KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said that tourist arrivals in the Union Territory have shown fluctuations over the past three years, while highlighting a series of measures undertaken to boost tourism potential across Jammu and Kashmir provinces. The information was provided in response to a starred question (A.Q No. 468) tabled by []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Power Amnesty Scheme for domestic consumers has been extended till March 31, 2026, providing continued relief to consumers by waiving interest and surcharge accumulated up to March 2025. Replying to an unstarred question raised by MLA Mian Mehar Ali, the government []

SRINAGAR: The Chief Engineer, Distribution, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited has informed that the planned shutdown of the 33 KV KaniporaPinjoora transmission line has been rescheduled. As per the revised schedule, the shutdown, which was earlier set for March 31, 2026, will now be carried out on April 2, 2026, from 09:00 AM to 03:00 []

SRINAGAR: Nine Private Member Bills were introduced in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, of which six were withdrawn by legislators after assurances from the government, while two were rejected through voice voting following discussion in the House. Legislator Qaysar Jamshaid Lone introduced a bill seeking amendment to the Cooperative Societies Act, 1989, aimed at reforming []

SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that the JammuAkhnoor four-lane project on NH-144A is at an advanced stage of execution, with remaining works targeted for phased completion by mid-2026. Replying to a question raised by MLA Mohan Lal, the Deputy Chief Minister provided a package-wise timeline for the projects []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Education Sakeena Itoo on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that around 150 Principals, Lecturers and Teachers are being detached and sent back to their original postings in the School Education Department to address staff shortages in Gurez and other far-flung and rural areas. The Minister made the statement during Zero Hour in []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Monday directed strict action against private schools indulging in arbitrary fee hikes and violations of prescribed norms, warning that exploitation of parents will not be tolerated. Chairing a comprehensive review meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education at the []

SRINAGAR: The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has revised school timings for all government and recognised private institutions across the Kashmir Division, with the new schedule coming into effect from April 1, 2026. As per Order No. 119-DSEK of 2026 dated March 30, schools located within the Srinagar Municipal limits will operate from 9:00 []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday projected Mission YUVA as a potential national model for self-employment, asserting that the Union Territory is working to set a benchmark in entrepreneurship-led development across the country. Addressing the Yuva MahotsavMission YUVA programme at the Convention Centre in Srinagar, the Chief Minister said the initiative []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed an appeal seeking release of a vehicle seized in a militancy-related case in Kupwara, holding that the petitioner had no legal standing and had approached the court with unclean hands by making contradictory claims and suppressing material facts. The division bench comprising Justice Shahzad []

SRINAGAR: Rain in the plains and snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir continued for the second consecutive day on Monday, reducing the rainfall deficit in Jammu and Kashmir by nearly five per cent, officials said. Light to moderate rain was recorded across most parts of the Kashmir Valley, while several mountainous areas received another spell []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has a total of 6,627 Fair Price Shops (FPS) functioning under the Public Distribution System, with a clear dominance of privately operated outlets over government-run sale depots across all 20 districts of the Union Territory, official data shows. Of the total network, 2,885 Fair Price Shops are located in the Jammu []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has cancelled a total of 2,671 ration cards during the financial year 202526, with an overwhelming majority of deletions reported from the Jammu division. Official figures show that 2,154 ration cards were cancelled in the Jammu division, compared to 517 in the Kashmir division, pointing to a significantly higher []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said road accidents in the Union Territory have shown a declining trend over the past three years, even as over Rs 11.53 crore has been disbursed as compensation to victims under the Road Accident Victim Fund (RAVF). Responding to an unstarred Assembly question, the Transport Department stated []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said that more than 10,600 posts have been advertised by major recruiting agencies over the past three years, with selections at various stages of completion, while attributing delays in some cases to litigation, eligibility clarifications and administrative processes. Replying to an unstarred Assembly question, the government said []

SRINAGAR: More than three lakh kanals of state land are under encroachment across Jammu and Kashmir, with Poonch district recording the highest extent of illegal occupation, even as forest land encroachments have been pegged at 5,857.41 hectares, according to official data tabled in the Assembly. Revenue Department figures show that Poonch accounts for the largest []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has said that the 9 MW Sewa-III Hydel Power Project, commissioned in 2002, remains non-operational due to severe structural damage caused by floods, with a Rs 66.43 crore restoration plan now being pursued under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Responding to a starred Assembly question, the Power Development Department []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday acknowledged that hundreds of traditional land records, including Massavis and Latha maps, have deteriorated over decades of use, with many rendered illegible or missing, even as it said a Union Territory-wide digitisation and reconstruction exercise is underway to modernise the revenue record system. The disclosure came in []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said apple imports from New Zealand under the proposed IndiaNew Zealand Free Trade Agreement would remain limited in scale, even as it acknowledged that no formal study has yet been conducted to assess the impact of such imports on local growers, prices or employment in the Union []

by Haseeb A Drabu Indias GST Council reshaped fiscal federalism through shared sovereignty, yet rising cesses, weak state coordination, and institutional gaps threaten to tilt the balance back toward centralisation. Indias Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council stands as one of the most ambitious institutional experiments in the countrys post-independence economic history. Conceived not merely []

SRINAGAR: Two personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF), including an Inspector and a Sub-Inspector, were injured after being attacked by locals during a raid at a suspected drug hotspot in the Gujjar Basti area of Supwal in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Official sources said that the duo had gone to []

SRINAGAR: A total of 33 Private Members Bills have been listed for consideration in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday, covering a wide range of legislative issues, including prohibition of liquor, regulation of doctors private practice, land reforms, youth welfare, and protection of religious institutions. Detaila stated that, among the major proposals, six []

SRINAGAR: Three boys drowned in the Tawi River near Sainik School Nagrota on Sunday evening, triggering a massive search operation. According to official sources, the incident took place in the evening when the trio slipped into the river and went missing. The missing boys have been identified as Sonam Dutt, son of Sunny Dutt; Bavish []

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued a notification permitting the temporary distribution of Public Distribution System (PDS) Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) in 21 SKO-free States and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, in view of global energy supply pressures linked to the prevailing geopolitical situation. The Centre has invoked []

SRINAGAR: A man lost his life after accidentally falling into a nallah in Uri area of North Kashmirs Baramulla district on Sunday. An official said that the deceased has been identified as Zaheer Ahmed Sheikh, son of Din Mohammad Sheikh, a resident of Jabla. He said the man accidentally slipped into a Jabla nallah while []

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Indias recent cricketing achievements, highlighting both the national teams victory in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup and Jammu and Kashmirs maiden Ranji Trophy win, describing the latter as a historic milestone with far-reaching impact on youth in the region. Addressing the 132nd edition of his monthly []

SRINAGAR: The United States-Iran war has deepened into its second month with intensifying strikes across the Middle East, mounting battlefield losses and rising global concern, even as diplomatic efforts attempt to prevent a wider escalation. Iran has continued its retaliation against US and Israeli strikes launched on February 28, expanding the conflict beyond direct exchanges []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Nursing Council, in collaboration with the erstwhile JK Paramedical Council, on Sunday successfully conducted diploma examinations in nursing and allied healthcare streams across the Union Territory, witnessing participation of 18,040 candidates. According to the details, the examinations were held at 31 centres across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, including 17 centres []

SRINAGAR: The Government of India on Sunday said it is maintaining continuous oversight and implementing preparedness measures across energy, shipping and citizen safety sectors amid the evolving situation in West Asia, including the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In an official update, the government said all refineries are operating at high capacity with []

SRINAGAR: A Sub-Inspector lost his life after falling unconscious while on duty at Battalion Headquarters Kehribal in Mattan area of South Kashmir Anantnag district on Sunday. An official said that the deceased has been identified as 58-year-old, Ranjeet Singh, son of Awtar Singh, a resident of Kadyal, RS Pora Jammu. He said the officer suddenly []

SRINAGAR: Officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS), Batch 2013, have submitted a formal representation to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting prolonged career stagnation and seeking immediate policy intervention to address delays in promotions. In their submission, the officers stated that they have completed over 13 years in the Junior []

SRINAGAR: A rare show of unity marked proceedings in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly as members across party lines strongly condemned the recent assassination attempt on Farooq Abdullah and demanded a high-level judicial probe into what was widely described as a serious security failure. They spoke at length in a debate on the assassination []

SRINAGAR: Police in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district have seized six vehicles involved in illegal extraction and transportation of minerals during enforcement drives conducted in the jurisdictions of Police Stations Safapora, Lar and Gund. Police said the vehicles were found operating without valid authorisation and in violation of prescribed mining norms. Acting on the violations, police []

SRINAGAR: The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Union Ministry of AYUSH, has approved a proposal worth Rs 53 lakh for establishing 100 School Herbal Gardens across the Jammu Division to strengthen awareness and conservation of medicinal plants. The project envisages setting up herbal gardens in selected schools across all districts of the division, []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Election Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Sunday inaugurated the Tulip Garden at MCRS Sagam, SKUAST-K, during his visit to the Centre of Excellence for Tulip and Temperate Bulb Production. The Minister was accompanied by MLA Dooru, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, along with senior officials, []

SRINAGAR: Indias agricultural and food exports worth $11.8 billion, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of the countrys total agri-food exports in 2025, face disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. Key commodities affected include Basmati rice, buffalo meat, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said private schools cannot increase or collect fees without prior approval, asserting that strict regulations are in place to check arbitrary hikes and profiteering in the education sector. Replying to a query in the Legislative Assembly, the government said provisions under the Jammu and Kashmir School Education []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said that the Jammu Marathon reflects the profound transformation Jammu and Kashmir has undergone since 2019, asserting that peace, prosperity and enabling conditions have positioned the Union Territory as a destination for world-class sporting and tourism events. Speaking at the felicitation ceremony of the Jammu Marathon held at []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir has emerged as a growing hub for entrepreneurial activity, with 1,446 startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as of January 31, 2026, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The information, provided by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, highlights a []

SRINAGAR: A massive rush of tourists was witnessed on Sunday at the Gulmarg Gondola, with long queues reported at ticket counters and boarding points as visitors thronged the popular destination following fresh snowfall. Hundreds of tourists were seen standing in extended lines for hours to access the cable car service, one of the highest in []

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Rural Development has released over Rs 1,447 crore to Jammu Kashmir under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the current financial year, including Rs 1,272.65 crore for wages and Rs 174.57 crore for material and administrative components, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The funds []

SRINAGAR: Vehicular movement on BandiporaGurez road has been suspended as a precautionary measure following fresh snowfall in the higher reaches of Bandipora district, including Gurez and Tulail. The suspension comes amid ongoing weather activity, with snow continuing to accumulate in upper areas, raising concerns over road safety and slippery conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) []

SRINAGAR: Fresh snowfall was recorded in the higher reaches of north Kashmir on Sunday, with Tulail Valley in Bandipora district receiving around four inches of accumulation so far, officials said. The snowfall led to a noticeable dip in temperatures across the region, marking a sudden shift in weather conditions after relatively stable days. Officials said []

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday warned of an emerging global petrol and diesel crisis triggered by ongoing conflicts in key energy-producing regions, even as he asserted that India is well-prepared to face the challenge. Speaking during the 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister said the global situation remains volatile, with []

by Suhail Gaznavi Medical negligence and inflated drug pricing are eroding public trust in Indias healthcare system, highlighting the urgent need for regulation, ethical accountability, and affordable access to essential medicines. Healthcare is meant to protect life, not exploit vulnerability. Yet medical negligence and the unchecked pricing of medicines are emerging as serious threats to []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmirs dairy sector is expanding at a steady pace, with milk production climbing from 25.94 lakh tonnes in 2020-21 to 29.74 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, a rise of nearly 15 per cent over four years, according to official data placed before Parliament early this month. The union territory also ranks among Indias []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday flagged off and participated in the first-ever international marathon held in Jammu, marking a significant initiative to promote sports culture and tourism in the region. The marathon commenced from Maulana Azad Stadium and saw enthusiastic participation from athletes, fitness enthusiasts, international runners, and locals from across Jammu and []

SRINAGAR: More than one crore Indian nationals are currently residing in West Asian and Gulf countries, the Ministry of External Affairs informed the Lok Sabha on Friday. The ongoing conflict in the region has disrupted travel, with airspace closures and flight cancellations affecting Indian tourists, students, pilgrims, and other visitors. The ministry reported that the []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called upon entrepreneurs and eminent personalities from diverse fields to channel their efforts towards strengthening key sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, making them more resilient and people-centric. Speaking at the Big Impact Awards 2026 organised by 92.7 Big FM in Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor said entrepreneurs []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to examine and rationalise the reservation policy has submitted its report, which is currently under consideration of the competent authority. Replying to a question raised by MLA Budgam Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, the government said the panel has []