KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: The Government on Tuesday informed the House that over 17.27 lakh kanals of state land have been encroached across Jammu and Kashmir, of which over 14.29 lakh kanals have been retrieved so far. Replying to a question tabled by MLA Sham Lal Sharma regarding the status of encroached and retrieved state land, the Revenue []

SRINAGAR: The Government on Tuesday clarified that there is no proposal at present for creation of a Tourism Development Authority for Kupwara district, though it would be considered if a formal proposal is submitted. Minister for Tourism Javid Dar made the statement while responding to a question raised by legislator Mir Saifullah in the Assembly. []

SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday informed the House that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Sadhna Tunnel in the Karnah area of Kupwara district is currently in progress. Responding to a question by MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone regarding the status of the Sadhna Tunnel and the proposed tunnel linking []

SRINAGAR: MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad on Tuesday raised the issue of remarks made by BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa, who had alleged that Kashmiris have occupied 9 land of Jammu Development Authority (JDA). As soon as the House assembled, Khursheed stood up and drew the attention of the Chair towards Randhawas remarks. The Speaker asked []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has identified 40 kanals of land at Seer Jagir in Sopore for the construction of a new court complex, officials said on Tuesday. Replying to a question by legislator Irshad Rasool Kar in the ongoing budget session of the Legislative Assembly, the government said the matter regarding transfer of []

SRINAGAR: Police in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir arrested a woman on Tuesday for drug peddling and recovered 6.40 grams of a heroin-like substance, commonly known as chitta, from her possession in the Vijaypur area of the district. Officials said the arrest was made during routine naka checking at Rakh Barotain road near the []

In Jammu and Kashmir, daily wagers insecurity, stalled regularisation, skewed reservations, 77,099 vacancies and rising unemployment deepen youth despair, even as credit schemes like Mission YUVA offer limited relief, reports Babra Wani In the not-so-distant past, Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of a South Kashmir village, was attending to urgent work at a local hospital in []

SRINAGAR: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Israel next week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced while addressing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations. Netanyahu described the India-Israel relationship as a tremendous alliance and said the leaders will discuss multiple areas of cooperation. This will be Modis second visit []

by Shabeer Ahmad Lone Across philosophy, mysticism, and literature, true transcendence must remain grounded in ethical responsibility, social engagement, and lived reality, where insight transforms individuals and society Transcendence, the pursuit of higher truth, profound insight, or spiritual and intellectual elevation and liberation, is most powerful when it confronts and is rooted in reality, tested []

SRINAGAR: In a major infrastructural milestone for south Kashmir, the long-pending NH-444 link road connecting Bonura to Gudoora in Pulwama district was opened for traffic on Monday. The opening of the highway will bring much-needed relief to thousands of daily commuters and would significantly reduce congestion in Pulwama town. The newly operational stretch connects several []

SRINAGAR: Sopore in north Kashmir gets its own drug de-addiction centre, with officials saying the facility will strengthen the subdivisions response to substance abuse and expand access to treatment facilities. The facility was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Minga Sherpa, who said the centre was sanctioned earlier and completed in record time by the Rural []

SRINAGAR: Colleges in Kashmir valley on Monday resumed activities following a 52 days of winter vacations. The Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department on December-23-2025 had announced 52-days winter vacation for degree colleges falling in the winter zones of Kashmir division. The government had said that the degree colleges in the Kashmir Division and those []

SRINAGAR: The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, located in the foothills of Zabarwan, is likely to be opened around March 15, subject to favourable weather conditions, officials said. The officials at Asias largest tulip garden said the preparations are in the final phase, adding that the wait is only for the weather. Imran Ahmad, Assistant []

SRINAGAR: Ahead of holy month Ramadhan, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is likely to witness power deficiency of 34 percent during the peak demand in the month of February and March respectively. The official figures revealed by Northern Region Power Committee (NRPC) have projected power deficiency of 34 percent during the peak time in these []

SRINAGAR: The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has announced that the sighting of the crescent moon for Ramadan 2026 is scheduled for Tuesday. The court urged Muslims across the country to attempt to sight the moon and report their observations to the nearest court, whether seen with the naked eye or using binoculars. Astronomical calculations []

SRINAGAR: The new multi-storeyed Modern Assembly Complex in Jammu is expected to be operational by October 2027, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said on Monday. Choudhary made the announcement while inspecting the ongoing construction works, reviewing progress, and assessing the quality of execution. He directed officers and contractors to expedite remaining works, emphasising strict adherence []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has reconstituted its Court Management Systems Committee following directions from the National Court Management Systems Committee of the Supreme Court of India. An order issued by the Registrar Generals office in Jammu on February 16, 2026, states that the new committee supersedes the previous High []

SRINAGAR: The India AI Impact Summit 2026 commenced at Bharat Mandapam on Monday, marking the first time that a global convening of this scale on artificial intelligence is being organised in the Global South. The five-day summit, from February 16 to 20, is bringing together Heads of State and Government, ministers, global technology leaders, researchers, []

SRINAGAR: Three persons, including two minors, were injured in a road traffic accident at Awantipora on Monday. Officials said that among the three, a middle-aged man sustained multiple injuries, while the two minors suffered head and other injuries. The injured were initially taken to PHC Awantipora and later referred to SMHS Hospital due to the []

SRINAGAR: The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Pulwama on Monday acquitted an accused in a 19-year-old murder case, observing that the prosecution had failed to establish his involvement in the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The case dates back to August 28, 2007, when Police Choki Keller recovered the body of Mohammad Yousuf Kalas, son []

SRINAGAR: The University of Kashmir has made it mandatory for all teaching and non-teaching employees to obtain prior written approval from the competent authority before applying for any post outside the University. According to a circular issued by the Administration Teaching Section, it has been observed that employees have been submitting applications for external posts []

SRINAGAR: Season 2 of the Big Cricket League will be held from March 11 to 22, 2026 at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium, organisers announced on Monday, with international cricketers set to compete alongside amateur Indian players in the Pro-Am tournament. The event, to be staged in Greater Noida, will follow a player auction []

SRINAGAR:As part of move aimed at reviving tourism and reinforcing public confidence, the administration on Monday announced the reopening of 14 tourist destinations across the Kashmir and Jammu divisions following a comprehensive security review. According to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, a post from his office on X stated that the tourist sites, []

SRINAGAR: The dialogue between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Ladakhs two apex political bodies, the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, has once again reached an impasse with both sides holding firm to their respective positions on Statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Sources familiar with the February 4 meeting of the []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday said it has uncovered a large transnational online investment racket in central Kashmir involving transactions worth Rs 209 crore, with an MBBS doctor from Haryana and eight others from different parts of Kashmir arrested. The case was registered at Police Station Ganderbal after a Safapora resident alleged identity []

SRINAGAR: A 10-year-old girl lost her life while her mother sustained critical injuries after they were allegedly hit by a motorcycle in the Chadoora area of Budgam district on Monday, officials said. An official said that the mother and daughter were struck by a motorcycle in Chadoora area of Budgam. He said, both were immediately []

SRINAGAR: In a major setback to teacher education in Jammu and Kashmir, around 75 Bachelor of Education (BEd) colleges across the Union Territory have been derecognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) for failing to meet mandatory academic and infrastructural requirements. Officials said the action follows the implementation of NCTE guidelines, notified in []

SRINAGAR: More than 80 per cent of lecturer posts sanctioned for teaching Kashmiri in schools across the Valley are lying vacant, the government informed the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, years after the language was introduced as a subject in government institutions. In a written reply to a question by Srinagar legislator Mubarak Gul, the School []

JAMMU KASHMIR Fresh data tabled in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly points to a stark regional disparity in the distribution of reservation certificates, with Jammu accounting for nearly 86 per cent of the 11.81 lakh certificates issued across seven categories, compared to just 14 per cent in Kashmir. The skew is most visible in Scheduled []

by Dr Sheikh Umar Ahmad Indias rural health gaps demand regulated Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners to expand access to primary care, reduce inequities, and strengthen frontline services nationwide. Indias healthcare story is a tale of two nations. In metros, patients can walk into a speciality clinic, get diagnostics the same day, and see a []

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended two service-providing companies for failing to fulfil their contractual obligations, particularly regarding the provision of approved accommodation for pilgrims, according to Khaleej Times. The violations came to light after several pilgrims arriving from Egypt were not provided with their booked lodging, despite these services being explicitly []

SRINAGAR: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman will be sworn in as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday, February 17, following his partys landslide victory in the countrys first general election since the 2024 uprising. India has announced that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent New Delhi at the inauguration ceremony in Dhaka. []

SRINAGAR: A man was killed after his vehicle met with an accident in the Mandi area of Chikrara in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Officials said that a Maruti Wagnor bearing registration number JK12B-6143 lost control near Chikrara, resulting in an accident. In the incident, the driver of the vehicle, Mohd Zubair, []

SRINAGAR: India cricket team defeated Pakistan cricket team by 61 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium to secure a place in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026. The loss dropped Pakistan to third place in Group A, behind the USA, on net run rate. Chasing 176, Pakistan collapsed to []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday called upon citizens to harness their collective power for societal transformation and to chart a path for a prosperous India that inspires the world. He was speaking at a commemorative event marking the 508th Sant Kabir Nirvan Diwas, organised by the Shiromani Sant Kabir Bhavan at Chak Avtara []

SRINAGAR: Herath, the Kashmiri version of Mahashivratri, was celebrated with religious devotion and cultural vibrancy by the Kashmiri Pandit community in the Valley and across the country, as the Jammu and Kashmir government declared a holiday for Pandits and legislators during the ongoing Budget session of the Assembly in Jammu. The holiday for the Legislative []

SRINAGAR: The Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday called on authorities to protect the academic autonomy of private institutions, warning that regulatory delays and inconsistent directives could disrupt the academic calendar across Jammu and Kashmir. At a meeting chaired by its president, Baba Nazur-ul-Islam, the Association expressed concern that the Apex Committee []

by Iqbal Ahmad For centuries, Kashmirs ancient past remained fragmented. Modern archaeological and numismatic research has reconstructed the regions Greek, Scythian and Parthian connections, reshaping understanding of north-west Indias early history. There were several significant chapters of ancient Indian history which, till late, were almost in shambles, and no systematic account was available to understand []

SRINAGAR: The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast largely dry weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir till February 24, with no major spell of rain or snowfall expected during this period. According to the MeT office, weather is expected to remain generally dry on February 15 and 16 across most parts of the Union Territory. However, []

SRINAGAR: In a major administrative reshuffle, the government of Delhi on Saturday ordered the transfer of 72 officers, including six IAS officers of the AGMUT cadre from Jammu and Kashmir, entrusting them with significant portfolios. According to the orders issued by LG Delhi, Bipul Pathak (1992 batch) will continue as Additional Chief Secretary, Social Welfare, []

SRINAGAR: More than 21.56 lakh cases under the Motor Vehicles Act were taken up in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three years through National Lok Adalats and other judicial services mechanisms, with 18.31 lakh cases disposed of and total settlements amounting to Rs 806.16 crore, according to official data tabled in Lok Sabha. The []

SRINAGAR: Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladeshs incoming prime minister, Tarique Rahman, in Dhaka on 17 February, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday. Bangladesh had extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ceremony, officials said. Rahmans Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a decisive victory in the []

SRINAGAR: Police in Budgam district of central Kashmir have arrested a man and seized 31.93 grams of a charas-like substance during a checkpoint operation, officials said. A team from Jammu and Kashmir Police at Police Station Budgam intercepted the suspect at Bathar crossing near the Railway Footbridge. He was identified as Rayees Ahmad Mir, a []

SRINAGAR: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir confiscated 7,665 kg of adulterated cheese across the Union Territory in 2025, with an estimated worth of Rs 16.32 lakh, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo informed the Legislative Assembly. Laboratory tests found 47 cheese samples to be substandard and one sample unsafe. The Food Safety Department has initiated action against []

SRINAGAR: A 12-year-old boy lost his life in a tragic road accident at Rain Chowgund area of Verinag in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Sunday. Officials said that a Tata Mobile bearing registration number JK03N-3472, hit the minor boy identified as Numan Khursheed Itoo, son of Khursheed Ahmad Itoo of Chowgund Verinag. The injured boy []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir provides an additional honorarium of Rs 600 per month to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), one of the lowest top-ups in the country, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Friday, even as the Union Government reiterated that frontline workers such as ASHAs and Anganwadi staff are honorary community volunteers and []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir had 4,568 undertrial prisoners lodged in its jails as on December 31, 2023, of whom 3,667 had been in custody for up to three years, 626 for a period between three and five years, and 275 for more than five years, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. Replying to a []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that the fisheries sector has recorded a fish production of 29.40 thousand metric tonnes during 2024-25, with an additional 20.68 thousand metric tonnes produced up to November 2025. The government said that trout farming has made a significant contribution to the overall output, reflecting steady growth in []

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Railways has no fixed timeline to extend railway connectivity to the Chenab Valley, including Doda, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah and Padder, and to the Pir Panjal region, Parliament was informed in response to a question by Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo. Replying in the Rajya Sabha on 13 February 2026, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said []

SRINAGAR: The estimated incidence of cervical cancer in Jammu and Kashmir has shown a marginal increase over the five-year period from 2021 to 2025, while Ladakh has recorded a stable and minimal caseload, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed the Lok Sabha on Friday. In a written reply to a Question No. []