel's military said it killed a Hezbollah battalion commander and several other militants at a headquarters in southern Lebanon in response to the group's actions against Israeli soldiers operating there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in a separate statement said three soldiers were seriously injured. The military blamed an explosive drone. The military said the commander's family was with him, and that it should be emphasised that the family members were not the target of the strike. Both the military and Netanyahu's office alleged the commander used the family members as human shields. It was one of the deadliest days since the Lebanese government and Israel announced a framework agreement laying out a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament. The militant group refused direct talks and was not part of the agreement. Houthis in Yemen attack Red Sea port, killing at least 3 Yemen's military said the Houthis attacked the Red Sea port of Mokha under the control of the internationally recognized government. Port director Abdul-Malik al-Sharabi told journalists that Friday evening's attack killed three people including two marines, and that port operations had been suspended. Military spokesperson Col Majed al-Nazili said in a statement that the Houthis fired six ballistic missiles. The Houthis' attack was the latest on government-held areas and on neighboring Saudi Arabia, part of an escalation threatening to plunge Yemen back into civil war. Analysts say the escalation reflects how Iran is scaling up pressure on the United States and its regional allies.

J&K Bank settles Rs 2.55 crore insurance claim for deceased customers family

J&K Bank facilitated the settlement of life insurance claims amounting to Rs 2.55 crore in favour of the legal heirs of a deceased High Net Worth Individual (HNI) customer of its Residency Road branch in Srinagar. The settlement, covering multiple insurance policies, provided financial support to the bereaved family and underscored the importance of adequate life insurance in safeguarding the financial future of dependents. At a function held to mark the settlement, J&K Banks Zonal Head, Srinagar, Sheikh Mohammad Muzaffar, along with PNB MetLife Associate Director and Relationship Head Irfan Ali Zargar, handed over a symbolic claim-settlement cheque to Residency Road Branch Head Tajamul Qadri. The event was attended by Project Head Sheikh Yasir Arafat, Regional Manager Sajid Ali Khan and Zonal Insurance Coordinator Tahseena. Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Mohammad Muzaffar said the settlement demonstrated the value of insurance during times of adversity. The settlement demonstrates the true value of insurance during times of adversity. While no financial compensation can make up for the loss of a loved one, adequate insurance protection can help a family retain financial stability and face the future with greater confidence, he said. He encouraged customers to periodically review their insurance and protection requirements and opt for suitable insurance solutions available through the Bank to safeguard the long-term financial well-being of their families. Reaffirming the insurance partners commitment to policyholders, PNB MetLife Associate Director and Relationship Head Irfan Ali Zargar said every claim reflected the trust customers placed in the institution. Every claim tells a story of trust placed in us. Insurance is not just about financial protection; it is about keeping promises to our customers and their families. When life takes an unexpected turn, they count on us to stand beside them. We deeply value this faith, and nothing gives us greater fulfilment than honouring that trust, he said.

J&K Pavilion puts Pashmina, Kani, Sozni in national spotlight

Jammu and Kashmir showcased its rich handicraft, handloom and traditional products at the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav (Indian Trade Expo) 2026, held from August 12 to 15 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The participation was organised by the J&K Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO), under the aegis of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of J&K, as part of the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) intervention of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME). The four-day Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav provided a major multi-sectoral business and trade platform for industries, entrepreneurs, MSMEs, manufacturers, investors and other stakeholders to explore market access, business linkages and commercial opportunities. The Jammu and Kashmir Pavilion, located at Hall No. 04 of Bharat Mandapam, provided participating enterprises with an opportunity to showcase their products, interact directly with buyers and trade visitors and explore avenues for business expansion and market diversification. The pavilion presented a wide range of products reflecting the regions cultural heritage, traditional craftsmanship and growing entrepreneurial potential. Participating exhibitors showcased leather garments; Kani and Pashmina shawls and products; Sozni and other hand-embroidered items; Pashmina suits, stoles, kurtas and mufflers; non-timber forest produce; handicraft products; suits, sarees, coats and shawls; calico bed sheets, pillow covers, hanging bags, dupattas and sarees. Bamboo products, including chairs, tables, sofa sets, trays, lamps, baskets, flowers and decorative items, were also displayed, along with hand-embroidered bags, handicraft products and ladies suits, among other traditional and contemporary offerings. The participation provided J&K-based enterprises with visibility before a diverse national business audience and facilitated direct interaction with buyers, retailers, distributors and prospective business partners. The trade platform also enabled participating enterprises to explore emerging markets, strengthen product positioning and identify opportunities to expand beyond their traditional markets. Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director, JKTPO, said the participation was an important step towards providing MSMEs, artisans and entrepreneurs from Jammu and Kashmir with greater market exposure and stronger business linkages. The participation of Jammu & Kashmir enterprises in Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav 2026 was an important step towards providing our MSMEs, artisans and entrepreneurs with wider market exposure and stronger business linkages. The J&K Pavilion reflected the exceptional craftsmanship, heritage and product diversity of the region and provided participating enterprises an opportunity to present their products before a wider national and international audience, the Managing Director said. He said JKTPO, through the RAMP-supported initiative, remained committed to facilitating market access, promoting the brand identity of J&K products and supporting local enterprises in expanding their presence across domestic and global markets. The participation formed part of JKTPOs continued efforts to strengthen market access for enterprises from Jammu and Kashmir and facilitate their integration with wider domestic and global value chains. The RAMP-supported initiative provided participating MSMEs and enterprises exposure to a major national trade platform, enabling them to establish business contacts, engage with potential buyers and partners and explore new avenues for growth and market expansion.

J&K Resident Commission celebrates 80th Independence Day

The Jammu and Kashmir Resident Commission, New Delhi, today celebrated the 80th Independence Day with high patriotic fervour and enthusiasm at its premises at 5, Prithviraj Road, New Delhi. The celebrations commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Additional Resident Commissioner, Anil Sharma in presence of officers and officials of the Resident Commission and its subordinate offices. The Additional Resident Commissioner paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and national heroes whose courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment laid the foundation of an independent India. He called upon the officers and staff to uphold the highest standards of integrity, dedication and professionalism in discharge of their responsibilities and remain steadfast in their commitment to public service and nation-building. Highlighting the developmental initiatives undertaken by the Resident Commission, Anil Sharma said that the upgradation and improvement of the J&K House at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, was undertaken during the last year, while similar work was also carried out at the J&K House, Amritsar. He informed that work on the J&K House at Dwarka, New Delhi, is also expected to commence shortly, further strengthening and improving the facilities available for the visitors and officials of the Union Territory. The Additional Resident Commissioner also complimented the officers and staff of the Resident Commission and its subordinate offices for their untiring efforts, dedication and commitment, acknowledging their contribution towards the smooth functioning of the offices and delivery of services. The occasion was further enriched by a vibrant cultural programme presented by the staff and children, featuring patriotic songs and performances that reflected the spirit of national unity, pride and cultural diversity. As part of the celebrations, mementoes and certificates of appreciation were presented to the staff members of the Resident Commission and personnel of the Jammu & Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) in recognition of their dedicated services. Likewise, the certificates of appreciation were also presented to the children who participated in the cultural programme, acknowledging their enthusiastic contribution to the celebrations.

High Court of J&K, Ladakh celebrates 80th Independence Day

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh celebrated the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour, enthusiasm and a spirit of unity at the High Court Complex, Srinagar. The celebrations commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Acting Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Sanjeev Kumar in presence of Judges of the High Court, former Judges, Senior Advocates, Judicial Officers, Government Advocates, officers of the Civil and Police Administration, officers and officials of the Registry, members of the Bar and other dignitaries. A distinctive feature of this years celebrations was the participation of lawyers representing all districts of the Kashmir Valley in the Independence Day function at the High Court. The initiative brought representatives of the legal fraternity from across the Valley together at the Srinagar Wing on the national occasion, lending the celebrations a wider and more inclusive character. As part of the programme, the Advocates representing their respective districts addressed the gathering, sharing their perspectives and highlighting concerns relating to the legal fraternity and the functioning of the justice delivery system in their districts. The interaction provided an institutional platform for representatives of the district Bars to articulate issues of relevance and facilitated direct and constructive engagement between the Bench and the Bar. The Acting Chief Justice addressed the gathering and responded to the concerns and suggestions raised by the representatives of the district Bars. He assured the members of the legal fraternity that every possible effort would be made to appropriately address their genuine concerns and requirements. He emphasised the importance of sustained cooperation between the Bench and the Bar in strengthening the administration of justice. In his address, the Acting Chief Justice highlighted the significant strides made in strengthening the judicial infrastructure and modernising the justice delivery system across the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Referring to the past eighteen months as a period of purposeful transformation, he outlined several initiatives undertaken under the e-Courts Project. This included the Paperless Courts project in 20 Principal District and Sessions Courts, expansion of e-filing and digitisation of judicial records, establishment of e-Sewa Kendras and deployment of advanced audio-visual and video-conferencing facilities. He also emphasised that infrastructure development continues to remain a key priority of the High Court, with substantial investments being made towards new court complexes, judicial residences and facilities for litigants. Particular reference was made to the new High Court Complex at Bemina, Srinagar, which is envisaged as a state-of-the-art judicial campus equipped to meet the evolving requirements of the justice delivery system. The Acting Chief Justice also highlighted the achievements and initiatives of the J&K Legal Services Authority and the J&K Judicial Academy, underscoring their important role in strengthening the justice delivery framework. He acknowledged the contribution of the Legal Services Authority in advancing access to justice and taking legal services to the grassroots through an extensive network of panel lawyers, Para Legal Volunteers and Legal Aid Clinics. Referring to the assistance extended to thousands of beneficiaries, including prisoners, victims of crime, tribal communities and defence personnel, the Acting Chief Justice reiterated the judiciarys commitment to ensure that justice remains accessible, affordable and effective for every citizen. The efforts undertaken through legal aid, legal awareness and outreach programmes, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and other initiatives were highlighted as integral to make the justice delivery system more inclusive and responsive. Addressing the role of the media in the digital age, the Acting Chief Justice urged the print, electronic and social media to exercise restraint, responsibility and institutional sensitivity while reporting the judicial proceedings and judgments. He cautioned against sensationalisation, selective presentation of judicial outcomes and attempts at personal glorification. He emphasised that the authority of a judgment flows from the Court and the law and that judicial proceedings and outcomes ought not to be converted into instruments of publicity or celebrity creation. The address underscored that progress in the justice delivery system is a collective endeavour involving the Bench, Bar, Judicial Officers, Registry, Legal Services Institutions and other stakeholders. The interaction with lawyers representing districts from across the Kashmir Valley further reinforced the importance of institutional cooperation, mutual understanding and regular engagement in identifying and addressing issues affecting the administration of justice. The coming together of the Bench and members of the Bar from across the Kashmir Valley on Independence Day resonated with the constitutional values of Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and reflected their shared commitment to upholding these foundational ideals. The celebrations concluded with a renewed resolve to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, strengthen the administration of justice and collectively advance the ideals of unity, equality and justice.

Srinagar's iconic Lal Chowk wears festive look amid hoisting of tricolour

The iconic Lal Chowk here wore a festive look on Saturday as hundreds of tourists celebrated the country's 80th Independence Day in front of the famous Clock Tower. A huge number of visitors thronged the crossing in Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Once emblematic of separatist discourse, Lal Chowk was swept in tricolours. Netra Gurjar, a first-time tourist from Mumbai, said she was not wrong to visit the spot. It is my first time visiting Kashmir. We have been in Kashmir for seven days. It is our first time here (in Lal Chowk). And if you look at it, it is the first time we are celebrating Independence Day somewhere, she told PTI Videos. Gurjar said the family wanted to experience the atmosphere at Lal Chowk and they were not disappointed. Kashmir has changed a lot from what it was before. Before coming here, we were also scared. But, after coming here, all fear has vanished. It is safe. It is good. The infrastructure is very good, said Gurjar, adding that her eyes were welling up. Another tourist, Pune's Aisha Sheikh, said the visit was a dream come true. Coming to this Lal Chowk, where Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the flag, was a dream for us. If we come to Kashmir, we must come to Lal Chowk, she said. Sheikh said there were many speculations in the media that Kashmir is not safe. But we did not feel anything like that. It is completely safe. People are also very good. The residential (local) people are good, the military is very supportive. And for the tourists here, Kashmir is completely safe, she said. As shouts of 'Vande Mataram' reverberated in the air, Sheikh said she could not feel any prouder. Vande Mataram comes from within, saying this is my country, this is my nation, and this is my pride. We are Indians, we will remain Indians, and we will be buried in India itself. So we shouldn't even be called Pakistanis. We are Indians. And we proudly say that we are Indians, she said. Sheikh insisted that today's generation does not believe in division and there is no Hindu-Muslim issue. All are Indians, there's nothing else here. Kashmir is completely safe, she said. Authorities made elaborate arrangements, complete with selfie points, for the people to celebrate the day. A kid skated around with glee, carrying the tricolour in one hand. Suraj Bhatt, a tourist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, was thrilled to witness the moment. There is a big crowd here It feels good. The atmosphere here is energetic and enthusiastic, and it feels good to be at Lal Chowk, Bhatt, who was visiting the Valley for the fourth time, said. Gujarat-based Arun Haryani, painted in saffron, white, and green, stood beneath the Clock Tower, continuing a tradition he began four years ago. I used to hear that hoisting the tricolour here was considered a challenge and that tensions would rise in the area. So, I thought I should come here myself, hoist the flag and spread a message of peace and brotherhood, he said, recalling his first visit. Haryani said when he came to the valley in 2022, there was almost a curfew-like atmosphere. But when I came here in 2023, people stood from 6 in the morning until around 11 pm at Lal Chowk. They celebrated and danced, and at one point, someone even lifted me onto his shoulders and danced with me. That made me feel that a very positive message of brotherhood had come across. Since then, I have been coming here every year, he said.

Sungal Tunnel opens on Independence Day, cuts travel distance by up to 13 km

The much-awaited Sungal Tunnel on the JammuPoonch road was inaugurated on Saturday by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), providing a major boost to connectivity for commuters travelling towards Rajouri, Poonch, Nowshera and surrounding areas. The tunnel, constructed through the Kalidhar Range, will bypass a difficult stretch of the existing route and is expected to reduce the travel distance by around 11 to 13 kilometres, besides saving considerable travel time. The development comes as the widening and upgradation work on the AkhnoorRajouriPoonch road continues at a rapid pace. The Sungal Tunnel is approximately 2.79 kilometres long and has been constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 600 crore. While the tunnel has now been opened for public movement, some construction and finishing work is still underway. For the time being, only light vehicles have been permitted to use the tunnel. Heavy vehicles, buses and goods carriers have not yet been allowed, as certain works remain incomplete. Sources indicate that heavy vehicle movement could be permitted in the coming months once the remaining work is completed. The tunnel had been at the centre of public attention, with residents repeatedly demanding its opening. Earlier, the BRO had indicated that the tunnel would be opened to the public on August 22. However, in a significant Independence Day gift, it was opened, bringing relief to commuters. The tunnel will remain open for light vehicles from 8 AM to 8 PM. After 8 PM, the tunnel will be closed to all vehicular movement. The opening of Sungal Tunnel, along with the already operational Kandi Tunnel located a few kilometres behind it, is expected to significantly improve road connectivity and ease travel towards the Pir Panjal region. Local residents have welcomed the development, calling it an important step towards safer, faster and more convenient connectivity.

MP Khatana calls on PM, seeks monitoring of budgetary allocations to J&K

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and stressed the need for a comprehensive audit and effective monitoring of budgetary allocations, central support and centrally funded projects in Jammu and Kashmir. This would ensure transparency, timely execution and also that public money reached the intended beneficiaries, MP Khatana said, while holding an extensive discussion with the PM on the present situation, development priorities and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP MP, as per a press statement, appreciated the major transformation witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir under the Modi governmentfrom bloodshed to classrooms and sports fields, from hartals to business and productive activity, and from people fleeing the region to people participating confidently in every walk of life. He said that peace restored hope, security and dignity and must now be firmly converted into sustained prosperity. The MP highlighted the need to further strengthen opportunities for youth, employment, entrepreneurship, skill development, sports and self-employment, so that the younger generation could become a principal force behind the development of Jammu and Kashmir and the mission of Viksit Bharat. He appreciated the expansion of rail connectivity, including the Srinagar connection and stressed that connectivity must be matched by modern tourism infrastructure, including facilities for religious, spiritual, cultural and adventure tourism. Khatana urged renewal and strengthening of the industrial package for Jammu and Kashmir to attract investment, expand manufacturing and generate employment. He also raised issues concerning farmers, horticulture, traders and the business community, emphasising the need to move decisively from disruption to productive fields, markets and enterprise. He advocated greater promotion of GI-tagged products of J&K, enabling farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs to secure better markets, stronger branding and improved incomes. BJP MP stressed the importance of preventing leakages, misuse and embezzlement of development funds. Khatana also discussed the issue of alienation and resentment among sections of the population, stressing that democratic institutions and elected representatives must remain connected with the masses, listen to peoples concerns and restore complete confidence in the political and administrative system. With regard to minorities, Khatana conveyed the enthusiasm and appreciation expressed by minority communities towards the development and welfare initiatives of the Modi government. He emphasised that minorities must be empowered through education, employment, enterprise and equal opportunities, rather than being reduced to a vote-bank constituency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of minorities contributing their capabilities and services to the larger national mission of Viksit Bharat. The discussion also covered greater engagement of the minority diaspora in projecting Indias development, culture and achievements abroad and in building stronger economic, educational, cultural and people-to-people linkages between India and their respective countries. Khatana emphasised that the next phase of Jammu and Kashmirs transformation must combine peace with prosperity, security with dignity, development with accountability and opportunity with participation. He appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modis continued personal focus on Jammu and Kashmir and expressed confidence that sustained efforts would enable the people, particularly the youth, to become equal partners in building a peaceful, prosperous and developed Jammu and Kashmir and a Viksit Bharat. J&K has moved from violence to hope; now it must move from hope to prosperitywhere every young person chooses a classroom, a sports field or an enterprise over a street of conflict, he asserted.

BGSBU administration puts employee attendance under scrutiny

In a latest development, the authorities at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) Rajouri have ordered a detailed verification of attendance records of its administrative offices, including biometric data, amid a move to ascertain whether prescribed attendance norms have been followed. As per the official communication, the university has constituted a three-member committee to scrutinise attendance records maintained from January 1, 2026 and identify any deviations from the prescribed guidelines governing the Aadhaar-based biometric attendance system. According to the BGSBU employees, the move has been initiated to tighten the noose against the employees who were planning to stage protest against the varsity administration over delay in release of salaries. The move assumes significance as the university has specifically directed the committee to cross-check attendance entries with supporting documents, including biometric attendance records, rather than relying solely on attendance registers. As per the order, the committee comprises Head of the Department of Management Studies Dr Gaurav Sehgal, in-charge Controller of Examinations Mohammad Ishaq and Joint Registrar Estates and Establishment Mohammad Qasim. As per an office memo issued by the Registrar on August 10, 2026 the committee has been tasked with verifying attendance records maintained in the office of the Registrar, examination wing, estates wing, establishment wing, academic affairs and finance wing. The committee has also been asked to examine relevant supporting records and documents and also record its observations and findings in detail. Any deviation from the prescribed guidelines is to be specifically highlighted in its report, the official document reads. The university has set a deadline of seven days to submit a comprehensive report along with specific recommendations to the competent authority. The decision refers to the varsity circular No. BGSBU/Estab/2024/605 issued on July 12 of 2024, concerning implementation of the Aadhaar-based biometric attendance system at the university. The Registrar BGSBU has also directed concerned controlling officers to provide all relevant records and documents to the committee to facilitate the verification. The latest order has put the attendance practices across key administrative wings under scrutiny while the committee has been empowered to compare manual attendance records with biometric data and other relevant documentation. An official told Greater Kashmir that such decisions were allegedly being taken to put the employees under pressure who are at a loggerheads with the varsity authorities over pending issues. As already reported by this newspaper, the allegations of administrative mismanagement and financial instability at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri, have once again come into focus as the employees have raised the concerns over delays in salaries, promotions and payment of arrear. The BGSBU employees alleged that delays in salary payments, promotions and release of arrears have created financial uncertainty among the staff. Meanwhile the varsity administration has started an exercise to ascertain whether attendance records maintained across its offices were in conformity with the prescribed system.

LG Ladakh VK Saxena hoist Tricolour in Leh

The 80th Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour and gaiety across Ladakh union territory. In Leh district, the main function was held at the historic Pologround where the Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena hoisted the National Flag, inspected the parade and saluted the marching contingents, including the Armed forces and school students, which took part in the march past during the event. Addressing the gathering, Saxena paid tribute to the freedom fighters whose sacrifices secured Indias Independence and laid the foundation of its democratic journey. He also saluted personnel of the Armed Forces, paramilitary forces, Ladakh Scouts, police and the Border Roads Organisation guarding the countrys borders in Ladakhs challenging terrain and harsh climate. The LG highlighted the creation of Ladakh as a separate Union Territory in 2019 as a significant milestone in its development journey. He said the administration, with the support of the Centre, has focused on strengthening infrastructure, governance, healthcare, education, tourism, renewable energy, agriculture, water security, connectivity and social welfare. Saxena said five new districts Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass along with 17 new tehsils and 16 new engineering divisions, have brought administration and public services closer to the people. He also highlighted the ongoing process of establishing Hill Councils in all seven districts to strengthen grassroots democracy. On tourism and connectivity, the LG said Ladakh had received more than 3.30 lakh tourists by the end of July this year, nearly 98 per cent of the total tourist arrivals recorded during the whole of 2025. He said Ladakhs road network has expanded from 1,799 km before the formation of the UT to more than 4,200 km, while the number of bridges has increased from 19 to 72. Projects such as the Zojila Tunnel and Leh Bypass, he said, are further strengthening all-weather connectivity. Emphasising sustainable development, Saxena highlighted initiatives including Project Him Sarovar, Himalayan rock check dams, the Indus River Green Corridor, expansion of tap-water coverage, renewable energy projects and geothermal wells at Puga. He also underlined efforts to strengthen the Pashmina sector, including the Ladakh Pashmina Development Board, incentives for more than 1,200 pashmina producers and an ` 8 crore revolving fund to ensure timely payments. The LG expressed gratitude to farmers, Changpa herders, teachers, doctors, nurses, health workers, engineers and citizens for their contribution to Ladakhs development. He urged the youth to acquire knowledge, embrace innovation and make use of emerging opportunities. Stressing the need to balance development with environmental protection, Saxena said future generations must inherit a Ladakh that is prosperous, peaceful, vibrant and ecologically sustainable. He expressed confidence that Ladakh would continue to contribute to the national goal of Viksit Bharat @2047 with the support of the Centre. The march past featured contingents from the CRPF, RAF, ITBP, CISF, Ladakh Police, Ladakh Police Commando and ex-servicemen, besides NCC cadets from the first and second Ladakh Battalions. Students from schools across Leh, Kargil, Drass, Nubra, Sham, Changthang and Zanskar also participated. A demonstration by the Ladakh Police K-9 Squad and a performance by the Ladakh Police Women Pipe Band were among the highlights. Cultural performances were presented by the Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, as well as schools and educational institutions from across the Union Territory. Lieutenant Governors Appreciation Certificates were also conferred on officials and organisations for exemplary work. The family of late Col Sonam Wangchuk (Retd.) received the dPal rNgam Duston Lifetime Achievement Award, while His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa was conferred the dPal rNgam Duston Award 2026. Meanwhile, in Kargil the Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, hoisted the National Flag at Khree Sultan Chow Sports Stadium, Biamathang, Kargil, and took the salute at the march past as the nation marked its 80th Independence Day. The celebration witnessed enthusiastic participation from contingents of Ladakh Police, the Police Band Party, NCC Cadets, and students from various government and private schools. Prominent dignitaries in attendance included Executive Councillors Aga Syed Mujtaba and Aga Syed Ali; Deputy Commissioner and CEO LAHDC Kargil, Rakesh Kumar; Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kargil, Nitin Yadav; Directors of FCS&CA, ULB, Tourism and Education; Additional Deputy Commissioner Kargil; ACR Kargil; senior district officers, representatives of religious organisations, and members of the public. On the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon extended warm greetings to the people of Kargil and the nation and paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and national leaders whose sacrifices paved the way for Indias independence. CEC Kargil said that August 15 is not merely a day of celebration but also an occasion to reaffirm the countrys commitment towards national unity, integrity, peace and development. He said the sacrifices of the freedom fighters and national leaders continue to inspire the nation, and called upon everyone to work collectively for the progress and prosperity of the country. CEC Kargil said that Kargil is not merely a border district but a land where people from different parts of the country live together in harmony. He said Kargil has always been a symbol of the countrys security and sacrifice, with its brave soldiers guarding the nations borders. He paid tribute to the armed forces and said that the younger generation must continue to uphold the spirit of patriotism and national service. Highlighting the importance of development, CEC Kargil said that the administration and the Hill Council are working to make Kargil a developed and self-reliant district by 2047. He said a strong foundation in the education sector is essential for achieving this goal and that the Council has prepared a Kargil District Vision 2047 Vision Document covering various measures for improving the quality of education.

Javed Rana hoists National Flag in Poonch

The 80th Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm at District Headquarters, Poonch, where the minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, hoisted the National Flag amid high patriotic fervour and enthusiasm. He took salute at the impressive march past presented by the contingents of J&K Police, IRP, CRPF, Forest Protection Force, NCC cadets and school children at the main ceremonial function held at Sports Stadium Poonch. MLA Surankote, Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Ashok Kumar Sharma; Principal District and Sessions Judge Poonch, Sushil Singh, Additional District and Session Judge, Mir Wajahat, Chief Judicial Magistrate Poonch, Sarfraz Nawaz, Secretary DLSA Poonch, Rafaqat Hussain, Senior Superintendent of Police Poonch, Shafqat Hussain Bhat; senior officers of the civil administration, Police, Army, prominent citizens and a large gathering public were present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, the Minister, as per an official statement, paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and national leaders whose courage, sacrifice and vision secured the countrys freedom and laid the foundations of its democratic journey. He said Independence Day is an occasion to remember the sacrifices of the past and reaffirm the collective resolve to uphold the ideals of justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and national unity. Highlighting Poonchs glorious legacy of courage and resilience, Javed Rana said the people of the district have made an enduring contribution towards safeguarding national unity and strengthening the democratic ethos of the country. The Minister said India has made remarkable strides since Independence in various fields, including education, employment, science and technology and called upon citizens to contribute actively towards building a stronger, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous nation. Giving an overview of development achievements in the district, the Minister said Rs 6716.84 lakh were made available under the District Capex Budget during 2025-26, of which, Rs 5519.28 lakh (82.17 per cent) have been utilised. He said focused attention is being accorded to strengthening the power infrastructure, with Rs 640.41 crore allocated for the sector, of which, Rs 528.59 crore have been spent and around 72 per cent of the work completed. The project is expected to add 37.5 MW capacity and benefit around 22,000 consumers. He also highlighted the ongoing widening and macadamisation of the 198-km Poonch-Akhnoor road, along with associated road improvement works. Under the VB-G-RAM-G scheme, Rs 80 crore have been approved, with Rs 2.49 crore utilised between January and June, generating 83,124 person-days. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 49,079 of 49,254 targeted houses have been completed while 55,698 additional houses have been identified under the new survey. Highlighting the governments focus on water security, Javed Rana said 132 Jal Jeevan Mission schemes are under implementation in the district, with 18 completed and 42 nearing completion. He said 84,791 of 1,07,048 households have already been provided clean drinking water. Under AMRUT 2.0, Rs 84.58 crore have been approved for improving the water supply system in Poonch town. The Minister said the government remains committed to the welfare and empowerment of tribal communities and effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. He informed that FRA Cells have been established in Deputy Commissioner offices to facilitate recognition and settlement of the rights of forest-dwelling communities. He further informed that proposals for new Eklavya Model Residential Schools at Mendhar and Surankote have been submitted to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. The Minister said 520 km of roads have been taken up for widening, including 170 km under the road connectivity programme, while five NABARD schemes have been completed at a cost of Rs 1710.33 lakh. Under the Agriculture Department, 77.02 lakh saplings have been distributed among the farmers, bringing more than 324 hectares under plantation. He said Rs 169 crore have been sanctioned for a 64-km road under the J&K Rural Infrastructure Development Fund. The Mandhi bypass is nearing completion and is expected to be ready by March 2027 while the Dharamrahi-Mandi link road has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 36 crore along with 43 additional village roads. Under PM-KISAN, Rs 16.42 crore have been deposited for the benefit of 41,067 farmers. Speaking about the social welfare measures, the Minister said assistance is being provided to 62,512 widows, elderly and differently-abled persons at Rs 1,000 per month. Financial assistance is also being extended to 890 children from poor families for their education. Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, Rs 6 crore were utilised for 28 villages during the last financial year while Rs 566 lakh has been approved for 30 villages during the current year. He said free ration is being provided to 70,902 households covering 3,11,568 persons under the Pradhan Mantri Anna Kalyan Yojana. The Minister also highlighted the districts achievements in sports, informing that 115 children participated in national-level competitions during the year with four securing medals. He said 1,419 Anganwadi centres are functioning across the district, providing supplementary nutrition to children. Referring to the damage caused by recent heavy rains, Minister Rana said 22 people have lost their lives and 366 houses have been damaged while restoration of five motorable roads is underway. He assured that all possible assistance would be extended to the affected people and said restoration of damaged roads, bridges, drinking-water schemes and electricity infrastructure has been taken up on priority. Reiterating the commitment of the Omar Abdullah-led Government towards inclusive and sustainable development, Javed Rana stressed that development must go hand in hand with environmental conservation, protection of forests and biodiversity, sustainable management of natural resources and empowerment of tribal communities. He called upon the youth to become active partners in nation-building through education, skill development, entrepreneurship and innovation. The Minister also appreciated the role of the media in keeping the public informed about Government initiatives and public issues. He assured that the police and district administration are working in close coordination to maintain peace and strengthen the law-and-order situation. Let us renew our pledge to build a stronger, inclusive and prosperous India and ensure that the benefits of development reach every section of society, he said. The Minister also felicitated the officers, officials and individuals for their exemplary services and contributions in their respective fields.

IUST VC hoists National Flag on Independence Day

Awantipora, Aug 15:Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, hoisted the National Flag at a ceremony held on the university campus to mark the 80th Independence Day. The ceremony was attended by Prof. Sheikh Aijaz Bashir, Dean Academic Affairs; Prof. Shamim Ahmad Shah, Registrar; Finance Officer Sameer Wazir; deans, heads of departments, senior officers, faculty members and staff. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Romshoo extended Independence Day greetings and highlighted Indias transformation into a nation of growing global consequence, driven by advances in science, technology, education and innovation while remaining rooted in its civilizational heritage and values. Emphasising the role of universities in nation-building, he said Indias greatest strength is its youth, who must be empowered not merely as beneficiaries of development but as partners in innovation, entrepreneurship, governance and societal transformation. He said the journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047 must also represent a transition from opportunity to participation and from participation to ownership. Prof. Romshoo said IUST has sought to translate this vision into action through the implementation of NEP 2020, multidisciplinary academic programmes, skill development, Project-Based Learning, research and innovation infrastructure, and a vibrant incubation and start-up ecosystem. The universitys growth in start-ups and incubates, he said, demonstrates how higher education can help young people transition from job seekers to innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators. He stressed that universities must increasingly serve as bridges between knowledge and society, youth and opportunity, and regional aspirations and national development. Welcoming the new batch of students, Prof.Romshoo urged them to cultivate curiosity, creativity and compassion, embrace emerging technologies and use their knowledge to address societal challenges and contribute to building a peaceful, prosperous and innovative Jammu and Kashmir and Viksit Bharat 2047.

KMCH Sempora celebrates Independence Day with patriotic fervour

Srinagar, Aug 15:Kashmir Medical College and Hospital (KMCH), Sempora, on Saturday celebrated the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm, with faculty, doctors, staff members and students participating in the celebrations. Managing Director KMCH, Tausif Ahmad, hoisted the Tricolour and took the salute in the presence of Executive Director InshaQazi, Principal/Dean Prof. Nazir Ahmad Khan, Medical Superintendent Dr Syed Mubashir, heads of departments, faculty members, doctors and staff. Addressing the gathering, Tausif Ahmad extended warm Independence Day greetings and paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and national heroes whose supreme sacrifices, courage and determination paved the way for the countrys independence. He said the sacrifices of those who fought for the nation must always be remembered, honoured and carried forward through responsible citizenship and dedicated service to society. As a medical college and hospital, we have a responsibility towards our country and society. Medical education and healthcare are among the driving forces of any progressive society and nation. Our role goes beyond providing healthcare; we must contribute to building a healthier, educated, responsible and progressive society, he said. The Managing Director emphasised that Independence Day should not be limited to celebrations, but should also serve as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with freedom. He said every citizen has a role to play in the progress, development and strengthening of the nation. He called upon the faculty, doctors, staff and students to uphold the values of dedication, compassion, integrity and service, and contribute meaningfully to society through quality healthcare, medical education and responsible citizenship. He also paid rich tributes to the national heroes and freedom fighters, recalling their invaluable contribution and immense sacrifices for the country. In his address, Principal and Dean Prof. Nazir Ahmad Khan recalled the supreme sacrifices of the nations heroes with a deep sense of gratitude, acknowledging their unwavering courage, determination and selfless service. He said their sacrifices and commitment to the nation gave the people the precious gift of freedom, which is a privilege that every citizen must cherish, protect and uphold. Prof. Khan also highlighted the importance of instilling the values of patriotism, discipline, service and social responsibility among students and young professionals, saying that the youth have a vital role in shaping the future of the nation. The celebrations concluded with the distribution of sweets among the gathering.

CUK celebrates 80th Independence Day with enthusiasm, VC hoists tricolour

Ganderbal, Aug 15:Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir) celebrated the 80th Independence Day with enthusiasm, with Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A. RavinderNath, hoisting the National Flag at the Tulmulla Campus here on Saturday. Registrar, Finance Officer, Controller of Examinations, Deans of Schools, Heads and Coordinators of Departments, Librarian, Dean Students Welfare, faculty members, statutory officers, administrative staff, research scholars and students were present on the occasion. The Universitys Security Wing and students of the Department of Physical Education presented an impressive march past, adding solemnity and grandeur to the celebrations. The flag-hoisting ceremony was followed by an inspiring address by Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A. RavinderNath, who extended his warm greetings to the university fraternity and reflected on the significance of Independence, the sacrifices of the freedom fighters and the responsibilities of the present generation in shaping the India of tomorrow. Prof. A. RavinderNath said this years Independence Day carried a special significance, being associated with the commemoration of 150 years of VandeMataram and the theme of Yuva Shakti in transforming India towards Viksit Bharat@2047. He underscored the pivotal role of the youth in determining the nations future, observing that the younger generation would be the principal witness and contributor to Indias transformation into a developed nation. He called upon the younger generation to protect the hard-earned freedom and utilise it to shape the nations destiny through knowledge, integrity and discipline. Deliberating on the importance of life-coping skills, Prof. A. RavinderNath said higher education must go beyond academic qualifications and prepare students to face the complexities and challenges of life. He identified three broad dimensions of life skillspersonal skills, analytical skills and social skillsand stressed that their development was essential for nurturing independent, confident, responsible and capable citizens. On personal skills, he highlighted the importance of effective communication, digital literacy and financial literacy. Referring to the transformation brought about by digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence, he said AI was increasingly becoming an important instrument for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery and education. CU Kashmir VC stressed that analytical skills, rational thinking and sound reasoning were equally important for effective decision-making. A young person equipped with these abilities, he said, would be less vulnerable to misinformation, manipulation and unhealthy influences. On social skills, he underlined the significance of interpersonal relations, self-management, social engagement, honesty and integrity. These qualities, he said, were indispensable for creating a socially responsible generation and building a transparent and corruption-free society. He urged students to cultivate discipline, decorum and dignity, describing these qualities as essential attributes for becoming responsible and respected members of society. Looking towards Viksit Bharat@2047, Prof. A. RavinderNath said the country must aspire towards sustained economic growth, self-reliance, innovation and entrepreneurship. He emphasised the importance of science, technology, innovation and enterprise, including advancements in defence technology, in strengthening the nations capabilities. Highlighting Indias demographic dividend, he said that a significant proportion of the countrys population is young and that India has the potential to become a major source of skilled human resources for the world. He stressed the need to provide young people with quality education that enables both vertical mobility through higher education and career advancement and horizontal mobility through employability across geographical boundaries. The VC called upon the university community to make the best possible contribution to the nations journey towards a developed and self-reliant India. Thereafter, the VC distributed certificates among NCC volunteers and two other students for their outstanding performances. Asst Registrar, Estates and Stores, Imtiyaz Ahmad Parray, conducted the programme and proposed the vote of thanks.

High Court rejects 3 pharma directors plea in drug case

Srinagar, Aug 15:The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has rejected a plea by three directors of a pharmaceutical company whereby they had sought to quash criminal proceedings against them related to a drug declared Not of Standard Quality by the Government Analyst. In response to the plea which it dismissed finally, a bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal noted that the directors of Corona Remedies Pvt Ltd could not seek quashing of the proceedings at the threshold merely by claiming that they were not personally involved in the manufacture of the drug. The bench observed that whether the directors were in charge of and responsible for the conduct of the companys business under Section 34 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, was a question of fact to be determined by the trial court on the basis of evidence. The case related to Locipil Tablets, Batch No. CHI15020, manufactured by Corona Remedies in September 2015. A sample collected from ESIC Model Hospital, Bari Brahmana, Jammu, was tested at the Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory, Chandigarh, which declared it Not of Standard Quality. The petitioners, Ankur Kirtikumar Mehta, Dr. Kirtikumar Laxmidas Mehta and Nirav Kirti Kumar Mehta, were arrayed as accused in the complaint filed by the Drugs Inspector before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu. They had challenged the Magistrates July 26, 2018 order taking cognizance under Sections 18(a)(i) and 27(d) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The Court noted that the complaint specifically alleged that the directors were responsible for conducting the companys day-to-day business at the relevant time. It held that their actual responsibility and possible vicarious liability could only be determined after appreciation of evidence during trial. It also took note of the companys response to the statutory notice, in which it informed the authorities that it had stopped sale of the concerned batch and sought a lenient view. The Court held that the petitioners could not subsequently take an inconsistent stand to challenge the foundation of the proceedings, invoking the principle of estoppel by conduct and approbation and reprobation. The Court further held that the Joint Investigation Report, which recorded that the batch had been manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices, did not exonerate the company or its directors, as the report ultimately recommended action in light of the Government Analysts finding that the drug was not of standard quality. Finding no patent illegality, jurisdictional error, perversity or abuse of process in the Magistrates order, the Court dismissed the petition and vacated its 2019 interim order staying the proceedings. It directed the trial court to proceed in accordance with law and clarified that the judgment would not amount to any finding on the ultimate guilt or innocence of the petitioners.