Kashmir Reader

Gives govt two months for corrective measures Jammu: Speaker Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, on Saturday directed the government to take the corrective measures to maintain the dignity, privilege and protocol of the Members of Legislative Assembly. He gave these directions while concluding the Short Duration Discussion on the last day of []

Jammu: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary and Legislators on Saturday commended the Speaker Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, for smooth and efficient conduct of the Budget Session- 2026. The Deputy Chief Minister praised the Speakers experience and leadership, noting that despite the usual challenges and differing viewpoints, the proceedings were conducted in an orderly and []

CM Omar congratulates Edu Min, stakeholders Jammu: The House on Saturday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Private Universities Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bll No. 08 of 2026) on establishment and incorporation of private universities in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bill moved by Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo read, A Bill to provide for the establishment and []

Srinagar: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Saturday reviewed the security and operational preparedness along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir. Gen. Chauhan visited the strategically-important areas under the Armys Chinar Corps unit, a defence spokesperson said. During the visit, the CDS reviewed the security landscape and operational posture along []

Jammu: J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Saturday said that while militancy must be firmly dealt with, care should be taken that innocent people are not harmed, asserting that any such incidents warrant a proper inquiry. The deputy chief minister was reacting to the probe ordered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha into the []

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Saturday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Jan Vishwas Second (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 07 of 2026). The Bill was moved for consideration and passing by Minister for Agriculture Javid Ahmed Dar on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. While moving the motion, the []

Jammu: National Conference and Congress MLAs on Monday demanded a judicial enquiry into the Ganderbal encounter, alleging that an innocent person was killed in a staged gunfight. Raising the issue before the beginning of Question Hour, NC legislators stood up, alleging that an innocent has been killed in staged gunfight in Ganderbal. It shouldnt []

MALAPPURAM (KERALA): A person has been taken into custody after Congress MP Shashi Tharoors gunman and driver were allegedly attacked by a five-member group at Wandoor here, police said on Saturday. According to Wandoor Police, a case has been registered, and one person is currently in custody. Police said the case was registered based on []

WASHINGTON: Iran shot down two US military planes in separate attacks Friday, with one service member rescued and at least one missing, in a dramatic escalation since the war began nearly five weeks ago. It was the first time US aircraft have been downed in the conflict and came just two days after President Donald []

Srinagar: Political parties in Kashmir on Friday welcomed the magisterial probe into the Ganderbal encounter, and expressed hope that a transparent inquiry will be conducted into the incident and justice will prevail. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a magisterial probe into the encounter in Ganderbal district in which one alleged []

Srinagar: Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have informed today that the supply of petroleum products and LPG remains stable and adequate to meet the current demand across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. According to Shri Himanshu Sharma, State Level Coordinator for Oil Industry, J&K, the stock position of Motor Spirit (MS) and High-Speed Diesel []

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmirs Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth moderated to 11.18 per cent in 2024-25, down from 12.51 per cent in the previous financial year, though it has remained in the 11-12 per cent range over the past four fiscals, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The CAG report on Union []

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government failed to submit utilisation certificates for grants exceeding Rs 12,000 crore received from the Centre until March 2024, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has said. The apex auditing body said non-submission of utilisation certificates (UCs) implies that authorities have not accounted for how the funds were utilised []

Jammu: Over 18 lakh kanals of land are encroached across Jammu and Kashmir, with only 29,000 kanals retrieved so far from squatters, official data said. As per official data, a total of 18,38,735.42 kanals of land have been encroached upon, including 17,22,993 kanals of state land and 1,15,742.42 kanals of forest land. The data said []

Attends 8th Ayodhya Parv at New Delhi Jammu: Ayodhya is the cradle of civilisation and eternal fountainhead of consciousness. When we invoke Ayodhya, we summon that very consciousness which is Prabhu Shri Rams benediction and which has given meaning to human civilisation, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Friday. He highlighted the significance of internalising []

Srinagar: Around 1,436 kilometres of National Highways have been constructed in Jammu and Kashmir since 201819, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha. According to official data, the Union Territory witnessed fluctuating highway construction over the years, with 95 km built in 201819, 46 km in 201920, 234 km in 202021, 263 km in 202122, 217 []

Srinagar The Government of India said that over 3.07 lakh drinking water samples were tested in laboratories across Jammu and Kashmir during the current financial year 2025-26 (till March 31). Replying to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Jal Shakti said that under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), water quality testing is []

Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Jammu & Kashmir on Friday said it has filed a chargesheet against a Naib Tehsildar and a Patwari from Uri in Baramulla district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe to provide revenue documents. Officials said one of the accused was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 50,000 during []

Srinagar:Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, while speaking at the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid Srinagar, said: After a long time, I stand before you at Jama Masjid. Access to this central place of worship for the Muslims of Kashmir is repeatedly curtailed at the will of authorities. Eid prayer was denied, as were many []

Srinagar: Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered a thorough and impartial magisterial probe into the killing of an alleged terrorist in an encounter in the Arhama area of central Kashmirs Ganderbal district. In a post on X, office of LG,informed that he has ordered a thorough and impartial magisterial inquiry []

Srinagar 3 April 2026: In a landmark development, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Srinagar has dismissed a petition seeking quashing of FIR No. 40/2025, registered at Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station, and directed the police to proceed with the investigation without delay and present the challan before the competent court. []

Over 350 players from 13 districts showcase talent at Srinagar event under My Youth My Pride initiative SRINAGAR: The 5th Jammu & Kashmir UT-Level Carrom Championship 202526 concluded successfully on Thursday at the Sher-i-Kashmir Indoor Sports Complex, Wazirbagh, after three days of competitive play and enthusiastic participation. The championship was organized by the Jammu & []

NEW DELHI: IPL founder Lalit Modi stirred debate on social media after taking an apparent dig at franchise owners, following a viral on-field exchange involving Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka during IPL 2026 clash between LSG and DC. LSG suffered a disappointing six-wicket defeat at home, a result that not only exposed concerns []

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahmans sudden ouster from Kolkata Knight Riders has been termed unfortunate by IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal. Mustafizur, who was bought for Rs 9.5 crore ahead of the 2026 season, was released following instructions from the BCCI, sparking backlash and wider controversy. I would only say it was unfortunate. Beyond []

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday reiterated strict restrictions on the broadcast and display of election-related content during the silence period, along with a ban on exit polls for the 2026 Assembly elections and associated bye-elections, cautioning that violations would invite legal action. The Commission had on March 15 announced the []

NEW DELHI: India has secured the best trade deal with the United States among competing economies and is pushing for preferential market access under the agreement, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. Preferential market access allows reduced or no tariffs on certain products. Speaking to reporters after the recent World Trade []

Attacks Congress for years of neglect NAGAON (ASSAM): With the Assam Assembly elections drawing closer, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing it of neglecting the state during its years in power and challenging Rahul Gandhi to account for its record. Addressing a rally in Nagaon, Shah []

NEW DELHI: In a decisive step to resolve a prolonged issue, Parliament on Thursday approved the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, officially declaring Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. The Rajya Sabhas approval came a day after the Lok Sabha cleared the legislation, ending years of ambiguity over the states capital. The []

Budget Session-2026Calling Attention Motion Says govt vows to balance growth with environmental protection JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Thursday informed that 527 stone crusher units are operational in Jammu and Kashmir following due process, with development works unaffected by the non-functional units. The Deputy Chief Minister stated this while replying to a Calling []

Says new portal fully functional; receives 11 applications JAMMU: The government on Thursday informed that significant governance reforms with automated scrutiny and end-to-end digital processing has been embraced by the Housing and Urban Development department (HUDD) under Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) and Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) for seamless submission of building permission applications. []

JAMMU: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Thursday said that the Cancer institutes and Oncology departments in Jammu and Kashmir are functioning as Day Care Centres exclusively for the administration of chemotherapy for solid tumours and these services are being provided strictly in accordance with the mandatory guidelines issued by Tata Memorial []

Says no immediate shortage of essentials in J&K Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the developments at the international level remain beyond the control of both the Union government and the people, asserting that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir will largely mirror the broader national scenario. He said the Union territory is []

Thiruvananthapuram: If Indias neighbour thinks it can make the most of the unrest in West Asia and commit any misadventures, it will attract an unprecedented and decisive reaction, warned Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday. He was reportedly speaking at a Sainik Samman Sammelan in poll-bound Kerala. While Indias Raksha Mantri did not name or []

LG nod to 3 bills Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday introduced two bills in the legislative assembly aimed at decriminalising certain offences to ease doing business and establishing private universities in the Union Territory. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah introduced a Bill to amend certain enactments, decriminalising and rationalising offences for ease of []

Reiterates J&Ks 20% power share; compensation, employment for Ranjit Sagar Dam-affected families Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday asserted that the 1979 agreement between the Governments of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab is a sovereign commitment that must be honoured in letter and spirit. The Chief Minister made these remarks on the floor of []

Srinagar: The police control room Kashmir on Thursday got the PHQ Budget Allocation Software (PBAS) aimed at strengthening financial transparency and accountability. In a significant step towards strengthening financial transparency, accountability, and efficiency, Ajay Shanker Singh, ICAS, Principal Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA), Ministry of Home Affairs, inaugurated the PHQ Budget Allocation Software (PBAS) at []

Srinagar: The killing of a 29-year-old man in an alleged encounter with the Army in Ganderbal has led to concern in several quarters, including from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who asked for a transparent and time bound probe. A day after the Army claimed to have killed a local terrorist during an []

Transfers top IPS officers across key posts Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday ordered a major reshuffle in the police leadership, transferring and posting several senior IPS officers across crucial positions, including CID, Crime, Traffic and range commands, with immediate effect. According to the order issued by the Home Department of Jammu and []

April 21 time-line fixed for uploading of works on BEAMS portal Govt to authorize funds early this year for projects, dev works under CAPEX DCs directed to finalise, upload district plans in consultation with MLAs Jammu: The Jammu & Kashmir Government has issued detailed guidelines and conveyed Capital Expenditure (Capex) ceilings to []

Member withdraws bill after assurance Jammu: Reaffirming its commitment to regularisation of daily wagers in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the process will be initiated in a phased manner during the current financial year. He made these remarks while responding to a bill moved by MLA []

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday asserted that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure protection of the properties and religious shrines of displaced Kashmiri Pandits until their safe and dignified return to the valley. Opposing a private members bill tabled by National Conference legislator Arjun Singh Raju in []

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that the Tourism Department is taking steps to strengthen training, registration and regulatory mechanisms for tourism stakeholders to ensure safety, quality and responsible tourism practices across Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq during the Question Hour []

Chairs meeting with DCs, SSPs Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday directed for adopting a Zero Tolerance Policy against the drug menace in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. He was chairing a high-level meeting with Deputy Commissioners, SSPs and senior officials of the Civil and Police administration at Lok Bhavan, Jammu. The Lieutenant []

Highlights efforts to improve infrastructure, edu, livelihood opportunities Jammu: Border villages are Indias first line of defence, and the residents are the first face of India that any outsider sees. Border residents are not only first in courage, sacrifice, and patience but you also stand first in the priorities of our Honble Prime Minister Shri []

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to discuss a strategic collaboration between SKUAST Jammu and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) for strengthening evidence-based policy-making and sustainable agricultural transformation in the Union Territory. The meeting was attended by Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Dr. Ashish Chandra Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, []

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to reopen the tourist places that were closed in the wake of last years Pahalgam terror attack. Mufti said several delegations from Anantnag called on her during her visit to the south Kashmir district on Wednesday []

Jammu: For the first time after assuming power in Jammu & Kashmir in 2024, the ruling National Conference allowed the introduction of a Private Members Bill seeking the renewal of lease rights for existing occupants whose leases have expired. The Bill aims to restore the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grants Act, 1960, and its rules []

Jammu: Cutting across party lines, MLAs on Wednesday expressed concern over the absence of bureaucrats in the Legislative Assembly during Question Hour. As Question Hour was nearing its end, NC MLA Nazi Gurezi alleged that bureaucrats were taking the House lightly. Pointing to the officers gallery, the legislator said, You look towards the gallery. This []

DUBAI: Iran hit an oil tanker off the coast of Qatar and Kuwaits airport on Wednesday, while airstrikes battered Tehran even as US President Donald Trump said he was nearly ready to wind down the war and claimed that Irans president wanted a ceasefire. Iran had no immediate response to Trumps claim on social media []

Jammu: National Conference MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri on Wednesday broke down in the Assembly while pleading with fellow legislators and the government to allow the introduction of his reservation-related bill. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Bashir Ahmad Veeri pleaded with the Government to allow the introduction of his bill. I have only one son. He []