Kashmir Reader

NEW DELHI: Dismayed over ongoing tussle between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission, the Supreme Court on Friday issued an extraordinary direction to deploy serving and former district judges to assist the poll panel in the controversy-ridden special intensive revision of electoral rolls in the state. Ruing the unfortunate blame game and the []

Srinagar: Authorities on Friday cracked down on unlabelled honey in HMT Srinagar, seizing 725 kg of the product that lacked essential details such as expiry dates and manufacturer information, officials said. The Drugs and Food Control Organization (DFCO) warned that selling unlabelled food is illegal and poses serious health risks, signaling zero tolerance for []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday told the J&K Legislative Assembly that the Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar issued the order regarding charity collections at the insistence of religious leaders and not on his own. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, the CM, said that he had inquired into the matter after allegations surfaced that the []

Srinagar: The government on Friday informed the House that 65 Water Supply Schemes have been sanctioned for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under AMRUT 2.0, including one scheme for the Sopore constituency. In response to a query by MLA Irshad Rasool Kar, the Chief Minister, who is also the Minister in charge, []

Srinagar: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday informed the House that 44,301 beneficiaries have been covered under the Marriage Assistance Scheme during the current financial year 2025-26 (as on date), with Rs 234 crore disbursed so far, while under the Ladli Beti Scheme, 1,98,024 cumulative beneficiaries have been sanctioned, with Rs 300 crore []

Jammu: The Government on Friday informed the House that the proposal for enhancement of stipend for MBBS/BDS interns is presently under examination in the Finance Department. Replying to a question tabled by MLA Hasnain Masoodi, the Health & Medical Education Department, said that a committee constituted vide Government Order No. 538-JK(HME) of 2023 had recommended []

Srinagar: The Government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that over 1.62 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir so far in 2025, with the administration pursuing a structured roadmap for the sustained revival and growth of the tourism sector. Replying to a question tabled by MLA Javid Hassan Baig regarding tourist footfall, the Tourism []

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: The US will strengthen the United Nations, make it viable and help it money-wise, President Donald Trump said Thursday, as he asserted that his Board of Peace will be looking over the global organisation, making sure it runs properly. Trump made the remarks in his address to the inaugural meeting of the Board []

BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Cricket Association on Thursday confirmed that the upcoming Ranji Trophy final between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir will be played at Hubballi, a decision the officials took to further speed up the ongoing safety enhancement works at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Ranji Trophy final will start from February 24 and []

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for global collaboration to turn the disruption brought about by artificial intelligence into humankinds greatest opportunity. Speaking at the Leaders Plenary Session of India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, PM Modi said humans have transformed every disruption into an opportunity if []

NEW DELHI: Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, on Thursday hailed the rapid advancements witnessed in India in the field of AI, stating that the South Asian country is well-positioned to lead in artificial intelligence. Delivering his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Altman said he was amazed to witness the []

JAMMU: Adequate compensation or ex-gratia relief is provided in cases of human injury or loss of life under the prevailing policy framework on humanwildlife conflict in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. This was stated by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, while replying to a []

JAMMU: As many as, 13 land patches comprising 4142. 43 kanal of land have been transferred to the Industries and Commerce department for establishment of Industrial Estates in Anantnag district. This was informed by the Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary while replying to a question raised by Legislator Abdul Majeed Bhat in the Legislative Assembly. []

JAMMU: Minister for Health & Medical Education Sakeena Itoo on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that NTPHC Haripora is already functioning in a three-room government building of Health Department. She was replying to a question raised by MLA Kangan Mian Mehar Ali during the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget Session. The Minister informed the []

JAMMU: Minister for Cooperatives, Javid Ahmad Dar, today informed the House that the J&K State Co-operative Agriculture & Rural Development Bank Ltd. (J&K SCARD Bank), established in 1962 under the Jammu and Kashmir Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, is not registered under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and therefore does not fall under the purview of []

Minister for Social Welfare Sakeena Itoo on Thursday informed the House that 28,186 Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) are currently operational in Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister stated this in reply to a question raised by Legislator Arjun Singh Raju regarding Anganwadi Centers in the Legislative Assembly. The Minister informed the House that 26,937 AWCs are operating []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday announced that all tourist destinations closed in the aftermath of the Baisaran Pahalgam terror incident will be reopened by May this year. Winding up the discussion on grants for the departments under his charge, CM Omar Abdullah, said that all tourist destinations shut down after the Pahalgam []

JAMMU:The speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has admitted a private members resolution moved by PDP MLA Waheed-Ur-Rehman Parra, strongly condemning hate crimes against minorities and calling for strict enforcement of law. The PDP legislator from Pulwama moved the resolution amid growing incidents of targeted attacks and harassment of Kashmiri students and traders in different []

Jammu: Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Thursday said the police verification process has become a sword hanging over the necks of Kashmiri youth. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly during the Grants of Departments headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lone termed the verification process collective punishment. If a single person in your []

Jammu: Two Congress MLAs on Thursday demanded the withdrawal of the order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, regulating the collection of donations in the mountainous district during the holy month of Ramadhan. The issue was raised in the House by MLA Bandipora, Nizamuddin Bhat, during the discussion on grants of departments headed by Chief []

Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir Government has revealed that its prized properties in New Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh are not in its hands-but under occupation. The revelation has raised questions over how assets of such huge financial value slipped out of the states control. In a written reply to cut motion of Peoples Conference []

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday informed the House that reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) is envisaged under the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024, recently enacted by Parliament. Replying to a question by MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma, the government, said the []

Srinagar: The Government on Thursday informed the legeslative assembly that the Northern Railway is undertaking final location surveys for four new railway lines in Kashmir Valley, while assuring that landowners will be duly compensated as per law once the projects are sanctioned. Replying to an Assembly question tabled by MLA Javid Hassan Baig regarding railway []

NEW DELHI: A man from Jammu and Kashmir was apprehended by Delhi Police near Red Fort for allegedly posing as an officer of a central agency and cheating economically vulnerable families on the pretext of providing jobs, an official said on Thursday. The accused, identified as Mudassar, a resident of Pulwama, was intercepted during patrolling []

COLOMBO: Opener Sahibzada Farhan smashed an unbeaten hundred before Usman Tariq snared four wickets as Pakistan defeated Namibia by 102 runs in their must-win Group A match to book their place in the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday. Farhan blasted 11 fours and four sixes on way to an unbeaten []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday congratulated the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team for its remarkable achievement in the Ranji Trophy, praising the players, coaches and support staff for their collective effort and dedication. The J&K team scripted history by defeating Bengal by six wickets in their maiden Ranji Trophy semifinal appearance, registering a []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday moved 13 Demands and 19 supplementary Demands in the Legislative Assembly which was subsequently presented before the House for discussion by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather. I move that a sum not exceeding the aggregate amount mentioned in Demand Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 19, []

Total expenditure for temple complex will be borne by SMVDSB Katra: Marking a historic milestone, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone on Wednesday for the much-anticipated Sri Shankaracharya Temple. Perched on hillocks beside the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, this project takes root after decades, realizing a vision first envisioned in the []

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K is conducting searches in the districts of Shopian and Budgam in connection with case FIR No. 30/2025, registered under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act at Police Station EOW Kashmir, Crime Branch J&K. The matter came to light []

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday was adjourned after witnessing noisy scenes as BJP MLAs protested the alleged police use of force against students who were demanding the establishment of a National Law University (NLU) in Jammu. The uproar erupted when the House was discussing grants related to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. BJP []

Unveils landmark academic calendar for transformative school reforms Srinagar: In a landmark initiative aimed at transforming the academic landscape of the Kashmir Division, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has officially declared the year 2026 as the Year of Academic Excellence. The announcement was made by Mr. Naseer Ahmad Wani (JKAS), Director School Education []

LUCKNOW: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday took a swipe at the US and China, alleging that they tend to finish those who come in their way and asserting that India has the solutions to many of the challenges confronting the world. Addressing a Shodharthi Samvad programme at the Malaviya Auditorium of []

Katra: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday assured that the ongoing ropeway project and related infrastructure developments in Katra will not affect the livelihoods of local residents. Speaking during the foundationlaying ceremony of the Shankaracharya Temple, LG Sinha, lsaid the Shrine Board has taken full responsibility to construct a clean and []

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held separate meetings with President of Spain Pedro Snchez and Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo, and said the India-EU Free Trade Agreement has ushered in a golden era in India-Europe relations. Modi said he had a productive meeting with President Pedro Snchez and discussed []

Jammu: Jammu & Kashmir Government on Wednesday ruled out any proposal to revive the old pension scheme (OPS) for government employees. Responding to a cut motion of Peoples Conference MLA Sajad Gani Lone, the Finance Minister, in a written reply, said that there is no proposal to revive the old pension scheme, stating that []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday extended their congratulations to the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team for reaching the Ranji Trophy final for the first time, terming the achievement a landmark moment in the Union Territorys sporting history. The Lieutenant Governor, in a message, shared on X, lauded the []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir scripted the biggest moment in their cricketing history by qualifying for the Ranji Trophy final for the first time, defeating Bengal by six wickets in a sensational semifinal victory at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground on Wednesday. The historic win, was powered by a fiery pace bowling display from Auqib []

Srinagar: The Government on Wednesday informed the House that tenders for the proposed Mughal Road Tunnel (Pir-ki-Gali Tunnel) will be invited only after approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and requisite statutory clearances. Replying to a question raised by MLA Ch. Mohammad Akram regarding the construction of the Mughal Road Tunnel project, the []

Srinagar: The proposal for construction of a new bridge near Convent School and General Post Office (GPO) in Srinagar is presently under examination with the Public Works (R&B) Department, the government informed the House here on Wednesday. Replying to a question raised by MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed regarding the status []

Srinagar:The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K said that it is conducting searches in the districts of Shopian and Budgam in connection with case FIR No. 30/2025, registered under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act at Police Station EOW Kashmir, Crime Branch J&K. []

NEW YORK: The Trump family company has filed to trademark the use of the presidents name on airports but says it doesnt plan on charging a fee at least for a proposed renaming of one near his Florida home. Applications filed by the Trump Organization with the federal trademark office are seeking []

Calls for proactive measures to ensure uninterrupted essential services for smooth observance of holy month SRINAGAR: In connection with forthcoming Holy month of Ramzaan ul Mubarak, Deputy Commissioner(DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo on Tuesday chaired a comprehensive meeting of District and Sectoral Officers here at Meeting Hall of DC Office Complex to review preparedness and finalize []

Range level training on Field Intelligence and Inter-Agency Coordination concludes in Baramulla BARAMULLA: The two-day Range Level Training Programme on Field Intelligence and Inter-Agency Coordination concluded on Tuesday at District Police Lines (DPL), Baramulla. The programme, inaugurated on 16th February, 2026 by DIG North Kashmir Range Maqsood-ul-Zaman (IPS) was attended by SSP District Baramulla Gurinderpal []

SRINAGAR: On the arrival of the sacred month of Ramazan, a meeting of the office bearers and members of Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar was held at the Auqaf headquarters under the chairmanship of its President Mirwaiz Dr. Molvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, to review arrangements for the holy month at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar. []

JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday interacted with the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) Probationers at Lok Bhavan. During the interaction, the Lieutenant Governor encouraged the young IDES officials to uphold the highest standards of public service and institutional integrity in their future assignments, contributing effectively to Defence land administration and governance. Ms Sonam []

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday paid high tributes to former Minister Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah and Former MLC Brij Mohan Sharma on their demise. While reading out the obituary references for the deceased public leaders, Speaker Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather termed Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah as an able administrator with []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Forests, Ecology & Environment, Javed Ahmad Rana, on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the government of Jammu and Kashmir is implementing multiple UT and Centrally Sponsored Schemes aimed at conservation, preservation and sustainable management of forests, wildlife and ecology across J&K. Replying to a question raised by Legislator Rajiv Jasrotia, the []

AWANTIPORA: The Department of Zoology, IUST, convened its first Board of Studies meeting with the objective of reviewing and strengthening the academic curriculum in line with emerging educational reforms and national priorities. The meeting was chaired by Dean, School of Sciences, Dr. Farooq Hussain Bhat. Head, Department of Zoology, Prof. Mohammad Farooq Mir, presented the []

SHOPIAN: The scenic locale of Dubjan in Shopian on Tuesday came alive with colour, culture and enthusiasm as Winter CarnivalII 2026 was organised and celebrated with great fervour by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with District Administration Shopian. The event was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shopian, Shishir Gupta in presence of district administration []

Experts deliberate on funding support, PPDC facilitation, startup ecosystem and GeM procurement process SRINAGAR: The Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, in collaboration with Greenovator Incubation Foundation (GIF)NIT Srinagar, organized a One-Day Workshop on the MSME Design Scheme at the Common Hall of the institute. The workshop was sponsored by the []