High Court Halts Pharmacist Recruitment in Punjab, BJP Targets AAP Government
Chandigarh, August 13: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has imposed an interim stay on the recruitment process for pharmacist officers in Punjab. This decision follows allegations of a paper leak, which prompted a petition to be filed in court. During the hearing of the petition submitted by Keshav Kamboj and others, the court ruled ... Read more High Court Halts Pharmacist Recruitment in Punjab, BJP Targets AAP Government
Punjab Chief Minister Inaugurates New Girls School Building in Malerkotla
Chandigarh, August 13: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurated a five-story government school building for girls in Malerkotla on Wednesday, calling it a special gift for daughters on Independence Day. The project was completed at a cost of 6.34 crores, saving 5.25 lakhs from the state treasury. The new facility includes modern amenities such as ... Read more Punjab Chief Minister Inaugurates New Girls School Building in Malerkotla
Haryana Chief Minister Urges Swift Completion of Infrastructure at Global City
Chandigarh, August 13: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has instructed officials to devise a special action plan to complete essential infrastructure facilities, such as electricity and water supply, within three months at the upcoming Global City in Faridabad. He also directed them to prepare a plan for constructing a world-class iconic tower within the ... Read more Haryana Chief Minister Urges Swift Completion of Infrastructure at Global City
Green and Neglected Grass Economy of Rural Kashmir
Kashmir's agricultural identity has been built around a handful of familiar images: the paddy fields of Pulwama and Anantnag turning gold before harvest, the apple orchards of Shopian, Sopore and Baramulla that anchor the Valley's cash economy, and the saffron fields of Pampore that lend it a distinct global identity. Horticulture today makes up a significant share of Jammu and Kashmir's economic output, and a very large proportion of rural households depend, directly or indirectly, on orchards, paddy and allied farming for their livelihood. This is the Kashmir agriculture that gets discussed in policy circles, covered in newspapers, and celebrated in government schemes. But beneath this visible economy runs a quieter one grass. It does not appear in horticulture department press releases, it has no mandi, no minimum support price, and no season of celebration. Yet from the alpine meadows of Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam to the modest grazing patches along village roads, grass sustains a rural economy that is every bit as real as an apple orchard, just far less visible. An Economy Hiding in Plain Sight Call it hidden, because that is exactly what it is. Every village household that keeps a cow tied behind the house, every family that sends a few sheep up to the marg above the settlement each summer, every horse used to ferry tourists across a meadow all of this rests on grass, yet none of it shows up in the way Kashmir's economy is usually described. Milk, ghee, wool, meat and manure move through informal local markets every day of the year, and the entire chain begins with a resource nobody thinks to count. The clearest example of this hidden economy is the Gujjar and Bakarwal community, whose way of life is built entirely around the seasonal rhythm of pasture. Each summer, these pastoralist families walk their flocks from the plains of Jammu up into the high meadows of Kashmir a migration that can take over a month on foot, timed to the melting of snow and the opening up of grass at higher altitudes. Once they reach these high pastures, herds graze on the lush grasses of the Himalayan ridges at altitudes between 3,000 and 4,500 metres, close to the snowline. For a very large tribal population in Jammu and Kashmir, this is not a supplementary activity it is the entire economic base of the household, hidden from view for much of the year in remote dhoks and bahaks that most of the Valley never sees. And the output is substantial, even if uncounted. Gujjar families rearing cattle sell milk and dairy products such as ghee and cheese as their primary source of income, alongside wool and mutton. Multiply that across thousands of households scattered through forests and meadows across the Valley, and what emerges is a genuine rural industry one that has simply never been mapped, registered or valued the way an apple orchard is. Why It Stays Hidden Part of why this economy remains hidden is structural, not accidental. Unlike an orchard or a paddy field, the land grass grows on is rarely owned outright by the people who depend on it. Meadows, forest floor, roadside verges and riverbanks are commons used, but not possessed by any one household. And land that belongs to no one in particular tends to be improved by no one in particular either. Encroachment, unplanned tourism infrastructure, and the slow conversion of grazing land to other uses eat steadily into pasture area, with no single stakeholder positioned to stop it. There is also a record-keeping problem that keeps this economy hidden even from those meant to plan for it. Land records across Jammu and Kashmir, as in most of India, track cultivated area, orchard area and forest cover not pasture condition or fodder productivity. A decline that never shows up in an official number is very difficult to argue exists at all. So fodder scarcity does not announce itself as a headline statistic; it shows up quietly, as thinner cattle, falling milk yields, and herders selling off animals they can no longer feed. Climate change is now pulling this hidden crisis into the open, whether policy is ready or not. Pastoralist families have reported that natural resources, their only source of income, appear to be shrinking, with flocks having to make do with less grass each day. Erratic snowfall, early heatwaves and unpredictable rainfall are disrupting the very timing that transhumant pastoralism depends on. Researchers studying Gujjar and Bakarwal communities note that their climate-dependent lifestyle faces unprecedented challenges from shifting temperature and precipitation patterns, and argue that adaptive strategies are urgently needed to protect this way of life. When the grass fails, there is no crop insurance to fall back on; only a family with fewer animals than it had the year before. What Staying Hidden Costs The consequences of this invisibility are not abstract. Herding families across the Valley increasingly report reduced cattle numbers and declining fodder quality, forcing hard trade-offs between feeding animals and meeting other household needs. In some areas, traditional barter arrangements around grazing herders exchanging wool and ghee for access to land have already begun shifting toward cash payments, a sign that even this informal economy is being monetised, often to the disadvantage of those with the least bargaining power. There is an ecological cost hidden in here too. Healthy alpine meadows are not just fodder banks; they anchor soil on steep Himalayan slopes, regulate the water that eventually irrigates paddy fields downstream, and sustain the biodiversity that draws tourists to Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam in the first place. Degrade the grass, and the apple orchards, paddy fields and tourism economy downstream eventually feel it too. Kashmir's agricultural economy is far more interconnected than the neat line drawn between farmland and grazing land in official records suggests. Bringing It into the Light None of this calls for reinventing the wheel, only for noticing what has been there all along. Protecting common grazing land from encroachment, investing in improved and drought-tolerant fodder grass varieties, developing silvipasture models that combine trees and grass on degraded slopes, and most fundamentally, actually counting pasture area and condition in land-use surveys would go a long way toward bringing this hidden economy into policy view. So would extending to the dairy and wool economy the same institutional attention horticulture already receives: cooperatives, market linkages, veterinary support. Kashmir's rural economy has always run on more than what is harvested from a field. The grass on the hillside above a village is not empty land waiting for something else to happen to it; for a great many families, it already is the economy. It has simply been hidden from the story Kashmir tells about itself. (The author is Assistant Professor, University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab)
Pilgrimage buses, school building: Kejriwal, Mann highlight AAP govts welfare push
Three-day Tiranga Mela begins in Chandigarh
A date gone wrong: Punjabs wanted man held in Chandigarh with 2 pistols
Class XII student killed, friend injured in hit-and-run
Former international kabaddi player Toot dies at 45
Sukhna feeder canal to get soil erosion study
Hundreds mark 29th anniv of teens rape-murder, pledge fight against crimes against women
Three-storey house collapses in Sirmaurs Rajgarh, 2 women killed
In bid to end Punjab Congress infighting, Bajwa calls upon Rahul Gandhi in Delhi
Over 200 Himachal roads blocked as flash floods hit Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti
2 held over attack on Anti-Khalistan Terrorist Front chief
SAD weaponising ED communication to defame AAP: Cheema
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Chandigarh to roll out CBDC-based food subsidy under PMGKAY on Aug 14
Kharar railway station to get new foot overbridge, elevated platform
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Punjab to install 3 lakh solar streetlights across all villages: Minister
Rights panel seeks report on harassment, poor infra at Panipat govt school
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Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli to launch CBDC food subsidy transfers
The two Union Territories will become the first in India to fully digitise PMGKAY food subsidy delivery through Digital Rupee tokens under the new system.
Punjab Kings Kick Off 5-Day Off-Season Camp in New Chandigarh Ahead of IPL 2027
New Delhi, August 12: The Punjab Kings, two-time runners-up in the Indian Premier League (IPL), have commenced a five-day off-season training camp at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. This initiative aims to enhance players individual skills ahead of the 2027 season of the tournament, which features ten teams. The camp, which began ... Read more Punjab Kings Kick Off 5-Day Off-Season Camp in New Chandigarh Ahead of IPL 2027
IPL 2027: Punjab Kings Kick Off Five-day Off-season Camp In New Chandigarh
New International Cricket Stadium: Two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) runners-up Punjab Kings have commenced a five-day off-season training camp at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, with an aim to hone individual player skills ahead of the 2027 season of the ten-team tournament. The camp, which started on August 11, is focused purely on skill development, providing players dedicated time to work on specific aspects of their game away from match-day pressure. The players attending the camp include wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh, batting all-rounder Shashank Singh, left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Harpreet Brar, batting all-rounder Pyla Avinash, leg-spinner Praveen Dubey, and middle-order batter Nehal Wadhera. The training is being conducted under the supervision of the franchise's coaching staff, with assistant coach Trevor Gonsalves overseeing the daily drills at the stadium. The setup gives the support staff an opportunity to work closely with players at different stages of their careers. This initial stint is the first in a series of off-season camps planned by the franchise management to keep the squad sharp and game-ready well in advance. More camps targeting different sets of players, with a dual focus on skill fine-tuning and fitness conditioning, will be rolled out over the coming months as the franchise looks to build a strong foundation for the next IPL season. The training is being conducted under the supervision of the franchise's coaching staff, with assistant coach Trevor Gonsalves overseeing the daily drills at the stadium. The setup gives the support staff an opportunity to work closely with players at different stages of their careers. Also Read: Live Cricket Score A couple of other franchises are also organising off-season camps for their players. 2008 champions Rajasthan Royals got some of their players to train at their High-Performance Centre in Talegaon, while 2016 winners Sunrisers Hyderabad had a short skill and fitness camp in Chennai. IPL 2020 runners-up Delhi Capitals had a camp for its domestic players at the Just Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where trials also happened. Article Source: IANS
Chandigarh University's Architecture Students Secure 217 Placements in Leading Architecture Firms
Chandigarh University's Architecture Students Secure 217 Placements in Leading Architecture Firms
Panjab University 2nd Sem Result 2026 Out - Check LLM
Panjab University, Chandigarh has declared the LLM (2 Year Course, UILS) 2nd Semester, LLM (UILS, One Year Course) 2nd Semester, and Master of Physical Education 2nd Semester results for the May 2026 examination session on August 12, 2026. Check your PU LLM and M.P.Ed. result online at results.puexam.in, see the direct result links, how to check your marksheet, and answers to common questions.
Petrol Diesel Price Today, August 12, 2026: Fuel prices remained largely stable across major Indian cities on Wednesday, August 12, although consumers in a few locations received marginal relief. Petrol became slightly cheaper in Mumbai, Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar, while diesel prices also declined...
Bhupinder Singh Hooda Calls for Regularization of Haryana Skill Employment Corporation Employees
Chandigarh, August 12: Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced on Tuesday that the Haryana Congress will hold a major protest on August 19 in Panchkula. The protest aims to demand the regularization of employees from the Haryana Skill Employment Corporation (HKSERC) among other issues. Hooda stated that senior party leaders, the Haryana Congress ... Read more Bhupinder Singh Hooda Calls for Regularization of Haryana Skill Employment Corporation Employees
Aujla seeks special financial package for Amritsar border belt
RCF to roll out first rake of 19 coaches for Bangladesh Railway
Son of Indira assassination convict is Waris Punjab Des 1st assembly poll candidate
SAD-BJP thaw gets cadres backing, but Sikh apprehensions remain
Talwandi Sabo plant used used 3.6LMT paddy straw for co-firing in 2025-26
19,886 govt school students to get free bags in Sunam
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Dhesi raises NRI property, extortion concerns with Mann
BJP functionaries step up Tiranga Yatras across Jind ahead of I-Day
Chautala drug bust follows Abhays one-week ultimatum to cops
No PRASHAD proposal for Manimahesh Yatra, Lok Sabha told
Extortion bid foiled, 4 linked to intl gangster arrested
Army Chief briefs guv on security, border projects
BJP to go solo on all 117 Punjab seats, rules out SAD alliance: Dhillon
Rain fans sultry city, brings respite from humidity
Monsoon in HP claims 163 lives; orange alert issued
Cops on toes after city schools receive bomb threat
Army chief, Haryana CM discuss security, Agniveer jobs, veterans welfare
Rs 5.35cr property fraud: Tehsildars role under scanner, 3 booked
Yamuna rejuvenation: Haryana chief secy reviews multi-city cleanup drive
Haryana prepares for Reform Utsav to turn citizen ideas into policy
Foreign-based gangsters operative held with pistol in Bathinda
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Haryana Government to Launch Reform Festival in October, Inviting Citizen Suggestions
Chandigarh, August 11: The Haryana government, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, is gearing up to launch a significant initiative called the Reform Festival. This program aims to enhance governance by allowing citizens to play a direct and meaningful role in the decision-making process. On Tuesday, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi reviewed the preparations, emphasizing ... Read more Haryana Government to Launch Reform Festival in October, Inviting Citizen Suggestions
Chandigarh University Students' 'Green Heart' Wins NASSCOM's Best Startup Award, Bags 5 Lakh Grant to Transform Farming with AI, Satellites & IoT
Congress MP Manish Tewari Raises Eyebrows Over 238 Punjab Laws vs Only 7 Haryana Laws in Chandigarh
Burmese tea shop culture comes to India: Try Myanmars paukse, palata and pulled teas
Inspired by the monsoon, Burma Burmas new menu draws on Myanmars tea-shop culture, where meals are shaped by migration, South Indian culinary influence and tradition. After multiple trips to Myanmar to learn traditional techniques, the team brings the menu to Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
Punjab DGP Reviews Security Measures Ahead of Independence Day
Chandigarh, August 11: Ahead of Independence Day, Punjabs DGP Gaurav Yadav held a review meeting with senior officials to discuss law and order. The meeting took place on Tuesday and included officials from the Rupnagar range, which encompasses Rupnagar, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, and Fatehgarh Sahib. DGP Gaurav Yadav shared on the social media platform ... Read more Punjab DGP Reviews Security Measures Ahead of Independence Day
Chandigarh bomb scare: 4 schools receive threat emails, security teams conduct searches
Former Sri Lanka: Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Farveez Maharoof believes the absence of retired off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be a massive factor for India in the upcoming two-game Test series starting in Galle on Saturday. At the same time, Maharoof suggested that a spin troika of Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Manav Suthar could form the ideal spin-bowling combination for India in the island nation. In two recent marquee series at home against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, India were left seeing their spinners being outshined by their foreign counterparts. With conditions in Sri Lanka expected to be spin-friendly, the effectiveness of their spinners will be under intense scrutiny. Regarding Ashwin, I think it is going to be a massive miss. I mean, not only Ravi Ashwin, even the likes of the batters like Virat, Rohit, and with the ball, Jasprit. I think these guys are legends of the game. The records speak for themselves. The numbers are brilliant and Ravi Ashwin, whenever he toured Sri Lanka, he did well. Its because in Sri Lanka, all of you talk about the turn. But if you really look in deeply, it is the bounce that pick up wickets for the spinners. So, Ravi Ashwin in this side, he would have been the ideal candidate to bowl in these conditions and Washington Sundar, he is going to be a massive miss as well because if the pitch is a turner, he could extract bounce as well. So, he will be a (big) miss (too). Overall, Ravi Ashwins shoes are hard to fill. The numbers speak for itself not just for his bowling prowess, its also for his batting prowess too as a number six batter, Maharoof told IANS in an online interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network on Tuesday. With Ashwin retiring in 2024, India's succession plan remains remarkably unclear. To make matters worse, Jadeja is approaching the fag end of his career. Kuldeep, despite taking 79 scalps, has managed to feature in just 18 Tests since his debut in 2017. He remained on the bench throughout the five-match Test series against England. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Suthar impressed on debut with a seven-wicket haul against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh in June and even fared well in the warm-up game in Colombo. Though Saransh Jain has been picked, Maharoof thinks Suthars ability to extract bounce off the Galle pitch gives him a slight edge. Talking about the rest of the spinners in the Indian side, I really like how Manav Suthar made his debut against Afghanistan a few months ago and how he bowled in the warm-up game as well. His pace and bounce, I really like him. But the big question is will India play Ravi Jadeja and Manav Suthar in the same side? So, two left-hand spinners ideally and Saransh Jain still has not made his debut, but looks a decent bowler. It will be a lot to ask from him on debut against a quality and experienced batting line-up like Sri Lanka. But if you ask me, I will be tempted to go with the two left-hand spinners as well as Kuldeep Yadav. I think Kuldeep Yadav is a front-runner to start in Galle, and the records again, especially with the last Test match against Afghanistan, he picked up so many wickets. So, I see three spinners from India with Jaddu, Kuldeep Yadav, the third spinner, in Manav Suthar or Saransh Jain. Ideally, you like to see an off-spinner for a variation. But I will not be surprised if Manav Suthar plays as well simply because I feel with his ability to get bounce off the surface, it can be handy in Galle, he explained. Addressing the challenge of bowling in Galle, Maharoof pointed out that adapting to local wind conditions will be critical for the Indian slow bowlers, while identifying Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya as the home side's main spin-bowling weapon. Prabath Jayasuriya is going to be the main weapon, that is for sure. We have nicknamed him as the king of Galle because so many wickets he has picked up in Galle. He knows to bowl with the wind because wind is going to be a major factor in Galle, more so because of the drift that the spinners can work with. So, that is something that the Indian spinners have to make sure whenever they start training in Galle. I believe they are travelling today. They start training by tomorrow. How quickly the spinners adapt to the wind factor. It is going to be cross-wind in Galle. So, that is going to be massive, he noted. Shifting focus to the Indian batting department, led by in-form skipper Shubman Gill, Maharoof singled out wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant as the batter Sri Lanka would fear the most due to his ability to single-handedly turn matches. Pant is on his first Test tour of Sri Lanka and in the practice game, he made two runs in the first innings, before curbing his flamboyant style to make 28 in the successful chase of 207. I reckon lots of talk about Rishabh Pant - how is he going to play? I mean, does he has to change his game plan? I think, being a former player, if I'm in the opposition or Sri Lankan dressing room, I'll be very worried about Rishabh Pant because he's a player within a matter of half an hour, or 45 minutes, he can change the game totally. We've seen him doing it in the past and he has an X-factor and he's been given that license to play the natural game. He's going to play a lot against left-arm spinner, or off-spinner. Sri Lanka, for sure, is going to go with two frontline spinners, as well as two part-timers in Sonal Dinusha and Dhananjaya de Silva. Rishabh Pant, the way he scores runs unorthodox, it's going to be dangerous. So, I feel, the likes of KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel are proper players who don't take much risk. They play elegantly and are very nice to watch. But for me, dangerous players can be Rishabh Pant. Devdutt Padikkal, the way he batted at number three, he was so solid. I'm looking forward to watching him bat as well, he added. Maharoof also advised India's attacking stroke-makers to stick to their natural approach while predicting that first-innings totals will prove decisive in the series. For me, I think Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and even Yashasvi Jaiswal as well, because they are free-flowing players and in the sub-continent, it's just about getting through the first 10-15 deliveries. So, I feel, the likes of KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel are proper players who don't take much risk. They play elegantly and are very nice to watch. But for me, dangerous players can be Rishabh Pant. Devdutt Padikkal, the way he batted at number three, he was so solid. I'm looking forward to watching him bat as well, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He has to play his natural game and that's why he has made a name for himself. So, it's all about making sure how you're going to start and how you're going to finish in the first innings because first innings scores for me is going to be a massive one, he concluded Article Source: IANS
Chandigarh: Four schools receive bomb threat emails, searches yield no explosive
According to the police, the schools that received the threats are Carmel Convent School in Sector 9-B, St John's High School and Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School in Sector 26, and St Stephen's School in Sector 45-B
Punjab passes bill to bring 26k outsourced workers on contract
Congress alleges non-Punjabis hired in state jobs; health minister defends norms
AAP may implode soon, Mann wont complete his tenure: Warring
17-year-old swept away in Bhakra canal
Negi directs DCs to ensure relief reaches all disaster affected families
Selja seeks welfare policy for mandi workers
Haryana power staff call off strike after assurances from Vij
BJPs alliance is with people of Punjab: Saini amid Badal-Modi meeting buzz
Punjab Police Busts Two Major Drug and Arms Supply Networks; Seven Arrested
Chandigarh, August 11: Punjabs Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav announced on Monday that the Amritsar Commissionerate police have dismantled two significant networks supplying drugs and illegal arms from across the border, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals. The police seized ten pistols, 1.054 kilograms of heroin, and a drone from the suspects. ... Read more Punjab Police Busts Two Major Drug and Arms Supply Networks; Seven Arrested
IAF exam fraud exposes Jind link, 4 arrested in Chennai
Punjab strengthening flood protection infra along Beas, Sutlej: Minister
DIG Sanjeev Gandhi transferred
Legal then, illegal now: Legal limbo for CHB allottees
Congress objects to tabling of 9 Bills on final day of session
CM Mann calls for stronger cooperation with Army
Canal breach floods hundreds of acres in Fatehabad, crops submerged
Beware, I-Day messages could be cyber scam
2 get 5 years in jail for snatching gold jewellery from woman
Class X student alleges abduction, sexual assault by three men
