MHA orders major reshuffle of AGMUT IAS, IPS officers; several Jammu & Kashmir officers moved
Srinagar, Jul 09: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday ordered a major reshuffle of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers belonging to the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre, transferring several officers into and out of Jammu & Kashmir with immediate effect. According to an order issued by the MHA, IAS officer Saugat Biswas (2006 batch) has been transferred from Arunachal Pradesh to Jammu & Kashmir, while Mamta Yadav (2021 batch) and Ishita Rathi (2022 batch) have also been posted to the Union Territory from Delhi and Puducherry, respectively. On the other hand, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary (2009 batch) has been transferred from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, while Swati Sheemar (2023 batch) has been shifted from J&K to Delhi. Among IPS officers, the MHA has transferred Vishnu Kumar (2019 batch) from Delhi to Jammu & Kashmir. Officers Arshi Aadil (2019 batch) from Goa, Tikam Singh Verma (2020 batch) from Goa, K M Priyanka (2021 batch) from Chandigarh, Rajeev Kumar Ambasta, Deepak Yadav, Anand Kumar Mishra, and Satish Kumar from Delhi have also been posted to Jammu & Kashmir. Meanwhile, several IPS officers currently serving in Jammu & Kashmir have been transferred out. Rajesh Kumar Sharma (2014 batch) has been posted to Chandigarh, Tanushree (2017 batch) to Delhi, Deepika (2018 batch) to Puducherry, and Gaurav Sikarwar (2019 batch) to Goa. The transfers have been ordered with immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders, the MHA said.
Delhi-NCR wakes up to another rainy morning; IMD issues orange alert
Delhi received heavy rainfall early Thursday, extending the monsoon spell and bringing relief. An orange alert forecasts more rain across the region through most of the day. This continuous rainfall caused waterlogging in several parts of the national capital. Similar weather is expected over Haryana, Chandigarh, and west Uttar Pradesh until July tenth. Northeast Uttar Pradesh will see rain until July thirteenth, and east Rajasthan on July ninth.
Chandigarh police bust Pakistan -linked narco terror network after raids in border districts, 3 held
Chandigarh Police have also formally arrested the main conspirator of narco terror network, members of which were allegedly involved in the cashier's killing
Housing For All : J&K tops UTs in PMAY-U implementation
Srinagar, Jul 08: Jammu & Kashmir continues to remain at the top of the Union Territories in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U & PMAY-U 2.0), recording the highest number of houses sanctioned and the largest amount of Central assistance among all Union Territories. According tothe Annual Report 2025-26, released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in June 2026,on the physical and financial progress of PMAY-U and PMAYU 2.0, a total of 45,112 houses have been sanctioned in Jammu & Kashmir. The Union Territory has received Rs 534.75 crore as Central assistance against an approved assistance of Rs 714.86 crore. The figures place J&K well ahead of all other Union Territories. Delhi ranks second with 31,670 houses sanctioned, followed by Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DNH&DD) with 10,338 houses, Chandigarh with 1,277 houses, Andaman & Nicobar Islands with 377 houses, while Lakshadweep has no sanctioned houses under the scheme. The data also indicated steady progress over the previous reporting period ending March 31, 2025. During the nine-month period, the number of sanctioned houses in J&K increased from 47,040 to 45,112 under the updated accounting framework. The report revealed that the Central assistance released rose from Rs 523.48 crore to Rs 534.75 crore, reflecting an additional release of Rs 11.27 croretill last year. Among Union Territories, J&K has also secured the highest Central assistance. Delhi has received Rs 698.53 crore against an approved assistance of Rs 714.86 crore, while DNH&DD has received Rs 209.87 crore, Chandigarh Rs 28.85 crore, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands Rs 3.72 crore. Nationally, PMAY-U has sanctioned over 1.25 crore houses, with more than 98.6 lakh houses completed. The revamped PMAY-U 2.0, launched in September 2024, aims to provide financial support for one crore additional urban families over five years while continuing the completion of previously sanctioned projects. The data underscore Jammu & Kashmir's dominant position among Union Territories in both the physical and financial implementation of the flagship urban housing programme. Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the completion of 31,173 houses under the much-hyped Housing for All scheme, out of a total of 39,153 sanctioned units.
J&K improves school edu ranking in PGI 2.0
Srinagar, Jul 08: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessedasignificant progress in its overall performance in the Union Ministry of Education's Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for 2025-26, increasing its score by 47 points over the previous year and moving up one grade. However,the Union Territory, as perthe PGI for States/UTs Report for 2025-2026, released bythe Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India,continues to remainin the 'Akanshi-1' category, indicating that substantial improvements are still needed across key school education indicators. The Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 serves as theunion government'sannual assessment framework to monitorthe quality of school educationand identify areas requiring policy intervention in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The details reveal that J&K's overall PGI score increased from 500.2 in 2024-25 to 547.0 in 2025-26, resulting in an improvement from Akanshi-2 (411-460) to Akanshi-1 (461-510) grade. The PGI 2.0 evaluates States and Union Territories across sixdomains: Learning Outcomes & Quality, Access, Infrastructure & Facilities, Equity, Governance Processes, and Teacher Education & Training,with a maximum score of 1,000. Domain-wise, Jammu and Kashmir scored 62.3 out of 80 in Learning Outcomes, 53.8 out of 80 in Access, 80.28 out of 190 in Infrastructure & Facilities, 210.5 out of 260 in Equity, 76.7 out of 130 in Governance Processes and 63.4 out of 100 in Teacher Education & Training. The UT secured Akanshi-1 grade in Learning Outcomes, Uttam-3 in Access, Prachesta-2 in Infrastructure & Facilities, Uttam-2 in Equity, Prachesta-1 in Governance Processes and Uttam-3 in Teacher Education & Training. In the Teacher Education & Training domain, J&K scored 63.4, placing it in the Uttam-3 (61-70.9) category. According to the details, only11 States and UTs achieved this grade, while just two, including Kerala, reached the top Utkarsh category. The report shows that Chandigarh emerged as the best-performing State/UT with an overall score of 766, becoming the only one to enter the Uttam-3 category, while several States and UTs continued to remain in lower performance bands.
One Centre, Three Locations: Hurdles Await Patients as PGIs New Wing Opens Partially.
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Haryana CM assures IKEA of full support as retailer eyes expansion
Punjab, Haryana monsoon deficit may keep food prices elevated: Report
226 arrested in Hisar anti-drug drive till July 6
All infra projects in Haryana to keep in mind disabled people: Finance commissioner
Now, registration mandatory for people intending to trek in Dhauladhar range
CBI arrests 2 Haryana Labour Welfare Board officials in Rs 590-cr bank fraud case
Protests escalate over 23-year-olds death post-childbirth
PM to address Jind rally, flag off Indias first hydrogen train
Haryana to set up district panels to push natural farming: CM
Rainfall continues in HP, yellow alert issued
Unas Bulk Drug Park groundbreaking ceremony to be held in Sept
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Baghel draws the line, says no pressure works on high command
Fill SIR form to ensure you keep availing benefits of govt schemes: Mann
After 2025 floods, Punjab races to restore Ravis carrying capacity
On banks of Satluj, Akal Takht to pray for Khalra, victims of Punjabs extrajudicial killings
Chanot water protest: Court grants bail to former sarpanch
135 drug FIRs in Hisar in 6 months: Police
3 BKI operatives held with 6 grenades, 12 pistols
Off OTT, Satluj plays at gurdwaras & grounds
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Manahar Kumar Film Premieres at Oscars Samuel Goldwyn Theatre
Manahar Kumar's film 'Beaten Down' recently premiered in Los Angeles. The dark comedy follows an immigrant's extreme plan for a U-Visa. It explores family, survival, and the emotional cost of life away from home. The film uses humor to examine immigration and difficult choices people make. Kumar, a BAFTA Connect Fellow, also stars in the project.
Indian-origin actor-model Mikail Shaikh features in FIFA Canada campaign
Actor Mikail Shaikh, originally from Mumbai, is building his international advertising presence. He recently appeared in a campaign for FIFA Canada, expanding his North American visibility. Shaikh's work highlights the growing demand for diverse talent in global campaigns. His journey showcases evolving opportunities for South Asian talent in international media.
After last year's devastation, Punjab races against time to tame Ravi before monsoon fury returns
Gurdaspur's water resources department is undertaking a massive de-silting operation on the Ravi River. This urgent work aims to prevent a repeat of last year's devastating flood disaster. Heavy machinery is clearing tonnes of silt and riverbed material to restore the river's flow. Embankments are being strengthened and sandbags prepared for potential monsoon emergencies. The department is committed to completing this vital work before the peak monsoon season arrives.
Chandigarh University Hosts 24-Hour National AI Hackathon 'AI Nexus 2026'; 70 Teams Develop AI Solutions for Real-World Challenges
US-led crackdown targets Bishnoi syndicate; 24 arrested
Law enforcement agencies arrested twenty-four individuals in a global operation targeting crime syndicates. These groups are accused of racketeering, killings, and international drug trafficking. One indictment links Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar to Hardeep Singh Nijjar's assassination. Authorities also seized significant quantities of cocaine and heroin during the extensive crackdown. This operation dismantled three major transnational organized crime groups operating worldwide.
J&K to revive Overseas Employment Corporation
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the roadmap for the revival and operationalisation of the Jammu & Kashmir Overseas Employment Corporation Limited (JKOECL) and reviewed J&Ks overseas recruitment facilitation infrastructure, with a focus on creating a robust institutional framework to connect J&Ks skilled youth with global employment opportunities. The meeting reviewed the proposed strategy for reviving JKOECL as the governments nodal recruitment agency for facilitating safe, transparent and market-driven overseas employment. Discussions centred on strengthening institutional mechanisms, expanding international partnerships, enhancing skill development aligned with global standards, and establishing an integrated ecosystem to prepare youth for overseas careers. A detailed presentation by Director Employment J&K Harvinder Singh outlined a phased roadmap for operationalising JKOECL, including the creation of a digital overseas employment portal, partnerships with licensed recruiting agencies, foreign languages and international certification programmes, employer engagement, counselling, pre-departure orientation and post-placement support. The proposed framework seeks to position JKOECL as the nodal agency coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Protector of Emigration, Indian Missions abroad, skill institutions and licensed recruiting agencies to ensure ethical, transparent and legally compliant overseas recruitment. Protector of Emigration, Chandigarh, Ministry of External Affairs, Yashu Deep Singh, also made a presentation on emigration trends from Jammu & Kashmir, the regions contribution to overseas remittances, and employment opportunities available through Indias labour mobility agreements with several countries. He highlighted sector-wise demand for workers, emerging job roles in global markets, and key challenges affecting overseas migration from J&K, including limited public awareness of legal migration channels, inadequate institutional outreach, dependence on unverified social media information, and the need to develop skills that meet international standards. Reviewing the proposals, the Chief Minister emphasised that the objective should not merely be to facilitate migration but to prepare a globally competitive workforce. We should not only send people abroad; we should send skilled people there. Our focus should be on skilling, he said. The Chief Minister directed the concerned departments to prepare a time-bound implementation plan and convert the proposed pillars into clearly defined, actionable outcomes. He also called for adopting best practices from states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which have successfully institutionalised overseas employment facilitation. Emphasising long-term sustainability, Omar Abdullah directed that the forthcoming Industrial Policy should provide for the establishment of skill development and training institutes to nurture an ecosystem capable of meeting international workforce requirements. He also stressed the need for a complementary industrial policy that encourages greater private sector participation in skill development and employment generation. The meeting was attended by Minister for Education Sakina Itoo, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma, Secretary Labour & Employment Rajiv Ranjan, Protector of Emigration, Chandigarh, Ministry of External Affairs, Yashu Deep Singh, Director Employment, Director Skill Development and other senior officers.
Bollywood Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh honours Dr Anshu Kataria
Aryans College of Law, Rajpura (Near Chandigarh), has been honoured as the Best Private Law College of the Chandigarh Region at the News18 Iconic Brands of North 2026 Awards held at Radisson Red, Mohali. The award was presented by Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh and received by Dr. Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges. Expressing his gratitude, Dr Anshu Kataria said, This honour is a recognition of our continuous efforts to transform legal education through innovation, practical exposure, academic excellence, and value-based learning. At Aryans, we are committed to nurturing socially responsible legal professionals by providing students with unmatched academic opportunities, interaction with eminent jurists, courtroom exposure, and industry-oriented initiatives. We dedicate this award to our students, faculty, alumni, and all our stakeholders whose trust and support continue to inspire us. Aryans College of Law has emerged as a pioneer in experiential legal education by becoming one of the first law institutions in North India to provide cinematic exposure to BA LL.B. and LL.B. students through the Aryans Law Film Fest, which was launched earlier this year by actor Binnu Dhillon and renowned Punjabi and Telugu actress Payal Rajput.
Srinagar, Jul 07: Chief Minister Omar Abdullahon Tuesday chaired a high-level review meetingto assess the roadmap forthe revival and operationalisation ofthe Jammu & Kashmir Overseas Employment Corporation Limited(JKOECL), sayingthat the objectiveshouldbenot merely to facilitate migration but to prepare a globally competitive workforce,anddirectingconcerned departments to prepare a time-bound implementation plan. The meeting reviewed the proposed strategy for reviving JKOECL as the government's nodal recruitment agency for facilitating safe, transparent, and market-driven overseas employment. Discussions centered on strengthening institutional mechanisms, expanding international partnerships, enhancing skill development aligned with global standards, and establishing an integrated ecosystem to prepare youth for overseas careers. A detailed presentation by Director Employment J&K Harvinder Singh outlined a phased roadmap for operationalising JKOECL, including creation of a digital overseas employment portal, partnerships with licensed recruiting agencies, foreign languages and international certification programmes, employer engagement, counselling, pre-departure orientation, and post-placement support. The proposed framework seeks to position JKOECL as the nodal agency coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Protector of Emigration, Indian Missions abroad, skill institutions, and licensed recruiting agencies. Protector of Emigration, Chandigarh, Ministry of External Affairs, Yashu Deep Singh, made a presentation on emigration trends from J&K, the region's contribution to overseas remittances, and employment opportunities available through India's labour mobility agreements with several countries, highlighting sector-wise demand for workers, emerging job roles, and key challenges affecting overseas migration from J&K. Reviving the Jammu & Kashmir Overseas Employment Corporation is a crucial step toward connecting our skilled youth with global employment opportunities. Our objective should be to prepare a globally competitive workforce. We should not only send people abroad; we should send skilled people there. Our focus should be on skilling, the Chief Minister said. He called for adopting best practices from states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which have successfully institutionalised overseas employment facilitation. Emphasising long-term sustainability, he directed that the forthcoming Industrial Policy should provide for the establishment of skill development and training institutes to nurture an ecosystem capable of meeting international workforce requirements, and stressed the need for a complementary industrial policy that encourages greater private sector participation in skill development and employment generation. The meeting was attended by Minister for Education Sakina Itoo, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma, Secretary Labour & Employment Rajiv Ranjan, Protector of Emigration Yashu Deep Singh, Director Employment, Director Skill Development, and other senior officers.
Mayors immediate patch works word not kept
2 arrested for attempt to murder NRI
2 caught for drunk driving to do community service
Increase bus frequency, enhance inter-state services: Kataria
Stagnant water camouflages potholes on city roads, residents demand repairs
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One hour of rain exposes cracks in civic infrastructure
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CM Saini presents cash awards worth over Rs 20 cr to 198 sportspersons
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Himachal steps up preparedness as monsoon gathers pace
Akali Dal Waris Punjab De protest against removal of Satluj from OTT platform
PM Modi to flag off hydrogen train from Jind on July 17
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Haryana disburses Rs 20cr to 198 sportspersons
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Amit Shah announces new cooperative life insurance firm, Bharat Taxi expansion to 500 cities
Union Minister Amit Shah on Monday announced that a cooperative life insurance company will be established to expand the business areas of cooperatives and also said the services of Bharat Taxi would be increased to 500 cities in the next two years. At an event in the national capital to mark the fifth Foundation Day of the Ministry of Cooperation, he stressed eradicating corruption in the appointments of professionals to enhance credibility in Indias cooperative ecosystem. Shah, the Cooperation Minister, said the establishment of the ministry has given a new lifeline to Indias cooperative movement, which was a neglected movement during the Congress regime. India has around 8.5 lakh cooperatives with more than 30 crore members. Shah highlighted that the ministry has taken many policy initiatives to make the cooperative system modern, transparent, technology-enabled, and competitive. The minister said that ride-hailing platform Bharat Taxi, which was launched under the cooperative model, has been doing well and would be expanded into 500 cities in the next two years. On similar lines to Bharat Taxi, Shah said: We will be setting up a life insurance company in the cooperative sector. This will help in the growth of cooperatives in the insurance sector. He mentioned that IFFCO-TOKIO, a joint venture of fertiliser cooperative IFFCO, is already in the insurance business. In India, there are 26 life insurance companies. Bharat Taxi is an initiative of Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd, a driver-centric mobility platform based on the cooperative model. At present, Bharat Taxi has 6.37 lakh registered drivers and 35.77 lakh registered customers. The service is operational in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Kanpur and will soon be launched in Ranchi, Patna, Guwahati, Bhopal, Kolkata, Indore, and Nagpur in the next few months, according to an official statement. Addressing the event, Shah said a national cooperative was formed especially for seed production and expressed confidence that it will emerge as the countrys largest non-governmental seed production organisation in three years. The minister noted that the cooperative organisations have entered into many new sectors, expanding beyond dairy, sugar, fertiliser and banking businesses. Nearly 20 per cent of agricultural credit, 35 per cent of fertiliser distribution, and 31 per cent of sugar production are being carried out through cooperatives, he said. Shah mentioned that model bye-laws, which enable PACS (primary agricultural credit societies) to undertake 25-plus business activities, have now been adopted by all states, including West Bengal. According to the statement, these PACS now function beyond credit, covering retail, storage, healthcare, fuel, and digital services. As many as 394 PACS have applied for retail fuel outlets, and 3 outlets have been commissioned. More than 54,000 PACS are functioning as Common Service Centres while 4,248 PACS are approved for Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Listing out the initiatives, Shah said the ministry has identified the problems as well as opportunities in this sector. A database of the cooperative sector has been created which will help in identifying the gaps and enable expansion of cooperatives. Shah mentioned that Tribhuvan Sahkari University is being established at Anand in Gujarat, which will address the human resource problem. He said trained professionals in banking, dairy, marketing, agriculture, fertilizers, and other areas of cooperation will be prepared from this university. These professionals will be appointed based on merit. Our goal is to implement professional management in a phased manner from primary cooperative societies to top institutions. This will increase transparency in appointments, improve work efficiency, and also put an effective check on corruption related to appointments, Shah said. By eliminating corruption in appointments, the cooperative sector can win peoples trust, he said. The minister expressed confidence that the cooperative sector would play a key role in making Viksit Bharat by 2047. Shah emphasised the promotion of organic farming and reducing theuse of chemical fertilisers. We are bringing 100 per cent circular economy in the sugar and dairy sectors. Through this, manure that can serve as an alternative to DAP will be produced. This indigenous manure will be cheaper than DAP and better in quality, and will provide greater benefit to fields, he said. Shah appealed to the farmers to give up DAP (DI-ammonium phosphate) and accept and adopt this new manure in the coming days. Elaborating more, the minister said 50 important amendments have been made to the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, making the entire cooperative system more transparent and democratic. A total of nine national-level cooperative societies have been formed, including three new ones.
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Only 22 Forest Guards Against Sanctioned 105; Just 2 Deputy Rangers In Place As Protection Concerns Mount
