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SRINAGAR: The Government of India on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir continues to reel under the highest Transmission and Distribution (T and D) losses in the country with 48.08 percent for the fiscal year 202324. Minister of State for Power, Shripad Naik informed the parliament that the national []

SRINAGAR: The Union Government Thursday informed Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir has a total of 98 drinking water quality testing laboratories of which 42 are NABL-accredited or recognised. Minister of State for Jal Shakti V Somanna said JK currently operates with 2 state-level labs, 20 district or regional labs and 76 block, sub-division or []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold consultations with political parties over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying clarity was needed to address issues raised by several groups. Speaking to reporters after attending the passing-out parade of the Armys []

SRINAGAR: The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) Financial Inclusion Index-2025 has revealed key gaps in access and usage of banking facilities in different districts of the Kashmir Valley. The RBIs Financial Inclusion Index measures financial inclusion across three key parameters: Access (35 percent), Usage (45 percent), and Quality (20 percent). Four districts of the Union []

SRINAGAR: The Union Government on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that Jammu Kashmir has received Rs 37,978 crore over the past five years for the development and maintenance of National Highways, with nearly full utilisation of allocated funds each year. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways allocated the funds to JK in a phased []

SRINAGAR: Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Thursday met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhawan, Jammu, to press for the long-standing demand of age relaxation for candidates appearing in combined competitive examinations across Jammu Kashmir. Sharma told the LG that numerous aspirants and delegations had approached him over recent weeks, seeking intervention on the []

SRINAGAR: The Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir is advancing plans to establish a large-scale Solar Park under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energys (MNRE) Solar Park Scheme, with Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of up to Rs 20 lakh per megawatt (MW) or 30 percent of project cost. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, while chairing a []

SRINAGAR: A road accident in the Serwad area of Katra on Thursday claimed the life of an SOG jawan after his scooty collided with a motorcycle. An official said that, the deceased has been identified as Shalu Ram Bali, son of Om Prakash and a resident of Reasi. He succumbed to his injuries on the []

SRINAGAR:The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced planned power shutdowns affecting several areas in and around Badampora and adjoining regions on December 6, 9, 14 and 15, 2025, due to maintenance work on 33 KV and 132/33 KV lines. The Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL, said that a shutdown of the 33 KV switchyard []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated and laid e-foundation stones for a series of major development projects worth nearly Rs 100 crore in Budgam district, signalling a significant boost to local infrastructure and public services. The initiatives include multiple Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) water supply schemes across Gudsathoo, Dreygam, Drang, Kultreh Wanpora, Qazipora, []

SRINAGAR: For more than a week, Srinagar has been living with an unusual kind of curfew, not imposed by the authorities, but enforced by two young black bears who have slipped into the city and refused to leave. Their nightly wanderings have frozen entire neighbourhoods, disrupted campus life, triggered frantic searches, and left residents joking []

SRINAGAR: Police on Thursday said they had dismantled a cross-border narcotics network in Jammu, arresting six individuals and seizing 4.95 kilograms of heroin and three pistols, Daily Excelsior reported. The recovered heroin is valued at over Rs 30 crore in the international market, officials said. Superintendent of Police Ajay Sharma told reporters that the accused []

SRINAGAR: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday asserted that the Union Public Service Commissions (UPSC) interview and personality test system is free from any form of discrimination or bias, emphasising the transparency embedded in the recruitment process. Responding to questions, Singh said the UPSC publishes the written, interview/personality test and total marks of all recommended []

SRINAGAR: The Government has told Parliament that the ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor was reached directly at the level of the two countries Directors General of Military Operations (DGsMO), with no external mediation involved. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh []

SRINAGAR: Aspecialised team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Bhagat Barzulla on Thursday conducted a comprehensive disaster preparedness and emergency management drill at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar under the direction of Director SDRF Kashmir Imtiyaz Hussain Mir. The exercise, designed for the MBBS Batch 2025, aimed to build awareness, technical skill, and confidence []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) Thursday registered a case against Patwari and Chokidar from revenue department for demanding and accepting illegal gratification from the complainant. Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau in a statement said that it registered a case FIR No. 03/2025 u/s 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and []

SRINAGAR: The government on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that 18,822 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States since 2009, including 3,258 sent back between January and November 2025. In a written reply, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said 617 Indians were deported in 2023 and 1,368 in 2024, while this years deportations []

SRINAGAR: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday announced that Indias current manual toll collection mechanism will be phased out within a year, making way for a fully electronic system aimed at ensuring uninterrupted travel on national highways. Addressing the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, Gadkari said the new electronic toll []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh on Thursday listed the habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik as part heard, scheduling the next hearing for December 18, 2025. The matter came up before Justice Mohd. Yousaf Wani at the Jammu wing of the High Court. During the proceedings, []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has 536,478 women working in MSMEs and 184,315 MSMEs are led by women, according to official data placed in the Lok Sabha. The latest figures placed before Parliament show a marked rise in the participation of women in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises across Jammu and Kashmir, both as workers and []

by Khalid Altaf Sherwani The Constitution of India endures as a living guide, balancing rights and duties, shaped by landmark judgments, and relying on citizens to uphold justice, equality, dignity, and democratic values As India steps into its seventy-fifth year under the shelter of its Constitution, it is worth pausing for a moment and asking []

SRINAGAR: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested two Tanzanian nationals in Bengaluru in connection with separate drug trafficking cases, seizing 10kg of MDMA and 8kg of hydro ganja, with an estimated street value of over Rs 28 crore, the Times of India reported. Officials told the Times of India that the seizure is among []

SRINAGAR: The Union Railways Ministry Wednesday said that the KanpurJammu Tawi Express currently does not stop at Mallawan station and any future halt will be decided based on operational needs. Responding to a question, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Mallawan station is presently served by four train services that offers connectivity to Kanpur, Unnao and []

SRINAGAR: Kashmir Valley remained gripped by intense cold as night temperatures dropped sharply across the region, with several locations falling well below freezing, according to meteorological data. Summer capital of Jammu Kashmir, Srinagar recorded a minimum of 4.0C, while nearby Pampore dropped to 5.0C. Pulwama was the coldest in the region at 5.6C. Pahalgam, Anantnag []

SRINAGAR: Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M Scindia informed the Parliament that Jammu and Kashmir remains a key focus area through the expansion plan of 100 percent 4G coverage under the Prime Ministers Digital India vision. The minister informed that the government is steadily moving toward achieving complete 4G saturation across India as part of []

SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing of the Crime Branch, Jammu Kashmir, has filed a chargesheet in FIR No. 79/2022 before the Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, in a case involving alleged fraudulent mutation of land in Zoonimar Eidgah, Srinagar. Officials said the chargesheet has been filed against businessman Habibullah Bhat of Buchpora; retired Naib Tehsildar Mohammad []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir has pending liabilities of Rs 196.29 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), according to data presented in the Lok Sabha. Responding to a question on funds owed to States under the scheme, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Union Territory has dues of Rs 5.48 []

SRINAGAR: The Open Merit Students Association of Jammu and Kashmir has rejected any cosmetic reduction in reservation and demanded immediate public release of the reservation sub-committee report before any official approval. In a statement, OMSA leaders Sahil Parray, Mohammad Momin Khan, Tafazul Bilal and Subina Mehraj said token cuts in one or two categories would []

SRINAGAR: Defying societal expectations and their physical challenges, a specially abled couple from south Kashmirs Anantnag district has skilfully nurtured a thriving mushroom cultivation unit under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) scheme. With the support of the agriculture department, Mehroka Jan and her husband Muzafar Ahmad, who have physical disabilities affecting their legs, have []

SRINAGAR: A family of four orphan sisters was left homeless on Wednesday afternoon after a devastating blaze ripped through Nowpora in Srinagar, destroying their house along with all dowry items prepared for an upcoming wedding. Officials said the fire started in the attic of a residential house before rapidly spreading to neighbouring structures. The Fire []

SRINAGAR: Three alleged drug peddlers, including two residents of Srinagar, were arrested on Wednesday at Tikri in Udhampur district of Jammu division. Officials said that a team intercepted the suspects during routine checking and recovered heroin-like substances from their possession. The arrested individuals have been identified as Ishfaq Majid Dar, son of Mohd Abdullah Dar, []

SRINAGAR: Jailed Member of Parliament, Sheikh Abdul Rashid Wednesday said that there shall be a blanket ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir. The MP said making JK a dry state must not be labelled as anti-national or anti-social. Rashid during the Lok Sabha proceedings, said that the opposition of people against the opening of []

SRINAGAR: The Indian government withdrew its order on Wednesday, mandating the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all smartphones sold in the country, citing the apps growing popularity and public acceptance. The move comes after widespread concerns over privacy, digital rights, and potential surveillance, coupled with resistance from major smartphone manufacturers, including Apple []

SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Wednesday lauded the role of Village Defence Guards (VDGs), stating that individuals demonstrating remarkable courage in anti-terror operations could be considered for induction into the regular police force. During an interaction with more than 110 VDG members in a forward village along the International []

SRINAGAR: The Regional Transport Office (RTO) Kashmir has introduced a new S-track driving trial system for the driving licence procedure, replacing the traditional H track used for light motor vehicles. Officials said the new system is part of an effort to make the process more efficient, transparent, and fully digital. ARTO Srinagar, Mouzam Ali said []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Wednesday reaffirmed the Jammu and Kashmir Governments commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for Specially Abled Persons (SAPs), stating that empowerment, dignity, and equal opportunity remain central to all government programmes. Speaking at a grand event at the Convention Centre []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday unveiled the sacred coin of Shri Sukrala Mata Ji, a token prepared by the Mall Mata Sukrala Devi Dharmik Trust. The coin, featuring the holy image of Shri Sukrala Mata Ji, will be offered along with prasadam to devotees visiting the revered Shri Sukrala Mata Shrine in Billawar, []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has issued a comprehensive set of instructions for granting ex gratia relief to individuals affected by law and order disturbances, covering government employees, security personnel, civilians, and defence forces. The move, notified through a government order aims to streamline compensation under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) framework. The policy []

SRINAGAR: Police have arrested two persons during a patrolling operation near in the Nishat area and recovered contraband substance and cash from their possession, a police official said. The accused were identified as Sheikh Umar Jan, and Nadeem Qadir Chopan. Two Arrested with Heroin and Cash in NishatPolice said 15 grams of heroin and cash []

SRINAGAR: Srinagar Police on Wednesday arrested an alleged ATM fraudster in the Bemina area, recovering 12 ATM cards from multiple banks and an iPhone said to have been used in the crime. Police said the action followed a written complaint filed by Nazir Ahmed War, in charge of the Centralised ATM Department of Jammu and []

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Labour and Employment has revealed that as of November 26, 2025, a total of 36,11,005 unorganised workers, including migrant labourers, from Jammu and Kashmir, have registered on the national eShram portal. In neighbouring Ladakh, 35,068 workers have enrolled on the platform, highlighting a growing effort to bring the Union Territories workforce []

SRINAGAR: Three cows were electrocuted to death after a high-tension power line collapsed in Tulwari area of Langate in north Kashmirs Kupwara district, triggering outrage among locals who have accused the Power Development Department of negligence. Locals said that the incident occurred when an HT line suddenly snapped and fell in an open area where []

SRINAGAR: Between December 1, 2020, and October 10, 2025, more than 4.37 lakh women entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir have been sanctioned Mudra loans amounting to Rs. 7,579.3 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY). These loans have supported the establishment and expansion of small businesses, agriculture-allied ventures, handicrafts, and other traditional enterprises across []

SRINAGAR: Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid on Tuesday raised concerns in Parliament over the absence of basic mobile connectivity in several border areas of North Kashmir, saying residents continue to suffer due to what he termed long-standing governmental neglect. Speaking during the session, the MP, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, said that regions such as Karnah, []

SRINAGAR: A Sumo vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in the Sounder area of Dachhan in Kishtwar district on Wednesday, leaving one person dead, and two others are critically injured, officials said. Officials said that the vehicle slipped off the road under unknown circumstances, resulting in the on-spot death of []

SRINAGAR: Police in Budgam, in coordination with the Mining Department, intensified action against illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of minerals across the district during November 2025, leading to arrests, vehicle seizures and financial penalties. Officials said police teams from various police stations and police posts, under the supervision of senior officers, conducted sustained operations in []

SRINAGAR: The Government has said it is closely reviewing all major hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including the long-pending 1,856 MW Sawalkote scheme, as part of a wider assessment of the Union Territorys power expansion plans. The information was placed before the Rajya Sabha by Power Minister Manohar Lal in response to a question []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has reported a significant palliative care load, with 54,738 patients receiving services in 202324, according to data placed before the Rajya Sabha by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda. The Ministry said that the National Programme for Palliative Care (NPPC) now covers 600 districts across India, marking one of the most []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is scheduled to chair the first cabinet meeting in Jammu after the annual Darbar move today, with the Cabinet Sub Committees report on reservation figuring as a key agenda item. Official sources said the meeting will take place in the Civil Secretariat Jammu. The cabinet is expected to deliberate on []

SRINAGAR: The Centre on Tuesday said 4,29,954 (four lakh twenty nine thousand, nine hundred and fifty-four) youth were trained in Jammu and Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) as part of the Skill India Mission (SIM), while multiple other centrally sponsored schemes continue to operate for reskilling and upskilling in the Union []