Delhis Diwali pollution started before the fireworks
Gold, silver prices today, 12 November: Check retail price of 18K, 22K and 24K gold and 999 Fine silver in your cities Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
New Delhi [India], November 12: With air quality deteriorating across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited (NSE: STARHEALTH) (BSE: 543412) has urged families across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurugram to take preventive measures and seek medical advice early to limit the health risks of air pollution.
A shocking incident has emerged from South Delhi's Hauz Khas where a woman selling flowers and garlands was allegedly assaulted with sticks by multiple men. As per sources, the woman had refused to sell drugs, after which the miscreants attacked her.The woman alleges that Soni, an operative of the drug mafia operating in the area, forced her to sell drugs, but she refused. Following this, the accused, along with some of his associates, brutally attacked the woman with sticks on the day of Chhoti Diwali on November 7.
Delhi pollution: Noida, Ghaziabad schools switch to hybrid classes up to 5
Starting today, schools in Gautam Buddh Nagar district and Noida have switched to hybrid till Class 5. The shift is part of GRAP- 3 implementation across Delhi-NCR to avoid serious health issues
CCTV footage and Tihar Jail report debunk
US mercenary Matthew VanDyke, in his 2025 application before the court, claimed that he was subjected to unprovokedcustodial assault.However, Delhicourt-ordered CCTV footage and a report submittedby Tihar Jail authorities before the courtcontradict VanDyke's claims.
India renames tourist visa to visitor visa, simplifies norms
New Delhi: The government has reduced the number of the main Indian visa categories from 13 to nine and sub-categories from 49 to 23, while cutting the number of fields in visa application forms by 65-70 per cent to simplify the process for foreign nationals, officials said on Wednesday. The changes are aimed at making 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 .
Hyderabad beats five major metros in Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026
Hyderabad: In the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, Hyderabad has outperformed five major metros, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, to emerge as the best-performing city among Indias six major metropolitan cities. In the ranking, the city bagged the 19th position among urban centres with a population of more than 10 lakh. In the assessment conducted 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 .
Indian sport deserves nothing less: Abhinav Bindra seeks answers from IOA over electoral rules
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra has made public his letter to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), reiterating his concerns over an apparent inconsistency between the bodys constitution and the rules governing the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) elections. In a statement posted on X on Thursday, Bindra said the constitutional question he had raised remained unanswered despite his approach to IOA president PT Usha and CEO Raghuram Iyer before the elections. Explaining his decision to release the correspondence, Bindra said it had entered the public domain and was being referenced in media reports, prompting him to share the original communication to provide context. Unfortunately, my private correspondence with the Indian Olympic Association has found its way into the public domain. Given the references to it in recent media reports, I thought it appropriate to share my letter of 31 October 2026 in its entirety, so that its intent and context are clear. He clarified that the letter had been written before the elections and was intended to seek an explanation regarding the interpretation of the IOAs governing framework. The letter was written before the elections, in a spirit of constructive engagement and with the larger interests of Indian sport at heart. I had raised a specific question concerning an apparent inconsistency between the IOA Constitution and the electoral rules. While I received an indication of which rules were being followed, the underlying constitutional question remained unanswered. To date, I have received no substantive clarification from either the Electoral Officer or the IOA leadership, Bindra wrote on X on Thursday. The issue relates to Article 3.7 of the IOA Constitution and the recently notified rules for the election of SOM representatives. Under the framework, an 80-member roster is prepared by the Electoral Officer through a 10-tier eligibility system, with eight representatives, four men and four women, elected to the IOA General Assembly. Bindra, who had independently decided against pursuing candidature, maintained that his concern was not linked to his own electoral prospects or the fortunes of any candidate. My intention was never to question individuals or influence an electoral outcome. It was, and remains, to encourage greater clarity, transparency and confidence in our institutions. I have always believed that the strength of an institution lies not in the absence of questions, but in its willingness to address them, he added. The former Olympic champion shooter also connected the issue to Indias broader ambitions in international sport, arguing that institutional credibility and governance must develop alongside its athletes' performances. As India looks towards an increasingly ambitious future in world sport, the credibility of our institutions will be just as important as the achievements of our athletes. Strong governance is not merely an administrative necessity; it is the foundation upon which lasting sporting progress is built, Bindra stated. The SOM elections, held on November 9, have attracted attention after PT Usha finished fifth in the womens contest, with Anju Bobby George, Rani Rampal, Dola Banerjee and Saina Nehwal securing the four positions. Former sprinter Ashwini Nachappa has also alleged that external pressure led to candidates withdrawing from the contest, while Usha has raised concerns over alleged campaigning violations and sought an independent examination of the process from the International Olympic Committee. Against this backdrop, Bindra called for institutional processes to be guided by principles that remain consistent regardless of who is involved or the outcome of an election. My sincere hope is that we move forward with a shared commitment to constitutional clarity, fairness and integrity in all our institutional and electoral processes. These principles must never depend on individuals or outcomes. Ultimately, the credibility of our sporting institutions rests not merely on the decisions they make, but on the fairness and integrity of the processes through which those decisions are reached. Indian sport deserves nothing less, he wrote further. The IOA Executive Council elections are scheduled for December 5.
Delhi Police Acts On Viral Video Of Boys With Sticks
Delhi Police have registered a case after a video showing a group of unidentified boys creating a commotion and threatening people with sticks and stones in a Delhi locality went viral on social media. The incident, which occurred on November 10, prompted a police investigation, with teams examining CCTV footage to identify those involved.
Hardik brings a championship mindset: Ness Wadia backs PBKS new recruit after Arshdeep trade
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) Punjab Kings chairman Ness Wadia has described Hardik as a proven match-winner who can strengthen the franchises title ambitions, while also acknowledging Arshdeep Singhs contribution to the team following the trade that sees the Indian pacer move to a new franchise. Speaking on the developments, Wadia highlighted Hardiks versatility and decorated record, pointing to his success in international cricket and the IPL as qualities that could prove valuable to Punjab Kings as they look to mount a title challenge. Hardik is a proven match-winner. His ability to contribute across different roles makes him a valuable addition to the Punjab Kings squad. With three ICC trophies and five IPL titles to his name, he brings a premium level of experience and a championship mindset as we work towards our goal of becoming champions. We are delighted to welcome him to the family, Wadia said. The chairman also reflected on Arshdeeps association with Punjab Kings, describing the fast bowlers progress as a source of pride for the franchise. While the trade brings that chapter to a close, Wadia said the team wished him well in his next assignment. Arshdeeps journey has been a special one for Punjab Kings, and we are incredibly proud of all that he has achieved, both with the franchise and for Indian cricket. While we are sad to see him move on, we wish him continued success with his new franchise. We also extend our warmest wishes to Arshdeep and Samreen as they begin this exciting new chapter together, he added. Pandyas trade ends his second stint with MI, the franchise with whom he won four IPL titles. After joining MI in 2015, Pandya grew into one of the leagues most influential all-rounders, contributing with both bat and ball in the teams title-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Pandya joined PBKS at a fee of Rs 18 crore, up from his existing fee of Rs 16.35 crore, while Arshdeep joined MI at his existing fee of Rs 18 crore.
PM Modi very kind, warm, hardworking: Sam Pitroda (IANS Exclusive)
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) Indian Overseas Congress Chief Sam Pitroda has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a good orator who is very warm, kind, loving and caring, while adding that he has no personal issues with the Prime Minister. Pitroda's surprising remarks came in response to a question about Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi once describing PM Modi as a ig orator. When asked for his opinion of the Prime Minister, Pitroda, in an exclusive interview with IANS, said that he espects him (PM Modi) as a person and thinks that he is hardworking. He (PM Modi) is a Gujarati friend. I respect him as a person. I met him. My wife and I met him. He's been very warm, very kind, very loving, caring at a personal level. Of course, he's a good orator, hardworking, okay. We get along well, Pitroda told IANS. We have no personal issues. I have nothing against Mr Modi as a Gujarati leader, friend, and well-wisher. He's very warm to me. No issues about that. I appreciate that, he further said. The Congress leader said that the issues he has with PM Modi are based on ideologies and not on a personal level. And equally on my side, you know, I've been to his house in Gujarat several times. But I may have issues with his views of the world. I may have issues with his ideology. But that's a separate issue; that's not against the individual. It's against the idea. And these are two separate things. You know, I can disagree with Mr Modi, and I can also have dinner with him and have a laugh. So I have no issues, he added. In 2018, Sonia Gandhi had said that she agreed that PM Modi is a ig orator. Modi takes pride in his ability to deliver good speeches. I completely agree that he is a good orator and speaks like an actor... But the country is surprised that wherever he goes, he speaks wrong, she had reportedly said.
Shopian secures third rank among clean Himalayan cities in national cleanliness survey
Shopian, Nov 12: Shopian town in south Kashmir has secured the third rank nationally in the Clean Himalayan City category under the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26, bringing recognition to the towns cleanliness and waste-management efforts. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Deputy Commissioner Shopian Charandeep Singh and Municipal Council Chief Executive Officer Suhail Malik received the award on behalf of the town. For residents, the recognition is a moment of satisfaction as well as a reminder of the responsibility of keeping public spaces clean. It is really a proud moment for our district that we made it to the third rank, said Bashir Ahmad, a local resident. He said the achievement should encourage people to take greater responsibility for maintaining cleanliness rather than leaving the task entirely to municipal authorities. Now it is the collective responsibility of all citizens to keep our area clean. The administration and municipal workers can do their part, but public cooperation is equally important, he said. The recognition comes amid growing attention to cleanliness and sustainable waste management in smaller Himalayan towns, where urban expansion, increasing commercial activity and tourism can put pressure on civic infrastructure. Shopians ranking reflects the efforts of the Municipal Council, sanitation workers, the district administration and residents in maintaining public spaces and improving waste-management practices. For sanitation workers, whose daily work often goes unnoticed, the award also brings recognition to their contribution to the towns civic environment. The challenge now will be to sustain the performance and ensure that cleanliness becomes a regular civic practice rather than an exercise driven by rankings and awards. Residents say maintaining clean streets, preventing littering and ensuring proper disposal of household and commercial waste will require consistent public participation. The third-place ranking has placed Shopian among the better-performing Himalayan urban centres nationally, but residents say the real measure of success will be whether the town can maintain and improve its cleanliness standards in the years ahead.
Delhi: Air quality very poor as pollution worsens; AQI settles at 323
The national capital is battling rising pollution levels after Deepavali, with stubble burning in neighbouring States contributing to the deterioration
At least three people, including an infant girl and two men, were killed and five others injured after a dumper truck collided with an autorickshaw in northeast Delhi 's Sonia Vihar area early Thursday, the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) said.A three-year-old girl travelling in the autorickshaw escaped unhurt in the accident, which took place near Pusta No. 5 at around 5.17 am, officials said.
In her memoir, Sonia Gandhi recalls palmist
New Delhi A strange encounter with a palmist at the Gandhi familys erstwhile residence in Delhi decades ago, which initially The post In her memoir, Sonia Gandhi recalls palmists prediction that Rajiv, not Sanjay, would be PM appeared first on Bilkul Online .
Pollution worsens in city, AQI settles at 323
Many other stations like IIT Delhi and Delhi IITM recorded an AQI of 416, while NSUT Jaffarpur and Delhi DPCC recorded 404
Experts flag CPCBs exclusion of peak pollution data from AQI calculations
Experts said excluding peak readings above 1,000 micrograms per cubic metre artificially lowers the calculated AQI, making air quality appear better than it actually is.
Delhi DTC Electric Bus Catches Fire Near Shastri Park, No Casualties Reported
A DTC electric bus was completely gutted in a fire near Delhi's Shastri Park underpass after the driver spotted flames and alerted emergency services; no passengers were aboard and no casualties were reported.
Delhis early winter air pollution highest in 3 years: Study
Severe smog persists despite falling contribution of pollution from stubble burning, pointing to sectors such as transport, which is the largest contributor, according to CSE
Kirti Azad, Imran Masood must apologise for remarks on Ram, Diwali: CTI
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) and the Ramlila Mahasangh on Thursday condemned Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad's remarks concerning Lord Shri Ram and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, as well as Congress MP Imran Masood's description of Diwali as a 'man-made disease.' The organisations have demanded apologies from both MPs, stating that their remarks have hurt the religious sentiments of millions of people and caused widespread resentment among traders and members of the public. CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said Kirti Azad had reportedly stated in the media that he would never visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya because Lord Ram had abandoned Sita despite her undergoing the Agni Pariksha. Goyal said the statement had hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees. CTI has also written to Trinamool Congress President Mamata Banerjee, urging her to ask Azad to withdraw his remarks and express regret. The organisation has also sought clarification from the party on whether the MP's statement reflects its official position. Everyone has the right to express their faith, but no one has the right to disrespect the faith of others. Lord Ram is a symbol of dignity, sacrifice and duty. Maa Sita is equally revered. It is wrong to play politics by pitting Ram and Sita against each other. We want dialogue, not conflict, Goyal said. CTI said Ayodhya has evolved into not only a major centre of religious faith but also one of the country's largest hubs of the spiritual economy. Highlighting the economic transformation of the temple town, the organisation said the annual number of visitors, which stood at approximately 1.7 million before the construction of the Ram Temple, increased to 164 million in 2024 and nearly 200 million in 2025. According to CTI, the number of hotel rooms has risen from around 3,500-4,000 to more than 5,000, while over 50 major hotel projects are currently under construction. The number of homestays, which was previously negligible, has increased to 1,136. Similarly, the number of restaurants has grown from approximately 200 to nearly 2,000, while the number of rickshaws and e-rickshaws has increased from 500 to around 17,000. The organisation further stated that the daily earnings of shopkeepers have increased from Rs 400-500 to approximately Rs 2,500. More than 1.2 lakh new jobs and over 6,000 new micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have also been created. CTI added that investments worth Rs 85,000 crore are being made under Ayodhya's Master Plan 2031. The organisation said traders in Ayodhya were deeply upset by the remarks and had contacted CTI to express their displeasure. It said the city's economy was closely linked to religious tourism and faith, adding that any remarks hurting religious sentiments could adversely affect the livelihoods of small traders, homestay owners, hotel employees, rickshaw pullers, potters, and sellers of flowers and prasad. CTI has put forward three demands: Kirti Azad should apologise for his remarks on Lord Ram; Mamata Banerjee should clarify whether the statement represents the official position of the Trinamool Congress; and political leaders across parties should refrain from making such remarks about religious deities and festivals. Ramlila Mahasangh President Arjun Kumar also expressed strong displeasure over the statements made by Kirti Azad and Imran Masood. He announced that neither of the MPs would be invited to or allowed entry into any Ramlila event in Delhi or elsewhere in the country. Kumar said thousands of Ramlila events are organised across Delhi and different parts of the country every year, involving thousands of artists and organisers. He added that such remarks hurt the sentiments of millions of people associated with these cultural and religious celebrations. Goyal also criticised Congress MP Imran Masood for describing Diwali, one of the biggest festivals of the Sanatan faith, as a 'man-made disease'. He said the remark had triggered widespread resentment among members of the public and the business community, particularly because Diwali holds immense religious, cultural and economic significance. Goyal urged senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to take cognisance of the matter and either seek Masood's dismissal from the party or ask him to apologise to the nation. CTI said insulting Ayodhya, Diwali and Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram was unacceptable and called upon political leaders to exercise restraint while making statements concerning religious beliefs and festivals.
Flower Seller Attacked In Delhi; Police Probe Viral Video
A woman selling flowers in south Delhi's Hauz Khas was allegedly assaulted with sticks by multiple men, as shown in a viral video. While social media suggests the attack followed her refusal to sell drugs, police have not confirmed the motive and are investigating the incident based on social media inputs.
RBI issues consolidated domestic money transfer rules; retains Rs 50,000 cash NEFT cap
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a consolidated set of directions on domestic money transfers, retaining existing transaction limits and tightening safeguards for cash-based remittances. Under the new framework, walk-in customers without an account at a bank branch can transfer up to Rs 50,000 in cash into a bank account through NEFT. Banks can also allow such customers to send funds through business correspondents, ATMs and other permitted channels, subject to a cap of Rs 5,000 per transaction and Rs 25,000 per remitter in a month. For cash payouts to beneficiaries who do not have bank accounts, banks can facilitate transfers from customers' accounts through ATMs, business correspondents or other authorised payment channels. However, these transfers are capped at Rs 10,000 per transaction, with a monthly ceiling of Rs 25,000 per beneficiary. These limits were part of the earlier framework and have been retained in the latest directions, according to the central bank. It also retained the requirement for remitter registration on the basis of a verified mobile number and a self-certified officially valid document as prescribed under its Know Your Customer Directions, 2025. Moreover, remitting banks and business correspondents must include remitter details in the IMPS or NEFT transaction message. Also, the message must carry an identifier to distinguish cash-based remittances. In addition, banks and non-banks have been asked to put in place safeguards, including velocity checks and alerts to customers about credits received through these facilities. Any unusual increase in the volume of credits in a particular account or group of accounts must be investigated immediately and suspicious transactions must be reported to the appropriate authorities. Fund transfers under the new framework are expected to be effected on a real-time or near-real-time basis. Inter-bank settlement must be carried out only through RBI-approved payment systems. Additionally, the directions apply to all scheduled commercial banks, including regional rural banks, urban co-operative banks, state co-operative banks and district central co-operative banks as well as authorised payment system operators and participants to the extent applicable to their domestic money transfer services. However, card-to-card transfers have been kept outside the scope of the directions.
Mumbai recorded an AQI of 154, in the poor category, with PM2.5 at 76 g/m and PM10 at 130 g/m, despite sunny skies and 28 degrees Celsius.
Protests erupt in Delhi over rising air pollution; demonstrators seek comprehensive action
Axar Patel 'Reluctant' To Captain Delhi Capitals In IPL 2027: Report
Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel has reportedly told the franchise that he is not sure about retaining the leadership role, according to a report.
Delhi-NCR Faces Severe Cold and Rising Pollution Levels
Delhi-NCR experiences a drop in temperatures and alarming pollution levels, with several areas reporting severe air quality. Delhi-NCR Faces Severe Cold and Rising Pollution Levels
Delhi's Dhaula Kuan records 'moderate' AQI of 128
Pandya moves to Punjab, Arshdeep heads to MI in high-profile IPL trade
New Delhi, Nov 11: Flamboyant all-rounder Hardik Pandya moved to Punjab Kings from Mumbai Indians at an increased fee of Rs 18 crore, while PBKS traded pacer Arshdeep Singh for him, completing the biggest and most high-profile exchange of players in the history of IPL. Pandyas existing fee was Rs 16.35 crore. Arshdeep, on the []
Delhi Air Pollution Turns Hazardous, AQI Crosses 500 in Several Areas
Delhis air quality has deteriorated sharply, with pollution levels crossing the 500 mark and reaching hazardous levels of over 600 in several parts of the national capital, according to real-time AQI dashboards. The latest situation marks a significant worsening from Thursdays overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 319, which had placed the city in the []
Delhi's air 'very poor'; 40 monitoring stations record AQI above 300
IIT Delhi recorded the highest AQI at 416, followed by NSUT Jaffarpur at 404 and ITO at 399.
BCCI has no role in appointment of zonal selection convenors: Saikia on Kharkamni controversy
New Delhi, Nov 11: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has rejected reports that the Board had a role in the appointment of Meghalaya Cricket Association official Rayonald Kharkamni as the convenor of North East zones womens selection committee, saying the decision was made by the state body despite a High Court suspension order against him. Kharkamni []
MCD inspects Chhath ghats in Delhi, directs officials to ensure facilities
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday inspected Chhath ghats across the city and directed officials to ensure proper sanitation, lighting, security and other facilities for devotees ahead of the four-day festival beginning November 13. According to an official statement, West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat, MLA Pradyumn Rajput and MCD's South West Zone Deputy Commissioner Shashi Pratap Singh reviewed preparations at ghats in Sagarpur and Mahavir Enclave. In the West Zone, Ward Committee Chairman Harish Oberoi and Deputy Commissioner Col Vinod Atri inspected the Chhath ghat at New Krishna Park in Vikaspuri and reviewed cleanliness, water supply, lighting and security arrangements. East Zone Deputy Commissioner Azharuddin Zaheeruddin Qazi inspected Haathi Ghat near ITO, where officials were asked to clear waste found along the riverbank and coordinate with the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to remove floating waste from the Yamuna using motorised boats, the ...
Mother Dairy Raises Milk Prices in Delhi, Sparking Public Concern Over Inflation
Mother Dairys recent price hike on milk has left Delhi residents worried about rising inflation and its impact on daily expenses. Mother Dairy Raises Milk Prices in Delhi, Sparking Public Concern Over Inflation
Last Chance to Correct CSIR UGC NET Application Today
New Delhi, November 12: Candidates applying for the Joint CSIR UGC NET December 2026 have an important update. Today is the last chance to correct any mistakes in Last Chance to Correct CSIR UGC NET Application Today
J&Ks agri sector has $80 billion potential by 2047: SKUAST-K VC
Vice Chancellor said enrolment rose from about 2,100 in 2020-21 to about 6,000 now Srinagar, Nov 11: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir ( SKUAST-K ), Vice Chancellor, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai , on Wednesday said the university has set a target of raising the value of Jammu and Kashmir's agriculture sector from about $3.5 billion to $80 billion by 2047, to make the Union Territory a model bio-economy state. Addressing a press conference here alongside Prof Dr Raihana Habib Kanth, Director of Extension Education, he said the shorter-term target is about $12 billion by 2030, which he said would take the sector to approximately Rs 1 lakh crore. Prof Ganai said the university prepared a roadmap with the government in 2022 and presented it to the Lieutenant Governor at SKICC in June that year. Agriculture in J&K was then valued at about Rs 37,000 crore, against an estimated potential of $80 billion, he said. The university presented the vision again in October 2022, and the Lieutenant Governor approved the project, which has an estimated expenditure of about Rs 5,013 crore, he said. Prof Ganai said the university identified five components to bridge the gap: a vision or roadmap, trained human capital, technology, the government's commitment and capital investment by the government. The university would contribute to the first three, he said. He added that J&K's model is now seen in the country as an Evergreen Revolution after the Green Revolution. The SKUAST-K VC said India's per capita income is around $2,500 a year and needs to rise to $18,000-20,000 for the country to become developed. Viksit Bharat is not merely a slogan. It is a goal, a target and an aspiration, he said. He said the country has realised only about 20 per cent of the potential of agriculture and allied sectors. Rankings, patents, startups The VC said the university stood 37th in national rankings six or seven years ago and is now third among 74 universities. He said it ranks first in innovation among 78 universities and first in entrepreneurship and startups. The university received six patents in its first 40 years and has secured about 150 patents and intellectual property rights in the past five years. It has around 125 startups set up by students and faculty, he said, adding that five to six lakh people visited the three-day Gungul event in 2024. Prof Ganai said the university has coined the term babycorn for startups, as the one-billion-dollar valuation of a unicorn is a distant goal for it at present. He said 80 to 85 per cent of startups fail in the initial stages, and the aim is to encourage every student to become a founder or director of a business. He said public sector employment in J&K has reached saturation, and manufacturing faces the challenges of distance from raw materials and markets, and a fragile environment. Agriculture holds the greatest potential, he said. Enrolment The Vice Chancellor said enrolment rose from about 2,100 in 2020-21 to about 6,000 now. This year, about 17,000 candidates appeared for around 700 undergraduate seats, he said. The university offers 13 to 14 undergraduate programmes, against four to five at most universities, he added. He said around 35 per cent of students, more than 1,500, come from outside J&K. The university received about 450 applications from international students this year, and about 45 were admitted, he said. It had no foreign students when it organised an International Education Fair in Delhi in 2023, he added. Stakeholders, environment Prof Ganai said the university has five stakeholders: students, farmers, consumers, the environment and industry. He said the 15 million people of J&K are stakeholders because the food they consume must be safe. He said the university has submitted a Draft Policy on Environmental Sustainability to the government, which is reviewing it. The draft is in the public domain, and people can send suggestions, he said. We will promote agriculture, but not at the cost of the environment, he said, citing Punjab, where he said intensive farming during the Green Revolution led to soil deterioration, a falling water table and a rise in diseases. Thanking the media for its coverage, the VC said journalists are a channel to take technologies to farmers. He said the university's slogan is SKUAST-Kashmir for Quality of Life and its aim is to improve the lives of people in the remotest villages. Jammu and Kashmir has to become a model bio-economy by unlocking the potential of agriculture, says SKUAST-Kashmir Vice-Chancellor Professor Nazir Ahmad Ganai Camera: @Arifkhan33_ @skuast_kashmir https://t.co/oRLzHjeh7r Rising Kashmir (@RisingKashmir) November 11, 2026
India Visa Rules 2026: Government Cuts Visa Categories from 13 to 9, Simplifies Applications by 70%
India overhauls its visa framework with simplified application forms, expanded visitor visa options and clearer provisions for foreign tourists, students, patients and business professionals. New Delhi, November 12: India Visa Rules 2026 have undergone a major overhaul as the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has streamlined the countrys visa system, reducing the number of [] The post India Visa Rules 2026: Government Cuts Visa Categories from 13 to 9, Simplifies Applications by 70% appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .
Delhi Pollution Sparks Political Showdown As Congress And AAP Target BJP Government
Rising pollution levels across Delhi-NCR are disrupting school routines, with Noida and Greater Noida switching to hybrid learning for students up to Class Five. The move has triggered a political faceoff, with Congress and AAP accusing the BJP government of failing to tackle the pollution crisis. AAP has also alleged manipulation of AQI monitoring data and questioned CAQM's response.
Gold prices declined across international markets as a stronger US dollar and concerns over further interest-rate hikes weighed on bullion. Check the latest 24K and 22K gold rates across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Ethanol-Free Petrol Prices in India
New Delhi, November 12: Petrol prices in India have been updated, with ethanol-free petrol now priced at 167.35 per litre. The cost of petrol containing 20% ethanol, known Ethanol-Free Petrol Prices in India
Swachh Survekshan Awards 202526 : Jammu, Shopian among top clean Himalayan cities
Srinagar, Nov 11: Jammu and Kashmir has secured recognition in two categories at the Swachh Survekshan Awards 202526, with Jammu and Shopian featuring among the country's top three Clean Himalayan Cities, while Budgam has been selected for the State First Swachh City Award under the Union Territory category. According to the results announced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Jammu and Shopian have been recognised alongside Rudrapur in Uttarakhand among the top three Clean Himalayan Cities in the country. In another achievement for Jammu and Kashmir, Budgam has been named the State First Swachh City in the category of Union Territories having more than five Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). The recognition comes as Swachh Survekshan 202526 expanded its coverage by introducing special award categories for Himalayan cities, riverfront towns and coastal towns, besides continuing its assessment across five population categories. President of India Droupadi Murmu presented the awards at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal and Minister of State Tokhan Sahu. This year's survey has seen participation from 4,751 cities across the country, with 2.70 crore citizens providing feedback. According to the Ministry, more than 350 Urban Local Bodies improved their positions by over 500 ranks, while over 1,700 smaller cities with populations below 50,000 registered improvements compared to the previous survey. The Ministry said the Swachh Survekshan initiative aims to encourage healthy competition among cities and strengthen citizen participation in urban cleanliness, waste management and sanitation services. The awards also recognise the role of urban local bodies, sanitation workers and citizens in improving cleanliness standards and promoting sustainable urban development.
Delhi Bus Fire Caught On Camera: DTC Bus Goes Up In Flames Near Shastri Park Underpass
A Delhi electric bus caught fire near Shastri Park underpass at night; no passengers were aboard and no casualties reported.
No discussion yet on increasing IPL teams
New Delhi, Nov 11: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has ruled out an immediate expansion of the IPL from 10 to 12 teams, insisting that the idea has not even been informally discussed within the Board. While there is a lot of interest around IPL in the global cricket market, Saikia said that there is no []
Axar Patel reluctant to lead, Delhi Capitals in a fix ahead of IPL auction
INS Trishul concludes port call at Safaga Naval Base in Egypt
INS Trishul concludes port call at Safaga Naval Base in Egypt Cairo/New Delhi: Indian Naval Ship (INS) Trishul has concluded its port call at Safaga Naval Base in Egypt as part of ongoing operational deployment, the Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday. The port call further reinforced the growing IndiaEgypt defence and maritime partnership , [] The post INS Trishul concludes port call at Safaga Naval Base in Egypt appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
NCW forms panel, seeks report on Telangana widow assault
New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) constituted a two-member fact-finding committee to inquire into the alleged assault on a 60-year-old widow and government teacher by a mob that reportedly entered her residence and ransacked it in Telanganas Nalgonda district. In a post on X, the Commission said that the committee, comprising NCW member 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 .
Srinagar, Nov 11:Air Quality Index (AQI) readings compiled by Airleaf have turned into an India-Pakistan race. Cities in India and Pakistan overwhelmingly fill the list of the worlds most polluted urban centres as per the rankings released on 10 November 2026. This is perhaps the starkest picture of a regional air quality crisis faced by the subcontinent. The entire top 50 polluted cities are either in India or Pakistan. Qadirpur Ran in Pakistan recorded the highest reading at an extreme AQI of 1065, followed closely by Multan at 983. Gwalior, India ranked third with 816. The top 10 was dominated by a mix of Pakistani cities - Dera Ghazi Khan had an AQI of 716. RenalaKhurd had 700 and Okara 700. Indian cities had Kota with 698, Jodhpur 694, Unnao 693 and Kanpur 693. Down the list, the pattern continues - Pakistani cities such as Kasur, Charsadda, Arifwala, Pattoki, Phool Nagar and Bahawalpur are in the upper ranks. Indian cities including Hapur, Meerut, Soyibug, Lucknow, Palwal, Bhopal, Ambala, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Varanasi, Ludhiana and Ghaziabad also register dangerously high levels. Even cities lower in the top 50 recorded AQI values well into the very unhealthy and hazardous categories. On the US EPA scale used in the rankings, an AQI between 201 and 300 is classified as very unhealthy. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous. Many Indian and Pakistani cities have readings above 500, and in several cases above 700 or even 1000, show severe pollution that poses serious health risks to the entire population. Prolonged exposure to polluted air is known to aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and reduce lung function. Post-monsoon and in early winter months, meteorological conditions often trap pollutants close to the ground.
Breaking News Live: AQI concerns mount in Delhi-NCR; schools go hybrid from today
Leaders Pay Tribute to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya on His Death Anniversary
Leaders including Nitin Gadkari and Yogi Adityanath honor the legacy of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya on his death anniversary in New Delhi. Leaders Pay Tribute to Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya on His Death Anniversary
MP focusing on modern technology, irrigation to raise farm income, attract investment: CM Mohan Yadav New Delhi/Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh is focusing on modern farming technologies, expansion of irrigation facilities and agricultural diversification to increase farmers income, reduce cultivation costs and attract investment in the farm sector, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Wednesday. Addressing a [] The post MP focusing on modern technology, irrigation to raise farm income, attract investment: CM Mohan Yadav appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Cabinet clears Rs 3,230-crore Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at North, South Blocks
New Delhi, Nov 11: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the development of the Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at the historic North and South Block complex in New Delhi at an estimated cost of Rs 3,230 crore. Envisaged as a landmark civilizational museum showcasing Indias rich and diverse heritage, the project will transform the historical government buildings into a major public cultural institution while preserving their architectural character. With a proposed built-up area of around 1,78,509 square metres, the museum is expected to have the worlds largest display area. The project will be implemented in phases between 2026-27 and 2030-31. The first gallery, based on the theme of Adornment, is expected to open to the public in the North Block in the latter part of 2027. According to the government, around 1.8 million objects have been identified from the National Museum and other museums under the Ministry of Culture, 52 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) site museums, state museums and private collections for display at the proposed museum. Other galleries will cover themes such as architecture and cityscapes, mathematics and astronomy, languages and scripts, faith and spirituality, and Indias historical connections with the world through trade and ideas. The museum will combine traditional exhibitions with modern museum practices, immersive technologies and visitor-friendly facilities. It will also have collection storage and conservation facilities, landscaping, intelligent building systems and other associated infrastructure. The museum project was announced by the Prime Minister on May 18, 2023. Following the relocation of government offices from the North and South Blocks, the buildings are being repurposed for cultural and public use. The government said the museum would serve as a major destination for domestic and international tourists while providing opportunities for education, research and engagement with Indias civilizational heritage. It is being designed to accommodate around one crore visitors annually. The project is also expected to generate employment for artisans, craftspeople, researchers, museologists, designers, performers and other professionals, besides supporting tourism and hospitality-related livelihoods. It will promote domestic manufacturing of museum materials and products under the Make in India initiative. The museum is expected to generate revenue through ticket sales, food and beverage facilities, events, venue rentals, guided tours, digital experiences and retail outlets. The proposal was appraised by the Public Investment Board on July 27, 2026, and the Ministry of Culture has concurred with its recommendations.
Amul raises milk prices by Rs 2-4 per litre effective today
New Delhi, Nov 11:Dairy major GCMMF, which sells products under the Amul brand, has raised milk prices by Rs 2-4 per litre effective Thursday, citing a sharp increase in input costs. In a statement on Wednesday, Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) said it has increased prices of fresh pouch milk by 4-5 per cent in major milk variants/packs across India effective November 12, 2026. The price of our largest-selling Amul Taaza toned milk with 3 per cent milk fat has been increased by only Rs 2 per litre (3.3 per cent increase) and Amul Gold Milk with 6 per cent milk fat by Rs 4 per litre (5.5 per cent rise), GCMMF said. It had last raised rates in May this year. The price is being hiked due to a steep rise in input costs of milk production and processing, it said. GCMMF pointed out that there has been a significant increase in the cost of green and dry fodder, cattle feed ingredients like oil cake, maize and molasses, milk packaging film and fuel during the year. In the current challenging environmental circumstances due to low and uneven rainfall in Gujarat, as well as many parts of India, we are constrained to increase the consumer price of milk to pay better prices to our producers and support them in these difficult times, the co-operative said. GCMMF said its member unions have increased farmers procurement price by 4-5 per cent in the last one year, and a similar revision will further support our farmers. It highlighted that 80 per cent of the revenue collected from consumers through the Amul co-operative structure is returned to 36 lakh milk producers. A major portion of the increase in milk retail prices will go back to milk producers, and they will continue to be encouraged to increase milk production, GCMMF said.
Moodys pegs Indias FY27 GDP growth at 7%, aided by robust consumption, investment
New Delhi, Nov 11:Moodys Ratings on Wednesday said the Indian economy is expected to grow at 7 per cent in the current fiscal compared to 6.5 per cent pegged earlier, aided by robust consumption, improving investment dynamics and strong macroeconomic fundamentals. In its Global Macro Outlook 2027-28, Moodys, however, said that near-term risks to growth persist as household consumption remains vulnerable to intensifying and broadening price pressures, with headline inflation close to the upper end of the RBIs inflation target range, while a deficient monsoon and El Nino conditions weigh on agricultural output and rural demand. Retail inflation rose to 5.54 per cent in September 2026. Indias broad-based economic momentum and demonstrated resilience to the energy supply shock warrant upward revisions to our 2026-27 growth forecasts to 7 per cent from 6.5 per cent, it said. RBI estimates GDP growth of 7.1 per cent in the current fiscal, in line with OECD projection. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), ADB and S&P Global Ratings have projected a 7 per cent growth, while Fitch Ratings expects Indias GDP to grow 6.9 per cent. Moodys said robust consumption, improving investment dynamics and strong macroeconomic fundamentals imply that the economy appears well positioned to sustain growth near 7 per cent over the medium term. A sustained private investment boom that materially boosts manufacturing, employment and productivity could lift growth rates above Moodys baseline projections. India has adjusted to the energy price shock better than previously assumed, helped by its ability to diversify crude and gas supplies and buffer consumers from the immediate price impact through state-backed oil marketing companies and tax cuts. India is also home to the worlds largest single-site refining complex, and its large and sophisticated refining capacity has helped limit fuel supply disruptions while supporting its role as a major exporter of refined petroleum products, Moodys added. High frequency indicators, including robust capital goods production and imports, accelerating industrial credit growth and rising capacity utilisation, suggest that India may be at the cusp of a new private capex cycle after several years of corporate and banking- sector balance sheet repair, the US-based agency said. Broader economic activity also remains solid amid expanding manufacturing and services purchasing manager indexes and double-digit year-on-year growth in goods and services tax revenue, vehicle sales and merchandise exports, it added. However, Moodys said with the RBI on track to raise rates further, tighter monetary policy could delay the recovery in private investment. Moodys said emerging markets face a more challenging external environment heading into 2027 with higher energy prices, elevated global interest rates and persistent trade and geopolitical uncertainty adding to inflation and financing pressures. At the same time, concerns over the returns on AI investment have emerged as an additional source of volatility. Quoting Institute of International Finance data, Moodys said non-resident portfolio flows to emerging markets recorded USD 33.8 billion in outflows in October, following USD 19.3 billion in September, with the pullback concentrated in equities, particularly in Asia. As investors become more selective, economies with strong domestic growth drivers, credible policy frameworks and solid buffers should remain relatively resilient, Moodys added.
Delhi University's Sri Venkateswara College students who score high to get Tirupati trip
Grand Chhath Ghat Unveiling on Munak Canal in Delhi
BJP chief Nitin Naveen to inaugurate a 11-km Chhath Ghat on Munak Canal, enhancing the festive spirit in the capital. Grand Chhath Ghat Unveiling on Munak Canal in Delhi
All corruption allegations against me baseless: Dy CM
Rajouri, Nov 11:Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday dismissed corruption allegations levelled against him by BJP leaders, claiming that multiple investigations conducted by different agencies following the complaints had found nothing adverse against him. Addressing a public rally in Nowshera, Choudhary said that not a single allegation against him had been substantiated and maintained that all charges were baseless and without any factual foundation. I do not have any crusher in my family, nor am I involved in any other illegal business. I have done nothing wrong, so how can I be called corrupt? he said while responding to the allegations. Without naming all those involved, Choudhary particularly referred to a BJP leader accusing him of repeatedly levelling corruption charges against him. All their allegations are baseless devoid of facts, he said. Referring to allegations about an investment of Rs 200 Cr in a hotel in Delhi, the Deputy Chief Minister termed the claims completely false and unfounded. He further said that several investigating agencies had conducted probes following allegations and statements by BJP leaders but found nothing adverse against him. Choudhary also accused certain BJP leaders of having resorted to illegal means to accumulate wealth between 2014 and 2018, alleging that they were currently raising corruption allegations against the National Conference government to divert attention from their own alleged wrongdoings. Earlier the Deputy Chief Minister was accorded a grand welcome in Nowshera on Wednesday during his first visit to the constituency after the recent cabinet expansion in Jammu and Kashmir. Choudhary was earlier welcomed at Akhnoor and Sunderbani before reaching Nowshera, where a large number of people gathered to greet him. A motor rally was also organised, which culminated at the Nowshera bus stand, where a public gathering was held. Thousands of people from different parts of the constituency participated in the rally and hailed Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs decision to retain Choudhary in the cabinet as Deputy Chief Minister. The participants appreciated his role in promoting inclusive development across Jammu and Kashmir and expressed confidence in his leadership and performance on various fronts. Addressing the gathering, Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary said that the decision of National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to retain him in the cabinet reflected the partys confidence in his work. He said he had been working in accordance with the expectations of the government and would continue to serve the people with dedication and commitment.
|Swachh Survekshan Awards 202526: Jammu secures 2nd rank in Clean Himalayan city category
Jammu, Nov 11:In a monumental recognition of its relentless sanitation reforms, civic mobilisation, and infrastructure modernization, Jammu has secured the national 2nd rank in the Swachh Himalayan City category at the 10th edition of the Swachh Survekshan Awards 202526. The national awards were conferred by President of India Droupadi Murmu, at a glittering ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, celebrating under the inspiring theme Swachhata Ki Nayi Pehel Badhayein Haath, Karein Safai Saath. Accepting this prestigious national honor on behalf of the city were Ayushi Sudan, Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation; Abdul Sattar, Joint Commissioner, Health and Sanitation, Jammu Municipal Corporation and Dr Shahid Hussain, Health Officer, Jammu Municipal Corporation. Their presence at the national capital underscored the strong administrative leadership and dedication driving Jammus urban transformation. The prestigious accolade reflects Jammus exemplary strides in sustainable solid waste management, door-to-door four-stream segregation, single-use plastic eradication and intensive community-led cleanliness drives, an official spokesperson said. Spearheaded by the Jammu Municipal Corporation in close coordination with the Housing and Urban Development Department and active civil society participation, the city successfully transformed its urban landscape through rigorous sanitation protocols and innovative IEC campaigns. The municipal leadership dedicated this landmark national honour to the sanitation workers, frontline Safai Karamcharis and conscious citizens of Jammu whose unwavering daily dedication made this achievement possible. The administration emphasised that this award serves as a powerful testament to the success of Jan Bhagidari, proving that collaborative municipal teamwork and citizen ownership can achieve exemplary benchmarks in urban cleanliness. Reaffirming its commitment to excellence, the Jammu Municipal Corporation pledged to continue upgrading urban waste processing mechanisms, expanding green cover and upholding the highest standards of public hygiene to ensure a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future for the city.
GRAPs commute tax: Longer travel time, bigger hole in Delhiites pockets
Boy, 4, falls into sewer in Delhis Ranhola, mutilated body located at water plant
LG Manoj Sinha congratulates SKIMS on historic expansion of over 94 Seats
Srinagar, Nov 11: In a historic academic milestone, the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, has secured over 94 additional seats at three levels: over 25 MBBS seats, 63 MD/MS/PG Diploma seats and six new DM superspeciality seats. The 63 postgraduate seats take the Institute's total from 143 to 206, an increase of about 44 percent. It is the largest expansion of teaching capacity in the Institute's history, and the full training pathway, from MBBS to super-specialty, can now be completed at SKIMS. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in a congratulatory message, said the milestone advances SKIMS's reforms and realises the advanced training vision of the 2026 Quaternary Healthcare Summit, co-organised under the aegis of NITI Aayog. He congratulated the Director, faculty, doctors, nursing, paramedical and administrative staff for their hard work in making quaternary care a reality at SKIMS, and noted that the new programmes will enable youth from J&K and Ladakh to train locally and serve their respective Union Territories. The UT Administration will continue providing full support for faculty, infrastructure, and equipment so these new programs become centres of excellence and patients can receive advanced care, the Lieutenant Governor said. SKIMS Director Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Ashraf Ganie briefed LG Sinha on the Institute's healthcare initiatives. He said nine MD/MS specialties have been introduced for the first time at SKIMS and SKIMS Medical College, Bemina: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (4 seats), Pharmacology (4), Anatomy (5), Physiology (5), Geriatrics (2), Nuclear Medicine (2), Palliative Medicine (2), ENT (2) and Respiratory Medicine (2). A new PG Diploma in Anaesthesiology (D.A.) adds 12 seats. Seats have also been increased in six existing departments, led by Obstetrics & Gynaecology (6 to 15), Microbiology (5 to 10) and Hospital Administration (5 to 9). In super-specialty training, he said the National Medical Commission has approved two seats each in DM Neuro-Anaesthesia, DM Paediatric & Neonatal Anaesthesia and DM Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology. SKIMS has also launched new DrNB programmes, including the first DrNB in Cardiac Anaesthesia in J&K. The additional MBBS seats will give more young people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh the chance to become doctors in their own Union Territory. Nuclear Medicine brings PET imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy closer to patients, and for the first time in over four decades J&K will train its own MD-qualified nuclear medicine physicians, Director SKIMS said. He said Palliative Medicine, a first for SKIMS and available at only a few institutions in the country, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation will extend dignified, holistic care beyond inpatient stays, supporting patients with advanced illness and those recovering from stroke, spinal injury and trauma. Geriatrics responds to an ageing population, while Respiratory Medicine and ENT add depth to chest and head-and-neck care. Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology will produce teachers and researchers for medical colleges across the region, and the DM programmes add expertise for complex neurosurgical, paediatric and autoimmune care, he said. Director SKIMS said the expansion carries forward the vision of the National Summit on Quaternary Healthcare: A National Strategy for Advanced Care, organised recently under the aegis of NITI Aayog in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, AIIMS Jammu and AIIMS Awantipora. The Summit underlined that advanced care must become a right of citizenship and not a privilege confined to large cities, and proposed a corridor linking district hospitals and tertiary centres with quaternary-care institutions. Trained manpower is the foundation of such a corridor. The new DM and DrNB programmes, together with Nuclear Medicine, Palliative Medicine, Geriatrics and Respiratory Medicine, build the specialist expertise on which quaternary care depends. The Institute's aim is to make SKIMS a national reference centre for advanced care and an institution of international standing, he said. This is a proud moment for SKIMS and for the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. These seats mean more skilled doctors trained in our own Union Territory and more specialist care close to home. They are the first dividend of the vision of the Quaternary Healthcare Summit 2026, and our administration is committed to elevating academics, patient care and research at SKIMS to national and international benchmarks and to building a Centre of Excellence for quaternary healthcare. We are grateful to the Honble Lieutenant Governor, the Honble Chief Minister and the Health & Medical Education Department for their guidance and support, Director SKIMS said. Looking ahead, in keeping with the vision of the Quaternary Healthcare Summit 2026, he said SKIMS will build on this momentum by expanding super-specialty training, strengthening research of international standard, and establishing dedicated Centres of Excellence in advanced and quaternary care, so that patients across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh receive world-class specialised treatment close to home from highly skilled doctors, he said. SKIMS will continue to work with the Government, national institutions and its own faculty to carry the Institute's name forward at the national and international level, he added.
Syed Ali Geelanis granddaughter in PDP talks
Srinagar, Nov 11:Ruwa Altaf Shah, the granddaughter of late Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, is in talks with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) about entering mainstream politics. Talking to Greater Kashmir, PDP leader and legislator from Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para said, As of today, she has not joined PDP, but yes, we are in discussion with Ruwa and Mehbooba (Mufti) Ji has already invited her to join the party. Para said that the PDP chief had been in touch with Ruwa for the past six to eight years, which had nothing to do with politics. Mehbooba Ji believes that if Ruwa joins the party, it will be a good development, he said. Para said that Mehboobas daughter and PDP leader Iltija Mufti was also a good friend of Ruwa. She is in touch with many of us and feels comfortable with Mehbooba Ji, he said. Earlier, PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had said, She (Ruwa) is like my daughter and PDPs doors are open if she wishes to join us; she is welcome. The possibility of Ruwa joining the PDP has attracted eyeballs in Jammu and Kashmir due to her family background and her grandfather Syed Ali Geelanis association with the separatist movement. Ruwas potential political entry could add a new dimension to Kashmir politics. Her father Altaf Ahmad Shah, popularly known as Fantoosh, passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi during his incarceration on October 11, 2022. Son-in-law of late Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Shah was arrested by the NIA in 2018, along with several other separatist leaders, in an alleged terror funding case and was lodged at Delhis Tihar Jail. In March 2024, along with Sama Shabir, the elder daughter of separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, Ruwa had publicly renounced secessionist ideology and pledged allegiance to the sovereignty of the Union of India. Ruwa had issued a public notice distancing herself from the Hurriyat Conference founded by her late grandfather. She had declared that she had no inclination or sympathy towards the Hurriyat Conference ideology. I am a loyal citizen of India, not affiliated with any organisation or association that has an agenda against the Union of India, and I owe allegiance to the constitution of my country, Ruwa had said. When Ruwa and Sama published similar notices, Mehbooba alleged that families of separatist leaders were being harassed and pressured into disowning their family connections. The PDP chief wrote on X that the situation resembled the 1990s, when militants allegedly forced political workers to disassociate themselves from mainstream politics. Ruwa studied cinema and television in Turkey and in the past worked as a journalist with the Indian Express, the Hindustan Times, and Indo Asian News Service (IANS). She also contributed columns for Al Jazeera. Ruwa has not yet officially confirmed whether or not and when she would join PDP. Meanwhile, ruling National Conference (NC) Provisional President Showkat Mir welcomed the broader idea of a person from a separatist leaders family entering mainstream politics. He said that such a political transition would have been desirable much earlier. Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman Altaf Thakur presented the development as vindication of BJPs criticism of the PDP. He alleged that the PDP and Hurriyat Conference had similar political trajectories and described Ruwas reported choice of the PDP as an eye-opener for young people in Jammu and Kashmir. If Ruwa takes a plunge into mainstream politics and joins the PDP, it would represent a significant political transition involving the younger generation of a prominent Kashmiri separatist family. Mehboobas invitation to Ruwa could help the PDP attract attention among younger voters and sections of Kashmiri society interested in political reconciliation and mainstream participation. However, PDP senior leader and chief spokesman Mehbooba Beg and legislator from Kupwara, Mohammad Fayaz Mir, told Greater Kashmir that as of now Ruwas possible joining into PDP had not been communicated to the party yet and, as such, no programme had been planned so far. The development of Ruwas possible joining the mainstream also comes amid continuing political competition in J&K following the 2019 constitutional changes. It could become a symbolic issue in discussions about political participation, reconciliation, and the changing political outlook of younger Kashmiris. The development assumes even more importance as it comes following the parting of ways of Aga Syed Ruhullah from NC and the dissent shown by a group of around 16 to 18 NC legislators against the party after the recent cabinet expansion.
BJP chief Nitin Nabin will inaugurate Delhi's longest Chhath ghat today
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin is set to inaugurate on Thursday the grand 11-kilometre-long Chhath Ghat along the Munak Canal in New Delhi. The National Capital will witness the magnificence and splendour of the four-day-long Chhath festival. An expansive 11-kilometre-long Chhath Ghat has been constructed along the banks of Munak Canal for the devotees. This is a first-of-its-kind move in the capital, highlighting the Delhi government's focus and thrust in facilitating arrangements for the Chhath Vratis. The grand project, along the Munak Canal, will see the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, Delhi cabinet ministers, public representatives and many distinguished guests. Another striking feature of this year's Chhath Puja is the transformation of Munak Canal and its surroundings. The canal, once plagued by filth, debris, and overgrown thickets, has now become a vibrant place of spirituality. The government launched an extensive cleanup drive, with the Chief Minister personally monitoring the project, often visiting the site multiple times. Approximately 1,400 truckloads of debris, waste, and other refuse were cleared from this long-neglected stretch. It was decided to remove encroachments from both banks and develop a beautiful, well-organised Chhath Ghat. Speaking about the transformation of the canal, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the Munak Canal had been awaiting rejuvenation for years. She said that this project is more than just the construction of steps, roads, and other amenities; it is a tribute to the faith, traditions, and sentiments of the millions of people from the Purvanchal region living in the capital. She added that the government endeavours to ensure that devotees of Chhathi Maiya have access to a clean, safe, beautiful, and convenient environment, allowing them to celebrate this significant festival with complete devotion and faith. The development of Singalpur Road and the revitalisation of the Munak Canal also represent an expansion of amenities for thousands of families in the area. The Delhi government remains committed to connecting the capital with its cultural roots while fostering development, all while paying full respect to the culture, traditions, and faith of the Purvanchal community, said a statement from the CMO. For the convenience of devotees, facilities such as changing rooms, restrooms, tents, and adequate lighting have also been provided at the spot. CCTV cameras have been installed to ensure security. Additionally, benches have been installed for seating arrangements, and green spaces have been created for devotees' comfort and general beautification of the area.
Kulgam Checkpoint Firing: Three CRPF Personnel Injured Near Mir Bazar, Explained
On Wednesday, 11 November 2026, suspected attackers fired on a CRPF checkpoint in the Akhran area near Mir Bazar in Kulgam, injuring three personnel. The CRPF put the firing at about 2:15 pm. The Indian Express, updated early on 12 November, said officials described the attackers as coming and leaving on foot, while other reports, and the Express photo caption, call them motorcycle-borne. Police sources told the Express that Lateef Ahmad Bhat is suspected, and that cartridges at the site matched those at Killam. Delhi sources told the paper they are questioning suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba overground workers. None of that is a chargesheet.
Samsungs Innovative Sliding Screen Smartphone in Development
New Delhi, November 12: Samsung is globally recognized for its foldable phones. The company has been experimenting with rollable and expandable screens for several years, but none of Samsungs Innovative Sliding Screen Smartphone in Development
Over 400 MBBS Seats Remain Vacant After Counseling Rounds
New Delhi, November 12: After the completion of all rounds of MCC NEET UG counseling, 411 MBBS seats across the country remain vacant. A special stray round was Over 400 MBBS Seats Remain Vacant After Counseling Rounds
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Delhi government inaugurates 11-km Munak Canal Chhath Ghat to serve Purvanchal devotees
The News Mill
Out of the Smog of Delhi into the Choke of Kashmir
The Transport Authorities across Jammu & Kashmir issued a directive that should have arrived half a decade ago: an urgent interim advisory instructing the public to halt and defer obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for bringing older, deregistered motor vehicles from the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi into the Union Territory. The advisory explicitly covers vehicles phased out under statutory environmental ceilings established by judicial mandatesspecifically, 15-year-old petrol vehicles and 10-year-old diesel vehicles. The administrations stated reasons are threefold: Process on Hold: Halting all transfers and re-registrations pending comprehensive governmental policy review. Ecological & Policy Scrutiny: Confronting the reality that fragile Himalayan air basins cannot absorb the tailpipe emissions of megacities. Consumer Protection: Warning citizens against sinking hard-earned savings into rolling liabilities that face sudden administrative debarment, financial forfeiture, and confiscation. While official circles frame this advisory as a routine administrative pause, those who study urban geography, transport kinetics, and regional ecology recognize it for what it truly is: an emergency handbrake pulled on a runaway train. For the past several years, Jammu & Kashmirmost acutely the Kashmir Valleyhas served as an unmonitored dumping ground for North Indias vehicular refuse. Lakhs of end-of-life automobiles, condemned by Delhi's stringent green mandates, have been trucked, driven, and papered across the Banihal corridor. They line our boulevards, clog our rural arteries, devour productive working hours in gridlock, and choke the delicate lungs of our mountain ecosystem. Halting NOCs is an essential first step. However, an advisory is merely a tourniquet. To stop the hemorrhage, the administration must replace stopgap circulars with a permanent structural remedy: the immediate, aggressive implementation of a localized Registered Vehicle Scrapping Policy (RVSF), strict vehicular carrying-capacity quotas, and a revitalized multimodal public transit grid. Part I: The Mechanics of a Secondary Vehicular Pipeline The Delhi Mandate vs. Peripheral Vulnerability To understand how Kashmirs roads reached saturation, one must trace the regulatory imbalance between the center and the periphery. Following Landmark rulings by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court of India, the National Capital Region enforced strict operational life cycles on personal and commercial internal combustion engines: ten years for diesel compression-ignition engines and fifteen years for spark-ignition petrol platforms. Once these thresholds expire, the Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation and regional RTOs automatically mark these vehicles as Deregistered. The vehicle can no longer ply the roads of Delhi under pain of impoundment and immediate dispatch to registered scrap yards. However, regulatory frameworks contained a massive concession: owners and intermediaries were permitted to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to sell these end-of-life machines to other Indian states and Union Territories, provided the receiving jurisdiction had not yet formally capped vehicular age. The Used-Car Bazaar Boom This regulatory concession fueled an aggressive, high-margin grey economy across Jammu and Kashmir. Overnight, second-hand automobile brokers, unregulated roadside open-air car bazaars, and digital classified portals pivoted into high gear. The economic arbitrage was irresistible: A luxury German saloon or a rugged Japanese-engineered SUV nearing its tenth year in South Delhi, carrying an intrinsic value of scrap metal (40,000 to 90,000), could be purchased in bulk lots at auction for a pittance. Driven up National Highway 44 into Jammu, Udhampur, Anantnag, and Srinagar, these vehicles were polished, retrofitted with cosmetic accessories, and marketed to local youth, middle-class households, and taxi operators for 2.5 lakh to 6 lakh. The pitch was seductive: high-end luxury, prestige badges, and heavy-duty four-wheel drives at a fraction of showroom prices. The result was an unprecedented influx. Over the last four years, an estimated several lakh deregistered vehicles from Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab have migrated into the Valley. What was celebrated as affordable car ownership was, in economic reality, a mass transfer of environmental debt and mechanical depreciation from Indias wealthiest metropolitan basin directly onto the fragile balance sheets and lungs of Jammu and Kashmir. Part II: The Paralysis of Everyday Life The Arithmetic of Spatial Impossibility Urban planning relies on a simple metric: the ratio of paved road surface area to registered vehicular square footage. Srinagar, a historical city shaped by historic waterways, linear urban corridors, and dense historic settlements, cannot expand its road network indefinitely. The geographic footprint of the valley is naturally bounded: rivers, wetlands, steep mountain ranges, and vital agrarian orchards restrict horizontal expansion. When you inject hundreds of thousands of full-size sedans, commercial transporters, and sports utility vehicles into this closed geographic bowl, the physical system breaks down: The Geometry of Gridlock: The average passenger vehicle occupies approximately 8 to 10 square meters of road space when static, and requires up to three times that area when moving safely at 30 km/h. When road surface area grows by less than 2% annually while the private fleet swells by double-digit margins via cheap outside inflows, gridlock ceases to be an intermittent inconvenience; it becomes the default state of existence. Loss of Productive Human Capital: From the Batamaloo corridor to the Dalgate-Hazratbal stretch, and across the arterial spines of Pantha Chowk, Bemina, and Rawalpora, daily commuters lose anywhere between 90 minutes to three hours per working day trapped in stagnant traffic. Multiply those hours across a workforce of hundreds of thousands, and the economic drain on J&Ks Gross State Domestic Product runs into thousands of crores annually. Emergency Response Failure: Ambulances attempting to reach tertiary healthcare hubs such as SKIMS Soura or SMHS Hospital routinely find themselves trapped in unyielding lines of deregistered, smoke-belching hatchbacks and multi-utility vehicles. Seconds lost in transit represent human lives sacrificed to vehicular anarchy. The Street-Level Decay Beyond the main expressways, the influx has eaten away at communal and public life. Neighborhood residential lanes (kuchas), historic city squares, and pedestrian footpaths have become informal parking bays. Pedestrian safety has collapsed; children can no longer cycle or play outside their front doors, and senior citizens navigate obstacle courses of bumper-to-bumper metal parked along drainage reserves. Part III: The Environmental Catastrophe in an Inverted Mountain Basin Atmospheric Trapping and Winter Inversions Proponents of the unrestricted used-car trade often argue: If a vehicle is mechanically sound, why should its chronological age matter? The answer lies in mechanical thermodynamics and atmospheric physics. A diesel engine past its tenth year or a petrol engine crossing fifteen years experiences profound mechanical degradation: High-pressure fuel injectors lose calibration, resulting in incomplete fuel combustion. Catalytic converters and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves clog, degrade, or are removed by unscrupulous resellers to avoid repair costs. Piston ring clearances widen, leading to low-by and the open venting of burnt engine oils. These aged engines produce exponentially higher concentrations of Particulate Matter (PM_{2.5} and PM_{10}), Nitrogen Oxides (NO_x), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons than modern Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) compliant vehicles. Now, place this fleet inside the bowl of the Kashmir Valley. During the late autumn and winter months, Kashmir experiences severe meteorological temperature inversions. Cold, dense air descends from the snow-capped Pir Panjal and Zabarwan ranges, settling into the valley floor. A warm layer of air sits over this cold pool like a thermal lid, preventing vertical atmospheric mixing. When thousands of aging Delhi engines pump out plumes of exhaust during cold morning starts, this soot and toxic gas cannot disperse. It hovers at ground level, creating a toxic chemical soup. The white winter mists of Kashmir have turned into acrid, grey photochemical smog. The Public Health Bill The biological consequences are devastating: Pediatric and Geriatric Respiratory Crises: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), bronchial asthma, and acute respiratory infections spike sharply across district hospitals during winter. Carcinogenic Load: Ultrafine particles (PM_{2.5}) cross the alveolar-capillary barrier directly into the human bloodstream, driving systemic vascular inflammation, early-onset strokes, myocardial infarctions, and elevated risks of lung and bladder cancers. Himalayan Cryosphere Degradation: The deposition of black carbonsoot from aging diesel exhaustsonto nearby alpine glaciers accelerates radiative heat absorption. This speeds the retreat of regional ice reserves like the Kolahoi Glacier, endangering the primary freshwater source of the Jhelum River basin. Part IV: The Illusion of Cheap Mobility To understand why the public enthusiastically bought into this secondary market, one must dismantle the false economics of the used-car trade. | Cost Dimension | Fresh Ownership / Regulated Purchase | The Imported Deregistered Vehicle | Initial Upfront Capital | Moderate to High (Showroom price, road tax, local insurance) | Artificially Low (Distress sales, liquidation prices) | | Fuel Efficiency | Optimized (Modern engine mapping, direct injection) | Heavily Degraded (2040% loss in thermal efficiency) | | Maintenance & Overhaul | Predictable, covered by warranty | Extreme (Constant failures: suspensions, turbos, sensors) | | Residual Asset Value | Clear depreciation curve, stable resale value | Plummets to zero upon administrative bans or deregistrations | | Legal/Compliance Risk | Zero; clear title deeds, local records | High; fake NOCs, unpaid challans, sudden policy bans | | Net Socio-Economic Cost | Sustainable mobility asset | Total wealth destruction masked by low entry price | Middle-class families and young entrepreneurs purchasing a cheap 12-year-old vehicle believe they are acquiring an economic asset. In reality, they are buying a liability. The suspension systems engineered for smooth national highways shatter against mountain roads, rutted district corridors, and winter frost-heaves. Spare parts for phased-out iterations are obsolete or priced at extortionate rates by local mechanics. Fuel consumption is abysmal, draining household budgets at each fill-up. When the state inevitably restricts these vehicles, as signaled by the 9th November advisory, the residual market value of these cars collapses instantly to zero. The owner is left with an unusable steel carcass parked outside their homeone that cannot be legally transferred, cannot be insured, and cannot be driven without risking impoundment. Part V: The Imperative for an Immediate Vehicle Scrapping Policy The interim advisory ordering a halt to Delhi NOCs is a necessary defense. But treating the symptom at the border does nothing to solve the millions of tons of rolling metal already congesting our streets. Jammu & Kashmir needs a comprehensive, forward-looking Registered Vehicle Scrapping Policy (RVSF). 1. Why Phased Bans Are Not Enough Merely banning the import of outside vehicles does not remove the dangerous inventory already inside our borders. If the government relies solely on police crackdowns and punitive roadside checks, it creates administrative corruption and penalizes working-class citizens who acted in good faith under previously lax regulations. The state needs an orderly, incentivized, institutional off-ramp. 2. The Core Pillars of an Effective J&K Scrapping Policy A. Development of Modern Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) The informal, highly polluting Kabaad Mandis in Shalteng or Channi Himmat are incapable of environmentally sound vehicle retirement. Dismantling a vehicle requires stripping hazardous materials: lead-acid batteries, ozone-depleting air-conditioning refrigerants, toxic engine oils, brake fluids, and heavy metals. The government must establish state-of-the-art, automated RVSF hubs in designated industrial zones in both Jammu and Srinagar divisions. These facilities must operate on high-efficiency recovery models: Modern shredders and shears that separate ferrous metals, non-ferrous alloys, glass, and rubber. Zero-discharge drainage systems to capture toxic effluents before they enter surrounding groundwater and agricultural soil. Clean metal smelting links that re-feed high-grade steel and aluminum scrap directly into domestic manufacturing, lowering regional industrial input costs. B. Financial Monetization and Incentive Framework Citizens will not surrender aging vehicles out of goodwill alone. A scrappage policy must make retirement financially more attractive than keeping an illegal car running. Scrappage Certificate Value: Upon surrendering an end-of-life vehicle, the owner must receive an official Certificate of Deposit (Scrappage Certificate) certifying the scrap metal value of the vehicle (benchmarked at 4% to 6% of an equivalent new vehicle's ex-showroom price). Significant Road Tax Concessions: The J&K Government should grant an automatic 25% road-tax waiver on the purchase of a new, clean (BS-VI or EV) vehicle against a valid Scrappage Certificate. Manufacturer Participation: The transport department must partner with major automobile manufacturers to ensure an additional 5% discount on new vehicle invoices when accompanied by proof of scrapping. Direct Cash Buybacks for Low-Income Owners: For owners of old, lower-value commercial carriers or light passenger vehicles who cannot afford a new purchase, the state should offer direct cash-for-clunkers buyouts, funded partly through regional green pollution cesses collected from highway tolls. C. Mandatory Automated Fitness Testing (ATS) Age limits can occasionally trigger legal challenges regarding arbitrary property deprivation. The state must neutralize this by relying on objective engineering: Roll out state-run, uncompromised Automated Testing Stations (ATS) across all districts. Eliminate manual inspections, human discretion, and roadside paperwork. If a vehicleregardless of whether it is registered in Delhi, Punjab, or J&Kfails computer-monitored automated tests for brake efficiency, suspension integrity, structural rust, and real-world emissions, its fitness certificate must be automatically revoked within the central Vahan database. Vehicles failing two consecutive fitness audits must be mandated for scrapping within 60 days. Part VI: A Holistic Blueprint for Urban Mobility in J&K Eliminating deregistered out-of-state junk and scrapping end-of-life vehicles solves half the equation. The other half requires providing the public with dependable, efficient alternatives. If people cannot move comfortably, they will continue to find informal, chaotic ways to acquire private personal transport. Mandatory Automated Testing (ATS) - Dedicated BRTS Corridors Registered Scrapping Facilities (RVSF) - Waterway River Taxi Networks. Fiscal Tax Rebates for Green Fleet - Protected Walkways & Bikeways. 1. Electric Bus Rapid Transit (e-BRTS) The introduction of electric smart buses under smart city initiatives in Jammu and Srinagar has demonstrated strong public demand. However, a fleet of a few hundred buses across an entire metropolitan region is a drop in the ocean. The administration must scale public bus networks to a minimum of 2,500 dedicated electric low-floor buses across the twin capital cities and regional district hubs. Establish dedicated right-of-way transit corridors along high-density arteries, ensuring public transport moves faster than private gridlock. Institute smart, unified ticketing systems allowing seamless transfers between feeder vans, main bus trunks, and rural transport services. 2. Revitalizing Waterways: The Jhelum as an Active Transit Corridor Kashmirs historical lifeline, the River Jhelum, along with its network of flood spill channels and navigation canals, remains criminally underutilized in modern urban transit planning. Riverine transit bypasses on-road choke points entirely. Deploying modern, enclosed, low-wake electric river catamarans operating between Pantha Chowk, Rajbagh, Lal Chowk, Chattabal, and Noorbagh would take tens of thousands of daily commuters off Srinagar's crowded central roads. 3. Integrated Micro-Mobility and Pedestrian Preservation Cities thrive when designed for human beings, not sheet metal: Invest in protected, segregated bicycle lanes and continuous pedestrian walkways across all urban centers. Enforce strict penalties for sidewalk encroaching, restoring walkability to commercial centers like Lal Chowk, Residency Road, and Gandhi Nagar. Encourage electric three-wheeler and micro-mobility feeder networks to resolve the critical last-mile connectivity void that forces residents to rely on private cars for short shopping and school runs. 4. Decentralization of Public Services Urban traffic in J&K is compounded by hyper-centralization. In both administrative capitals, key public offices, major medical centers, universities, and commercial distribution zones remain clustered in tight urban cores. Moving administrative offices, regional courts, and wholesale markets to peripheral, well-planned bypass zones will immediately thin commuter surges into downtown corridors. Call to Action: The Hour of Decisive Leadership The Regional Transport Authorities' November 9th interim advisory is an important move. It signals that our administrative bodies recognise the clear and present danger posed by the unchecked influx of out-of-state vehicular liabilities. However, public policy cannot survive on interim advisories. Temporary suspensions create backlogs, incentivise covert smuggling, encourage forged paperwork, and keep the market in anxious suspension. The time for half-measures has passed. The Government of Jammu & Kashmir must turn this interim advisory into a permanent statutory ban on the inter-state transfer and re-registration of any vehicle past its metropolitan operational lifespan. Simultaneously, the state must clear administrative hurdles and immediately launch an Integrated Jammu & Kashmir Clean Mobility and Vehicle Scrappage Mission. To the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir: we must re-evaluate our cultural relationship with automotive ownership. A societys development is not measured by how cheaply its citizens can purchase another citys discarded vehicles; it is measured by the quality, reliability, dignity, and efficiency of its public infrastructure, the cleanliness of its air, and the safety of its streets. Let us close the doors permanently to the discarded pollution of external metropolises. Let us scrap the ageing machines choking our roads, reclaim our public spaces, and build a modern, sustainable mobility ecosystem worthy of Jammu and Kashmirs environment, its heritage, and its people. (The author is a renowned social reformer & Mobility Expert with over two decades of experience. For feedback, email: umarbhat07@gmail.com)
Complete data could've raised average Diwali pollution level 49%
On Diwali night, the absence of PM2.5 data from monitoring stations led to distorted pollution readings in Delhi. Research by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air indicated that pollution levels might have increased by as much as 49%. While the Central Pollution Control Board pointed out calibration limitations, readings from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee were inconsistent.
Jammu ranks second in national cleanliness survey
Jammu, Nov 11: Jammu has secured the second position nationally in the Swachh Himalayan City category of the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26, recognising the city's performance in sanitation, waste management and public cleanliness initiatives. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award during the 10th edition of the Swachh Survekshan Awards at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday. Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Commissioner and Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, Ayushi Sudan, received the award along with Joint Commissioner, Health and Sanitation, Abdul Sattar, and JMC Health Officer Dr Shahid Hussain. Officials attributed Jammu's ranking to improvements in solid waste management, door-to-door waste collection, four-stream segregation of waste and measures to discourage the use of single-use plastic. The city has also undertaken sanitation drives and awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging residents to adopt better waste disposal practices and participate in maintaining cleanliness in public spaces. According to officials, the Jammu Municipal Corporation, in coordination with the Housing and Urban Development Department, has been working to improve sanitation infrastructure and strengthen waste management systems across the city. The initiatives include promoting segregation of household waste at source, improving collection mechanisms and conducting public awareness programmes to encourage responsible waste disposal. Municipal officials said the recognition was the result of coordinated efforts involving sanitation workers, civic staff and residents. The corporation dedicated the award to sanitation workers and frontline safai karamcharis, acknowledging their contribution to maintaining cleanliness and providing sanitation services across Jammu. Officials also highlighted the role of public participation in the city's performance, saying community involvement had been an important part of cleanliness campaigns and efforts to improve waste management practices. The award ceremony was held under the theme Swachhata Ki Nayi Pehel Badhayein Haath, Karein Safai Saath, emphasising collective responsibility for urban cleanliness. Following the recognition, the JMC said it would continue upgrading waste processing facilities, strengthening sanitation services and expanding green cover in the city. The civic body said maintaining the gains achieved in cleanliness rankings would require sustained efforts in waste segregation, collection, processing and public participation. Jammu's second-place finish in the Himalayan city category places it among the top-performing cities in the national cleanliness assessment for 2025-26.
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Protesters demand stricter enforcement of curbs on industrial emissions, construction dust and vehicular pollution; locality heavily barricaded
Delhi Boy Falls Into Sewer, Dismembered Body Found In Water Treatment Plant
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Williamnagar named State First Swachh City
Shillong, Nov 11: Williamnagar has been recognised as the State First Swachh City under the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26. President Droupadi Murmu conferred the awards at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Williamnagar, the district headquarter of East Garo Hills district, was among 30 cities across States and Union Territories acknowledged under the [] The post Williamnagar named State First Swachh City first appeared on Highland Post .
