Belgium Prime Minister to arrive in India on first official visit this week
New Delhi, Aug 31: At the invitation of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium, H.E. Bart De Wever, will undertake an official visit to India from 02 - 04 September 2026. Prime Minister De Wever would be accompanied by the Belgian Minister of Defence, H.E. Theo Francken.This will be Prime Minister De Wevers first visit to India since taking office in February 2025. During the visit, Prime Minister De Wever is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi on 03 September to discuss the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, as well as, regional and global issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister De Wever will also deliver a keynote address at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) business event, in the context of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Prime Minister De Wever would subsequently travel to Mumbai, where he will engage with various stakeholders including from the diamond, ports & logistics sectors. The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the India-Belgium partnership and advance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, defence and security, technology, renewable energy, connectivity and people-to-people ties, as well as to further deepen India-EU and India-Europe engagement.
NPCI International and Uzbekistans NIPC partner to enable UPI payments across Uzbekistan via UZQR
New Delhi, Aug 31: NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has entered into a commercial agreement with the National Interbank Processing Centre JSC (NIPC), operator of Uzbekistans national payment system, HUMO, on 30th August 2026. The partnership enables Indian travellers to scan Uzbekistans national interoperable QR code UZQR using their familiar UPI-enabled applications to make instant merchant payments across the country. The announcement was made during the bilateral visit of the Prime Minister of India to Uzbekistan. The execution of the agreement follows formal approvals from financial regulators, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU), which designated HUMO as NIPLs authorised partner for cross-border merchant acceptance. Key Highlights of the Agreement Universal Merchant Acceptance: By integrating with CBUs mandated Unified National QR infrastructure (UZQR), UPI users gain near-universal acceptance across retail, hospitality, and service merchants in Uzbekistan. Seamless Travel Experience: Indian tourists, business travellers, and students can make direct person-to-merchant (P2M) payments from their Indian bank accounts, eliminating foreign exchange markup friction and reducing reliance on international cards or cash. Strengthened Bilateral Ties: The initiative advances digital public infrastructure cooperation and aligns with both nations' broader strategic and economic goals. UPI is Accepted in Ten Countries Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Greece, enabling Indian travellers to make seamless payments abroad through UPI.
Tejinder Singh takes charge as IGP Jammu Zone
Jammu, Aug 31: Senior IPS officer, Tejinder Singh on Monday assumed charge as Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone. A farewell-cum-welcome function was held at Zonal Police Headquarter Jammu to bid farewell to outgoing IGP Jammu Zone Bhim Sen Tuti and welcome Tejinder Singh as the new incumbent. Speaking on the occasion, B S Tuti expressed gratitude to the officers and personnel of Jammu Zone for their cooperation and dedication. Officer present conveyed their best wishes to Tuti for his new assignment and extended warm welcome to Tejinder Singh, wishing him success for his tenure as IGP Jammu Zone.
Habitual drug peddler detained under PIT-NDPS Act in J-K's Doda
Jammu, Aug 31: A habitual drug peddler was detained under stringent PIT-NDPS Act in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Monday, police said. In a related development, four peddlers were also arrested in Reasi district following recovery of over 10 grams of heroin during the day, the police said. Imtiaz Ahmad, a habitual drug offender, was detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act in Doda district, a police spokesperson said. He said Ahmad has previously been involved in two NDPS cases registered at the Doda Police Station in 2022 and 2025. Despite having been granted bail in these cases, preventive detention proceedings were initiated against him in accordance with law to prevent his involvement in activities prejudicial to the efforts against illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the spokesperson said. After receipt of the detention order from the competent authority and completion of the requisite legal formalities, he said a police team executed the detention order and lodged the detenue in Central Jail Kot Bhalwal in Jammu under the provisions of the PIT-NDPS Act. In Reasi district, the spokesman said police intercepted a vehicle at Talwara arrested three peddlers -- Krishan Paul Singh, Romesh Singh and Vipan Singh -- following recovery of 6.78 grams of heroin. Another drug peddler, Deepak Kumar was arrested at Satyalta Junction near IRP Chowk in Reasi, he said. Kumar's search led to the recovery of 4.50 grams of heroin, the spokesman said, adding he is a habitual offender and is found to be involved in two NDPS cases in the past.
Muslim body announces movement for protection of Constitution, Sharia
New Delhi, Aug 31: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Monday announced a nationwide people's movement to protect the Constitution and Sharia (Islamic law), under which it would organise public meetings and protest programmes in major cities across the country. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said it will prepare and disseminate a comprehensive white paper documenting incidents of discrimination against Muslims, constitutional violations, and human rights abuses to the media, human rights organisations, intellectuals, elected representatives, and relevant institutions. It said the Movement for the Protection of the Constitution and Sharia is not a movement of any particular community or section but a shared national struggle to safeguard the Constitution of India, the supremacy of democracy, the rule of law, religious freedom, human dignity, national unity, peace and fraternity. We firmly believe that justice, love, dialogue, mutual respect and constitutional struggle are the true guarantees of India's peaceful future. With this conviction, we invite every justice-loving, democratic and peace-loving citizen of the country, every social and religious organisation, and every responsible member of civil society to join this movement, the Board members said at a press conference. The Board said over the past several years, conditions have continuously emerged in the country in which vulnerable and marginalised sections, particularly Muslims, have been subjected to severe pressure, insecurity and discriminatory treatment at religious, social, political and economic levels. Mob violence, extra-legal bulldozer demolitions, targeting of mosques, madrasas and shrines, illegal occupation of Waqf properties and graveyards, arbitrary arrests of Muslim youth under baseless cases, interference with religious freedom, attempts to undermine Muslim Personal Law through the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and attempts to undermine the beliefs of minorities by making the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory, have deepened a sense of insecurity among a large section of the population, the AIMPLB said. Eminent scholars, religious leaders of different faiths, intellectuals and social and political personalities will address these gatherings, and a protest will be organised in New Delhi, it said. The Board said it will submit a comprehensive Charter of Demands to the President of India through the Governors in each state and the district administrations in every district.
Bihar, Jharkhand sign Sone water-sharing agreement in presence of Home Minister Amit Shah
New Delhi, Aug 31: In the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, an MoU was signed between Bihar and Jharkhand on the sharing of Sone River water. Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Bihar Samrat Choudhary, Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, the Union Home Secretary, and senior officials from the Government of India and both states were present on this occasion. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said that todays agreement between Bihar and Jharkhand has resolved a long-awaited water dispute in eastern India. He said that this agreement will provide irrigation water to lakhs of farmers in large rural areas of Bihar and Jharkhand, along with drinking water for the people. Amit Shah stated that the agreement reached today regarding the sharing of the Sone River's waters is an excellent example of the 'Team Bharat' vision and cooperative federalism championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that while all states possess their own distinct identities, if they move forward as 'Team Bharat' within the national context, there is no problem which cannot be resolved. Shri Shah added that this marks the fourth water agreement between states this year, which will enhance water availability for irrigation, rural development, and drinking purposes. Union Home Minister said that the agreement reached today to resolve the nearly 25-year-old water dispute between Bihar and Jharkhand exemplifies that any problem can be solved through dialogue conducted with the spirit of cooperative federalism. He said that issues concerning vast geographical areas, farmers, rural regions, and drinking water supplies in both states have been permanently resolved today. Amit Shah said that today's agreement would ensure the availability of adequate water for drinking and irrigation to a large population across the districts of Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Arwal, Gaya, and Patna in Bihar. Moreover, water would become available for irrigation and drinking purposes in the Palamu, Garhwa, and other regions of Jharkhand. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for resolving the issue of Sone River water sharing. On the initiative of Home Minister Amit Shah, long-pending water disputes between various states that had been unresolved for several decades are being resolved through the Inter-State Council, so far this year, four historic agreements have been reached. On July 7, 2026, a historic agreement regarding the settlement of outstanding payments was signed among the 'Narmada Award' beneficiary states Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh in the presence of the Union Home Minister. This agreement marks a milestone in resolving long-standing disputes among these states concerning cost-sharing for the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Project, with the outstanding dues being resolved through a one-time settlement. On June 29, 2026, a significant agreement was signed between the governments of Rajasthan and Haryana regarding the construction and implementation of the Yamuna Water Project. Under this agreement, approximately 580 MCM of water will be conveyed from the Yamuna Canal to Rajasthan via three underground pipelines. The project aims to deliver Rajasthan's share of Yamuna water from the Western Yamuna Canal through these underground pipelines. This will enable Rajasthan to effectively utilize the water allocated to it under the 1994 agreement regarding the sharing of usable surface water in the Upper Yamuna Basin. The project will ensure a continuous supply of drinking water to the arid and low-rainfall regions of Rajasthan and foster socio-economic development, thereby benefiting millions of people. On June 16, 2026, a consensus was reached among the concerned states regarding the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project during a crucial meeting held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. During the meeting, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the Kishau Multipurpose Project. Regarding the project, the Central Government will provide 90% of the funding for the water component as central assistance, while the six states will bear the financial burden of the remaining 10%. An agreement was reached to allocate the water assigned to Himachal Pradesh to Delhi and Rajasthan in exchange for sharing the cost of the project's power component.
Pranab Mukherjee was a towering statesman, unwavering constitutionalist: Ashok Bhan
Srinagar, Aug 31: On the death anniversary of former President of India Pranab Mukherjee, Chairman of the Kashmir Policy and Strategy Group Ashok Bhan paid tribute to the veteran statesman, describing him as a towering statesman, an unwavering Constitutionalist and a political scholar whose public life embodied the finest traditions of Indian democracy. Bhan said Mukherjees journey from a modest beginning in a village in Bengal to the highest constitutional office of the country was marked by intellect, humility, experience and an abiding commitment to public service. He said Mukherjee possessed a rare understanding of Indias political institutions and the complexities of its democratic journey, earning respect across political lines. A man of culture and political scholarship Recalling Mukherjees multifaceted personality, Bhan said his journey included his early years as a teacher and journalist in a small village in Bengal before he emerged as an avid reader, prolific writer and standard-bearer of Indias intellectual heritage. His vast knowledge of history, politics, economics and parliamentary practice made him an exceptional repository of institutional wisdom, Bhan said. His vast knowledge of history, politics, economics and parliamentary practice made him an exceptional repository of institutional wisdom, he said. Bhan added that Mukherjee believed deeply in dialogue, accommodation and the strength of democratic institutions. His interventions were informed not merely by political expediency but by scholarship and a profound understanding of Indias civilisational and constitutional inheritance, he said. His legacy continues to inspire Bhan said Mukherjee remained, above all, an unwavering Constitutionalist whose commitment to the rule of law and good governance was central to his political and administrative philosophy. He said Mukherjee consistently urged younger generations of leaders to uphold Indias constitutional values and demonstrate deep respect for democratic institutions. His passing left a void in public life, but his legacy continues to remind us that politics, at its finest, is an instrument of national service, constitutional responsibility and the pursuit of the common good, Bhan said. Pranab Mukherjee, who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017, passed away on August 31, 2020, aged 84. His death anniversary is observed on August 31.
Bukhari questions J&K Banks low credit growth in Kashmir, seeks clarity on lending policy
LG Saxena lays foundation for 30 smart bus shelters in Ladakh
Leh, Aug 31: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday laid the foundation stone for 30 smart bus shelters -- 15 each in Leh and Kargil, in a significant step towards creating safe, smart and sustainable public transport infrastructure. The project is not merely about constructing bus shelters, but about creating safe, comfortable, technology-enabled and sustainable public transport infrastructure suited to Ladakh's unique environment, the lieutenant governor said. He said the shelters will provide covered seating and weather-protected waiting areas, offering much-needed protection from extreme cold, strong winds and snowfall. Saxena expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their continued support and guidance, which has enabled the development of modern infrastructure and improved public facilities in Ladakh in line with the aspirations of its people. These smart bus shelters will become symbols of better mobility, safety, technology, sustainability and citizen-centric services in Ladakh. Our aim is to create infrastructure that responds to our difficult climate, is environment-friendly and, most importantly, meets the daily needs of our people, Saxena said. The lieutenant governor also appealed to the people of Ladakh to take ownership of the facilities and cooperate with the administration in keeping the smart bus shelters clean, well-maintained and functional. A Lok Bhavan spokesperson said the project is designed particularly keeping in view the region's challenging climatic conditions and the needs of students, senior citizens, women, working people and daily commuters who often have to wait for buses in the open during the harsh winter months. He said the smart bus shelters mark a significant step towards developing sustainable public transport infrastructure in the Union Territory. The smart bus shelters will incorporate modern passenger information and safety facilities, the spokesperson said. He said the GPS-enabled passenger information display systems, LED displays, GPS-based bus tracking and real-time estimated time of arrival (ETA) will enable passengers to access information about bus routes and expected arrival times. CCTV surveillance, SOS/emergency buttons, first-aid kits, emergency oxygen cylinders and fire extinguishers will further enhance passenger safety, the spokesperson said. He said tactile tiles and accessible movement have also been provided for visually impaired and other passengers, making the facilities more inclusive. A key feature of the project is its solar-powered design. Each bus shelter will have a 2 KW solar PV system, battery storage and a hybrid inverter. Solar energy will be used to power Wi-Fi, passenger information displays and other essential facilities, thereby reducing dependence on grid electricity and helping lower operational costs, thereby, contributing to the vision of carbon-neutral Ladakh, the spokesperson said. He said the shelters will also reflect Ladakhi architectural character, combining modern technology with local identity and heritage. This approach seeks to ensure that infrastructure developed for the future remains rooted in Ladakh's distinctive cultural character.
Why is lending in Kashmir being reduced? Altaf Bukhari questions J&K Bank
Srinagar, Aug 31: Apni Party president and former J&K finance minister Altaf Bukhari on Monday questioned Jammu and Kashmir Banks lending pattern, recruitment policy and board composition, while also alleging that efforts are being made to shift the banks headquarters from Srinagar. Addressing a press conference here, Bukhari described J&K Bank as a jewel in the crown and said it played an important role in the economic development of J&K. I have been the finance minister of J&K. I am saddened to see the results, Bukhari said, referring to the banks credit growth being higher in outside J&K. 9% credit growth for J&K Bank in Kashmir and 30% in the rest of the country, he said. Bukhari alleged that the difference showed that the bank was reducing its lending in J&K while expanding its lending operations outside the region. This means that J&K Bank has pulled its hand somewhere. Lending in J&K has been shut down and lending in the rest of the country is increasing. This is a problem for us, he said. Bukharis remarks came after Greater Kashmir had earlier reported that J&K Bank recorded around 9 per cent credit growth in J&K, compared with around 30 per cent in the rest of the country. He also questioned why lending in Kashmir was being reduced.As a finance minister, I know that the NPA of J&K Bank is 4-5 times higher than lending in Kashmir, Bukhari said. This is why I don't understand why the lending in Kashmir has to be reduced and why the lending in the rest of the country has to be increased, he added. Bukhari also linked his concerns to the ownership of the bank, pointing out that the J&K government is its majority shareholder. J&K Bank is the bank of the J&K government. We are the majority shareholder, he said. He also pointed out that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah holds the finance portfolio in the government. The government of J&K is headed by Mr. Umar Abdullah. He is the finance minister and it is responsibility to set the record straigth, Bukhari said. Bukhari also raised concerns over recruitment by J&K Bank outside the Union Territory, saying the bank had traditionally provided employment opportunities to the youth of J&K. He alleged that recruitment outside J&K was now being carried out locally in those areas.I am aware that the recruitment outside J&K, where non-domiciles are recruited, Bukhari said. Bukhari said employees from J&K had a particular emotional connection with the bank.When the children of J&K work in J&K, they have an emotional connection that it is their own bank, he said. That is why they try to make a profit. Because it is our own bank, he added. When there is someone from outside, what will he be worried about? He will not be worried at all, Bukhari said. Bukhari also questioned the composition of J&K Banks board of directors, alleging that it does not adequately represent Kashmir. Thirdly, the Board of Directors does not represent Kashmir, he said.The majority of people are from outside J&K. What kind of justice is this? he asked.It has been two years since the J&K government was elected, Bukhari said.If there is a board of 13, 14, 15 or 16 people, even those 5 people are not from J&K or Kashmir. As far as I know, there is only one representative from Kashmir, he alleged. He demanded immediate clarification on the issue.If this is being done in a planned manner, then also it is a problem for us, Bukhari said.I want it to be clarified immediately. And if it is being done, it should be stopped. Bukhari then raised what he described as another scary news concerning the banks headquarters.That J&K Bank's headquarters is being shifted from Srinagar, he alleged.I do not know whether these people are living in heaven or on the ground, Bukhari said. Maybe they are not aware of the ground realities. They do not understand that emotions can be played to an extent, but not after that, he added. Bukhari appealed to the J&K government and anyone associated with the alleged proposal to intervene. So, I humbly request the J&K government and whoever is associated with this, to stop these suicide attacks, he said.Because this will not be good for J&K, Bukhari added.
Iran's supreme leader calls for Muslim unity against US, Israel
Dubai, Aug 31: Iran's supreme leader called on Muslim countries to stand together against Israel and the United States. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei urged rulers of Muslim nations to know your real enemy, understand its plans and confront it, and called the US and Israel enemies of all Islamic nations, the official IRNA news agency reported. Six months after the US and Israel attacked Iran, killing Khamenei's father and other senior leaders, Khamenei still has not been seen publicly. His comments came in a letter to religious leaders attending a conference in Tehran. The war has exposed divisions in the Muslim world after Iran struck targets in neighbouring Gulf Arab countries and restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has opposed the US military presence in the region. (AP)
J&K Bank signs 3 CSP MoUs in Kashmir, extends benefits to 887 employees
Reaffirming its commitment to strengthening relationships with prominent educational and business institutions across Jammu and Kashmir, J&K Bank has signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) under its Corporate Salary Package (CSP) with Delhi Public School (DPS) Budgam, HK Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. (HK Hyundai) and Himalayan Motors. The agreements will collectively extend customised banking benefits and enhanced service features to 887 employees of the three institutions. The MoU with DPS Budgam, covering 341 employees of the school, was signed by Zonal Head (Budgam) Layek Ahmad Jan on behalf of the Bank and Mrs Soz on behalf of the institution. Cluster Head (Budgam) Wasim Ahmad Qadri, Branch Head (Humhama) Sheikh Nazima Asad and other senior officials were present on the occasion. The Bank also formalised its CSP arrangement with HK Automobiles Pvt. Ltd., extending its benefits to 141 employees of the group. Zonal Head (Srinagar) Sheikh Mohammad Muzaffar and Director HK Automobiles Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din signed the agreement on behalf of the respective organisations in the presence of Directors HK Automobiles Mohammad Sultan Mir and Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Cluster Head Syed Tasaduq Madni, Branch Head (Pantha Chowk) Sabba Rafiq and other senior officials from both sides. In another agreement, the Bank signed an MoU with Himalayan Motors to bring its 405 employees under the Corporate Salary Package. The agreement was signed by Zonal Head (Srinagar) Sheikh Mohammad Muzaffar on behalf of the Bank and Managing Partners Himalayan Motors Ghulam Mohammad Beigh and Bashir Ahmad Beigh. Cluster Head Subuhi Yaseen, Branch Head (BP Batmaloo) Muzaffar Hussain and other senior officials from both organisations attended the signing ceremony. Speaking on the agreements, the respective Zonal Heads termed the partnerships as part of the Banks continued endeavour to nurture longstanding institutional relationships with prominent institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. They reiterated that by extending Corporate Salary Package to the employees of these institutions, the Bank aims to provide customised financial solutions, enhanced banking features and seamless services while creating greater value for its institutional partners. During the respective events, the Banks Cluster Heads familiarised the participating institutions with the comprehensive features and benefits available under the Corporate Salary Package.
FDA J&K bans sale of 10 non-conforming ghee batches
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu & Kashmir, has prohibited the sale, storage, distribution and display of 10 identified brands and batches of ghee across the Union Territory after laboratory analysis found the products to be sub-standard, unsafe or misbranded. The action has been taken under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, following examination of samples by notified food analysts at the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, and the Food Testing Laboratory, Kashmir. The affected products are Dairy Mohan Desi Ghee (Batch No. 05), Apna Dairy Milk Desi Ghee (Batch No. DM-06), Milk Bite Cow Ghee (Batch No. 137), Nandni Desi Ghee (Batch No. ND-28), Shahi Taj Desi Ghee (Batch No. 134), Daawat Fresh (Batch No. VT09), Nand Krishna Cow Ghee (Batch No. PC-05-26), Vandu Cow Ghee (Batch No. D143), Dairy Milk Desi Ghee (Batch No. OM12), and Mohan Dairy Ghee (Batch No. 06). Samples of the affected products were collected from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Anantnag, Shangus, Larnoo, Bijbehara, Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Tral and Pampore. Laboratory findings included the presence of beta-sitosterol or foreign vegetable fat, a positive Baudouin test, abnormal fatty-acid profiles and deviations from prescribed physicochemical parameters. The FDA has directed all Food Business Operators (FBOs), wholesalers, distributors and retailers to immediately stop the sale, distribution and display of the affected batches and ensure that the products are withdrawn from circulation. The concerned FBOs have also been directed to submit details of the stock of the affected batches to the concerned Designated Officer within 48 hours. Enforcement authorities have been instructed to maintain strict vigil and take necessary action to prevent further circulation of the prohibited products. The Administration reiterated that, under applicable food safety standards, ghee must be derived exclusively from milk or milk products, and ghee containing any added matter not exclusively derived from milk fat is not permitted for sale. The prohibition has been imposed with immediate effect across Jammu and Kashmir in the interest of public health and consumer safety. The FDA has urged consumers to remain vigilant and check the brand name, batch number and date of packing while purchasing ghee. Consumers and retailers have also been advised to report the sale or availability of any of the prohibited batches to the concerned Food Safety authorities. The FDA clarified that the prohibitory action is a precautionary measure taken in the public interest and does not affect the statutory right of the concerned FBOs to seek re-analysis through an FSSAI-notified Referral Laboratory in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules framed thereunder.
Jamiath Ahle-Hadith J&K chief welcomes Mohan Bhagwat's remarks on Muslims in India
Srinagar, Aug 30: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday urged the people of Srinagars Shehr-e-Khaas not to fall prey to the decades-long exploitation by traditional political parties like the National Conference. He called upon them to become aware of their political and democratic rights and assert them to bring about a change in their present difficult situation. He was addressing a workers convention in Habba Kadal, Srinagar, which was attended by a large gathering of local residents and party workers. Addressing the gathering, Bukhari expressed serious concern over the continued poor condition of Srinagar city and the hardships faced by its residents. He said that to change this situation, people must take responsibility and stop falling prey to the exploitative politics of the National Conference and its leadership. He said, Marhoom Sheikh Sahib successfully earned the unconditional loyalty of the people of the city and built a political empire for generations of his family. However, this blind following by the people paved the way for a prolonged lack of development and prosperity in the city. Even today, decades later, people continue to blindly follow the party, often at the cost of their own future and that of the coming generations. He went on to say, There are around nine lakh people living in this historic city, yet a large number of them are struggling even for basic amenities. Look at the plight of our youth. They are educated but remain jobless, with many forced to take up petty jobs, like working as street vendors. How long can this situation continue? Unfortunately, the existing reservation policy has also adversely affected the people of the city by further reducing employment opportunities for local youth. The residents of the city do not fall under any reserved category, except the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), whose reservation has also been reduced from 10 percent to 3 percent, he added. He went on to say, This beautiful and historic city still lacks even basic amenities, like drinking water. There is a serious shortage of housing, and livelihood opportunities. Many of our daughters in the city, despite having crossed marriageable age, are unable to get married because of the severe financial difficulties faced by their families. We must seriously think about how to change this pathetic situation. The first step is for the people to distance themselves from the political forces that have kept them in this condition despite receiving their support for decades, he added. Apni Party president said that by continuing to support the NC, the people of the city are, in fact, compromising their own interests and development. He said, Why dont you understand this simple fact? Despite remaining in power for decades, this party allowed the city to remain in such a pathetic condition and, even worse, damaged its natural infrastructure. Take Nallah Mar, for instance. It was an ancient waterway that connected Dal Lake and the Brari Nambal lagoon with the River Jhelum and Anchar Lake. Filling up this historic canal was one of the greatest acts of damage inflicted on this city and its people. It not only destroyed an important part of Srinagars natural drainage and waterway system but also robbed the city of a vital part of its historical heritage, he said. Remembering the days when Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims lived together in harmony in the city, Bukhari said, I vividly remember the days when, as children, we used to attend tuition classes taught by some of the finest Pandit teachers. I also fondly remember the time when Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits lived together happily and prosperously, sharing a bond of mutual respect, trust, and brotherhood. Making a heartfelt appeal to the Kashmiri Pandit community, he said, I urge my Kashmiri Pandit brethren to return so that, together, we can rediscover the past glory of our beautiful shared culture and work towards restoring peace, prosperity, and harmony. Apni Party President urged the people of the city to remain vigilant and ensure that, whenever the ULB polls are held, they vote wisely and choose their representatives thoughtfully, so that their developmental issues are addressed effectively. He also urged the people to support Apni Party to enable it to implement its pro-people manifesto in the city and ensure sustained prosperity and development in this historic and beautiful city. Speaking on the occasion, former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir said that the people of Srinagar city are facing severe hardships due to inadequate housing, limited livelihood opportunities, and a lack of developmental infrastructure. He said that even the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) does not allow people to construct houses or commercial establishments on their own land, causing them further hardship and inconvenience. He said, It is painful to see our youth struggling today. They do not have enough job opportunities, and many of them also face problems in getting passports and completing verification processes for jobs and passports. Lashing out at the government Mir said, These people have placed their trust in you, given you their mandate, and voted you to power. How can a government refuse to address the issues and concerns of the very people who elected it? Partys Provincial president Mohammad Ashraf Mir addressed the occasion and urged the people of the city to support Apni Party. He said, Unlike the traditional parties, this party does not belong to any family or any individual. This party belongs to people and its primary agenda is to serve the people. I urge you to make this party strengthen so that it will be able to implement its agenda for peace, prosperity and development of Jammu and Kashmir and its people. Besides Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and Ghulam Hassan Mir, the prominent party leaders who spoke in the convention or who were present on the occasion included partys Vice President Haji Mohammad Syed Akhoon, Provincial President Kashmir Mohammad, Chief Spokesperson & State Secretary Muntazir Mohiudin, District President Srinagar & Constituency In-charge Central Shaltang Zaffar Habib, Provincial Secretary Kashmir Malik Aftab, Provincial Secretary Kashmir Peer Wajahat, Provincial Joint Secretary Kashmir & Constituency In-charge Habba Kadal Jeelani Hamid Kumar, Provincial Joint Secretary Aamir Ashraf Bhat, Provincial Joint Secretary Kashmir Aijaz Rather, Organiser Central Kashmir Mohammad Shafi Mir, Vice President Srinagar Mohsin Zaffar Shah, Provincial Youth President Kashmir Jibran Dar, Joint Secretary District Srinagar Khursheed Ahmad Makhdoomi, Joint Secretary District Srinagar Sameer Ahmad Lone, Constituency In-charge Khanyar Amir Bhat, and others.
Statehood will return, Article 370 will not: JK BJP to Mirwaiz
Srinagar, Aug 30: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP on Sunday hit out at Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for urging political parties to unite for the restoration of Article 370, claiming that such statements are attempts to provoke the public and disrupt the peaceful atmosphere that has emerged in the valley after years of violence. BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said Parliament took a historic constitutional decision on August 5, 2019, and the Supreme Court subsequently upheld the abrogation of Article 370. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq should understand that Article 370 is not coming back. Parliament has buried Article 370 forever, and no political party, leader or pressure group can reverse that constitutional reality, Thakur said. He said such calls risked dragging Kashmir back into the politics of the past. Statements of this nature are meant to provoke people and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the Valley once again. This will never be allowed. The nation has paid a very heavy price for the return of peace to Kashmir. The sacrifices of our brave security forces and civilians, including political workers who laid down their lives for peace and democracy, cannot be allowed to be undermined or challenged through politically motivated statements, Thakur said. He noted that Kashmir has experienced enough bloodshed, shutdowns, stone-pelting, and disruption, and that the people should not be pushed into another cycle of instability. Those who attempt to revive old fault lines must understand that Kashmir has moved ahead. Our youth want education, employment, entrepreneurship, investment, tourism and opportunities. They do not want to return to an era when shutdown calendars dictated their lives and violence dictated the future, he said. Thakur mentioned that political parties were free to express their views within the constitutional framework, but attempts to create agitation around an issue that had already been constitutionally settled would serve no purpose. Democracy gives everyone the right to speak and participate, but democracy cannot be reduced to repeatedly demanding the reversal of a constitutional decision that has already been upheld by the highest court of the country, he said. On the issue of statehood, Thakur said the BJP has made its position clear that it would be restored at an appropriate time. There is a clear distinction between statehood and Article 370. Statehood will be restored at an appropriate time, as has been stated by the Government. But there is absolutely no question of bringing back Article 370, he said. Those spreading confusion on this issue should stop misleading the people, he said.
Altaf Bukhari asks Mirwaiz to come forward, guide people on what needs to be done
Nepal flash floods highlight need for planned settlement, scientific assessments: Experts
New Delhi, Aug 30: The devastating flash floods in Nepal have driven home important lessons of undertaking systematic scientific assessments of glaciers in order to understand and mitigate hazards and to develop a land use policy in the Himalayan region, experts said. Over 460 people from Nepal and Tibet have been killed, and thousands, including Indian tourists, are missing after massive flash floods hit parts of Nepal on Wednesday, wreaking havoc across several towns and villages, washing away critical bridges and crippling a dozen hydropower projects. Initial speculation after a sudden surge near the Nepal-Tibet border crossing in Rasuwagadhi included a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and an avalanche. However, researchers from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based near Kathmandu, are investigating whether an ice-rock avalanche originating from a high-altitude location may have triggered the floods. A large volume of ice and rock debris may have entered the Lende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River, which could have generated a sudden surge carrying water, sediment and large boulders downstream, they said, based on a preliminary assessment of video footage and information from affected areas. It is related to climate change because the snow covers are reducing, the glaciers are receding, more rocky or barren areas are exposed -- they absorb more heat, which makes the slopes more vulnerable, Mohd Farooq Azam, senior cryosphere specialist at ICIMOD and associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Indore, told PTI. Even though the exact cause is yet to be ascertained, he added, it may be a result of less snow cover, receding glaciers, and some permafrost degradation in the area. Extreme precipitation events, especially heavy snowfall, in the Himalayas only temporarily increase snow accumulation, a study published in Global and Planetary Change has found. Climate change has also contributed to an increase in glacial lakes in Himachal Pradesh, with a recent study, published in the Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, showing an increase of 525 per cent in the lakes between 1990 and 2024, with a doubling in area. Smaller lakes have increased from nine in number to 487. There are different mechanisms through which glacial lakes can form. They may be dammed by moraines, glacier ice, bedrock depressions, or other geomorphological features, author Reet Kamal Tiwari, associate professor and head, department of civil engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Punjab, told PTI. However, the mere presence of a glacial lake does not necessarily mean that it poses an immediate threat to nearby communities, he said. We first need to assess the vulnerability and stability of the lake and identify the possible external triggers that could lead to a sudden release of water. The concern is not simply the increasing number of glacial lakes; it is the combination of increasing hazard potential and increasing downstream exposure, Tiwari said. Triggers may include landslides, intense rainfall, snow or ice avalanches, rockfalls, or the collapse of a hanging glacier, he said. Soniya Rijal, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Sydney in Australia, said that a lack of a warning system built only around rain-related events also contributed to the disaster. What this event shows is that our warning systems, formal and informal, are built around rain. I have heard that people in the affected valleys were alerting their neighbours before the water arrived, but because there had been no heavy rainfall, many did not take the warnings seriously, she said. Rijal is from Kathmandu. Azam said, We have very limited data. We need to improve data, the basic understanding on the ground, and develop specific models for the Himalayan region and early warning systems, especially low-cost ones, so that we can install it many places wherever we have hot spots. The flash floods are similar to those in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, when a massive ice and rock avalanche from the Ronti peak triggered a sudden surge of water, impacting the Rishi Ganga, Dhauliganga, and Alaknanda rivers in February 2021. Hydropower projects were severely damaged and about 300 people, mostly workers at the dam sites, were reported killed or missing. Every disaster is unique. First, we need to understand the processes, and then we need to design some mitigation measures accordingly, Azam said. Tiwari said, The first requirement is proper scientific assessment of potentially hazardous glacial lakes and their downstream areas. A proper assessment should examine the lake, its dam and surrounding terrain, possible triggering mechanisms, downstream flow paths, and the settlements and infrastructure that could be affected, he said. Authorities should involve experts with appropriate experience in glaciology, geomorphology, hydrology, remote sensing, geotechnical engineering, and disaster management, Tiwari added. Further, the flash floods drive the urgency of developing land use policies, Azam said. The problem is we are settling very close to the river and sometimes on the river. The urgency is to develop a land use policy, he said. There should be proper planning for the settlement infrastructure development, because these events will happen and we understand that over the last couple of decades, the frequency as well as magnitude of such events have increased, he added. Azam also pointed to how there needs to be an assessment of how the environment can impact infrastructure. When we develop an infrastructure, we have to do environment impact assessment. But now is the time when we need to do environment's impact assessment on the infrastructure, he said. If there is some heavy rainfall, some cloud burst, some glacial lake outburst flood, or something like what happened yesterday, what would be the impact on the settlement and infrastructure? So we don't have this kind of assessment anywhere, Azam said.
49 Indians among 261 foreigners missing after flash flood on Tibet-Nepal border: Officials
Beijing, Aug 30: Chinese officials on Sunday said 261 foreign nationals, including 49 Indians, remained unaccounted for after a catastrophic flash flood struck Gyirong Port, one of the main border crossings between Nepal and Tibet, on August 26. The 261 foreigners are from 23 countries, Chinese officials told a media briefing at Gyirong, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The media briefing was held after a joint search and cross-checking of information by foreign affairs, public security, culture and tourism, and emergency management authorities. Those unaccounted for include 104 people from Nepal, 49 from India, 33 from Latvia, 18 from the United States, 15 from Britain, six from Canada, six from Australia, four from South Africa, three each from Malaysia, Germany and Russia, two each from Ireland, Estonia, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, and one each from Kazakhstan, Finland, Lithuania, Portugal, Ukraine, Spain and Hungary, it reported. A large number of Indian pilgrims were visiting Tibet to take part in the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra after ties between China and India improved. Some of the Indian pilgrims were reportedly at the immigration building at the Tibet-Nepal border when the flood struck the region, wreaking havoc in Gyirong County in Tibet. Videos of the giant flash flood engulfing the sprawling immigration building went viral globally.
Govt taking steps to modernise schools, bridge teacher gaps: MLA Ehsan Pardesi
Srinagar, Aug 29:Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Lal Chowk constituency Ehsan Pardesi Saturday said the government has initiated measures to upgrade elementary level schools with a focus on improving infrastructure and creating a better learning environment for students. Talking to Greater Kashmir on the sidelines of the Annual Day function of Government Girls Higher Secondary School (GGHSS) Srinagar, MLA Ehsan Pardesi said that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have already been prepared for several schools housed in old buildings, while the government was planning to construct modern school buildings at various locations in Lal Chowk constituency. The government has already taken initiatives to improve our elementary level schools. Modern infrastructure would provide students with a better ambience and environment for learning, he said. On the disproportionate pupil-teacher ratio in elementary level schools of Lal Chowk constituency, MLA Pardesi said that the government was already working on the serious issue. I hope that the staff gaps would be addressed in the future, he said. Pardesi, however, said that choosing between government and private schools remains the prerogative of parents. He referred to his recent visit to KothiBagh School and said he was informed by the principal that several parents whose kids were earlier enrolled in private schools have enrolled them in the government school. Earlier in his address at the occasion, MLA Ehsan Pardesi stressed the need to have dedicated funds to maintain the existing school infrastructure. He said every school should have a provision for regular maintenance so that existing facilities do not deteriorate. Our Director School Education is here. I would request that some funds should be kept available with the school for the maintenance of the existing infrastructure, he said. He said the government usually constructs buildings without any provision for its maintenance. A school should look like a school. It is important that any new infrastructure which comes up remains properly maintained, he added. He congratulated the faculty, management and students of GGHSS Amira Kadal, Srinagar for their performance and wished them success in the future.
Melting glacier returns Austrian climbers backpack after 63 years
An 86-year-old Austrian man has been reunited with climbing equipment he lost in a glacier crevasse more than six decades ago, after melting ice brought the belongings back to the surface, CNN reported. A hiker discovered the backpack last month on the Sulztalferner glacier in Austrias western Tyrol region, at an altitude of nearly 3,000 metres. Austrian police found an ice axe, camera, whistle and a weathered document folder inside. Police initially investigated whether the backpack could be linked to an old mountaineering accident. Documents inside eventually revealed the owners name, allowing officers to trace him. Investigators found that the man had lost the equipment during a climbing expedition in August 1963. He had fallen into a crevasse while roped to several companions. Although his companions managed to pull him out, he abandoned the backpack to reduce his weight. The equipment remained buried in the glacier for 63 years before emerging as the ice melted. The man, whose name has not been released, could not collect the belongings himself because of ill health. Police instead handed them over to his son, who expressed gratitude for their return, according to Tirol police. The unusual discovery comes as glaciers in the Alps and elsewhere continue to shrink because of rising global temperatures. Melting ice has increasingly exposed objects and human remains that had remained preserved for decades or even thousands of years. In 1991, hikers in the Italian Alps discovered the remarkably preserved body of tzi the Iceman, who died around 5,300 years ago.
Online platforms can aid education, but ethics gap must be bridged by teachers, students: DSEK
Srinagar, Aug 29:Government Girls Higher Secondary School (GGHSS) Amira Kadal celebrated its annual day on Saturday with a blend of cultural performances, academic recognition and a tribute to the role of parents in shaping students achievements. The annual function also witnessed the release of the school magazine Uqaab, which showcased the creative and academic contributions of the students. Adding colour to the celebrations, students presented a series of cultural performances centredaround the theme of inclusiveness and social harmony. The programme featured Ladakhi dance, Punjabi performance and the traditional Kashmiri Rouf which highlighted the diversity of Indias cultural landscape. However, the most poignant moment of the function came when mothers of students who had excelled in the previous years JK Board of School Education (JKBOE) examinations were felicitated on behalf of their children. The mothers of a few meritorious students attended the annual day function of the school and were felicitated on behalf of their kids, who were not present at the felicitation ceremony of their school As the mothers walked onto the stage with pride to receive the honours, the ceremony turned into an emotional acknowledgement of the families behind the students success. The moment made the gesture a special recognition of the mothers contribution and support. In his address, Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Lal Chowk Constituency Ehsan Pardesi hailed the school administration, particularly the principal, for carrying forward the legacy of the institution. Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Naseer Ahmad Wani, who was the guest of honour at the occasion, in his address stressed the need for strengthening ethical and social values among students. He said that while technology has made access to education easier, values such as respect and responsibility cannot be acquired from online platforms alone. Students today have access to a wide range of educational resources through YouTube and other online platforms, but the responsibility of imparting ethics and social values rests with students themselves and their teachers, he added. Respect for our colleagues, respect for our teachers and respect for our parents is very important, he added. He further urged the students to remain conscious of their responsibility towards society. DSEK said the message emerging from the traditional Ladi Shah performance by a school student was the one that everyone should follow in their daily lives. Education should not remain confined to academic achievement but character-building and ethical conduct must form an integral part of a students development, he added. He congratulated the students who were felicitated during the function and appreciated their efforts across academics, sports and cultural activities. He also lauded students for pursuing diverse career paths, including medicine, humanities and sports. He said the Annual Day function is a special function as students look forward to the occasion throughout the year and work during the academic session to improve their performance, showcase creativity and earn recognition. He also appreciated students who participated in academic, sporting and cultural events and congratulated the school management for organising the felicitation ceremony, release of the school magazine and cultural performances with coordination. Chief Education Officer Srinagar Ghulam Mohiudin Bhat and Principal GGHSS Amira KadalNusratManzoor also spoke at the occasion.
Budgam-Katra train services resume, Sundays to remain off
Ramban, Aug 29:Train services between Budgam and Katra resumed on Saturday, August 29, providing relief to passengers travelling between the Kashmir Valley and Katra, official sources said. According to officials, Train No. 04688 (BudgamKatra) and Train No. 04687 (KatraBudgam) have been restored and will operate as per the revised schedule. However, the services will remain suspended every Sunday. The resumption is expected to strengthen rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region, particularly for passengers travelling between Budgam, other parts of the Valley and Katra. The services are also likely to benefit commuters, students, employees, visitors and pilgrims by providing an additional mode of transportation between the two regions. The development assumes significance as rail connectivity has emerged as an important link between Kashmir and the Jammu region, facilitating passenger movement and reducing dependence on road transport. Officials advised passengers to check the latest railway timetable and operational status before planning their journeys, particularly when travelling on Sundays, when the services will remain suspended. The restoration of the BudgamKatra services is expected to facilitate smoother movement of passengers between the Valley and Katra and further strengthen rail connectivity between the two regions.
3 days after floods, 1st Chinese rescue team reaches devastated Gyirong Port
Three days after devastating floods swept through areas along the Nepal-Tibet border, Chinas first major rescue team reached the worst-hit Gyirong Port on Friday, with rescuers forced to trek through dense forests and steep canyons after roads were destroyed, BBC reported. Six personnel from the Tibet fire and rescue service, along with 15 rescuers and a search dog from the Sichuan fire and rescue service, reached the area at around 4.30 pm local time, Chinas state broadcaster CCTV reported. The deployment came as the official death toll in Tibet rose to seven, with 554 people still missing, according to Chinese state media. The number of casualties is expected to rise as rescue teams gain access to areas cut off by the floods. There was no road... it was all virgin forest and sheer cliffs, rescue worker Zou Mingqi told Reuters. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but ruins. CCTV said the rescue teams had to cross dense forest and canyons to reach the affected area near Gyirong Port, a key crossing on the Nepal-Tibet border that was badly damaged by the flooding. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to Nepalese President Ram Chandra Paudel over the disaster, saying he was confident that the people of China and Nepal would join hands to overcome this disaster as soon as possible and rebuild their homes. Chinese authorities have warned that continued heavy rain over the weekend could further hamper rescue operations and trigger mudslides in some areas.
Closer specialised care can ensure timely treatment, reduce patient travel: SakeenaItoo
Srinagar, Aug 29: Minister for Health & Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare, SakeenaItoo, today inaugurated the Department of Radiology, including CT Scan, along with the Division of Non-Invasive Cardiology and Medical Oncology at Imam Hussain Multispecialty Hospital, Hamdania Colony, Bemina, Srinagar. The newly operationalised services mark a significant step towards expanding access to specialised and affordable healthcare facilities for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly those belonging to economically weaker sections. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister appreciated the Imam Hussain Hospital Foundation for its sustained contribution to the healthcare sector and for providing medical services on a no-profit, no-loss basis. The hospital, which has been functioning since 1990, has progressively expanded from its initial healthcare initiatives, including a Blood Bank, into a multispecialty healthcare institution offering a range of specialised medical and surgical services. The Minister said that strengthening diagnostic and specialised treatment facilities closer to the people is essential for ensuring timely intervention and reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for advanced healthcare. The hospital authorities informed that during 2025-26, the institution provided OPD services to approximately 20,000 patients. Around 700 surgical procedures, including major oncology surgeries, were also performed during the last 14 months. The hospital further conducted approximately 2,500 dialysis sessions, while around 500 dialysis sessions were provided free of cost to patients before the hospital was linked with the Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (PMJAY). The hospital is presently providing services through multiple speciality departments at affordable and subsidised rates, with particular focus on patients from economically weaker sections. A number of surgical procedures have also been undertaken free of cost for underprivileged patients. The Minister underscored the importance of partnerships between the public and non-profit healthcare sectors in strengthening the overall health ecosystem of Jammu and Kashmir. She said that the availability of modern diagnostic, cardiac and oncology services under one roof would provide greater convenience and timely care to patients. She expressed hope that the newly inaugurated facilities would further enhance the hospitals capacity to deliver quality, accessible and affordable healthcare services to the people.
Srinagar, Aug 29:Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday asserted that political parties from Jammu and Kashmir should make efforts for restoration of statehood and Article 370, saying it is their moral responsibility to raise their voice for the rights of people. Our rights were snatched away by force. Our statehood was abolished, we were made a Union territory. The government should uphold the promises made to people prior to the elections, Farooq told reporters here. The preacher also termed alleged threats to Kashmiri Pandits residing in the Valley deeply unfortunate. We have consistently reiterated that Kashmiri Pandits are an integral part of our society, history, culture, and our future. They are not outsiders, they belong here. We have always advocated for their return and will continue our efforts, as should the government, he asserted. Lashing out at the NC-led government, the Mirwaiz accused it of losing sight of its priorities. They have been unable to instill confidence in people regarding their snatched rights, the splitting of Jammu and Kashmir, and the complete disregard for constitutional commitments, he added. He said the Centre had essentially revoked all the promises made to Jammu and Kashmir since 1947. They revoked all constitutional guarantees. So, it is the moral responsibility of mainstream political parties to stand up for these issues. They must raise their voice for restoration of rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and present a unified voice in this regard, he added. On Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdis decision to quit the Lok Sabha and the National Conference (NC), the Mirwaiz hailed the parliamentarian as a staunch voice committed to raising peoples issues, and urged all organisations and parties of Jammu and Kashmir to follow suit. They must stand by these constitutional guarantees, the commitments they made to people, their manifesto, and their election plank, he said. He also criticised the government over hike in electricity tariff. The government must recognise that Jammu and Kashmirs economy is already going through a very fragile phase. Common, low-income citizens are in no position to endure escalating power tariffs. The administration should have deferred this increase, he said. The Mirwaiz expressed solidarity with the victims of the Nepal tragedy and their families, asserting that the flash flood disaster should serve as a warning for Jammu and Kashmir. We also reside in this Himalayan region. Over the past couple of years, we have seen changing weather patterns and climatic shifts driven by global warming. God has blessed Kashmir with immense natural beauty. Protecting this is our foremost responsibility, he said. He said while people want development, tourism and infrastructure, it cannot come at the cost of our ecology and environment. Farooq said human interference with the ecosystem is largely responsible for weather vagaries and natural disasters. While we will hold the administration accountable, we must also introspect. Unplanned and unregulated construction continues unchecked across tourist destinations and fragile hilly terrains like Pahalgam. If this persists, we are heading toward an ecological disaster. Authorities and policy experts must formulate a well-structured roadmap to safeguard this Himalayan belt, he said.
J&K is becoming a hub of innovation, resilience in health sector: LG Sinha
Srinagar, Aug 29:The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, inaugurated the 3rd edition of the CII Jammu & Kashmir Health Conclave today. The Lieutenant Governor emphasised the transformative vision of Health Services Anytime, Anywhere and highlighted the role of innovation, resilience and inclusive growth in shaping the future of healthcare. Extending best wishes to Ujala Cygnus for its new initiative, the Peace and Wellbeing Foundation, the Lieutenant Governor noted that the conclave is a platform for discussion and a collective opportunity to redefine healthcare delivery in Jammu and Kashmir and other states. Citing the example of an ASHA worker using tele-consultation to connect patients in remote villages with district hospitals, the Lieutenant Governor said that telemedicine is a revolutionary step that eliminates geographical barriers. He stressed that technology must serve humanity, ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to timely medical care. The Lieutenant Governor said that modern tools should inspire solutions for easy accessibility of best possible healthcare to all the citizens. He urged stakeholders to make Jammu and Kashmir a laboratory for low-cost, high-impact innovations such as drone-based delivery of medical supplies and solar-powered cold chains for high-altitude health centres. The Lieutenant Governor outlined three pressing challenges confronting global health systems including rising healthcare expenditure. He called for a shift towards prevention, early intervention and regular screening to reduce dependence on costly treatments. We need to move beyond a system that treats illness to one that protects and promotes health. We must prioritise regular screening, easy access to primary healthcare services and timely treatment, the Lieutenant Governor said. He also emphasised expanding training capacity, supporting wellbeing of medical staff and leveraging telemedicine to extend reach. We need to expand training capacity in medical and nursing education and ensure access to health services in rural and remote areas through telemedicine. Most importantly, we must also take care of the wellbeing of our health workers. Better staffing, reduced administrative burden and mental-health support are fundamental requirements of a strong health system, he said. The Lieutenant Governor said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accessibility, affordability and universal insurance coverage has been ensured and health inequality has been eliminated. Under the leadership of the Honble Prime Minister, efforts are being made to link health records across the country through a secure digital system. This will enable any authorised doctor, wherever they may be, to access a patients health history within moments. At the same time, patients retain control over who can view their information and how much information they can access, he said. The Lieutenant Governor noted significant progress in Jammu and Kashmirs healthcare infrastructure, including 2 new AIIMS institutions, 10 new medical colleges, 2 State Cancer Institutes, specialised hospitals including Bone & Joint and Paediatric facilities, 52 nursing colleges, 23 paramedical colleges and 5 pharmacy colleges, which are historic steps towards social justice and equitable healthcare. The Lieutenant Governor urged the conclave to deliberate on key priorities of developing modern primary health centres in every village linked to district networks, harnessing AI for early detection of diseases while supporting doctors decisions, strengthening disease surveillance, genomic capacity, and local manufacturing of diagnostic kits and building a robust health workforce through nursing and paramedical institutions, continuous skill development and strong collaboration between government and private sector. Private hospitals and industries associated with the health sector must also join this effort, recognising it as an important task of nation-building. I believe that the strongest health systems are those in which the government and the private sector work together for public welfare, combining their capabilities, speed and innovation, the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that the true measure of success lies in improved lives. He envisioned a future where families in Kupwara need not travel hours for routine care, workers in Rajouri are free from financial fear and medical graduates can build their careers within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Advanced treatment and modern health facilities must be accessible to all so that we may establish the principles of social justice and equality. The health of an individual or a family affects opportunities, productivity and overall well-being of the society, he said.
CAIT Kashmir expands leadership structure to strengthen traders voice across J&K
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Kashmir Chapter has expanded and strengthened its organisational structure with the constitution of a new core team and an advisory and coordination mechanism aimed at ensuring wider representation of the trading community across J&K. The move is intended to take CAITs trader-focused initiatives to the grassroots and establish a structured platform through which issues, suggestions and concerns of traders from different districts and markets can be represented before the concerned authorities. The chapter will be headed by Farhan Kitab as President, while Peer Imtiyaz Ul Hassan has been appointed Secretary General. The executive committee comprises Omer Bhat as Senior Vice President, Parvez Ahmad Bhat as Additional General Secretary, Farooq Ahmad Rangrez as Treasurer and Mohammad Altaf Dar as Publicity Head. To strengthen regional representation, Tariq Ahmad Magaloo has been appointed Vice President for North Kashmir, Mohammad Shafi Vice President for South Kashmir and Wasim Afrooz Vice President for Central Kashmir. Mohammad Ashraf Ganie has been appointed Chief Coordinator, while Fayaz Ahmad Wani will serve as District President, Pulwama, and Spokesperson. Speaking about the organisational expansion, CAIT Kashmir Chapter President Farhan Kitab said the objective was to build a stronger, more inclusive and responsive organisation that remained connected with traders at every level. Our strength lies in our unity. Every trader, whether from a major market or a small town, must have a voice and a platform. Through this expanded structure, we want to ensure that the concerns of traders reach the right forums systematically and effectively. We will work collectively to find solutions and create new opportunities for the business community of J&K, Kitab said. He said the new team would focus on strengthening district-level coordination, empowering market associations, addressing issues faced by traders, improving the ease of doing business, facilitating dialogue with government authorities and creating opportunities for the growth of trade and commerce in Jammu & Kashmir. Kitab also highlighted the potential of Jammu & Kashmir in sectors including handicrafts, handloom, horticulture, saffron, dry fruits and tourism. He said greater efforts were needed to provide local businesses with improved market access, branding, technology and opportunities in national and international markets. He reiterated that the CAIT Kashmir Chapter remained committed to the vision of Vocal for Local, Local to Global, with a focus on empowering MSMEs, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, artisans and traditional businesses and helping them become more competitive in the national and global marketplace. We want to transform the trading community from being merely a stakeholder into an active partner in Jammu & Kashmirs economic development. CAIT Kashmir will continue to work as a bridge between traders, industry and the government, while ensuring that no trader or market is left behind, Kitab added.
Livguard expands retail presence in Kashmir
Livguard, an energy storage solutions company, has expanded its presence in Jammu and Kashmir with the opening of its first Exclusive Business Outlet (EBO) in Anantnag, in partnership with its new distributor, Malik Solar Agency. The new outlet is aimed at bringing Livguards portfolio closer to consumers in Kashmir and providing a dedicated space where customers can explore the companys energy and power backup solutions. The outlet offers a range of products, including energy storage solutions, smart lithium solutions, solar solutions, home power backup systems and batteries for various applications. The expansion marks Livguards entry into the Kashmir market and is expected to strengthen its ability to cater to the power requirements of households, businesses and other consumers in Anantnag and adjoining areas. The company said the outlet will provide consumers with greater access to its products and enable them to select solutions based on their specific energy storage and backup requirements. The move comes as Jammu and Kashmirs electricity consumer base continues to expand. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Economic Survey 2025-26, the number of electricity consumers in the Union Territory reached 24.59 lakh by November 2025. The growing consumer base represents an expanding market for energy storage and power backup solutions. For Livguard, the Anantnag outlet is also intended to strengthen engagement with local consumers and channel partners and provide the company with a better understanding of the regions evolving energy needs. Speaking on the expansion, Alankar Mittal, President, Livguard, said the companys priority was to make dependable and future-ready energy solutions more accessible to consumers in new markets. Jammu & Kashmir presents an important opportunity for Livguard, and the launch of our first Exclusive Business Outlet in Anantnag marks an important step in strengthening our presence in the region, Mittal said. Through this outlet, we aim to offer consumers greater choice, easier access and solutions tailored to their evolving power needs, while building stronger relationships with our local partners, he said. The company said the Anantnag outlet is part of its broader strategy to strengthen its retail network in high-potential markets. Livguard plans to explore opportunities in other key markets across Kashmir as it seeks to expand its reach and channel network in the region.
Poor cellular service irks Nagranar villagers in Kupwara
Handwara, Aug, 29: Residents of Nagranar village in Rajwar area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district have accused private telecom operators Jio and Airtel of providing poor mobile connectivity, saying the problem has persisted for years. We can barely make a phone call from our village, a resident told Greater Kashmir . The network remains weak most of the time. Residents said the situation becomes worse during emergencies. We have to walk outside the village just to get a signal and make a call, another villager said. They demanded that a mobile tower be installed in the locality to improve voice and internet services. Students said poor internet connectivity has affected their education. We are unable to attend online classes because the internet hardly works, a student said. The villagers urged Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Shrikant Balasaheb and other concerned officials to intervene and resolve the issue at the earliest.
High Court dismisses daily-rated workers plea over regularisation
Srinagar, Aug 29:The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has dismissed daily rated workers pleas seeking inclusion of their names in the list of Permanent Daily Labourers (PDLs) and Temporary Daily Labourers (TDLs) for their regularisation under SRO 520 of 2017. A division bench of Chief Justice (Acting) Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Muhammad Yousuf Wani while dismissing two intra-court appeals by aggrieved daily-rated workers, upheld the October 31, 2025 judgment of its single bench. The appellants had failed to establish that they were engaged before the March 17, 2015 cut-off date, the bench said. The claim of the appellants was that they were engaged between 2012 and 2015 and that their names had appeared in earlier departmental lists but were subsequently excluded from the list of 472 PDLs and TDLs considered for regularisation. Moreover, they had called in question the inclusion of 37 other persons in the list. In response to the contention, the court noted that an Inquiry Committee, after examining departmental records, found that the appellants were not borne on the relevant muster rolls or regular wage lists and that their CVs had been prepared after the ban on fresh engagement of daily wagers came into effect on March 17, 2015. Mere inclusion in an earlier or preliminary departmental list could not, by itself, establish engagement prior to the cut-off date or create an enforceable right to regularisation, the court said. While the bench found no merit in the contention of the appellants that their earlier inclusion created any right in their favour, it said a preliminary or provisional inclusion in a departmental list, by itself, cannot confer any right to regularisation when the requirement of engagement prior to the cut-off date remains un-established. The contention regarding the inclusion of 37 other persons also does not advance the case of the appellants. The Court observed that in order to claim parity, the appellants must first establish that they were similarly situated to the persons who were ultimately included in the final list. The respondents have explained that, upon verification, the persons included in the final list are found to have been engaged prior to the imposition of ban on fresh engagement of daily wagers with effect from 17.03.2015, the court said, after hearing appellants counsel and AAG Shahbaz Sikander. Dismissing the appeals, the division bench upheld the single judges decision.
Seamless coordination, upgraded facilities make Amarnath Yatra safer, smoother
Srinagar, Aug 29:Walking the high-altitude, rugged mountain trails toward the holy Amarnath Cave in the Himalayas has long been regarded as one of the country's most physically demanding pilgrimages. This year, however, hundreds of thousands of devotees recounted a markedly different experience, one defined by improved comfort, synchronised administration and robust safety measures. Driven by multi-departmental cooperation led by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), the Jammu and Kashmir administration, J&K Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the Indian Army and disaster response teams, this year's Yatra stands out as a benchmark for high-altitude pilgrimage management. The annual 57-day Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra concluded on Friday, with officials, devotees and stakeholders hailing this year's pilgrimage as one of the most organised, comfortable and secure in recent memory. Nearly 4.80 lakh devotees paid obeisance at the high-altitude cave shrine, benefiting from a major overhaul in ground-level infrastructure, inter-agency coordination and digital management. Through a coordinated approach involving the Jammu and Kashmir Administration, SASB, the Indian Army, CAPFs, J&K Police, disaster management teams and local service providers, the standard of facilities saw significant upgrades. Prior to the launch of the pilgrimage, authorities widened and reinforced the tracks along both the traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal routes. Railings were installed along hazardous cliff sides, and track lighting was upgraded to allow safe transit during early morning and late evening hours. To address high-altitude weather challenges, base camps at Baltal and Chandanwari were outfitted with weatherproof, temperature-controlled tents. In a move to enforce safety and prevent overcharging, officials mandated fire extinguishers across all tented accommodations and implemented a 100% prepaid rate structure for services like ponies, palanquins and porters. Healthcare saw substantial investments, with full-fledged base hospitals operational at major transit points. Equipped with oxygen booths, critical-care beds and high-altitude sickness specialists, these centres handled thousands of outpatient visits daily and offered immediate relief to pilgrims experiencing acute mountain sickness. Digital coordination played a pivotal role this season. Mandatory RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags for all pilgrims and transport vehicles enabled authorities to track crowd movement in real time and initiate quick responses during sudden weather shifts. Concurrently, a zero-waste sanitation drive ensured continuous cleanliness along the trekking routes, supported by dedicated municipal teams and green volunteers operating round the clock. Addressing reporters during a camp inspection earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had emphasised that the upgraded management not only enhanced pilgrim safety but also injected vitality into the local economy. Thousands of locals, ranging from handicraft artisans to pony operators and tent owners, saw steady livelihoods thanks to the disciplined and highly accessible pilgrimage framework. Devotees departing from base camps expressed high satisfaction with reduced waiting times, transparent service pricing and overall cleanliness. Many Yatris who spoke to Greater Kashmir during the Yatra said they were satisfied with the arrangements and management. They said the better facilities had made the pilgrimage more comfortable and smooth. Pilgrims from across the country flocked to Jammu and Kashmir for the revered Amarnathji Yatra, expressing their appreciation for the enhanced infrastructure and amenities. They said the annual pilgrimage, which attracts thousands of devotees each year, had seen significant improvements in its facilities, making the spiritual journey more comfortable and memorable for all participants. One of the key enhancements has been the widening of tracks leading to the holy cave. The broader paths have eased the movement of pilgrims, reduced congestion and ensured a safer trek. Improved signage along the route has also been noted, helping pilgrims navigate the journey with greater ease. Sanitation facilities have seen considerable upgrades, with more restrooms and better waste-management systems in place. Cleanliness and hygiene, crucial for the health and well-being of pilgrims, have been given top priority. Many devotees have praised these efforts, highlighting the availability of clean drinking water and well-maintained washrooms as major improvements. The provision of nutritious food has also added to the pilgrims' satisfaction. In addition to these, other essential services such as medical aid and resting shelters have also been enhanced. Medical camps equipped with necessary supplies and staffed by trained professionals were stationed along the route, ready to assist pilgrims with any health concerns. Temporary shelters provided much-needed rest for weary pilgrims, while improved transportation options made access to the base camps more convenient. The government had appointed two IAS officers as nodal officers for the smooth conduct of the Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage and better coordination. Rahul Yadav, Managing Director of Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC), was posted as Nodal Officer for the Baltal axis, while Shahid Chaudhary, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, was posted as Nodal Officer for the Pahalgam axis. Lieutenant Governor Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha was personally monitoring the Yatra. Under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer, SASB, the Deputy Commissioners of Ganderbal and Anantnag were regularly updating the LG on the arrangements and developments along the two axes. The civil and police administration worked day and night to ensure a hassle-free and incident-free Yatra. Security personnel drawn from the Army, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, BSF and Jammu and Kashmir Police were deployed this year. Adequate security arrangements were put in place to ensure smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra. CRPF contingents, the Army, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Sashastra Seema Bal, besides Jammu and Kashmir Police, were also deployed for the Yatra. State and national disaster response forces were deployed as well. Notably, during the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, the holy cave is approached by pilgrims either through the 46-km-long traditional Pahalgam-Chandanwari-Sheshnag-Panchtarni trek or through the 14-km-long Baltal-Dumail trek.
FDA conducts 140 inspections; 55 food samples lifted across J&K
The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), J&K, conducted food safety enforcement activities across various districts of Jammu and Kashmir. During the drive, 140 inspections were conducted and 55 food samples were lifted for testing of quality and safety parameters. The samples included Milk and Milk Products, Edible Oils and Spices, besides other food commodities. As part of the enforcement action, 17 Improvement Notices were issued to various Food Business Operators under Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and 11 cases were compounded under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, involving a total penalty of 11,000. Further, 97 food labels were scrutinized for compliance with the prescribed labelling requirements, out of which two labels were found non-compliant with the applicable labelling provisions. Besides, one food business registration was cancelled in Reasi district for contravention of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The enforcement activities covered food business establishments, e-commerce establishments dealing with food items, milk and milk products, edible oils, spices and imported food items. Food supplied through PDS, MDM and ICDS channels was also covered during the exercise. The activities were carried out in the districts of Jammu, Doda, Kathua, Samba, Reasi, Udhampur, Srinagar, Anantnag, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Budgam. The concerned Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers have been instructed to continue inspections, sampling, label scrutiny and enforcement activities and to take action against violations in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the regulations made there under. Consumers have been requested to remain vigilant and report any suspected case of unsafe, adulterated or sub-standard food through Toll-Free Helpline No. 104 or by email at cfsjandk.fnd@jk.gov.in.
JKUM protests in Ganderbal against 6.83% power tariff hike
Ganderbal, Aug 29:Members and workers of the Jammu & Kashmir United Movement (JKUM), led by party chairman Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, staged a protest in Ganderbal on Saturday against the 6.83% electricity tariff hike approved by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC). Carrying placards and raising slogans, the protesters demanded an immediate rollback of the hike, saying the revised charges would put an additional financial burden on ordinary households. Addressing the gathering, Jabbar termed the decision an unjustified burden on lower- and middle-income families already grappling with inflation and unemployment. At a time when the public expects economic relief and basic amenities at affordable rates, imposing higher power charges is completely anti-people, Jabbar said. He urged the government to fulfil its electoral commitments on electricity relief, including the promise of providing free baseline power units. Instead of increasing power charges, the government should provide relief to consumers and fulfil its electoral promises, Jabbar said. The protesters called for immediate intervention by the authorities and withdrawal of the revised tariff. The 6.83% tariff increase approved by the JERC is scheduled to take effect from Sept. 1. The demonstration was part of political opposition to the tariff revision across Jammu and Kashmir.
Kulgam man dies after Kidney stone surgery at Anantnag private hospital
Anantnag, Aug 29:A 35-year-old man from Qaimoh in Kulgam died at a private hospital here following kidney stone surgery, triggering protests by his family and relatives, who alleged medical negligence. Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, son of Ghulam Nabi Wani, was admitted to a private hospital in Anantnag town, for the procedure. Family members alleged lapses in his treatment and demanded an impartial inquiry. Our family member was admitted for a kidney stone operation. We were told that his condition was stable, but later it deteriorated and he died. We want a fair investigation into the matter, a relative said. If negligence is established, those responsible should be held accountable and strict action should be taken, another family member said. The protest turned tense, with some relatives allegedly creating a ruckus and damaging hospital property. Police reached the spot and initiated an inquiry to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the death. The body was taken for medico-legal examination and later handed over to the family. Hospital spokesperson said Wani had undergone percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or PCNL, for removal of kidney stones. The patient was fine yesterday evening and oral medicines were also started, he said. The spokesperson said Wani went for a walk in the ward in the morning and suddenly collapsed. It could possibly be an embolism or a myocardial infarction (MI), he said, adding that the autopsy report was awaited. Otherwise, the patient was stable and completely fine, he said. The hospital has been sealed by authorities pending the inquiry.
Family alleges negligence after newborn dies at DH Bandipora; Hospital says baby was stillborn
Bandipora, Aug 29:District Hospital Bandipora has denied allegations of medical negligence in the death of a newborn, saying the baby was stillborn, while the bereaved family has accused doctors of negligence and delayed referral during delivery. The family staged a protest inside the hospital premises on Saturday, demanding action against the doctors on duty. Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Mukhtar Ahmad Malla told Greater Kashmir that the case was under investigation and maintained that it was not a case of medical negligence. It was a stillbirth, and the family knows it, he said. Irfan Aham Sheikh, the baby's father, said he brought his wife Parveena to the hospital around 10 a.m. on Wednesday. He alleged that doctors shifted her between the ward and labour room three times, saying she still had time before delivery. Sheikh said doctors repeatedly told the family that the baby was healthy and moving normally until shortly before the delivery late that night. According to him, his wife was taken to the labour room around midnight and the family was informed that she had delivered a baby boy. Everyone from the staff congratulated us, but less than an hour later we were told the baby had died, Sheikh said. Family members alleged that doctors failed to take a timely decision and did not refer the woman to a tertiary care hospital in Srinagar despite the delivery becoming complicated. They also claimed they received conflicting explanations about the baby's death, including that the newborn had been given oxygen, that no heartbeat could be detected and that the baby had swallowed meconium. Sheikh said ultrasound examinations conducted before delivery had shown no abnormalities. The radiologist assured us everything was okay with the baby. The reports also say so, he said. He further alleged that his wife suffered bruises on her chest and torso during delivery after multiple staff members pressed hard on her body to assist childbirth. There were at least four people restraining her or forcing the delivery, he alleged. The medical superintendent said preliminary findings suggested the baby had swallowed meconium and that other abnormalities were also observed. The baby was oversized and his head was also too large, Dr Malla said. He said that the findings were preliminary and that an inquiry committee had been constituted to collect reports from the doctors involved, examine the allegations and determine the final cause and circumstances of the baby's death.
Green corridor demand on NH-44 for fruit-laden trucks gets centres attention: AIP
AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi on Saturday said that the demand raised by AIP President and Lok Sabha Member Er. Rashid for a dedicated Green Corridor for fruit-laden trucks on NH-44 has received the attention of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Inam Un Nabi while speaking to horticultural growers in Kupwara, as per a statement, said Er. Rashid had taken up the matter through Letter No. MPLS/Hqsgr/1431 dated 02.08.2026, seeking a dedicated Green Corridor at Qazigund, Banihal and vulnerable stretches of NH-44 to ensure uninterrupted movement of perishable horticultural produce from Kashmir. Inam Un Nabi said the Ministry, through its communication No. 266023/M (RT&H)/VIP/2026 dated 19.08.2026, has conveyed that the matter is being looked into for action. Welcoming the response, Inam Un Nabi said, This is an important issue for Kashmirs horticultural economy. Thousands of growers depend on timely transportation of their fruit to markets outside the Valley. Any prolonged halt or disruption on NH-44 can result in huge losses to growers. Inam Un Nabi said the proposed Green Corridor, if implemented effectively, will bring much-needed relief to the entire community of fruit growers across Kashmir by ensuring priority and uninterrupted movement of fruit-laden trucks during the peak horticulture season.
J&K BJP holds workshop on Seva Sankalp Abhiyan
Jammu and Kashmir BJP held a one-day workshop at party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, to chalk out a comprehensive roadmap for the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, marking Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday and 25 years of his uninterrupted public service, while taking the development achievements and welfare initiatives of the Modi Government to the grassroots. As per a statement, J&K BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, former BJP state President and former Minister in the Haryana Government and former National Secretary, BJP, O.P. Dhankar, the main speaker in the workshop, and BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul chiefly addressed the workshop. Former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Er Ghulam Ali Khatana, General Secretaries Sanjita Dogra, Baldev Singh Billawaria and Gopal Mahajan(J&K in-charge of the Abhiyan) also addressed the workshop. BJP office bearers, Morcha Presidents, District Presidents and members of the Abhiyan teams from across Jammu and Kashmir participated in the workshop. Sat Sharma, addressing the workshop, said that the Narendra Modi era has rewritten Indias development story, transforming the nation from a country struggling with policy paralysis into a confident, self-reliant and rapidly developing global power. Sat Sharma said that 2026 marks 25 years since Narendra Modi entered the highest levels of public service as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001 and subsequently took the responsibility of leading the nation as Prime Minister. For 25 years, Narendra Modi has devoted himself to the service of the nation and its people. His politics is defined not by power, but by performance, service and the empowerment of the last person in society, he said.
Multi-level Marketing: Opportunity or Risk?
Most of us are conversant with the term 'Multi-level Marketing'. You come across an office colleague, an old schoolmate, a distant cousin who is a part of MLM Chain and chances are that he or she has extended the invite to you as well. MLM has evolved over time with multiple avatars. Although the concept started as an innovative marketing strategy, it has morphed into various isotopes, some of them flouting the corporate norms. In India, Direct selling sector generates an annual revenue of Rs 23000 Crore, having 6.5% growth rate, with approx. 93 lakh direct sellers across the country. Multi-level Marketing started as an innovative approach utilising informal workforce created through a network of marketers wherein a marketer engages several others under him to sell the product. The seller replaces traditional marketing channels, thus eliminating the margin of distributors, resellers and retailers as well as advertisement cost. The organisation reaps the benefits as the workforce is reimbursed by way of sales commissions rather than salary, thereby passing on an additional benefit to the marketers, which would result in a win-win situation for both the seller and the marketer. The origin of MLM can be traced to Direct Selling or Mail-order retailing. This was a competitive strategy for deviation from conventional marketing practices aimed at eliminating the cost of sales force. In case of mail-order, the company would generate sales based on advertisement responses and ship the product directly to the buyer with zero marketing cost, whereas direct selling involved a salesperson, who would promote and sell the products (sometimes door-to-door) for a fixed commission proportional to the sales volume. In essence, Multi-level Marketing is a legitimate business model recognised in many countries wherein products are sold through a tiered network of independent representatives who are compensated not only for their own sales but also for enrolling fresh representatives under them to generate further sales, thereby creating an ever expanding network of marketers. Organisations following MLM model have multiple methods for payouts to their members or representatives. There are Tiered Commissions where a member earns a percentage of the sales made by him and his downline members across the network. The percentages may vary across the network tiers, reducing proportionately with the increasing tier distance from the downline member. In addition, sizeable incentives are offered for recruiting new members. Legitimate MLMs focus primarily on tangible products which are priced reasonably. They compensate the members by way of sales commissions as a part of enhanced sales volumes achieved through expanding network and increased customer base. This model is followed by a known Kitchenware company which has majority of housewives as its representatives. Another Group of MLM schemes focus on tangible products which are overpriced, with very high profit margins. The high profits are shared across the marketing chain, compensating individual members for their aggressive selling. Since the products are heavily priced and it is difficult to seek buyers, at times some schemes make it mandatory for fresh recruits to purchase the product themselves at the time of enrolment, thereby generating sales. The model is being followed by a Global company selling beauty products and cosmetics. It is also practiced by a renowned health supplement enterprise. The Third Group involves notional products or concepts, with its revenue getting generated mostly from new recruitments. A new recruit pays a heavy amount for enrolment with promises of high returns when he enrolls fresh members under him. This is a typical Ponzi scheme where funds are generated solely through enrolments, and the originators or the top members of the chain may exit after having milked substantial profits, with a majority of people in the lower strata of the network incurring losses by way of the amounts paid by them at joining time. The model is commonly followed in case of plantation projects, luxury gifts and some timeshare concepts. A typical example of a hybrid across these models pertains to an Insurance company which recruits representatives to sell life insurance products. The initial sales target is the recruited member himself, his friends and family, post which he is asked to recruit further representatives under him. End result - the company sells products, increases its customer base and collects hefty premiums irrespective of the marginal commission payouts to the representatives. Conceptually, Multi-level Marketing has several advantages. It enables a huge reduction in Sales and Marketing cost with an increased customer base for the Organisation. Concurrently, it allows the members flexible working hours, earning potential, exposure to entrepreneurship, collaborative work culture, mentoring and social networking. However, the approach of MLM includes its own shortcomings. It has been observed that only the people at top of the chain make good profits, while the majority earn very little. Promotional material showcases only top earners, while it becomes increasingly difficult for the later entrants to induct fresh recruits due to a diminishing pool. As a result of incentive linkages, there is constant recruitment pressure, which pushes members to propagate false claims regarding the products and the schemes. Any MLM where recruitment incentive is high in comparison to sales commission should raise a red flag, as it could point to an element of unfair trade practices or money circulation schemes. Before joining a Multi-level Marketing chain, one needs to think through a few aspects. Is there a tangible product, properly priced? Is the product in demand, and is it worth approaching your acquaintances for promoting the same? A notional product, concept, highly over-priced one would indicate trouble. MLM offers opportunities for a small number of people while leaving behind the majority of members who may even lose out financially. Given that there are recurrent issues of misleading claims and pressures, participants need to do a thorough deep dive before becoming a part of any Multi Level Marketing scheme. The author is a technocrat with expertise in Data Analytics, Cyber Law and Digital Forensics. He is currently acting as consulting advisor/ mentor to several startups and an ardent supporter of causes pertaining to Environment and Sustainability.
Public welfare Govts top priority: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education Sakeena Itoo on Saturday visited Check-e-Samad in Kulgam district, where she held a public outreach camp and laid the foundation stone for a road project. Itoo, as per an official statement, interacted with residents of Check-e-Samad and adjoining villages and listened to their developmental concerns and demands. She assured them that all genuine issues would be addressed in a phased and time-bound manner. The Minister said public welfare remained the Governments top priority and stressed the importance of direct interaction with people for responsive and accountable governance She also laid the foundation stone for a 1.2-km Check-e-Samad road project, estimated to cost Rs 86.27 lakh. Itoo announced several other developmental projects for Check-e-Samad and neighbouring villages and directed concerned departments to ensure timely completion of ongoing works. She was accompanied by senior district officers and officials.
A pro-active leader on solo march and an inertia-ridden organisation refusing to shrug-off its lethargy; it is an interesting-phenomena, dichotomous, that has landed Congress in a bind. Not the political rivals but the partys top leadership should take the blame for this confusion, showing no hurry to extricate themselves out of this situation. There is no doubt that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is a man on the march. From a reluctant player, during his first two terms as Lok Sabha MP and in between becoming Congress president, he has come a long way to become proactive, daringly raising issues, political and societal. And above all managing to establish a connect with younger generation or the Gen Z who have steadfastly stood behind Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi during the last one decade. Squatting on a dharna outside Parliament Street Police station in support of pellet-injury hit youth, is the latest in the series of steps in this direction. The contrast between Mr Gandhi's high-profile individual outreach and the perception of a sluggish Congress party stems from deep structural decay, heavy reliance on a top-down (mostly defunct) leadership model, and disconnected regional hierarchies. When high-visibility campaigns fail to translate into organized local momentum, it exposes a disconnect between national optics and ground-level execution. This has repeatedly happened but there is no attempt to learn lessons and set the house in order. Despite his sensible interventions and thoughtful suggestions on vital national and international issues, Mr Gandhi gives an impression of still being a loner in the GOPs vast spread all over the country. That is strange enough. But why so? Does he himself need to reflect or change his approach towards the organisation by shrugging off indecisiveness? Shouldnt he adopt a proactive approach to set the party and its leaders right, as he has been doing in his solo efforts? Firstly, he must follow the dictum suggested by none other than Mr Gandhi himself. Pick up the right person for the right job with a strong rider of accountability. He needs to do this in the light of his observation that the party has been putting up the racing horse on the job to pull a cart and vice versa. Even before that while on a visit to Gujarat he had spoken about the BJP sleeper cells active in the state Congress (that scenario prevails in many states and Union Territories) and the need for heads to roll. It has been months now but the follow up action is still to come. The BJP and regional parties sleeper cells are thriving all over in the Congress network. An immediate follow up action on such counts would have given Mr Gandhi a decisive edge and created deterrence thereby making it easier for him to tone-up the organisation. if indecisiveness has portrayed his weakness, this attitude has emboldened those becoming roadblocks for the party to act more vigorously in internal sabotage. Reluctance to take hard decisions and tendency to protect even the failed horses under the garb of being favourites of someone, have become the Congresss bane. It is hard to believe that Mr Gandhi and other leaders are not aware of this malady. What is intriguing is that they are knowingly allowing such a situation to prevail at a greater cost not only to the party but the nation as well, as it weakens the position of countrys main premier opposition party in the overall democratic context. A strong reason behind Mr Gandhis loner status is that leaders around him in the AICC and PCCs have found a convenient way to shrug off their responsibilities and justify inaction by seeking refuge under the leaders umbrella. Rahul Gandhi naraz ho jayen ge (Rahul Gandhi will get annoyed) is their usual refrain to justify not taking decision in any particular situation. For instance, how could it be justified that it takes months, sometimes years to make organisational changes at the AICC or the PCCs level. It is a criminal negligence, firstly a non-performing leader is allowed to continue and secondly give him/her the organisational set up at a time when a change should have been affected, as a reward for non-performance. A case in point is the sensitive and strategic Jammu and Kashmir where Congress being a national party, other than the ruling BJP, has an important role to play but is being prevented to do so by organisational shortcomings which the high command refuses to remove. On the occasion of PCC president Mr Tariq Hamid Karra completing two-years in office, despite all the controversies he has courted due to his style of functioning and total lack of connect with the rank and file, the AICC in charge Syed Naseer Hussain rushed to Kashmir to work on providing a new organisational set-up to him as a reward. This happened in the backdrop of a controversy germinating from Mr Karras alleged no-appearance in Independence Day function held at the party office. Shouldnt completion of two-years in office be a stock taking time with Mr Karra asked to present his report card, for that reason any AICC or state/UTs functionaries? Appointment or Continuation in office shall be directly related to the performance of the incumbent which should be the thumb rule from AICC down to PCCs. Such scenario prevails in many other states and UTs with no sense of accountability attached anywhere. Apart from the states/UTs, another weak link is the non serious attitude of the some top AICC office-bearers particularly those made in charges of the states and UTs. In the absence of accountability, they are mostly living in comfort zones, at times becoming Mr Gandhis cheering brigade. How best to use the services of aging and well entrenched regional and national-level leaders, is a daunting challenge for Mr Gandhi as these leaders are making generational transition difficult. To tackle this situation, he needs to have a set of well-versed and trusted advisors rather than acting solo, which will also help in lessening over-reliance on brand-Gandhi. A classic case of this syndrome is at play in yet another sensitive border state of Punjab. The old-guard in the state is feverishly working unitedly to thwart generational change which has come in the form of Rahul Gandhi-loyalist PCC chief Mr Amrinder Singh, who like Mr Karra has also completed two years in office. Serious factionalism has risen ahead of 2027 assembly elections. No doubt the old-guard is taking undue advantage of the situation, but it is also a reflection on Mr Warrings functioning and ineffective handling by the central leadership. Such situations can only be tackled through quick and tough decisions. No matter if it involves removing a so-called loyalist in the overall interest of the party as is the case in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
Attempts to weaken National Conference have never succeeded: Sagar
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary and MLA Khanyar Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar Saturday said that attempts to weaken the National Conference have never succeeded because of the deep trust and emotional bond the party shares with the people. Addressing a meeting at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Sagar, as per a party statement, said the National Conference is not merely a political party but a movement born out of the struggles and sacrifices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Those who have tried to weaken the National Conference have failed time and again. By the grace of Almighty Allah and with the support of our people, every such conspiracy has been defeated, he said. He said the partys history is closely intertwined with the political awakening and democratic struggle of Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference has always stood with the people, raised their voice and made sacrifices for their rights. That bond cannot be broken by propaganda or conspiracies, Sagar said. Sagar maintained that the partys strength comes from its people and its commitment to its principles. He said the National Conference has never treated power as an end in itself, but as an opportunity to serve the people. The National Conference is a movement, an ideology and a sentiment. It lives in the hearts of the people, he said. Referring to Articles 370 and 35A, Sagar reiterated that their restoration remains an important priority for the party. He said the National Conference would continue its democratic and constitutional struggle for the restoration of the political and constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He also urged the Central Government to respect the aspirations of the people and restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest. An elected government must have the powers and resources necessary to serve its people effectively. Democracy cannot function meaningfully when an elected government is denied the requisite space to govern, he said. Sagar said the National Conference would continue to work for the empowerment of the people and remain committed to protecting their democratic, political and constitutional rights. Meanwhile, several public delegations from different areas met Sagar and apprised him of issues concerning their respective areas. He took up the matters with the concerned authorities and directed prompt action for their redressal.
The decision to increase electricity tariffs in Jammu & Kashmir at a time when ordinary families are already struggling with the rising cost of living is deeply disappointing. More importantly, it raises a fundamental question of political accountability: what happened to the promises made to the people before the Assembly elections? The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved an average tariff increase of 6.83 per cent, applicable from September 1, 2026. For metered domestic consumers, the rate for consumption up to 200 units has increased from 2.30 to 2.45 per unit; for 201400 units, from 4.00 to 4.20; and above 400 units, from 4.35 to 4.60 per unit. These figures may appear small when viewed from the comfort of government offices. For an ordinary household, however, every additional financial burden matters. From promise of relief to reality of higher bills The National Conference went before the electorate promising 200 units of free electricity. That promise naturally created expectations among families that desperately needed relief. Today, instead of experiencing the promised relief, consumers are confronting increased tariffs. The government may argue that its promise of free electricity and the general electricity tariff are technically separate matters. But politics cannot be reduced to technical explanations. The real question is what an ordinary voter understood when promises of cheaper or free electricity were made. People vote on the basis of promises and the reasonable expectations created by those promises. If financial constraints, distribution losses and the cost of purchasing electricity were realities after the election, they were realities before the election as well. Governments cannot discover economic realities only after obtaining the mandate of the people. Kashmir's winter cannot be viewed through ordinary consumption calculations The impact of electricity prices assumes an even greater significance in the Kashmir Valley. For people sitting outside Kashmir, electricity may be regarded primarily as a source of lighting and running household appliances. During Kashmir's severe winter, electricity is intimately connected with survival, warmth and basic human comfort. Temperatures fall below freezing in many areas. Water pipes freeze. Snowfall disrupts normal life. Families depend increasingly upon electric heaters, boilers, geysers, heating blankets and other appliances. The elderly, children and economically weaker families suffer the most. This means that electricity consumption during the harsh winter months cannot simply be treated as discretionary consumption. A Kashmiri family using additional electricity to keep its children or elderly parents warm is not indulging in luxury. It is responding to climatic necessity. And the timing is particularly unfortunate. The revised tariff becomes applicable from September 1 and will remain applicable through the approaching winter until March 31, 2027. The government should therefore ask itself a simple question: Is the period immediately preceding the harsh Kashmir winter the appropriate time to make electricity more expensive for households? Don't make consumers pay for inefficiency There is undoubtedly a financial problem in the electricity sector. Power has a cost. Distribution companies require revenue, and transmission and distribution losses have historically presented a serious challenge. But the solution cannot perpetually be to transfer the consequences of inefficiency onto honest consumers. The first responsibility of government should be to reduce losses, improve billing and collection, prevent electricity theft, modernise infrastructure and improve the efficiency of distribution companies. A family that pays its electricity bill regularly should not become the easiest source for balancing the books. Before asking consumers to pay more, the government must demonstrate what measurable reduction it has achieved in distribution losses and what administrative reforms it has undertaken to bring down costs. Efficiency must come before additional burden. The government's defence does not answer the political question Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has defended the increase by arguing that the government never promised that electricity tariffs would remain static and that power continues to be substantially subsidised. That may constitute an administrative defence. It does not answer the political question. The issue is not whether electricity continues to receive subsidy. The issue is whether the government is moving towards the relief that was promised to the electorate or away from it. The people were promised 200 units of free electricity. They are entitled to ask when that promise will translate into meaningful relief in their monthly household budgets. A government cannot seek political credit for promises and subsequently seek refuge behind regulatory calculations when people demand their implementation. BJP must stand with the consumer The Bharatiya Janata Party should unequivocally stand with the ordinary electricity consumer of Jammu & Kashmir. This is not an issue concerning Jammu or Kashmir alone. A shopkeeper in Jammu, a middle-class employee in Kathua, a farmer in the countryside, a pensioner in Srinagar and a family facing the freezing winter in north or south Kashmir all ultimately confront the same question: How much more can the household budget absorb? The BJP should demand that the Omar Abdullah government reconsider the tariff increase, particularly its impact upon domestic consumers, and immediately place before the people a transparent roadmap for fulfilling its electricity-related electoral commitments. Special consideration should also be given to the extraordinary electricity requirements of Kashmir during the winter months. If necessary, the government should explore a targeted winter electricity relief mechanism for vulnerable and middle-income domestic consumers in the Valley rather than allowing climatic necessity to translate into financial punishment. Promises carry a moral obligation Democracy does not end when votes are counted. An electoral promise creates a political and moral obligation. Governments must either implement their promises or candidly explain why they cannot do so. What they cannot reasonably do is promise relief while seeking votes and subsequently impose additional burdens after coming to power. The people of Jammu & Kashmir have endured decades of difficulties. They deserve governance that reduces their burdens rather than adding to them. The BJP must therefore raise its voice firmly, both inside and outside the Legislature, and demand: Withdraw or substantially reconsider the burden of the power tariff hike on domestic consumers. Protect Kashmir's households during the harsh winter. Reduce distribution losses before passing costs to consumers. And, above all, honour the commitments made to the people. Electricity in Jammu & Kashmirparticularly during a Kashmir winteris not merely another commodity. For many families, it is warmth. It is security. It is a basic necessity of life. And a government elected on promises of relief should remember that before making that necessity more expensive. Author is an advocate and Chief Spokesperson of BJP in J&K
Bus conductor dies in mishap at Munwarabad Srinagar
A 60-year-old bus conductor died after falling from a moving bus when an auto-rickshaw hit the bus in Muniwarabad area of Srinagar, officials said. An official told the news agencyKashmir News Observer that the conductor was standing at the door of the bus when an auto-rickshaw suddenly hit it, causing him to lose his balance and fall outside. He sustained serious head injuries in the incident. He was shifted to SMHS Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, the official said. The deceased was identified as Abdul Majeed Teli (60), son of Ghulam Mohammad Teli, a resident of Nawabazar, Srinagar. Meanwhile, an investigation has been initiated and a probe is underway.
The state of healthcare in Srinagar
Srinagar City has always been a hub of tertiary health care, for the people living in rural districts. The British doctors who visited Kashmir during Dogra rule established some health centres and missionary hospitals at various places including Rainawari, Drugjan, Tangmarg, Anantnag, Baramulla, and provided a dedicated healthcare service to the people of Valley. With the passage of time the Dogra rulers also took many measures for the improvement of health care in J&K. They laid the foundation of two major hospitals namely SMHS and SMGS hospitals in Srinagar and Jammu. This was a great leap in the health sector of J&K state. After 1947, G.M.Bakshi established first medical college known as GMC in Srinagar. He also opened chain of dispensaries, primary health centres and hospitals in towns and rural districts. The medical education received a big boost by opening 2nd govt medical college at Jammu. During the 2nd term, as C.M. Sheikh M Abdullah paid special attention towards health sector, laying foundation of premier super specialty hospital in the shape of SKIMS at Soura, besides establishing Lal Ded Hospital, exclusively for women in Srinagar. However, the health sector got a big setback with the onset of militancy in valley after 1990. But we must, appreciate the brave heart doctors who served during those trying times when the militancy was at its peak. When peace returned and situation improved in the coming years, Ghulam Nabi Azad as Union Health Minister during Manmohan Singhs tenure as P.M. gave further boost to medical education, by opening a number of medical colleges in almost all the districts of the J&K state. By granting sanction to two AIIMS in J&K, the union government made a great contribution to the expansion of medical education and specialised health care for the people of state. It was during the 2nd and 3rd decade of 2000, that there has been an increasing trend of investment of money in hospitals and health centres in private sector by businessmen and doctors in valley. But despite this fast expansion and growth in health sector, there has been a serious concern about quality medical care not being available in government as well as in private hospitals. Though there are sporadic cases of medical negligence reported in some hospitals, there is general complaint of public that the health care is not of quality standard as per the norms laid down. The unplanned expansion of medical colleges without having required infrastructure, sufficient teaching staff and medical equipment the load of patients visiting SMHS hospital Srinagar remains unchanged. The decision of the then Union health minister for opening of these medical colleges in one go could not prove as prudent. It looks as if it was made just to gain political mileage. There is a huge crowd of patients and their attendants, seen standing and waiting outside the counter to obtain tickets for admission in the outdoors of SMHS hospital. No secrecy of investigation of outdoor patient is maintained as it is done in presence of other patients waiting for their turn in the same consultancy room. The blood collection centre of this hospital is in a very bad shape and overcrowded with staff. Instead of one they could arrange 3 or 4 more counters for collection of blood to ease the rush for convenience of the patients. Furnishing of online test reports to patients could further ease the rush. Paying of occasional visits to outdoor/casualty by the concerned administrative heads will make a difference and can help in improving the efficiency in working system. No doubt there has been a mushroom growth of hospitals and health care centres in Srinagar City in private sector but the public who visit these facilities are not satisfied with the pre and post operative procedures; other hygienic concerns in these institutions also cause trouble. Firstly, there is hardly any supervisory or monitoring role played by the concerned authority of Health Department to assess the functioning of these private hospitals. It is only when something untoward happens with the patient the health department gets alert and institutes an enquiry into the incident. The general complaint of people is that tests not required for particular ailment or procedure, the patients are compulsorily asked to undergo these tests. The health department never bothers to cross check if the credentials of lab assistants, technicians and other technical staff working in these private hospitals are genuine to find out whether they are well trained and qualified from government recognized training institutions to ensure safe health care and satisfactory service to the patients. And what level of monitoring and emergency care is set up to ensure safeguard of lives during surgery. The health department also needs to scrutinize and confirm, whether the essentials required for conduct of safe surgeries in the private hospitals are available and in case any shortcomings are found, such institutions need not to be allowed to function till such deficiencies are made good. There is a general complaint about poor hygiene in these hospitals. Examples can be cited of such healthcare institutes where we find unhygienic toilet and washroom facilities. The patients, attendants, doctors, and paramedical staff also deserve to have a clean, safe and hygienic environment. To improve the working system and accountability, government needs to ban private practice of doctors working in health department. This will definitely help in reducing the waiting time of various surgeries that the patients have to undergo in government hospitals and could provide a satisfactory healthcare service. Secondly, the Health Department may appoint a committee to assess and examine if the facilities in private hospitals are available as per the standard laid down norms to ensure quality health care. The SMC and Health department also need to follow strictly the building and other laid down rules, required for establishing a private hospital while granting permission and NOC. Abdul Rashid Khan IPS (retd), Rawalpora, Srinagar
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Saturday said that the people of Srinagar city have endured decades of neglect and political exploitation, particularly since 1990. He accused the ruling NC of deceiving the people with false promises during the 2024 Assembly elections. He made these remarks today while addressing an event at the Apni Party headquarters in Srinagar. The event was organised to welcome new members into the party fold. Peoples Conference District President Srinagar Nighat Gul and former Corporator from Nawaz Bazar, Srinagar, Inayat Hussain Mir, along with their associates, formally joined the Apni Party on the occasion. Giving a warm welcome to the new entrants, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, I wholeheartedly welcome you all to the Apni Party. I assure you that you will never regret your decision to join this party, because Apni Party is, at its core, a party of the people and is committed to serve the people. This party belongs neither to any individual nor to any particular family. It belongs to the people. Here, we are all equals, and each one of us is committed to serving the people with sincerity, honesty, and dedication. He further said, The continuous joining of new members in the Apni Party reflects a growing realisation among the people that the party has always been genuine in its commitment to public issues and the interests of the people. It also shows that those who spread misleading propaganda against the party during the 2024 elections were deceiving people and deliberately creating misunderstandings and confusion among the masses about the Apni Party. Expressing his grave concern over the pathetic condition of Srinagar city and chronic neglect to its development and growth, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, Traditional political parties have always neglected Srinagar despite repeatedly receiving the mandate of its people. The residents of the city have suffered from a serious developmental deficit, particularly since 1990. Despite making tall promises and securing the peoples mandate time and again, these parties have failed to deliver meaningful development and basic amenities to the people of Srinagar. They have been denied the development, infrastructure, and civic facilities that should have been their rightful share. He further said, Although people had voted for change and helped the PDP establish itself by giving it their mandate, hoping that it would emerge as an alternative to the dynastic politics of the NC. But unfortunately, the PDP too eventually turned into a family-based party. We had hoped that, in the 2024 elections, people would not once again be deceived by these parties that are controlled or imposed from Delhi. Unfortunately, they once again fell prey to the propaganda of one such party and gave it a huge mandate. However, the ruling party now stands exposed before the people for its failures. The promises made to the people have not been fulfilled, and the ground reality is there for everyone to see. The people are now beginning to realise the difference between political rhetoric and genuine commitment to their welfare. Reiterating his demand for the Centre to initiate a dialogue with the people, particularly the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said: What do our youth ask for? They simply want the right to live a dignified life and have sufficient livelihood opportunities here. This place does not have much scope for large-scale industries or a developed private sector. Secondly, we are geographically located in a region surrounded by countries that are hostile to us. It is the responsibility of the Centre to understand the ground realities. Talk to the people, listen to their genuine issues and concerns, and then take concrete steps to address them. Our youth have chosen the path of peace. Now, the Centre must step forward and create opportunities and resources to secure a bright and prosperous future for them, he added. After the event, while responding to questions from reporters, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari declined to comment on MP Aga Ruhullahs reported possibility of resigning from the National Conference and his Lok Sabha membership, saying that it would be premature to comment on the matter at this stage. However, he said, Apparently, Aga Sahib has realised that the ruling NC has failed to provide effective governance and fulfil the promises it made to the people while seeking their mandate in the 2024 elections. Perhaps, like everyone else, he too has realised that the NC secured peoples votes through deception and false promises. He said, Aga Sahib is a respected religious leader who has spoken well in Parliament and raised the issues and concerns of the people. Responding to a question, he said, The ruling NCs biggest failure has been its inability to fulfil the promises it made during the elections and implement its election manifesto. Apni Party leaders welcomed Abdul Hameed Bhat, a prominent political activist from the Bagh-i-Mehtab area of Chanapora constituency, into the party fold. Bhat, who was earlier associated with the National Conference (NC), formally joined the Apni Party during an event held at the party headquarters in Srinagar. On the occasion, Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari and other senior party leaders warmly welcomed him into the party. Besides party president, the prominent party leaders who were present on the occasion and who gave a warm welcome to the new members into the party fold included partys General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir, Provincial President Kashmir Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Spokesperson Ishrat Bhat, District President Srinagar & Constituency In-charge Central Shaltang Zaffar Habib, District President Ganderbal Javaid Mir, Provincial Coordinator Kashmir & Former DDC Hazartbal Shabir Ahmad Reshi, Provincial Secretary Kashmir Shiraza Malik, Provincial Joint Secretary Kashmir Aamir Ashraf Bhat, Organiser Central Kashmir Mohammad Shafi Mir, Vice President District Srinagar Mohsin Zaffar Shah, Vice President District Srinagar Lateef Ahmad Thoker, Constituency In-charge Habba Kadal Jeelani Hamid Kumar, Constituency In-charge Zadibal Tehseen Farooq, Constituency In-charge Khanyar Amir Bhat, Joint Secretary District Srinagar Sumaira Hameed, Joint Secretary District Srinagar Khursheed Makhdoomi, Joint Secretary District Srinagar Sameer Ahmad Lone, Publicity Secretary District Srinagar Abdul Rahsid Alie, Youth Wing Joint Secretary Srinagar Mudasir Wali, Zonal President Shaltang Aamir Mir, Senior Leader Peer Wajahat, Rafiqa Jee, Mateena Rajuput, Suhail Wani, Indumit Singh, Nazir Ahmad, and others.
BHSS Nowpora cluster celebrates National Sports Day with traditional games, felicitation
BHSS Nowpora Cluster celebrated National Sports Day with great enthusiasm and sporting spirit, marking the birth anniversary of legendary Indian hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. The Programme, as per a statement, brought together students, athletes, teachers and sports enthusiasts to celebrate the importance of sports, fitness, discipline and teamwork. The event also witnessed the felicitation of winners and outstanding participants of various sporting activities conducted at the cluster level. As part of the celebration, students enthusiastically participated in a variety of traditional games, providing a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with Indias rich sporting heritage while promoting physical activity, teamwork and healthy competition. The winners and runners-up were presented with trophies, medals and certificates in recognition of their hard work, dedication and sporting excellence. Speaking on the occasion, Principal BHSS Nowpora, Dr Syed Masrat, emphasised that sports are not only about winning medals but also about building confidence, discipline, leadership and a healthy lifestyle among young people.
Tyndale-Biscoe, SRM Welkins advance to final of CE Tyndale-Biscoe Tournament
The 5th Canon C.E. Tyndale-Biscoe Invitational Football Tournament witnessed an exciting day of semi-final action, with teams displaying remarkable skill, determination and true sporting spirit. In the first semi-final, Tyndale-Biscoe School, as per a statement, produced a sensational attacking performance against Iqbal Memorial Institute, registering a commanding 100 victory. The goal scorers were Adeeb (3', 25'), Baris (8', 15', 18', 20', 39', 40'), Fahad (76'), and Muheet (78'). Baris was declared the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance. The second semi-final between SRM Welkins Sopore and DPS Srinagar was a closely contested encounter. SRM Welkins Sopore emerged victorious with a 10-win, courtesy of a goal by Miran Mir in the 69th minute. Miran Mir was deservedly adjudged the Man of the Match. With these results, the tournament has reached an exciting stage. Tyndale-Biscoe School (Biscoe) will now play SRM Welkins Sopore on Monday in the much-awaited next clash, as both teams look forward to continuing their impressive journey in the tournament. The tournament continues to promote the values of Unity, Fitness, Discipline, Sportsmanship and Service, while providing young footballers an excellent platform to showcase their talent and competitive spirit.
Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy: J&K bounce back with win over Gujarat
The Jammu and Kashmir Junior Boys football team bounced back from its opening defeat to register a 1-0 victory over Gujarat in the ongoing Dr. B.C. Roy Trophy Junior Boys National Football Championship at Narainpur, Chhattisgarh. J&K junior football team, as per a statement began their campaign on 26 August with a narrow 01 defeat against Madhya Pradesh. The team showed a strong response in their second match, securing three valuable points against Gujarat with a disciplined performance. With one win and one defeat from two matches, J&K currently have 3 points in the group. The J&K team will now face Sports Authority of India (SAI) on 30 August 2026 in their third and final group-stage match. The team will look to continue its positive momentum and finish the group stage on a strong note. The team's transportation, food, lodging, uniforms, and refreshments are all provided by the J&K Sports Council.
Burn Hall School lifts U-17 football trophy after 3-1 final win
Burn Hall School clinched the title in the Under-17 Football Tournament organised at Army Public School, BB Cantt, Srinagar, after registering an impressive 31 victory over Army Public School in the final. The tournament, as per a statement, brought together ten schools from across the region, providing a highly competitive platform for young footballers to showcase their skills and sporting talent. Burn Hall School displayed outstanding form throughout the competition, combining disciplined defending with attacking flair. In the final, the team produced a confident performance to overcome the hosts and secure the championship trophy. Principal Father Stalin Raja congratulated the players, coach He commended the team for their hard work, determination, and commitment, noting that the victory reflects the schools emphasis on excellence, teamwork, and character-building through sports. The triumph marks another significant milestone in Burn Hall Schools sporting journey and highlights the institutions continued commitment to encouraging students to excel both on the field and in the classroom.
HC seeks JMCs action taken report on building, fire safety norms
Srinagar, Aug 29:The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has sought a fresh and comprehensive affidavit from Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) indicating the action taken against establishments violating building regulations, parking norms and fire safety requirements. Hearing a plea on enforcement of statutory norms, a bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, observed that the affidavit the authorities had filed in compliance with earlier directions was deficient, failing to adequately address the specific issues. In its order, the court had earlier directed the JMC Commissioner to undertake a comprehensive survey of hotels, commercial establishments, coaching institutes and other buildings catering to the public, identify violations and take action against defaulting establishments. The exercise was to cover unauthorised constructions, absence of mandatory parking facilities, lack of valid fire safety clearances, and other statutory permissions. The court ordered that the fresh affidavit must also indicate the total number of such establishments, their compliance with building permissions and occupancy certificates, the nature of violations detected, inspection mechanisms and action taken, including notices, sealing, demolition, prosecution or cancellation of permissions, wherever warranted. The court warned of coercive action in case of non-compliance, saying appropriate proceedings could be initiated against the Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Vice Chairman of Jammu Development Authority and Inspector General of Police (Traffic) if the directions were not complied with. The court directed the concerned authorities to coordinate for effective enforcement and submit a clear timeline for completing the survey, identification of defaulters, issuance of notices and consequential action. It listed the matter on September 3, the next date of hearing.
Champions are forged through sweat, discipline, community support: LG Manoj Sinha
The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday paid solemn tribute to Major Dhyan Chand, the wizard of hockey, on the occasion of National Sports Day. Recalling his legendary performance, the Lieutenant Governor described Major Dhyan Chand as one of Indias deepest and most enduring symbols, whose brilliance compelled the world to pause and acknowledge Indias immense sporting talent. In his address on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor, as per an official statement, observed that every stroke of Major Dhyan Chands hockey stick symbolised discipline, dedication, and willpower. He emphasised that sports are not merely about medals but about cultivating resilience, unity, and the spirit of nation-building. Sport is lifes most honest teacher. The playing field never lies; rather, it tells you precisely where you stand today and what you must do to become better tomorrow. There are no shortcuts in sports. Even on the hockey turf, there is no place for excuses. There is only hard work, opportunity, and a test of your character. Sports cultivate the fundamental strength of nation-building that society needs. Sports produce young people who know how to fall and then rise again to hoist the flag of victory. Sports nurture the spirit and sentiment that teach us to believe in shared triumph, he said. Highlighting the role of youth, the Lieutenant Governor said that sports give wings to dreams. He expressed confidence in the young athletes of Jammu Kashmir, noting that they represent the bright future of India. He envisioned a future where every Gram Panchayat harnesses the power of sports, where academies in small towns nurture talent, and where farmers daughters receive the same scientific training as athletes in Centres of Excellence in big cities. The Lieutenant Governor also underlined the importance of sports science, management, and technical expertise in universities and institutions, which would produce trainers, physiotherapists, and managers for the future. He expressed hope that Jammu Kashmir would not only participate in international sporting events but also host them, showcasing its talent to the world. It is a resolve filled with infinite possibilities. Our achievements in sports over the past six years prove that if young people are prepared for sports with dedication, the region will create an entire era of champions, the Lieutenant Governor said. Calling upon youth to contribute to building Viksit Bharat of 2047, the Lieutenant Governor stressed that champions are forged through discipline and effort, not shortcuts. He urged corporate houses to support athletes at the stage of talent recognition, rather than only after they win medals. He emphasised the collective responsibility of society, coaches, support staff, and parents in shaping champions. The Lieutenant Governor outlined three duties for youth, calling them to lead by example, compete with dignity, accept defeat gracefully, and inspire future generations. He asked the youth to use the unity of sports to transcend differences of language and faith. The Lieutenant Governor called upon youth to give Back to Society by guiding and mentoring the next generation, repaying the community that supports every athlete. He commended the youth for their participation in the Drug-Free Campaign, setting an example for the nation. He reiterated that development is not measured by GDP alone but by the health, energy, and confidence of citizens. A healthy India is a fearless India. A sporting India is a confident India. And a confident India is an invincible India. Major Dhyan Chand, the wizard of hockey, gave the entire world one message to find your goal. That must be our message today as well. Whatever field we stand in, whether it is the field of sports, science, or public service we must identify our goal, move towards it, and achieve it together, the Lieutenant Governor said. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor administered the National Sports Day pledge and felicitated the top-performing sportspersons of the 69th National School Games. MoUs were also exchanged between the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, J&K, and Abhinav Bindra Foundation, Dani Sports Foundation and Common Services Centres, for promotion of sports in J&K.
Improved roads in challenging hilly J&K terrains to bolster anti-terror operations: Jitendra Singh
Jammu, Aug 29:Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh on Saturday, while asserting that better road connectivity in remote, challenging hilly terrains had a crucial security dimension, invited the Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary to meet the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to sort out issues related to Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for road construction in Jammu and Kashmir. The connectivity in the difficult hilly areas also carries an important security dimension. Some of the remote and challenging terrains have in the past posed difficulties from the security perspective and have also been vulnerable to movement by terrorists. Improved road connectivity will facilitate easier and faster movement of security forces into such areas and strengthen the implementation of anti-militancy and counter-terror operations, while simultaneously bringing development closer to the people living there, he stated. Singh, who is also the Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences besides being MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, was addressing the media after laying the foundation stone of 110 road projects under PMGSY-IV, batch-I of 2026-27, covering different parts of the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda-Kishtwar sub-region. J&K Deputy Chief Minister accompanied him during the function and the media interaction. Deputy Chief Minister said that he, habitually, did not mince words in sharing grouses or complaints. But let me tell him that their complaints are always welcome as the act (complaint) is an endorsement of their belief in our capability. Grievances are addressed to only those who, the persons believe, can redress them. It simply means only that they are convinced - we are performing and were able to deliver hence I look forward to listen to all their (J&K governments) complaints, he said, reciting a couplet of Ghalib. He also invited the Deputy Chief Minister, who smilingly appreciated the assertion of Singh to come to the union capital to meet the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Nitin Gadkari to discuss issues related to Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for road construction in Jammu and Kashmir. Come to Delhi, we will together meet Gadkariji, who has always been forthcoming to address our issues. This central government is responsive to our problems. We will talk about our grievances and seek redress, he addressed the Deputy Chief Minister, who gleefully accepted the suggestion. Singh, while narrating an incident about ex MLA Dina Nath, also asserted that all (PMGSY) roads were being approved on the recommendations of concerned MLAs and not the MP. We have started this process and we will continue it in future as well in best of democratic spirits, he said. The Union Minister also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving the highest priority to the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Parliamentary constituency over the last 12 years, resulting in sustained expansion of road connectivity across some of the most remote and difficult hilly areas of the region. He said that Udhampur consistently figured among the countrys top three districts in terms of PMGSY road projects, reflecting the continued priority accorded to rural connectivity in the constituency. As per the project statement, the 110 roads together cover 598.455 km and carry a sanctioned cost of Rs 1,503.53 crore. The projects are spread across Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts and are expected to benefit 46,972 people. The Union Minister said that the scale of the latest PMGSY intervention demonstrates the continued commitment of the government to taking all-weather road connectivity to the last mile and to villages and habitations located in difficult and remote hilly terrain. He said that the new roads would further transform rural mobility and contribute significantly to ease of living and ease of travel for people living in far-flung areas. Singh said that the sustained expansion of PMGSY road connectivity was changing the landscape of rural mobility in the hilly areas, taking all-weather connectivity to villages and habitations that were earlier difficult to access. He said that the road network being created under PMGSY was directly contributing to ease of living and ease of travel, while opening up new opportunities for people living in the remotest parts of the constituency. The Union Minister said that senior citizens and school-going children were among those who faced the greatest difficulties earlier, particularly during the rainy season when poor road conditions often made travel difficult and, at times, prevented people from reaching their workplaces, schools and other essential destinations. The expansion of the road network is now helping remove this long-standing difficulty and bringing essential services and opportunities closer to rural communities, he said. Singh said that women in the remotest villages were also experiencing the benefits of the new road connectivity as better roads provided easier access to schools, healthcare, markets, workplaces and other essential facilities. The expansion of the road network into previously difficult-to-reach villages, he said, was creating a new mobility network for women and families living in the hilly terrain, with direct benefits for their everyday lives. Giving the district-wise breakup of the projects, Singh said that Kathua accounted for 24 road projects covering 128.925 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs 307.12 crore. Udhampur accounts for 44 projects covering 235.040 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs 554.90 crore. Ramban has 13 projects covering 60.360 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs 154.97 crore, while Doda accounts for 13 projects covering 90.180 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs 260.66 crore. Kishtwar has 16 projects covering 83.950 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs 224.88 crore. A notable feature of the projects is the incorporation of waste plastics in road construction in a large number of the works. The project statement specifically records the use of waste plastics across several road packages, combining the objective of strengthening rural connectivity with more sustainable road construction practices. Singh said that the sustained expansion of PMGSY road connectivity in the constituency reflected the governments continued focus on ensuring that the benefits of development reach the last mile and the remotest habitation. He said that the latest package of projects would further strengthen the road network across the Parliamentary constituency and adjoining hilly areas. In May this year, he had also thanked Prime Minister Modi for according the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda constituency around 43 percent of the total PMGSY allocation for Jammu and Kashmir, with Rs 1524 crore earmarked against J&Ks Rs 3566 crore allocation. He said that the sustained focus on rural roads had become particularly meaningful in a constituency where a large number of villages were located across steep, remote and geographically difficult terrain. Better roads were not only reducing travel time and difficulties but were also strengthening access to education, healthcare, markets, employment and other essential services. The Union Minister said that the transformation in connectivity over the past decade demonstrated how infrastructure could become an instrument of social and economic empowerment, particularly for communities living in far-flung areas. With every new road reaching another remote habitation, the distance between these communities and the mainstream of development was being reduced. Singh said that the governments focus would continue to be on strengthening last-mile connectivity, ensuring that difficult geography did not become a barrier to development, mobility or access to opportunities. He said that the expanding PMGSY network would continue to serve both the developmental needs of the people and the strategic requirements of the region. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, in his address, said that J&K was firmly on the path of development and described it as a privilege to be part of the ongoing transformation. He said that the concerns and issues raised by the people would be addressed sufficiently and assured that the government remained committed to ensuring that development reaches every part of the Union Territory. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the contractors engaged in the execution of the road projects were required to perform their work as per prescribed standards and made it clear that there would be no compromise on the quality of construction. He said that the bidding and tendering processes were being undertaken in accordance with high standards and that strict action would be taken against any shortcomings in the execution of works. Among the MLAs present on the occasion were Rajiv Jasrotia, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Sajad Shaheen, Sunil Bharadwaj, Arjun Singh Raju, Pyare Lal Sharma, Ranbir Singh Pathania, Darshan Kumar, and Satish Kumar Sharma. The legislators raised various issues and concerns relating to their respective areas, particularly those concerning road connectivity and development. Singh and the Deputy Chief Minister assured the legislators that the issues and concerns raised by them would be taken up for swift addressal and that necessary steps would be taken to expedite development works and improve connectivity in the concerned areas.
Srinagar, Aug 29: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to experience generally hot and humid weather over the coming days, with brief spells of rain and thundershowers expected at several places, the Meteorological Centre here said on Saturday. A local news gathering agency, KNO, reported that scattered rain and thundershowers are likely during the early morning and afternoon hours on August 30. On August 31 and September 1, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected at many places, with brief intense or heavy showers likely in a few districts of the Jammu division. The weather is expected to remain generally dry from September 2 to 10, although brief spells of rain or thundershowers may occur at scattered places during the early morning and afternoon hours. The weather department has cautioned that brief intense showers in localised areas could trigger flash floods, mudslides and landslides during August 31 and September 1-2. Farmers have been advised that they may continue harvesting and other agricultural operations. Meanwhile, temperatures remained above normal across several parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius, which was 4.6 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature was 19.6 degrees Celsius, 3.6 degrees above normal. Jammu recorded a maximum of 34.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 26.2 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara registered a high of 34.2 degrees Celsius. Qazigund recorded a maximum of 32 degrees Celsius, followed by 31.2 degrees Celsius at Kukernag and 30.4 degrees Celsius at Banihal. In the tourist destinations, Pahalgam recorded a maximum of 28 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 16.2 degrees Celsius, while Gulmarg registered a maximum of 24 degrees Celsius and the lowest minimum temperature in the valley at 12.2 degrees Celsius. Katra recorded a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius and received 84.2 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending 8:30 am on Saturday, the highest rainfall among the stations listed by the department. The MeT Centre advised people to remain cautious in areas vulnerable to flash floods, mudslides and landslides during intense showers.
Ujh multipurpose project revival raises hopes of economic transformation
Srinagar, Aug 29:The revival of the long-delayed Ujh Multipurpose Project in Kathua district has raised hopes of an economic transformation in the region, with the ambitious project expected to expand irrigation, generate hydropower, and strengthen water availability for households and industry. The project, located on the Ujh river, a major tributary of the Ravi, envisages a 380-feet-high concrete-faced rockfill dam and a power house expected to generate between 186 MW and 212 MW of electricity. Declared a national project in 2008, the scheme remained stalled for years. Its revival has now brought renewed attention to its potential to benefit communities in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Pathankot and Gurdaspur in neighbouring Punjab. It has been discussed for years, and people here have been waiting to see the project move forward. If completed as planned, it could bring major changes to the area, said Akshay Kumar, a resident of Kathua. The project is designed to provide irrigation to nearly 90,000 hectares of agricultural land across Kathua and Samba in J&K and Pathankot and Gurdaspur in Punjab. For farmers in the region, the availability of irrigation water could reduce dependence on rainfall and support more reliable agricultural production. The project was revived due to the efforts of Union Minister Jitendra Singh. Earlier, water was not reaching the tail-end areas, but with the completion of this project, many villages in the tail-end areas of Kathua and Samba districts will receive irrigation water, MLA Samba Surjeet Singh Slathia told Greater Kashmir. He said the project would prove to be a major milestone for the farming community in the two districts, as improved irrigation would help bring more land under cultivation, strengthen agricultural productivity and provide greater relief to farmers in the tail-end villages. The project will also supply drinking water to Kathua district and make water available for industrial use, potentially supporting new investments and employment in the region. Work on the project is being taken up in phases, with construction-related activities and land acquisition progressing simultaneously, according to officials. Locals say the projects impact could extend beyond agriculture and power generation, with the reservoir and associated infrastructure potentially creating opportunities in tourism, transport, hospitality and other sectors. The project also has a significant strategic dimension because of its location near the international border. Backed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the project is expected to help regulate water flows more effectively and strengthen surveillance and management along vulnerable stretches of the riverbed that could otherwise be used as infiltration routes. The project is also expected to enhance Indias utilisation of the waters of the eastern rivers allocated to it under the Indus Waters Treaty. At present, part of the Ujhs flow crosses the international border without being fully utilised on the Indian side. The project aims to harness a greater share of this water for irrigation, drinking water, industry, and power generation.
Former J&K minister Ghulam Hassan Khan dies after prolonged illness
Shopian, Aug 29: Former minister Ghulam Hassan Khan died after a prolonged illness in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Saturday evening, a family member said. Khan, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, was elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in 2002. He later served as Minister of State for Social Welfare. Khan later parted ways with the PDP and fought 2008 elections independently. He will be laid to rest in his ancestral garveyard in Shopian.
Jitendra Singh lays foundation of Rs 1,503 cr PMGSY roads in Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency
New Delhi, Aug 29: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving the highest priority to the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Parliamentary constituency over the last 12 years, resulting in sustained expansion of road connectivity across some of the most remote and difficult hilly areas of the region. He said that Udhampur has consistently figured among the countrys top three districts in terms of PMGSY road projects, reflecting the continued priority accorded to rural connectivity in the constituency. Dr. Jitendra Singh was speaking after laying the foundation stone of 110 road projects under PMGSY-IV, Batch-I of 2026-27, covering different parts of the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda-Kishtwar region. As per the project statement, the 110 roads together cover 598.455 km and carry a sanctioned cost of 1,503.53 crore. The projects are spread across Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts and are expected to benefit 46,972 people. The Union Minister said that the scale of the latest PMGSY intervention demonstrates the continued commitment of the Government to taking all-weather road connectivity to the last mile and to villages and habitations located in difficult and remote hilly terrain. He said that the new roads would further transform rural mobility and contribute significantly to ease of living and ease of travel for people living in far-flung areas. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the sustained expansion of PMGSY road connectivity is changing the landscape of rural mobility in the hilly areas, taking all-weather connectivity to villages and habitations that were earlier difficult to access. He said that the road network being created under PMGSY is directly contributing to ease of living and ease of travel, while opening up new opportunities for people living in the remotest parts of the constituency. The Minister said that senior citizens and school-going children were among those who faced the greatest difficulties earlier, particularly during the rainy season when poor road conditions often made travel difficult and, at times, prevented people from reaching their workplaces, schools and other essential destinations. The expansion of the road network is now helping remove this long-standing difficulty and bringing essential services and opportunities closer to rural communities. Dr Jitendra Singh said that women in the remotest villages are also experiencing the benefits of the new road connectivity, as better roads provide easier access to schools, healthcare, markets, workplaces and other essential facilities. The expansion of the road network into previously difficult-to-reach villages, he said, is creating a new mobility network for women and families living in the hilly terrain, with direct benefits for their everyday lives. The Minister said that connectivity in these difficult hilly areas also carries an important security dimension. Some of the remote and challenging terrains have in the past posed difficulties from the security perspective and have also been vulnerable to movement by militants and terrorists. Improved road connectivity will facilitate easier and faster movement of security forces into such areas and strengthen the implementation of anti-militancy and counter-terror operations, while simultaneously bringing development closer to the people living there. Giving the district-wise breakup of the projects, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Kathua accounts for 24 road projects covering 128.925 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately 307.12 crore. Udhampur accounts for 44 projects covering 235.040 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately 554.90 crore. Ramban has 13 projects covering 60.360 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately 154.97 crore, while Doda accounts for 13 projects covering 90.180 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately 260.66 crore. Kishtwar has 16 projects covering 83.950 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately 224.88 crore. A notable feature of the projects is the incorporation of waste plastics in road construction in a large number of the works. The project statement specifically records the use of waste plastics across several road packages, combining the objective of strengthening rural connectivity with more sustainable road construction practices. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the sustained expansion of PMGSY road connectivity in the constituency reflects the Governments continued focus on ensuring that the benefits of development reach the last mile and the remotest habitation. He said that the latest package of projects would further strengthen the road network across the Parliamentary constituency and adjoining hilly areas. In May this year, he had also thanked Prime Minister Modi for according the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda constituency around 43 per cent of the total PMGSY allocation for Jammu & Kashmir, with 1,524 crore earmarked against the Union Territorys 3,566 crore allocation. He said that the sustained focus on rural roads has become particularly meaningful in a constituency where a large number of villages are located across steep, remote and geographically difficult terrain. Better roads are not only reducing travel time and difficulties but are also strengthening access to education, healthcare, markets, employment and other essential services. The Minister said that the transformation in connectivity over the past decade has demonstrated how infrastructure can become an instrument of social and economic empowerment, particularly for communities living in far-flung areas. With every new road reaching another remote habitation, the distance between these communities and the mainstream of development is being reduced. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the Governments focus would continue to be on strengthening last-mile connectivity, ensuring that difficult geography does not become a barrier to development, mobility or access to opportunities. He said that the expanding PMGSY network would continue to serve both the developmental needs of the people and the strategic requirements of the region. Deputy Chief Minister J&K, Sh. Surinder Choudhary, in his address, said that Jammu & Kashmir is firmly on the path of development and expressed satisfaction for contributing to the ongoing transformation. He said that the concerns and issues raised by the people would be addressed sufficiently and assured that the Government of J&K remains committed to ensuring that development reaches every part of the Union Territory. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the contractors engaged in the execution of the road projects are required to perform their work as per prescribed standards and made it clear that there would be no compromise on the quality of construction. He said that the bidding and tendering processes are being undertaken in accordance with high standards and that strict action would be taken against any shortcomings in the execution of works. Among the MLAs present on the occasion were Pawan Kumar Gupta, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Rajiv Jasrotia, Sajad Shaheen, Dr. Sunil Bharadwaj, Arjun Singh Raju, Pyare Lal Sharma, Ranbir Singh Pathania, Darshan Kumar and Satish Kumar Sharma. MLA Shakti Parihar joined the event virtually while LoP Sunil Sharma addressed the audience through a video message sent by him. The legislators raised various issues and concerns relating to their respective areas, particularly those concerning forest clearances and defaults by contractors. Dr. Jitendra Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary assured the legislators that the issues and concerns raised by them would be taken up for swift addressal and that necessary steps would be taken to expedite development works and improve connectivity in the concerned areas.
MBBS interns threaten strike over 12,300 stipend, demand fair compensation for their work
MBBS interns threaten indefinite strike, demand fair compensation MBBS interns are an essential part of our healthcare system. They work long hours, attend to patients, assist in emergencies, perform night duties and shoulder responsibilities that directly contribute to patient careyet receive just 12,300 a month. Is 12,300 enough compensation for the responsibility, workload and hours they put in during their internship? Watch the video as MBBS interns raise their concerns and warn of an indefinite strike, demanding fair compensation for their work. Report: Shafia Riyaz Camera: Murtaza Bilal
People are confused, leaders know their game has been exposed: Altaf Bukhari
J&K HC to hear on Monday plea seeking Crime Branch probe into minor's rape, death in Kishtwar
Jammu, Aug 29: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will hear on Monday a plea seeking a Crime Branch probe into the death of a 15-year-old tribal girl, who was allegedly sexual exploited by her school teacher. The petition was filed on behalf of the girl's father, a resident of Chatroo village in Kishtwar district, by senior advocate Deepika Pushkar Nath on Saturday. The matter has been listed for hearing on Monday, Nath told PTI. She said the plea seeks transfer of the investigation to the Crime Branch for an independent probe into the entire sequence of events proceeding the minor's death on August 20, including an alleged panchayat intervention and attempt to pressure her father for a compromise. Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident and have so far arrested six persons, including the school headmaster, who is the main accused, a nurse, and a daily-wage sanitary worker posted at District Hospital Kishtwar. The government has suspended the teacher, while the daily-wage worker has been dismissed from service. We have sought an independent investigation not only into the alleged rape of the minor but also into the entire chain of events that followed, leading to her death. The alleged Panchayat intervention, the pressure exerted on the victim's father to compromise the matter, and the role of other persons who may have facilitated or attempted to suppress the case require thorough investigation, Nath said. She said the alleged intervention of the panchayat is an important aspect requiring urgent scrutiny, particularly the allegations that the girl's impoverished and illiterate father was pressured to compromise the matter, offered money to remain silent and allegedly made to affix his thumb impression on a blank paper. These allegations cannot be treated as an isolated or incidental episode, particularly when they arose after the minor's pregnancy came to light, she said. According to the petition, after the pregnancy became known, people allegedly associated with the principal accused became involved and a panchayat was convened. The petitioner alleged that he was chastised and pressured to remain silent and accept a compromise, while money was allegedly offered in return. He stated that he rejected the proposed compromise and insisted that the accused and others be proceeded against in accordance with law. The petition further alleged that the father was subsequently made to put his thumb impression on a blank document under duress, without knowing what was written on or made out of it. The plea sought identification and examination of all persons present at the panchayat, the circumstances in which the document was prepared and the thumb impression obtained, and the alleged source and purpose of the money offered. The plea alleged that the girl was sexually exploited by the principal accused for months together resulting in her pregnancy. The family said they came to know of the pregnancy only when the minor developed a serious medical condition. The petition thereafter traces a series of events involving her examination at Public Health Centre at Chatroo, ultrasound at Kishtwar, treatment at District Hospital Kishtwar, transfer to Doda, delivery of a dead male child and subsequent transportation towards Punjab, culminating in her death. It sought investigation into the alleged attempts to terminate the pregnancy, the procurement and administration of medicines, the role of persons who transported or accompanied the minor, the treatment provided at different health facilities and the circumstances surrounding her death. Nath said the petition also seeks preservation and examination of hospital records, ultrasound reports, medical prescriptions, ambulance records, GPS/location data, CCTV footage, call-detail records, electronic communications, financial records and forensic/DNA evidence. It also seeks scrutiny of the alleged circumstances in which the minor was recorded in hospital records as the wife of a 13-year-old boy, and the identification of the person or persons responsible for furnishing such information. The petitioner has additionally sought examination of possible administrative, institutional or statutory lapses concerning the safety of the minor at the school and the handling and reporting of the matter after her pregnancy came to light.
Russian attack hits Ukraine's Kyiv region, killing at least 27
Kyiv, Aug 29: At least 27 people have been killed following a Russian attack on the Bucha district, close to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, officials said Saturday. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the local regional military administration, said that at least 50 residential buildings had been damaged in the attack, which also sparked a large-scale fire that spread to homes and a restaurant. Almost constant air raids in Kyiv have now reached their third day, choking the economy in the Ukrainian capital and severely disrupting civilian life over four and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour. (AP)
LG Sinha calls for stronger sports ecosystem in J&K, urges corporates to invest in talent
Srinagar, Aug 29: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called for a stronger grassroots sports ecosystem in the Union Territory, urging institutions, coaches, parents and corporate houses to invest in athletes well before they win medals. Addressing a National Sports Day event, Sinha paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and said the sporting icon had become a symbol of India's identity through his achievements on the international stage. I believe that in that era, Major Dhyan Chand himself became an embodiment of India's identity, and his stick became a symbol of his unwavering willpower, his dedication on the sporting field and his discipline, Sinha said. He described sport as a powerful tool for character-building and nation-building, arguing that sporting success was not limited to medals. Sport is life's most honest teacher, he said. It tells you exactly where you stand today and what you need to do to become better tomorrow. There is no shortcut on the sporting field. There is no place for excuses in hockey either. There is only hard work, opportunity and a test of your character, he added. Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir's young athletes represented the region's potential and India's future. Today, when I look at the young athletes of Jammu and Kashmir, I see India's bright future in them, he said, congratulating the athletes honoured at the event. Calling for greater access to professional training, he said athletes from smaller towns and rural areas should have access to facilities comparable to those available in Jammu and Srinagar. We want to see a farmer's child in Reasi or Shopian receive the same scientific and technical training in different sports disciplines that a player practising at a centre of excellence in Srinagar or Jammu receives, he said. The Lieutenant Governor also called for sports science and sports management to be strengthened as academic disciplines. We need to consider how sports science and sports management can emerge as subjects in universities and institutions, and how our institutions can produce trainers, sports managers, physiotherapists and technical experts in sports, he said. Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir should aspire not only to participate in international sporting competitions but also to host them. We want to see a Jammu and Kashmir that does not merely participate in international games, but is itself capable of hosting international games and is ready to welcome the entire world, he said. He expressed confidence in the potential of the region's athletes, saying their achievements could gain global recognition. We believe that in the coming two years, the world will see the dreams of Jammu and Kashmir's athletes being transformed into discipline and action, Sinha said. He also stressed that sporting development could not be left entirely to governments and called for greater private-sector participation. The future is not built only by the efforts of governments. The future is built by those who refuse to give up, he said. Addressing young athletes, Sinha urged them to maintain discipline and perseverance.Believe in yourself. The country will certainly believe in you, he said. He also highlighted the contribution of people working behind the scenes, including coaches, support staff and parents. Our coaches, support staff and parents are the unique creators behind every medal that Jammu and Kashmir is winning today, Sinha said. History certainly remembers the athlete standing on the stage, but I think we now need to reflect on the fact that we should also remember those who always stand behind the stage as your strength. Sinha further linked sporting success with India's broader development, saying the country's progress should not be assessed solely through economic indicators. Development is not measured only by GDP, he said. It is also measured by the energy of our youth, and by the pride with which the Indian tricolour flies on the world's biggest sporting stages. He urged corporate houses operating in Jammu and Kashmir to support promising athletes before they achieve medal-winning success. Do not wait until an athlete wins a medal to provide support, Sinha said. Rather, help identify and nurture the talent that is being recognised before the medal is won, in our villages, small towns and streets.
Suspected Pak drone spotted along LoC in J-K's Poonch, search operation underway
Mendhar, Aug 29: A drone suspected to be from Pakistan was spotted hovering over forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, prompting security forces to launch a search operation in the area early Saturday, officials said. The drone was noticed at Balakote areas Behrooti village in Mendhar sector late Friday evening, and it moved towards the Mangalnar-Dabrote side near the border before returning to Pakistan, the officials said. They said Army troops guarding the LoC intensified surveillance and launched a search operation at first light to determine whether it had dropped or carried any suspicious material. Officials further said that the search operation is still underway and added that security forces remained on heightened alert along the border. At the same time, police, along with Army and paramilitary forces, have been engaging in a massive search operation in the vast forested districts of Udhampur, Kathua and Rajouri following information about suspicious movement, they added. According to officials, the joint search operation took place at Khuban, Nagain, Khtrail, Godu Falal, Padetar, Chor Mottu, Kia, Kheba, Bhed, Marta, Joffar, and the adjoining areas in the Udhampur-Kathua forest belt on Friday evening and is still underway. In Rajouri, another search operation was launched in Gaibas, Mithiyani, Mogla and Narla after villagers informed about the movement of two suspected armed persons, believed to be terrorists. Officials said there have been no contact with any suspected persons so far.
Israeli strikes kill 5 in Gaza, Iran touts Russian energy deal, and other news in Middle East
Dubai, Aug 28: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed five people on Friday, despite a fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States. Meanwhile, thousands of sailors remain stranded in the Persian Gulf by the Iran war, while Iran is touting an energy deal with Russia and the US has imposed restrictions on a major Egyptian bank for its ties with Iran. Here's a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East. Full coverage can be found here. Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 5 Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed five people, local hospital officials said Friday. Two brothers and another relative died in a strike on the family's home outside Khan Younis, officials at Nasser Hospital said. Israel's military said it was not aware of a strike in Khan Younis. Two separate Israeli strikes killed one person each in Gaza City on Friday, according to health officials at Shifa hospital. Israel's military confirmed it struck two separate areas in the city, without elaborating. The five deaths are the latest in Gaza since an October ceasefire deal attempted to halt a more than two-year war between Israel and Hamas. While the heaviest fighting has subsided, Israeli forces have carried out repeated airstrikes, killing at least 1,303 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza. Thousands of sailors stranded by Iran war The UN's maritime agency said Friday that 19 seafarers have been killed and at least 6,000 remain stranded on hundreds of ships unable to leave the region since the start of the Iran war on February 28. There have been at least 70 attacks on international shipping in the Persian Gulf, according to the International Maritime Organisation. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez urged practical solutions and renewed cooperation to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. About 20 per cent of the world's traded oil and natural gas passed through the vital commercial waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf before the war. Iran and Russia look to revive energy deal Iran's ambassador to Russia on Friday said the two countries are seeking to deepen links between their energy grids by reviving a plan that dates to 2022, according to Iranian state media. Umud Shokri, a fellow at George Mason University, said the plan calls for piping 55 billion cubic metres of Russian gas annually into Iran, via Azerbaijan. He said that would help Iran weather US economic pressure by alleviating seasonal shortages of gas, though there are significant hurdles, as building out the infrastructure would be expensive and time-consuming. It is more than bluster, but not yet a game changer, Shokri said. US imposes restrictions on Egyptian bank The Trump administration is taking steps to limit an Egyptian bank's operations in the United Arab Emirates. Banque Misr, Egypt's second-largest bank, is accused of serving as an economic lifeline to Iran's leadership. But under a new rule proposed by the US Treasury, the bank's Emirati branches would be severed from access to the US financial system. Iran objects to US economic pressure Iran's Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned a new round of US economic measures against the country, calling them economic terrorism and saying Tehran would use all available means to counter them. The ministry said the sanctions violated international law and called on other countries to refrain from implementing them. It accused Washington of using the US dollar to pressure other countries into complying with its policies. Earlier this week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent vowed to fully sever Iran from the global economy and threatened countries that continue to do business with Iran with secondary sanctions. It was part of the US campaign to use economic pressure to try and wring concessions from Iran. Finland to stop providing UN agency aid for Palestine Finland said it will not extend an agreement to provide humanitarian aid with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, or UNRWA. Israel's Foreign Ministry, which has accused the UN agency of being a hotbed of terrorism, welcomed the news. UNRWA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Finland provided UNRWA with 5 million euros (USD 5.8 million) annually under a multi-year deal set to expire later this year. Ville Tavio, the country's foreign trade minister, said in a post on X that aid to Palestinian territories would instead be provided through other channels, such as the UN's World Food Programme. UK warns Israel against removing British officials The United Kingdom warned against any attempt by Israel to remove British officials from the Gaza ceasefire coordination centre on Friday, after reports that Israel was considering expelling UK officials. The UK government said any move to remove its officials would undermine shared efforts to implement the 20-point Gaza peace plan. The comments came in response to reports that Israel is considering expelling officials from Britain and other European nations from the monitoring centre. Israel has already removed two Dutch diplomats from the ceasefire centre. The country said Thursday that the decision was in response to a Dutch ban on the trade of Israeli products from the occupied West Bank and other anti-Israel measures.
UGC-NET results announced for 84 subjects; over 4,000 qualify for JRF
New Delhi, Aug 29: The results of the UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) for 84 subjects have been announced, with more than 4,000 candidates qualifying for the Junior Research Fellowship, the National Testing Agency has said. Out of 6.07 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam in 84 subjects, over 97,000 have qualified for PhD admissions and over 4,000 for JRF, a senior NTA official said late on Friday. The examinations were conducted in June, with the NTA releasing the UGC-NET answer key on August 16, nearly two months after the examination. The testing agency had also issued a special notice concerning the Sociology, Commerce and English papers after an expert committee found factual, typographical, translation and language-related errors in the question papers. Later, on the same day (August 16), it announced that the three examinations would be conducted afresh in September, citing the errors. The re-examinations are scheduled for September 9 and 10, for which candidates will not be required to pay an additional fee. The NET is conducted by the NTA to determine the eligibility of Indian nationals for the role of assistant professor and for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Indian universities and colleges.
Chatroo Kishtwar minors death case: Health worker arrested, total accused reach six
Ramban, Aug 29: A female health worker has been arrested in connection with the death of a minor girl from Chatroo in Kishtwar district, taking the total number of accused arrested in the case to six, officials said. The accused, identified as Sonika Parihar, a Female Multipurpose Health Worker (FMPHW) posted at District Hospital Kishtwar, was arrested during the ongoing investigation into FIR No. 34/2026 registered at Police Station Chatroo. The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The minors death under suspicious circumstances earlier this month sparked widespread outrage across Kishtwar and parts of the Chenab Valley. Protests, shutdowns and sit-ins were held in Chatroo, Kishtwar and parts of Doda and Ramban, with people demanding a transparent probe and strict action against those responsible. In view of the sensitivity of the case, SSP Kishtwar constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a detailed investigation. Officials said the probe has so far brought to light material related to the alleged sexual exploitation of the minor, her pregnancy, alleged attempts to terminate the pregnancy and the involvement of several individuals, including persons allegedly linked to her medical treatment. Police had earlier arrested five persons in the case, including a government school teacher and his brother. The teacher was subsequently suspended by the Education Department following his arrest. With Parihars arrest, the number of accused arrested in the case has risen to six. According to police, the role of the health worker emerged during the course of the investigation, following which she was arrested in accordance with the law. The SIT is continuing its probe using scientific and evidence-based methods to establish the sequence of events leading to the minors death and ascertain the individual roles of all persons allegedly connected with the case. Police said further arrests would be made if warranted by the evidence and that strict legal action would be taken against anyone found involved. The latest development comes amid continued demands from residents, civil society groups and political representatives for a fair and time-bound investigation. District Police Kishtwar reiterated that the investigation would be conducted impartially and thoroughly, and that no person found involved would be spared.
Centre approves 23 JKAS officers for induction in IAS
Centre on Friday approved and notified the names of twenty-three Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers for their induction in AGMUT cadre of Indian Administrative Service (IAS). President, as per the notification of Department of Personnel and Training of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has notified the select lists of State Civil Service officers of UT of J&K segment, in exercise of powers conferred by Rule 8(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, read with Regulation 9(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Appointment by Promotion) Regulations, 1955. The select lists of these JKAS officers were prepared on April 24, 2026 under Regulation 5(5) and were approved on August 3, 2026, under Regulation 7(2). The names were cleared to fill up promotion quota vacancies in AGMUT cadre of IAS under State Civil Service category determined by the Government of India under Regulation 5(1) of the said Regulations in consultation with the state (UT) government for the select list of 2019 and select list of 2020. Select list of 2019 (SCS), prepared against vacancies arising between January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. Includes the names of Secretary, Information Department Munir-ul-Islam; Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology Department Babila Rakwal; Commissioner Secretary, ARI and Trainings Department Shabnam Shah Kamili; Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Rachna Sharma; Mission Director, Skill Development Mission Leena Padha; Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment Rajinder Singh Tara; Managing Director J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Tariq Hussain Ganai; Mission Director, J&K ICDS Sajjad Hussain Ganai; Director General, J&K Rural Sanitation Anoo Malhotra; Secretary, Agriculture Production Department Nitu Gupta Besides them, the select list of 2019 also includes the names of Anil Koul, Dr Ghulam Nabi Itoo, Kusum Badyal, Vivek Sharma, Mohammad Harun Malik, Nisar Ahmad Wani, Jatinder Singh and Shamim Ahmad. As per the notification, the name of Nisar Ahmad Wani has been included in the list provisionally subject to grant of Integrity Certificate by the state (UT) government. Select list of 2020, prepared against vacancies arisen between January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, includes the names of Nisar Ahmad Wani; Commissioner, J&K State Taxes Prediman Krishen Bhat; Tariq Ahmad Zargar; Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Bhawani Rakwal; Managing Director, J&K Housing Board Smita Sethi and Director General, J&K Youth Services and Sports Anuradha Gupta. The name of Nisar Ahmad Wani, as per notification, has been included in the select list in addition to the normal size of the select list in accordance with the second proviso to Regulation 5(5) of the IAS (Appointment by promotion) Regulations, 1955. His name has been included in the list provisionally subject to grant of integrity certificate by the state government. Prior to this induction clearance, 16 JKAS officers were inducted into IAS in 2022.
10 KGP Srinagar students get jobs in Dubai
Srinagar, Aug 28:Kashmir Government Polytechnic (KGP), Srinagar, has achieved a significant milestone in technical education by securing international placement opportunities for 10 of its students during a campus recruitment drive. The selected students will join the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, marking a notable achievement for the college in connecting its students with global industry opportunities. The recruitment drive was organised by the Training and Placement Cell of KGP Srinagar in collaboration with ESAG. Fifth-semester students from multiple engineering disciplines participated in the selection process for positions with the UAE-based conglomerate, which has a presence across retail, real estate, technology and industrial sectors. The selection process included a company presentation, online registration, computer-based tests (CBT) and interviews. Following the process, the 10 selected candidates were offered positions as Assistant Supervisors in the Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Electronics streams. The students expressed gratitude to Principal Dr Shafquat Ara, Heads of Departments and other faculty members for their guidance, encouragement and support throughout their academic journey. The placement achievement reflects the colleges focus on industry-oriented education, skill development and preparing students for employment opportunities in the global market. The success is also expected to encourage students of future batches to pursue academic and professional excellence and explore career opportunities beyond the domestic job market.gk news se
Best practices from Kashmir to be showcased, replicated across states: NITI Aayog member
Member NITI Aayog Dr M Srinivas on Friday said that the successful initiatives and best practices emerging from Kashmir will be showcased and replicated in other parts of the country Talking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) Srinagar, Srinivas said that NITI Aayog will use the regions achievements as a benchmark for other states. Srinivas said the purpose of the NITI Aayog delegations three-day visit was to assess the progress across various sectors, identify bottlenecks and facilitate coordination between institutions and government departments. He said NITI Aayog works on the principles of cooperative and competitive federalism and extends its role to break the administrative silos and resolve the issues that may be hampering implementation at the ground level. We always tell people that this part of the country is doing well and there is a best practice. We will carry these best practices forward to other states and say, if Kashmir is able to do it, why dont you do it, Srinivas said. He said the delegation earlier held interactions with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Chief Secretary and various administrative secretaries of J&K to understand the progress of different departments and identify issues requiring intervention or coordination at the Centre. Our job is to see whether there are issues with a particular department or ministry which are creating hurdles from the Delhi side, he said. Basically, we have to break the silos, facilitate them and bring everyone on board, he added. About the delegations visit to CSIR-IIIM, Srinivas said the institutions health incubation centre has showcased promising work by young researchers, particularly in areas involving phytochemicals, floriculture and medicinal plants. He said the research was not confined to laboratories but was being directed towards addressing major health challenges, with teams working on pancreatic and breast cancer, Alzheimers and other brain diseases, as well as tuberculosis. The basic sciences are being bridged with patient care, longevity and other aspects, he said. Srinivas said Kashmir was performing well across sectors but stressed that there was a considerable scope for improvement by learning from successful models in India and globally. He said the best take away from the visit was the strong link between Kashmiri institutions and leading institutions across the country. The basic research taking place in the region must ultimately move towards commercialisation and reach society, he added. He said that the research ultimately has to reach mankind. The connectivity is already happening, but we will facilitate that connectivity, he added. On startups and innovation, Srinivas said Kashmir had significant potential because of the ideas emerging from its people. He said the existing incubation ecosystem could provide a platform for innovators to develop their ideas with the support and guidance of teachers and institutions. People can incubate their ideas here, get inspiration from the teachers here and then come back with social impact, he said. He further said the broader objective of the visit was to bridge the gap between institutions, departments and people besides bringing stakeholders on a common platform and facilitate interventions required to translate promising initiatives into measurable outcomes. During their visit, NITI Aayog team took a review of the institutes work in scientific research, innovation, entrepreneurship and societal initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir. The team interacted with scientists, scholars, officials and startups and reviewed various science-led initiatives being undertaken by CSIR-IIIM and its innovation ecosystem. They also visited the AIC-IIIM Bio-innovation Foundation, the Atal Incubation Centre at CSIR-IIIMs Srinagar Branch, and reviewed its incubation and entrepreneurship activities. Dr Srinivas said the existing incubation facilities at the institute provide an opportunity for young innovators and entrepreneurs to develop their ideas with mentorship and institutional support and translate them into ventures with wider social impact. Dr Srinivas also interacted with startups incubated at AIC-IIIM and reviewed their work in areas including wellness, medicines, healthcare and other emerging applications. He appreciated the efforts of young entrepreneurs in translating scientific ideas into innovative products and solutions and encouraged them to further strengthen their research, technology and market linkages. During his interaction with scholars and young researchers, Dr. Srinivas encouraged them to make the best use of the scientific ecosystem and opportunities available at CSIR-IIIM. He said researchers working in areas such as agriculture, phytochemicals, nutraceuticals, medicinal and aromatic plants had access to a unique range of opportunities and should recognise the importance of their work. He urged young scientists not to limit their focus to publications, citation indices and conventional academic parameters alone, but also consider the wider social impact of their research. Dr. Srinivas said researchers should examine how their scientific work could contribute to solving real-world problems, improving healthcare, addressing societal challenges and benefiting humanity. He emphasised the importance of collaboration between basic scientists, clinicians and other stakeholders to ensure that scientific discoveries move towards practical applications. Dr. Srinivas also encouraged scholars to strive for international standards in research and make full use of the facilities, mentorship and scientific ecosystem available at the institute. He said young researchers should continue to upgrade their skills and pursue higher levels of scientific excellence, noting that the opportunities available to them could help them contribute meaningfully at national and global levels.
Gasping for breath: Oxygen plant out of order at District Hospital Shopian
The oxygen generation plant at District Hospital Shopian has remained non-functional for nearly two months, causing inconvenience to patients and forcing the hospital to rely on oxygen concentrators and cylinders to meet emergency requirements. We were shocked to learn that the plant was not working, said Mohammad Rafiq, an attendant of a patient admitted to the hospital. He said the patient, who was suffering from a respiratory-related illness, developed breathing difficulties after his oxygen saturation level dropped significantly, prompting the family to shift him to the district hospital. Such patients require immediate oxygen support, and it is worrying when a facility meant to provide a continuous supply remains non-functional, Rafiq said. The hospital administration said patients were being managed through alternative arrangements, including oxygen concentrators. We patients are being managed through oxygen concentrators, said Arshad Qadri, Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Shopian. The oxygen generation plant was installed to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medical oxygen within the hospital, particularly during emergencies when demand can rise sharply. Its prolonged non-functioning has, however, left hospital authorities dependent on backup arrangements. Ansar Hamid Sheikh, Executive Engineer, Mechanical and Hospital Division Anantnag, said the tendering process for repairing the plant had been completed and the facility would be made functional within the next two weeks. The tendering process has been completed, and the work will be completed within two weeks, Sheikh said. An official, who did not wish to be named, said non-functioning oxygen plants were not an isolated issue and that similar facilities at district hospitals across Kashmir often faced maintenance-related problems. He attributed the delays partly to limited funds allocated for the maintenance of such plants, saying hospitals frequently struggled to undertake timely repairs and keep critical equipment operational. The official also said district hospitals currently had liabilities of more than Rs 8 crore, further affecting their ability to meet maintenance and operational requirements. Civil society members have expressed concern over the prolonged shutdown of the plant, particularly because oxygen is a critical requirement for patients with respiratory illnesses and those in emergency care. The issue is very grave and the authorities must address it on a priority basis, said Mitha Gatoo, a social activist and civil society member from Shopian. He said hospital authorities had to depend on oxygen cylinders and concentrators in the absence of a functional oxygen plant, which could create difficulties when several patients require oxygen simultaneously. The non-functioning of such a crucial facility also results in patient referrals, Gatoo said. He that patients requiring higher levels of respiratory support may have to be shifted to other hospitals when adequate oxygen infrastructure is unavailable. Peer Shabir Ahmad, another civil society member, said the prolonged non-functioning of essential medical infrastructure raised questions about maintenance and accountability at public health facilities. Installing an oxygen plant is only the first step. There must also be a proper mechanism to ensure its regular maintenance and immediate repairs whenever it develops a fault, he said. He urged the health authorities to ensure that the plant was restored within the promised timeframe and that adequate maintenance arrangements were put in place to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
Govt takes MSME schemes to last mile in Tangdar, Keran
Srinagar, Aug 28:In a significant initiative to extend entrepreneurship development and MSME schemes to remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the Branch MSME Development and Facilitation Office (DFO), Srinagar, Ministry of MSME, organised entrepreneurship awareness and capacity-building programmes at Tangdar and Keran in Kupwara district. The programmes, organised with the support and coordination of the District Administration, Kupwara, marked the first such capacity-building and entrepreneurship awareness initiatives by the Ministry of MSME in the two remote border areas. The initiative aimed to take information about government schemes and programmes directly to residents of areas where access to formal entrepreneurship support and institutional guidance remains limited. The programmes focused on various schemes and initiatives of the Ministry of MSME and other government departments aimed at promoting self-employment, entrepreneurship, skill development and enterprise creation. Particular emphasis was laid on the Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), PM Vishwakarma and other entrepreneurship- and livelihood-oriented initiatives of the Union and J&K governments. Participants were briefed on eligibility criteria, application procedures, financial assistance, credit-linked support, skill development opportunities and other benefits available under various schemes. Officials also interacted with participants and addressed their queries on starting and expanding small enterprises. The programmes received an encouraging response at both locations. In Keran, a large number of students participated and showed keen interest in entrepreneurship, self-employment and enterprise development opportunities. At Tangdar, the programme witnessed particularly encouraging participation from women, who expressed interest in entrepreneurial activities and government support for starting small businesses and income-generating ventures. The interaction highlighted the potential for promoting women-led enterprises and strengthening household livelihoods through entrepreneurship in remote areas. A.K. Tamaria, Joint Director and Head of Office, MSME DFO Jammu, also participated in the programmes and interacted with the participants. He highlighted the importance of developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem that reaches every section of society, irrespective of geographical location, and urged participants to avail themselves of schemes implemented by the Centre and J&K governments. Assistant Director, Branch MSME DFO Srinagar, Saheel Alaqband, emphasised the importance of taking government schemes to the last mile. The objective of such programmes is not merely to conduct awareness activities, but to ensure that information about government schemes reaches those who need it the most. People living in remote and border areas often have limited opportunities and access to institutional guidance. It may be challenging to organise programmes in such locations, but that is precisely why such initiatives are important. If opportunities cannot reach these communities through conventional means, we must take the opportunities to their doorstep, he said. Officials from various departments and institutions, including Agriculture, Lead Bank and other concerned government agencies, also participated in the programmes. Their participation provided beneficiaries an opportunity to understand the convergence of various schemes and the support available from different institutions for establishing and sustaining enterprises. The initiative reflects the Ministry of MSMEs focus on inclusive enterprise development and last-mile delivery of government schemes in remote and underserved areas.
Jio emerges as largest net mobile subscriber gainer in J&K over decade
Srinagar, Aug 28:From having no reported mobile subscriber base in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2016 to serving 58.5 lakh users a decade later, Reliance Jio has emerged as the largest net mobile subscriber gainer in the J&K-Ladakh telecom circle. Since its commercial launch on September 5, 2016, Jio has significantly reshaped the telecom market in J&K, driving subscriber growth and intensifying competition in the sector. According to data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Jio had no reported mobile subscriber base in the circle in August 2016. Within its first month of operations, in September 2016, it had 0.8 lakh users. By June 2026, its subscriber base had risen to 58.5 lakh, representing a net addition of 57.7 lakh users and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 54.8 per cent. As of June 2026, Jio accounted for 41.7 per cent of the circles 140.1 lakh wireless connections. The expansion has taken place alongside overall growth in the regions telecom market, rather than being driven solely by the contraction of competitors subscriber bases. The total wireless subscriber base in the circle grew 46.3 per cent over the decade. Jio has also expanded its presence in the home broadband segment. The company says it has connected more than 5.6 lakh homes and business premises across J&K and Ladakh through its JioFiber and JioAirFiber services. It claims to be the market leader in the home broadband segment in the region. At the national level, Jio had around 53.33 crore customers as of June 2026, including approximately 28.5 crore 5G users. Jios entry into the market also triggered a sharp shift in telecom pricing and data consumption patterns. Before its launch, high call and data charges were major concerns for consumers. The companys initial strategy of affordable data and free voice calls intensified competition and accelerated the adoption of mobile internet. In 2016, average monthly mobile data consumption in India was below 0.2 GB per subscriber, while a gigabyte of data cost around Rs 228. Fewer than 10 million Indians had access to 4G networks, with average download speeds of around 2.5 Mbps. A decade later, the cost of a gigabyte of mobile data has fallen to roughly Rs 7.9, a decline of about 97 per cent, while active 4G and 5G subscribers across the country have risen to around 93.8 crore. On Jios network, the company says, an average subscriber now consumes 42.3 GB of data per month. The transformation has extended beyond pricing and connectivity, with telecom operators increasingly investing in network infrastructure, cloud technologies and 5G capabilities. Earlier generations of telecom networks relied heavily on imported proprietary hardware and software, leaving operators dependent on overseas vendors for equipment, technology upgrades and network roadmaps. Jio, meanwhile, has invested in developing an end-to-end, cloud-native standalone 5G network, which the company says is designed to meet the requirements of the Indian market and operating environment.
A legacy of giving: The land donations behind SKIMS
In the mid-1970s, as Jammu and Kashmirs political landscape was changing, plans for a major medical institute began taking shape. A series of land contributions, from private individuals as well as the government, laid the physical foundation for what is today the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at Soura, Srinagar. Among the private contributors, one name stands out Bhai Anant Singh Gauri, a pioneering cinema entrepreneur whose contribution is commemorated by a plaque at a SKIMS hospital ward. The origins of SKIMS can be traced to November 1972, when Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah established a public charitable trust with the objective of setting up a medical institute. The Sher-i-Kashmir National Medical Institute Trust was formally registered on May 19, 1973. Sheikh Abdullah was not the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir at the time and sought government cooperation for the project. He approached then Chief Minister Syed Mir Qasim for land at Soura, and the government responded by leasing 292 kanals and eight marlas of land at Zoonimar to the Trust in October 1973. The lease was granted at a nominal annual rent of Rs 101 for a period of 40 years. At the same time, private philanthropists contributed land and resources to support the proposed institute. Among the most prominent private contributions was that of Bhai Anant Singh Gauri, the Sikh businessman who established Palladium Talkies at Lal Chowk in 1932. Palladium was Kashmirs first cinema hall and among the earliest in North India. In 1978, Gauri and his family trust donated more than 50 kanals of land for the establishment of SKIMS. By then, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had returned as Chief Minister. In a letter dated January 14, 1978, Abdullah acknowledged the contribution and thanked Gauri for the land donated to the medical institute, describing the family as a great family of our State which is known for their numerous acts of philanthropy. In recognition of the contribution, SKIMS named Ward No. 4 after Gauri. Court records from subsequent litigation concerning the Trusts properties also show that Raj Sawhney, then Secretary of the Trust, donated around 60 kanals of land. A formal agreement between the government and the Trust was signed in December 1980, formalising the handover of the Soura land and related facilities for development of the institute. Under the agreement, the government assumed responsibility for construction, equipment, staffing and other project costs. Construction had begun in the mid-1970s, and the institution was declared a government hospital in 1979. It has since expanded considerably and today stands on a holding of around 1,000 kanals. While government land constituted the bulk of the property, private contributions from philanthropists such as Anant Singh Gauri and Raj Sawhney helped strengthen the foundation of an institution that has since evolved into Kashmirs premier tertiary-care centre. Director SKIMS Soura, Prof Mohammad Ashraf Ganai, said acts of philanthropy had played an important role in making an institution of such magnitude possible in Kashmir. SKIMS family, and I personally, wholeheartedly appreciate such gestures for public welfare, he said. Former Director SKIMS Soura, Prof Omar Javed Shah, said health universities represent hope, change, human aspiration and inspiration. He said that, apart from their core missions of providing the best possible healthcare, teaching, research and innovation, universities also nurture leaders and strengthen communities to tackle the challenges they face. Recalling Gauris contribution, Shah said, Philanthropy is associated with the action of expressing love to mankind. His donation was meant to improve humanity rather than solely serving the needs of the poor, he said.
Kashmir sees growing shift to high-density apple plantations
Baramulla, Aug 28: Kashmirs traditional apple-growing landscape is undergoing a gradual transformation, with an increasing number of growers shifting to high-density plantations in pursuit of higher productivity, better fruit quality and improved market returns. The shift, initially adopted by a relatively small number of progressive growers, has gained momentum in recent years as the government promotes modern orchard systems and growers increasingly look for ways to improve returns from limited landholdings. The Jammu and Kashmir Governments latest Budget 2026-27 states that about 1,119 hectares have been covered under the High-Density Plantation Scheme since 2017-18 up to December 2025, with financial assistance of Rs 139 crore. The government has further proposed bringing 1,455 hectares under high- and medium-density plantations during 2026-27. The broader transition is substantially larger when both high- and medium-density plantations are taken into account. According to the NITI Aayogs Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, 4,023 hectares were brought under high/medium-density plantations in 2023-24, following 4,776.88 hectares in 2021-22 and 2,540.04 hectares in 2022-23. The government has also approved a Revised Modified High Density Plantation Scheme covering 5,500 hectares of multiple fruit crops, including apple, walnut, almond and cherry, over five years from 2022-23 to 2026-27, with an overall 50 per cent subsidy provision. Recent parliamentary data also indicates that around 300 hectares of traditional apple and walnut orchards in J&K have been converted into high-density plantations under government schemes over the past five years, while another 909.13 hectares have been brought under new high-density plantations during the same period. In Baramulla, one of Kashmirs major apple-growing districts, the adoption of the system has also been significant. Data presented in Parliament showed that 599 beneficiaries in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency had been assisted under the High-Density Plantation Programme, covering 244.646 hectares between 2016-17 and 2025-26. The highest annual coverage was recorded in 2025-26, when 58.036 hectares were brought under high-density plantations and 277 beneficiaries were assisted. Chief Horticulture Officer, Baramulla, Javed Ahmad said the shift towards high-density plantations was gaining pace because of the economic advantages associated with the system. High-density orchards are developed through a specific technique and require the same level of care and management as traditional orchards, Ahmad said. He said growers were increasingly showing interest in newer apple varieties, particularly Gala, which has emerged as one of the preferred varieties in high-density plantations. We are importing Gala varieties which have tremendous market value. Gala has good colour and several other desirable characteristics, and our climate suits it well, he said. Ahmad said the department was also looking at introducing more varieties suited to Kashmirs climatic conditions. Gala, he said, was not a single variety but a family comprising several strains, offering growers greater options depending on market demand and growing conditions. The major difference between traditional and high-density orchards lies in plant density and the choice of rootstock. Unlike conventional orchards, where trees are spaced widely and allowed to grow into large plants, high-density plantations use dwarfing rootstocks that allow growers to accommodate a much larger number of plants in a given area. The density of plants is much higher in high-density orchards. We can plant more trees in the same area, Ahmad said. He said the selection of rootstock was particularly important, with M9 being widely used because of its dwarfing characteristics. The rootstock should not be vigorous. That is why the M9 is widely used, he said. Apart from allowing more plants per hectare, high-density orchards are gaining popularity because of the quality of fruit they produce. In a traditional orchard, a tree may produce 20 to 30 boxes, but only around 30 per cent may qualify as A-grade fruit. In high-density plantations, the proportion of A-grade fruit can be as high as 90 per cent, Ahmad said. The difference has significant implications for growers, as premium-grade apples generally fetch better prices in domestic and outside markets. The shift is also part of a wider government strategy to modernise J&Ks horticulture sector. The Economic Survey 2025-26 identifies high-density fruit plantation, introduction of high-value varieties and superior rootstocks, rejuvenation of old and senile orchards, mechanisation and expansion of cold-chain infrastructure among the key priorities for the sector. Jammu and Kashmirs horticulture sector remains a major contributor to the regional economy. The NITI Aayog roadmap notes that the area under major horticulture crops increased from 3.35 lakh hectares in 2020-21 to 3.45 lakh hectares in 2023-24, while production rose from 22.30 lakh tonnes to 26.43 lakh tonnes during the same period. For apple growers, the move towards high-density plantations represents a shift from the traditional emphasis on the number of trees and overall production towards productivity per unit area, fruit quality, marketability and profitability.
Shaher-Khaas traders reject electricity tariff hike, seek rollback
The Shaher-Khaas Traders Alliance, under the leadership of its president, Nazir Ahmad Shah, has categorically rejected and condemned the arbitrary hike in electricity charges announced by the Omar Abdullah-led government. Nazir Ahmad Shah, as per a statement, stated that this authoritarian move has sent shockwaves through both the commercial sector and ordinary households, who are already struggling under immense economic stress. We gave the National Conference (NC) a resounding mandate to represent our aspirations, protect our economic livelihood, and fight for our fundamental rights. We did not elect this government to subjugate, penalize, and harass the public through backbreaking measures like this unjustified electricity fare hike, Shah remarked. Nazir Ahmad Shah urged the Chief Minister to immediately roll back the decision. The Omar Abdullah-led government must put public interest before personal or bureaucratic interests. The public will not forget this betrayal at the ballot box, Shah said. The Shaher-Khaas Traders Alliance has called upon all trade bodies, civil society members, and the general public to stand united against this economic injustice, vowing to intensify protests if the arbitrary hike is not withdrawn.
Defence Ministry eases export rules to boost defence exports
New Delhi, Aug 28: The Ministry of Defence has introduced a series of reforms to simplify procedures for defence exports and make it easier for Indian manufacturers to access international markets. The reforms, undertaken by the Department of Defence Production under the guidance of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, aim to reduce procedural requirements while ensuring that national security safeguards remain in place. Under the revised Defence Export Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), stakeholder consultation will no longer be required for exports of non-lethal defence items to most destinations, except sensitive countries. The requirement has also been removed for exports of all items for international tenders and exhibitions, allowing Indian companies to pursue overseas opportunities more quickly. The Ministry has also substantially revised the Open General Export Licence (OGEL) framework. The OGEL is a standing export authorisation that allows eligible companies to undertake multiple consignments of specified defence items without obtaining a separate licence for each shipment. Three existing OGEL SOPs covering major platforms and equipment, parts and components, and intra-company transfer of technology have been merged into a single unified SOP. The validity of OGEL has also been increased from two to three years, reducing the need for frequent renewals. The countries covered under OGEL have been expanded from 41 to all countries, barring specified sensitive or restricted nations and countries facing UN Security Council sanctions or arms embargoes. A new provision will also facilitate Indian companies that have long-term contracts with foreign original equipment manufacturers. In eligible cases, OGEL validity can be aligned with the duration of the underlying contract, subject to prescribed conditions. The range of items eligible for OGEL has also been expanded. The revised framework permits civil-end-use exports of specified parts and components of small-calibre arms and protective equipment. The government said the reforms would particularly benefit Indian defence manufacturers, including MSMEs, by reducing repetitive approvals and enabling them to respond faster to international tenders and exhibitions. The government said the changes are aimed at further strengthening Indias position as a reliable and competitive global defence manufacturing and export partner, in line with the objectives of Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
43rd Ahad Zargar Day to be observed in Srinagar on August 30
The 43rd Ahad Zargar Day will be observed on 30th August 2026 at the Mausoleum of Ahad Zargar, Narwara, Srinagar, with great reverence, enthusiasm and fervour. The occasion, as per a statement, will commemorate the life, literary legacy and remarkable contribution of Ahad Zargar, one of Kashmirs most revered Sufi poets and literary figures. His poetry, spiritual thought and profound understanding of Kashmiri culture continue to resonate deeply with generations of Kashmiris. The day carries immense cultural and literary significance and provides an opportunity to remember and celebrate the enduring legacy of Ahad Zargar, whose contribution to Kashmiri literature, Sufi thought and the preservation of Kashmirs rich cultural ethos remains deeply cherished. The observance will be organised by the Ahad Zargar Memorial Research Foundation in association with the Kashmiri Sufi Gulokar Forum, Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Resh Wair Gulokar Society, and Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar. The participating organisations will come together to pay tribute to the legendary poet and reaffirm their collective commitment to preserving, promoting and taking forward the rich literary, spiritual and cultural legacy of Ahad Zargar for future generations. The Foundation has extended an invitation to poets, writers, scholars, cultural enthusiasts and admirers of Ahad Zargar to join the commemoration and honour the enduring legacy of one of Kashmirs most distinguished literary voices.
DRI seizes 76 kg methamphetamine in Assam, Mizoram; 2 arrested
New Delhi, Aug 28: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 76 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets in two intelligence-led operations in Assam and Mizoram and arrested two people under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. In the latest operation on August 25, DRI officers, assisted by personnel of the 38th Battalion of Assam Rifles, intercepted a 12-wheeler truck at Lalpani, around 40 km from Silchar near the Assam-Manipur border. The truck was identified from a convoy of vehicles travelling from Jiribam in Manipur. During a detailed search, officers found a specially fabricated concealed cavity behind the drivers seat containing 36 packets weighing 1 kg each and 100 smaller packets weighing 200 grams each. The packets contained pinkish-orange tablets suspected to be methamphetamine. Preliminary tests using a field detection kit indicated the presence of amphetamine. The 56 kg of suspected contraband and the truck were seized under the NDPS Act, and the occupant of the vehicle was arrested. In a separate operation on August 18, DRI officers intercepted a car on the Aizawl-Champhai Road at Bung Bangla, around 30 km from Aizawl. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 64 packets containing 20 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets. The drugs had been concealed in specially designed cavities in the rocker panels or side sills on both sides of the car and in the space between the fuel tank and the floor. Field tests indicated the presence of amphetamine. Preliminary investigation suggested that the drugs had been smuggled from Myanmar into Mizoram through the Zokhawthar-Champhai sector. The 20 kg consignment and the vehicle were seized, and the driver was arrested. The DRI said methamphetamine is a potent synthetic psychostimulant with a high potential for abuse and dependence. Its illicit use can cause serious physical and psychological effects, including cardiovascular complications, agitation, paranoia and psychosis. Methamphetamine is classified as a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, under which its illicit manufacture, possession, transportation and trafficking attract stringent penalties.
EJAC condoles demise of former bureaucrat Ghazanfar Ali
The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) Jammu and Kashmir has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of former senior bureaucrat Ghazanfar Ali. In a heartfelt condolence message, Senior Trade Union Leader and President EJAC, Fayaz Ahmad Shabnam, as per a statement, expressed his profound sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. He described Ghazanfar Ali as a dedicated, upright and compassionate officer whose contribution to public administration would be remembered for a long time. Ghazanfar Ali held several important and key positions during his illustrious career, including Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Deputy Commissioner Shopian Director Rural Devlopment Department and Director Handicrafts, besides serving in various other important capacities in the administration. Recalling his personal association with the deceased, Fayaz Ahmad Shabnam said that he had the opportunity to work closely with Ghazanfar Ali during his tenure as Director Handicrafts. He said that his association with the late officer left a lasting impression, particularly because of his humble and generous nature.Mr. Shabnam said that he was an extremely polite, humble and generous person, always approachable and considerate towards his subordinates. Despite holding important positions, he remained grounded and treated everyone with dignity and respect. He further said that Ghazanfar Ali was known for his simplicity, decency and commitment to public service. Mr. Shabnam conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends, colleagues and admirers of the deceased and prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the departed soul eternal peace and Jannat-ul-Firdous and give the bereaved family the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
Nepal floods highlight Indias vulnerability to Himalayan river disasters
New Delhi, Aug 28:The devastating floods in Nepal have highlighted the vulnerability of the densely populated plains of northern India, particularly Bihar, to disasters originating in the Himalayas, reports international media. Nepals Himalayan rivers feed several major Indian river systems, including the Gandaki and Kosi, besides the Bagmati, Kamla-Balan and other rivers, before flowing into Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Bihar, one of Indias most flood-prone states, faces a particular risk because much of the catchment area feeding its major north Bihar rivers lies outside the state. According to government estimates, only around 35% of the land supplying water through rainfall, streams and smaller rivers to these river systems is within Bihar, with much of the remaining catchment located in Nepal and Tibet. Wednesdays disaster, reportedly triggered by a glacial collapse that sent a massive debris-filled surge downstream, has underlined the risks posed by events in the Himalayan region. The threat is not limited to the volume of water. Flash floods can carry huge quantities of sediment and debris, raising river beds and putting additional pressure on embankments and flood-control infrastructure. As a result, a disaster that begins in the Himalayan mountains can quickly develop into a major flood threat for communities across the plains of India.
Remember your troubles when you next vote: Yawar Mir
Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leader Yawar Mir on Friday accused the National Conference of repeatedly making promises before elections and changing its position after coming to power, urging voters to remember their grievances when they next cast their ballots. People themselves brought the NC to power despite repeated disappointments. They need to introspect themselves as to why they have been making the same mistakes for the past 70 years, former Rafiabad MLA said. He said that voters should remember their present difficulties when they next go to the voting machine. He alleged that the NC had a long-standing political habit of saying one thing before elections and changing its position after coming to power. Yawar Mir said the opposition must move beyond merely criticising the NC and instead undertake an awareness campaign to explain to people the partys (NC's) failures on issues including its promises on Article 370 and Article 35A. The biggest role of the opposition is to make people understand that political power ultimately rests with voters and not with the person occupying a chair, he said. Yawar Mir questioned Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his political positions, citing his earlier statement that he would not contest Assembly elections and his subsequent decision to contest from two constituencies. He also referred to NCs political history and accused the party of shifting positions on issues and political platforms, including the autonomy report and the PAGD. Mir said his party was not waiting for electoral power while acknowledging that it currently has no representation in the Assembly. He said the party was instead using protests and public interaction programmes to put forward its political position. Referring to the convention, he said the programme witnessed a sizeable gathering despite being held on Friday. The participation of people shows the peoples growing frustration with false promises and false slogans of National Conference, he added. A political worker of JK Apni Party meanwhile said that the party was founded by the leadership of Altaf Bukhari on the objective of keeping people away from false politics and unfulfilled promises. He appealed to voters to exercise their franchise carefully and choose political parties that would address rather than play with their problems after elections.
China suspends rescue operations near Nepal-Tibet border over fears of another flood
New Delhi, Aug 28:Chinese authorities have suspended rescue operations near the Nepal-Tibet border after a lake formed by debris from a landslide began filling with water, raising fears that it could burst its banks and trigger another flood, the BBC reported. Officials have been monitoring rising water upstream from Gyirong port, a key land crossing between Nepal and Tibet that was swept away by a torrent of mud and water following Wednesdays landslide. According to the BBC, hours of heavy rain have increased concerns that the newly formed lake could breach the debris blocking it and cause further flooding in the coming days. Rescuers in the area have reportedly been ordered to halt operations temporarily, citing reports in Chinese state media. More than 550 people have been reported missing on the Tibetan side, including around 260 foreigners. Many of those affected were pilgrims travelling towards Mount Kailash, a major Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site in Tibet. The latest disaster has caused heavy casualties on both sides of the border. At least 469 people have died in Nepal, with hundreds still missing, more than 48 hours after flash floods devastated the Himalayan border region. In Tibet, three people have been confirmed dead and more than 550 are missing, although it remains unclear whether some of the figures overlap. The disaster has disrupted an area visited by tens of thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year.
400 Indians safe on China side; 320 still uncontactable: MEA
New Delhi, Aug 28:The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said 400 Indian nationals stranded on the Chinese side of the border are safe and have contacted their families and travel agencies. However, 320 Indian nationals remain uncontactable or missing, while more than 100 people of Indian origin, who may hold other nationalities, are also unaccounted for. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing that 21 Indian nationals who had reached Kathmandu from the Chinese side arrived in New Delhi on Friday. Another 63 Indian nationals from Trishuli Power Plant-1 have been rescued, while 96 Indians who crossed from the Chinese side into Nepal will be evacuated. Jaiswal said the MEA control room in New Delhi and the Indian Embassys control rooms in Kathmandu are working round the clock to coordinate rescue and evacuation efforts. On the Chinese side, 400 Indians are safe, Jaiswal said, adding that many had contacted their families and travel agencies, while several families had also informed the MEA. On Nepals response to Indias offer of additional rescue assistance, Jaiswal said India was sending a tunnel-rescue team and a medical team. New Delhi has also offered Bailey bridges along with technical teams, with one Bailey bridge already deployed in Nepal. India has also offered the services of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, which are on standby and ready to assist. We await the response from the Nepal government, Jaiswal said.
Timber shortage stalls roofing of newly built housesin Handwara ahead of winter
Residents of Handwara and adjoining villages have expressed strong resentment over shortage of timber at government depots. People requiring timber-wood have been waiting for last several months to get their allotted supply but the empty depots have left them distressed. Jamsheed Ahmad, a local from Main Town Handwara said that he has been waiting for the past three months to procure timber from the government depot but the material has not been made available causing severe problems for him. I have been waiting for three months but there is still no timber at the depot. Many other consumers are also waiting and we do not know when the supply will be restored, he added. The residents said that timber is being transported from local forests of Rajwar to Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir, while the local government depots in Handwara have been left empty. Another resident who identified himself as Javid Ahmad said that the shortage has particularly affected households that need timber to construct the roofs of their houses before winter. Winter is approaching and many families had planned to complete the roofing of their houses before the harsh weather sets in, but without timber, the work remains stalled. I fail to understand that if timber is available in the area then why locals of Handwara are being subjected to enduring hardships, he added. The residents have urged the concerned department to ensure regular supply of timber at government depots in Handwara and adjoining areas. Meanwhile Additional Deputy Commissioner Handwara, Javed Naseem Masoodi while reacting to the concern, said that he will take up the issue with the concerned department.
Chota Amarnath Yatra flagged-off from Kaloosa, Bandipora
The annual Chota Amarnath Yatra was flagged off today from Sharda Mandir, Kaloosa, Bandipora, marking the beginning of the revered pilgrimage to the Chota Amarnath Holy Cave. The Yatra was flagged off by Senior Superintendent of Police Bandipora, Ajaz Ahmad Zargar, and Additional Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Zaffar Husson Shawl, in the presence of devotees, volunteers and local residents. The Yatra holds deep spiritual significance for devotees of Lord Shiva and reflects the districts rich tradition of communal harmony and peaceful coexistence. Pilgrims embarked on the sacred journey with devotion and faith, seeking blessings at the holy cave. Members of the Muslim community from the area were also present on the occasion and warmly welcomed the Yatris, extending their heartfelt greetings and best wishes for a peaceful, safe and blessed Yatra. The District Administration, in coordination with the Police and other concerned departments, had put in place necessary arrangements for the smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage. The arrangements included track development, sanitation facilities, langar services, medical support, security deployment and provision of safe drinking water along the route. The 15-kilometre Yatra proceeds from Arin-Dardpora through Shampthan and culminates at the Chota Amarnath Cave. Adequate security personnel, medical teams and volunteers were deployed at key locations to facilitate the pilgrims and ensure a safe and hassle-free journey. Among others, Additional Superintendent of Police Mir Murtaza Hussain Sohil, Assistant Regional Transport Officer Bandipora Mukhtar Ahmad Sofi and other officers of the district administration, volunteers, devotees and local residents were present on the occasion.
Thousands of devotees throng Dargah Hazratbal on Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW)
Srinagar, Aug 28:Thousands of devotees from across Kashmir on Friday thronged masjids and shrines to observe the Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), one of the most significant religious occasions in the Valley. Thousands of devotees assembled for special congregational prayers, recitation of Naat and Darood-o-Azkaar, and the traditional display of the revered holy relic at Dargah Hazratbal The largest congregation was witnessed at the revered Hazratbal Shrine, where devotees from different parts of Kashmir gathered from early morning. The shrine echoed with prayers and while emotional scenes were witnessed as the holy relic was displayed after the Friday prayers. Worshippers raised their hands in collective supplication, praying for peace, prosperity, well-being and harmony in Jammu and Kashmir. Devotees said the occasion provided them an opportunity to renew their spiritual connection with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Every year we eagerly wait for this blessed Friday. Offering prayers here and witnessing the holy relic fills our hearts with peace and reminds us to follow the Prophet's teachings of compassion, unity and humility, said Ghulam Mohammad, a devotee from Pulwama. The celebrations were marked by religious processions in several parts of the Valley, with roads and markets adorned with green flags, decorative lights and banners carrying messages expressing love and reverence for Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Volunteers and local organisations set up stalls at Hazratbal and other religious centres, distributing drinking water, refreshments and snacks among devotees as temperatures remained relatively warm during the day. Meanwhile, at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar, hundreds of devotees also offered the Friday congregational prayers led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. In his sermon, Mirwaiz highlighted the religious significance of the Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW). Large congregational prayers were held at Jenab Sahib Soura, Asar-e-Sharif Shahri Kalashpora, Khanqah-e-Maula, Ziarat Hazrat Dastgeer Sahib (RA), Syed Yaqoob Sahib (RA) Sonwar, Khawaja Naqshband Sahib (RA), Ziarat Makhdoom Sahib (RA), Lal Bazar and several other shrines and mosques across Kashmir. Officials said elaborate arrangements had been put in place following a series of coordination meetings held over the past several days involving the Waqf Board, district administration, Police, Traffic Police, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Health Department, Power Development Department, Jal Shakti and other agencies. Traffic regulation, sanitation, drinking water, healthcare facilities and transport services were strengthened to facilitate the smooth movement of devotees. Officials of the J&K Waqf Board said the shrine continued to benefit from the extensive renovation and beautification works undertaken over the past year to improve facilities and ensure greater convenience for devotees visiting Hazratbal. For the past twelve days, a festive atmosphere had prevailed across Kashmir as Eid-e-Milad celebrations gathered momentum. Markets surrounding Hazratbal and other prominent shrines remained abuzz with devotees purchasing religious items, sweets and food, while streets witnessed a steady influx of visitors. This is the busiest period of the year for us. We wait for these blessed days because devotees from every corner of Kashmir visit Hazratbal, which brings life to the markets and benefits hundreds of small traders, said Rayees Ahmad, a shopkeeper near the shrine. Authorities said the observance concluded peacefully across the Valley, with devotees appreciating the arrangements made by different departments and expressing hope that in the coming time, there will be even better arrangements for the convenience of devotees.
No development can justify environmental compromise: Tarigami
CPI-M MLA and chairman, Committee on Environment, J&K Legislative Assembly, M Y Tarigami has stressed that development must be sustainable and scientifically planned, particularly when it concerns ecologically sensitive areas and natural flood-management systems. His reiteration came in response to a memorandum highlighting serious environmental and flood-risk concerns over the proposed Plug-and-Play Industrial Park at Nowgam, Srinagar, submitted to him. The representation, submitted by the Peoples Environmental Council (PEC) in association with the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO), calls for a multidisciplinary review before the location of the proposed project is finalised. Tarigami, while receiving the representation, made it clear that the question of compromising the environment in the name of development could not arise. The memorandum points out that the proposed 50-acre project, involving an estimated investment of about Rs 104 Cr, is located in an area linked to the functioning of the Jhelum floodplain and raises concerns regarding flood absorption, drainage and climate resilience. He noted that the memorandum did not oppose industrialisation or employment-generating investment. Instead, it seeks to ensure that development takes place at an appropriate location without weakening Srinagars natural flood-management infrastructure or increasing risks to surrounding communities. It specifically urges the government to undertake a multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder assessment involving urban planning, hydrology, flood-risk management, ecology, disaster management and public-investment economics before taking a final decision, he pointed out, while referring to the representation. Tarigamis position assumed added significance in view of his recent interventions as Chairman of the Environment Committee. He has called for zero tolerance against environmental violations, scientific monitoring of natural resources and stronger environmental safeguards. The Committee has also recently stressed that wetlands are critical not only for biodiversity but also for flood mitigation, with conservation decisions to be guided by scientific data and public participation. The Nowgam issue therefore goes beyond a single industrial project. The larger question is whether development planning can proceed without undermining the natural systems that protect Srinagar from flooding, it was stated, while mentioning that the representation argued that protecting a flood basin was not anti-development; rather, it was a prerequisite for safe, resilient and sustainable development.
Some autobiographies are so sweet and touching that they read like warm poetry. They are full of gentle memories, a deep love for life, and tender moments that stay in your heart long after you have turned the last page. Same is true with the recently launched autobiography When the Heart Speaks by the Padma Shri Dr Upendra Kaul, a gold medallist in surgery and the first top cardiologist of India with Kashmir origin, known to Kashmiris as U Koul. This book is a sequential narrative of many chapters of Dr Kauls remarkable life as a cardiologist of international repute that he has exquisitely penned down with great love and patriotism for his birthplace Kashmir. Comprising 22 different chapters across 198 pages, the book has foreword by M.A. Pathan, Director Gauri Kaul Foundation (GKF), former Chairman Indian Oil Corporation & Former Resident Director Tata Group. Published by Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, it is dedicated warmly by the author to the memory of his immortal mother, Gauri Kaul. As soon as you open the book, you are greeted by pre-publication reviews from eminent personalities, beginning with honble Chief Minister, J&K, Omar Abdullah. The best traits of an autobiography include a first-person perspective, strict factual accuracy, a comprehensive chronological scope, authentic personal voice, and deep self-reflection on historical or societal context. And in When the Heart Speaks, Dr Kaul has obviously taken care of all that. From the very first chapter of his life i.e., From Khans to Kauls till the last one, Remote Outreach Areas of Gauri Kaul Foundation; the author sequentially carries the reader along and sums up his entire life journey of a cardiologist who has dedicated himself to humanity. Written in an intimate style, Dr Kauls When the Heart Speaks cordially makes the reader visualize every event, feel every relationship and connect with everyone emotion of the narrator. What makes the book truly remarkable is its simple and lucid language, easily understood by even an eighth-grade student. True to the saying a picture is worth a thousand words, Dr. Kaul has beautifully supported his 22 chapters with sequential photographs in the centre of the book. When the Heart Speaks is a frank and honest narrative. The author does not hide his reactions behind unfair incidents or people who misbehaved with him, though such occasions are few. But more than those painful memories, the book captivates the reader with cherished memories of loving family bonds, enduring personal friendships, and valued professional associations. The book is rich with anecdotes and episodes that uplift the medical profession. You will applaud the authors determination to walk miles to reach college, smile at his brief, innocent encounter with Charas, and appreciate how he broke class barriers to befriend a police constable who handled medico-legal cases in the hospitals emergency ward. Such personal vignettes appear on almost every page as the author journeys from his rural childhood in Kashmir to becoming a renowned cardiologist of national and international repute. The book also takes the reader on a fascinating voyagefrom Dr Kauls ancestral home in Hawal, Pulwama, to his rise as one of Indias topmost cardiologists. Along the way, he meets people from diverse backgrounds and shares his praiseworthy experiences with great candour. All these experiences have shaped Dr. Kaul and now reshape our understanding of who he truly is. For some, the book may not appeal at first glance, but once you delve deeper into its pages, you will find yourself reading it with love and interest. It beautifully shows how cardiology has evolved over the past few decades, blending the power of advancing science and innovative technology to bring remarkable relief to those suffering from serious heart and blood vessel diseases. This book is not just for students of cardiology; it offers a truly illuminating introduction to the history of cardiology in India. Throughout When the Heart Speaks, Dr. Kaul remained away from his caring family for long periods. No doubt one reason for that was the migration of Pandit fraternity in 1990, yet, on other hand, it was authors own urge to excel in medical profession especially in the area of cardiology. As Mr Kaul, himself writes in the chapter Beginning of Coronary Angioplasty in India: Home for me meant bed and breakfast. It wont be wrong if, as a reviewer, I divide the book into four keys area like how the author has spent his childhood in Kashmir, his schooling in the Valley, his journey to become a top cardiologist in the country and his travels around the globe to participate in conferences, seminars, lecture trips and official meetings regarding his own professional expertise on angioplasty i.e. opening blocked arteries of the human heart without surgery. To me, Dr Kauls When the Heart Speaks is a treasure trove of matured memories which he has so sweetly recollected in this second revised edition where as a globe trotter he has shown his keen interest in observation and exploration of the world. There are chapters in the book where he offers resonating reflections and poignant account of his childhood, culinary skills, the games and pranks he used to play. For instance, from chapter 11, A Dark Era in Kashmir Valley till chapter 18, My Experience with COVID; he doesnt want his sweet memories to remain untold that have laid indelible imprint upon his mind. Consequently, in the concluding chapters, Dr Kaul beautifully blends three of his deepest loveshis passion for cardiology, his longing for his birthplace Kashmir, and his devotion to his beloved mother, Gauri Kaulinto his most passionate project: the creation of the Gauri Kaul Foundation, an NGO, and the Gauri Heart Centre at Chanapora, Srinagar with no more heart attacks mission. No doubt, his love for his homeland Kashmir shines through every page of the book especially at page 176 where he writes: I have never been away from Kashmir for so long. Yet, he never stopped trying to return to his roots. It is true that life is like a wheel, where one finally comes back to where one began. As Dr Kaul believes, a person may change everything, but never his origin. He finally returned to his roots, and shares how his long-cherished dream of having his own house in Kashmir came true when in April 2013; he received a call from Mian Altaf, who told him that he had found an ideal place for him near Srinagar airport. However, this book cannot be called a perfect work of autobiography. Like many autobiographies, it has its flaws. The book seems to have been reviewed only by the authors close friends, which is why most pages are full of praise for him. The index pages were not necessary and have only increased the page count, as most readers do not read them. Moreover, at Rs. 950, the book is too expensive for the common reader. In nutshell, the book is first of kind in Kashmir and is a pioneer to the genre of autobiography. In short, this book is the first of its kind in Kashmir and a pioneer in autobiography. It is a must-read not only for cardiology students but for everyone, as it offers a fascinating account of the history of cardiology in India along with the story of a healers heart. Manzoor Akash, author, educationist & regular GK columnist, is a recipient of National Peace Award.
Crisis in GMC Baramulla as emergency drugsgo out-of-stock
Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla, the tertiary-care institution that caters to patients referred from hospitals across the district and across north-Kashmir, is grappling with a shortage of several essential medicines. These include drugs required in emergency cases and critical patients. Many anaesthetic drugs are also not available, reflecting the dire state of affairs at this medical college hospital. Other essential medicines such as Atropine, used in the management of certain emergency cardiac conditions, Hydrocortisone and Adiline (Isoxsuprine) too are currently unavailable at the institution. This raises concerns over the hospitals ability to promptly respond to emergency cases. An official of the GMC Baramulla said that the delay in supplies is due to delay from Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL). He said, we can't purchase medicine from the market on our own, However, what about patients, if there is a delay of three months in the drug supply, who will manage the patient care?, he asked. The sardid affairs can be gauged from the fact that the GMC Baramulla is without essential supply from last four months The question is in such delays and when hospital heads are unable to purchase it locally then what will happen to patient care? Do they have to wait for months for drugs to arrive? The shortage assumes significance as GMC Baramulla receives a steady stream of patients referred from district and sub-district hospitals, where complicated cases are shifted to the medical college for specialised treatment. A doctor at GMC Baramulla said the availability of emergency medicines is crucial in a tertiary-care facility, particularly when patients arrive in unstable conditions and require immediate intervention. Any delay in accessing essential drugs can complicate treatment and place additional pressure on doctors and attendants to arrange medicines from outside, he said. Muhammad Ashraf, a civil society member said Patients are referred to GMC Baramulla with the expectation that all necessary emergency facilities and medicines will be available under one roof. He said When essential drugs are unavailable, it affects the efficiency of emergency care. If there is delay in Government supply medicines, the GMC authorities need to ensure that essential drugs are made locally available so that patients do not suffer, Said Ashraf. The concerned residents said that shortages can occur due to delays in the supply and procurement chain. However, such gaps need to be addressed on priority at a tertiary-care institution that serves as a referral centre for a large population. The shortage has also raised questions over the adequacy of buffer stocks of essential emergency medicines, particularly those that may be required at short notice. Patients and attendants have urged the authorities to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential and life-saving drugs at GMC Baramulla, saying that a referral hospital should not leave critically ill patients waiting for medicines that are fundamental to emergency care.
The quiet science of trying again
A nursery classroom can reveal some of its most important lessons at the moment when nothing seems to be going right. A child is trying to fold a piece of paper and the edges will not meet. Another cannot thread the bead through the string. Someone grips a crayon too tightly and becomes frustrated when the line goes in the wrong direction. A child watches another attempt the same task and asks for help before trying again. To an adult, these may look like small difficulties in activities that are supposed to be simple. But development does not always reveal itself when children get everything right. Sometimes it becomes most visible when a child encounters something they cannot yet do, has to decide what to do next and discovers, with or without help, that the first attempt does not have to be the final one. This is an important way to think about learning in the early years because nursery education is often judged by what can be easily seen at the end of an activity. Adults look at the completed picture, the finished craft, the written number or the neatly arranged materials. Yet the finished product may tell only part of the story. The more revealing question can be what happened before the child reached it. Did the child understand the instructions? Could they remember the sequence? Did they notice their own mistake? Did they become frustrated and stop, or try another approach? Did they ask for help and then attempt the task independently? Did they remember what had worked the previous time? These moments expose the processes through which a child is gradually learning not simply to complete tasks, but to manage learning itself. The source material makes precisely this distinction, noting that the more significant learning may occur while a child is making something, rather than in the neatness of the finished product. Developmental science gives this everyday observation a wider meaning. Young children are still developing executive function, the set of cognitive processes that support working memory, attention, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. These capacities help children hold instructions in mind, resist distraction, pause before acting, adjust their behaviour and change strategies when circumstances require it. Harvards Center on the Developing Child describes these skills as developing gradually through experience and practice, with adults initially providing support and gradually stepping back as children become more capable of managing difficult tasks independently. In a nursery classroom, this development rarely announces itself with technical language. It appears when a teacher says, First fold the paper, then press the edge, and the child remembers both steps. It appears when a child begins an activity, realises that something is not working and pauses before trying again. It appears when a child is tempted to abandon a difficult task but stays with it for another minute. It appears when a teacher does not immediately take over, allowing the child the opportunity to work out part o f the problem independently. These ordinary moments are opportunities to practise the very capacities that will later support more complex learning. The source material points to this gradual movement from adult support towards independent action, particularly when children are given another opportunity rather than having a difficult task completed for them. That does not mean children should simply be left to struggle. The distinction between productive challenge and unnecessary frustration matters. Young children need adults who can judge when to intervene, what kind of help to provide and when to step back. Too much assistance can deprive a child of the opportunity to discover what they can manage. Too little can turn an ordinary learning challenge into an experience of helplessness. Good teaching therefore involves something more subtle than either helping immediately or refusing to help. It involves scaffolding. The adult provides enough support for the child to remain engaged with a challenge, then gradually reduces that support as the childs competence grows. Harvards developmental research describes this kind of scaffolding as developmentally appropriate support that helps children practise skills before they are expected to perform them independently. The significance of this becomes clearer when we think about mistakes. In many educational environments, errors are still treated primarily as evidence that a child has failed to understand something. But a mistake can also reveal what the child currently understands and where their thinking is breaking down. A child who folds paper incorrectly may not have failed in a simple sense. They may have understood the first instruction but not the spatial relationship required for the second. A child who loses track of a sequence may know each individual step but struggle to hold the instructions in working memory. A child who rushes through an activity may understand the task but find it difficult to regulate attention long enough to complete it carefully. For teachers, therefore, the mistake itself can be useful information. It can help reveal what kind of support the child needs next. Recent research is adding nuance to the question of how children learn from mistakes. A 2024 study involving kindergarten children found that children could improve their monitoring of errors with practice and that children receiving feedback performed more efficiently on an executive function task than those who trained without feedback. Research on corrective feedback more broadly also suggests that feedback can play an important role in childrens learning across areas such as literacy, mathematics and problem solving, although its effects depend on childrens age and individual differences and on how the feedback is delivered. That last point is crucial. Not all corrections are equally useful. There is something wrong with this gives a child very little information. Look at this edge. What happens if you line it up with this one? asks the child to inspect the problem. Try again provides encouragement, but What could you change this time? invites reflection. The difference may seem small to an adult, yet one response positions the teacher as the person who knows the answer while the other begins to position the child as someone capable of examining and improving their own approach. This is where learning begins to move beyond task completion and towards self-monitoring. A child gradually learns to notice not only what they are doing, but how they are doing it. They begin to recognise when they have forgotten an instruction, when something is not working or when they need another strategy. This does not mean that preschool children are suddenly engaging in sophisticated metacognition in the same way as older learners. These abilities are still emerging. But early forms of self-monitoring can appear in surprisingly ordinary moments, particularly when adults invite children to think about what happened and what they might try next. There is an important distinction here between giving a child an answer and helping a child become better at finding a way forward. Early childhood education needs both. There are times when a teacher should simply show a child how something works. There are other times when immediate demonstration removes the very problem-solving experience that would have helped the child develop. Knowing which response is appropriate is part of the expertise of early teaching. This is one reason repetition matters, but not merely because repetition helps children remember. Repetition creates opportunities for comparison between attempts. The first time a child cuts along a line, the scissors may wander. The next time, the child may hold the paper differently. Eventually, the child may notice that slowing down helps. A repeated song can become easier, but the deeper change may be that the child learns to anticipate what comes next. A familiar sequence gradually demands less conscious effort and leaves more attention available for other parts of the task. The source material notes that repeated experiences can turn unfamiliar actions into increasingly confident and independent ones. This matters for the developing brain because learning involves building increasingly efficient ways of dealing with information and action. A child does not begin nursery school with fully developed systems for sustained attention, working memory or self regulation. These capacities emerge over time and are shaped by experience. When children are repeatedly asked to remember instructions, wait, focus, adjust and try again, they are gaining practice with mental processes that will later support more complex academic and social demands. There is also a motivational dimension that is easy to miss. When a child discovers that they can move from I cant do this to I can do part of this, the experience can alter how they approach future challenges. The important psychological shift is not simply confidence. It is the emerging understanding that ability can be developed through effort, practice, feedback and support. In a nursery classroom, this may begin with something remarkably small: a child trying the scissors again after the first attempt went wrong. For adults, it can be tempting to celebrate only the final success. The child eventually makes the fold, finishes the picture or threads the bead, and everyone moves on. But from a developmental perspective, the more revealing moment may have happened slightly earlier, when the child was deciding whether to continue. Persistence is not just a personality trait that some children naturally possess and others do not. It is influenced by experience, by the level of challenge and by the ways adults respond when things become difficult. A child who repeatedly experiences adults solving every difficulty on their behalf may learn that challenges signal the arrival of an adult. A child who is regularly given encouragement, manageable support and another opportunity may begin to understand difficulty differently. The message becomes not You must do this alone, but You can work on this, and I will help when you need me. That distinction protects children from both dependence and unnecessary pressure. It also changes how teachers might think about progress. A childs development cannot always be measured by asking whether they can now do a task that they could not do last month. Sometimes the more interesting evidence is in how they approach the task. Do they begin without waiting for an adult? Do they remember what happened previously? Do they notice their own errors? Do they ask a more specific question when they need help? Do they remain engaged for slightly longer? Do they attempt a second strategy? The source material makes a similar point when it argues that the meaningful achievement may lie not in the finished product but in the change from one attempt to another. A child who once needed help with folding paper may later follow the first steps independently. A child who previously abandoned colouring may remain with the activity until completion. A child who once hesitated in group activities may begin participating more confidently. These developmental changes can be gradual and therefore easy for adults to overlook. This has consequences for assessment. If teachers record only whether an activity was completed, they may miss the developmental pathway that led to completion. Two children can produce identical work while having very different experiences. One may have understood the instructions immediately and completed the task independently. Another may have copied a peer or relied heavily on adult assistance. One may have experimented and corrected mistakes. Another may simply have reproduced the teachers example. The final product can look identical while the learning process has been very different. A richer view of assessment asks not only, What did the child make? but also, What did the child do when making it? Did the child plan? Did they remember? Did they persist? Did they adapt? Did they need less support than before? Did they notice a problem? Did they become more independent? These questions do not replace academic assessment. They make visible the developmental processes that underpin it. There is also a deeply human reason to protect these moments. Young children are learning what it means to encounter difficulty. They are beginning to form an understanding of themselves in relation to challenge. A classroom that treats every mistake as embarrassing can make children cautious about trying. A classroom that treats mistakes as information can create a very different emotional climate. This does not mean praising every error or pretending that all attempts are equally successful. It means helping children experience difficulty as something that can be examined rather than something that defines them. Long before children face examinations, complex projects or difficult decisions, they encounter the basic experience of not yet knowing how to do something. How adults respond to that experience can shape the childs developing relationship with challenge. The child who learns that difficulty is a signal to stop may approach future problems differently from the child who has repeatedly experienced difficulty followed by support, reflection and another attempt. This is why the most important learning in an early childhood classroom may sometimes be happening at the point where a child pauses, frowns, looks at what they have done and tries again. There is nothing spectacular about that moment. No impressive result is displayed. Yet the child may be practising attention, working memory, self regulation, cognitive flexibility, error monitoring and persistence, all within a task that an adult might barely notice. The broader lesson is not that children should be made to struggle more. It is that adults should become better at recognising what learning looks like while a child is struggling, trying, adjusting and gradually becoming more capable. Early education is not only about producing children who can complete tasks. It is also about helping children develop the mental habits that allow them to approach unfamiliar tasks in the first place. Perhaps the more revealing question in a nursery classroom is therefore not, Did the child finish? It is, What did the child learn about themselves while they were trying? A child who discovers that the first attempt can be changed has learned something about problem solving. A child who learns to pause and look again has learned something about attention. A child who asks for help and then continues independently has learned something about support. A child who makes a mistake, receives useful feedback and tries differently has learned that an error can contain information. And a child who once needed an adult to do something, but now looks at the problem and says, Let me try, may be showing one of the most important forms of early learning of all: not simply that they can do more, but that they are beginning to see themselves as someone capable of figuring things out. Vaishali Sharma has studied Education, History and Political Science at the University of Delhi and is based in New Delhi. Her interests include education, childhood, curriculum development, language, culture and social science.
