Jailed Extremist's Video Surfaces Ahead Of 'Bandi Sikh' March In Chandigarh
The August 15 agitation has also received the backing of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), giving the march added institutional weight.
ABVP holds Tiranga Yatra at PU
110g heroin case falls apart in court; two accused acquitted
Mohali Court Gives Gagandeep Singh And Satinder Singh Alias Kala Benefit Of The Doubt; Third Accused Declared Proclaimed Offender
Cong protests outside Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan over alleged insult to Kharge
MC commissioner flags lapses during surprise gaushala inspection
CBDC-powered PDS pilot launched in Chandigarh
37 to receive Chandigarh administration honours on I-Day
BJP Expresses Concern Over Rising Crime in Punjab
Chandigarh, August 14: The President of the Punjab BJP, Kailash Singh Dhillon, raised alarms on Friday regarding the escalating criminal activities in the state. He claimed that the law and order situation is deteriorating rapidly, leaving ordinary citizens, traders, and businesses feeling unsafe. In a press statement, Dhillon highlighted that incidents of shootings, daylight murders, ... Read more BJP Expresses Concern Over Rising Crime in Punjab
Rs 30,000, Aadhaar card stolen from Sector 27 shop
Waris Punjab De Protest call on I-Day: 3-tier security in place
500 join Har Ghar Tiranga Run in city
231 proclaimed offenders still evading arrest in Panchkula
Six Chd heritage pieces sold for Rs 83L in US auction
Warring, Sukhjinder slam Haryana govt over cane charge in Ambala
6 paid parking lots turn free as MC eyes higher revenue
Bhiwanis teachers death: Suicide, says CBI; kin claim coverup
Punjab begins mapping legitimate raw material supply for stone crushers
Attack on Sukhbir a conspiracy to weaken Akali Dal: Rajoana
Bullet hits car parked outside ex-jathedars house in Amritsar, probe launched
2L saplings to be plants in Una during 2026-27: Agnihotri
Chandigarh railway station redevelopment nears completion with world-class facilities
The News Mill
They Cannot Speak, But They Have A Voice: Deaf Students Protest For Basic Facilities In Chandigarh
As India preps up to celebrate its 80th Independence Day, a group of deaf and speech impaired school students in Chandigarh has drawn attention to a very different reality - one where children are still forced to protest for basic educational
Punjabs road safety force turns to AI, drones and satellites after saving 47,000 lives
51 Js born to rule; his frs born to rule; his frustration visible: Pralhad Joshi
CHANDIGARH: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that the LoP in Lok Sabha feels hes born to rule, and alleged that his frustration was clearly visible. Joshis remark came after the conclusion of the Monsoon Session of Parliament that saw relentless protests by the opposition over the police action []
Scientists developed an acoustic anti-drone system to disable unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles. This technology uses sound waves to disrupt drone balance sensors, causing instability and potential falls. The system targets internal sensors, making it effective against automated drones without remote control signals. India faces a growing threat from drones used for smuggling and warfare operations. This acoustic system offers a complementary layer to existing counter-drone technologies.
2 OMR sheets, 2 scores? NEET candidate moves Punjab and Haryana high court
Chandigarh: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday, August 13, slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that the LoP in the Lok Sabha feels hes born to rule and alleging that his frustration was clearly visible. Joshis remark came after the conclusion of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which saw relentless opposition protests over police action 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 .
Sat Sharma seeks stronger support for J&K artists, cultural tourism
J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma on Thursday highlighted the need to preserve, promote and financially support the rich musical heritage of Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha. He focused on safeguarding traditional art forms, strengthening support for veteran artists and young learners and using the region's cultural heritage to boost tourism and employment. Seeking details from the Union Ministry of Culture, Sat Sharma questioned the steps taken by the Sangeet Natak Akademi to preserve and catalogue renowned Kashmiri musical traditions such as Sufiana Mousiqi, Chakri, Wanvun and Rouf under the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. He also sought information on the financial assistance and monthly stipends being provided to veteran masters and youth disciples under the Guru-Shishya Parampara Scheme, besides asking about measures to integrate Jammu & Kashmir's folk and classical music into major national cultural festivals for promoting heritage-based tourism. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, on behalf of the Ministry, informed the House that the Sangeet Natak Akademi had undertaken several initiatives to preserve and promote the musical and performing traditions of Jammu and Kashmir through documentation, cultural festivals, fellowships, awards and other programmes under the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. As per the reply, Rouf and Kud Folk Dance training programmes have been started under the Kala Deeksha (Guru-Shishya Parampara) initiative from 2024-25, under which Gurus receive a monthly fee of Rs 8,000, Sahayak Gurus Rs 6,000 as honorarium and Shishyas Rs 2,500 as stipend. The Government also informed that financial assistance under the Guru-Shishya Parampara Scheme in Jammu and Kashmir amounted to Rs 3.37 lakh in 2023-24, Rs 3.87 lakh in 2024-25 and Rs 2.74 lakh in 2025-26, reflecting continued support for traditional artists and emerging talent. The artists from Jammu and Kashmir have been receiving national platforms through prestigious festivals such as Desaj, Lok Jan Pratha Utsav, Lok Sangam, Lok Pratibha, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav, Chandigarh National Crafts Mela and International Gita Mahotsav, besides special events organized in Jammu and Kashmir featuring local folk music and dance. These initiatives help preserve centuries-old traditions while expanding cultural tourism and creating greater livelihood opportunities for artists, Shekhawat said, in his reply. Sat Sharma said that Jammu and Kashmir's cultural heritage was one of its greatest strengths and preserving its unique musical traditions was essential for protecting the region's identity while creating opportunities for artists, youth and the tourism sector. He emphasised that sustained promotion of traditional music on national platforms would not only safeguard priceless cultural heritage but would also contribute to employment generation, cultural exchange and economic growth by attracting visitors interested in the region's rich artistic legacy.
When noise becomes a weapon against drones
Over 9K billing complaints in Chandigarh after privatisation of power distribution
Waste piles up across Mohali, residents cry foul
PU admissions spill into Aug, leaving little time before campus polls
Mohali fine-tunes I-Day plans as 12 schools join final rehearsal
Chandigarh PGI triage unit handles over 3,000 cardiac patients in 5 months
Escalator, water ATM: Mansa Devi temple visit set to get smoother for devotees
Mohali garbage mound reaches guvs doorstep
LOC issued against absconding couple in Mohali headmaster murder case
Police Nominate Third Accused, Recover Vehicles Allegedly Used In Attacks; Raids On To Trace Suspects
2 postgraduates among 5 held as Chandigarh Police bust interstate arms racket
6 held in 2 assault, attempt-to-murder cases
Car window smashed, laptop & cameras stolen outside Kisan Bhawan
MC launches two stormwater drainage projects in Chandigarh
550 join Tiranga Yatra in Panchkula
240 bravehearts honoured as Chandigarh War Memorial gets first update in 20 years
Panchkula ready for I-Day celebrations, final rehearsal held
2 helpers die in Panchkula crane crash
Tight security along Pak border ahead of I-Day
ED Launches Raids in Money Laundering Case Involving PSIIC Officials
Chandigarh, August 13: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted a series of raids in Chandigarh and Punjab, targeting locations in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Ludhiana. The operation also included a survey at the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIIC) office. This action is part of an investigation into a money laundering case linked to the ... Read more ED Launches Raids in Money Laundering Case Involving PSIIC Officials
HC halts rural livelihoods mission recruitment over anomalies in marks
20.6L names deleted in Punjab SIR draft electoral roll
Drug crackdown: Fatehabad cops demolish house built on panchayat land
Recruitment stay: Cong, BJP target AAP govt over irregularities
Pitbull attacks couple in Patiala; FIR against owner
Chandigarh court orders Meta to take down AI video of Cong MLA
CMs Independence Day message to air on AIR, DD Himachal
Chandigarh University joins ISRO to host National Space Technology Conclave on 17th-18th August; Group Capt Shubhanshu Shukla among 30 Space Scientists to attend
BJP, Cong condemn Nanded attack; AAP, Warring draw SAD ire
4 held for firing 30 rounds at Scorpio in Charkhi Dadri
HP govt promotes 45 medical officers, faculty members
Stay exposes 'irregularities' in Mann govts recruitment system: Dhillon
BJP raises questions over halted 500-bed hospital in Nahan
National Pine Needle Policy can help tackle forest fires: Parl panel
Farmers Leader Sarwan Singh Pandher Criticizes Punjab Governments Unfulfilled Promises
Chandigarh, August 13: Farmers labor front leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has accused the Punjab government, led by Bhagwant Mann, of failing to fulfill promises made to farmers. He announced plans to intensify protests, stating that the Aam Aadmi Party had made several commitments to farmers before coming to power. Now is the time for the ... Read more Farmers Leader Sarwan Singh Pandher Criticizes Punjab Governments Unfulfilled Promises
Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have become two Union Territories where the government will transfer ration subsidies digitally directly to beneficiaries' wallets starting August 14, 2026. This central government scheme aims to prevent theft and misuse of food subsidies provided under th...
No Such Thing As An Off-season; Shreyas Is One Of The Best Minds I've Seen: Trevor Gonsalves
With Indian Premier League: A franchise like Punjab Kings used to be perpetually trapped in the cycle of mid-table rebuilds till a grand change at the top happened in 2025. Under head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer, PBKS reached the summit clash, but fell short of the trophy. Their quest to win the title began brightly in 2026 before an unbeaten run in the first half made way for six straight losses. Though they won their final league game against Lucknow Super Giants, the unimpressive second half meant PBKS finished right outside the first four spots in the points tally. With Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 still a fair bit away, PBKS have hit the ground running in terms of preparations via an ongoing off-season camp in New Chandigarh. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Gonsalves breaks down the reasoning behind off-season camps, different needs of players to keep themselves sharp and match-ready, evolution of the franchise, 'positive-only' leadership of Shreyas Iyer, and more. Excerpts: - Q. What are the core objectives you are trying to achieve through this off-season camp? A. As of today, I really don't see anything as off-season. Cricket is being played throughout, and you may be aware that even the Sher-e-Punjab is starting in a few days, and we carry a few Punjab players with us. Many more state leagues are also on, or about to start. You have the Kerala Premier League and had the Andhra one getting over. Now you have the UP Premier League, and it's really about keeping the players in shape and keeping them in touch. We also look forward to our players performing in all these tournaments that are coming up. At the same time, you've also seen that a few of our players have been elevated and gone up to the Indian side. So, it's about keeping them fit and in touch with the game. It's good that we come around for a week or so in a period of 25 or one month or so. So, it's a good period that's carrying on going up to the IPL. Q. This camp features the likes of Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh and Nehal Wadhera. How do you tailor individual technical work for these players who are at very different stages in their careers? A. Well, see, it is not about the drill sessions at this moment. It is about, again, all the names that you mentioned are all professional cricketers, right? So, Prabh is about to play for the side in a few days. Shashank is ironing out a few of his problems that were there earlier on and is still trying to be in shape, and the same with Nehal. So, we have a specific mode now with only six or seven guys here around. We are giving them all the phases that usually come in the game. So, that's how we are going about it. It's not about being too specific about anything. But yes, they are having their own plans. We are executing a few plans and a few match scenarios. Well, I am in one-to-one touch with Ricky. Ricky is aware of everything that's going on, and he gets a report on a day-to-day basis. Q. You've been with the team since the 2022 season. What sort of shift has happened from 2025 in terms of personnel, mindset and ethos of the Punjab Kings? A. Going back to when I joined in 2022, when Trevor Bayliss was also the coach, I think it's about picking and getting into the right combination. The most important part that I see is about the home players and the picks in the overseas brackets. The person that we have in command now, Ponting, has been around for a decade. He's been around for a very long time, and he's an excellent, excellent person who knows all the players in and out. Being with the IPLs and various franchises for so long. So, he knows everyone in and out. That cuts our problems a lot in picking the right players for the right spot. Now, as of today, we boast of a team that can really do this - we have two sets of players. We have a backup for every single player on this team. So, even if one player goes down, the next player is always ready there and is as good as the first player applying to the eleven. So, it's really about picking the right slots, getting in the right players, and then working on it. Q. At PBKS, theres a lot of faith shown in young Indian batting talent like Prabhsimran, Wadhera and Priyansh Arya since 2025. How do you see this trend? A. We in India have totally different wickets compared to what we have overseas. If it's in England or in Australia, the wickets in India can be really challenging. It's the same as when an Indian player goes out; it's very challenging for them because, year-round, and when you speak about the Indian batsmen, yes, it's very difficult for an outsider to come and settle on the Indian wickets. Its because you can have less bounce, you can have a little bit of turn, you can have a little bit of grip on it, which is usually not the case on English and Australian wickets. So, really, yes, the Indian players form the majority of the great IPL teams that are there now. If you notice, the better the Indian players, the better the team performs, with due respect to the overseas players and all of them. But yes, you have to have a strong Indian batting line-up for me. That's it. Q. Shreyas Iyer's leadership at PBKS so far has been a revelation, and he now captains India in T20Is? What makes him a standout skipper? A. Shreyas and Ricky have been working for a long time now, even before coming to Punjab Kings. When they both got here, and now when you're talking about Shreyas, Shreyas is totally an amazing personality, and the biggest thing is he's such a good listener. When I talk about communicating with Shreyas, he's such a good listener that any single person in the team- he may be the 25th person in the team- can just go out and speak to Shreyas, and this guy will always have time for you. He will always have time for you. Shreyas is one of the best minds I have seen in cricket so far. What a level-headed guy, and a good head on your shoulders. He's one person who backs every single player, and the best part I like about him is that in the meetings or at personal levels or in the field or at practice, you can't speak a negative line. However bad the situation is, you've got to take out a positive line from it and speak it if you want to. But there is no speaking negatively when any player or anybody is concerned, and Shreyas is in front of you. It's got to be positive. If the feedback is there, it's got to be positive. So that's a very good thing. He is only talking positively and well. Nothing more than that. Yes, mistakes do happen, and everyone realises that a mistake was made. So you don't need to go up to his face and tell him that you made a mistake. They are all mature and highly experienced players. So that's a very good point that I like about Shreyas. He is an amazing human being, has very good ears, and is always ready to hear you out. Q. From a coaching perspective, how critical are these camps in keeping players sharp compared to just monitoring them during the domestic season? A. Not all the players are international players, and not necessarily all the players play domestic cricket. So now, if we don't have these camps, a lot of players would be missing out on really good cricket. We know that if a player has to practice alone in his hometown, we don't know the quality of wickets he's going to get there. What is the quality of the bowlers he's going to face there? Or if he's a bowler, what quality of batsmen is he bowling to? Will he get that quality of balls that we are providing, the Kookaburra balls? Maybe not. So it is more about facilitating these players and getting them ready, because the remaining players who come from overseas or international cricket or state duties are ready. So what about the players who are not in the state category and international side? It's more important for them as well. These are the reasons why we have planned this now. This season is going to be alarmingly long for us because we have a terrific, terrific schedule in place. We have a lot of camps coming up, and these camps really do help because it's all about coming together, meeting the person, trying to understand what's going on in his mind. It's not only all about cricket. It's all about the mindset and the frame of mind that he's in. How is he going? What's his body language? How positive is he? What's his attitude? A lot is being worked on also on their mindsets, and having these camps off and on is really, really important. We know time flies, and very soon we'll be into the 2027 season. So what about the players who are not in the state category and international side? It's more important for them as well. These are the reasons why we have planned this now. This season is going to be alarmingly long for us because we have a terrific, terrific schedule in place. We have a lot of camps coming up, and these camps really do help because it's all about coming together, meeting the person, trying to understand what's going on in his mind. Also Read: Live Cricket Score A. You can speak and get away with it. But data is the truth. You can't run away from the data. The data shows what the person has done, and I wouldn't say that we are 100 percent reliant on it. But yes, data in today's life plays an important role. We can't run away from the data. The data speaks volumes, and we do rely on it. Yes, data does have an important place as far as we are concerned, and yes, data helps. Article Source: IANS
Had Certain Expectations In IPL 2026; It Just Didn't Click, Admits Nehal Wadhera
The Punjab Kings: The Punjab Kings' off-season camp in New Chandigarh has been a stretch of open net sessions and practice games, though rain has made an appearance. Somewhere in the middle of all the games played by Mother Nature, Nehal Wadhera is working his way back from a season he is in no hurry to forget. A year ago, Wadhera was one of the stories of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 -- a young left-hander finishing games for Punjab Kings, as seen from his unbeaten 33 in the rain-hit group stage clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. That season saw him amass 369 runs in 16 games, though he was scratchy in the final, as RCB won the title in Ahmedabad. But this year told a different story for Wadhera the easy-on-the-eye timing and rhythm deserted him, as he made only 65 runs in eight games. Ask him about it now, months after he faced the last ball in IPL 2026, and he doesn't reach for the usual language players use to soften a bad season. I mean, I just couldn't click this year. So, I wouldn't say that I definitely worked on my game before the IPL, and I've had certain expectations out of me. But, yes, it didn't click - so it didn't click. But I definitely learned a lot of things out of it, and I'm working on it now. So, every player goes through such patches in their career. This season was one of those times when I couldn't do well, Wadhera said in an exclusive conversation with IANS on Thursday. There's no attempt to make it sound better than it was. It didn't click, and Wadhera has swiftly moved to having a better time with PBKS next year. What stands out is how little interest he has in complaining about the runs that didn't come off his willow or the games he watched from the dugout. So, I'm not someone who complains that I couldn't do something or anything like that. But, yes, I'm happy that I could learn something from it like how to be consistent, take the game forward, and how to win games when the team is certainly not in a good position. I tried to grab as much as I could from this season - all those games where I couldn't do well and also the games I didn't play. I used to just make notes out of it, and be mindful that if I was playing what I would have done. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, it just doesn't click. So, it was just one of those seasons. But, yes, I'm in a good headspace now, he said. That good headspace, Wadhera says, comes through the conversations he kept having with skipper Shreyas Iyer, now Indias T20I skipper, and head coach Ricky Ponting, even as PBKS' season nosedived in the second half. Shreyas has been doing really well for the past two-three IPL seasons. He deserves to be where he is today. The chats we had were always really positive. I mean, I did not do well, and yes, I did not deserve to be playing all those games. I did get my chances and could not grab them. So, I don't have any regrets that I did not play much. I did not complain, nothing of that sort. Rather, I was having some conversations with Shreyas and Ricky on how I could improve. What did they think I was lacking in or anything like that? But the same responses came from them, which were the things going on in my mind - that sometimes it just doesn't click no matter how hard you try. In practice also, when I was batting, I was batting really well. Even Ricky was really happy with the way I was batting. But it was the same response from him -that it just doesn't click sometimes. I was like, Okay, I'm fine with it. I'm trying my best, putting my best foot forward and giving my 100 percent. If it's still not working, it's fine. But still, if there's something I can learn out of it, I did, and I was practising even harder in the nets. But it's fine. I mean, no complaints, no regrets. I was giving my best, but it didn't happen. At the ongoing off-season camp, where the overall mood has been positive, the focus of Wadhera and others like Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh has been on honing their strengths and the areas that need work, keeping in mind not just IPL 2027, but also the upcoming domestic season, where the left-hander will turn out for Himachal Pradesh. The work of turning a lean season into a better one is happening in a fairly unglamorous fashion for Wadhera under the eyes of assistant bowling coach Trevor Gonsalves, who keeps the rest of the PBKS coaching staff informed about day-to-day proceedings. Whenever we are having our sessions, he is always standing there and recording us. Hes always showing us our videos to see where we can improve, and that conversation is always going on. He also tries to dig in and bring out conversations from us about where we feel that we can improve our game. Then, we end up being in such a place that we meet at a centre point that says, Yes, this is where you need to improve. This is where your strengths are. These camps help us because we have such quality bowlers - all the cream of Punjab bowlers are collected, and they are also being tested for IPL. So, they also bring their best game forward while they are bowling to us, and its a really good challenge. We also sometimes play practice games, but it's raining here, and we are not able to play that right now, but we are having some open net sessions. It's fun as Trevor is just sharing his experiences with us and we're really happy working with him. The bigger picture, for Wadhera, who was briefly in India A set-up, is that none of this is optional extra effort on his part - it's PBKS choosing not to leave players to fend for themselves between seasons. Obviously, when we get a call for the camp, we as players get really excited. But it's a really great initiative by Punjab Kings because they don't want players to be left to practice on their own. They're also keen to improve every player's game. That's why they constantly have their camps because they want to see where the player is improving his game, where he can fit into the eleven and can win games for the team. In the many camps they conduct, it's not something that, if we feel that we need to work on this, we need certain two or three hours of batting - they're always there, and we don't have a time limit, so it's really good. Also, we are practising with the best bowlers out there, and we are more than happy when we get those calls for the camp. We are really excited because we know that Punjab Kings are there and they are going to provide us with everything. That's why they constantly have their camps because they want to see where the player is improving his game, where he can fit into the eleven and can win games for the team. In the many camps they conduct, it's not something that, if we feel that we need to work on this, we need certain two or three hours of batting - they're always there, and we don't have a time limit, so it's really good. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Wadhera doesnt offer any grand promise about whether IPL 2027 will mirror his breakout 2025 or his tough 2026 season. Instead, he is honest in talking about his difficult season, the support he got from PBKS, and renewing his belief in coming good whenever the next IPL comes. I've practised well, and I know if I'm brought into this similar situation again, I'll end up doing well, he signed off. Article Source: IANS
Sukhbir Badal attacker pinned down, turban toppled; devotees restore it before police take him away
Registry done, freehold granted, but ownership still stuck in files at Chandigarh estate office
307 students of Fashion, Industrial, Interior Design and Fine Arts secure placements at Chandigarh University
SAD president Sukhbir Badal faces 2nd murderous attack in 20 months at Maharashtra's Nanded Gurdwara
'You Have To Be Patient In Test Cricket': Saransh Jain On Decade-long Wait For India Call-up
Galle International Stadium: Rewarded for a decade of relentless toil in domestic cricket, Madhya Pradesh off-spinner Saransh Jain said patience have been central to his journey as he finally earned his maiden India Test call-up for the upcoming two-game tour of Sri Lanka. Jain, who made his Ranji Trophy debut in the 2014-15 season, was included in Indias squad for the series against Sri Lanka, with the first Test set to begin at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday. Reflecting on the moment he found out about his selection, Jain said he was on his way to a temple when he noticed a string of calls and messages on his phone. When I got the call, I was in a temple. I was driving there, and I saw a call and messages in between. Then I came to know that I was selected, Jain said in a video shared by the BCCI. The 33-year-old has spent more than a decade playing domestic cricket and said he did not feel overwhelmed after joining the India squad, largely because he has already played with most of his new teammates. Ranji Trophy has an atmosphere. When I joined the team three days ago, I didnt feel much difference. 70-80 per cent of the players I have played cricket with. So I think I have mixed up with all of them, he said. Jain also stressed that patience is essential for anyone aspiring to play Test cricket for India, pointing to his own long wait as an example. You have to be patient in Test cricket. If you want to play Test cricket for India, you have to be patient. I have been patient since I started my career. I made my Ranji Trophy debut in 2014-15. It has been a long journey. It has been a lot of hard work and sacrifices. One day, I will definitely play for India. That was my feeling, he said. Jains family has played a key role in keeping him grounded throughout his career, with his father himself having represented Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. My family is behind me. My dad is a Ranji Trophy player. He told me to be patient. Things will come to you automatically, Jain said. Jain, who bats left-handed, has been a regular member of India A sides and has amassed 2,223 runs and 188 wickets in 54 first-class appearances. He spent years on the periphery before enjoying a breakthrough in 2022, when he claimed 13 wickets and scored a crucial fifty in the knockout stages to help Madhya Pradesh win their maiden Ranji Trophy title. My family is behind me. My dad is a Ranji Trophy player. He told me to be patient. Things will come to you automatically, Jain said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He had also served as a net bowler when India faced Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. Now, after years of waiting, Jain is finally on the brink of making his Test debut for India. Article Source: IANS
'Qurbani vs qurbani' in 2027 as kin of Indira assassins lock horns for same seat
Delhi and northwest braces for more rain as IMD forecasts widespread showers
Delhi and parts of northwest India are likely to receive widespread rainfall over the coming days, with the IMD forecasting rain across Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on August 14-15
Governor Kataria Promotes Patriotism at Har Ghar Tiranga Walkathon in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, August 13: The Har Ghar Tiranga walkathon took place on Thursday along the banks of Sukhna Lake, filling Chandigarh with patriotic fervor. Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria participated in the event, spreading the message of honoring the national flag among the youth and local residents. He also reiterated the commitment to ... Read more Governor Kataria Promotes Patriotism at Har Ghar Tiranga Walkathon in Chandigarh
Pitbull Attacks Professor in Patiala, Hospitalized After Serious Injuries
Patiala, August 13: In a shocking incident in Patiala, Punjab, a pet pitbull attacked a professor from Chandigarh University, leaving her severely injured. The victim, Shifali Sabharwal, was taken to the hospital by her family, where she underwent plastic surgery. Shifali was visiting a house in the Ghuman Nagar area with her family when the ... Read more Pitbull Attacks Professor in Patiala, Hospitalized After Serious Injuries
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)
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