The Northlines

KOCHI, Mar 22: A case has been registered against two US nationals for allegedly flying a drone near the Coast Guard Headquarters, police said on Sunday. The accused, identified as Katie Michelle Phelps (32) and Christopher Ross Harvey (35), both from California, were reportedly in Kochi as tourists when they flew a drone to record [] The post 2 US Tourists Booked for Flying Drone Near Coast Guard HQ in Kochi appeared first on Northlines .

JAMMU, Mar 22: The pilgrimage to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine resumed on Sunday after being temporarily suspended due to heavy rush, officials said. The yatra was halted on Saturday as thousands of devotees gathered at the Bhawan, with over 39,000 pilgrims offering prayers till late afternoon, according to officials. The pilgrimage resumed after [] The post Vaishno Devi Yatra Resumes After Brief Suspension Amid Heavy Devotee Rush appeared first on Northlines .

NEW DELHI, Mar 22: Terrorist organizations Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba have reportedly begun targeting schools in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) to recruit children and groom a new generation of terrorists, according to the report from across LoC. Posters and advertisements have surfaced across major cities and PoJK, urging parents to enrol children aged [] The post JeM, LeT Target Children in Schools to Build New Terror Cadre: Report appeared first on Northline

NEW DELHI, Mar 22: The Supreme Court of India has directed all states and Union territories to submit updated and comprehensive data on prisons, including capacity and overcrowding, by May 18. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta also sought details on womens prisons and facilities available for female inmates and children living [] The post SC Directs States, UTs to Submit Updated Prison Data by May 18 appeared first on Northlines .

JAMMU, Mar 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday flagged off the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Pracheen Marg Pavitra Chhari Yatra and participated in the auspicious rituals. In a post on X, Office of J&K LG, wrote, Flagged off Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji Pracheen Marg Pavitra Chhari Yatra, today. [] The post LG Sinha Flags Off Pracheen Marg Pavitra Chhari Yatra appeared first on Northlines .

CAIRO, Mar 22: Iranian missiles struck southern Israel late Saturday, hitting areas near the countrys main nuclear research center, injuring dozens and causing widespread damage, as U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face attacks on its power plants. The strikes on Dimona and Arad mark [] The post Iran Strikes Near Israeli Nuclear Site As Trump Threatens Attacks On Iranian Power Plants appeared first on Northlines .

Chandigarh, Mar 22: Police have booked former Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his personal assistant Dilbag Singh in connection with the alleged suicide of a state warehousing corporation official, officials said on Sunday. Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, district manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar, allegedly died after [] The post Former Punjab Minister Bhullar, Father Among 3 Booked in Officials Suicide Case appeared first on N

Ludhiana: The Shri Amarnath Barfani Langars Organisation (SABLO) has raised serious objections to the revised process for granting permissions to langar organisations for Amarnath Yatra 2026, alleging lack of transparency and clarity. SABLO said the earlier Expression of Interest (EOI)-based system has been discontinued without explanation, making the selection process opaque. It pointed out that [] The post SABLO flags concerns over langar permissions for Amarnath Yatra appeared first on Northl

Inter-faith marriage, delayed disclosure after family shifted to Kashmir Rattan Singh Gill Jammu/Srinagar, Mar 21 In a significant ruling reflecting the complexities of identity and demography in Jammu and Kashmir, a court in Srinagar has directed authorities to officially recognise conversion to Islam by a family from Janipur, Jammu16 years after they embraced the faith. [] The post Srinagar Court clears name, identity change after conversion to Islam appeared first on Northlines .

Jammu/Srinagar, March 21: Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, with thousands of devotees offering prayers at mosques and Eidgahs amid elaborate security arrangements. In Jammu, large congregations were seen at various locations, with the main gathering at Eidgah on Residency Road drawing thousands of worshippers. A spirit [] The post Eid celebrated with fervour across J&K amid tight security appeared first on Northlines .

Jammu Tawi, March 21: The pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi was suspended on Saturday due to heavy rush at the Bhawan, as 39,000 devotees offered prayers till late afternoon, officials said. The rush has increased due to the ongoing Chaitra Navratri, which began on March 19 and will end on March [] The post Vaishno Devi yatra suspended amid rush during Chaitra Navratri appeared first on Northlines .

Jammu Tawi: The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, on Saturday expressed gratitude to the Centre for the release of central funds amounting to Rs 111.66 crore aimed at implementing a comprehensive fisheries development project in the union territory. In a post on X, LG Sinha as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) [] The post Centre releases Rs 111.66 Cr for fisheries project in J&K, Sinha thanks PM appeared first on Northlines .

New Delhi, March 21: The government has approved an additional 20 per cent allocation of commercial LPG to states, raising the total allocation to 50 per cent, including 10 per cent linked to ease of doing business reforms for PNG expansion. The additional supply will be prioritised for sectors such as restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial [] The post Govt approves Addl 20% Commercial LPG allocation to States appeared first on Northlines .

Jammu Tawi: The University of Jammu has constituted a high-level committee to examine concerns related to the Political Science syllabus that were recently highlighted in the media and raised by students. According to an order issued by the Office of the Dean Academic Affairs, the committee will be headed by Prof Naresh Padha as Convener [] The post JU sets up panel to examine Pol Science syllabus concerns appeared first on Northlines .

New Delhi: The Press Club of India (PCI) on Saturday expressed deep shock and condemned the manhandling of journalists by Delhi Police and CRPF personnel at the United News of India (UNI) premises during the sealing of the news agency premises at Rafi Marg, following a court order related to a land dispute. In a [] The post PCI condemns police action against journalists at UNI premises appeared first on Northlines .

India will be among the major nations affected due to disruptions in South Pars Fields By T N Ashok Beneath the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf, straddling the maritime border between Iran and Qatar, lies what may be the single most consequential piece of real estate on earth. The South Pars/North Dome field [] The post How the bombing of Worlds largest Natural Gas deposit is putting Global LNG supply in chaos? appeared first on Northlines .

Intended beneficiaries are still being left out of the Centres relief programme By R. Suryamurthy When India recalibrated its GST structure in September 2025, the promise was seductively simplecut taxes, soften prices, revive demand. It was a proposition that carried both political appeal and economic logic, particularly in an economy where consumption had yet [] The post GST 2.0s Missing Link: Why consumer protection must anchor tax reform? appeared first on Northlines .

Infighting, bitter bickering mar the selection process By P. Sreekumaran THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four days after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly elections, the principal Opposition party in the State, Congress is struggling to finalise its list of candidates. Unabashed group wars and bitter bargaining for seats have [] The post Congress struggling to finalise candidates list in Kerala appeared first on Northlines .

Schemes abound in the agricultural sector, but benefits come only when farmers understand and adopt them By Ashutosh Pandey Agriculture is very important for Indias economy. 45 To 50 percent of the people in India depend on agriculture for their livelihood either directly or indirectly. However agriculture only contributes about 15 to 18 [] The post The Path to Agricultural Transformation: Awareness is the Real Key appeared first on Northlines .

By Sakshi Jha (IIMC Jammu) Spring arrives in Kashmir not gently but with a spectacular display of colour. As winter recedes from the valley, millions of tulips bloom across the slopes of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar, creating one of the most magnificent flower spectacles in the country. Marking the beginning of [] The post Tulip Festival 2026 Heralds Spring in Kashmir appeared first on Northlines .

New Delhi, Mar 21: A Parliamentary panel has raised concerns over the underutilisation of funds in the Interlinking of Rivers scheme during 2025-26 and called for faster execution to ensure timely completion of key projects. In its report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources noted that only about 25 per cent of the Revised [] The post Parl Panel Flags Low Fund Use In River Linking Scheme, Urges Speedy Execution appeared first on Northlines .

Srinagar: Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated across Kashmir on Saturday with traditional fervour, with the largest congregation of over 50,000 devotees gathering at Hazratbal Shrine on the banks of Dal Lake, while authorities barred prayers at the historic Jama Masjid in old city. A heavy deployment of security forces was put in place in the Nowhatta area [] The post Eid Celebrated Across Kashmir; Hazratbal Sees Massive Turnout, Jama Masjid Closed appeared first on Northlines .

Washington, Mar 21: The United States has announced a one-month suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil stranded at sea, aiming to stabilise surging global crude prices by releasing about 140 million barrels into the market. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the move allows the sale of oil already in transit but strictly prohibits new [] The post US Temporarily Lifts Sanctions On Iranian Oil To Ease Global Price Surge appeared first on Northlines .

ECI transfers RTI query to Returning Officer Srinagar, Mar 20: The ghost of cross-voting is once again set to haunt political parties in Jammu & Kashmir, as the Election Commission of India has transferred an RTI application seeking details on whether parties had appointed authorised agents to verify whom their MLAs voted in the [] The post Did parties appoint authorised agents to verify votes of JK MLAs in Rajya Sabha polls? appeared first on Northlines .

LG Sinha CM Omar, others extend greetings Jammu Tawi, Mar 20:Mosques and Eidgahs across Jammu and Kashmir are being prepared to host thousands of worshippers for the special Eid prayers on Saturday morning, as the region gears up to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan. According to the details available, [] The post Eid-ul-Fitr today appeared first on Northlines .

J&K higher reaches receive snowfall, rain in plains Jammu Tawi, Mar 20:Jammu and Kashmir witnessed light to moderate rainfall in the plains and snowfall in the higher reaches over the past 24 hours, the Meteorological Department said on Friday. Officials said snowfall was recorded in higher altitude areas, including Gurez, Keran, Tangdhar, Uri, Gulmarg and [] The post Dry spell likely from today, MeT predicts appeared first on Northlines .

Jammu Tawi, March 20: The ABVP on Friday staged protests at the University of Jammu, demanding the withdrawal of a chapter on former Pakistan president Muhammad Ali Jinnah included in the revised postgraduate political science syllabus under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The university, however, maintained that the chapter on Jinnah is part of [] The post JU includes a chapter on Jinnah in Pol Science syllabus, ABVP protests appeared first on Northlines .

New Delhi, Mar 20: In a massive crackdown against illegal gambling and betting websites, the government has blocked 300 such websites and applications, sources said on Friday. The blocked sites and apps are related to online sports betting platforms; online casinos offering slots, roulette, live dealer tables; betting exchanges functioning like P-2-P betting marketplaces. Action [] The post Govt cracks down on illegal gambling, betting websites; 300 sites, apps blocked appeared first on Northlin

Jammu Tawi, March 20: Braving inclement weather, over 31,000 pilgrims visited the holy town of Katra and paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi temple atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district on the first day of Navratri, officials said on Friday. As many as 31,690 pilgrims visited the cave shrine and paid [] The post 31,000 Vaishno Devi pilgrims brave inclement weather appeared first on Northlines .

Jammu Tawi, Mar 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a Technical Appraisal Committee (TAC) to examine and vet the specifications for the proposed Classroom Digital Board project, as per Government Order No. 424-JK(GAD) of 2026 issued by the General Administration Department. According to the order, the Chief Executive Officer, JaKeGA, will head the [] The post Govt sets up panel to vet Classroom Digital Board Project appeared first on Northlines .

Jammu Tawi, March 20: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is all set to use artificial intelligence (AI) for investigations in Jammu and Kashmir, as the government on Friday constituted a technical appraisal committee (TAC) to examine the proposed adoption of AI in investigative operations of the anti-graft body. Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of [] The post ACB set to use AI for investigation in J&K appeared first on Northlines .

It is worthwhile to note that the Jammu Municipal Corporation has started a comprehensive campaign with regard to spreading awareness about clearing the water bills as all the daily newspapers have carried news asking the consumers to pay bills before March 31, 2026. The initiative reflects a serious concern on the part of the authorities [] The post Pay Water Bills On Time appeared first on Northlines .

Arvind Sharma Jammu Tawi, Mar 20: A new political battle has begun in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) ahead of the upcoming second half of the Assembly session as the political parties here have pulled up their socks before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to keep their vote bank intact [] The post SIR showdown in J&K: BJP mobilises across 20 districts, Cong sounds alert amid Assembly Session appeared first on Northlines .

Iranian authorities have turned this into a missile city from a tourist spot By Asad Mirza Apparently, Persian Gulfs largest island Qeshm has transformed from a tourist spot to its new sobriquet the Missiles city of Iran. Qeshm with its labyrinthine salt caves and emerald mangrove forests in the Strait of Hormuz, [] The post Persian Gulfs largest Island Qeshm is now getting focus from U.S.-Israel axis appeared first on Northlines .

New Delhi can follow Vietnam model for extracting maximum benefits for domestic units By Subrata Majumder Recently, Government of India tweaked Press Note 3, 2026 to open door for Chinese investment. It permitted Automatic Approval system for Chinese investment after closing down in 2000, owing to clash with China in Galwan valley, killing several [] The post Latest Policy tweak to encourage more investments from China is helpful for Indian Industry appeared first on Northlines .

After nearly five decades, the learned judges have to take into account new challenges By T N Ashok There is something almost poetic about Indias Supreme Court being forced, in 2026, to sit nine judges deep and argue about what exactly constitutes an industry. Not because the question is trivial. Precisely because it [] The post Supreme Court is set to review its 1978 Judgment on the definition of Industry appeared first on Northlines .

A 400-crore project will transform thousands of schools into smart institutions; STEM labs and digital libraries provide a new direction, while government schools show improved performance in JEE Main By Ashutosh Pandey With the aim of giving a new direction to the education system in Punjab, the state government has launched several ambitious [] The post Punjabs Education Revolution 2.0: From Chalkboards to Smart Boards, a changing landscape appeared first on Northlines .

By Ramesh Sarraf Dhamora The folk festivals of the Rajasthani tradition embody a rich heritage within themselves. It would not be incorrect to describe Rajasthan as the Land of Gods (Dev Bhumi), for it is a place where all religious sects have flourished. Inspired by a spirit of universal well-being, the rulers of this [] The post Gangaur Festival: Rajasthans Folk Celebration appeared first on Northlines .

New Delhi, Mar 20: State-run Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has increased the price of its premium petrol by Rs 2 per litre, with the revised rates coming into effect from Friday. The company did not specify a reason for the hike, though it is believed to be linked to fluctuations in global crude oil [] The post Premium petrol prices hiked by Rs 2; normal petrol rate unchanged appeared first on Northlines .

New Delhi, Mar 20: India has said the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan will remain in abeyance until Islamabad stops supporting terrorism. Indias Permanent Representative to the United Nations, P. Harish, stated that Pakistan must respect the sanctity of human life before raising concerns over the treaty, describing it as a global epicentre of terror. [] The post IWT to remain in abeyance until Pak ends support to terrorism: India appeared first on Northlines .

JAMMU, Mar 20: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has intensified snow clearance operations across key routes in Jammu after heavy snowfall disrupted traffic movement, with efforts underway to restore connectivity on the Mughal Road and BasohliBaniBhaderwah road. Mughal Road, which connects Poonch and Rajouri districts with south Kashmirs Shopian, was closed following heavy snowfall earlier [] The post BRO Intensifies Snow Clearance After Heavy Snow Disrupts J&K Roads appeared first on Northlin

New Delhi, Mar 20: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on Friday notified the Income-tax Rules, 2026 to operationalize the simplified Income-tax Act, 2025, which will come into force from April 1. The new rules provide enhanced benefits for house rent allowance (HRA) for salaried taxpayers while making disclosure of landlord-tenant relationships mandatory for [] The post CBDT Notifies Income-Tax Rules 2026, New Law Effective April 1 appeared first on Northlines .

Dr. Sumit Mrig, Director & Unit Head ENT, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated episodes of complete (apnea) or partial (hypopnea) collapse of the upper airway, causing fall in oxygen saturation or sleep arousal.This leads to fragmented, nonrestorative sleep.It affects all age [] The post Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) The Hidden Epidemic appeared first on Northlines .

New Delhi: The 2026 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) reports a sharp 28% decline in global terrorism deaths in 2025, but warns that rising instability in South Asia, the Sahel, and the West could reverse these gains. According to the report, global terror fatalities dropped from 7,714 in 2024 to 5,582 in 2025, while total [] The post Pakistan Tops Global Terror Index Despite Drop in Global Deaths appeared first on Northlines .

New Delhi, Mar 20: A Delhi court has acquitted two men accused of links with the banned ISIS-JK, citing serious gaps in the investigation and failure of the prosecution to prove charges beyond reasonable doubt. Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal cleared Jamsheed Zahoor Paul and Parvaiz Rashid Lone, both residents of Shopian in Kashmir, who [] The post Delhi Court Acquits Two in ISIS-JK Case, Cites Probe Lapses appeared first on Northlines .

JAMMU, Mar 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department will host the Kashmir Travel Mart-2026 on April 14-15 to showcase the regions tourism potential and strengthen its position as a global travel destination. Announcing the event, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said around 250 stakeholders from over 20 states across the country are expected to participate, [] The post J&K To Host Travel Mart On April 14-15 appeared first on Northlines .

Jammu Tawi, Mar 19:Urging youth to build a strong and lasting connection with the timeless traditions, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that rich spiritual heritage and wisdom would always remain our greatest treasures. Speaking at the Navreh celebrations, organised by Kashmiri Pandit Sabha, here, LG Sinha said, Youth will not merely inherit Indias [] The post Youth must anchor future in Indias timeless traditions: LG appeared first on Northlines .

SrinagarKargil, SSG Road, Mughal Road, Razdan Pass, Sinthan Road shut; traffic moving slowly on Jammu-Srinagar Highway Srinagar, Mar 19:Fresh snowfall across several high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir disrupted road connectivity on Thursday, forcing authorities to close key roads, including the SrinagarKargil highway and other strategic routes, officials said. An official said that traffic on [] The post Snowfall disrupts connectivity across J&K, highways closed appeared first on Northline

Jammu Tawi, March 18 : Police have fitted GPS-enable tracking anklet on three over-ground workers of militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad in Kathua district after they were released on interim bail, officials said. The action followed an order of the principal district and sessions judge in Kathua. The devices were affixed on the accused identified as [] The post GPS anklets fitted on three JeM OGWs out on interim bail appeared first on Northlines .

Jammu Tawi, Mar 19:Banking activity across Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a sharp spike during the Eid-ul-Fitr shopping period, with digital platforms leading the surge as thousands of people turned to cashless modes for festive purchases. Notably, trends from the Eid-ul-Fitr rush indicate a decisive shift towards digital payments across the region. As per official data [] The post JK Bank logs Rs 8,300 Cr Eid transactions across UT appeared first on Northlines .