IMD said squally weather would prevail along the coast, with winds gusting up to 70 kmph, and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea until September 25 morning.
Arrested Congress candidates wife asks Opposition to back him
Arpita Pradhan to start campaigning for her husband Milan Pradhan in Nandigram even as he remains in judicial custody
How Telugu film music is changing: A space where mass, class and niche coexist
In the age of reels and streaming, heres how music composers, from Devi Sri Prasad and Thaman to Vijai Bulganin and Chaitan Bharadwaj, are rewriting the rules of a soundtrack
The HP ProBook 4 Flip G2i AI PC and the New Expectations of Work
Iran's President says it is up to U.S. to choose if it wants to end Iran war
But we do not wish to continue. Its America that must choose whether it wants to end this or not, says Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian
When the former pacer was named the chairman of selectors in July 2023, there was a sense of great optimism and feel-good; his tenure, however, was a chequered one with highs in the white-ball format and lows in the Tests
IBSAT 2026 MBA Entrance Exam Schedule Announced for Admissions Across 9 Campuses
IBSAT 2026 MBA Entrance Exam Schedule Announced for Admissions Across 9 Campuses
Loyalty Juggernaut Advances Responsible AI with ISO/IEC 42001 Certification
Loyalty Juggernaut Advances Responsible AI with ISO/IEC 42001 Certification
Nuix Recognised as a RiskTech100 2027 Disruptor by Chartis Research
Nuix Recognised as a RiskTech100 2027 Disruptor by Chartis Research
Debt trap looms large over A.P. weavers
The weaving sector once sustained by handloom cooperative societies across Andhra Pradesh is currently reeling under mounting dues, dwindling orders and disappearing livelihoods, Nellore Sravani reports, as many societies are becoming dormant due to non-payment of dues on the part of the State government
Ladli Beti Scheme implemented in 8 J&K districts
Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday said that the Ladli Beti Scheme is currently being implemented in eight districts of the Union Territory. The information was provided by the government in response to an unstarred question tabled by MLA Baldev Raj Sharma. The reply said the scheme is being implemented in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Pulwama, Budgam, Anantnag, Srinagar and Kishtwar districts. The government was also asked to clarify the reasons for extending the scheme to the remaining districts of Jammu and Kashmir In response to a question regarding the date of introduction of the scheme and whether there was any proposal to implement it more widely, the government has it has no such proposal while the matter was under review in the Finance Department.
Dialysis, endoscopy services to start at SDH Kangan
Ganderbal, Sep 24: Dialysis and endoscopy services are set to start soon at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kangan as the Health Department has initiated the process for operationalising the facilities official sources said. According to sources in the Health Department, the necessary procedures and arrangements for starting the two services are underway, and the facilities are expected to become functional soon. The introduction of dialysis services at the SDH will provide relief to patients suffering from kidney-related ailments, particularly those who require regular dialysis. Presently, patients from Kangan and adjoining far-flung areas travel to hospitals in Srinagar or depend on private facilities. For patients requiring frequent dialysis, travelling long distances for every session can be difficult and adds to the overall cost and inconvenience for both patients and their attendants. Similarly, endoscopy services also as part of the ongoing process. Patients requiring endoscopic procedures are currently referred to higher centres, mainly Srinagar or private facilities. Official sources said the process for operationalising both facilities had already started at SDH Kangan and the services will be made functional soon after the required arrangements are completed.
Here is a select list of stories to start the day
J&K to roll out AI labs in phases
Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said AI Labs, AI Learning Centres and Centres of Excellence are proposed at suitable institutions across the UT in a phased and need-based manner, subject to the availability of infrastructure, technical expertise and funds. The government stated this in a written reply to a question tabled by MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The Information Technology Department said it has initiated the process to establish an AI Centre of Excellence in J&K, equipped with advanced laboratory and computing infrastructure, incubation and innovation facilities, and support for research, skill development and AI-based solutions. The department said the government is promoting artificial intelligence and emerging technologies as part of its broader digital transformation programme. It is also working to develop technological infrastructure, encourage research and innovation, build skills and introduce AI-based solutions across different sectors. Replying to a question on whether vacant government land would be identified to establish an AI facility in Zadibal as a pilot project for youth, the government said no such proposal is currently under consideration for the constituency. However, it said suitable proposals for AI Labs, AI Learning Centres or similar facilities may be considered in future, subject to feasibility and the availability of suitable infrastructure, land and resources. The government also said it is exploring the development of IT and IT-enabled services infrastructure and IT Parks across the UT. Existing institutional facilities, including ITIs and polytechnics, may also be used to support AI skills training and access to learning centres.
CMRL-Exalogic payoff case raises legal, political challenges to govt., investigating agencies
The allegation that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan, and other politicians too had received money from CMRL surfaced on Thursday as the State government was all set to issue a notification on the formation of a special investigation team to probe the findings of the ED against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, and her husband P.A. Mohamed Riyas in the money laundering case
KMC Sempora announces free cancer surgeries
Srinagar, Sep 24: Kashmir Medical College (KMC), Sempora, has announced free surgical treatment for cancer patients for a limited period during its foundation month, starting from Monday, September 28. Under the initiative, cancer patients will be provided free surgical treatment as part of the institutions Together Against Cancer campaign, aimed at promoting timely treatment, improving outcomes and supporting better quality of life for patients. The free surgical services will cover a range of cancers, including stomach, oesophageal, colon, pancreatic, liver, biliary tract, breast and thyroid cancers. Surgical treatment will also be available for adrenal tumours and other solid tumours. KMC said the initiative is supported by an experienced surgical team, modern operation theatres and critical-care facilities. The institution has adopted a multidisciplinary approach to cancer management, with coordination among surgical, oncology, radiology, pathology and supportive-care teams for comprehensive treatment planning. The college has also highlighted its advanced surgical infrastructure, including modern operation theatres, dedicated ICU facilities and post-operative care support to ensure safe and effective treatment. The initiative places emphasis on patient-centred care, with patients receiving specialised treatment along with appropriate peri-operative, follow-up and rehabilitation support. KMC said the initiative reflects its commitment to making specialised cancer surgery more accessible and affordable, while encouraging patients to seek timely diagnosis and treatment. The college has invited eligible cancer patients to register and avail themselves of the free surgical treatment during the limited-period initiative. Patients and their attendants can visit the Surgical OPD at Kashmir Medical College, Sempora, for registration and enquiries. They can also contact the hospital reception at 7050873111. The initiative is being offered under the message Fighting Cancer Together.
Dir Agri visits Integrated Mushroom Dev Centre at Lalmandi
Srinagar, Sep 24: Director Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah on Thursday visited the Integrated Mushroom Development Centre (IMDC) at Lalmandi, Srinagar, to review its operations and ongoing initiatives aimed at promoting mushroom cultivation across the Kashmir division. During the visit, the Director took a detailed round of the centre's key sections, including the Spawn Production Centre, Pasteurised Compost Unit, Mushroom Research Laboratory, and other facilities. He interacted extensively with officers, scientists, and technical staff to assess the centre's functioning, production capacities, and support extended to mushroom growers. Speaking on the occasion, the Director said that IMDC serves as a crucial hub for providing high-quality spawn, compost, and technical guidance to farmers, bridging the gap between research and practical application in mushroom farming. He said the department is committed to upgrade the facilities at the centre and steps are being taken to introduce modern technologies to ensure the availability of quality inputs, and commercialize the other high value exotic mushrooms to improve the socio-economic status of our farmers. The Director emphasised that Kashmirs favourable agro-climatic conditions make it ideally suited for commercial mushroom production and highlighted its role in enhancing farmers' income, promoting agri-entrepreneurship, generating employment opportunities, and contributing to nutritional security. He directed the officers to intensify awareness campaigns among farmers about the benefits of high value exotic mushrooms, expand capacity-building programs, and strengthen market linkages.
Div Com directs DCs to accelerate Agristack, NAPS registrations
Srinagar, Sep 24: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Thursday directed Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to intensify efforts and accelerate progress towards achieving the targets set for Agristack and apprentice registrations under NAPS The directions were issued during a meeting convened to review the district-wise progress under these initiatives. The meeting was attended by the Director, Skill Development; Deputy Commissioners; Additional Secretary, Revenue; Assistant Commissioner Central; and OSD. While reviewing the progress of Agristack, particularly village-wise coverage, the Divisional Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure 100 percent submission and 60 percent approval of the targeted villages by September 30. Reviewing the status of farmer registrations, the Div Com called upon the DCs to step up efforts and bridge the gap against the assigned targets. He stressed the need for focused monitoring and expeditious processing of registrations across the districts. The Deputy Commissioners were also directed to submit a clear and consolidated list of issues and bottlenecks being encountered during the registration process, so that the same could be taken up with the concerned departments and offices for timely resolution. While reviewing the progress under the National Apprentice Promotion Scheme (NAPS), the Divisional Commissioner directed the DCs to surpass the assigned targets by Monday. He further stressed the importance of conducting proper quality checks of establishment and apprentice registrations to ensure accuracy and compliance. The Div Com called for close monitoring of progress at the district level and directed the concerned officers to accord priority to the targets within the stipulated timelines.
12 years of Make in India in 12 metrics Low and patchy impact on growth, employment & global share
While recent incentive schemes by the government have seen some success, those gains are limited to a handful of sectors
Operations of quarries, trekking sites, adventure tourism centres suspended in Keralams Wayanad
Panchayat secretaries told to take the required steps if it becomes necessary to relocate people from disaster-prone areas
GERD is more than just heartburn: why its important to understand the difference
Heartburn is a symptom, rather than a diagnosis, say gastroenterologists. Some people living with reflux have visible inflammation of the oesophagus, while others have symptoms without any visible injury
Asian Games 2026: I was encouraged to quit, but here I am: Joshna
The forty-year-old is competing at the Asian Games for a remarkable seventh time; the veteran, still chasing gold, is keen to add to her tally of five medals at the quadrennial showpiece
Shutdown over poor school infra paralyses Arunachal capital
Some stray incidents of violence and vehicle damage were reported in Itanagar and adjoining areas
Asian Games 2026 LIVE: Indian kabbadi teams looking for final berth
The Indian women's kabaddi team will face off against Nepal, while the men's team will take on Thailand
Rs 213.17 cr unutilised as 113 J&K dev projects face status quo
Srinagar, Sep 24: As many as 113 developmental works and projects across Jammu and Kashmir are presently under status quo owing to a decision pending before a competent authority, the government informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday. In a reply to a query in the Assembly, the government said a total budgetary allocation of Rs 244.62 crore has been earmarked for these 113 works during 2026-27, of which Rs 213.17 crore remains unutilised due to the status quo. It further said that an expenditure of Rs 85.95 crore had already been incurred on these works before the issuance of status quo orders. The government said that where execution of a work is affected by a status quo order or any other legal impediment, the matter is dealt with by the concerned department in accordance with applicable budgetary and financial provisions and directions of the competent authority or court. It added that the availability or revalidation of budget provisions, surrender of savings or re-appropriation, wherever permissible, is governed by applicable financial rules and budgetary instructions. The government said the progress and financial position of developmental works are reviewed periodically by the concerned departments. In cases where execution is impeded by a court order, departments pursue the matter before the concerned courts for obtaining vacation or modification of the order, wherever legally permissible. According to the details provided by the government, Jammu and Srinagar districts account for the highest number of status-quo works at 13 each, followed by Anantnag with 11, Poonch with nine and Ramban with eight.
BEST to install check-meter to tackle consumers complaints of inflated bills on smart meters
BEST Officials said that this is a response to consumers query about the unexpected sudden increase in electricity bills following the smart meter modernisation initiative
J&K Finance Dept begins exercise for 2027-28 Budget
Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Finance Department has set the budget preparation process for the financial year 2027-28 in motion, directing all Administrative Departments, Heads of Departments (HoDs), Budget Controlling Officers and Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) to begin the exercise with immediate effect. In an order issued on Thursday, the Finance Department said the departments would have to complete the scrutiny and compilation of their budget estimates and forward the proposals to the Finance Department by October 31, 2026. As per the schedule, budget preparation at the DDO level has to be completed by October 20, while the exercise at the HoD level has to be completed by October 25. The department said the budget preparation exercise for both the Revenue and Capital budgets would be carried out online through the Budget Estimation, Allocation and Management System (BEAMS). Hard copies of forms except for B4(i), B4(ii), B-10 and project-wise statement shall not be entertained in the Finance Department, the order stated. The Finance Department said technical assistance for the exercise would be provided by its Project Management Unit (PMU) team and resource persons available in district treasuries. It directed Administrative Departments to undertake due scrutiny of the estimates before forwarding their recommendations to the Finance Department. A separate calendar for discussions on departmental budget proposals will be issued later. The department also clarified that budget proformas for Revenue and Capital Expenditure would have to be submitted in soft copy and that incomplete proposals would not be accepted. The PMU team has been tasked with making arrangements for data entry in BEAMS by DDOs and Budget Controlling Officers at the HoD level, as well as by Directors Finance and Financial Advisers-cum-Chief Accounts Officers at the Administrative Department level. The Finance Department further directed the PMU team to ensure that BEAMS supports all standardised Detailed Heads in accordance with Government Order No. 177-F of 2025, dated June 26, 2025, for the financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28. Meanwhile, all Administrative Departments and Deputy Commissioners have been asked to attach a list of shelves of projects for 2027-28 qualifying under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI). The Finance Department said detailed instructions for preparing the budget proposals were contained in the relevant annexures, while departments could also refer to the Budget Manual 2020 for existing instructions. The order was issued by the Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, Shailendra Kumar.
U.P. International Trade Show 2026 set to position State as Global Sourcing hub, says Minister
UPITS 2026 will bring businesses, manufacturers, exporters and buyers together on a common platform, expand market access for local enterprises and create new avenues for investment, business growth and employment generation, said Bhupendra Chaudhary
2,891 Medical Officer, 9,723 Paramedic posts vacant in J&K
Srinagar, Sep 24: A total of 2,891 posts of Medical Officers and 9,723 posts of paramedics/nurses are vacant across hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir, the government told the Legislative Assembly on Thursday in a written reply. The data was provided by the In-Charge Minister, Health & Medical Education Department, in response to a starred question tabled by MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi on vacant posts of medicos and paramedics in health institutions across the Union Territory. The vacancies include 150 Medical Officers and 1,216 paramedical staff at SKIMS; 967 Medical Officers and 1,580 paramedics under DHS Kashmir; 462 Medical Officers and 2,744 paramedics under DHS Jammu; and 55 Medical Officers and 115 paramedics under the Directorate of Ayush. Among the Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), the vacancies include: GMC Jammu (150 Medical Officers, 1,216 paramedics), GMC Udhampur (66 Medical Officers, 1,216 paramedics), GMC Rajouri (32 Medical Officers, 30 paramedics), GMC Kathua (118 Medical Officers, 266 paramedics), GMC Doda (114 Medical Officers, 64 paramedics), GMC Srinagar (474 Medical Officers, 531 paramedics), GMC Anantnag (107 Medical Officers, 107 paramedics), GMC Baramulla (62 Medical Officers, 260 paramedics) and GMC Handwara (134 Medical Officers, 378 paramedics). The reply added that pending regular appointments, the Department continues to manage staffing gaps through interim arrangements, including engagement of personnel under the National Health Mission (NHM) and academic arrangement basis, wherever feasible. The House was informed that recently 416 Medical Officers selected through JKPSC have been received by the department, against which appointment orders for 335 have been issued, while 1,587 paramedical/non-gazetted posts have been referred to JKSSB for making selection of suitable candidates. In response to another question regarding the present status of the 125-bedded District Hospital and 100-bedded Critical Care Unit at Reshipora, Budgam, the reply said the work is presently in progress and approximately 70 per cent physical progress has been achieved so far. It added that the project is expected to be completed by the end of the financial year 2027-28, subject to the availability of requisite funds and timely completion of the balance works. An amount of Rs 3,217.53 lakh has been released to date, against which an expenditure of Rs 2,336.56 lakh has been incurred. Out of the total funds released, Rs 1,106.56 lakh has been released during the current financial year, against which Rs 225 lakh has been utilised, the reply said. It said the work on the 100-bedded Critical Care Unit at Reshipora, Budgam, is in progress, with the ground and first floors of AAC block 95 per cent complete and the second floor 70 per cent complete. Plastering is 82 per cent complete on the ground floor and 90 per cent on the first floor, while tiling, plumbing, fire-fighting, wall-chasing and reinforcement work for third-floor columns are underway, the reply said.
Govt school for govt children: Bill rejected
Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday rejected a Private Members Bill seeking compulsory admission of children of public representatives and government employees to government schools. The Bill was moved by Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed, who argued that enrolling children of Ministers, legislators and government servants in public schools would help improve the education system. The government opposed the proposal, saying compulsory admission was not a practical solution. The concerned Minister said the government was upgrading school infrastructure and would take up the remaining institutions in a phased manner. She said children have the right to choose their educational institutions and pointed to NEET qualifiers from government schools as evidence of their achievements. The Minister said the government should focus on building public confidence in government schools and improving their quality rather than making enrolment mandatory. She also urged Khursheed to withdraw the Bill. However, Khursheed insisted that infrastructure upgrades alone would not address the challenges facing government schools. He said increasing enrolment was equally important and called for policymakers to consider sending the children of elected representatives and government employees to public institutions. The House ultimately defeated the Bill.
Cancer-pesticide link puts J&K orchards under Assembly scanner
Srinagar, Sep 24: The growing cancer burden in Jammu & Kashmir and the alleged use of spurious and sub-standard pesticides have come under the scanner of the Legislative Assembly, with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para seeking the governments attention to the possible public-health implications of pesticide use. Para called the attention of the Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo to the reported rise in cancer incidence associated with the use of spurious and sub-standard pesticides in J&K during Thursdays Assembly proceedings. The intervention comes days after the government placed a significant cancer figure before the House. Minister Itoo informed the Assembly that around 51,000 cancer patients are currently registered in J&K, with gastrointestinal, lung and breast cancers accounting for a significant proportion of reported malignancies. The government has also said that two State Cancer Institutes have been established and that screening and treatment services are being expanded across the Union Territory. Paras intervention brings the focus from treatment to possible environmental and occupational risk factors, particularly in a region where horticulture and agriculture involve extensive pesticide use. The Assembly discussion assumes added significance for Kashmir, where apple orchards form a major part of the rural economy and pesticides are routinely used to protect crops from pests and diseases. The immediate question before the government is whether the existing regulatory system is strong enough to prevent spurious or sub-standard pesticides from reaching farmers and whether adequate monitoring is being carried out at the point of manufacture, distribution and sale. The issue also raises questions about pesticide residues, farmer exposure and the safety of people living and working around orchards. Scientific research has previously examined the relationship between pesticide exposure and cancer in Kashmir. A study of malignant brain-tumour patients at SKIMS found a high proportion of patients with reported occupational or residential exposure to orchards and multiple pesticides. The researchers reported an association and called for further investigation; the study, however, does not establish that pesticides caused the cancers. This distinction is important as the Assembly considers the issue. The rise in registered cancer cases cannot automatically be attributed to pesticides, since cancer has multiple risk factors and changes in diagnosis, registration and population patterns can also influence reported numbers. What Paras intervention does, however, is put a specific regulatory question before the government: How safe are the pesticides being sold, used in J&K and how effectively are authorities checking them? The government could also face questions over the number of pesticide samples collected and tested during recent years, the number found to be sub-standard, action taken against manufacturers or dealers, and the availability of testing facilities within the Union Territory. The issue could also bring the Agriculture, Horticulture, Health, Food Safety and Pollution Control departments into the discussion, given the potential overlap between agricultural practices, food safety, environmental exposure and public health. The cancer burden has already prompted the government to strengthen institutional capacity. According to the Health Minister, an Apex Committee has been constituted for cancer prevention, screening and treatment, whilethe SKIMS Director has been designated as the nodal officer for the programme. But the PDP MLA's intervention shifts the Assembly discussion towards the prevention side of the cancer debate. For Kashmirs orchard-dependent communities, the question is not simply how many cancer patients are being treated, but whether preventable environmental and occupational exposures are being adequately identified and controlled. The House is therefore likely to seek greater clarity on pesticide quality-control mechanisms, enforcement against spurious products, farmer awareness, protective equipment, food-residue testing and scientific studies examining pesticide exposure among agricultural workers. The Assembly discussion could also provide an opportunity for the government to put actual enforcement data on recordparticularly the number of pesticide samples tested, failed samples, prosecutions and licences cancelled or suspended. With around 51,000 cancer patients registered in J&K, the issue has moved beyond an individual MLAs concern to a wider public-health question. The central question now before the House is whether J&K can protect its lucrative horticulture economy without compromising the health of the farmers, orchard workers and communities living alongside it.
J&K mulls One Officer-One Vehicle policy
Srinagar, Sep 24:Government officers retaining multiple official vehicles came under sharp scrutiny in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday, with Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather questioning whether the practice amounts to duplication of public resources. He asked the government to furnish details of officers allotted more than one vehicle. The issue came up during a discussion on official vehicle allotments after Transport Minister Satish Sharma described the existing practice as a legacy issue. Rather questioned the rationale behind continuing a practice simply because it had existed for years and sought concrete details from the government. Many officers have more than one vehicle because they have more than one department, Rather said, questioning why an officer holding additional charge of another department should require a separate vehicle belonging to that department. The Speaker also pulled up the Transport Minister for not taking appropriate action on the matter during the past month and directed him to furnish comprehensive details before the House. Sharma assured the Speaker that the matter would be examined and corrective measures taken. The governments written reply to Starred Question No. 1/6/18, raised by MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania, provides a broader picture of the issue. The Transport Department said there is currently no specific government policy prescribing a uniform ceiling on allotment or retention of official vehicles by individual officers across all departments, PSUs, boards and autonomous bodies. However, a revised Car/Vehicle Policy is under consideration, proposing the principle of One Officer-One Vehicle. The proposed policy, according to the government, would also provide for specific exceptions based on security requirements, field duties, additional assignments or charges, operational exigencies and functional requirements of particular departments or organisations. The government said the proposed principle is aimed at rationalising the government vehicle fleet, optimising available resources and achieving economy in government expenditure. The financial implications of the existing system also came under focus. According to figures supplied by the Transport Department, expenditure on petrol, oil and lubricants (POL) rose from Rs 17.45 lakh in 2023-24 to Rs 19.34 lakh in 2024-25 and Rs 235.27 lakh in 2025-26. Repair and maintenance expenditure was substantially higher, increasing from Rs 297.59 lakh in 2023-24 to Rs 436.76 lakh in 2024-25 and Rs 472.76 lakh in 2025-26. Together, POL and repair/maintenance expenditure amounted to around Rs 1,226 lakh, or Rs 12.26 crore, over the three-year period. The department also reported TA/DA expenditure of Rs 11.62 lakh in 2023-24, Rs 12.54 lakh in 2024-25 and Rs 12.38 lakh in 2025-26. The government has said the information regarding officers currently allotted more than one official vehicle, including pool or attached vehicles and vehicles drawn from subordinate offices, PSUs and corporations, is available in Annexure-D of the reply. The reply also states that the State Motor Garages Department conducts necessary audit and physical verification of the vehicle fleet from time to time. The government further disclosed that the General Administration Department had constituted a committee through Government Order No. 321-JK(GAD) of 2021, dated April 9, 2021, to examine and recommend a revised Car/Vehicle Policy. The committee has since framed the draft Government Vehicle Management Policy, 2026, which is currently under consideration by the government. The debate therefore goes beyond the question of how many vehicles an individual officer uses. At its core is the question of whether vehicle entitlement should be linked to an officer or to a particular departmental function. If an officer heads one department and simultaneously holds additional charge of another, maintaining separate vehicles for each assignment could potentially result in duplication of government assets as well as recurring expenditure on fuel, maintenance and drivers. Rather stressed that the issue was ultimately about the use of public resources, particularly when departments are operating within financial constraints and competing demands for government expenditure remain high. The Speaker also questioned arrangements where several vehicles are deployed for officers and their staff, suggesting that a single vehicle could, in appropriate circumstances, meet the requirement. With the government already considering a revised vehicle-management policy, Thursdays Assembly intervention is likely to bring greater scrutiny to the existing fleet-allocation system. The proposed One Officer-One Vehicle principle could mark a shift towards centralised and more rational fleet management, subject to the exemptions and safeguards eventually approved by the government. The House will now await the detailed vehicle-allocation information sought by the Speaker, which could reveal the extent of multiple-vehicle allotments across departments, PSUs, boards and other government institutions.
JKLA passes resolution on TET exemption for pre-2019 teachers
Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Union government to exempt teachers appointed before January 1, 2019, from appearing in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). The resolution, moved by Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, received support from both treasury and opposition benches. It seeks amendments to Section 23 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, to provide relief to teachers appointed before the specified date. The move has been welcomed by the teachers fraternity, which expressed gratitude to Itoo for taking up their concerns and supporting their demand for exemption from the mandatory test. The resolution urges the Centre to take necessary legal steps and issue a notification through the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) to exempt the teachers from TET. Speaking in the Assembly, Itoo said the resolution would be submitted to the Union Government. She added that the Law Minister would place the matter before the Supreme Court and argue for protecting the dignity of teachers. She said the Education Department had faced considerable pressure to conduct the TET, but the government made efforts to safeguard the interests of teachers. During the discussion, National Conference legislators Nazir Gurezi and Syed Bashir Veeri supported the resolution. Veeri said asking teachers who had already qualified through prescribed recruitment procedures to appear for another test amounted to injustice. He said teachers felt let down when they were asked to take the TET despite having secured their appointments through established selection procedures. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather observed that the House was unanimous on the issue and called for limiting the discussion. The resolution was subsequently put to a voice vote and passed with support from both sides. Under the RTE Act, TET is one of the essential qualifications for appointment as a teacher for Classes I to VIII. The NCTE introduced the requirement through notifications issued in 2010 and 2011. The Assemblys resolution now seeks the Centres intervention to secure an exemption for teachers appointed before January 1, 2019.
CM introduces Bill to amend J&K Municipal Act, 2000
Srinagar, Sep 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Housing and Urban Development portfolio, on Thursday introduced a Bill in the ongoing Autumn Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000. The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 10 of 2026) has already been published in an extraordinary issue of the Official Gazette.
CM Omar directs balanced, pragmatic Industrial Policy
Srinagar, Sep 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday chaired a meeting here at Civil Secretariat to review the draft Jammu & Kashmir Industrial Policy (202635). Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, ACS Finance Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce Viramjit Singh, MD & CEO J&K Bank Amitava Chatterjee and senior officers of the Industries & Commerce Department and allied departments attended the meeting. Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce made a presentation on the draft policy and apprised the meeting of its broad framework, objectives and the policy formulation process. The Chief Minister held detailed discussions on the proposed policy and directed the department to ensure that the final framework is balanced, pragmatic and responsive to the evolving needs of Jammu & Kashmirs industrial sector. He emphasised that the policy should provide a conducive environment for investment while ensuring that its benefits translate into greater opportunities for local entrepreneurs, businesses and employment generation. The Chief Minister emphasized that the new policy should provide a comprehensive and competitive incentive framework, with focused support for priority sectors and emerging sunrise sectors. He also stressed strengthening market access for local industries, further improving ease of doing business, and closely linking incentives with local employment generation and skill development. The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of a robust implementation mechanism, with clear focus on simplifying processes, facilitating ease of doing business and ensuring effective delivery of the policys objectives. The department was directed to further refine the draft in light of the discussions before it is finalised through the prescribed process.
Chirag Paswan launches youth outreach campaign from Patna
Most of the crowd belonged to the Scheduled Caste (SC), particularly from the Paswan community
J&K Assembly Autumn Session : LPG Heat Reaches Assembly
Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu & Kashmir government on Thursday announced the approval of a scheme to provide six free LPG cylinder refills every year to families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), triggering a fresh political confrontation in the Legislative Assembly, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) terming it a betrayal. Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma informed the House about the approval of the scheme aimed at providing cooking fuel support to the poorest households covered under AAY. The announcement, however, immediately led to uproar from the Opposition benches, with BJP members accusing the government of going back on its election commitments and raising slogans against the administration. Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma alleged that the government had promised 12 free LPG cylinders to every household during the election campaign but had now restricted the benefit to six cylinders a year for AAY families. BJP members raised slogans including Jhooti Sarkaar and Yeh dhokha hai as the issue turned into a heated exchange between the Treasury and Opposition benches. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened repeatedly and sought to restore order in the House. The LPG scheme itself was first announced in the Jammu and Kashmir Budget 2026-27 presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in February. The Budget proposed six free LPG cylinders annually for all AAY households, describing the measure as direct cost-of-living relief for the most deprived sections. The governments latest announcement comes after questions had been raised earlier in the ongoing Assembly session over the delay in implementing the Budget proposal. In a reply earlier this week, the government had said the proposal was under examination and that the modalities for its implementation were still being worked out. It had indicated that the cost of six domestic LPG refills annually would be reimbursed to eligible AAY families through Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their bank accounts. The latest approval therefore marks a shift from the earlier position that the scheme was still under consideration, although details such as the exact commencement date, reimbursement mechanism and other implementation procedures remain important for beneficiaries. According to figures reported in the Assembly earlier this week, around 8.79 lakh AAY families are expected to benefit from the proposed six-refill assistance. The government had not, at that stage, reported any distribution of free cylinders, saying the implementation process was still being worked out. The AAY category covers households identified among the poorest sections under the public distribution system, making the LPG announcement a significant component of the governments welfare measures. LoP Sharma questioned the government over other commitments, including the promise of 200 units of free electricity and employment for one lakh youth. The Opposition sought answers on the status of these commitments, turning the LPG announcement into a broader confrontation over the Governments election pledges. The Treasury benches and BJP members traded slogans as the Speaker attempted to bring the proceedings back on track. The disruption added to the already stormy atmosphere surrounding the autumn session, which has witnessed repeated clashes between the Government and Opposition over jobs, power tariffs, regularisation of workers and other public issues. For AAY families, however, the immediate issue is likely to be when the benefit will actually begin and how the reimbursement will reach them. The governments stated mechanism is DBT-based reimbursement of the cost of six domestic LPG refills annually. This means the implementation will involve verification of eligible beneficiaries, linkage of LPG and bank-account details and establishment of the reimbursement process. The announcement also puts the spotlight on the gap between a Budget announcement and its ground-level implementation. While the six-cylinder benefit was announced in February, the government was still examining its modalities earlier this week. The approval announced in the House now provides a clearer indication that the scheme is moving towards implementation. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that six free LPG cooking gas cylinders annually to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families across Jammu and Kashmir marks the fulfilment of a key assurance made in his second Budget earlier this year. The Chief Minister said the initiative would provide direct relief to the most deserving households and strengthen the government's commitment to public welfare. This key initiative aims to extend direct relief to the most deserving households, ensuring a dignified life for vulnerable sections and reinforcing the government's commitment to social justice and public welfare, Omar Abdullah said.
MLA Sajjad Shafi seeks Pahari ST2 status for entire Uri subdivision
Srinagar, Sept 24: MLA Uri Dr Sajjad Shafi on Thursday raised the demand for extending Pahari ST2 status to the entire sub-division Uri in J&K Assembly, particularly highlighting the concerns of people living in border areas. Addressing the speaker in the Pahari language, Shafi urged the government to consider extending the benefits associated with Pahari ST2 status to the entire sub-division. The MLA said that people residing in several border areas of Uri were still unable to avail themselves of the benefits associated with the status, as they remained outside its existing ambit. During his intervention, Shafi also raised the slogan, Asi Pahari Puttar, Pahara Dai, underscoring the cultural and linguistic identity of the Pahari-speaking population of the region. He placed before the house the concerns and aspirations of the Pahari-speaking people of Uri and sought the governments attention towards extending the relevant ST2 benefits across the entire sub-division Uri. The issue was raised in the Assembly for consideration by the government and the concerned authorities with the MLA stressing the need to address the concerns of Pahari-speaking residents, particularly those living in border areas.
Delhi court permits U.S., Ukrainian nationals in NIA case to travel home for a month
The accused had sought permission to leave India to meet their families, stating that they had not seen them for nearly 10 months
Court orders FIR in Khunmoh land dispute
Srinagar, Sept 24: The Special Mobile Magistrate/PT&E Srinagar has directed the SHO Police Station Panthachowk to register an FIR and conduct a fair and expeditious investigation into allegations of wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, threats and suspected irregularities in revenue records in connection with a long-standing land dispute at Khunmoh. The order was passed by Special Mobile Magistrate/PT&E Massarat Jabeen on an application filed by Mir Zaffar Hussain, who sought registration of an FIR against Suhail Ahmad Khan alias Sultan Suhail Khan and Nasir Sultan Khan under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The applicant was represented through Advocate Shublee Ashraf and Associates. The dispute concerns around 75 kanal and 14 marlas of land at Siknar, Khunmoh, falling under various Khasra numbers, including 1769, 1799, 1800 and 3805/2040. The court noted that although the parties are already engaged in civil and revenue litigation over title, possession and demarcation, the police enquiry itself disclosed prima facie material regarding an incident dated June 15, 2026. The enquiry recorded allegations that Suhail Sultan Khan allegedly wrongfully restrained Hussain, verbally abused him and extended threats. The court also took note of issues concerning Mutation Nos. 5700, 5711/1 and 5985, which, according to the revenue enquiry, require further scrutiny due to alleged procedural irregularities and alterations in the mutation register. The police enquiry had recommended fresh survey-wise demarcation of the disputed land and detailed examination of the mutations. The court observed that questions regarding whether any document was forged or fabricated, knowingly used, or whether any fraudulent transaction took place could not be conclusively determined through a preliminary enquiry and required proper investigation and collection of evidence. It further held that the pendency of civil proceedings and status quo orders did not, by itself, prevent investigation into allegations disclosing cognizable offences. The court, however, clarified that the FIR and investigation would not amount to adjudication of ownership, possession or other civil rights of the parties. The existing status quo orders passed by the competent Civil Court would remain operative. Accordingly, the court allowed the application and directed the SHO, Police Station Panthachowk, to register an FIR on the basis of the complaint and material collected during the preliminary enquiry and conduct a fair, impartial and expeditious investigation. The court also directed police to ensure that the investigation does not result in dispossession of either party or interfere with orders passed by the competent court.
49 kanals of crops damaged in Budgams Khag
Srinagar:Standing crops spread over 49 kanals were damaged in several villages of Zone Khag following heavy rains and flash floods on July 20 and 21, 2026, the Agriculture Production Department has informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The response was issued by the Agriculture Production Department to a starred question raised by Khansahib MLA Saif-ud-Din Bhat regarding crop damages in the constituency. According to the government, field functionaries of Zone Khag conducted a detailed survey of the affected areas and assessed the extent of damage to the crops. The assessment report has been forwarded to the concerned department for further action. The department said the matter was being processed for providing relief and assistance to the affected farmers, subject to applicable rules, norms and eligibility criteria. Regarding damage to fruit crops, the government said the losses reported from the affected areas were localized and relatively minor. Field functionaries visited the affected areas and provided fruit growers with technical guidance and advisories on post-weather crop care and remedial measures to facilitate recovery and minimise further losses. On the issue of waiver or restructuring of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans, the government said that no such proposal was presently under consideration with the Agriculture Production Department. However, it said eligible farmers were being provided financial assistance and other forms of support under various Central Sector, Centrally Sponsored and Jammu and Kashmir Government schemes, subject to the respective scheme guidelines, eligibility criteria and availability of funds.
Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has clarified that funds released under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA) during 2025-26 were withdrawn and subsequently re-authorised due to the inactivation of the original mother sanction on the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal. The clarification was issued in response to an Un-Starred Question raised by Mian Mehar Ali, MLA Kangan, regarding the withdrawal and re-allocation of funds meant for development works under DA-JGUA. According to the Government, an initial mother sanction of 39.21 crore was received from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) on September 15, 2025, under the scheme. The Finance Department subsequently authorised the funds, which were released to the District Development Commissioners (DDCs) on October 16, 2025, through SPARSH for execution of approved works. However, bills raised by the DDCs could not be processed after the original mother sanction was rendered inactive by MoTA on the PFMS portal. The Finance Department consequently advised that the funds be re-authorised only after receipt of a revised mother sanction, resulting in the withdrawal of the earlier releases. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs issued a revised mother sanction on February 4, 2026, and made it active on PFMS. Following this, the Finance Department re-authorised and released the funds in two instalments on February 4 and February 10, 2026, after which the money was again released to the DDCs for execution of the approved works. The Government said that claims subsequently submitted through SPARSH were again rejected at the PFMS level due to non-availability of funds under the relevant budget head with the Ministry. MoTA later conveyed that funds would be released to J&K in the first week of April 2026. During the current financial year 2026-27, around 20.02 crore, nearly half of the approved action plan of 39.21 crore, has been received. The funds have been released to the DDCs for settlement of work-done liabilities. The Government said that against the total allocation of 39.21 crore, 20 crore has been released and 16.67 crore utilised so far. It attributed the delay in utilisation primarily to the inactivation of the mother sanction on PFMS, subsequent re-authorisation requirements and temporary non-availability of funds under the concerned budget head at the Ministry level. The Government also clarified that the DA-JGUA is not restricted to the Education sector. Responding to Mian Mehar Ali's questions on district-wise, constituency-wise and sector-wise implementation, the Government stated that the 2025-26 action plan is being undertaken during the current financial year 2026-27 due to the issues related to fund release. The constituency-wise and work-wise details have been provided separately in Annexure-A. It further stated that DA-JGUA is a multi-sectoral and convergence-based initiative aimed at the holistic development of tribal-majority villages. The scheme encompasses 25 interventions through 17 Ministries/Departments, covering areas including education, housing, roads, drinking water, electrification, solar energy, health, LPG connections, Anganwadi infrastructure, nutrition, hostels, agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry, skill development, digital initiatives, Panchayati Raj and tribal homestays, among others. The Government said interventions are implemented through convergence with the respective schemes and programmes of concerned Ministries and Departments. It clarified that there is no policy decision to confine DA-JGUA implementation to Education alone, adding that the approved framework already covers Health, Rural Development, Jal Shakti, Roads and Buildings, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Skill Development, livelihoods and other essential sectors. It maintained that the overall objective of DA-JGUA remains the holistic and integrated development of eligible tribal-majority villages through coordinated implementation across multiple sectors.
Policing the line between publicity and justice
Before releasing the photograph of a person accused, arrested, but not yet tried, police must ask whether the investigation requires it
A nations song: On Vande Matarams rendition
Vande Matarams rendition must be in the spirit of unity in diversity
5,753 dental surgeons unemployed in J&K: Govt
Srinagar, Sep 24: There are approximately 5,753 dental surgeons who are registered as unemployed in Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Government informed LegislativeAssembly on Thursday. The figures were provided by the Minister In charge Health and Medical Education Department in response to a starred question tabled by MLA Shamim Firdous. As per the available records, approximately 5,753 Dental Surgeons are registered as unemployed in J&K. However, the statement that no recruitment process/drive for Dental Surgeons has been initiated or undertaken since 2008 is not factually established. Recruitment to posts of Dental Surgeons is undertaken as per the sanctioned strength, prescribed recruitment procedure subject to the availability of vacancies, the reply said. The government said no Dental Surgeon posts have been sanctioned specifically for Government Dental College & Hospital, Srinagar, and therefore the question of 48 vacancies against 62 sanctioned posts does not arise. The house was also informed, in response to a question on infrastructure expansion since 2010, that considerable infrastructure development, expansion, renovation and upgradation has been undertaken at Government Dental College & Hospital, Srinagar. The government said new buildings and blocks have been constructed, while existing facilities have been strengthened and upgraded to meet growing academic, clinical and patient-care requirements. In reply to whether it plans a special recruitment drive for Dental Surgeons, the government said vacancies are assessed based on sanctioned posts, patient load, functional requirements and infrastructure. It said vacancies, whenever required, are referred to the competent recruiting authority as per rules, while any special recruitment drive can be undertaken only against sanctioned posts and with necessary approvals.
Govt steps up promotion of new tourist sites
Srinagar, Sep 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said it is actively exploring and promoting new tourist destinations across the Union Territory, with particular focus on diversifying the tourism circuit and developing lesser-known destinations. The government made the statement in response to a starred question tabled by MLA Bandipora Nizam-ud-din Bhat in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly regarding the development and promotion of tourist destinations. The government said several emerging destinations, including Aharbal, Bangus, Gurez, Yusmarg, Daksum, Chatpal, Sanasar, Basohli, Rajouri, Mansar, Baradari, Suchetgarh and Poonch, are being promoted through infrastructure development and destination-specific tourism initiatives. With specific reference to the Bandipora constituency, the Tourism Department said it is promoting the tourism potential of Athwatoo, Wular Lake and adjoining areas, including Zurimanz, Wular Vantage Park and Watlab. According to the government, these areas have significant potential for nature, eco, adventure, water-based and rural tourism. Several tourist infrastructure projects have also been taken up in Bandipora, including a Tourist Cafeteria at Khensusa, Watapora Park, Wular Vantage Park at Bandipora, Budget Accommodation at Garoora, and Watlab Village Park. The government further said that the work for construction of viewpoints along both banks of Nallah Bunar from Chandaji village downwards has been approved at an estimated cost of 50 lakh under the Priority Works Plan. The Detailed Project Report for the project is currently under preparation. Besides, a Water Sports Centre-cum-Boat Club at Wular Lake is also being taken up during the current financial year. On the development of existing tourist destinations, the government said these sites are being progressively upgraded to improve tourist facilities and visitor experience while ensuring sustainable tourism. It said a carrying-capacity assessment of overburdened tourist sites is also being undertaken during the current financial year 2026-27. The planned interventions include improving public conveniences, drinking water facilities, seating, signage and visitor information, besides landscaping, beautification, viewpoints and recreational facilities wherever environmentally feasible. The government said emphasis is also being placed on eco-tourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism, rural tourism and water-based tourism, while taking into account the carrying capacity of individual destinations. Other measures include improved cleanliness and sanitation, waste management, environmentally sensitive infrastructure, promotion of homestays and local guides, and greater participation of local communities in tourism-related activities. The government said the overall objective is to make tourist destinations more visitor-friendly while protecting the environment and creating employment and livelihood opportunities for local communities. It added that resources for these activities are being provided through the Annual Capex Budget and Central Government schemes, including Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD and PMDP, wherever applicable, with convergence with other departments and agencies as required.
A chance to retreat: On Donald Trump, the Greenland agreement
The Greenland agreement allows U.S. President Donald Trump to scale down his threats
New CD Hospital building stuck over permissions
Srinagar, Sep 24: The proposed construction of a new G+4 building for the Chest Disease (CD) Hospital at Dalgate, Srinagar, is awaiting the requisite permission from the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) and Building Operation and Controlling Authority (BOCA) while the government has said to have earmarked a token provision of Rs 3 lakh for the project under the Capex Budget 2026-27. The Health and Medical Education Department in a reply said the Chest Diseases Hospital at Dalgate is presently functioning from an old heritage building. However, it stated that the required standards of medical treatment are the priority of the department and the necessary requirements of the hospital in terms of infrastructure are maintained. Regarding the proposal for construction of the new G+4 building, the government issued a Detailed Project Report (DPR), bearing No. CE/CK/DB/4129-30 dated June 25, 2025, amounting to Rs 1,999.53 lakh, had been submitted to the government and was pending approval. The department said the DPR for the project was prepared and received during February 2026, after due vetting by the concerned Chief Engineer, PW (R&B) Department, for administrative approval. However, administrative approval could not be accorded as the prerequisite permission from the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA)/Building Operation and Controlling Authority (BOCA), Srinagar, is still awaited. The government said that on receipt of the requisite permission/NOC from LCMA, the department shall initiate the process for according administrative approval to the project. It further said that, to facilitate taking up the project, a token provision of Rs 3.00 lakh has already been earmarked under the Capex Budget 2026-27, which can be enhanced at the Revised Estimates stage based on the actual progress of execution. Thereafter, the necessary funding and execution modalities shall be taken forward in accordance with the prescribed procedures, with a view to commencing the work at the earliest, the government said.
House panel seeks JJM audit, tighter oversight
Srinagar, Sep 24: A House Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has recommended scheme-wise financial reconciliation and audit of work-done claims under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to establish whether reported physical achievements correspond with the funds utilised. The committee in its 18-point recommendations has sought liquidation of work-done claims made contingent upon the outcome of such audits. At the same time, the panel clarified that contractors should be paid amounts legitimately due for works already executed, subject to applicable norms, certification by the concerned Executive Engineer, avoidance of overlapping payments and completion of codal formalities. The House Committee constituted o probe into the alleged irregularities in implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir specifically records that the House Committee did not order or suggest withholding payment to contractors for works executed under JJM. The committee has also called for strengthening the role of Pani Samities and ensuring public participation at every stage of JJM projects, from identification of water sources to post-commissioning maintenance. It recommended a dedicated mechanism for receiving public feedback and analysing complaints and public perception regarding ongoing and completed projects. The panel has further called for better post-commissioning arrangements to ensure sustainability of infrastructure and deployment of adequate operational staff for functioning of completed schemes. Protective infrastructure around service reservoirs, intake structures and exposed installations, particularly those located in forests and rural areas, should also be strengthened through fencing and covering to prevent contamination and wildlife intrusion, it said. The committee has additionally recommended an advisory against unauthorised dumping or storage of pipes and other material on roadsides, open spaces, forest areas or private land. It has sought secure storage, proper inventory management and scientific preservation of material procured under JJM. For schemes caught in litigation over acquisition of WSS sites or other reasons, the panel has recommended an inter-departmental committee comprising Jal Shakti, General Administration, Law and Finance departments to resolve disputes and facilitate completion of the schemes and provision of Functional Household Tap Connections.
Should permanent membership and veto powers of the UNSC be abolished?
Court denies anticipatory bail to two in Nishat case
Srinagar, Sep 24: A court has dismissed a petition seeking anticipatory bail filed by Abrar Qureshi and Laila Qureshi in connection with an FIR registered at Police Station Nishat, observing that custodial interrogation was required for a fair and effective investigation. The petitioners had sought protection from arrest in FIR No. 84/2026, registered under Sections 74, 324(2), 305, 331(4), 351(1), 221 and 115(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The petitioners claimed that the case was false and fabricated and that the allegations against them were vague. They also stated that they were willing to cooperate with the investigation and had no intention of absconding. According to the police report, the case was registered on August 31 following a complaint by a woman from Guft Ganga, Ishber, who alleged that she was forcibly dragged out of her house and molested by the accused. She also alleged that CCTV cameras installed at the house were damaged and belongings were taken away. Police said the place of occurrence was inspected, a site plan prepared and witness statements recorded through the e-Sakshya application. The investigation allegedly established the involvement of the accused persons in the offences, following which notices under Section 35(3) BNSS were served. The police told the court that while Laila Qureshi and another accused, Tariq Ahmad Mir, appeared before the police and furnished bail bonds, Abrar Qureshi had not appeared before the investigating officer or cooperated with the investigation. Police also submitted that further interrogation was required for recovery, identification and verification of relevant evidence and expressed apprehension that the accused could influence witnesses or interfere with evidence if protected by anticipatory bail. The court, after hearing both sides and examining the record, referred to Supreme Court judgments on anticipatory bail and said the nature and gravity of the offences, the role attributed to the accused and the stage of investigation were relevant considerations. It observed that the allegations involved criminal force against a woman, mischief, theft, house trespass, criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt. The court said the material collected during the investigation could not, at this stage, be treated as vague or baseless. The court further held that custodial interrogation was necessary to ascertain the role of the accused and whether other persons were involved, observing that granting anticipatory bail at the present stage could impede the investigation. Accordingly, the court dismissed the petition seeking anticipatory bail and vacated any interim protection operating in favour of the petitioners. The court clarified that its observations were confined to the bail proceedings and would not affect the merits of the case during trial.
Israels Netanyahu, at UN, calls accusations of genocide in Gaza the biggest lie of the century
Mr. Mamdani, since you were elected mayor of this city, many Jews no longer feel safe in New York; they talk to me, they tell me this isnt the city we remember, it changed so quickly, said Benjamin Netanyahu
Confident that Vijay will accept Rahul as Prime Ministerial candidate: Manickam Tagore
J&K gets 5,537 cr from NHPC projects in 5 years
Srinagar, Sept 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that the Union Territory received a total of Rs 5,537.32 crore in water usage charges and monetised value of free power and Local Area Development Fund (LADF) from NHPC-operated hydropower projects during the last five financial years. The figures were disclosed in response to an unstarred Assembly question tabled by MLA Kupwara Mir Mohammad Fayaz regarding power infrastructure projects and the revenue accruing to J&K from NHPC projects. According to the government reply, J&K received Rs 3,582.06 crore in water usage charges and Rs 1,955.26 crore as the monetised value of 12 per cent free power plus 1 per cent LADF during the five-year period. NHPC is currently operating six major hydropower stations in J&K with a combined installed capacity of 2,250 MW. These include Salal (690 MW), Uri-I (480 MW), Dulhasti (390 MW), Sewa-II (120 MW), Uri-II (240 MW) and Kishanganga (330 MW). The government said the highest water usage charges over the five-year period came from Salal at Rs 1,754.98 crore, followed by Uri-II at Rs 615.54 crore, Uri-I at Rs 561.20 crore, Dulhasti at Rs 501.83 crore, Kishanganga at Rs 112.43 crore and Sewa-II at Rs 36.08 crore. In terms of the monetised value of free power and LADF, Dulhasti contributed Rs 521.86 crore, Kishanganga Rs 404.64 crore, Uri-II Rs 355.60 crore, Salal Rs 295.78 crore, Uri-I Rs 248.41 crore and Sewa-II Rs 128.97 crore. On whether the issue of return or transfer of power projects located in J&K had been taken up with the Government of India or NHPC, the government stated that no such proposal is currently under consideration. The reply said three projectsSawalkot HEP (1,856 MW), Uri-I Stage-II (240 MW) and Dulhasti Stage-II (260 MW)had been entrusted to NHPC for implementation on a BOOT basis for 40 years, in pursuance of an MoU signed between NHPC and JKPDCL on January 3, 2021. An agreement for handing over and taking over the Sawalkot project was signed between NHPC and JKPDCL on December 11, 2021. The project is currently under appraisal/approval by the Government of India. For Uri-I Stage-II and Dulhasti Stage-II, implementation agreements were signed between NHPC and JKPDCL on March 27, 2026. Both projects are under construction. The government said these projects are to be handed over to J&K after 40 years from the date of commercial operation. The government further stated that the 12 per cent free power due to J&K is being supplied by NHPC in accordance with applicable provisions. It said there was no shortfall in the supply of free power and no outstanding claims or dues pending from J&K towards NHPC on this account. The government also highlighted indirect economic benefits generated by hydropower projects, including employment, contracts for local agencies, procurement, maintenance activities and opportunities for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. It added that NHPC's Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives contribute approximately Rs 19 crore annually towards local infrastructure development. On the possibility of greater J&K ownership, revenue sharing or transfer of NHPC projects, the government stated that no such proposal is under consideration at present.
Parental Responsibility Begins at Home
Parenthood is often understood in terms of providing food, shelter and education. These are essential responsibilities, but they are only the beginning. The deeper duty of parents is to prepare children for lifewith values, discipline, empathy and the ability to distinguish between what is right and what is merely convenient. In a rapidly changing society, parenting has become more demanding. Children are exposed to influences from school, television, social media and the wider digital world. Parents cannot protect them by simply keeping them away from every outside influence. They must guide them, listen to them and help them understand the difference between freedom and carelessness. The first lessons a child learns are not taught through lectures. They are absorbed from the behaviour of adults at home. A parent who speaks respectfully, keeps promises and accepts responsibility teaches more effectively than one who merely demands obedience. Children notice how adults treat domestic workers, neighbours, relatives and one another. They also observe whether rules are applied fairly or only imposed on them. This makes parental responsibility a matter of conduct, not control. Excessive strictness may create fear, but it does not necessarily create character. At the same time, unlimited freedom without guidance can leave children unprepared to face failure, disappointment and accountability. Good parenting requires balance: affection without indulgence, discipline without humiliation and authority without cruelty. Parents must also recognise that children need attention, not only material comforts. A costly phone, better clothes or private education cannot compensate for emotional neglect. Many young people hesitate to share their worries because they fear criticism, comparison or punishment. A home should be a place where children can speak honestly, including about their mistakes, without feeling that they will immediately be judged. Education is another area where parental responsibility needs a broader understanding. Marks matter, but they cannot be the sole measure of a childs worth. Pressuring children to fulfil unachieved ambitions often causes anxiety and damages self-confidence. Parents should encourage excellence while respecting individual abilities, interests and limitations. A child is not a report card, nor should success be defined only by a prestigious career. In Kashmir, where families and communities remain closely connected, parents also have a role in teaching respect for diversity, compassion for the vulnerable and responsibility towards society. Children must learn that dignity is not reserved for the powerful and that faith, culture and tradition should inspire kindness rather than intolerance. Parental responsibility does not end when a child grows older. The form of guidance may change, but concern, trust and moral support remain important throughout life. Parents who raise independent, thoughtful and accountable individuals make a contribution far beyond their own homes. A healthy society is built in homes where children are heard, corrected with care and taught by example. The future of Kashmir will be shaped not only in classrooms and institutions, but also in the everyday choices parents make while raising the next generation.
Beyond Good and Bad: What Does It Mean to Understand a Human Being?
I have spent a great deal of my life trying to understand people. Somewhere along the way, almost inevitably, I began trying to understand myself too. Perhaps that is what happens when you spend enough time observing human behaviour. The more closely you look at people, the more difficult it becomes to place them into simple categories: good or bad, kind or cruel, right or wrong. We like these categories because they make the world easier to understand. They give us certainty. But human beings rarely offer us that kind of certainty. What does good or bad even mean when we are talking about an entire human being? Consider something as extreme as crime. Why does someone hurt another person? Why does someone kill? What happens within a person that makes them capable of an act of such violence? The answers are rarely simple. Human behaviour can emerge from a complicated interaction of personality, experiences, environment, relationships, emotions, beliefs, biology, circumstances and choices. Sometimes we can identify several contributing factors. Sometimes we cannot. And this raises a difficult question: if someone does something terrible, does that mean there was never anything good in them? Does the worst thing a person has done explain the entirety of who they are? When we look closely, human beings rarely fit neatly into a single category. A person capable of immense harm may also have experienced love, attachment, guilt, tenderness or care. Someone who has committed a terrible act may, at another point in their life, have been capable of kindness. None of this erases the harm they caused. Understanding the factors behind behaviour does not mean excusing the behaviour, removing responsibility, or diminishing the suffering of those who were harmed. Perhaps understanding requires us to hold these truths together: a person can be responsible for something terrible and still be more complicated than the terrible thing they did. This becomes even more difficult when we ask where extreme human behaviour ends and psychological illness begins. Is every behaviour that appears incomprehensible a symptom of a mental disorder? Certainly not. Not every harmful, cruel or violent act can be explained by psychiatric illness. Sometimes there is a diagnosable disorder. At other times, there may be psychological vulnerabilities or environmental factors without a formal diagnosis. And sometimes, despite our efforts to understand, we cannot fully explain why a person behaved as they did. Perhaps one of the uncomfortable truths about psychology is that an explanation is not always an answer. Human beings are also constantly changing. Our emotions change. Our relationships change. The meanings we give to our experiences change. Love can become resentment. Attachment can become anger. Closeness can become distance. Someone we once could not imagine living without can eventually become a stranger. And sometimes, something we believed had disappeared finds its way back. So which version of a person is the real one? The person they were when they loved? The person they became when they were hurt? The person they were at their worst? Or the person they are now? Perhaps the answer is: all of them. A human being is not one fixed personality, one emotion, one decision or one moment. We are an accumulation of experiences, choices, relationships, vulnerabilities, defences, circumstances and contradictions. We carry earlier versions of ourselves into the person we are becoming, sometimes consciously and sometimes without realising it. This does not mean that people cannot change. Nor does it mean that every version of ourselves deserves equal acceptance. We make choices, and those choices have consequences. People can cause profound harm, and accountability matters. But perhaps we should be cautious about believing that one moment, one label, one diagnosisor even one terrible actcan tell us everything about a human being. The more I learn about people, the less certain I feel that I understand them. And strangely, I think that uncertainty has made me more curious rather than less. I notice my own patterns, reactions, contradictions and emotions with a kind of curiosity I did not always have before. I have begun to realise that understanding another person is, in some ways, an invitation to look more honestly at ourselves. Because we are not entirely separate from the complexity we observe in others. We, too, contradict ourselves. We can be generous and selfish, loving and resentful, courageous and afraid. We can behave in ways that surprise even us. We can become different versions of ourselves in different relationships, circumstances and stages of life. The more closely we observe human beings, the more we realise how little can be known from what is visible on the surface. Perhaps, then, the question is not simply, Is this person good or bad? Perhaps the more meaningful questions are: What happened here? What is happening inside this person? What experiences, choices and circumstances brought them to this point? And perhaps the most difficult question of all: What makes a human being capable of becoming so many different versions of themselves? I dont think I have an answer. Perhaps I am only beginning to understand how complicated the question really is. And perhaps that is where understanding beginsnot with certainty, but with the willingness to keep looking. ( The Author is a Clinical Psychologist)
A road is more than a strip of asphalt connecting two places. It is a shared public space where every decision made by a driver can affect countless lives. Yet, on Kashmirs roads, responsible driving is too often treated as a matter of personal choice rather than a civic duty. Overspeeding, reckless overtaking, driving against traffic and using mobile phones behind the wheel have become familiar sights, carrying consequences that are often irreversible. Road accidents do not merely damage vehicles. They tear families apart, leave people with lifelong injuries and place a heavy burden on hospitals, households and the wider economy. In many cases, these tragedies are not unavoidable. They are the result of impatience, negligence or the misplaced belief that road rules apply to everyone else. The geography and weather of Kashmir make responsible driving even more important. Narrow roads, sharp bends, poor visibility, snowfall, rain and sudden changes in traffic conditions demand patience and alertness. A driver who speeds on a mountain road or overtakes carelessly near a blind curve is not simply taking a risk with their own life. They are endangering passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and drivers coming from the opposite direction. Public transport operators carry an especially serious responsibility. Buses, minibuses and commercial vehicles transport thousands of people every day. Their drivers must understand that meeting a schedule can never be more important than protecting passengers. Authorities must ensure that licensing, vehicle fitness checks and working-hour regulations are not reduced to paperwork. Enforcement should be regular, transparent and firm, especially against repeat offenders. At the same time, road safety cannot be left to enforcement agencies alone. Families must teach children the importance of seat belts, helmets and disciplined road behaviour. Parents should not hand over vehicles to minors or celebrate reckless driving as a display of courage. Schools and colleges can play a meaningful role by making road safety part of civic education rather than limiting it to occasional campaigns. Pedestrians and cyclists, too, must remain vigilant, use designated crossings where available and avoid sudden movement onto busy roads. But responsibility must be proportionate. In a region where footpaths, crossings and street lighting remain inadequate in many places, better road infrastructure is urgently needed. Safe roads require engineering, education and enforcement working together. The culture of driving must change. Reaching a destination a few minutes earlier is never worth risking a life. A responsible driver respects speed limits, keeps a safe distance, avoids distractions and gives way when necessary. More importantly, they understand that courtesy on the road is not weakness; it is maturity. Kashmir needs a sustained road-safety movement, not temporary outrage after every accident. Responsible driving begins with one person, but its benefits belong to the entire community. Every journey should end with the same priority with which it began: reaching home safely.
Enter at own risk: churches to non-Christians as anti-conversion law takes effect in Chhattisgarh
Warning boards have been put up as a precautionary measure to avoid action under the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, says Diamond Philus, general secretary of the Dhamtari District Christian Forum
Hindu College Staff Association condemns show-cause notices to three staff members
How rare archival photos revealed the magic of Madras
Madras on Stage, the fourth edition of The Hindus Made of Chennai archives exhibition showcased the rich cultural heritage of the city
Delhi court remands Kalkaji rape accused to 14 day judicial custody
National Film Awards: A Tribute to the Magic of Indian Cinema
On September 22, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu presented the 72nd National Film Awards in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat marking a departure from the recent tradition of holding the ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. As a major policy initiative by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the shifting of venue is foreseeing the possibility of future editions of the country's highest cinema honour to travel across other states and cities rather than stay anchored within the national capital. It may be perceived as a small logistical decision but it holds a symbolic weight for cinema that the ceremony belongs to every region, not just to the corridors of New Delhi. This year's list of winners, announced on July 18, 2026, reflects the similar spirit of the country's central measure of cinematic merit. In the category of the Best Feature Film, Article 370 was given the award along with its lead actress Yami Gautam who won the Best Actress award. Similarly, Mammootty and Kartik Aaryan were given the Best Actor honours for Bramayugam and Chandu Champion respectively, while Rajkumar Periasamy won Best Direction for the Tamil film Amaran. Interestingly the most quietly significant win came in the non-feature category, where Angen, directed by Ravi Raj Murmu, became the first Santhali-language film to be honoured a marker of how far the awards' linguistic reach now extends. This year, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, cinema's lifetime achievement honour was given to veteran actor Anant Nag, whose five-decade career spans over 300 films across six languages. Meanwhile, to understand the context why national awards matter so much in present circumstances we need to look back at where the process began in the country prior to partition of the subcontinent. In 1913, Indian cinema's own story started when Dadasaheb Phalke completed Raja Harishchandra, the country's first full-length feature film. It took four more decades for the Indian state to formally recognise the art form: following recommendations from the 1949 Film Enquiry Committee, the government instituted the State Awards for Films in 1954, honouring the films of 1953. That first edition was modest just seven honours across feature films, documentaries and children's films, with Shyamchi Aai winning the top feature film prize. The awards grew steadily with the industry itself. Acting honours arrived only in 1967-68, when Uttam Kumar and Nargis won the first Best Actor and Best Actress awards. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award followed in 1969, first given to Devika Rani. Administration passed to the Directorate of Film Festivals in 1973, and in 2022 that body merged into the National Film Development Corporation, which now runs the awards. Each of these shifts added new categories, new crafts, and new regions to the fold a process the 72nd edition continues, most visibly through its recognition of films in Garhwali and Tulu, languages outside the Constitution's Eighth Schedule that nonetheless now have a place on the national stage. The awards' purpose has stayed remarkably consistent since 1954: to encourage films of technical and aesthetic merit, to help audiences understand the country's regional cultures, and, through that understanding, to strengthen national unity. They are not simply trophies. A National Award pulls a film out of a narrow regional audience and onto a country-wide platform, often reshaping a filmmaker's career in the process. That mission carries real economic weight today. India's media and entertainment sector is now the fifth largest in the world, powered by millions of digital creators and a strong cost advantage in animation and VFX work. Cinema is not just cultural expression it is a livelihood engine and a form of soft power that carries Indian storytelling to global audiences. The 72nd National Film Awards capture an industry in transition: still rooted in the two-tier jury system introduced decades ago, still measuring films against the same core standards of craft and social relevance, but increasingly willing to look beyond the familiar centres of Hindi and major regional cinema. A Santhali film winning for the first time, a Garhwali and Tulu film earning separate recognition, and the ceremony itself relocating to Gujarat all point in the same direction toward an award that is finally trying to look as diverse as the country whose films it honours. If that trajectory holds, the National Film Awards may end up doing more than crowning the year's best films; they may help build the audience for cinema that has, until now, rarely reached beyond its own region. (Courtesy: PIB Srinagar)
DDAorders safety audit of pre-2001 buildings in Delhi
Owners of high-rises, high-footfall structures to finish audit in 3 months;Sept. 6 accused fled after collapse instead of helping victims: police toHC
I visited Tangdhar and Teethwal in 2018. Crossing Sadhna Pass and reliving the memories associated with the Bollywood actress who had interacted with troops in this area after the 1965 war to boost the morale of the soldiers was an experience in itself. Sadhna Pass was formerly called Nastachun, a Kashmiri term associated with the severe cold affecting the nose. The Indian Army has a post here from where one can have a panoramic view of Tangdhar, as well as the triangular-shaped landscape called Madras Hill. I also visited the Zero Point on the bridge connecting India and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) at Teethwal. Since there is a clear and very close view of the other side, I noticed that there was comparatively little development and infrastructure there. Since much has been written and spoken about the newly constructed Sharda Temple at Teethwal, I decided to revisit the area. The drive from Baramulla to Tangdhar was very smooth, with picturesque landscapes all around. The road infrastructure is of a very high standard. The first welcome change one observes is the infrastructure developed immediately after Sadhna Post. A War Museum, War Memorial, Pahari Culture Museum and a high-standard cafeteria have been built. The view from the Habaksh Viewpoint, named after Brigadier Harbaksh Singh, is breathtaking and mesmerising. Karnah was the largest tehsil of the Muzaffarabad Wazarat before Partition and has a sizable population. The Sikhs live in a village called Tribhoni. The language spoken in the area is Pahari, although some residents also understand Kashmiri. Legend has it that the area was inhabited by Karna, the Mahabharata hero, who named the place Karan-Nah. However, with the passage of time, the name changed to Karnah. Dr Sabar Afaqui, a renowned scholar of POJK, writes in his book Muzaffarabad that Lord Krishna also visited Karnah. The River Kishan Ganga is said to derive its name from Lord Krishna. The area is known for its courageous and resilient people, who have played an important role in defending their land during conflicts with Pakistan, having seen action in 194748, 1965 and 1971, as well as during Operation Sindoor. This area boasts two Param Vir ChakrasLance Naik Karam Singh and Company Havildar Major Piru Singhand many other gallantry awards. The River Kishan Ganga, also referred to as the Neelum River in POJK, acts as the natural border. Teethwal was an important township and trade centre linking Srinagar with Muzaffarabad and Rawalpindi. The Khatri community and Sikhs, many of whom were goldsmiths, were involved in trade here. After Partition and the subsequent invasion by Kabalis in 1947, part of Karnah came under occupation in POJK. Many families were separated, and the irony is that, at a few places, they can see each other but cannot meet. In 2003, as part of confidence-building measures, people from across the Line of Control (LoC) were able to meet at a place called Chalaina. During the rule of Ashoka, a university named Sharda University is believed to have been established in Karnah, now in POJK, at the confluence of the River Madhumati and the Kishan Ganga. Sharda Peeth Temple is also located there. The temple is revered by Kashmiri Pandits, who recite a daily prayer invoking the deity of learning and seeking blessings: Namaste Sharade Devi, Kashmira Pura Vasini, Tvam Aham Prarthaye Nityam, Vidya Danam Cha Dehi Me. Translated, this means: Salutations to Devi Sharda, who resides in the abode of Kashmir. To you, O Devi, I constantly pray; please bestow upon me the gift of knowledge. Pilgrims used to undertake an annual yatra to the Sharda Temple through this route, one of the traditional routes. They used to halt at the Dharamshala here. A Gurdwara also coexisted at the same place. During the Kabali Raid, the Gurdwara and Dharamshala were destroyed, and the Khatris and Sikhs migrated. Although the demography of the whole area changed, the land belonging to the Gurdwara remained unoccupied. S. Joginder Singh of village Tribhoni struggled and succeeded in getting this five-marla plot registered as the property of the Sikh community. He subsequently got it fenced with the help of the Army, thus preserving this historic plot. In 2021, Shri Ravinder Pandita of the Save Sharda Committee visited the place and held discussions with S. Joginder Singh and other Sikhs. He proposed constructing a small Sharda Temple and a Gurdwara on this land. Since there are no Sikhs living in this area, the Sikhs of Tribhoni village agreed to and permitted the proposed construction. Presently, a small Gurdwara and temple stand on the land owned by the Sikh community. Subsequently, Ravinder Pandita, through his dedicated and relentless efforts, succeeded in acquiring some additional land adjoining the temple. I attended the customary annual yatra ritual that is held from the temple to the Zero Point on the bridge, and it was a memorable experience. I raised the slogans Sharda Mata Ki Jai and Bharat Mata Ki Jai on the bridge, which caught the attention of the Rangers across the river. Across the bridge, the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) runs through this area, and one could distinctly see the infrastructure development that has taken place in recent times. Sringeri Sharda Peetham, the southern cardinal monastery established by Adi Shankaracharya, supported Ravinder Panditas efforts for the construction of the temple. At least 20 pilgrims from the South were present and participated in the yatra. The coexistence of the temple and Gurdwara is not only a fine example of interfaith harmony and brotherhood, but also reflects the Sikh communitys respect for other faiths. Jai Sharda Mai. (The author is a former Deputy Assistant Chief of Headquarters Integrated Staff (IT), author and social activist. Feedback: sodhidalbir7777@gmail.com)
GVP College to organise national seminar on NEP-2020
Role of pharmacists in strengthening healthcare systems highlighted
Kidney Disease Without Symptoms: Why Your Creatinine Can Be Misleading
HEALTH WATCH The kidneys are among the bodys most remarkable organs. They work continuously to filter the blood, remove metabolic waste, regulate fluids and electrolytes, contribute to blood-pressure control, support red-blood-cell production and maintain healthy bones. Yet despite their importance, kidney disease can develop silently for years. A person may feel completely healthy, remain physically active and have no obvious urinary symptoms while kidney function gradually declines. By the time symptoms such as persistent fatigue, swelling of the legs, loss of appetite, nausea or breathlessness become apparent, substantial kidney damage may already have occurred. One of the most common misconceptions is that a normal serum creatinine automatically means that the kidneys are healthy. Creatinine is undoubtedly an important laboratory marker, but it is only one part of the picture. Modern assessment of kidney health relies on a combination of estimated glomerular filtration rate, urine albumin, blood pressure, underlying medical conditions and the trend in kidney function over time. This distinction is particularly important because early identification of kidney disease provides an opportunity to slow its progression and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications. The kidneys perform far more than simply producing urine. They regulate sodium, potassium, water and acid-base balance, remove metabolic waste, contribute to blood-pressure regulation and produce erythropoietin, a hormone required for red-blood-cell production. They also participate in vitamin D activation and mineral metabolism. When kidney function progressively declines, these functions become impaired. Advanced kidney disease can result in anaemia, fluid retention, electrolyte disturbances, metabolic acidosis, mineral and bone disorders and increased cardiovascular risk. Chronic kidney disease is therefore not simply a disease of the urinary system. It is a systemic condition with consequences throughout the body. One of its most challenging characteristics is its silent nature. The kidneys possess considerable functional reserve, allowing a person to lose a significant amount of kidney function before obvious symptoms develop. This is why someone with long-standing diabetes or hypertension may feel perfectly well despite developing kidney damage. Symptoms such as fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, itching, swelling, changes in urination and breathlessness can occur as kidney disease becomes more advanced, but waiting for these symptoms before investigating kidney function is not an effective strategy. Serum creatinine remains one of the most widely used kidney blood tests. Creatinine is produced primarily through normal muscle metabolism and is removed from the bloodstream by the kidneys. When filtration declines substantially, creatinine generally rises. However, creatinine is influenced by factors other than kidney function. Age, sex, body composition, muscle mass and dietary intake can affect the value. A muscular person may have a relatively higher creatinine without having significant kidney disease, while an elderly or frail individual with low muscle mass may have a relatively low creatinine despite impaired filtration. This is why clinicians increasingly rely on estimated glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR, rather than interpreting creatinine in isolation. eGFR provides an estimate of how effectively the kidneys are filtering blood. Modern equations use demographic and laboratory information and do not require race-based adjustment. Current kidney guidelines recommend validated equations for estimating GFR and emphasize appropriate interpretation within the clinical context. Broadly, eGFR is classified into several categories. An eGFR of 90 or above is classified as G1, 6089 as G2, 4559 as G3a, 3044 as G3b, 1529 as G4 and below 15 as G5. These categories should not, however, be interpreted in isolation. An eGFR between 60 and 89 does not automatically mean that a person has chronic kidney disease. There must generally be additional evidence of kidney damage or another qualifying abnormality. Conversely, a person can have kidney disease even when the eGFR is above 60 if there is persistent albuminuria or another marker of kidney damage. This brings attention to one of the simplest and most valuable kidney investigations: the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, or uACR. Healthy kidneys retain most albumin within the bloodstream. Damage to the glomerular filtration barrier can allow albumin to leak into the urine. The uACR measures the amount of albumin in relation to urine creatinine and helps identify this leakage. A uACR below 30 mg/g is generally considered normal to mildly increased. A value of 30300 mg/g represents moderately increased albuminuria, while a value above 300 mg/g represents severely increased albuminuria. Persistent albuminuria can be an important marker of kidney damage even when filtration remains relatively preserved. A patient may therefore have a reassuring creatinine and eGFR while already showing evidence of kidney disease through albuminuria. A useful way to understand modern kidney assessment is to think of eGFR and uACR as providing two complementary pieces of information. eGFR tells us about filtration, while uACR provides information about albumin leakage and kidney damage. Together, they provide considerably more information than serum creatinine alone. Diabetes is one of the major causes of chronic kidney disease worldwide. Persistently elevated blood glucose can damage the small blood vessels and filtering structures within the kidneys. Initially, the patient may have no symptoms. Albumin can begin appearing in the urine before there is a major decline in filtration. This makes regular kidney assessment particularly important for people with diabetes. Monitoring should not be limited to serum creatinine. Urine albumin, eGFR and blood pressure are all important components of appropriate kidney-risk assessment. Hypertension represents another major threat to kidney health. Long-standing high blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels within the kidneys and accelerate loss of kidney function. At the same time, kidney disease itself can contribute to hypertension through abnormalities in sodium and fluid regulation. This creates a vicious cycle in which hypertension damages the kidneys and kidney disease makes blood pressure more difficult to control. For this reason, controlling blood pressure is not simply about preventing heart attacks and strokes. It is also an important strategy for protecting kidney function. Obesity and metabolic disease add another layer to the problem. Excess body weight increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension and other metabolic abnormalities that can adversely affect the kidneys. Improving body weight, physical activity and metabolic health can therefore have benefits extending well beyond appearance or cardiovascular fitness. Medication use also deserves attention. Several commonly used medicines can affect kidney function, particularly in susceptible individuals. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, can reduce blood flow to the kidneys under certain circumstances. The risk may be greater in people with pre-existing kidney disease, dehydration, heart failure or certain combinations of medicines. This does not mean that every patient must avoid such medicines completely. It means they should be used appropriately, particularly in people at increased risk. Some antibiotics, contrast agents and other medications can also affect kidney function in specific circumstances. In addition, many medicines are eliminated through the kidneys, meaning that their dose or dosing interval may need adjustment when kidney function declines. Herbal and natural products should not automatically be considered harmless either. Some supplements and traditional preparations can contain potentially nephrotoxic substances or variable concentrations of active ingredients. Patients should inform their doctors about all medicines, supplements and traditional remedies they use. It is also important to distinguish acute kidney injury from chronic kidney disease. Acute kidney injury can develop over a short period because of dehydration, severe infection, low blood pressure, urinary obstruction, medications or other causes. A temporary rise in creatinine during an acute illness does not automatically mean that a person has chronic kidney disease. Conversely, a single normal creatinine measurement does not exclude chronic kidney disease. Determining whether kidney dysfunction is acute, chronic or acute-on-chronic requires clinical context and often repeat testing. Another marker that is increasingly useful in selected patients is cystatin C. Like creatinine, cystatin C can be used to estimate GFR, but it is less dependent on muscle mass. In individuals where creatinine-based estimates may be less reliable, combining creatinine and cystatin C can improve the assessment of kidney function. This is particularly relevant when an accurate estimation of GFR could influence important clinical decisions. Kidney disease also has an important relationship with cardiovascular health. People with chronic kidney disease have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and the risk increases with worsening kidney function and greater albuminuria. Therefore, identifying kidney disease is not merely about preventing eventual dialysis. Early detection can also provide an opportunity to reduce cardiovascular risk through blood-pressure control, diabetes management, lipid management, smoking cessation, physical activity, appropriate nutrition and evidence-based kidney-protective treatment. The most important concept is that kidney function should be viewed as a trend rather than a single laboratory number. A creatinine value that appears normal today may be less reassuring if it has gradually increased over several years. Similarly, an apparently stable eGFR may not tell the complete story if urine albumin is progressively increasing. Repeated measurements allow clinicians to recognize patterns that a single laboratory report cannot reveal. The good news is that kidney disease is not always an inevitable journey toward kidney failure. Many risk factors are modifiable, and early treatment can slow progression in numerous patients. Maintaining a healthy body weight, staying physically active, controlling blood pressure and blood glucose, avoiding tobacco, using painkillers and other medications responsibly and undergoing appropriate screening can all contribute to long-term kidney health. People with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, a family history of kidney disease or previous acute kidney injury deserve particular attention. For individuals at increased risk, a basic kidney assessment commonly includes serum creatinine with eGFR and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, along with blood-pressure measurement. Depending on the clinical situation, additional investigations may include electrolytes, HbA1c, urine microscopy, cystatin C, renal imaging or other tests. The frequency of monitoring should depend on the individuals risk and previous results rather than following one schedule for everyone. Perhaps the most important message is that absence of symptoms does not equal absence of kidney disease. The kidneys can deteriorate quietly. Creatinine can appear reassuring while important abnormalities are developing elsewhere. A complete assessment therefore requires more than looking at one number on a blood report. Kidney health is best understood through the combination of eGFR, urine albumin, blood pressure, underlying risk factors and changes over time. The kidneys may work silently, but that does not mean they should be checked only when they begin to complain. In many cases, the best opportunity to protect kidney function comes years before symptoms appear. ( The Author is a registered medical practitioner and RK Health columnist. He can be reached at: mir.muzaffar@yahoo.com)
De-addiction programme launched at Puzhal prison
RPF constable pulls 69-year-old passenger to safety after he was dragged by train at Guindy
GCC removes over 2,300 kg of used tyres, unused articles
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Chennai Metrowater offices will remain open this Sunday
GCC allocates 60.60 cr. as first instalment of Ward Development Fund
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Ponnam reviews arrangements for CMs visit to Karimnagar on September 30
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Chess Olympiad: Savitha saves the day for Indian women; open team held
Arunachal: 51-foot statue at Parshuram Kund enters final stretch
Doomdooma: The bronze statue of Lord Parshuram at the sacred Parshuram Kund in Arunachal Pradeshs Lohit district, which stands 51 feet tall, is entering the final stretch, with finishing works and large-scale landscaping now underway ahead of its proposed unveiling during Makar Sankranti in January 2027. Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said on [] The post Arunachal: 51-foot statue at Parshuram Kund enters final stretch appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Medicos to boycott Pharmacist Day
Shillong, Sep 24: Pharmacists in Meghalaya under the All Meghalaya Pharmacist Association have decided to boycott Pharmacist Day. Association member Emosjohn Syiemlieh said the boycott is to protest the governments failure to meet their demands. Most pharmacists are jobless due to lack of seriousness of the government in recruitment for several years. There are no [] The post Medicos to boycott Pharmacist Day first appeared on Highland Post .
BANDIPORA, 24 Sep: In a major crackdown on illicit extraction and trade of natural resources, the District Mineral Office, Bandipora, has significantly intensified its enforcement operations across the district over the past six months. Demonstrating a zero-tolerance policy against environmental and regulatory violations, the department carried out a series of targeted raids between April 1 and September 24, 2026, seizing 167 vehicles and 44 illegal mineral dumps. According to the official Seizure & Enforcement Summary prepared for administrative review, the sustained campaign against the illegal mining ecosystem led to the registration of 33 First Information Reports (FIRs) at various local police stations. The stern action aims to curb unpermitted riverbed extraction, unlawful transportation, and unauthorised storage of construction materials such as sand, boulders, and gravel across vulnerable streams and river catchments in the district. Providing granular details on the ongoing operations, District Mineral Officer (DMO) Bandipora, Dr Ghulam Nabi Pintoo (Geoscientist), highlighted the drive's financial and regulatory impact. He stated that administrative fines and compounding charges amounting to 20,25,544 were realised from violators during these six months. Furthermore, the estimated cost of minerals seized directly from illegal dumping yards stood at 30,45,174. Dr Pintoo further emphasised that through rigorous monitoring, streamlined royalty collection, and aggressive anti-smuggling measures, the department generated a total revenue of 95,40,364 during the current financial year. Our enforcement drive against illegal extraction, illegal transportation, and unauthorised dumping of minerals has yielded significant results, but our work is far from over, said Dr Pintoo. The department has established dedicated surveillance teams working in close coordination with local administration and law enforcement agencies. This enforcement drive will be even more stringently implemented in the coming days, and strict action under the law will be taken against habitual offenders attempting to plunder natural resources. The District Mineral Office confirmed that regular daytime patrols and night-checking checkpoints will be expanded across key transport routes and quarry zones to completely eradicate illegal mining operations in Bandipora.(KNS)
Demand to blacklist firms abandoning projects in Garo Hills
Shillong, Sep 24: The Niksamso Garo Community Organization (NGCO) has demanded strict action, including blacklisting, against construction companies that have left government projects incomplete in Garo Hills for over five years despite withdrawing public funds. In a statement the NGCO urged the government and the PWD (Buildings) Department to conduct a comprehensive review of all [] The post Demand to blacklist firms abandoning projects in Garo Hills first appeared on Highland Post .
4 convictions in Mairang, 3 under POCSO
Shillong, Sep 24: Eastern West Khasi Hills police have secured convictions in four cases falling under Mairang Police Station, including three under the POCSO Act. In a press release, the Superintendent of Police said one Hoping Mawlong was convicted for aggravated sexual assault on a minor and sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment under Section [] The post 4 convictions in Mairang, 3 under POCSO first appeared on Highland Post .
3 men get 4 years for drug offences
Shillong, Sep 24: Three men were convicted for offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 and sentenced to four years imprisonment. Dinald Syndor, Kitboklang Thawbri and Ryngkatlang Kharbuli were found guilty by Special Judge (NDPS) E Shabong on September 15, according to a press release issued by police today. The case was [] The post 3 men get 4 years for drug offences first appeared on Highland Post .
NEIGRIHMS observes Swachhata Hi Sewa
Shillong, Sep 24: NEIGRIHMS has been observing Swachhata Hi Sewa 2026 and Patient Safety Week 2026 with a series of awareness programmes, community involvement, etc since September 17. As part of the ongoing fortnight-long Swachhata campaign, NEIGRIHMS has already conducted the Swachh PaathShala Yuva for Swachhata programme for students of Leads Higher Secondary School, [] The post NEIGRIHMS observes Swachhata Hi Sewa & Patient Safety Week first appeared on Highland Post .
