Tamil Nadu Assembly: Privilege motion moved against E.V. Velu over work orders
Minister Aadhav Arjuna accuses E.V. Velu of issuing orders for 80 works and creating a liability of 2,000 crore for future Budgets
The DMK members, insisting that the remarks made by CM Vijay on Monday be expunged, moved towards the Speakers chair and staged a sit-in
Kochi City police mull KAAPA charges against arrested private bus employee
Muhammed Ansar, 24, a private bus employee, was arrested on Monday for alleged intimidation of at least two motorists and assault of a policeman on duty
Video: Srinidhi & Dheekshith on making a spine-chilling horror drama
#VideoTheFilm, a found-footage #Kannada horror drama, hits the screens on September 11.
Video: Srinidhi & Dheekshith on making a spine-chilling horror drama
#VideoTheFilm, a found-footage #Kannada horror drama, hits the screens on September 11.
High-level delegation from India is expected to take part
Durga Puja under BJP rule in West Bengal: A push for vegetarianism and tradition
I want to appeal to Hindus of Bengal that during Navratri, even if you dont keep the idols of the Goddess, do not sell non-veg near the idols, the self-styled godman Dhirendra Krishna Shastri said while addressing his devotees.
Apples Surprise and Shine event: What to expect from John Ternuss first keynote on September 9
This is John Ternuss first opportunity to set a tone as CEO by showing whether Apple under his watch will keep leaning on operational discipline, or push harder into new categories
The direction was issued after the ongoing inspections based on complaints of overpricing of food and beverages in multiplexes found the non-availability of free drinking water to theatre-goers
What is the significance of AfDs win in Germany? | Explained
The AfD was established in 2013 as a direct rejoinder to then-German Chancellor Angela Merkels policies on the Euro, which advocated for fiscal austerity and structural reforms in order to keep the Eurozone intact
Telangana Assembly proceedings disrupted on second day
Issues pertaining to unparliamentary language against Speaker and indecent behaviour against BRS women MLAs were raised in the State Assembly
Taliban policies denying Afghan children a future, warns UN expert
Special Rapporteur urges the Taliban to end discriminatory policies
Indias listing feast: IPO window opens, OFS door widens | Explained
The unusual trend is that the IPO process itself has increasingly become an exit mechanism, even as questions remain over whether India has enough I in its IPOsinvestment, innovation and infusion of fresh capital
Rainbow Opens Its First Store Digital Twin-Enabled Supermarket in Shenzhen
Rainbow Opens Its First Store Digital Twin-Enabled Supermarket in Shenzhen
Madras High Court rejects DMK candidates election petition over Perundurai constituency
Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy allows an application filed by the resigned MLA S. Jayakumar, previously with the AIADMK but now with the TVK, to reject the election petition filed by Thoopu Venkatachalam of the DMK
Keralam facing power cuts due to rising temperatures, increase in electricity usage: Minister
At the same time, due to a weak monsoon, the water level in the States hydel power dams is low, leading to reduction in power generation, says Sunny Joseph
Provide every possible assistance to flood-affected families: CM Yogi
Instructions issued to identify and remove encroachments in the catchment area of the Mandakini; a safety audit to be conducted of the foot over bridge built over the river
Houthi strikes in Saudi Arabia wound 73: Riyadh-led coalition
The strikes came after the Houthis accused Riyadh on September 7 of carrying out strikes around Yemen, including the deadly bombardment of a prison
Fake documents case: CBI arrests Ramdevs aide Balkrishna
CPI(M) in Keralam steps up attack on G. Sudhakaran, seeks details of election funds
CPI(M) Alappuzha district secretariat member H. Salam launches sharp attack on Ambalappuzha MLA G. Sudhakaran, accusing him of financial irregularities and challenging him to come clean on his assets
A week on, 12 firearms stolen from Madras Regiment remain untraced
Police suspect the theft involved insiders familiar with the premises, as the armoury is unmarked, has multiple access points, and ammunition was taken from a separate room.
Delhi building collapse | Complete coverage
Read The Hindus complete coverage of the PG building collapse in Delhis Satya Niketan
Ramdevs associate Balkrishna acquitted in forged documents case
The court of the Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) also acquitted Naresh Chandra Dwivedi, a co-accused charged with providing forged documents to Acharya Balkrishna
U.S. Open: Zverev beats Darderi and the clock to reach quarterfinals
The 2020 finalist raced through the second set and staved of a spirited comeback attempt in the third to finish before midnight for the first time this year in New York
Ramya Haridas seeks aides appointment as personal staff
charcha 2026: India's largest collaborative convening returns to Delhi for its 7th edition
charcha 2026: India's largest collaborative convening returns to Delhi for its 7th edition
Discussion over objectionable remarks allegedly made by BRS MLC Tatha Madhu against the Speaker continued during the afternoon on Monday
Dolphins Nose Lighthouse: Exploring Visakhapatnams coastal landmark
Perched atop Dolphin Hill, the lighthouse offers a sweeping view of Visakhapatnams harbour, coastline and surrounding hills
Burial chamber found in Nittadukkam in Kasaragod district. Historian says the monument has survived largely because of local beliefs surrounding it and could be one of the oldest surviving indicators of Kanhangads human past
Astrogate Labs to Put India's First Indigenous Optical Inter-Satellite Link in Orbit
Astrogate Labs to Put India's First Indigenous Optical Inter-Satellite Link in Orbit
Arunachal: NHRC orders inquiry into alleged violence at Bordumsa SIR hearing
Guwahati: The All India Chakma Students Union (AICSU) has welcomed the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) into an alleged incident of violence, vandalism and assault at the ADC-cum-Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) office in Bordumsa, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh. The incident reportedly took place on September 4, 2026, during a hearing related to [] The post Arunachal: NHRC orders inquiry into alleged violence at Bordumsa SIR hearing appeared first on NorthEast Now .
EU probing OpenAI agents' takeover of German site
Under the EU's AI rules, providers must assess and mitigate the risks stemming from their systems, and since August, regulators have the power to impose fines for breaches
Motorcyclist Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash in Poonch
Poonch, Sep 08 : A motorcyclist was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Kalai area of Poonch district on Tuesday morning. Officials said that an unknown vehicle hit a motorcycle near Kalai, between Khanetar and Kalai, resulting in on-spot death of the rider. The deceased has been identified as Mehmood Ahmed, son of Abdul Latief, resident of Khanetar, Poonch. Police have taken cognizance and started investigation to trace the unknown vehicle involved in the accident.(GNS)
West Bengals finances are in poor shape; recovery will take at least a year: CM Suvendu Adhikari
The CM blamed formerStategovernments for the poor financial condition of the State
Head of Zamorin's family of Kozhikode passes away
Mr. Raja was a resident of Chinthavalappu in Kozhikode City. He took charge as the head of the family in June 2025 after the demise of K.C. Ramachandran Raja, a management expert, whose tenure at the helm spanned only a couple of months.
Are nicotine pouches beyond the law? | Explained
Does COTPA cover nicotine pouches? Why are they not covered by the law banning vapes? Could nicotine pouches be treated as food under Indian law? Can they be legally imported into India? Can nicotine pouches be sold at duty-free shops?
Clean Air Measures Can Improve Delhi's Air Quality By 20% By 2040: UN Report
The report says that if there is a delay of about eight years (the expected average global implementation delay) in reaching the standards, the reduction would only be 10 per cent, translating into substantially greater health impacts over the period.
Maharashtra will shut down within 10 minutes if Maratha protesters are harmed: Manoj Jarange Patil
Manoj Jarange Patil appealed to female members of the community to treat all the sons and daughters of the Maratha community as their own and act accordingly, while asking the entire community not to act aggressively towards police and protest silently.
Sniawbhalang happy where he is; won
Shillong, Sep 7:Amid swirling speculation of dissent and the possibility of defections within the ruling National Peoples Party (NPP) and alliance partners like the United Democratic Party (UDP), Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar addressed an unusual late night press conference here today. Dhar sought to project an image of calm, insisting that the NPP is [] The post Sniawbhalang happy where he is; wont join BJP for CMs chair first appeared on Highland Post .
Shree Cement frozen till probe over: Govt to HC; JSU submits proof
Shillong, Sep 7:All activities of Shree Cement at Lum Syrman in Elaka Nongkhlieh, East Jaintia Hills, will remain frozen till an independent probe is completed, the Meghalaya government told the High Court on Monday. The submission was made in an affidavit by Home Commissioner & Secretary Rosetta Mary Kurbah before a division bench of Chief [] The post Shree Cement frozen till probe over: Govt to HC; JSU submits proof first appeared on Highland Post .
HC notes report on Aug 19 violence, appoints Amicus
Shillong, Sep 7:The Meghalaya High Court on Monday took on record the status report filed by the State while hearing a PIL onvandalism, assaults, and property damage that occurred following a Khasi Students Union (KSU) rally in Shillong on August 19. A division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said [] The post HC notes report on Aug 19 violence, appoints Amicus first appeared on Highland Post .
PA Sangma Medical College in financial crisis, state quota parents allege delay in admission
Shillong, Sep 7:Parents of MBBS students allotted state quota seats at P.A. Sangma International Medical College & Hospital (PIMC), USTM, have alleged they were unable to complete admission despite September 2 being the last date for first round as per DHS, Meghalaya. According to a parent, after receiving state quota allotment for his son, they [] The post PA Sangma Medical College in financial crisis, state quota parents allege delay in admission first appeared on Highland Post .
Guwahati NGO file complaint against gambling, prostitution den in Ri-Bhoi
Shillong, Sep 7:A Guwahati-based NGO has filed a complaint alleging that an establishment styled Castle Heaven Club on the Meghalaya side of Khanapara, along the Guwahati-Shillong Highway in Ri-Bhoi, is running an illegal casino and a prostitution racket. In a letter sent to authorities and media houses, the NGO alleged that the premises at Khanapara [] The post Guwahati NGO file complaint against gambling, prostitution den in Ri-Bhoi first appeared on Highland Post .
Call for CBI, ED to conduct probe into illegal coal mining
Shillong, Sep 7:The secretary of Meghalaya Against Corruption Movement, Manbhalang Phankon, has demanded that the state government grant permission for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into illegal coal mining in the state. Phankon said he submitted a written representation at the office of [] The post Call for CBI, ED to conduct probe into illegal coal mining first appeared on Highland Post .
NEIGRIHMS nurses to go on mass casual leave Wednesday
Shillong, Sep 7:The NEIGRIHMS Nurses Association has announced that its members will go on mass casual leave on September 9 and has warned of an indefinite strike from September 17 if its long-pending demands are not met. The nurses said the decision to intensify the agitation was taken after repeated representations to the administration failed [] The post NEIGRIHMS nurses to go on mass casual leave Wednesday first appeared on Highland Post .
The Supreme Court has closed criminal cases against thousands of young people who protested after the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The order was passed under Article 142, which lets the Court do complete justice. It was made after the Union government itself asked for it. FIRs filed between July 20-25, 2026 across India will be [] The post Welcome, But Selective first appeared on Highland Post .
Flights to and from Indonesias capital resume after volcanic eruption forced a 2-day closure
Flights to and from Indonesias capital of Jakarta have resumed after ash from a volcanic eruption forced a two-day closure that halted nearly 3,000 flights
Chinese researchers see climate change link to glacial collapse, warn of rising disaster risks
Study finds Tibetan plateaus glacier area fallen to 39,000 square kilometres down from 51,000 square kilometres, with more than 14,000 glacial lakes observed
DC Bandipora inaugurates Psy-STEM Workshop
Bandipora, Sep 7: In a significant step towards strengthening scientific temper and innovative learning in the region, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib today inaugurated the Psychology-Driven STEM (Psy-STEM) Training Programme under the Jammu Kashmir Science Technology & Innovation Council - Sponsored Research and Extension Programme. The initiative, titled Psychology-Driven STEM Learning to Build Scientific Temper in Border Villages of Kashmir, is being implemented by Government College for Women (GCW), M.A. Road, Srinagar in collaboration with NIT Srinagar. The project is led by Dr. Eshrat Ara, Principal Investigator (PI), GCW M.A. Road, Srinagar, with Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI), NIT Srinagar. The programme aims to integrate psychological principles with STEM education to enhance critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and scientific aptitude among both teachers and students. Addressing the gathering, the DC Bandipora emphasized the need to cultivate scientific temper among teachers and highlighted the effective functioning and optimal utilization of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) for all interested students. She further emphasized the enthusiasm and keen interest by the participating teachers, noting that such engagement is essential for the success and sustainability of innovative educational initiatives. This programme builds upon the successful first phase conducted in Srinagar, where a 3-Day Master Training Programme equipped 35 teachers as Master Trainers, followed by three student training batches engaging over 150 students and multiple schools. The training covered key psychological concepts such as examination anxiety, metacognition, growth mindset, and problem-solving approaches, alongside hands-on STEM modules including robotics, drone technology, sensors, Arduino, and 3D printing. In the Bandipora phase, the programme will train 30 government school teachers as Master Trainers, followed by capacity-building sessions for approximately 150 students. The programme is being conducted in parallel at two Higher Secondary SchoolsNadim Memorial Boys Higher Secondary School, Kaloosa, Government Higher Secondary School, Shagund, and Govt. Higher Secondary School Shadipora to ensure wider outreach and accessibility. The initiative is designed to create a multiplier effect, enabling trained teachers to further disseminate knowledge and skills to a larger student population. The inaugural session was attended by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Bandipora, Rafeeq Ahmad Mir and Principal NMBHSS Kaloosa, Reyaz Ahmad Lone along with other distinguished guests, resource persons, educators, and participating teachers. The organizers reiterated their commitment to promoting experiential, activity-based learning and empowering educators and learners alike. The programme is expected to play a pivotal role in nurturing a culture of scientific inquiry and innovation among the youth of the district. The training sessions will continue over the coming days at the designated venues, marking another milestone in advancing inclusive and future-ready education in Jammu & Kashmir.
ISRO wont be diminished, says IN-SPACe chairman
The clarification follows concerns raised bynine ISRO employee associations over privatisation
The incongruity of caste and science
A students ability to understand thermodynamics or solve a differential equation has anything to do with the ritual status of their ancestors
NIT Srinagar, IIM Jammu, J&K Govt. sign tripartite MoU to boost startup ecosystem
Srinagar, Sept 7: NIT Srinagar, IIM Jammus YUVA Innovation Hub and Directorate of Employment (Department of Labour & Employment), Government of J&K through Mission YUVA have entered into a tripartite MoU to strengthen the startup and innovation ecosystem across the UT. The five-year MoU, executed at NIT Srinagar, brings Greenovator Incubation Foundation (GIF), NIT Srinagar, into the YUVA incubation ecosystem as a regional incubation node for supporting Neo-Innovative Enterprises in Kashmir. The agreement was signed by Director, NIT Srinagar and Chairman, Greenovator Incubation Foundation; Prof. Anurag Misra, Chairperson, Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Skill Development (CEISD), IIM Jammu/Srinagar Campus Dr Muqbil Burhan, and acknowledged by Director Employment and Mission Director, Mission YUVA, Harvinder Singh (IAS), J&K, on behalf of the Government. The MoU is part of the Government of J&Ks Mission YUVANeo-Innovative Enterprises, a flagship entrepreneurship development initiative aimed at establishing a vibrant startup and innovation ecosystem across the Union Territory. Under the mission, the Government seeks to train, incubate and support 500 Neo-Innovative Enterprises over five years from 2025 to 2030, through YUVA Innovation Hubs anchored at IIM Jammu and a network of YUVA Incubation Centres across J&K. The YUVA Innovation Hub, operationalised at IIM Jammus Jammu and Srinagar campuses under CEISD, will serve as the nodal body for the Mission YUVA ecosystem, providing strategic direction, coordination, training, mentorship and investor linkages. Speaking on the occasion, Harvinder Singh, IAS, Director Employment and MD, Mission YUVA, said the partnership would strengthen the institutional mechanism being created under Mission YUVA for nurturing innovative enterprises in the Union Territory. Mission YUVA is aimed at creating a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir by connecting young innovators with incubation, mentorship, technology, markets and finance. The partnership between the YUVA Innovation Hub, Greenovator Incubation Foundation and the Government will provide a strong institutional platform for converting innovative ideas into viable enterprises and creating employment opportunities, he said. Later, Singh visited the Greenovator Incubation Foundation at NIT Srinagar, where he reviewed the incubation facilities and interacted with officials associated with the institutes entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem. Under the tripartite collaboration, GIF, NIT Srinagar, will function as a regional incubation node and support the identification, incubation and development of early-stage innovative enterprises in Kashmir. The incubation centres focus areas include nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, cybersecurity and robotics. Director NIT Srinagar Prof. Anurag Misra said the MoU would leverage the institutes technical expertise, laboratories and research ecosystem to support technology-driven entrepreneurship. NIT Srinagar has a strong ecosystem of research, innovation and technological expertise. Through Greenovator Incubation Foundation, we want to ensure that this ecosystem translates into opportunities for young innovators and entrepreneurs, he said. Prof. Misra said this MoU will help us connect ideas with mentorship, infrastructure, industry and markets, while contributing to the creation of technology-based enterprises in UT. Dr Saad Parvez, Director, GIF, NIT Srinagar, said the partnership would help bridge the gap between research, innovation and commercialisation. With NIT Srinagars technical infrastructure and the support available through Mission YUVA and the YUVA Innovation Hub, we can provide entrepreneurs with a more complete ecosystem covering technology, mentorship, funding and market access, Dr Parvez said. As per the MoU, GIF will provide selected enterprises access to workspace, laboratories, equipment, technical assistance, mentorship, business advisory and other institutional infrastructure available at NIT Srinagar. Startups will also be supported in market access, B2B linkages, trade-fair participation, e-commerce readiness and public procurement. Selected Neo-Innovative Enterprises will be eligible for seed funding of up to 6 lakh, to be provided by the Government of J&K under Mission YUVA, subject to prescribed selection and funding requirements. The funding can be utilised for proof of concept, prototype development, and product trials.
BannedJamaat factions spar over ideological shift, property takeover in Kashmir
Leaders of the breakaway faction of the JeI, including Ghulam Qadir Wani and Ahmadullah Parray Malik, addressed the press in Srinagar and alleged there were attempts to sow the seeds of suspicion among their supporters by using the labels like traitors and sellouts.
SKUAST-K, Bio-Enzyme Academy join hands to turn waste into wealth in J&K
Srinagar, Sept 7: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) has joined hands with the Bio-Enzyme Entrepreneurs Academy of India, Bengaluru, to promote bio-enzyme entrepreneurship as a waste-to-wealth opportunity and create avenues for self-employment among students, farmers and rural entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir. A one-week Certificate Course on Bio-Enzyme Entrepreneurship was inaugurated today at the Vice Chancellors Secretariat, Shalimar Main Campus. Organised by the SKUAST-K Innovation and Incubation Entrepreneurship Centre (SKIIE) in collaboration with the Academy, the programme focuses on hands-on training in bio-enzyme production, value addition and marketing, with an emphasis on developing sustainable micro-enterprises. The inaugural function was attended by senior officers and faculty members of the University, along with academicians, scientists, entrepreneurs and trainee participants. Guests of Honour included Priti Rao, President, Bio-Enzyme Entrepreneurs Academy of India; Prof. Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Extension; Prof. M. Altaf Bhat, Director Education; Prof. Azmat Alam Khan, Registrar; Er. Ab Rashid Bhat; Mahendra Pyati; and B.C. Kiran. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chancellor appreciated SKIIE for introducing the innovative programme and stressed the potential of converting agricultural and kitchen waste into value-added, eco-friendly products. He said such initiatives align with the Universitys mandate of translating research and knowledge into entrepreneurship and self-reliance, and encouraged participants to use the training to establish enterprises and contribute to the green economy. Priti Rao highlighted the national scope of bio-enzyme-based enterprises and apprised participants of the technical and market support available through the Academy. The programme commenced with a welcome address by the CEO, SKIIE Centre. During the event, the University and the Bio-Enzyme Entrepreneurs Academy of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the field. A booklet titled A Genuine Startup Dosage: Hazrat Sheikh ul Alam (RA) Entrepreneurship Model, authored by Naveed Hamid, CEO, SKIIE Centre, was also launched. The event further witnessed the launch of startup products of M/s XYVA Naturals Pvt. Ltd. and the SKUAST-K SAFART Passport, conceptualised by Naveed Hamid and developed by Muaolim, B.Tech Biotechnology student. The week-long training will cover bio-enzyme preparation, quality control, packaging, branding, business planning and marketing, besides on-site visits to landfills, waste areas and fruit mandis. The programme combines classroom sessions, hands-on demonstrations and interactions with resource persons and industry experts.
Climate change reshaping crops, ecosystems: Experts at KU conference
Srinagar, Sep 7: The Department of Botany, University of Kashmir (KU), Monday inaugurated a two-day international conference on Plant Resilience in a Changing Climate: From Molecules to Ecosystem, bringing together scientists, academicians, researchers and young scholars to deliberate on the growing challenges posed by climate change to plants, agriculture and natural ecosystems, particularly in ecologically fragile regions such as the Himalayas. The conference, organised by the Department of Botany, KU, with academic collaboration from Penn State University, USA, is being sponsored under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) of the Ministry of Education, GoI and Co- sponsored by ANRF, DBT- GoI. The conference seeks to strengthen scientific and academic collaboration and provide a platform for exchange of knowledge and emerging research on plant resilience under changing climatic conditions. Addressing the inaugural session, KU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nilofer Khan said in her presidential remarks the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident across the globe and require concerted scientific and societal responses. She said universities and research institutions have a crucial responsibility to generate knowledge that can help communities and ecosystems adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Prof. Khan said The Himalayan region, owing to its ecological sensitivity, is particularly vulnerable to climate change, making focused research on plant resilience and ecosystem stability extremely important. There is need to translate scientific knowledge into effective interventions, from seed improvement and appropriate plant cultivation to broader sustainable practices, while also strengthening national and international research collaborations. In his special remarks Dean Research KU Prof. Bashir Ahmad Ganai said climate change has implications extending beyond the natural environment and needs to be understood in its wider social and developmental context. He underlined the importance of examining changes in natural systems and environmental variations through rigorous scientific research to develop a comprehensive understanding of their consequences. Director Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, Dr Mahendra Kumar Verma, said visible changes are already occurring in the biological calendar of crops and are directly linked to changing climatic conditions. Referring to shifts in harvesting periods and their implications for the storage life and quality of produce, he called for a change in existing approaches and practices and greater application of technology and predictive modelling to prepare agriculture and horticulture for emerging climate realities. In his opening remarks Head, Department of Botany, KU, and Conference Convener Prof. Manzoor Ahmad Shah said the conference connects plant resilience research across different levels of biological organisation, from molecules and genes to populations, communities and ecosystems. He said understanding these connections is fundamental to addressing the complexity and dynamics of climate change and developing meaningful scientific responses. Earlier, organiser of the conference Dr Riffat John welcomed the guests and participants and outlined the objectives and broader contours of the conference. She said the event has been conceived as a platform for researchers and students to engage with experts, exchange scientific ideas and explore interdisciplinary approaches to plant resilience and climate sustainability. The proceedings of the inaugural session were conducted by Prof. Anzar A. Khuroo, Dept of Botany KU while as Dr Neela Yennawar, Co-organiser from Penn State University, USA, proposed the vote of thanks. The two-day international conference includes keynote and invited lectures, scientific sessions, flash talks, student-scientist interactions and poster presentations, besides the valedictory and prize-distribution ceremony.
Navi Mumbai ASI found dead; note, video allege harassment by senior officials
ASI Pandurang Nimba Patilallegedly left behind a note and a video on social media, accusing a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), the Wireless Assistant Commissioner of Police, and a head clerk of harassment and causing mental distress.
In Delhi, Over 2,800 Kg Of Unsafe Food Destroyed Ahead Of Festive Season
Food safety teams inspected markets including Khoya Mandi, Mori Gate, Bagh Deewar, Sanjay Market and Janakpuri Mandi, focusing on suspected adulteration, poor storage conditions and the quality of products being sold to consumers.
Osaka takes major title wait in stride after U.S. Open exit
Despite encouraging results since returning to the tour, including a U.S. Open semi-final and Wimbledon quarter-final, Osaka said so much had happened in her life that the drought felt both long and short.
Here is a select list of stories to start the day
Bolivia confirms 9 deaths after military base explosion
Army Commander Hector Alarcn said an even greater tragedy was averted because many personnel from the Bolivar Regiment were away on a recreational bicycle ride when the explosion occurred.
U.K. recognises India's carbon credit scheme under its carbon tax mechanism: official
With this recognition, U.K. importers of eligible Indian goods covered under CBAM will be able to seek carbon price relief
Rybakina thumps Osaka to reach U.S. Open quarters, close in on top ranking
The flawless victory for Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022 and this year's Australian Open, booked a last-eight clash with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and left the Kazakh one match win away from becoming world number one for the first time.
IFFJK to revive J&Ks global cinema connect: Chief Secy
Srinagar, Sept 7: J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday inaugurated the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026 at INOX cinema in Srinagar, marking the beginning of the four-day festival aimed at reviving the regions connection with the global film industry. The festival, being held from September 7 to 10, has received an overwhelming response from filmmakers across the world, with more than 1,100 film entries received from 80 countries. Speaking to media persons after the inauguration, Dulloo said 130 films have been shortlisted for screening during the festival, including more than 60 foreign films. The festival is starting today and it is a four-day festival, from September 7 to 10, he said. Dulloo said the festival would provide an opportunity to connect, in fact reconnect Jammu and Kashmir with the global world of cinema and encourage filmmakers from India and abroad to explore the region. This is an opportunity to connect, in fact reconnect, with the world of cinema and invite the film industry from India as well as from abroad to Kashmir to explore its culture, cuisine and heritage, and make J&K a prominent shooting destination, he said. The Chief Secretary said the festival would also open up opportunities for talented and aspiring youth of Jammu and Kashmir seeking careers in different fields associated with the film industry. It will also give opportunities to our highly talented and aspirational youth related to cinema, whether that is photography, direction, technical work, acting, music or lyric writing, Dulloo said. He described the festival as a win-win situation for both the film industry and Jammu and Kashmir, saying the government aims to revive and further strengthen the regions longstanding association with cinema. The festival will bring together filmmakers, actors, directors, technicians and other professionals from India and abroad, while providing a platform for showcasing films from across the world and promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a destination for film production and tourism.
Mizoram electoral rolls see 78,442 deletions, 39,243 additions after SIR; final count at 8.35 lakh
The draft electoral rolls published on July 4 contained 8,28,906 electors. During the claims and objections period, which ended on 2 September, 32,280 more names were removed while 39,243 voters were added, resulting in a net increase of 6,963 electors or 0.84% from the draft rolls, in the final rolls, Chief Electoral Officer Garima Gupta said
J&K eyes floating solar projects at Manasbal, Mansar
Srinagar, Sep 07: Jammu and Kashmir has shortlisted Manasbal Lake in Kashmir andMansar Lake in Jammu division fordevelopment of floating solar projects under the Centres PM Surya SarovarYojana, with feasibility assessment and the required permissionscurrently being processed. A J&K Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) official said the initiative envisages utilising suitable inland waterbodies, including lakes and hydroelectric project reservoirs, for installing floating solar power plants. Two water bodies have been shortlisted from J&K so farManasbal in Kashmir and Mansar in the Jammu division. The feasibility and permissions process is currently underway, the official said. The process would move forward after obtaining the consent of the concerned Distribution Companies (DISCOMs), following which detailed surveys of the shortlisted water bodies would be undertaken. DISCOMshave togive their consent first. Oncethatis obtained, the survey will be conducted, and the project will subsequently be sanctioned accordingly, the official said. Under the initiative, floating solar technology is being considered as an option to utilise water surfaces for renewable power generation without requiring large tracts of land. The approach can be particularly relevant for areas where suitable contiguous land parcels for utility-scale solar projects are difficult to identify. The shortlisted siteswould have toundergo detailed technical and feasibility assessments before a final decision on their development istaken. The move comes alongside J&Ks broader efforts to expand solar power generation, with JAKEDA also working with district administrations to identify sizeable land parcels for utility-scale solar parks across the Union Territory.
Gulmargs botanical wealth at risk; 41.8% species threatened
Srinagar, Sep 07: Beyond Gulmargs famed meadows, ski slopes, and snow-covered mountains lies a remarkable botanical world that sustains the ecological fabric of the Kashmir Himalaya. A detailed study of the Gulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary (GWLS) has documented 364 vascular plant species and 18 distinct plant communities, revealing a rich and complex ecosystem spread across its forest and alpine landscapes. The study, published in the Nordic Journal of Botany, recorded 10 forest communities and eight alpine communities in the sanctuary. The researchers said the findings demonstrate the region's high species richnessand underline theimportance ofGulmarg Wildlife Sanctuary in conserving the floral diversity of the Kashmir Himalaya. The present study recorded 364 vascular plant species along with 18 plant communities (10 forest and 8 alpine communities) from the sanctuary, the researchers said, describing the findings as indicative of the sanctuarys high species richness. What makes the findings particularly significant is the composition of this botanical wealth. The study found that 44.23 per cent of the recorded species are native, while 22.52 per cent are endemic, highlighting the sanctuarys role in protecting plant speciesthat areclosely associated with the Himalayan region. However, behind the impressive numbers lies a conservation warning. Using the Conservation Priority Index (CPI), the researchers assessed 41.8 per cent of the species as threatened or near threatened in the sanctuary. The occurrence of 44.23% of native and 22.52% of endemic plant species in the sanctuary signifies the importance ofthe sanctuary for maintaining species richness and diversity, according to the study. It notes the high proportion of species requiring conservation attention. The researchershaveconsequently called for habitats and plant communities supporting useful, native, endemic and threatened species to be given priority in conservation planning. Their argument is simple but significant: protecting an entire habitat or plant community can help conserve all the species that form part of it, rather than attempting to protect individual plants in isolation. For Gulmarg, one of Kashmirs most visited destinations, the studys recommendations carry particular significance. The researchershave called for clear guidelines for visitors to minimise the trampling of herbaceous plants and recommended that tourist numbers be regulated according to the carrying capacity of the sanctuary. The warning comes against the backdrop of a landscape where fragile vegetation shares space with growing human activity. While tourism is economically important, uncontrolled movement of visitors through sensitive habitats can disturb vegetation and gradually alter plant communities. The researchershavetherefore stressed that tourism management needs tobe alignedwith ecological limits. Theyhavealso recommended monitoring the spread of invasive species and studying their interaction with native and endemic plants. Such monitoring, they said, is necessary to understand whether invasive species are beginning to alter the composition and functioning of natural communities. The study makes a strong case for moving beyond occasional surveys towards systematic, long-term monitoring. Researchershaverecommended quadrat-based monitoring of different plant growth forms through georeferenced plots representing habitats and communities identified as conservation priorities. The study also places local communities at the heart of conservation. It recommends awareness programmes, training workshops and biodiversity camps for both local inhabitants and visitors to improve understanding of theecological value of the sanctuary. Participation of the local inhabitants in the conservation and management of biological resources needs to be ensured, the researchers said. Theyhavefurther proposed building an effective network linking local communities with research organisations, universities, NGOs and policymakers. The significance of the study extends beyond Gulmarg. The researchers point out that detailed investigations into the characterisation of forest and alpine plant communities remain limited across the Kashmir Himalaya. In that context, they describe the GWLS study as a potential template that can be replicated in other protected as well as unprotected areas. Presentstudy in the GWLS provides a template, which can be replicated in other protected as well as unprotected areas of the Kashmir Himalaya, the researchers said.
IFFJK brings Kashmirs lost cinema era back to life
Srinagar, Sep 07: Before Kashmir became a troubled headline and its cinema halls fell silent, the Valley had another identity etched deeply into popular imaginationit was Bollywoods favourite outdoor studio. The mountains, Dal Lake, houseboats and winding roads of Kashmir were once familiar territory for film crews. Bollywood stars arrived in numbers, stayed in houseboats, travelled in shikaras and drew crowds wherever they went. Now, as the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) brings filmmakers and cinema personalities back to Srinagar, those memories are resurfacing along the banks of Dal Lake. For 70-year-old Wali Muhammad, president of the Shikara Owners Association, the festival feels like more than a celebration of films. It reminds him of a time when Kashmir and Bollywood were almost inseparable. I have seen those days. Bollywood stars would flock to Kashmir. The whole atmosphere would change whenever a film was being shot here, Muhammad recalls. He believes the International Film Festival could signal the beginning of another chapter for Kashmirs relationship with cinema. This film festival seems like a new beginning. Perhaps Kashmir is once again finding its way back on the film screen, he says. For people like Muhammad, the memories are not stored in old photographs alone. They live in the waters of Dal Lake, in the shikaras that carried actors and film crews, and in the houseboats where some of Hindi cinemas biggest stars once stayed. Ghulam Ahmad Patloo, an elderly shikara owner on Dal Lake, has his own cinematic memory etched into the history of the place. He vividly recalls the shooting of the iconic Bollywood film Kashmir Ki Kali and claims that one of its sequences was filmed on his shikara. For Patloo, cinema was once a familiar presence on the lake. He also remembers legendary actors Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor staying in houseboats during their visits to Kashmir, when the arrival of a film crew was itself an event for local residents. Those were the days when the presence of a Bollywood star could turn an ordinary corner of Srinagar into a spectacle. The lake would become a natural film set. Shikaras would carry actors across its waters, cameras would capture the surrounding mountains and houseboats, and curious crowds would gather to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars. The relationship between Kashmir and cinema extended well beyond film shoots. Before the 1990s, cinema halls across the Valley were an important part of everyday urban life. Films drew huge crowds, particularly when popular Bollywood releases arrived. For many families and youngsters, going to the cinema was not merely entertainmentit was a social experience. Theatres would witness long queues and packed houses, with audiences eagerly waiting for the latest releases and stars. Then came the upheaval of the 1990s, and the rhythm of that cinematic life was abruptly broken. Cinema halls shut, film shoots disappeared and the relationship between Kashmir and mainstream cinema entered a long period of uncertainty. Decades later, the International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir has once again put Srinagar under the cinematic spotlight. But for the elderly residents who remember the Valleys earlier film era, the significance goes deeper than screenings and red carpets. They remember a Kashmir where cinema was part of the landscapeand where the landscape itself helped define Indian cinema. As IFFJK brings filmmakers and film lovers to the Valley, those memories are beginning to feel less like nostalgia and more like a possibility. Perhaps, after decades away, Kashmir is preparing to become a film destination once againnot simply as a picturesque location, but as a place where filmmakers arrive, stories are created and audiences once again gather around cinema. For the old men watching the shikaras glide across Dal Lake, it is a familiar scene with a new meaning. The cameras may be returning. And with them, perhaps, a little of the old Kashmir.
Fatima Sana Shaikh bats for regional cinema
Srinagar, Sep 07: Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh on Monday emphasised the importance of regional cinema in portraying the intricacies and realities of different regions, saying such films help audiences understand stories from perspectives beyond the mainstream. Speaking to media persons at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the sidelines of the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) 2026, Shaikh said regional cinema plays an important role in preserving cultural legacies and presenting authentic local stories. Regional cinema is very important because when we see Kashmir stories, they are often from an outside perspective. Regional cinema shows its intricacies. For a layman to see that world clearly, regional cinema is important, she said. The actress, whose mother is from Kashmir, said she was particularly happy to be part of the festival and described her return to the Valley as a special experience. I am happy for this festival as my mother is from Kashmir. Such a festival is being introduced after a long time, and I am happythat I have been madepart of it, she said. Fatima said she had not visited Kashmir for a long time and was excited to be back, describing the valley as a place she considers home. I havent come to Kashmir for a long time, and it is a great feeling to be back home. I am excited. I am also going for an outing tomorrow as my family is coming to meet me, she said. Welcoming the international participation in the festival, the actress said the event was significantasfilmmakers from around the world had submitted entries. This is a big festival as people from 80 countries have sent entries and many films are being shown. I am happy that Kashmir is taking such an initiative, she said. She underlined the importance of such events in providing platformstoyoung artists and encouraging cultural exchange. Fatima urged Kashmiri youth to focus on education, cultural activities and their careers, saying she feels proud whenever someone from Kashmir achieves success. The 34-year-old actress said Kashmir had the potential to emerge as an international shooting destination, adding that festivals of this nature could help promote the region as a hub for filmmakers and the wider film industry. Speaking about her Dangal co-star Zaira Wasim, Shaikh said she had not been in touch with the actor for some time but fondly recalled working with her. I havent spoken to her for some time. She is a wonderful actor, and I enjoyed working with her. It is good to see that she is on her own journey. It is good to see people find their own path, she said.
IFFJK is homecoming for me, says Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Srinagar, Sep 07: Acclaimed filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra on Monday described the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) as ahomecoming,saying the event could mark a new beginning for the regions film industry and provide a platform for Kashmiri stories to reach audiences across the world. Speaking at the film festival here, Chopra expressed gratitude to the government for organising the event, recalling his roots in Kashmir and his education at SP College. I am grateful to the government for taking such a step. I am from Kashmir and studied here too. This film festival is really a homecoming for me. This event can be a good beginning, he said. Recalling his early struggles, Chopra said hehaddecided to pursue filmmaking while studying at SP College despite opposition from his family. I was studying in SP College when I told my father that I wanted to be a filmmaker. He slapped me, he said, recalling the challenges he faced before entering the film industry. The filmmakersaid helater became a National Scholar from SP College and received ascholarship of Rs 250,which he used to travel to Mumbai and pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker. I did not have money to go to the film industry. I became a National Scholar from India while studying at SP College and got a scholarship of Rs 250. I went to Bollywood with that amount, he said. Encouraging young filmmakers across the country, Chopra said financial difficulties should not prevent aspiring filmmakers from pursuing their dreams. Urging Kashmiri youth to make use of the opportunities available to them, Chopra said Kashmir has immense talent and called upon local filmmakers to pick up cameras and tell their own stories. Kashmiris are talented. I would request Kashmiri filmmakers to take a camera and make films. This festival is a great platform, he said. Chopra, who recently celebrated his birthday, said his visit to Gulmarghad made the occasion particularly emotional for himas he reflected on his journey from Kashmir to Bollywood. It was my birthday two days ago and I was in Gulmarg. It is an emotional moment for me. I also come from Kashmir and reached Bollywood, and you too can, he said. The filmmaker has shot films including Mission Kashmir and Shikara in the region and said he intends to continue working in Kashmir. I have shot films like Mission Kashmir and Shikara and will shoot more films, he said. Chopra said the film festival was particularly significant because it was being held in Kashmir and could provide a platform for stories from the region that have remained largely unheard. This film festival is different because it is being held in Kashmir. There are stories here that are not anywhere else in India. This is the festival where our stories will go out to the world, he said.
This is Indias century: LG Sinha in Chicago
Srinagar, Sep 07: This is India's moment. This is India's century.Ican confidently say that this is the rise of a civilisational power, which is confident, compassionate, innovative and unstoppable, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Monday as he addressed the IIT (BHU) Global Alumni Meet in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Speaking about the rise of a new India, the Lieutenant Governor said the country is stronger athome,confident abroad and prepared tocontribute to shaping the new future of humanity. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is building its own place in the world and preparing to lead it. India is rapidly advancing toward technological leadership while building on unprecedented social welfare initiatives, paving the way for a great resurgence, he said. Amidst this revival, the Lieutenant Governor said the story of Jammu Kashmir's transformation will be a compelling one. The Prime Minister (Modi) has transformed the destiny of Jammu Kashmir with the abrogation of Article 370. On the development front, the last 6 years have been nothing short of historic. This is not just progress but a renaissance. Jammu Kashmir has moved from shadows of fear to the light of opportunity, from isolation to integration, and from despair to destiny. This transformation has opened new avenuesofdevelopment, investment and opportunity, he said. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor discussed how Artificial Intelligence will drive economic growth by combining human potential with machine intelligence, and called for Responsible AI. He said AI must remain anchored in ethics, core values, and strict human oversight, and thattechnology must be proactively guided by humanityto ensure it serves the collective well-being of all people. Recalling Swami Vivekananda's historic September 11, 1893 address in Chicago, the Lieutenant Governor lauded the significant contribution of IIT (BHU) Global Alumni and Indian Diaspora to the upliftment of global society, and urged them to actively participate in India's ongoing civilisational and economic resurgence. The Lieutenant Governor outlined a four-point roadmap calling on alumni to invest in India's next-generation institutions through mentorship and capital, build strategic partnerships between American and Indian institutions, share an accurate narrative of India's transformation, and reconnect with their roots by bringing home their wealth of experience and knowledge. Paying tributes to Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Sinha highlighted his visionary legacy and monumental contributions to advancing engineering education and industrialising India,sayinghis ideals continue to inspire generations to advance technology, strengthen the economy and serve society. Members of IIT (BHU) Global Alumni Association and prominent citizens from diverse fields were present on the occasion.
Two die after jumping into Kangan power canal
Ganderbal, Sep 7: Two persons lost their lives after they reportedly jumped into a power canal at Thune in Kangan area of central Kashmirs Ganderbal district on Monday, officials said. Soon after information about the incident was received, personnel from Kangan Police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local residents, rushed to the spot and launched a search operation to trace the two persons. After sustained efforts, the bodies of both persons were subsequently recovered from the power canal. The bodies were taken out from the canal as rescue teams continued operations in the area. The circumstances leading to the incident, however, remain unclear. Authorities have not yet established what prompted the two persons to enter the canal or the exact sequence of events preceding the incident. The incident has once again brought into focus the recurring incidents of drowning and body recoveries from the power canal in the Thune-Kangan belt. In February this year, two brothers from Thune-Kangan had fallen into the canal. While one of them was rescued, the other, identified as Tanveer Ahmad Tedwa, was swept away after entering the canal while attempting to save his brother. His body was later recovered following a search operation. In May, the body of a 19-year-old girl, who had been missing for several days, was recovered from the canal at Thune after a search operation was conducted along the canal stretch between Sumbal and Kangan. Similarly, in June, two persons drowned in the power canal in the Gund area of Kangan. Rescue teams later recovered their bodies from different locations along the canal. Earlier in April, an unidentified mans body was also recovered from the power canal at Thune, adding to the growing number of such incidents reported from the area. The repeated drowning incidents have raised concerns among local residents over the safety of the canal, particularly its depth and strong water currents. A 2021 report had also highlighted local concerns regarding the canal and referred to several drowning incidents involving teenagers in the preceding years. With another incident being reported from the same belt, residents have once again urged authorities to strengthen safety measures and take steps to prevent people, particularly young people, from approaching or entering the canal. Further details regarding the identities of the two persons and the circumstances surrounding the incident are awaited.
Border tourism boom brings 4.3 lakh visitors to North Kashmir
Srinagar, Sep 7: Tourism is steadily changing the face of several border areas in North Kashmir, with more than 4.30 lakh visitors travelling to destinations along the Line of Control this year, according to official figures cited in a recent report. The tourism surge covers areas of Kupwara, Bandipora and Uri, including Keran, Lolab, Machil, Teetwal, Tangdhar, Gurez, Tulail and Uri. These destinations, once largely associated with security concerns and limited access, are increasingly attracting visitors for their landscapes, local culture and quieter mountain settings. Kupwara recorded the highest footfall, with nearly three lakh tourists visiting the district. Uri received around 70,000 visitors, while Gurez recorded approximately 60,000 tourist arrivals. The rise in visitors has also created opportunities for residents. Homestays, transport services, local guides, handicrafts and other small businesses are benefiting from the growing tourist movement. Improved security conditions have played an important role in opening these areas to tourism. The reaffirmation of the India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement in February 2021 brought greater stability along the LoC and reduced cross-border incidents in several areas. The improved environment has encouraged travellers to visit places that were earlier considered difficult to access. Border communities are now increasingly presenting their natural surroundings, traditional lifestyles and cultural heritage as tourism assets. Keran has emerged as one of North Kashmirs prominent offbeat destinations. Situated along the Kishanganga River, the valley attracts visitors with its mountains, greenery, riverside scenery and village life. Gurez has also recorded strong tourist interest, with around 60,000 visitors this year. Known for its alpine landscape and Dard-Shina heritage, the valley offers opportunities for nature, adventure and cultural tourism. The opening of the Shin-on-Me cultural centre has further added to the regions cultural appeal. Lolab, Machil, Tangdhar and Teetwal are also gaining attention. Lolab was recognised as the Best Offbeat Destination at the Outlook Traveller Awards in 2023, while Machil and Tangdhar are drawing visitors seeking remote Himalayan experiences. In Uri, the historic Kaman Bridge, also known as Aman Setu, is being developed as a potential tourism attraction. Infrastructure and promotional activities by district administrations, the J&K Tourism Department and the Indian Army are further supporting the growth. The expansion of border tourism is giving North Kashmirs remote communities new economic opportunities while bringing previously less visited destinations onto the regions tourism map.
2,083 farmers benefit from high-density apple scheme: Govt
Srinagar: The Horticulture Department Kashmir has brought 818.51525 hectares of land under apple plantation through the High-Density Plantation (HDP) scheme across the Kashmir Valley from the financial year 2016-17 to August 31, 2025, benefiting 2,083 farmers. According to official figures available with Rising Kashmir, the department covered 310.00425 hectares under the High-Density Plantation scheme between 2016-17 and 2020-21, benefiting 677 beneficiaries during the period. The data shows that in 2016-17, the department covered 27.1665 hectares under the scheme, benefiting 57 beneficiaries. In 2017-18, another 39.172 hectares were brought under high-density apple plantation, with 59 beneficiaries covered. During 2018-19, the area covered under the scheme increased to 53.605 hectares, benefiting 54 beneficiaries. In 2019-20, the department covered 121.34075 hectares, with 241 beneficiaries receiving benefits under the scheme. In 2020-21, a further 118.9 hectares were brought under high-density plantation, benefiting 266 farmers across the Kashmir Valley. The department continued expanding the scheme in subsequent years. During 2021-22, 126.7925 hectares were covered, benefiting 352 beneficiaries, while in 2022-23, 37.0235 hectares were brought under the scheme, benefiting 188 beneficiaries. In 2023-24, the department covered 101.515 hectares under high-density apple plantation, with 415 beneficiaries receiving benefits. From 2024-25 up to August 31, 2025, a total of 193 hectares were covered under the scheme, benefiting 451 farmers across the Kashmir Valley. Apart from plantation, the department has also established mother orchards over 40.34 hectares under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP). It has also established mother orchards over 15 hectares under the J&K Competitive Investment Programme (JKCIP) from 2023-24 to 2025-26. The official data further reveals that the department has also been promoting medium-density apple plantations in Kashmir. During 2023-24, 241.80 hectares were covered under the medium-density apple scheme, followed by 266.75 hectares in 2024-25. During 2025-26, the department has so far covered 263.03 hectares under the scheme. An official of the Horticulture Department said that beneficiaries are provided financial assistance in the form of subsidies after the plantation is established in accordance with the prescribed guidelines. The financial support is provided in the form of subsidy directly into the accounts of beneficiaries after the apple trees are planted and all the parameters prescribed under the scheme are fulfilled, the official said.
PDP questions govt on jobs, recruitment
Srinagar, Sep 7: PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Monday accused the Jammu and Kashmir government of failing to address issues concerning youth and different sections of society, alleging that unemployment, inflation, education and healthcare problems were worsening across the Union Territory. Addressing a youth interaction programme in Kupwara, Mufti said the purpose of her visit was to engage with young people and understand their concerns, particularly regarding unemployment, education, womens safety and employment opportunities. She said the youth of J&K were facing growing disappointment and alleged that the elected government had failed to deliver on issues affecting them. She also questioned the government over recruitment policies and the status of the Rationalization of Reservation Committee report. Mufti strongly backed protesting medical interns and demanded an increase in their stipend. She alleged that interns had received assurances regarding a hike but later intensified their agitation after the promised increase did not materialise. We are with the medical interns and we will stand with them till they don't get a hike in their medical stipend, she said. She also questioned the JKSSB notification for Multi-Tasking Staff posts and asked why the government could not withdraw it. On employment, Mufti alleged irregularities in government recruitment and accused the National Conference government of outsourcing or selling government jobs. She questioned where unemployed youth would go if adequate employment opportunities were not created. The PDP leader also criticised the government over its position on Article 370 and alleged that her party faced restrictions while programmes organised by the ruling party were facilitated. Mufti further raised concerns over Kashmiri youth lodged in jails under laws including UAPA and PSA. She said many families from economically weaker backgrounds struggled to meet legal expenses or travel outside J&K to meet relatives in prisons. Calling for a compassionate approach, she demanded the unconditional release of detainees from J&K and urged greater dialogue between the Centre and the people of the Union Territory. She also highlighted concerns over healthcare and connectivity in north Kashmir and called for better healthcare infrastructure, including a super-speciality hospital in the region.
NC says Omar raised statehood, reservation, detainees with Centre
Srinagar, Sep 7: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq on Monday said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had raised the issues of restoration of statehood, reservation policy and the release of J&K youth lodged in jails with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In a statement, Sadiq said the issues were forcefully taken up during meetings held with the central leadership in recent days. Responding to questions about the NCs recent march towards the BJP headquarters, Sadiq said the party would decide the timing, scale and nature of its protests. He said the march was not intended to demonstrate political strength but to remind the Centre of commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly regarding restoration of statehood. Sadiq said the NC would continue its political struggle for the rights and demands of the people, while reiterating that the party leadership would determine future protest programmes. He also said the NC would observe the 44th death anniversary of its founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, on September 8. Recalling Sheikh Abdullahs role in J&Ks history, Sadiq highlighted his contribution to land reforms, education, healthcare and social justice, saying his political vision continued to remain an important part of the regions history.
UNICEF delegation meets CM Omar on child welfare
Srinagar, Sep 07: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday met a delegation of UNICEF India, representatives of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Business Network International (BNI) Jammu Kashmir and the organising team of TEDx NIT Srinagar here at Raabita. The UNICEF delegation comprising Deputy Representative, Programme, UNICEF India, Jesper Moller; Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF India Country Office, Sharmila Ray; and Child Protection Specialist and J&K Outpost Coordinator, Hilal Ahmad Bhat, called on the Chief Minister to discuss strengthening collaboration between UNICEF and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir in child-focused development. The discussions focused on child protection, prevention of violence and exploitation, juvenile justice and family-based care, adolescent welfare and strengthening service-delivery systems for vulnerable children. Opportunities for expanding UNICEF-supported programmes across Jammu & Kashmir were also discussed. A delegation of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), led by its Chairman, J&K Chapter, Mir Anwar, also met the Chief Minister and apprised him of the organisations tourism initiatives, including the proposed pan-India Train to Valley FAM Tour scheduled to be held from September 25 to 28, 2026. A delegation of Business Network International (BNI) Jammu Kashmir, led by Executive Directors CA Raghav Gupta and CA Dimpi Gupta, also called on the Chief Minister to discuss various initiatives being taken by BNI. Meanwhile, a delegation associated with TEDx NIT Srinagar 2026, comprising Coordinator In-charge, NIT Srinagar, Umar Majid, also met the Chief Minister and apprised him of the upcoming TEDx event scheduled to be held this month in Srinagar.
Film revival in J&K signals normalcy, new opportunities: Jitendra Singh
Srinagar, Sep 7: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Monday said the revival of cinema and the hosting of an international film festival in Jammu and Kashmir sends a strong message of improving normalcy and renewed opportunities for the regions youth and artists. Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir in Srinagar, Singh expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting and hosting the programme, saying that the organisation of such an event in Kashmir itself reflected the changing situation in the region. The situation is getting better and we are able to hold such a programme here, Singh said, while also thanking the Jammu and Kashmir Government, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his team for their support. He described the film festival as a great message for India and the world, stressing that Jammu and Kashmir has historically shared a deep and mutually beneficial relationship with the Indian film industry. Singh recalled the period when Kashmir was one of the most preferred destinations for filmmakers and Bollywood productions, with films being shot across its streets, gardens, hotels and other scenic locations. He said that after cinemas began shutting down one after another, the people of Kashmir remained deprived of cinema for nearly two decades. For 20-25 years, we were deprived of cinema, he said, adding that this was particularly significant because Kashmir had once been a major centre for Indian cinema. The Union Minister said the festival provides an opportunity to revive the historic connection between Bollywood and Kashmir that existed prominently before the 1990s. He also underlined the economic and employment potential of the film industry, saying that cinema was not merely a source of entertainment or income but could open new avenues for young people and provide opportunities to local artists, technicians and other professionals. Recalling his personal memories of film shootings in Kashmir, Singh referred to the shooting of popular Bollywood productions in the Valley and the participation of local people and students in such projects. He recalled an instance when a song featuring Amitabh Bachchan was shot in the area, with students from Government College for Women, Srinagar, participating in the audience for a scene in which actress Rakhee was portrayed as a student. Similarly, referring to the shooting of the iconic song Jai Jai Shiv Shankar, Singh said several local troupes and artists were provided employment during the production. These examples show how, in a way, the Valley of Kashmir was connected to Bollywood, he said. Singh emphasised that the relationship between Kashmir and the Hindi film industry was never one-sided. Kashmir enriched Bollywood and Bollywood, in turn, enriched Kashmir, he said, describing the relationship as mutually beneficial. He further highlighted the contribution of Kashmiri talent to Indian cinema, recalling that several prominent artists and actors associated with the golden era of Hindi cinema had roots in Kashmir. Singh mentioned legendary names including Raj Kumar, Jeevan, Sabru and Om Prakash, while also recalling the contribution of writers and artists associated with Jammu and Kashmir and the wider region. He also referred to filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, noting that Chopra was his senior in college and was present at the programme. Singh said Kashmir had historically produced and nurtured considerable artistic talent that went on to make a mark in Bollywood. He expressed hope that the film festival would help restore the cultural and cinematic link between Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian film industry while creating a platform for local filmmakers, actors, musicians and other creative professionals. The Minister said the revival of film-related activities in Kashmir could therefore contribute not only to tourism and the local economy but also to the aspirations of the regions younger generation. He reiterated that Jammu and Kashmirs association with cinema is deeply rooted in its history and expressed optimism that the renewed interest of filmmakers in the Valley would strengthen this connection further.
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A Tragedy That Demands Urgent Answers
The recovery of the bodies of a young boy and a girl from the Thune power canal in Ganderbal is a tragedy that should shake the conscience of the administration and the community alike. Two lives have been lost, a family has been plunged into grief, and once again Kashmir is left grappling with a painful question: how many such incidents must occur before safety around vulnerable water bodies becomes a serious public priority? What makes this incident even more distressing is that the two were reportedly seen entering or jumping into the canal before an immediate rescue operation was launched. That detail points to the narrow window that often exists in such emergencies and the need for rapid, better-equipped response systems in areas where canals, streams and other fast-moving water channels cut through settlements and public spaces. When every minute counts, rescue cannot depend only on courage and goodwill; it must also depend on preparedness, equipment and coordination. The efforts of Kangan Police, the SDRF, local volunteers and rescuers deserve acknowledgement. They searched in difficult conditions and eventually recovered the bodies, showing the seriousness with which the operation was handled. But rescue efforts, however commendable, cannot undo the loss. The real test lies in prevention. If canals continue to remain accessible without adequate safeguards, warning signs, barriers or monitoring in sensitive stretches, then similar tragedies remain possible. There is also a larger human dimension here that must not be lost amid the official language of proceedings and further details awaited. A young boy from Thune has been identified, while the identity of the girl has not yet been disclosed. Behind those brief lines are families waiting for answers, relatives enduring shock, and a neighbourhood struggling to make sense of an avoidable-looking disaster. Public grief in such cases is not only about death; it is also about the fear that life can be lost in moments of neglect. Police have begun proceedings to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident, and that inquiry must be thorough, transparent and time-bound. It should establish not only how the two entered the canal, but whether there were any lapses in local safety arrangements, surveillance or emergency response. If weaknesses are found, they must lead to corrective measures, not just file movement. Kashmir has too often seen tragedy followed by silence. That cycle must end. Canals, embankments and other hazardous public spaces require clear warnings, local awareness drives and practical protection measures, especially in areas where children and young people move freely. This loss is not merely a police case; it is a public safety failure waiting to be understood and addressed. For now, a family mourns, a community grieves and Ganderbal is left with sorrow. The least the administration can do is ensure that this tragedy becomes a lesson, not a pattern.
Srinagar Turns Cinema Hub as IFFJK 2026 Begins
Kashmirs first International Film Festival should not be read merely as a glittering event on the social calendar. Its significance lies deeper: in a region long remembered on screen for its landscapes, but too often kept at a distance from the larger ecosystem of Indian cinema, IFFJK 2026 signals an attempt to turn nostalgia into opportunity. The inauguration at SKICC, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and a host of celebrated actors, filmmakers and musicians in attendance, is more than a ceremonial start. It is a public declaration that Jammu and Kashmir wants to reclaim its place on the cinematic map. That ambition is timely. For decades, the Valley has inspired filmmakers with its mountains, lakes and seasons, yet the industrys relationship with Kashmir has remained uneven, shaped as much by politics and uncertainty as by beauty and memory. A film festival alone cannot erase those contradictions. But it can create a much-needed institutional space where artists, producers and storytellers meet not as occasional visitors, but as partners in a longer conversation. That is why the scale of this festival matters. With more than 1,100 entries from 92 countries and a curated selection of 135 films, IFFJK is already projecting something larger than local symbolism. It is inviting the world to see Kashmir not only as a location, but as a cultural destination. The presence of prominent names from cinema and music adds glamour, certainly, but also a practical message: that the Valley can host major cultural events with confidence and sophistication. The choice of venues, from Srinagar to Gulmarg and Jammu, reflects an understanding that cinema is not only about screening films. It is about atmosphere, access and experience. It is about showing that Kashmirs identity cannot be reduced to conflict narratives alone. Here, art becomes a form of reopening, and culture a language of confidence. Yet celebration must be matched by seriousness. If the government truly hopes to revive film tourism and attract sustained industry engagement, then this festival cannot be a one-off spectacle. It must be followed by policy support, infrastructure, production facilitation and a consistent effort to make the Valley film-friendly in practical terms. The red carpet matters, but so do permissions, logistics, safety and reliability. Without these, the promise of IFFJK could fade into a photo opportunity. For now, though, Kashmir deserves credit for daring to host the world with confidence. In a place where public imagination has so often been shaped by absence, the sight of cameras, music, delegates and storytelling may feel quietly transformative. If handled wisely, IFFJK 2026 could mark the beginning of a more durable relationship between Kashmir and cinema one built not just on scenery, but on trust, continuity and shared creative purpose.
I begin with the quote by Swami Vivekananda: Educate and raise the masses, and thus alone a nation is possible. Quality education -- an inclusive and meaningful learning system that equips students with critical thinking, practical skills, and ethical values rather than relying on learning by rote -- is a prerequisite for national strength. It forms the foundation for personal growth, economic stability, and global sustainable development. In order to level the field, promoting quality education could be an equaliser. Arguably, receiving quality education rests on the family income. But it does not suggest that all public education schools are below par ; neither are all private schools imparting quality educationone which provides effective, valuable learning experiences to build essential skills, critical thinking, and real-world readiness. In the private / profit sector, quality revolves around tuition fees. High-fee private schools do provide excellent education, but plenty of the private schools impart poor-quality education. Quality of learning definitely depends on many factors. But teacher quality and efforts largely impact the quality of education. Notably, it is education which not only steers mankind out of darkness but also promotes intellectual growth, leading to both individual and social upliftment. And most importantly, education could hardly fructify if teachers do not get the much-needed respect and recognition in society. End of the days when school teaching was probably seen as one of the most attractive jobsmore so in this part of the globe ( and the teachers were seen as respectable citizens). Now the educated youth preferably seek jobs in other fields: health, engineering, higher education, etc. For the youth, school teaching is the least attractive. Though the noble profession (of teaching ) is challenging, the energy to handle it is often in short supply. Sometimes, a little motivation is required to remind yourself that you are a teacher and that your efforts are significant. True, even the best teacher needs a little extra push every now and then. At educational institutions, teachers face disrespect, misbehaviour, and a lack of motivation or passion from students. But this situation never breaks the morale and enthusiasm of teachers. Thatit is teachers whoinspire students to learn wherever life may take them, besides enabling them to discover their interests, passions and themselves in the long run, is undeniable. It isteacherswho lay the foundations for future doctors, engineers, scientists, filmmakers, architects, entrepreneurs, administrators, prime ministers and presidents; it isteacherswho have the power to give us the internet, atom bombs, communication towers and aeroplanes. Agreed that some teachers display self-serving tendencies, preferring to sell 'education' in the ' coaching centres ' ostensibly through unfair means. Though the government has appreciably taken a solemn stand against [private ] coaching by government teachers ( has banned it), yet some employees particularly teachers from school and higher education are allegedly indulging in the unlawful activity behind a corruption network. Overlooking the statutory provisions undermines school education even as it feeds into the economic and social inequalities at the wider level. That, among other factors, births social insecurities and, by extension, destabilises institutionssomething we can ill afford as society on the whole. Granted that teachers work at educational institutions helps the innocence and ignorance of learners bloom into an evergreen tree bearing healthy fruit for the entire society and humanity but floating norms undoes the impact of a good work. Not working within the law could turn educational institutions into the graveyards of values: honesty, hardwork, humility and dedication. Pertinently, observing Teachers' Day every year is not only an honour to teachers but is suggestive of a consensus that they are an asset of society. In other words, the services of teachers can never be forgotten or belittled. One is well within one's rights to treat the personal work of a teacher as something worthy of attention. And if the disposal of the case can take five minutes to complete, it is in bad taste if it takes days together to be disposed of. The intentional delay or a casual handling of the matter leaves a lesser-known schoolteacherdistraught and heartbroken. It remains to be seen when such ateacher's personal orevenofficial piece of work shall be dealt with on priority, on the premise that his/her time is too precious to waste. Bad mouthing the teaching profession is a common sight; analysing their work objectively could be sought. Yes, a handful of teachers on various occasions have been noticed loafing around outside the school premises. Similarly, it is very disturbing if teachers are found absorbed in discussing or doing economic activities rather than teaching all the while over the course of duty hours. Shameful as it is, that code of conduct can leave the image of schools in tatters as well. It is assumed that such teachers use their influence and affluence to work off course. No worries at all despite playing foul. On the other hand, we have the teachers living in pitiable conditions: they are denied their property share for decades by parents, are thrown out of the house, and their spouses are abused to the point of death at times. These teachers are hardly lent an understanding ear. And it is akin to backstabbing when society treats teachers discourteously and divides them into good and bad ones simply on the basis of the magnitude of their pay grade. A particular but major section of school teachers has time and again sustained stereotyping and marginalisation. Teachers' sensibilities need to be respected without exception. The teachers whose services allow for some unserved hours invariably need to be taken to task at the earliest. Above all, to attract better brains into the teaching field, the profession needs to be raised in status and achievements. To raise the quality of education, a collective effort appears to be the key. (The author is RK columnist and teacher by profession. Feedback at: sheikhshabir518@gmail.com )
The Growth Numbers Can Take the Scrutiny
Abhishek Anand, Josh Felman and Arvind Subramanian ask how India could have grown at 7.8 per cent in a quarter marked by an energy shock. It is a fair question. It also has an answer, and that answer has been in plain sight for some years. Begin with the timing. The quarter runs from April to June 2026. The conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel peaked just before it. Oil prices jumped, and India felt it. The sharpest disruption, though, fell in March and the first days of April. By May, the pressure had eased. By June, it had largely passed. A few difficult weeks at the start of a three-month quarter do not turn the quarter's number into fiction. The evidence from those months points one way. Auto sales rose steadily. Bank credit expanded, and exports grew, aided by a competitive currency. GST collections stayed buoyant even after the rate cuts, rising 8.3 per cent in the year just ended. Over the three years to 2025-26, gross GST collections rose by 32 per cent, while nominal GDP rose by 31.9 per cent. Those two figures come from entirely different places, and they track each other almost exactly. GST returns are filed by companies. Credit data comes from banks. Trade data comes from ports. The statistics ministry writes none of them. Why did the economy hold? Because several reforms matured simultaneously. Union government capital spending has increased by 65 per cent since 2022-23 and is budgeted to grow by another 11.5 per cent this year. Roads, ports and power capacity built over a decade do not stop working when oil turns expensive. Digital public infrastructure has drawn much of informal activity into the formal, measured economy. The insolvency code changed how banks and firms deal with bad debt. The real estate law cleaned up a sector once known for stalled projects and opaque money. The Economist described that clean-up back in 2023. It was not doing New Delhi a favour. Then there is what the government did in response to the oil shock. It did not pass the price rise on to households and firms. It carried the cost itself. It is what fiscal space is for, and India has built it. The proof arrived on 2 September. The Japan Credit Rating Agency raised India's rating from BBB+ to A- with a stable outlook and lifted the country ceiling to A. India has not held an 'A' rating in more than three decades. The agency cited digital public infrastructure, the GST, the insolvency code and a gross non-performing loan ratio down to 1.8 per cent. It also noted that the Centre cut its fiscal deficit from 4.7 per cent of GDP in FY25 to 4.4 per cent in FY26, while maintaining high capital spending. A rating committee in Tokyo has no reason to please anyone in Delhi. It read the same reforms and reached the same conclusion. Now to the core of the criticism. If these indicators justify 7.8 per cent today, the authors ask, why did similar growth in earlier years come alongside weaker indicators? The premise is that growth must always be driven by the same things. It need not be. A quarter carried by exports and formal credit will not resemble a year carried by household spending or public investment. The earlier years had their own drivers, visible at the time. Up to 2024-25, the stock market rose strongly, and many more Indians began investing. Household net financial savings rose more than 60 per cent between 2022-23 and 2024-25. Non-bank and technology-enabled lenders expanded quickly. Total resource flows to the commercial sector grew by 72 per cent over three years, with the non-bank share up by 96 per cent. Those were real drivers. They were simply different ones. Credit outstanding to micro, small and medium enterprises grew 66.6 per cent between March 2023 and March 2026. It was still growing at close to 25 per cent in July 2026. Small firms are said to be the ones the energy shock hurt most. Their lenders do not appear to share that view. Lenders rarely extend credit to firms they expect to fail. Running beneath the argument is a suggestion that the statistics ministry exists to make the government look good. The record does not support it. For 2023-24, the ministry revised the growth estimate from 9.2 per cent (under the old series) to 7.3 per cent. That is nearly two percentage points, surrendered voluntarily. The arithmetic goes the wrong way for the accusation elsewhere, too. In 2024-25, nominal GDP growth under the new series came in lower than under the old, 9.4 per cent against 9.8 per cent, even as real growth rose. Nominal GDP is the base for the government's fiscal targets. It is the number the government most wants to be high. A ministry cooking books does not cook them at its own cost. Across 2024-25 and 2025-26 together, average real growth rises from 7.0 per cent to 7.5 per cent under the new series. That is half a percentage point. Take three years, 2023-24 to 2025-26, and average growth in the new series is lower than in the old, 7.4 per cent against 7.7 per cent. The authors end with a proverb. What is sauce for the goose today, they write, is sauce for the gander over the past. The principle is sound. We ask only that it be applied in full. The record for the earlier years is there too: household savings, credit growth, resource flows, tax receipts and a widening investor base. Pick a few indicators, and the past looks thin. Weigh all of them, and it does not. India absorbed a large shock and kept growing, on the capacity built over a decade and the fiscal room it had earned. That is a result, not an artefact. (Authors are the Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of India, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India. Courtesy: PIB)
BJP all set for four-dayprotestoverstudentissuesin Jharkhand from September 8
BJP State president Aditya Sahu, Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi, and other senior party leaders, including former Chief Ministers, will lead the protest in different districts
The court observes that the District Magistrate desired to set an example out of the petitioner and deter others from exercising their right to freedom of speech and expression in public spaces in support of workers
FQL investment fraud draws over 40,000 complaints in Madurai and neighbouring districts
Guarding the Green: Why Forestry Needs Technocrats, Not Generalists
The recently notified recruitment rules issued by the Forest Department vide NO: PCCF/NG/Est/150768/3486-96 Dt: 3-9-2026 for the post of Foresters reveal an institutional blind spot. By opening the cadre to unspecific academic streams spanning to Agriculture, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Applications, Engineering, Geology, Horticulture, Mathematics, Physics, Veterinary Sciences, and Zoologywhile simultaneously compressing Direct Recruitment to a meagre 40% against a 60% promotional quota, the government has diluted the operational standards of its forest administration. Further, while failing to mandate or accord primary preference to professional graduates in Forestry (B.Sc./M.Sc. Forestry), the government has reduced scientific conservation to mere patrol work which in an era dominated by rapid climate breakdown, complex forest tenure laws, carbon accounting, and severe wildlife-human conflict, will represent an institutional and scientific regression resulting in an ecological gamble .. which UT of J & K cannot afford. The framework of including some of the above-mentioned 3-year non-professional degree holders . being unable to even identify an endangered species or calculate the sustained yield viz a viz prioritising physical stamina (25/16 km in 4 hours for male and female aspirants) discredits a specific intellectual competence and cannot substitute technical knowledge required for such recruitments. Historically, when the Imperial Forest Department was established in 1864 under Sir Dietrich Brandis, the British Crown recognised that extraction required scientific regulation to prevent the premature exhaustion of valuable timber reserves. However, the administrative culture designed for the subordinate cadres (particularly Foresters and Forest Guards) was deliberately modelled on paramilitary policing. Their primary objective was exclusion: keeping local communities out of Reserved Forests, policing timber theft, and collecting transit revenue. The recruitment always favoured physical endurance, obedience and basic literacy over technical domain knowledge. Viewed as an auxiliary policing outfit tasked with perimeter security and timber extraction, the State Forest Departments across the country have undergone a total paradigm shift. Today, it stands as a frontline defence against ecological collapse, anthropogenic climate change and catastrophic biodiversity loss. The Forester occupies the vital operational tier within the departmental hierarchythe linchpin between the ground-level Forest Guard (Beat Guard) and the gazetted Range Forest Officer (RFO). Entrusting this technical post to candidates without any educational grounding in sciences like dendrology, silviculture, forest mensuration/management and environmental jurisprudence compromises the integrity of forests as an ecological asset. Following independence, the National Forest Policy of 1952 emphasised industrial production, with subordinate staff being trained in basic paramilitary drill, boundary upkeep, and basic timber calculations. However, the enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 and the landmark National Forest Policy of 1988 completely inverted this operational mandate, with the latter formally subordinating revenue generation to environmental stability, ecological balance, and biodiversity preservation. Furthermore, the enactment of the Biological Diversity Act (2002) and the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act (2006) placed complex statutory and participatory responsibilities upon field officers. Despite such seismic transformation in the department's core purpose, the recruitment framework for subordinate field staff has remained frozen in a colonial time warp, prioritising generic qualifications while ignoring the emergence of dedicated, university-trained forestry professionals. The prevailing administrative misconception that subordinate foresters learn everything through a brief post-selection departmental training course collapses when one evaluates the actual technical, scientific, and legal responsibilities demanded from a Forester on a daily basis. The core contention lies in the fact that forestry is a rigorous, multidisciplinary scientific profession and just as medical directorates cannot recruit general graduates to practice medicine, and public works departments do not hire a non-engineer to design bridges, the forest department cannot surrender scientific conservation to administrative generalists. Further, forestry is not an offshoot of general biology but a specialised technocracy and as such, equating a candidate who has spent four years for studying silviculture, forest mensuration, forest biometrics, dendrology, forest policy and wildlife with a candidate who has obtained other degrees (some 3 year programs) betrays a basic misunderstanding of what foresters do in the field. Here we have to understand that at a time when forest ecosystems face unprecedented ecological strainranging from catastrophic wildfire cycles and invasive monocultures to carbon sink verification under international climate compactsthe custodian of the forest beat/range can no longer be an ad-hoc generalis but a forestry technocrat trained in ecological restoration, assisted regeneration, canopy density optimization, measuring terrestrial biomass for carbon credits, diagnostic pathology of forest die-back, and host-pest vectors viz a viz enforcing the Forest Rights Act (FRA 2006), Wildlife Protection Act, Indian Forest Act, CAMPA compliance, fuel load index calculations, back-firing tactics and stress modelling. The critical review of deconstructed new set of rules exhibit two fundamental structural defects and flawed premises: first, that the forest management is presumed as an unskilled custodial chore which will bring an alarming administrative regression and second, that equalizing an exclusive specialized academic threshold of four years dedicated professional degree of B.Sc. Forestry, equivalent to some basic/generic university degrees in mathematics, computer applications, physics and other classroom sciences or desk disciplines, demonstrates that the people who have framed these regulations unfortunately lack a profound technical understanding of modern contemporary science followed in the management of forests. The competencies now required insist that forestry alone should remain a basic qualification to justify it as a genuine profession. But unfortunately, the regulations notified depict a general imagination, often influenced by colonial-era administrative tropes that treat the forester as an armed scout . whose duties begin and end with chasing poachers and illicit timber smugglers. Further, the new regulations notified also seem to betray Public Investment in formal Forestry Education being instituted in almost 29 SAUs and 86 affiliated colleges/ specialized research institutes following a landmark recommendations of the National Commission on Agriculture (NCA, 1976). The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) have recognised the four-year B.Sc. Forestry program as a specialised degree, with the public exchequer at the national level spending millions every year to subsidise these professional courses. Despite this, when vacancies arise in State Forest Services, the forestry graduates who spent four years in training are shoved into open competition, while other disciplines which are entirely disconnected from forest habitats have preserved strict recruitment boundaries. For instance, only B.V.Sc. graduates can enter State Veterinary cadres. Likewise, for engineering posts, only B.E./B.Tech. degree holders are eligible, and for Agriculture/ Horticulture/Extension cadres, only B.Sc. Agriculture / Horticulture graduates are preferred. Contrary to this, forestry remains the lone outlierroutinely degraded into an open-for-all category by the bureaucracy in Forest administration. The regulations issued also denounce National Policy Commitments, Working Group Studies of the various Commissions and Expert Committees established by the Union Government over the past four decades, which recommended that: Academic qualifications in forestry should be considered essential or given appropriate weightage for entry into forest services (The National Forest Policy,1988, Clause 4.12). Similarly, the National Forest Commission (2006), chaired by Justice B.N. Kirpal, explicitly noted that professional forestry education was being squandered because recruitment rules failed to mandate specialised qualifications. The commission formally recommended that State Forest Departments must prioritise candidates with professional degrees in forestry (B.Sc. / M.Sc. Forestry) for the posts of Forest Range Officers and Foresters. Further, under the Paris Agreement and our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), India has pledged to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through expanded forest and tree cover by 2030. The Foresters or the Range Officers cannot track these targets through casual guesswork but require a precise, ground-truthed carbon inventory calculations. Thus, expecting an untrained recruit or an administrative promotee to navigate national carbon registries without foundational training will guarantee a systemic data error. Further, while legitimate career progression for frontline Forest Guards and field watchers is essential for departmental morale, tilting the recruitment balance to a ratio of 40%: 60% for direct recruitment and promotion severely curbs the infusion of modern technical skills. The lower-cadre promotions often occur late in service tenures. Thus, without a stringent technical screening mechanism or prior academic immersion in contemporary forestry disciplines, the promoted personnel are routinely left ill-equipped to execute modern geo-spatial mapping, carbon inventory assessments, or complex legal evaluations under the Forest (Conservation) Act and the Wildlife (Protection) Act. A 60% promotional intake will, as such, mess the department up with unprofessional personnel trained solely under legacy administrative routines while sidelining contemporary scientific practices. National and International scenario As far as comparative precedents go across the country, the argument for technocratic specialisation is neither unprecedented or untested nor speculative. Several forward-thinking States within the country have formally amended their subordinate and gazetted recruitment rules to prioritise or exclusively mandate professional forestry qualifications. For instance, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have incorporated distinct eligibility weightages and direct recruitment paths prioritising Forestry degree holders in frontline Range and Forester selections. The State of Kerala has long stood at the forefront of administrative professionalisation in forestry. State service commissions in Kerala have repeatedly amended cadre rules for Forest Range Officers and Foresters to reserve substantial quotas or direct preference points for professional forestry graduates, recognising that specialised training significantly cuts induction costs while enhancing other outcomes. Similarly, in Karnataka, the Public Service Commission (KPSC) has framed rules for the recruitment of Forest Range Officers and subordinate ranks that reserve up to 50% or more of direct recruitment slots exclusively for B.Sc. (Forestry) graduates. This framework has repeatedly withstood administrative and judicial scrutiny, establishing a precedent that specialised qualifications directly correlate with departmental efficiency. Ironically, the courts have routinely intervened or scrutinised arbitrary recruitment criteria under Articles 14 and 16, while urging Forest Departments to align hiring standards with the actual technical nature of modern public administration in the States which have resisted inclusion of changes in recruitment rules. These Judicial Interventions have repeatedly affirmed that States retain full constitutional power to prescribe specialised technical qualifications tailored to forest management. In States where such preferences were codified, the frontline field operations saw measurable modernisation: faster updating of working plans, progressed GIS integration, and improved seedling survival rates under science-based plantation regimes. Similarly, the precedents around the world also advocate Professional Technocracy and have developed jurisdictions to abandon the practice of entrusting public woodlands to non-specialists. Globally, the identity of a forester has shifted from an armed ranger to an environmental technocrat. In Germanythe cradle of modern scientific forestry (Forstwissenschaft)subordinate and senior foresters undergo rigorous technical education at specialised forestry universities. The Scandinavian model similarly treats forest management as an exact bio-economic science linked directly to recruitment in national carbon budgets and ecological resilience. Under the Canadian model, the provincial statutessuch as Ontarios Professional Foresters Act and British Columbias Forestry Professions Actenvisage that the practice of forestry should be legally restricted to accredited Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs). The provisions under this Act explicitly state that it is a criminal offence for an individual to prepare a forest management prescription, audit a cutting block, or direct reforestation without an accredited four-year forestry degree. Likewise, in the United States, SAF Accreditation, the US Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) enforce strict educational requirements w.r.t. a graduate degree encompassing a core curriculum in silviculture, forest inventory, and forest biometrics, typically certified by the Society of American Foresters (SAF). Further, under such provisions, a general biologist and agriculturalist/ non licensed forestry technocrat is not permitted to manage the State Forests. The potential of forests for employment generation has stemmed from diverse situations, viz rebuilding natural assets, wood production/ processing, pulp and paper industry, climate change mitigation and management of natural and plantation forests. The total employment in the formal forestry sector at the global level is estimated at about 18.2 million (full-time formal employment), which is expected to increase to at least 25million by the year 2035. A significant share of the jobs in forestry on an annual basis, however, comes from the informal sector (33 million), the commercial forest sector (45 million) and around > 2000million man-days through the direct and secondary labour force in related industries. Further, while formal employment in commercial production of NTFPs is estimated at 100 million, the potential of the informal sector of NTFPs (extraction of around 5000 products) cannot be estimated reliably. Further, considering that the worlds protected forest areas extend over about 1.9 billion hectares (out of the total forest area of 4 billion ha), even a modest effort of silvicultural treatment to these areas can provide employment to thousands of people. The forests of India directly employ around 2.4 million persons in the formal forestry sector, 38 million in the informal sector and around 5.5-6 million as seasonal workers in various sectors. The total geographic area of Jammu and Kashmir is 42, 241 km2 of which 20,194 km2 is under demarcated/recorded forest area. The land under trees and crops (TOF) is around 67,000 ha. Unfortunately, in the extent of their livelihood potential, the ecosystem services provided by our forests have reduced from Rs 987 billion in 1850 to 118 billion in 2022-23 due to indiscriminate illicit felling and faulty management. The forests of Jammu and Kashmir thus constitute the biggest unmanaged industry and, being so, they are currently not viewed as the mainstay of the UT's economy, with a contribution of just 0.7% to GDP. As far as the manning of this natural resource is concerned, our forest department presents a reverse wedge, with more officers than the foresters who actually work at the ground level. It is a shocking fact that our forests are sustained by a sanctioned strength of 3 PCCFs (and equivalents), 7 Additional PCCFs, 16 Chief Conservators, 26 Conservators, 57 Special Grade Deputy Conservators and 81 Assistant Conservators. There are only 212 Range officers, 1154 Foresters ( around 250 vacant) and just under 3900 Deputy Foresters(around 1381 vacant), which manage 20230 sq km of Forest area. Every Range officer and Forester (generally non-technical) in our forest department, therefore, on an average, manages 19833 and 4934 ha of forest land, respectively, as against a national average of 8000 and 2000 ha and a global average of 1000 and 100 ha, respectively. The Department is thus understaffed at ground level and faces many issues in both cadrization and creation of new positions at the subordinate level. The vacancies available are also being filled sarcastically through faulty recruitment rules which do not suit modern forestry requirements. With this negligent approach, we have lost a major chunk of our forests, and the degradation is still unabated. Hence, the need of the hour is not only to create more positions to match the global standards but also to provide a technically trained field leadership if the scientific management of Forests is to be viewed seriously. The corrective blueprint for this flawed recruitment policy needs to be addressed by replacing it with a scientifically sound framework to meet regional/national goals. The government must, as such, not only withdraw/reframe these ill-advised rules but also listen to the recommendations of various commissions and take advice from SKUAST-Kashmir/Jammu to place the stewardship of our forests back in the hands of trained forestry professionals. In this regard, anything less than following decisive modifications will be a disservice to our ecological future. Proposed architecture for recruitment rules: 1: Reserve Direct Recruitment Exclusively for Forestry Graduates Amend the qualification schedule to make 4 years B.Sc. (Honours) Forestry from an ICAR/ICFRE- accredited university the exclusive minimum benchmark for direct recruitment to the position of Forester, and 4 years B Sc + 2 year M Sc Forestry from ICAR/ICFRE recognized universities for Range officers/ACFs. If allied disciplines need to be included, they should be strictly limited at the Master's level to candidates with formal postgraduate specialisations in Forest Ecology or Wildlife Management (with first preference statutorily reserved for pure forestry degree holders). 2. Invert the Cadre Quota (75% Direct: 25% Promotion) Reverse the recruitment distribution to assign 75% of vacancies to Direct Recruitment and 25% to Internal Promotion for Foresters/Range officers and ACFs. This shift will guarantee an influx of technically trained young professionals ready for decades of active field operations. At the same time, the 25% promotional route will maintain a healthy advancement pathways for Forest Guards with 1-Year bridging course at State Forest Academy/ University as a per-requisite for promotion as Foresters and 2 year diploma course ( for aspirants who do not possess essential professional degree) from State Forest Academy/ University for movement from Foresters to Range officers and Range officer to ACFs . 3. Establish a Mandatory Bridge Training Program for Promotees Every Forest Guard promoted to the rank of Forester must be required to pass a comprehensive, one-year training curriculum at an accredited State Forestry Training Institute or Agriculture university. Promotion should depend on completing coursework in elementary silviculture, field GPS navigation, forest law, and emergency wildfire responsenot simply on years of service. Conclusion The forests of J&K are the nation's principal terrestrial carbon sinks, the lifeline of perennial river basins, the repositories of priceless genetic diversity and the foundational habitats of various indigenous communities. Managing this natural resource demands a high technical competence to evade a dangerous colonial relics that any candidate with basic literacy and physical endurance can protect our complex ecosystems. Thus, by reforming the recruitment rules for various Forestry cadres by prioritising professional forestry technocrats over other irrelevant degree holders, the government can rectify not only the injustice to the trained youth, but will also save millions in training costs, besides upholding constitutional mandates for scientific management of forests. (The author is a former Dean, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-K. He can be reached at drthmasoodi@gmail.com )
