KashmirLife

by Ruqaya Akhter Jammu and Kashmirs handicraft exports show decades of growth led by carpets and shawls, but rising volatility, limited diversification and external shocks highlight structural vulnerabilities For decades, handicrafts have remained one of Jammu and Kashmirs most distinctive economic sectors, combining cultural heritage with employment generation and export potential. The export data for []

SRINAGAR: Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Pakistan on Sunday for the second time in three days, underscoring fast-moving diplomatic efforts amid uncertainty over the next phase of IranUnited States peace talks, international media reported. Araghchi arrived at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi on Sunday evening after a brief visit to Oman, where he []

SRINAGAR:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday paid tribute to organ donors and their families at Naman Diwas, describing them as true role models whose selfless acts have brought hope and life to countless people. Addressing a gathering of families of cornea and kidney donors, the Lieutenant Governor said no award can adequately recognise the value []

SRINAGAR: A public meeting held at Dak Bungalow in Ramban on Sunday saw strong opposition from residents against any proposed diversion of benefits linked to the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project, with participants asserting that the district must remain the primary stakeholder. The gathering, attended by local residents, youth and civil society members, expressed concern over reports []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) on Sunday conducted the Common Entrance Test (CET) for BSc Nursing, BSc Paramedical, and BSc Technology courses for the academic session 202627 across the Union Territory. The examination was held at 48 centres, including 37 in Kashmir division and 11 in Jammu division. Of []

SRINAGAR:In a move aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir, the Greenovator Incubation Foundation at National Institute of Technology Srinagar awarded ignition grants to 10 early-stage startups under Cohort 2.0 during the Ignition Grant Felicitation Ceremony 2026. The programme, held under the theme Providing your ideas a hand of warmth and technology, []

SRINAGAR:Amid the evolving situation in West Asia, the Government of India has initiated a series of coordinated measures to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies, maintain maritime operations, and safeguard Indian nationals in the region. Ministries including Petroleum and Natural Gas, External Affairs, and Ports, Shipping and Waterways are working in tandem to sustain critical sectors and []

SRINAGAR: Kalari cheese of Jammu Kashmir found a prominent mention in the latest episode of Mann Ki Baat, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored Indias diverse food heritage while linking it to broader themes of innovation, sustainability, and economic progress. In his address, the Prime Minister described Kalari as the Mozzarella of Kashmir, noting its []

SRINAGAR: A labourer died after accidentally falling from an under-construction flyover near Majalta Morh in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said. Officials said that the incident occurred during ongoing construction work on the flyover stretch from Majalta Morh to Majalta, when the labourer lost balance and fell from the arch of []

SRINAGAR: The Meteorological Centre Srinagar on Sunday forecast generally dry weather across Jammu and Kashmir on April 26, followed by cloudy conditions with spells of light rain, thundershowers, and gusty winds at scattered to many places from April 27 onwards. Director of the MeT Centre Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmad, said that April 2728 will witness generally []

SRINAGAR: A Five-year-old boy drowned in the Rambiara River near Dubjan in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Sunday, officials said. According to reports, the incident took place in the Dabhan locality when the child accidentally slipped into the river and was swept away. Following the incident, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Shopian launched a []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Health and Education Sakina Itoo warned that no officer found accepting bribes would be spared, asserting a zero-tolerance policy against corruption in the Union Territory. The warning comes days after the government attached a senior education officer in Baramulla district following complaints of corruption. If there is any information []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has set aside an order directing payment of interim compensation in a cheque dishonour case, ruling that such relief cannot be granted mechanically without proper judicial reasoning. The judgment was delivered by Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal in CRM(M) No. 185/2026, reserved on April 15 and pronounced []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police Headquarters has ordered the immediate transfer of four Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) in the interest of administration. According to Order No. 1404 of 2026 issued by DIG (Personnel) Mubassir Latifi, IPS, Tahir Amin Sheikh (PID No. KPS125759) has been transferred from DSP DAR Jammu to SDPO Domana. Dheeraj []

SRINAGAR: A woman was killed while a man sustained injuries when a car they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a deep nallah near Charar-i-Sharief in Central Kashmirs Budgam district on Sunday. An official said that the driver of the vehicle lost control near Zinpanchal which led to the ill-fated vehicle []

SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Leh on April 30 for a two-day trip, marking his first visit to Ladakh since widespread unrest last year over demands for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The visit comes at a politically significant time as local groups in Ladakh []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld the preventive detention of a Sopore resident under the Public Safety Act (PSA), dismissing a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention order. The judgment was delivered by Justice MA Chowdhary in HCP No. 228/2024, reserved on April 16, 2026, and pronounced on April 22, []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah participated in the TCS World 10K marathon in Bengaluru on Sunday, lauding the event for its world-class standards, strong enthusiasm, and large-scale participation. After completing the race, Abdullah praised the marathons organisation and vibrant atmosphere, describing it as a premier sporting event. He said he began the []

SRINAGAR: US President Donald Trump was evacuated after shots were fired during the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday night, causing panic inside the packed venue. President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President JD Vance were immediately escorted from the ballroom by tactical teams to a secure location. According []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has clarified the issue of trial jurisdiction in a 2016 Yaripora case, directing the Principal Sessions Judge, Kulgam, to proceed with the matter in accordance with law. The reference was made by the Principal Sessions Judge, Kulgam, seeking guidance after procedural disagreements arose between the Sessions []

by Shaista Amin Environmental history reveals how past human actions shaped todays climate crises, urging sustainable development by understanding landscapes as living archives of ecological memory and transformation. In an age defined by rising temperatures, erratic weather, and intensifying natural disasters, discussions about climate change often revolve around scientific data, technological innovation, and policy frameworks. []

SRINAGAR: Even as the snowbound Razdan Pass has emerged as an unexpected tourist destination, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has intensified snow clearance operations to restore traffic on the BandiporaGurez road, which remains closed due to heavy winter snowfall. An official said that the snow cutters have reached the upper reaches of Razdan Pass, situated []

SRINAGAR: In a remarkable display of surgical precision and critical care, doctors at the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Department of the Super Speciality Hospital, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, have successfully saved the life of a 47-year-old man who suffered devastating chest injuries in a recent bus accident in Ramnagar. The patient was brought to []

SRINAGAR: Amid mounting allegations of medical negligence at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo on Saturday termed the controversy a deliberate attempt to defame the government, while strongly condemning incidents of violence against healthcare workers. Speaking to reporters in Baramulla, Itoo said the government has significantly upgraded healthcare infrastructure across the region, []

SRINAGAR: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg on Saturday said all preparations have been put in place for a mega anti-drug rally scheduled to be held in Srinagar on May 3, 2026, under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan. He urged the people from all walks of life to participate in the movement against the []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commissioner (SEC) Shantmanu on Saturday said that final electoral rolls for the Union Territory are likely to be ready between May 10 and 15, with voter enrolment witnessing an improvement of around 45 per cent during the ongoing revision exercise. Speaking to the media in Budgam, Shantmanu said the []

SRINAGAR: United States President Donald Trump on Saturday cancelled a planned visit by a high-level American delegation to Islamabad for a second round of talks with Iran, dealing a setback to ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in West Asia. The delegation, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, was scheduled []

SRINAGAR: World Veterinary Day-2026 was celebrated at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir campus at Shuhama on Saturday, with emphasis on the role of veterinarians in safeguarding food systems and public health. Observed globally on the last Saturday of April, this years themeVeterinarians: Guardians of Food and Healthframed the day-long event []

SRINAGAR: The Chintan Shivir of Ministers of Youth Affairs and Sports from States and Union Territories began in Srinagar on Saturday, with discussions focused on strengthening Indias sports ecosystem through coordinated action, policy convergence, systemic reforms, and grassroots implementation. Inaugurating the deliberations, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya said Indias ambition to []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has integrated more than 17,500 migrant ration cards into the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database, while the process for integrating around 8,000 additional cards is currently underway, officials said on Saturday. The update was reviewed in a meeting chaired by Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation []

SRINAGAR: A motorcyclist was injured in a road accident on the SrinagarSonamarg Road in Kangan after his bike collided with a car, officials said. The injured rider has been identified as Muzafar Ahmad Sheikh, son of Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Lalbazar Srinagar. He was riding a motorcycle bearing registration number JK01AS-0984 when it []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday asserted that the administration will act firmly against drug networks while emphasising that the battle against substance abuse must be fought collectively by society. Addressing a gathering in Samba as part of the ongoing 100-day drug-free Jammu and Kashmir campaign, he said the initiative aims []

SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Saturday reviewed the progress of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting its strong performance with over 1.11 lakh units established, generating Rs 368 crore in revenue and creating more than 2.45 crore man-days of employment across the Union Territory. Dulloo chaired a review meeting []

SRINAGAR: Police in Srinagar district have attached immovable properties worth approximately Rs 3.5 crore linked to accused persons involved in a narcotics case registered under the NDPS Act. The action was carried out by Police Station Sangam under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act in connection with FIR No. 56/2025 registered under Sections 8/20 and []

Kashmir needs robust counselling systems to broaden career horizons, address unemployment, and unlock global opportunities. The sudden spotlight on a handful of Kashmiri seafarers, as global attention turned to the Strait of Hormuz, offered more than a fleeting human-interest story. It revealed a possibility long obscured by geography and mindset: that young men and women []

SRINAGAR: The Legal Metrology Department seized 39 underweight LPG cylinders belonging to Bharat Gas during an enforcement drive in the Bemina area on the outskirts of Srinagar, officials said. The cylinders were found to be short in weight, with discrepancies ranging from around 800 grams to one kilogram, according to a Legal Metrology official involved []

SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued a formal notification appointing Shantmanu (Retd) as the State Election Commissioner for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. According to the order released by the General Administration Department from the Civil Secretariat, the appointment has been made under Section 36A of the Jammu and Kashmir []

SRINAGAR: Police in Jammu apprehended a suspected drug peddler during naka checking near the Jammu Municipal Corporation gate, recovering a heroin-like substance from his possession. The accused, identified as Sunny, a resident of Mouli Complex, Mouli Majra, Chandigarh, presently staying at Malik Market Jammu, was intercepted while riding a scooty bearing registration number JK02CD/4577. Police []

SRINAGAR: Police on Saturday launched coordinated narco cordon-and-search operations (CASOs) at nearly 20 identified hotspot locations across Anantnag district, targeting networks involved in drug trafficking. Officials said that multiple police teams carried out searches at the residences of alleged drug kingpins as part of an intensified crackdown on narcotics. The operations were conducted with the []

SRINAGAR: Several legislators and deputations today called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here and apprised him of a range of issues concerning their respective constituencies, seeking timely intervention and resolution. MLA Ramnagar Sunil Bharadwaj, MLA Habbakadal Shamim Firdous, MLA Budhal Javaid Iqbal, MLA Kokernag Zaffar Ali Khatana, MLA Thanamandi Muzaffar Iqbal Khan and former minister []

SRINAGAR: Rescue teams on Friday continued an extensive search operation in river Jhelum to trace an 18-year-old youth who had jumped into the water from Budshah Bridge in Srinagars Lal Chowk area late Wednesday night, officials said. They said that in another incident, another man was rescued after a fresh jump attempt at the same []

SRINAGAR: A newborn baby has died at District Hospital (DH) Ganderbal due to alleged medical negligence, with the family demanding a thorough and transparent probe into the circumstances leading to the tragedy. According to the family from Gutlibagh, the expectant mother had been admitted to the hospital two days before the incident after her pregnancy []

SRINAGAR: The India Meteorological Department on Friday forecast partly to generally cloudy weather with spells of light rain and thundershowers across Kashmir over the next few days, while warning of heatwave conditions in parts of the Jammu region. According to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, scattered to many places are likely to receive light rain or []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has begun drafting rules for the implementation of The Jammu and Kashmir Private Universities Act, 2026. Sources said that the Government has initiated the exercise of framing rules under the law. Minister for Education Sakina Masood Ittoo said she has directed that the Rules be framed at the earliest. []

SRINAGAR: The Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today and held discussions on strengthening cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors. The meeting focused on expanding collaboration in areas such as horticulture and animal husbandry, with both sides exploring avenues for knowledge exchange, adoption of best practices, and capacity []

SRINAGAR: Intensifying its action against narcotics-linked assets, the district administration on Friday demolished residential properties belonging to two alleged drug peddlers on the outskirts of Jammu, officials said. Accompanied by heavy police deployment, bulldozers moved into Indira Nagar Colony in Miran Sahib and razed the houses linked to the accused individuals. Officials said the action []

SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has accorded sanction for the delegation of Drawing and Disbursing (D and D) powers in respect of six headless institutions and offices under the School Education Department, pending regular arrangements. According to Government Order No. 161-JK (Edu) of 2026 issued by the School Education Department on April 23, []

SRINAGAR: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday stressed that nations which uphold the dignity of their workforce are best positioned for sustained progress, asserting that worker welfare must remain central to governance. Mandaviya, who holds the portfolios of Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, inaugurated a 30-bed hospital of the Employees State Insurance []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has issued a notification regarding the submission schedule for online permission-cum-examination forms for Class 10 and 12 Annual (Private)/Bi-Annual 2026 session across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, covering both winter and summer zone areas. As per the notification, re-appear and failure candidates of Class 10 []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has exposed another major land scam involving Custodian land in Jammu district, officials said here on Friday. In a statement, a spokesperson said the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau again achieved a major success in extracting one of the major land scams in Jammu and Kashmir, wherein []