Greater Kashmir

Moscow, Oct 22: Russia prides itself on its digital advances -- from an extensive e-commerce services sector to ambitious plans for developing artificial intelligence. But now, some of the key data centres at the heart of its technical prowess have been knocked out by Ukrainian drone attacks in the 4.5-year-old full-scale invasion, suffering damage that could take a long time to repair. Ukraine this month hit three main data centres belonging to tech giant Yandex, one for Russia's biggest bank,

New Delhi, Oct 21: A special executive magistrate court on Wednesday ordered the release of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka after they gave written undertakings that they won't breach peace or call for protests at Jantar Mantar as long as the site remains denotified. The two were directed to furnish personal bonds and surety bonds of Rs 50,000 each until the conclusion of the inquiry. They furnished the bonds and ACP Ritu Raj, acting as the special executive mag

Leh, Oct 21: Ladakh Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of criminal cases against 10 individuals booked in connection with 2025 Leh violence. With the latest decision, a total of 55 persons booked in 87 cases have been given the reprieve over the past three months. Cases stem from an outbreak of violence on September 24 last year during a protest for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the Union Territory. The withdrawal of cr

Srinagar, Oct 21: The JKSET/LASET 2026 examination, to be conducted by the University of Kashmir (KU) this year, has been rescheduled to 1:30 PM on October 25 across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. As per the revised schedule notification issued by the Member Secretary JKSET agency under No. F(Timing/JKSET/LASET-26), dated: 21.10.2026 candidates have been asked to report to their respective examination centres at 12 noon. The interval between the two papers has also been reduced from 20 minutes to 1

Srinagar, Oct 21: In a major development, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, the only elected body surviving in the Union Territory has been dissolved to clear the way for elections to eight hill councils. LAHDC Kargil was headed by CEC Dr Mohd Jaffar Akhoon. The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has ordered the dissolution and de-constitution of the erstwhile Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, with immediate effect, in view of

Srinagar, Oct 21: The State Election Commission (SEC) of Ladakh on Wednesday announced that general elections to all Panchayat Halqas in the Union Territory will be held on November 21, 2026, asserting that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force with immediate effect. Addressing a press conference here, State Election Commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said the decision to hold fresh elections was necessitated as the last general elections to

Srinagar, Oct 21: Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone on Wednesday raised concerns over the non-constitution of Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that children in distress and juveniles in conflict with law have been left without the institutional support mandated under the juvenile justice framework. In a statement, posted on X, Lone said the tenure of the existing CWCs and JJBs had expired and the government had failed to cons

New Delhi, Oct 21: Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Dr Mahesh Dixit on Wednesday paid rich tributes to police personnel across the country who laid down their lives in the line of duty, revealing that 154 police personnel died serving the nation over the past year and 36,852 have made the ultimate sacrifice since Independence. He was addressing a gathering on Police Commemoration Day at National Police Memorial in New Delhi. Highlighting the solemnly and historic origin of the day, Dr Dixit rec

Jammu, Oct 21: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday recovered 804 grams of heroin and 1.1 kg of opium from Arnia sector in Jammu district during an investigation into a suspected narcotics smuggling module allegedly linked to a drone-dropping incident, officials said. The recovery in the Talhar area was made during the investigation into a case linked to the alleged consumption of narcotics by Sunny Kumar, a resident of Suchetgarh tehsil, they said. Police registered an FIR under Sections 8 and

Srinagar, Oct 21: Jammu and Kashmir Police will track down those supporting terrorism and ensure they face the full force of law, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat warned on Wednesday, asserting that the days of terror supporters are numbered. Addressing a gathering on Police Commemoration Day 2026, DGP Prabhat, vowed to completely uproot terrorism and dismantle its support network in Jammu and Kashmir. Our objective is clear: to identify and completely uproot terrorism and every el

Srinagar, October 21: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha paid solemn tribute to police personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day. Remembering the courage, dedication and patriotism of the brave martyrs, the Lieutenant Governor said that their service and sacrifice remain an enduring source of inspiration for Jammu Kashmir and the nation. In his message, the Lieutenant Governor expressed gratitude to all police martyrs and conveyed

Srinagar, Oct 21: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader and Akhil Bharatiya Sampark Pramukh Shri Ram Lal on Wednesday dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhis remarks alleging that the organisation regards women as subordinate and does not give them equal rights, calling the allegations a new lie. Responding to a question about Gandhis statement, Ram Lal said the RSS generally refrained from commenting on political issues and political leaders, but alleged that the organisation had been subjec

New Delhi, Oct 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday called upon police forces across the country to intensify efforts against drug abuse and trafficking, setting December 31, 2029, as the target to free India from the drug menace. Addressing a Police Commemoration Day ceremony at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi, Shah urged police forces to work towards implementing the roadmap for a Nasha Mukt Bharat prepared under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah also fla

BANIHAL, October 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has prohibited examination supervisory staff from carrying mobile phones during examination hours to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of board examinations. According to a circular issued by the Board on October 21, 2026, all centre superintendents have been directed to ensure that supervisory staff deposit their mobile phones with them before the commencement of examinations. The centre superintendents will be perso

Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education Sakeena Itoo led a high-level Jammu and Kashmir delegation at ITB Asia 2026 in Singapore, showcasing the Union Territorys diverse tourism potential and inviting global travel stakeholders to explore its rich tourism offerings. The Minister is accompanied by Director Tourism, Jammu, Dr Vikas Gupta; Special Secretary, Tourism, J&K, Suraj Parkash Rukwal; and Director Finance, Rashim Deepika. Itoo also jointly inaugurated the In

New Delhi, Oct 21: Telecom behemoth Jio Platforms Ltd's Rs 30,213-crore initial public offering was fully subscribed within 100 minutes of opening on Wednesday, making it the fastest among India's mega-issues to attract bids for all shares on offer, as institutional investors led an early rush for the country's largest-ever IPO. The issue had attracted bids for 28.31 crore shares against 19.75 crore shares on offer as of 12:33 p.m., translating into overall subscription of 1.43 times, according

Jammu, Oct 21: A mock drill exercise was successfully conducted at Bari Brahmana Railway station in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on Wednesday to assess the preparedness of security forces and emergency response agencies in tackling potential security threats and responding to emergency situations, officials said. The over half-an-hour-long exercise commenced at 10.15 am, covering the Railway Quarters and Railway Station in Bari Brahmana, the officials said. They said multiple security and

New Delhi, Oct 21: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Wednesday announced the recruitment results for September 2026, stating that several recruitment cases had been finalised during the month. According to the Commission, the recommended candidates have been informed individually by post. The applications of other candidates were also duly considered; however, they could not be shortlisted for interviews or recommended for the respective posts, the UPSC said. Click here to see Result

New Delhi, Oct 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed his deepest gratitude to all police personnel on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day, recognizing their invaluable contribution in maintaining law and order, combating crime, responding to emergencies, and ensuring the safety of citizens in the most challenging circumstances. Paying solemn tributes to the brave police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty, Modi stated that their courage, unwavering dedication,

Udhampur, Oct 21: At least ten people were injured after a bus skidded off the road and rolled down in the Latti-Basantgarh tehsil of Jammus Udhampur district on Wednesday, officials said. An official said that the accident took place at Gulli Gala in the Pachound area along the Basantgarh-Ramnagar road. Meanwhile, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said he had spoken to Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Ananth Dwivedi after receiving news of the accident. In a post, Singh said all passengers were prom

New Delhi, Oct 21: Delhi Police has transferred another case registered against Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to the Crime Branch, sources said. The Crime Branch will now investigate two cases against the CJP leaders. The other case linked to Das and Ranka allegedly entering the Jantar Mantar area was transferred to the Crime Branch on Monday. According to Delhi Police, on October 13, Das, Ranka, Ajinkya Shinde and 11 other members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)

Srinagar, Oct 21: Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has clarified that consumers are not required to purchase additional cables as a mandatory condition for smart meter installation, stating that the project provides the necessary installation cables, including additional lengths wherever technically required. The statement comes in response to Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lones allegations that consumers were being forced to p

Sopore, Oct 21: Police have traced and safely recovered a missing minor girl from the Rafiabad area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district within 36 hours of receiving a complaint, officials said on Wednesday. Police Station Dangiwacha received a complaint on October 19 regarding the disappearance of the girl from Laiser village, following which a team was constituted to trace her, they said. With the help of technical assistance and human intelligence, the police traced and recovered the girl wi

The Jammu and Kashmir administration's push for self-employment and entrepreneurship seems to be failing on the ground. Dozens of young cart owners who set up small businesses at the Jhelum Riverfront, (Nawa-e-Subh) side in Srinagar are staring at uncertainty after being asked to shut their operations over three months ago. The vendors, mostly from humble backgrounds, had been running their carts smoothly for the last couple of years. Many had taken loans and are now struggling to pay their mont

Mumbai, Oct 20: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai as part of his two-day visit to India, with bilateral ties, trade and energy cooperation expected to figure prominently in discussions, national media reported. Rubio also paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks at the memorial inside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who accompanied him, said the visit honoured the courage of India

New Delhi, Oct 20:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended greetings to all Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers on the organisations Foundation Day, highlighting its century-long contribution to service, nation-building and social harmony. In a post on X, PM Modi also paid homage to those who had nurtured the organisation over the years and shared the address delivered by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the Shatabdi Varsh Vijayadashami Utsav in Nagpur. The RSS has completed a remarka

New Delhi, Oct 20: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has warned that foreign forces could exploit social movements and public discontent to create instability in India, deepen divisions and advance their own interests. Addressing the Sanghs Vijayadashami function, on Tuesday, Mohan Bhagwat said that while social problems and shortcomings in the system could naturally lead to agitations, such movements should focus on finding solutions rather than creating discord. In our vast

New Delhi, Oct 20:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the ideals of Lord Shri Ram remained a benchmark for good governance, stressing that the purpose of power was not to rule but to ensure public welfare. Addressing Vijayadashami celebrations at the Indraprastha Ramleela Ground in Delhi, PM Modi said Ram Rajya represented a system in which nobody faced discrimination, everyone received justice and all had equal opportunities. Ram Rajya means a system of governance where no one is discr

Q: I am 74 years old. Should I take the flu vaccine even though winter has not started yet? A: Yes. Older adults are at greater risk of serious complications from influenza. Getting vaccinated before flu activity increases helps build protection in time. October is still a good time to vaccinate. Q: My father is 80 and has never taken the pneumococcal vaccine. Is it too late for him? A: No. The pneumococcal vaccine can protect older adults against serious infections caused by pneumococcal bacter

Our elders have done us many favors. History is witness that they have preserved many wise methods for us, which if we use today, can do wonders. But unfortunately, we have left behind all the ways and methods of our ancestors. Even today, when we see an elderly man or woman around us who is over 100 years old, we are surprised and say that they have lived such a good life without medicine that perhaps no one can live like that today. We cant deny the fact that our elders cures were not just abo

As temperatures dip in Kashmir, I have started seeing more patients with chest infections, pneumonia and worsening heart failure at Moul Mouj Health Centre. Some arrive with their families, struggling to breathe or complaining of persistent cough and fever. Others call me on the phone, worried about an elderly parent whose breathing has become heavier, whose legs have started swelling or who has suddenly become too weak to get out of bed. Some of these patients need hospital admission. Others ca

Good governance is not just about changing laws. It is about changing how a citizen feels when dealing with the state. A shopkeeper, a young entrepreneur or a small manufacturer should be able to earn an honest living without being worn down by paperwork or worried about a knock on the door over a minor mistake. That is why the Omar Abdullah-led government deserves credit for bringing two important measures before the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly: the Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2026,

Every year, educational institutions celebrate Teachers Day and present awards to teachers for their contribution to education. These awards are meant to recognise dedication, hard work, knowledge, and the ability to shape the future of young people. However, an important question deserves our attention: are we always recognising the teachers who make the greatest difference in the lives of students? Perhaps it is time to look beyond designations, administrative positions, research papers, and o

Kashmirs tourism industry is yet to recover fully from the shock of the Pahalgam attack in April 2025. The latest official figures offer little room for complacency. After attracting nearly 3 million tourists in 2024, the Valley recorded just over 1.11 million arrivals in 2025. While the numbers have improved in 2026, the recovery remains uneven, with foreign tourist arrivals continuing to lag. The challenge now is to restore confidence, and ensure that tourism-dependent businesses are not left

Srinagar, Oct 20: The J&K Vocational Trainers Welfare Association (JKVTWA) on Tuesday deferred its indefinite strike for two months following government assurances on its long-pending demands. The decision followed assurances from Education Minister Sakina Itoo, meetings with the Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, and the State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha, besides recent developments concerning the pending file. The association said recommendations for formulating a job p

Srinagar, Oct 20: Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL) Chief Executive Officer Basharat Qayoom has directed officials to address maintenance gaps and expedite pending works at key locations in Lal Chowk and Sheikh Bagh. During a late-night inspection of Srinagars Central Business District on Monday, Qayoom reviewed facilities at Ghanta Ghar, Sheikh Bagh Car Parking and the mechanised car parking facility at LalChowk. He directed officials to address deficiencies on priority, undertake necessary re

Jammu, Oct 20:Business Network International (BNI), the worlds largest business referral organisation, achieved a historic milestone today with the launch of BNI Pinnacle, the 7th BNI chapter in Jammu and Kashmir. The launch event, held at the Taj Vivanta Jammu, witnessed an impressive launch with 43 founding members, the largest launch in BNI Jammu Kashmir since 2022 in the inaugural meeting. The overwhelming participation reflected the strong appetite for structured business networking in the

Jammu, Oct 20: High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh will hear the arguments on petitioners side on October 30 in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), challenging the provisions of the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019, authorising the Lieutenant Governor to nominate five MLAs to the J&K Legislative Assembly, over and above its (assemblys) sanctioned strength. In the meanwhile, the speculations flew thick and fast that the government was likely to take a final call vis--vis nomination of MLAs very

New Delhi, Oct 20: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called upon Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to work together to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism, asserting that there could be no justification for the menace or double standards in dealing with it. Addressing the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, he said terrorism claimed innocent lives, disrupted investment and trade, encouraged radicalisation and deprive

Srinagar, Oct 20:The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), the recruiting body for gazetted government posts, has been rendered headless for over two months besides two member positions also lying vacant. The delay in appointment of chairman JKPSC has raised concerns over delays in recruitment, departmental promotions and examinations for advertised posts. The vacant positions have created uncertainty among aspirants awaiting examination schedules for various gazetted posts advert

Sonamarg, Oct 20:The famous resort town of Sonamarg known as the Meadow of Gold is reeling under severe, extended power outages, threatening local livelihoods and diminishing the experience for visiting tourists. As early winter conditions begin to lower temperatures across the Valley, hoteliers, shopkeepers, and local service providers in Ganderbal report that unpredictable and prolonged load-shedding has severely disrupted daily operations. According to the local hoteliers and traders, the per

Srinagar, Oct 20:In a landmark development for healthcare and higher medical education in the high-altitude region, Ladakhs first Government Medical College in Leh is set to welcome its inaugural batch of MBBS students for the 2027-28 academic session. The move follows crucial approvals from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which granted a one-time relaxation from the standard requirement of having 80 percent of permanent infrastructure complete before initiating staff recruitmen

Srinagar, Oct 20:Member of Parliament Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday accused the BJP of creating a hostile environment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that Kashmiris were facing harassment and suspicion both within the J&K and in other parts of the country. Talking to reporters in Srinagar, Ruhullah said the situation had not normalised since 2019 and alleged that the relationship between J&K and the Union government had instead become hostile. Instead of normalising Kashmir, i

Srinagar, Oct 20:A few hours after MBBS and BDS interns of J&K announced a fresh strike demanding enhancement of their stipend, reports of J&K government having approved the hike started doing rounds. The interns association however said the strike will continue till a formal order is issued by the government. As per reports J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has approved doubling the monthly stipend of MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir to Rs 25,000. No order in this regard was issued till