J&K excels in Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Srinagar, Jul 09: Jammu and Kashmir has emerged among the best-performing regions in the country in terms of the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR), with teacher availability remaining well within the targets envisaged under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right to Education (RTE) Act. However, the latest national education data also points to anotherchallenge, i.e. theschools in the Union Territory have relatively low student enrolment, suggesting underutilisation of educational infrastructure. According to the UDISE+ Report 2025-26 - NEP Structure, released by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, on July 07, 2026, Jammu and Kashmir has an overall PTR of 16, significantly better than the NEP-recommended norm of 30:1. Across pedagogical stages, the UT maintains favourable ratios of around 10 at the Foundational level, 8-9 at Preparatory, 16 at Middle and 16 at Secondary, placing it among the better-performing States and Union Territories. The report notes that a lower PTR enables teachers to provide greater individual attention, strengthen classroom interaction and improve learning outcomes. However, the data also shows that Jammu and Kashmir has an average of only 126 students per school, much lower than the national average of 215 students per school. While this is considerably higher than Ladakh (64 students per school), it remains well below densely populated regions such as Chandigarh (1,194 students per school), Delhi (788) and Kerala (384). The report observes that States and UTs with very low student numbers per school including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Meghalaya may need to optimise school infrastructure for better resource utilisation. In contrast, Chandigarh and Delhi have managed to maintain both high enrolment per school and PTR levels within RTE norms, indicating efficient use of educational infrastructure. The findings underline that while Jammu and Kashmir has made substantial progress in ensuring adequate teacheravailability;improving enrolment density and optimising school infrastructure remain key challenges for the education sector.
Major bureaucratic reshuffle in J&K
Srinagar, Jul 09: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) onThursdayordered a major reshuffle of IAS and IPS officers belonging to the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre, approving the transfer and posting of several senior officers across various Union Territories and states with immediate effect. According to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs from Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi, the transfershave beenmade with the approval of the competent authority and will remain in force until further orders. Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed significant changes inboth theIAS and IPS administrations under the latest reshuffle. Senior IAS officer Shahid Iqbal Choudhary (2009 batch) has been transferred from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. Choudhary has held several key positions in Jammu & Kashmir, including Deputy Commissioner of multiple districts and Secretary in different departments. Among the IAS officers posted to Jammu & Kashmir are Saugat Biswas (2006 batch) from Arunachal Pradesh, Mamta Yadav (2021 batch) from Delhi, and Ishita Rathi (2022 batch) from Puducherry. The IPS cadre has also seen extensive changes. Tanushree (IPS) (2017 batch) has been transferred from Jammu & Kashmir to Delhi, while Deepika (2018 batch) has been shifted from Jammu & Kashmir to Puducherry. Gaurav Sikarwar (2019 batch) has been moved from Jammu & Kashmir to Goa. Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir will receive several IPS officers under the fresh postings. These include Vishnu Kumar (2019 batch) from Delhi, Arshi Aadil (2019 batch) from Goa, Tikam Singh Verma (2020 batch) from Goa, and K M Privanka (2021 batch) from Chandigarh. In addition, officers Rajeev Kumar Ambasta, Deepak Yadav, Anand Kumar Mishra, and Satish Kumar have also been transferred from Delhi to Jammu & Kashmir, strengthening the Union Territory's policing and administrative framework. The reshuffle also includes transfers involving Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, Ladakh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, reflecting a broader administrative reorganisation across the AGMUT cadre. The Ministry stated that all transfers and postings will take effect immediately and remain valid until further orders. The exercise is aimed at ensuring administrative efficiency, optimal deployment of officers, and strengthening governance across the AGMUT cadre.
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Satish Sharma secures breakthrough on mutton dealers' issues during meetings in Punjab
Chandigarh, July 9: In a significant step towards resolving the long-pending issues faced by the mutton dealers, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports, and Science & Technology, Satish Sharma, today held a series of meetings with the Punjab Government, resulting in immediate directions for addressing the concerns of the trading community. The Minister held detailed discussions with the Punjab's Animal and Sheep Husbandry Minister, the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the Secretary, Science & Technology and the Secretary, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj. The primary focus of the meetings was to find an immediate and practical resolution to the issues affecting the mutton dealers, which have been causing hardships to the traders and impacting the smooth movement of livestock. During the marathon deliberations, Satish Sharma strongly projected the concerns of the mutton dealers. He emphasized the need for coordinated action between the governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab to facilitate hassle-free movement of livestock while ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. Responding positively to the Minister's intervention, the Punjab Government issued on-the-spot instructions to the concerned departments to take immediate steps for resolving the issues. The decisions taken during the meetings are expected to significantly ease the difficulties being faced by the mutton dealers and ensure smoother coordination between Punjab and J&K. Expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the meetings, Satish Sharma said that safeguarding the interests of traders and ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential commodities remains a priority of the Government. He said the positive response from the Punjab Government reflects the spirit of cooperative federalism and inter-state coordination in resolving issues affecting the livelihoods of thousands of people. The meetings also featured extensive discussions on strengthening cooperation in the field of animal husbandry. Both sides explored measures to improve livestock management, disease control, scientific breeding practices and veterinary services through greater collaboration and exchange of best practices. In separate discussions with the senior officials, the Minister also reviewed opportunities for enhanced cooperation in the fields of Science & Technology, innovation, digital governance and research. He stressed the need to leverage technology for improving public service delivery and promoting sustainable development. The growing menace of drug abuse also figured prominently during the discussions. Satish Sharma held detailed deliberations with the senior Punjab officials on the state's comprehensive anti-drug strategy, particularly its community-based model involving Village Defence Committees and a dedicated 24x7 monitoring mechanism. He said these initiatives have shown encouraging results and would be examined for suitable adoption in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the fight against drug abuse and protect the youth from the scourge of narcotics. The Minister thanked the Punjab Government for its prompt response and assured the mutton dealers that the Jammu and Kashmir Government would continue to work closely with all the stakeholders to ensure that their genuine concerns are addressed in a time-bound manner.
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.
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Unas Bulk Drug Park groundbreaking ceremony to be held in Sept
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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
IIT Mandi develops landslide early warning system for Himalayan region
IIT Mandi researchers have developed an extensive early warning system for landslides. This system forecasts landslide probabilities across the entire Indian Himalayan region. It utilizes topographic susceptibility and real-time rainfall data for predictions. The system issues timely warnings to aid disaster preparedness efforts. This initiative aims to significantly reduce economic damages and enhance safety.
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.
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
Women delivery execs assaulted, robbed
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
Trash piles, stench drive demand for dump relocation
Waterlogged, Potholed, Dangerous: Commuters Bear the Brunt
One hour of rain exposes cracks in civic infrastructure
