Greater Kashmir

New Delhi, Oct 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed that democratisation of technology is essential to ensure that no section of the society is left behind and that technology and digital services should be made affordable and accessible, particularly for the Global South. Interacting with the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) board members here, Modi also emphasised that technology must become a tool for inclusive and sustainable development. The prime mi

Jammu, Oct 6: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested a fireman in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district for allegedly demanding a bribe for processing an NOC for construction of a hotel in Katra, an official said. Nitish Singh Jamwal, posted in the office of Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Udhampur, was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complainant, a CBI spokesperson said. He said the CBI registered the instant

Jammu, Oct 6: Armys Northern Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Tuesday visited the border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir to review the security situation. The General Officer Commanding-in-chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Sharma stressed the need for troops to remain resolute, vigilant and fully prepared to thwart any misadventure by the adversary. The Army Commander visited Kalakot and Rajouri sectors to review operational preparedness and the security scenario. He was brie

New Delhi, Oct 6: The Government has appointed Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, presently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff, in the rank of Air Chief Marshal, with effect from the afternoon of October 31, 2026. The present Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh superannuates office on October 31, 2026. Born on December 09, 1966, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of Indian Air Force on De

New Delhi, Oct 6: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday hailed PM Narendra Modi's 25 years of uninterrupted leadership as the head of government, first as the Gujarat CM and then as the prime minister, saying his extraordinary journey was guided by the principle of Nation First and Citizen First. In a resolution, the cabinet also said that three overwhelming mandates in Gujarat and support in three successive Lok Sabha elections reflect the enduring trust that the public has reposed in Prime Minister Mod

New Delhi, Oct 6: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried out the successful flight trial of indigenously developed High-Altitude Platform (HAPS). The experimental flight attained an altitude of 21 km above mean sea level (AMSL) and remained at an altitude of 20 km AMSL for more than 30 minutes, before it was commanded to descend back to ground. The system was successfully recovered and flight performance data was analyzed. Real-time video data and all other vehicle para

Jammu, Oct 6: Director of Census Operations, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Amit Sharma on Tuesday said the Census 2027 exercise was progressing smoothly in the twin Union territories, with population enumeration in snow-bound areas completed and the main enumeration in the remaining areas, including Srinagar and Jammu, scheduled for February. Sharma, who is also the Chief Principal Census Officer of J&K and Ladakh, said while the house listing operations had been completed in June, the District

Srinagar, Oct 6: Authorities on Tuesday demolished an illegal shed allegedly constructed by relatives of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru on state land in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The shed, constructed on a flood basin in Sopore area, was demolished during a drive carried out by a team of the Revenue Department, the officials said. They said the structure was erected on state land in violation of government regulations. The officials said family membe

New Delhi, Oct 6: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu today conferred degrees on the first graduating batch of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bilaspur at the Institutes first Convocation, marking a major milestone in the growth of the institution and its contribution to medical education and healthcare in the country. Addressing the graduating students, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, lauded the graduates and the gold medallists, as well as the parents, guardians

New Delhi, Oct 06: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday approved the governments commitment of Rs 10,000 crore towards establishing the SME Growth Fund (SGF) to provide growth capital to small and medium enterprises and help create Indian companies capable of competing globally. The initiative, announced as part of the Union Budget 2026-27, seeks to address the structural gap in growth-stage equity financing available to SMEs, particularly those looking to scale

Srinagar, Oct 06: In a major relief to private schools seeking statutory approvals, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has amended the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Rules, 2010, removing several requirements related to school permissions and certifications. The amendments were notified by the School Education Department on October 5, 2026, through an order issued under Section 29 of the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act, 2002. The order in this regard has been issued by Commissioner Secr

Srinagar, Oct 06: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Courts intervention in the issue of voter deletions, said the INDIA blocs campaign against the Election Commission would continue and ruled out implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the Union Territory. Speaking to reporters, Abdullah said the INDIA bloc had finalised a calendar of programmes during a recent meeting in Delhi, with the campaign beginning with a march by its Members of Parliamen

Majority of health insurance plans do not allow you to buy maternity health insurance for a pregnancy that has already begun. This is because policies usually have certain eligibility rules for maternity benefits. These rules determine when pregnancy-related expenses are payable under the policy. Insurance for pregnant women are different across insurers and chosen plans. Reviewing the policy details helps clarify the available benefits and eligibility conditions. Continue reading to learn more

New Delhi, Oct 06: High drama unfolded at the INDIA bloc march from Parliament Street to the Election Commission headquarters here on Tuesday as Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with some others entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises in a bid to reach the poll body's office. Several opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O'Brien, were detained after police stopped the march. Rahul Gandh

Srinagar, Oct 06: A 50-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries a day after she was struck by an e-rickshaw near Ishber Chowk in Nishat area of Srinagar, officials said. An official said that an e-rickshaw bearing registration number JK01BE-5707 hit the pedestrian near Ishber Chowk in Nishat on Monday evening. He said that the woman was shifted to a hospital for treatment, where her condition remained critical during the night. However, she succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday morning. The decea

Srinagar, Oct 06: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said the judiciary makes lofty observations during case proceedings but often delivers judgments that are at odds with those remarks. Commenting on Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's observation that the Supreme Court has not approved the Election Commission's modified Form 6 for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Mehbooba said the judiciary has repeatedly normalised acts that amount to contempt

New Delhi, Oct 06: Famed mouth-watering delicacies from Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh regions including 'Nadur Kebab', 'Haakh', 'Phaymer' and 'Kahwa' were served at a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for her Swiss counterpart Guy Parmelin. Each course of the curated dinner, served for Parmelin and his wife Caroline Parmelin at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Monday, celebrated the distinctive ingredients of the two regions. Among them, sea buckthorn, apricot, wild nettle, yak cheese and

Sheikh Tahir Rehman, from Mujgund on the outskirts of Srinagar, has been fly fishing for trout for more than two decades. Fly fishing uses artificial flies that imitate insects trout feed on, while fly tying is the craft of making those flies using feathers, fur, thread and wire. As illegal fishing puts pressure on Kashmirs streams, Tahir believes fly tying can encourage young people to fish responsibly, understand the ecosystem and learn a skill. In this feature, Tahir demonstrates how he makes

Kolkata, Oct 06: The Calcutta High Court on Monday set aside a kidney transplant permission refusal by the designated authorisation committee to a chronic renal ailment patient, directing it to reconsider the request of the petitioner. The court observed that unless there is definite material to establish financial dealings involving the parties, permission ought not to be withheld or rejected. If the donor states that out of love and affection, he/she is making the donation, in the absence of a

Srinagar, Oct 06: The Jammu and Kashmir Government, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has approved provision of land for installation of mobile towers in underserved areas across Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at strengthening high-speed telecom connectivity in remote and border villages. Under the initiative, land has been approved for installation of BSNL mobile towers in underserved areas of Uri, Tangmarg, Karnah, Kalakote, Kralpora, Basantgarh, Khour, Latti Marothi, Banihal, Pogal Paristan,

New Delhi, Oct 06: INDIA bloc MPs, including Leaders of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday marched from Parliament House complex towards the Election Commission but were stopped by police on Parliament Street, where they sat on a dharna demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. The MPs were stopped in front of the NITI Aayog office, on the stretch between NITI Aayog and Akashvani Bhavan leading towards the Election Commission headquarters. After b

Islamabad, Oct 06: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on an official visit, during which he will meet the country's top leadership and discuss regional and international developments. Guterres is undertaking the official visit from October 6 to 8 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to the Foreign Office. Upon arrival, the UN chief was received by Acting Foreign Secretary Ambassador Nabeel Muni. Separately, the Fo

New Delhi, Oct 06: MPs of the INDIA bloc began a march from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters on Tuesday to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation amid allegations of irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was among the leaders taking part in the march. The march began amid heavy security deployment and barricading in and around Parliament and the Election Commission headquarters. Securi

Jammu, Oct 06: Two persons were arrested by police in connection with an alleged drone-dropping case in Arnia area of Jammu district, with an Italian-made Beretta pistol, two magazines, four live rounds and narcotics recovered during the investigation. The arrests were made during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. The accused have been identified as Rahul Kumar, son of Rishpal Chand, resident of Trewa, and Ajay Kumar, son of Mangal Dass, resident of Talahar. Police said the investigat

Srinagar, Oct 06: Amid growing demands from parents for a change in school timings in view of the cold morning weather, Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Naseer Ahmad Wani has said there is no immediate plan to revise the existing schedule. Talking to Greater Kashmir, DSEK Naseer Ahmad Wani said the current school timing was fixed keeping the academic calendar and seasonal conditions in view, and students and staff would have to acclimatise to the changing weather. It is true that ther

Washington, Oct 06: The US launched the largest denaturalisation effort in modern history by moving to strip 40 individuals, including one of Indian origin, of their American citizenship, the Department of Justice said. The 40 individuals facing denaturalisation actions in multiple US courts have been accused of serious offences, including acting as an agent for a foreign government, committing voluntary manslaughter, and aggravated sodomy against a special-needs man. Balwinder Singh of Californ

Srinagar, Oct 5:Vice Chairman (VC), Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (JKLCMA), Khurshid Ahmad Shah, today conducted an extensive inspection of the Dole Demb area to review the existing condition of the water body and its surrounding areas and assess the scope for beautification and development of the site. The Vice Chairman was accompanied by the Superintending Engineer, Collector Land Acquisition, FA&CAO, Executive Engineers of Lake Division 1st and Lake Division 2nd

Anantnag, Oct 5: The MSME Development and Facilitation Office (MSME-DFO), Srinagar, in collaboration with the District Industries Centre (DIC), Anantnag, today commenced a five-day Management Development Programme (MDP) on Business Marketing Management for entrepreneurs from the manufacturing and service sectors. The programme aims to equip Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with contemporary marketing knowledge and practical tools to expand their market reach, strengthen business opera

Srinagar Oct 5: The Department of Bioresources, University of Kashmir (KU), began its Third J&K International Conference on Breast and Allied Cancers at the Main Campus on Monday. The conference aims to bridge the gap between fundamental cancer research and clinical application by providing a platform for experts and researchers to deliberate on recent advances in precision oncology, cancer genomics, immunotherapy, artificial intelligence in oncology, early detection, biomarkers, drug discovery

Pulwama, Oct 5: Protech Biopharma Pvt Ltd, a pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Jammu and Kashmir, has secured Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification, opening the way for the company to export its pharmaceutical products to member countries of the EAEU. According to a press note issued by the company, the certification follows a comprehensive joint inspection of its manufacturing facility at SIDCO Industrial Growth Centre, Lassipora, Pulwama, conducted f

Srinagar, Oct 5: The Pashmeena Entrepreneurs Makers and Artisans (PEMA) Foundation honoured six artisans for their outstanding contribution to Kashmirs traditional Pashmina craft at its annual Pashmina Artisan Awards 2026 held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on September 30. The ceremony, attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as the chief guest, recognised artisans whose specialised skills in Kani and Sozni have helped preserve Kashmirs centuries-old textile h

Srinagar, Oct 5:Massive forest fire broke out in the upper reaches of Zabarwan Range near Kral Sangri on Monday, sending towering plumes of smoke and flames into the sky that were visible from several parts of Srinagar. By evening the blaze could be clearly seen from Harwan, Brein, Dalgate and several Downtown localities, with thick smoke rising from the mountain slopes. Residents said the fire appeared to spread rapidly across the dry vegetation. It was frightening to watch the flames which kep

Srinagar, Oct 5: The Plaster of Paris (POP) manufacturing industry in Kashmir is facing a severe raw material crisis, with gypsum supplies to Valley-based units remaining halted for the past 15 days, pushing several units towards closure and leaving others operating at a fraction of their installed capacity. The manufacturers have appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his intervention, seeking immediate restoration of gypsum supplies and a permanent mechanism to ensure adequate availabili

Baramulla, Oct 5: Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), Mandeep Kour, today chaired a comprehensive stakeholders consultation meeting to deliberate upon the draft GIS-based Master Plans for Baramulla, Sopore and Pattan being prepared under AMRUT 2.0, at Dak Bungalow, Baramulla. The meeting was attended by Member of Legislative Assembly Baramulla Javid Hassan Beigh; MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar; MLA Pattan Javaid Reyaz Bedar; MLA Wagoora-Kreeri Irfan Hafeez Lone

Srinagar, Oct 5:Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting to take comprehensive stock of the Road Safety Action Plan, accident data, i-RAD, black spot rectification, trauma care, digital enforcement and other road safety interventions across the Union Territory. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, PWD; Principal Secretary, Home; Secretary, Transport Department; Inspector General of Police, Traffic; Transport Commissioner; Representatives from BRO; NHAI;

Kupwara, Oct 5:A man was killed and two others injured after a tractor they were travelling in fell into a deep gorge at Manchatter Kralpora in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Monday, officials said. An official said the tractor fell into the gorge while travelling from Manchatter Kralpora, leaving all three occupants injured. The injured were shifted to SDH Kralpora, from where one of them was referred to GMC Handwara. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, the official said. The

Baramulla, Oct 5:For Shafiq Ahmad, stone carving is more than a profession. It is a family inheritance that has sustained three generations and provided his household with a modest but dependable livelihood. That stability has now disappeared. Restrictions affecting stone quarrying in Baramulla have brought work to a standstill for families dependent on the trade, leaving artisans, quarry workers, tipper operators and labourers struggling to make ends meet. I am unable to pay the school fees of

Srinagar, Oct 5:The J&K Punjabi Sahit Sabha Srinagar on Sunday marked its 59th annual day with a Punjabi seminar, folk music performances and a mushaira in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages at Tagore Hall here. The programme brought together Punjabi writers, poets, scholars, intellectuals and literary enthusiasts from across Jammu and Kashmir and focused on the promotion of Punjabi language, literature and cultural traditions. JKAACL Secretary Harvinder

Sopore, Oct 5:Residents of Rashidabad in Bomai, Sopore, blocked the Bandipora-Kupwara road on Monday while protesting prolonged disruption in drinking water supply, bringing traffic to a standstill. The residents said the locality has been facing an acute shortage of potable water for nearly a month, forcing households to struggle for basic drinking water. They alleged that repeated complaints to the Jal Shakti Department had failed to resolve the issue, with the supply frequently remaining disr

Srinagar, Oct 5: A two-day national workshop on the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, in Jammu and Kashmir concluded in Poonch , with experts and forest-dependent communities calling for greater awareness of statutory rights and stronger community participation. The workshop was organised by the J&K Climate Action Group in collaboration with the National Alliance on Community Forest Resources & Minor Forest Produce (NACM). Rights advocates, legal experts, environmentalists, civil so

Srinagar, Oct 5:The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sanctioned Rs 38 crore for operating electric buses in Jammu and Srinagar in 2026-27, as the Smart City e-bus network continues to depend on substantial public support amid a wide gap between running costs and fare revenue. In an order issued on September 25, the Housing and Urban Development Department sanctioned Rs 3,800 lakh for the operational expenditure of e-bus projects run by Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) and Srinagar Smart City Limi

Srinagar, Oct 5:The Ladakh administration has appointed veteran actor, musician and social advocate Phonsok Ladakhi as the Union Territorys Road Safety Ambassador to promote traffic discipline and road safety across the high-altitude region. An order issued by the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Ladakh, said the appointment was made to strengthen road safety awareness and give a strong local identity to road safety initiatives in the Union Territory. Ladakhi is the first Bollywood actor from La

Srinagar. Oct 5: A group of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers of the 2024 batch on Monday called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at LokBhavan and shared their field experiences and insights on environmental and developmental initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir. The officers were accompanied by Dr M.K. Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests (Working Plan, Research and Trainings). During the interaction, the young officers briefed the Lieutenant Governor on their field experiences in Jammu and Kas

Shopian, Oct 5:Loudspeaker-fitted auto-rickshaws and other load carriers moving through residential and market areas have become a growing source of noise and inconvenience in south Kashmir. Vendors use them to sell vegetables and other household goods, while some also move around buying windfall apples from growers. Residents of Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama districts said auto-rickshaws and other load carriers fitted with loudspeakers move from one locality to another, announcing goods for sale