Kashmir Reader

Srinagar: Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) on Wednesday ordered change in school timings in the Kashmir Division with effect from October 15, 2026. As per Order, the new timing for schools falling within Municipal limits of Srinagar has been fixed from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. For schools falling outside Municipal limits of Srinagar []

Ganderbal: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying the country needs a transparent, vibrant and impartial Election Commission to safeguard democracy. Reacting to protests against the Election Commission, Choudhary, while speaking to reporters during his visit to Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in []

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Tarique Rahmans decision to skip the BRICS summit in India was immature and damaged Bangladeshs national interest, former premier Sheikh Hasina has said, warning that foreign policy driven by personal reactions or short-term political calculations is inherently counterproductive. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Hasina said Bangladeshs participation at the summit []

Bandipora: A pregnant woman from Gurez in north Kashmirs Bandipora district died after being shifted to District Hospital Bandipora on Wednesday, while her baby was stillborn, with the family alleging that snowfall and movement restrictions delayed her referral to the hospital. The deceased, identified as Haseen Bagem, wife of Showket Hameed Lone and a resident []

PUNE: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, has defeated rival panels backed by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and a rebel candidate in the election to the Someshwar Cooperative Sugar Factory in Pune district. The poll was the first major contest in the cooperative sector since the death []

Unacceptable attempt by BJP: CM Omar Forcible state intrusion: MMU Yet another interference: Mehbooba Hands off our mosques: Sajad Lone Order should be taken back: Tanvir Sadiq Srinagar, Oct 13: Under fire from across Jammu and Kashmirs political and religious spectrum, J-K Waqf Board Chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi on Tuesday mounted a hasty defence of a []

Scholars free to decide topics: Dr Andrabi Srinagar, Oct 13: Amid a growing row over proposed common themes for Friday sermons, Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi on Tuesday asserted that no order had been issued making uniform sermons mandatory, saying religious scholars were free to decide what to preach and []

Directs coordinated transport, security, accommodation arrangements Winter Secretariat to function in Srinagar Srinagar, Oct 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed arrangements for the Darbar Move Session 202627 at a high-level meeting, directing all concerned departments to ensure a smooth, secure and well-coordinated transition of offices from Srinagar to Jammu, along with adequate facilities []

Reviews security preparedness Srinagar, Oct 13: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Tuesday chaired a hybrid operational review meeting at Police Control Room Kashmir to assess the Union Territorys security situation and review police preparedness. Senior officers briefed the DGP on recent security developments, measures to maintain peace, intelligence-gathering efforts and []

Proud moment for SKIMS, GMC Sgr: Dr Tasleem Arif Srinagar, Oct 14: Dr. Tasleem Arif, a dermatologist hailing from Soura, Srinagar, has been named among the top two percent of scientists of the world, data compiled by Stanford University, for the 3rd consecutive year (2024-2026). Reflecting on the achievement, Dr. Arif said with characteristic humility []

Over 190 lab-confirmed cases require hospitalisation at GMC Bhaderwah/Jammu, Oct 13: Dengue cases continue to rise in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district, with over 190 laboratory-confirmed cases requiring hospitalisation reported at Government Medical College Doda. The surge in cases prompted authorities to seek assistance from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National []

Srinagar, Oct 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday met several delegations and individuals at the Civil Secretariat here and discussed issues relating to film promotion, industrial infrastructure, regional development, education and youth empowerment. Onir, filmmaker associated with Anticlock Films, Mumbai, called on the Chief Minister and discussed matters concerning the promotion and development of []

New Delhi, Oct 13: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea challenging the validity of a provision of a 2023 law that grants immunity to the chief election commissioner and election commissioners in respect of certain acts undertaken in the discharge of their official duties. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant []

New Delhi, Oct 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday called for stronger regional cooperation among BIMSTEC countries to combat terrorism, disrupt terrorist financing and organised crime, and ensure that terrorist networks do not find a haven in the region. Addressing the first home ministers meeting of BIMSTEC countries here, Shah said the trust []

Shafali Verma claims womens honour after Asia Cup, Asian Games heroics Gills 223 off 133 balls quickest double-century ever powers award win DUBAI: India captain Shubman Gill was on Tuesday named ICC mens Player of the Month for a record fifth time following his outstanding performance in the ODI series against the West []

Says 7,000-8,000 youths gained employment through Aroma Mission SRINAGAR: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the birthplace of the Purple Revolution, with nearly 7,000 to 8,000 youths finding employment and livelihood opportunities through the Aroma Mission. Speaking on the sidelines of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit []

Hails Ease of Doing Business Act as long-awaited reform SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Small Scale Industrial Association (KSSIA), Baghi Ali Mardan Khan, has strongly contested the apprehensions expressed by the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) over the recently enacted Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, describing them as premature and likely to create []

SRINAGAR: A first-of-its-kind brainstorming session organised by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has set the stage for a policy roadmap to revive Jammu and Kashmirs silk industry, drawing on recommendations from experts across India and six countries. Organised by the College of Temperate Sericulture on the sidelines of the J&K []

Calls for IT Park at HMT Site, comprehensive tourism master plan for Valley SRINAGAR: All Party Sikh Coordination Committee Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina has called for a sustainable and environment-friendly industrial development policy for Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that new industries must generate long-term employment opportunities for local youth without compromising the Valleys fragile ecology. []

JAMMU: Minga Sherpa on Tuesday assumed office as Deputy Commissioner, Jammu. Soon after joining, the Deputy Commissioner took a round of the DC Office complex and inspected the functioning of different sections. He took stock of the working environment and stressed punctuality, discipline and responsiveness in public dealing. He later held an interaction with the []

SRINAGAR: Athar Amir Ul Shafi Khan on Tuesday formally assumed charge as the Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Jammu & Kashmir, at the State Health Society, NHM Office, Old Secretariat, Srinagar. Upon his arrival, he was warmly welcomed by the NHM staff, reflecting their enthusiasm and strong confidence in his leadership. He took over []

SRINAGAR: Secretary Tourism, AvnyLavasa on Tuesday chaired an introductory meeting to review the overall functioning, management and operational capability of the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), the premier Government-run international convention centre in Jammu and Kashmir. On arrival, the Secretary was accorded a warm welcome by SKICC officials led by the Director General, SKICC, Mufti []

NEW DELHI: The city police on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that the decision to denotify Jantar Mantar as the designated protest site was taken pursuant to the directions of the Supreme Court. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma made the submission before Justice Amit Mahajan, who was hearing a plea by Indian Youth Congress []

Rajouri: An 18-year-old girl was killed and two others injured after an Eeco vehicle skidded off the road in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district on Tuesday, officials said. An official said that the accident occurred in the afternoon when an Eeco vehicle bearing registration number JK11B-2995, travelling from Thanamandi towards Rajdhani, skidded off the road. []

Srinagar: National Conference Chief Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanveer Sadiq on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, stating that he has lost his ground. Speaking to media persons in Srinagar, Sadiq said, Our LOP Sahib has completely forgotten He goes to different areas about which he has no knowledge. I []

Ganderbal: A father-son duo has been taken into custody after a joint search operation led to the recovery of 577 grams of a charas-like substance, rifles and other material from their residence in the Bunpora Tulmulla area of Ganderbal district on Tuesday, officials said. An official said that the search was conducted by police, CRPF []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board Chairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi on Tuesday clarified that the Board has issued no order making uniform Friday sermons mandatory in its affiliated mosques, saying religious scholars and preachers are free to decide the issues they wish to address. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Darakhshan Andrabi, said neither []

Ramban: A driver was killed while his helper sustained injuries after a truck they were travelling in plunged into a deep gorge near Bishlari Nallah in Ramban district in the wee hours of Tuesday. Official said that the truck was on its way from Srinagar towards Gujarat when it met with the accident at around []

Clerks must wear prescribed uniforms, display ID badges to access registry Srinagar, Oct 12: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has reiterated strict compliance of prescribed dress code for clerks attached to advocates, warning that any breach will invite disciplinary action. In a circular issued by Registrar Judicial Srinagar, as per GNS []

Poonch, Oct 12: At least four militants including a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander were killed in a landmine blast while attempting to infiltrate along the Line of Control in Poonch district. Official sources said that the group of terrorists was trying to sneak into this side in Nangi Takri area of Krishna Ghati (KG) Sector late []

Srinagar, Oct 12: Anti-Corruption Bureau J&K on Monday caught a Senior Assistant of Sub Division Agriculture office Handwara red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 40,000 for release of a subsidy bill. In a statement, the ACB said that the accused has been identified as Irshad Ahmad Peer, Sr Assistant posted in Sub Division []

Doda: Four persons, including two women, were injured after a vehicle they were travelling in overturned near Shenai in the Bhalla area of Doda district on Tuesday, officials said. An official said that all four persons were injured after the vehicle overturned in Bhalla, Doda. He said all four were shifted to a hospital for []

Rahul, Kharge, others file petition in SC alleging irregularities in SIR NEW LHI: Ye law and order ka muddahai. Ye meravishaynahinhai. (This is a matter of law and order; it doesnt pertain to my domain), Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said on Monday, when asked about the situation in view of the protests []

RIYADH: Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemens Houthi militia toward Khamis Mushayt in the Kingdoms southwest early Monday, as the Arab Coalition supporting Yemens government said it was tracking threats from drones and cruise missiles targeting the Kingdom. The coalition said it had detected the threats and was working []

Flags huge mark-ups on medical supplies NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday called for a broader examination of drug pricing in the country, questioning why the Centres proposed regulation of trade margins was limited to cancer medicines and urging it to consider excessive markups across the pharmaceutical market, including medical devices. The Centre, which []

Bandipora, Ganderbal advance to final after high-intensity knockout battles BARAMULLA: Bandipora and Ganderbal have qualified for the grand finale of the ongoing UT-Level Inter-District Football Competition for Under-17 Boys after an action-packed fourth day featuring fiercely contested quarter-final and semi-final encounters at different venues across Baramulla. The championship is being organised by the Directorate of []

AWANTIPORA: The Vice Chancellors Employees Cricket Tournament (Men) 2026 was inaugurated on Monday at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST). Organised by the Department of Physical Education and Sports, the tournament aims to promote physical fitness, sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie among university employees. The tournament was inaugurated by Prof. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, []

Visits Bab-e-Salam, Bab-e-Noor, Bab-e-Zahra Calligraphy Gate, Ahmed Shah Macham Astan SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Chief Spokesperson and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq on Monday conducted an extensive tour of Sher-e-Khaas and various areas of his constituency to review ongoing development works, assess public infrastructure, and address issues raised by local residents. During []

SRINAGAR: Dr. Basharat Qayoom on Monday assumed charge as Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), and Chief Executive Officer, Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL), with a focus on strengthening civic services and making urban governance more responsive to the needs and aspirations of Srinagars citizens. Dr. Basharat Qayoom succeeds Faz Lul Haseeb. A brief function was []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Provincial Vice President and MLA Hazratbal, Salman Ali Sagar said that the pace of development in Jammu and Kashmir has picked up once again with the formation of the elected NC government, with concrete measures being taken to address public needs, grievances and demands on a priority basis.He []

SRINAGAR: Speaker Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and MLA Charar-i-Sharief, Abdul Rahim Rather on Monday convened a review meeting to take stock of progress of development works being executed in Charar-i-Sharief constituency under various schemes by the Public Works Department (R&B) and the Rural Development Department (RDD). During the meeting, the Speaker reviewed the scheme-wise []

JAMMU: The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), J&K, Divisional Office Jammu, on Monday organised a two-day orientation programme on Reforming Assessment Practices through Holistic Progress Cards to Address Rashtriya Sarvekshan Findings with Competency-Based Assessment at Kissan Kendra, Talab Tillo. The objective of the event was to strengthen the assessment practices in alignment []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, chaired the 31st meeting of Board of Directors of the Jammu & Kashmir Womens Development Corporation (JKWDC) Limited at SKICC on Monday. The meeting was attended by Secretary, Social Welfare Dr. Doifode Sagar Dattatray; Managing Director JKWDC, Purnima Mittal representatives of Planning & []

Condolence meeting held at NC headquarters SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed profound grief over the demise of senior party leader, former Cabinet Minister and political advisor to the NC President, Shri Harbans Singh.The two leaders extended their heartfelt condolences []

BUDGAM: Jatin Kishore on Monday assumed charge as the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, during a formal handover ceremony held in the office chamber of the Deputy Commissioner. He took over from Athar Aamir Khan, who was serving as Deputy Commissioner, Budgam. The charge-taking ceremony was attended by senior officers of the district administration, including ADC Budgam []

NEW DELHI: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has invited INDIA bloc MPs for a high tea at his residence on Tuesday, sources said. They said a discussion on the strategy for joint protests against vote chori (vote theft) and to press for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumars resignation is expected []

The fund that looks attractive today may not be the right fit for your financial goals. When you compare equity, debt, and hybrid options, it is easy to focus on returns and overlook what matters for your situation. A mutual fund can give you access to a professionally managed portfolio, but each category works differently. []

The ultimate purpose of education is not merely to certify learning, but to cultivate competence, expand opportunity and enable people to live with dignity. Vocational education embodies this promise by connecting knowledge with practical skills and the world of work. Its success must therefore be measured not by courses conducted, certificates awarded or funds spent, []

Kashmirs history shows women as thinkers and creators. Lal Ded challenged religious orthodoxy through spiritual inquiry, while Habba Khatoon elevated folk poetry into high art. That legacy continues through women such as Ms Tanzeela, who revived Wagu weaving, and Shahida Hanan, who created a museum for the Gujjar community. Women have long sustained Kashmiri culture []

You can love Allah, recite the Quran, perform your five daily prayers, make sincere dua, and still experience anxiety, depression or emotional exhaustion. Consider Prophet Yaqub (AS), who experienced profound grief over his separation from Prophet Yousuf (AS)the Quran describes his eyes turning white from sorrow, yet he said, I only complain of my suffering []