KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will conduct key business on Tuesday, February 3, including Question Hour, tabling of an ordinance, and discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Lieutenant Governors Address. The House is scheduled to convene at 10:00 AM, with Question Hour as the first item on the agenda. Chief Minister []

SRINAGAR: US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he would lower reciprocal tariffs on Indian imports from 25percent to 18percent, following a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move marks a warming of IndiaUS relations, which had been strained due to high tariffs. However, an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports []

SRINAGAR: In a major relief to cancer patients and their families, the Union Budget has announced the removal of basic customs duty on 17 cancer drugs, a move expected to significantly reduce treatment costs and improve access to life-saving medicines. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that, to ease the financial burden on patients suffering from []

SRINAGAR: The Union Budget announcement by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to extend support for high-value nut crops, including walnuts, has sparked fresh optimism in Jammu and Kashmirs walnut sector, which sustains the livelihoods of nearly seven lakh people across the region. According to the details, the announcement has come as a much-needed morale booster for []

SRINAGAR: Structural damage was reported in parts of Uri in north Kashmir on Monday morning following an earthquake, with several residential houses in Nambla village developing cracks. Local sources said that houses belonging to Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, Ghulam Mohammad Awan, Abdul Majeed Sheikh, and Muneer Ahmad Bhat sustained visible cracks due to the tremors. The []

SRINAGAR: Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone has submitted crucial amendments to the Lieutenant Governors address concerning the safety of Kashmiris, the regularisation of daily wagers, and the enhancement of the age limit for open merit candidates appearing in the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) examination. According to the business circulated by the Assembly []

SRINAGAR: A truck driver was killed in a road accident on the SrinagarSonamargGumri (SSG) Road near Hariganiwan in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district on Monday after an Eicher truck skidded off the road and crashed into a residential house. Officials said that the Eicher truck bearing registration number JK05L-3499 hit an old residential house []

SRINAGAR: Describing Jammu and Kashmir as the crown of India, Cabinet minister Satish Sharma on Monday called for financial support to help the region flourish. He said the region has faced extreme challenges in recent months, including unprecedented rainfall, war and the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking to reporters after the Assembly session in Jammu, Minister []

SRINAGAR: Two people were injured on Monday after a truck skidded off the road and crashed into a residential house in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district, central Kashmir. Officals said that a truck bearing registration number JK05L-3499, coming from Sonamarg, lost control upon reaching S-Mode Hariganwan, Kangan, and slipped off the road before crashing []

SRINAGAR: With a growing number of startups in Jammu and Kashmir moving beyond the ideation stage into revenue-generating businesses, a Srinagar-based industry body has urged the government to back the sector with faster approvals, easier compliance and a dedicated Rs 50 crore technology fund in the 202627 Budget. The Kashmir Angel Network (KAN), which works []

SRINAGAR: Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Monday said that the demand raised by students for setting up a separate National Law University in Jammu is fully justified, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party will fight for their cause. Talking to reporters, Sharma said that students from Jammu face genuine difficulties and cannot be expected []

SRINAGAR: The Union government on Monday said it is steadily expanding the reach of affordable insurance across the country through a mix of low-premium social security schemes, regulatory reforms and digital outreach, with the long-term objective of bringing every citizen under some form of insurance protection by 2047. Replying to a starred question in the []

SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday termed the ongoing protests by daily wagers as politically motivated, stating that the issue is being politicised by a few individuals rather than representing a genuine workers concern. Talking to reporters, the Deputy Chief Minister said that some selected people have projected themselves as leaders of the []

SRINAGAR: Sheikh Khurshid, MLA from Langate, on Monday expressed high expectations from the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir annual budget for 2026-27, set to be presented by the National Conference government in the Assembly on 6 February. Speaking to Kashmir Life, Khurshid said both he and the people of Jammu and Kashmir hoped the budget would []

SRINAGAR: MLA Kupwara Faheem Mir on Monday expressed disappointment over Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhas address to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on the opening day of the Budget Session, saying it offered no clarity on the restoration of statehood. Speaking to Kashmir Life, Mir said the absence of any reference to statehood was a setback. []

SRINAGAR: The Union Government has stepped up integration of skill-based and vocational education across school curricula in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, introducing practical learning modules from middle school, dedicated skill subjects, digital labs and expanded teaching in regional and mother tongues, the Ministry of Education informed Parliament on Monday. Responding to []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has registered sustained growth under the Centres Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), with cumulative enrolment crossing 12.54 lakh and close to 7 lakh active life insurance policies currently in force, according to figures placed before Parliament by the Union Ministry of Finance. Data tabled in the Lok Sabha shows []

SRINAGAR: Srinagar Police have secured a 14-year conviction in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, marking a significant outcome in a case involving the kidnapping and sexual assault of a minor girl. The conviction pertains to FIR No. 24/2021 registered at Police Station M R Gunj, Srinagar, under Sections []

SRINAGAR: Minister Satish Sharma on Monday described drug addiction as the biggest challenge confronting Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that the menace can only be tackled through a collective and sustained effort by society and the administration. Talking to reporters outside the Legislative Assembly in Jammu, the minister said drug abuse has emerged as a serious []

SRINAGAR: Approximately 83.27 percent of students have passed the Class 11 examination, with the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) expected to announce the results at around 11:30 AM today. According to official figures, 81,573 students from Kashmir and the winter zones of Jammu appeared for the exams, of whom 67,932 students have []

SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out raids at multiple locations across the Kashmir Valley, officials said. They said the searches were conducted early in the morning in Srinagar, Sopore, and Bandipora as part of an ongoing investigation into terror-related activities and funding networks. An official said that NIA teams, assisted by []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir booked their place in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals after their Elite Group match against Himachal Pradesh ended in a draw due to rain on the fourth day at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium, Amtar. A first-innings lead proved decisive, ensuring JKs qualification for the knockout stage, where they will face []

SRINAGAR: The arrest of Junior Engineer Rahul Gandotra by the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau witnessed high drama on the spot, as the accused Junior Engineer repeatedly attempted to escape and showed open reluctance to enter the ACB vehicle after being caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 8000 in Reasi district of Jammu []

by Dr Suheel Rasool Mir Gurez Valleys rich sporting heritage blends traditional games and modern cricket, with innovative snow cricket fostering unity, resilience, and hope among youth despite isolation and harsh winters. The history of sports in the borderland space of Gurez Valley is very ancient. Gurez, the valley of the Dard-Shina ethnicity, has a []

SRINAGAR Eminent Kashmiri scholar, poet, and linguist Prof Shafi Shauq has been awarded the Padma Shri 2026 for his outstanding contribution to education and literature, particularly in preserving and enriching the Kashmiri language and literature. Born in Shopian in 1950, Shauq authored, edited, and translated over 100 works, including the authoritative Keeshur Lugaat and Kaeshir []

SRINAGAR: The Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will commence on Monday, February 2, with an address by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to the House at 10 am, marking the formal opening of the session. The Lieutenant Governors address will be followed by a multi-day discussion on the Motion of Thanks, along []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) is set to declare the Class 11th annual examinations results today, officials said on Tuesday. Chairman JKBOSE Gulam Hassan Sheikh said Class 11th results are ready and it is being officially declared today, February 2, 2026. Giving exact timing is not possible however, it will []

SRINAGAR: A moderate earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck Jammu and Kashmir early Monday morning, triggering strong tremors across the Kashmir Valley, monitoring agencies said. According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the quake occurred at 5:35 am at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its epicentre located in Budgam district []

SRINAGAR: A Kashmiri shawl seller was allegedly harassed and assaulted in Himachal Pradeshs Kangra district, days after two Kashmiri shawl sellers were attacked in Uttarakhand, triggering fresh concern over the safety of itinerant traders from the Valley working outside the Union Territory. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said the victim, Mohd Ramzan, was allegedly []

SRINAGAR: Ganderbal Police on Sunday foiled a kidnapping attempt by rescuing a minor boy within an hour of the incident and arresting one of the accused, underscoring the district polices rapid response and effective coordination in handling serious crimes. Ganderbal Police achieved a swift breakthrough in a kidnapping case by rescuing a minor boy within []

SRINAGAR: A 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit the Asaluyeh area in Irans southern Bushehr province on Sunday, state media reported. According to the Iranian News Agency (IRNA), the tremor struck at a depth of 18 kilometres. The epicentre was located about 24 kilometres from Asaluyeh, 32 kilometres from Kushknar in Hormozgan province, and 45 kilometres from Galehdar []

SRINAGAR: The Union Budget 202627 proposal to develop ecologically sustainable mountain trails across Himalayan states, including Jammu and Kashmir, has raised hopes among adventure tourism operators and forest officials, who see it as a much-needed boost for the UTs long-stalled trekking sector. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 202627, announced an initiative []

SRINAGAR: Senior Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) leader and MLA Langate, Sheikh Khurshid, along with party chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, on Sunday outlined a series of political and humanitarian initiatives undertaken by the party both inside and outside the Assembly. Addressing a press conference, Khurshid said he had written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on []

SRINAGAR: Welcoming the Union Budgets renewed thrust on manufacturing, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), exports and higher capital expenditure, the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) on Friday said the proposed measures could strengthen industrial growth and provide stability to enterprises across the country. However, the apex industrial body expressed disappointment over what []

by Syed Nazakat From Davos to Delhi, AI-focused summits connect leaders, spark collaboration, build partnerships, and translate ideas into action, strengthening healthcare, governance, and technology ecosystems worldwide. Why do events like conferences and summits matter? Because they are not merely gatherings; they are accelerators of possibilities. At their best, they create rare spaces for encounterbetween []

SRINAGAR: At least two people lost their lives while two others were injured in a road accident that occurred at Jandrola in the Sathra Mandi area of Poonch district on Sunday. An official said that soon after the mishap, emergency ambulances reached the scene and shifted the injured to the District Hospital Poonch. However, two []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) is set to declare the Class 11th examination results on Monday, around noon. JKBOSE Chairman Ghulam Hassan Sheikh said that the result compilation process has been completed and the Board is ready to make the announcement. The results are finalised. We are optimistic about declaring []

SRINAGAR: The District Court in Srinagar on Saturday granted interim bail to Vivek Batra, a former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, in a case involving allegations of assault, attempted rape and criminal intimidation against an elderly Kashmiri Pandit couple. The bail order came after Batras arrest on January 8 following a complaint lodged at Rajbagh []

SRINAGAR: Ahead of the 2026 Budget Session, authorities in Jammu Kashmir have issued strict instructions restricting access to the Assembly Lobby and main entrances. Only ministers and legislators are permitted in these areas. The move follows reports from the previous session where unauthorized presence of officers, media personnel, and personal assistants caused inconvenience to lawmakers []

SRINAGAR: Asserting that Budget 2026-27 charts the path to a $5 trillion economy milestone within a few years and presents Indias ambitious vision to achieve developed economy status, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on development of ecologically sustainable mountain trails in Jammu []

SRINAGAR: Two natives of Jammu and Kashmir have been arrested, while three others have been detained by police in Kota district of Rajasthan in connection with suspicious activities linked to the collection of donations, officials said on Sunday. Police said three men, residents of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, were detained on Saturday by []

SRINAGAR: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the 2026 Budget, announced plans to develop ecologically sustainable mountain trains and hiking trails in key hill regions, including Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Araku Valley, and Pudigai Malai. The government will also introduce wildlife tourism trails, featuring turtle nesting routes in Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala, and []

SRINAGAR: The Union Budget 202627 has proposed the expansion of high-density plantation of almond orchards in hilly regions, including the Kashmir Valley, as part of a broader push towards high-value agriculture. According to the Budget speech, high-density planting will be promoted to increase yield per hectare and improve orchard productivity through modern cultivation practices. The []

SRINAGAR: The Union Budget 202627 has proposed a national programme for high-value nut crops, including almonds, walnuts and pine nuts, with a focus on hilly regions, which is expected to benefit Jammu and Kashmirs orchard-based economy. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting the Budget in Parliament, said the government aims to promote high-value agriculture as part []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), on Sunday said to have trapped and arrested, an Junior Engineer (JE) posted as Technical Assistant in the BDO Office, Mahore, District Reasi, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs: 8,000. The Bureau has also revealed that three separate corruption cases are already registered against the accused []

SRINAGAR: Two Power Development Department (PDD) employees were killed in a road accident on Sunday in the Jandrola area of Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. An official said that the deceased have been identified as Chindsee Singh Sanu, son of Sukhdev Singh, a resident of Kamsar near the CEO Office, and Kulbir Singh, also []

SRINAGAR: When electric smart buses were introduced in Srinagar under the Smart City project, they were seen as a long-awaited upgrade to public transport in the Valley. Quieter, cleaner and affordable, the service promised relief from overcrowded roads and ageing buses. A few years later, the project is facing growing criticism as heavy losses pile []

SRINAGAR: Gold and silver prices fell sharply on Sunday, hitting lower circuit limits in futures trading ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 202627. Gold futures for April 2, 2026 delivery declined by Rs 9,140, or 6 per cent, to Rs 1,43,205 per 10 grams, while silver futures for March 5, 2026 delivery dropped []

Despite improved neonatal outcomes, Kashmir must strengthen peripheral childcare and integrate public and private systems to ensure equitable, timely newborn survival. Kashmirs steady decline in infant and neonatal mortality is a public health success worth acknowledging. Yet beneath these reassuring averages lies a deeper structural imbalance: where a child is born still largely determines whether []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has convened meetings of the Legislature Party and the Joint Legislature Party on February 2 at his official residence in Jammu, Chief Whip Mubarik Gul said. In a communication issued to legislators, Gul said the Legislature Party meeting will be held at 4 pm in the Banquet []