Congress MPs protested in the Parliament House complex carrying placards and a large banner raising slogans, demanding answers from the Home Minister over alleged police excesses against protesting students
Former Odisha Minister Susant Singh dies at 53
A prominent leader from western Odisha, Susant Singh represented the Bhatli assembly constituency for three consecutive terms after winning the elections in 2009, 2014 and 2019 on a BJD ticket
Govt introduces Bill in Lok Sabha for stricter measures to check paper leaks
The Bill proposes to set up fast-track courts in every State for speedy trials of accused and enhances punishment
Action taken against cops seen firing AK-47 during student protest in Bihar: Siwan SP
The cops have been suspended after the incident, said the Siwan Superintendent of Police
Four years after a migrants death in Kerala, a family in Odisha still bear the burden
A delayed legal battle, mounting poverty and a childhood cut short underscore the hidden cost of migrant worker deaths
Lets go round and round: the history and science behind carousels
Carousel, carrousel, merry-go-round, flying horses, galloper... this amusement ride goes by many a name, but the joy it brings is always the same. A.S.Ganesh hops aboard this evergreen ride, picks a horse to seat himself and regales you with stories about it...
Tredence Launches Domain Native Forward Deployed Engineering to Close the Last Mile of Enterprise AI
Tredence Launches Domain Native Forward Deployed Engineering to Close the Last Mile of Enterprise AI
Rahul Dravid Inaugurates Colgate Total Inter-College 5-A-Side Hockey Tournament at St. Joseph's College of Commerce
Chief Ministers remarks criticised as sexist and propagating gender stereotypes
Except for Nagarjunasagar, none of the major reservoirs in Krishna and Godavari Basins in Telangana receive at least 5 tmc ft flood so far
Apologise to students, take action against those who attacked students: Rahul to PM
The entire system is downright murderous against students. Reports are coming in that AK-47s have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, and hundreds have been arrested and booked under FIRs, says Rahul Gandhi
Firefighters battle to keep blazes away from France's Bordeaux; Macron calls crisis meeting
About 2,20,000 people have been evacuated in France, while in neighbouring Spain more than 75,000 people have been evacuated and a further 30,000 ordered to shelter in plac
SC agrees to hear plea challenging release of animated film 'Mahaprabhu Jagannath'
Earlier, the top court permitted the all-India release of the animated film on or after July 28 post Lord Jagannath Yatra festivities
Why is Russia attacking ships in Odessa? | Explained
Why is Russia attacking merchant ships in Ukraine? Are Indians collateral damage?
Traffic curbs for Kanwar Yatra in U.P.'s Muzaffarnagar till August 12
The Kanwar Yatra, during which lakhs of devotees fetch holy water from the Ganga in Haridwar to offer at Shiva temples in their hometowns, will be held from July 30 to August 11
TDP to launch 45-day door-to-door campaign on coalitions two years from July 27
In a teleconference on the eve of the campaign, the Chief Minister asked Ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs to take part, and said the alliance had won a 94% strike rate and 57% of the vote in 2024
Following a suspected Pakistani drone activity army troops in Nandpur, near the IB in Samba, and in Tarkundi-Saaj, near the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri placed under heightened surveillance
Madras High Court to hear PIL on Karur Devadanam land issue
Litigant claims the department had lifted the ban on registration of those properties much to the disadvantage of four temples in Karur district
AMMA crisis: Four women members call for seizure of documents from Shwetha Menons panel
Maala Parvathi, Ansiba Hassan, Usha Haseena, and Ponnamma Babu have urged Registrar of Co-operative Societies to seize books of accounts and financial documents that continue to be under the possession of the panel led by Shwetha Menon that had announced its resignation at general body meeting on June 21
Watch: Frances wildfire crisis deepens: Military aircraft, evacuations & tour disruption
France has deployed a military A400M aircraft to battle massive wildfires threatening Bordeaux, while the final stage of the Tour de France has been shortened to support emergency operations
Indias first dengue vaccine arrives with a crucial safety caveat
Qdenga could be responsible for enhancing dengue in children who have not had an infection yet in their lives. In such cases, the vaccine could simulate a primary dengue infection in the body, resulting in protection against DENV-1 and DENV-2 infections but not against a DENV-3 infection
Why have three Assam districts borne the brunt of floods | Explained
Much of Assam has learnt to live with floods, an annual phenomenon, but historically near-untouched Charaideo, Jorhat, and Sivasagar were least expected to become a waterworld
Fields Medal: Hong Wang makes history as star mathematicians claim 2026 honours
Wang has become the third woman to win the Fields Medal, after Maryam Mirzakhani and Maryna Viazovska; Wang and Deng are also the first Chinese nationals to win since 1982
Mapex AI Accelerates Global Growth in Geospatial Intelligence through Strategic Government Projects and International Partnerships
Rupee rises 28 paise to 96.25 against U.S. dollar in early trade
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 96.18 but lost some ground to trade at 96.28 against the greenback, logging a gain of 28 paise from its previous closing level
Traces of protest removed from Jantar Mantar in clean-up drive
New Delhi Municipal Corporation officials say they conducted a cleanliness and beautification drive at the venue and removed 60 metric tonnes of waste from the site
UDISE+ 2025-26: Key takeaways in graphics
The latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report, an annual report tracking key schooling indicators, was released last week. Here are some broad takeaways from the report.
Schools Reopen Across Kashmir After 21-Day Summer Break
Srinagar, July 27: Schools across the Kashmir valley reopened on Monday after a 21-day summer vacation. Students were seen returning to classrooms amid usual rush in the morning hours, marking the end of the break announced by the School Education Department earlier this month. Notably, the summer vacations were extended beyond the initial schedule due to prevailing weather conditions. Officials told GNS that the decision to extend the break was taken keeping in view the heatwave and inclement weather in parts of the valley to ensure the safety and comfort of students. With schools now reopening, normal academic activities have resumed across government and private institutions in the valley.(GNS)
Oil mill gutted in massive fire in Kerala's Kozhikode
Blaze brought under control after eight hours. Preliminary findings suggest the fire originated in an area where copra was stored
Ookla Study in Manila: Carrier VoLTE Networks Prove to Outperform OTT Apps in Voice Quality and Reliability
Monsoon Session: Anti-paper leak law, SC Judges Bill in LS; National Honour Bill in RS on agenda
New Delhi , July 27 : The Union Government is set to introduce 'The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026' in the Lok Sabha today, aimed at strengthening the legal framework against paper leaks and malpractices in national examinations. According to the Lok Sabha List of Business for July 27, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh will move for leave to introduce the Bill to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. Following its introduction, the Minister is also scheduled to move that the Bill be taken into consideration and passed by the House. The Bill comes amid intensified focus on the conduct of national competitive exams and is expected to provide more stringent measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the examination system. In another significant legislative move, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will move 'The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026' for consideration and passing. However, the move is likely to face opposition, as MPs Sougata Ray, NK Premachandran, and Adv. Dean Kuriakose are scheduled to move a Statutory Resolution disapproving the Ordinance promulgated by the President on the same matter in May 2026. The House will also witness the tabling of several crucial reports by the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers. These include a report on the Price Rise of medicines in the Pharmaceutical Sector impacting the lives of ordinary citizens and a review of the disinvestment of fertiliser PSUs. Several Union Ministers, including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Culture), Jayant Chaudhary (Education), and Pankaj Chaudhary (Finance), will lay official papers related to their respective ministries on the table of the House. Additionally, Minister of State Suresh Gopi is scheduled to make eight separate statements regarding the status of implementation of recommendations from the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, covering various budget cycles from 2019 to 2027. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to move the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha today. The Home Minister will move for the bill to be taken into consideration and subsequently for its passage in the Upper House. The Bill seeks to further amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. This legislative move is part of the government's scheduled business to strengthen the legal framework surrounding the dignity of national symbols and honours. In addition to the legislative agenda, several Union Ministers are slated to lay important papers on the table of the House. Satish Chandra Dubey will lay papers related to the Ministry of Coal and the Ministry of Mines, while Sanjay Seth will lay papers for the Ministry of Defence. Furthermore, Tokhan Sahu is scheduled to lay papers concerning the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. These proceedings are part of the heavy legislative and administrative agenda set for the Rajya Sabha as the session continues on Monday. (ANI)
Parliament Monsoon Session Day 6 LIVE: Centre to introduce Anti-Paper Leak Amendment Bill
INDIA bloc parties are set to press for an urgent discussion in Parliament on the alleged use of excessive force against students protesting over the NEET paper leak
As protests end, rise in student suicides and increasing cost burden await focus
Larger systemic issues associated with high-stakes entrance examinations such as NEET, rising student suicides and cost of education remain to be addressed
Why is Chinas AI push gaining ground? | Explained
How have Chinese firms caught up with leading U.S. AI models despite chip restrictions? What advantages do Chinese open-source AI models offer over captive models? How has Beijing supported the growth? What challenges could China face in the future?
Why India must modernise the way the government publishes laws and regulations
Indias legal publishing system remains fragmented and dependent on PDFs, making it difficult for citizens, lawyers and even courts to access, track laws and amendments in force; adopting open legal publishing standards would make laws more accessible and strengthen democratic participation
NH-44 Blocked at Udhampur's Dewal Due to Landslide, Restoration Underway
Jammu, July 27 : The JammuSrinagar National Highway NH-44 has been blocked at Dewal in Udhampur due to a landslide, an official said. Officials told GNS that restoration work is currently going on at the site. In view of the risk of further landslides and shooting stones, commuters have been advised to avoid travelling on the highway until the road is declared safe and clear for traffic. The public has also been urged not to pay heed to rumors and to check the latest road status from the J&K Traffic Police Twitter handle, Facebook page, and Traffic Control Units at Srinagar, Ramban and Jammu. Further updates will be issued once the highway is cleared.(GNS)
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Short: Rajouri facilitates PMs virtual interaction
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DC Ramban directs for restoration of Ramban-Gool Road
Ramban, Jul 26: Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan on Sunday visited the landslide and subsidence-affected area at Pernote on the Ramban-Gool Road to assess the damage caused by recent heavy rainfall and review the ongoing restoration works. Senior Superintendent of Police Arun Gupta, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Shokat Hayat Mattoo and other concerned officers accompanied the Deputy Commissioner during the inspection. During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner inspected the restoration works being undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on the nearly 300-metre stretch of the Ramban-Gool Road that has suffered major subsidence, severely affecting the vital road connectivity between Ramban and Gool. Interacting with the officers at the site, the DC reviewed the progress of restoration works. He was informed that restoration operations are underway on a war footing with the deployment of adequate manpower and heavy machinery to clear debris and restore the damaged road stretch. The Deputy Commissioner directed the executing agency to further accelerate the restoration works by deploying additional machinery and manpower to ensure the early restoration of traffic on the affected road. He also took up the matter with senior BRO officials and stressed the need for expeditious completion of the restoration work in view of the importance of the road for the local population. Emphasising public safety, the Deputy Commissioner appealed to the residents and commuters to avoid visiting or moving close to the subsidence-affected area, as the ground remains unstable and vulnerable to further sliding. He urged the public to cooperate with the concerned agencies engaged in the restoration operations. The district administration in coordination with the BRO and other line departments is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring public safety and the early restoration of normal traffic movement on the Ramban-Gool Road.
Principal D&S Judge, Jammu leads plantation drive at Nagar Van Raika
Jammu, Jul 26: A tree plantation drive was organised at Nagar Van Raika, as part of the ongoing Van Mahotsav celebrations, under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, with participation from members of the judiciary, forest officials and staff. Principal District & Sessions Judge Jammu Ravinder Nath Watal, along with Civil Judge (Senior Division) Maleeka Sharma planted saplings at Nagar Van. Speaking on the occasion, the Principal District & Sessions Judge lauded the efforts of the Forest Department in developing and maintaining the Nagar Van at such a picturesque location, describing it as a valuable contribution towards environmental conservation and public well-being. Among those present were Divisional Forest Officer Jammu Anurag Arya, Deputy Director J01 Gamma Unit Tariq Ahmed and Standing Counsel J&K Forest Department Anchit Sharma, along with officers and staff of the Jammu Forest Division and the J01 Forest Protection Force, who took part in the plantation activity.
J&KBOSE Class 11 exam to held as per schedule on Jul 27
Jammu, Jul 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (J&K BOSE), shall conducted the Examination of 11th class Annual (Private)/Bi-Annual 2026 as per the already notified date sheet on July 07, 2026, throughout the UT of Jammu and Kashmir & U.T of Ladakh. However, the Date sheet of postponed papers shall be notified separately. All the stakeholders are advised to take the necessary steps for the fair and smooth conduct of the said Examination on 27.7.2026.
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Poonch joins PMs virtual outreach on Vibrant Villages
Poonch, Jul 26: The District Administration Poonch, in collaboration with My Bharat Kendra Poonch, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India on Sunday facilitated a virtual interaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with participants of the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme at the VC Room, Deputy Commissioner Office Poonch. The event was attended by the Deputy Commissioner Poonch Ashok Kumar Sharma. During the interaction, the Prime Minister engaged with participants from across the country who had earned the opportunity to visit the Vibrant Villages of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand after excelling in the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme Quiz. Participants from different parts of India took part in the session and shared their experiences and learnings from their visits to the border villages. The interaction provided a platform for participants to share their experiences and reaffirm their commitment to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. In his address, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening the bond between citizens and Indias border villages. He also directed that all schools and colleges should organize educational tours to Vibrant Villages and other border areas, enabling students to understand their cultural richness, strategic importance and developmental progress, while fostering a stronger sense of patriotism and national integration. The programme concluded with officers reaffirming their commitment to promoting the objectives of the Viksit Vibrant Village Programme and supporting initiatives aimed at the holistic development of border areas.
DDC Poonch inspects flood-affected areas
Poonch, Jul 26: District Development Commissioner Poonch Ashok Kumar Sharma on Sunday conducted an extensive tour of various flood-affected areas of Poonch to assess the damage caused by recent flash floods and to review ongoing restoration and preventive measures. During the visit, Superintending Engineer (Hydraulic) Vipan Kumar, Tehsildar Haveli Azhar Majid along with other concerned officers were present. The DDC also interacted with the public, listened to their grievances and assured them of early restoration and relief measures. The DDC inspected JCB machines engaged a day earlier to channelise the river flow into its proper course and directed the Superintending Engineer (Hydraulic) to ensure that the work is carried out effectively to prevent further damage and safeguard public safety. He also inspected the protection bund damaged in the riverbed during the recent floods. He directed the concerned Executive Engineer (Hydraulic) to expedite restoration work and complete it at the earliest. He further stressed the need for proper management of the river course to prevent recurrence of flood-related damage. The DDC also visited the SK Bridge, Bainch-Khanetar-Kalai, Chandak riverbed and inspected ongoing protection works. He issued strict directions that no unauthorised or illegal construction activity should be permitted along the riverbed. He directed the concerned officers to take stringent action against any violations and ensure strict enforcement of regulations in the area. During the inspection, the DDC took strict action against illegal mining activities and seized a JCB machine and tractors found engaged in illegal mining at the spot. He directed the concerned authorities, including the Tehsildar Haveli, to initiate strict legal action and register FIRs against those involved in the illegal activity. The DDC further visited the Power Grid Station at Chandak and reviewed the impact of recent flooding on the facility. He directed the concerned Executive Engineer (Hydraulic) to take immediate measures to strengthen the protection infrastructure around the station, including the construction of protection walls and crate works along the riverside, to prevent similar damage in the future. The DDC directed all concerned officers to ensure timely completion of restoration and protection works and to maintain strict vigil against illegal mining and unauthorised construction along riverbeds, with public safety and the protection of vital infrastructure accorded the highest priority.
Flood-hit Rajouri, Poonch: JPDCL MD takes stock of power restoration
Rajouri/Poonch, Jul 26: The Managing Director, Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) Gurpal Singh on Sunday undertook an extensive visit to the flood-affected districts of Rajouri and Poonch to review the progress of restoration of the damaged power infrastructure and ensure expeditious restoration of power supply in all affected areas. During the visit, the Managing Director inspected restoration works at Muradpur, Salani, Bela, Fatehpur, Saj in Rajouri district, where JPDCL teams have been working tirelessly to restore the damaged power distribution network affected by recent flash floods and incessant rains. He also reviewed the restoration of power supply to critical PHE installations including Sangam, Nabbah, New Bela, ITI and Old Bela, stressing that uninterrupted power to drinking water supply schemes remains a top priority. In Poonch district, the Managing Director visited Sanai, Dhundak, Lassana, Marhote, Lathung Bridge, Surankote Town, Potha to assess the restoration efforts. He also inspected the severely affected MohraBachhai area, where heavy downpours and flash floods had washed away road stretches and eroded the pole foundations of electricity poles, causing extensive damage to the power infrastructure. The Managing Director reviewed the restoration of the 33 kV and 11 kV distribution network, including 33/11 kV Receiving Stations, damaged poles, conductors and distribution transformers. He expressed satisfaction over the significant progress achieved despite extremely challenging conditions, including difficult terrain, overflowing nallahs and intermittent rainfall. He commended the dedication and commitment of engineers, technicians and field staff who have been working round the clock under adverse weather conditions to restore electricity supply. Later, the Managing Director chaired a high-level review meeting at the Dak Bungalow Poonch, where he assessed the overall progress of restoration works and directed all officers to continue restoration activities on a war footing. He instructed the Chief Engineer (Distribution) to ensure immediate dispatch of poles, conductors, distribution transformers and other essential materials to the affected sites as per field requirements. He further directed the Executive Engineers to utilise the services and resources of turnkey contractors engaged under RDSS and DA-JGUA works to accelerate restoration efforts and minimise the downtime in affected areas. Reiterating JPDCL's commitment towards public service, the Managing Director stated that restoration of power supply to all affected villages and critical installations, including hospitals, drinking water supply schemes and other essential public infrastructure, remains the Corporation's highest priority. He assured that restoration operations would continue uninterrupted until normalcy is fully restored. The Managing Director was accompanied by Chief Engineer (Distribution) JPDCL Arshad Hussain Reshi, Superintending Engineer, O&M Circle Rajouri Kuldeep Kumar Dalia, Executive Engineers and other senior officers of JPDCL, who also reviewed the progress of restoration works and interacted with field teams at various locations.
Venezuela Opposition leader Machado says won't take part in U.S.-backed talks
Washington which ousted former President Nicolas Maduro in a midnight military raid in January had hailed the talks as an important step toward political reconciliation in Venezuela.
RBI sees rupee as undervalued; inflows largely through FCNR (B) touch $32 billion
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra says inflation control remains the foremost priority; FCNR(B) deposits and foreign investment in government securities have strengthened Indias external position
West Asia War LIVE: Iran halts strikes as Trump gives space to talks
Oil prices fell on Asian markets early Monday (July 27, 2026) as investors breathed cautious sighs of relief at the pause in combat.
U.S. appeals court upholds injunction that blocks Trump's order to create federal voter list
Donald Trump issued an executive order for the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the commissioner of the Social Security Administration to create a state citizenship list of eligible voters
Search for 17 missing crew after Vietnamese cargo ship sinks in South China Sea
A search is underway for 17 people missing after a Vietnamese cargo ship carrying 62 people sank in bad weather in the disputed South China Sea
Search for 17 missing crew after c
A search is underway for 17 people missing after a Vietnamese cargo ship carrying 62 people sank in bad weather in the disputed South China Sea
Magam residents seek regular officers in key govt offices
Handwara, July 21: Residents of Magam in north Kashmir's Handwara have voiced concern over the prolonged absence of regular officers in several key government offices, saying the continued reliance on additional charge arrangements is affecting the smooth delivery of essential public services. Locals said they are facing increasing inconvenience in getting routine official work completed, with many having to make repeated visits to government offices for revenue matters, land records, certificates, welfare scheme related services and other administrative work. They said the absence of dedicated officers has resulted in delays, leaving people frustrated. According to residents, Magam is one of the important administrative blocks of Tehsil Handwara, comprising more than 50 villages with a population of over 35,000. They said such a large population requires the presence of regular officers to ensure timely disposal of public grievances and smooth implementation of government programmes. Highlighting the issue, social and peace activist Dr. Sheikh Jamsheed said the matter should be viewed as a public issue rather than a criticism of any individual officer. This is not an issue against any officer. Those holding additional charge are already burdened with multiple responsibilities. Magam deserves dedicated full time officers so that people do not suffer because of administrative delays, Dr. Jamsheed said. He said the post of Naib Tehsildar in Magam has remained effectively vacant for nearly a month, while the officer holding additional charge is also managing the busy Handwara Nayabat, making it difficult to effectively discharge responsibilities in both jurisdictions. Dr. Jamsheed appealed to the J&K Government, Lieutenant Governor, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara and the concerned departments to appoint regular officers in Magam, including a full time Naib Tehsildar, Block Development Officer and other key officials, so that public services are delivered efficiently and without unnecessary delay.
Outstation students lament fewer holiday spells in DU this year
Finding land biggest challenge for Kozhikode Corporations stray dog shelter project
The project envisages small shelters at multiple locations, but animal welfare bodies caution that land availability and local opposition could hamper implementation
Student organisations look to carry Jantar Mantar momentum into DUSU election
Raina condoles slain cop's family, seeks risk allowance
Budgam: Senior BJP leader Ravinder Raina on Sunday visited the residence of slain Jammu and Kashmir Police Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi at Lalpora village in Budgam district to offer his condolences to the bereaved family. Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was killed in the recent terror attack in Anantnag while performing security duties for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra. Speaking to reporters after meeting the family, Raina paid tribute to the fallen policeman, describing him as a dedicated officer who laid down his life in the service of the nation. Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi made the supreme sacrifice while protecting the motherland. He was performing his duties with utmost dedication when he was martyred in the terror attack in Anantnag, Raina said. The targeted killing of Ashiq Hussain is not only painful for the people of Jammu and Kashmir but for the entire nation, he said. Condemning the attack, Raina said terrorists were attempting to disrupt the return of peace and normalcy in the Kashmir Valley. Raina further demanded that J&K Police personnel be provided with a dedicated risk allowance in recognition of the dangers they face while performing their duties. The Jammu and Kashmir Police has been fighting terrorism continuously and has earned appreciation for its outstanding service. Considering the risks they face every day, they deserve appropriate risk allowance along with other service benefits, he said. Expressing solidarity with the bereaved family, Raina said the people of Jammu and Kashmir would always remember the sacrifices made by the family.
Odisha BJP leaders criticise post by MPs daughter on Pradhan
Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, a two-time MP from Bhubaneswar, was, however, unavailable for comment
DU extends deadline for candidates to accept seats
Jammu schools begin drive for 100% enrolment
Srinagar: The Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) has directed schools across Jammu Division to conduct a door-to-door survey to identify out-of-school children aged 6-18 years as part of its drive to achieve 100 per cent enrolment under the RTE Act and NEP 2020. According to the directions, the exercise aims to ensure that no child remains deprived of education due to socio-economic, geographical or any other barriers, while also strengthening enrolment and retention across the ten districts of Jammu Division. As per the directive, schools shall identify children who have never been enrolled in any educational institution, those who have remained absent from school for 45 days or more without prior intimation and are therefore considered dropouts, as well as students who are at risk of dropping out due to frequent absenteeism, poor academic performance, financial hardship or lack of access to schools. The order also calls for the identification of children belonging to vulnerable groups, including migrant families, economically weaker sections, marginalised communities, Children with Special Needs (CWSN), child labourers, nomadic and migratory communities, orphans, destitute children and those from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. To ensure that no eligible child is left out, every government school has been instructed to conduct a door-to-door household survey within its feeder area in coordination with School Management Committees (SMCs), Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, local volunteers, public representatives and other stakeholders. The Directorate has further directed that every identified out-of-school child be enrolled in the nearest government school through age-appropriate admission. Schools have also been asked to provide bridge courses, remedial teaching, counselling and other academic support to facilitate the mainstreaming of such children. Eligible students will also be provided free textbooks, uniforms and other benefits available under various government schemes. To prevent future dropouts, Heads of Institutions have been instructed to closely monitor student attendance and immediately counsel parents or guardians of children showing prolonged or irregular absenteeism to ensure continuity in education. The order mandates regular monitoring of the programme at the school, cluster, zonal and district levels by Heads of Institutions, Cluster Heads, Zonal Education Officers and Chief Education Officers. Range Joint Directors have been tasked with supervising implementation within their respective jurisdictions and providing necessary support. Chief Education Officers have been directed to personally oversee the implementation of the programme at the district level and ensure that the instructions are implemented in both letter and spirit. The Directorate has also instructed that Action Taken Reports (ATRs) be submitted every fortnight, warning that any lapses in implementation will be viewed seriously. Meanwhile, the Joint Director (School Education) has been designated as the Nodal Officer at the Directorate level for the implementation, coordination and monitoring of the initiative across all schools in Jammu Division. The officer will compile district-wise reports and submit consolidated information to the Directorate along with recommendations for any further action, if required.
Rockstar brought Bollywood back to Kashmir: Imtiaz Ali
Srinagar, Jul 26: Acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker Imtiaz Ali said his 2011 blockbuster Rockstar played a key role in bringing Bollywood back to Kashmir, inspiring several filmmakers and producers to choose the valley as a shooting destination. Speaking to Rising Kashmir in Srinagar in an exclusive interview after the screening of his latest film Mai VaapasAaunga,Ali said the success of Rockstar encouraged the film industry to rediscover Kashmir. When we shot Rockstar here, many filmmakers and producers came to Kashmir afterwards for shooting. I believe it started a trend of Bollywood returning to the valley, he said. Ali recalled that his association with Kashmir began after attending a tourism event in the valley, where a local residentsuggested thathe should shoot a filmin Kashmir. I started exploring different locations and eventually decided to film Rockstar here. Originally, some portions featuring the actress were planned for Rajasthan, but we shifted them to Kashmir because of its unmatched beauty, he said. The filmmaker said Kashmirs breathtaking landscapes, rich culture and artistic heritage deserve to be showcased through cinema. We presented Kashmirs art, culture and natural beauty to the world. Today, you cant imagine Rockstar without Kashmir, he said. Imtiaz said the shooting of Rockstar in Kashmir was completed smoothly with full cooperation from the local people and authorities. Everybody helped us. The locals were extremely welcoming and cooperative. Later, we returned to shoot Highway here as well, he said. Calling himself a long-time admirer of Kashmir, Ali said he feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to shoot in the valley and expressed hope of returning soon with another project. I personally admire Kashmir, and I am planning to shoot here again very soon, he said. Highlighting the relationship between cinema and Kashmir, Imtiaz Ali said films not only celebrate the valleys beauty but also contribute significantly to tourism. Cinema has a deep connection with Kashmir. It is important that films continue to be made here because they also help promote tourism, he said. The filmmaker also praised the talent of Kashmiri artists, saying they have made significant contributions to cinema. I have seen the work of Kashmiri artists, and they do wonderful work. Sajid and I have worked with many of them, he said. When asked whether Bollywood should explore more untouched locations in Kashmir, Ali said the valleys popular destinations remain so visually stunning that filmmakers do not necessarily need to look elsewhere. The known locations are so beautiful that you don't really need to search for untapped places for filming, he remarked. Speaking about the screening of Mai Vaapas Aaunga in Srinagar, Ali described it as an emotional milestone. It means a lot to watch my film in a theatre in Kashmir. This is the first time I have watched one of my films in a cinema hall here. Experiencing it with the audience in Kashmir was truly special, he said. Ali revealed that the film also shares a connection with Kashmir, as several actors from the valley are part of its cast. Asked about the relevance of cinema halls in the digital era, the filmmaker stressed that theatres continue to offer an unmatched viewing experience. Despite technological advancements, people still prefer watching films in cinemas. A film is best experienced on the big screen with proper sound, exactly the way the director intends it to be seen, he said. He also lauded INOX Srinagar and its promoter Vijay Dhar for reviving cinema culture in the valley.People in Srinagar can now enjoy films on the big screen again, and the credit goes to the owners of INOX Srinagar. Vijay Dhar has brought cinema back to Kashmir, and that is a remarkable achievement, he said. Recalling the journey of Laila Majnu, Ali said the film initially failed at the box office but found a new life through audiences in Kashmir. When Laila Majnu was released, it did not perform well commercially. Later, the owners of INOX Srinagar requested special screenings, and the response was phenomenal. That success eventually led to the film being re-released across India, creating history. Encouraged by the love the film received, Sajid Ali is now planning to make a new film, Heer Ranjha, he said.
ATS delay leaves transporters stranded
Srinagar, July 26: Commercial transport operators across Jammu and Kashmir have alleged that delays in the rollout of Automated Testing Stations (ATS) have left thousands of vehicles off the roads, with fitness certification services suspended in several districts. Transporters said access to the RTO's Parivahan portal was revoked in eight districtsKathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam, Kulgam and Ganderbalfrom July 1 as part of the transition to the new ATS-based system. However, they claimed the automated testing stations in these districts are yet to become operational. According to representatives of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and the Kashmir Transporters Welfare Association, the lack of a functional alternative has prevented operators from renewing mandatory fitness certificates and completing related formalities. We are caught in a complete freeze. The old portal is blocked, the new automated centres are not yet ready, and our livelihoods have come to a standstill, a transport body representative said. The transporters claimed that passenger buses and goods carriers across the affected districts have been unable to operate due to the absence of valid fitness certificates. They urged the Transport Department to temporarily restore access to the Parivahan portal until the Automated Testing Stations are fully commissioned, saying the move would help clear the backlog and allow commercial vehicles to resume operations.
Nine-day Chinar Book Festival concludes
Srinagar, Jul 26: The third edition of the Chinar Book Festival concluded on Sunday after drawing thousands of visitors to the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar, over nine days, reaffirming its status as Kashmirs largest literary and cultural festival. Organised by the National Book Trust (NBT), India, under the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the District Administration Srinagar and the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), the festival witnessed an estimated daily footfall of 57,000 to 73,000 on weekdays, which crossed one lakh on weekends. More than 200 publishers, over 800 authors and artists, and thousands of students, readers and families participated in the festival, held under the theme Together We Read, Together We Lead (Mil Kar Padhenge, Mil Kar Badhenge). The festival, inaugurated on July 18 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, featured the release of 24 bilingual Gojri titles, five novels under the Rajtarangini Samvad initiative, and the Urdu translation of Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages. Among the major attractions were interactive sessions with Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, veteran actor Rakesh Bedi and filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, who shared insights into space exploration, creative arts and storytelling. The festival also hosted discussions on cinema, theatre and literature, an Innovators' Meet showcasing student startups and patented technologies, and special sessions highlighting the contributions of Kashmiri women in various fields. The Children's Corner remained a major draw with storytelling sessions, puppet shows, calligraphy, craft workshops and digital library activities, while cultural evenings featured Rouf dance, folk theatre, Sufiyana performances, Mushairas and music by local artists. The concluding day, coinciding with Kargil Vijay Diwas, featured the play Markar Jeena by playwright Rakesh Roshan Bhatt, paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Indian soldiers. NBT Chairman Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe said the festival reflected the vision of the National Education Policy 2020 by promoting reading beyond classrooms. NBT Director Yuvraj Malik described the Chinar Book Festival as a brand ambassador of Kashmir's literary heritage and an important contributor to literary tourism. Chief Convenor Amit Wanchoo said the overwhelming public response from across Jammu and Kashmir had exceeded expectations, with thousands engaging in literary discussions, workshops, cultural performances and interactions with leading writers, artists and innovators.
J&K records over 68,800 cancer cases in five years: ICMR
Srinagar, July 26: Jammu and Kashmir recorded 68,804 estimated cancer cases between 2021 and 2025, with the number of cases increasing each year, according to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) tabled in the Lok Sabha. The figures were shared by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav in reply to an unstarred question by Congress MP S. Jothimani. According to the data, cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir rose from 13,060 in 2021 to 13,395 in 2022, 13,744 in 2023, 14,112 in 2024 and 14,493 in 2025, reflecting an overall increase of nearly 11 per cent over five years. The increase from 2024 to 2025 alone stood at 2.7 per cent. The trend is broadly in line with the national pattern. Across India, estimated cancer cases increased from 14.26 lakh in 2021 to 15.69 lakh in 2025, while neighbouring Ladakh recorded a rise from 294 cases in 2021 to 326 in 2025. The Minister informed Parliament that the Centre has rolled out population-based screening for oral, breast and cervical cancers under the National Health Mission through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, targeting people above 30 years of age. He said the country currently has 770 District NCD Clinics, 233 Cardiac Care Units, 6,410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centres and 524 Day Care Cancer Centres under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. On cervical cancer prevention, Jadhav said a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign was launched on February 28, 2026, targeting around 1.2 crore girls aged 14 years across all States and Union Territories. The Minister added that cancer treatment is covered under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which provides health insurance of Rs 5 lakh per family annually, while affordable medicines are being made available through the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana and AMRIT Pharmacies. He said the Centre is also supporting the establishment of State Cancer Institutes and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres to improve access to cancer care.
Amarnath Yatra crosses 4 lakh pilgrims
Srinagar, Jul 26: The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra on Sunday crossed the landmark figure of four lakh pilgrims, with the annual pilgrimage resuming smoothly through the Baltal axis after the Jammu-Srinagar National Highwaywasreopened following a landslide. Official figuressaid6,066 pilgrims performed darshan at the holy cave shrine till 1:00 pm on Sunday,takingthe cumulative number of devotees whohave paid obeisance since the commencement of the yatraon July 3 to 4,01,970. Earlier, by 12 noon, 4,642 pilgrims, including 3,253 men, 1,234 women, 76 children, five sadhus and 74 security personnel, had offered prayers at the cave shrine. Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 4,474 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Baltal base camp in the 19th convoy. The batch comprised 3,531 men, 785 women, 10 children, 96 sadhus, 51 sadhvis and one transgender pilgrim. The convoy, consisting of 166 vehicles, including 93 buses, 26 medium motor vehicles and 47 light motor vehicles, left Jammu at 2:42 am under a multi-layer security escort. Officials said no convoy was allowed through the Pahalgam axis as restoration and maintenance work continued following damage caused by recent heavy rains. The administration has temporarily routed the yatra exclusively through the Baltal axis while repair work is carried out to ensure safe movement on the traditional Pahalgam route. The administrationsaid adequate arrangements have been madeon the Baltal route to facilitate the safe and smooth movement of pilgrims. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg appealed to all pilgrims and stakeholders to cooperate with the authorities and strictly follow advisories issued from time to timein the interest ofsafety and the uninterrupted conduct of the pilgrimage. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in a post on X, hailed the yatra for crossing the four-lakhmilestone and said that,by Lord Shiva's divine grace, the holy Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has crossed a remarkable milestone and more than 4 Lakh pilgrims have already completed the sacred journey. Till now, 4.14 Lakh devotees have received darshan. I bow with reverence to Baba Amarnath for this blessing and extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this journey a truly divine experience for all. The annual pilgrimage has continued under tight security and extensive logistical arrangements, with authorities monitoring weather conditions and road connectivity round the clock to ensure the smooth conduct of the remaining phases of the yatra.
Schools to reopen today after summer break
Srinagar, Jul 26: Schools across the Kashmir Division and the Winter Zones of Jammu are set to reopen on Monday after the government concluded the extended summer vacation announced due to persistent rainfall and adverse weather conditions. Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure the smooth reopening of educational institutions. She expressed hope that normal academic activities would resume without any disruption. The summer vacation, initially scheduled to end earlier, was extended for schools in the Winter Zone of Jammu Division till July 22. Later, the School Education Department announced a further extension till July 26 for all government and recognised private schools across the Kashmir Division and the Winter Zones of Jammu in view of continuous rainfall and forecasts of heavy showers, flash floods, landslides and waterlogging. Addressing concerns over damage caused by the recent rains, the minister said that if any school building has suffered damage, the concerned Zonal Education Officers have already been directed to take immediate action and ensure that students do not face any inconvenience. She stressed the need to complete the academic syllabus without further delay. Itoo also directed the education department to give special attention to students' studies and make every effort to cover the pending syllabus at the earliest. Highlighting the government's education initiatives, the minister said providing free education to children belonging to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families is a major achievement, as many of these children were earlier unable to access quality education due to financial constraints. With weather conditions improving, schools are reopening today, marking the resumption of regular classroom teaching after the extended break. Parents have welcomed the decision, hoping that students will now be able to continue their studies without further interruption.
SKIMS forms apex body to regulate research activities
Srinagar, Jul 26: To strengthen research governance and curb academic misconduct, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura has constituted a Research Regulatory Council (RRC) that will formulate institutional policies on plagiarism, research ethics, scientific integrity and intellectual property. The Council, to be headed by Director SKIMS, has been constituted to ensure highest standards of research governance, ethics, accountability, transparency and regulatory compliance. The newly constituted body has been entrusted with formulating, reviewing and recommending institutional policies, regulations, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines governing all research activities undertaken under the aegis of SKIMS University. Officials said the Council will serve as the apex institutional body for research governance and will oversee research administration, ensure compliance with statutory and funding agency requirements, and recommend reforms to strengthen the University's research ecosystem. Among its major responsibilities, the Council will examine and recommend proposals relating to national and international collaborations, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), research partnerships and other collaborative arrangements. It will also formulate institutional guidelines on research ethics, scientific integrity, responsible conduct of research, authorship, publication practices, plagiarism, data ownership, data sharing, confidentiality and research misconduct. The Council has also been tasked with laying down institutional norms for submission, scrutiny, monitoring, implementation and closure of both research projects. It will recommend guidelines defining the eligibility, responsibilities and accountability of Principal Investigators (PIs), Co-Principal Investigators, mentors, post-doctoral fellows and project staff. The Council will examine policy matters relating to the engagement, transfer, replacement or succession of investigators in situations such as retirement, resignation, transfer or long leave. The RRC will further oversee research grant management, utilisation of funds, project administration and submission of utilisation and completion reports. SKIMS said PG, doctoral and post-doctoral research activities, including dissertations, theses, publications and maintenance of research records, will also come under the Council's oversight. The Council will conduct Annual Research Audits of the University and its constituent departments and centres to assess research performance, regulatory compliance, quality of research output, utilisation of research resources and implementation of approved projects. Corrective measures will be recommended wherever necessary. Recognising the growing importance of innovation and technology transfer, the Council has been authorised to review and recommend proposals related to patents, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) etc. Institutional approval from the Council will be mandatory, wherever required, before submission of patents. The Council will also facilitate pre-application ethical review of research proposals to ensure compliance with institutional, national and funding agency ethical requirements before submission to external agencies. To encourage excellence, the RRC has been empowered to recommend institution of annual research awards recognising outstanding contributions in research, innovation, publications, patents, technology development and research mentorship. Another significant mandate of the Council is to frame policies governing the appointment and performance evaluation of Adjunct Faculty, Visiting Faculty, Emeritus Professors, scientists etc. The Council will also regulate public communication of research findings by recommending institutional guidelines for dissemination of research through social media, print and electronic media. Under the new framework, any public release of research findings outcomes will require prior institutional approval unless otherwise permitted under approved policies. Notably, the Council will make policies for establishing a centralised Research Information Management System and an Institutional Research Dashboard, to be developed by SKIMS IT Department for monitoring, reporting and analytics of research activities across the University. The Council will meet at least once every quarter and may convene more frequently whenever required. It may also co-opt subject experts or invite specialists for deliberations on specific research matters. The Council has been directed to function in coordination with the Institutional Ethics Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Animal Ethics Committee, Academic Bodies and other statutory authorities while ensuring adherence to standards prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and other governing bodies. Officials said the Council will play a pivotal role in implementing SKIMS' long-term vision of promoting quality research and institutional excellence through periodic review of research policies in line with evolving national and international guidelines.
LG urges youth to embrace selfless action for nation
Lok Bhawan (Anantnag), Jul 26: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said the younger generation must be inspiredtowardsresponsibility and selfless action for the nation and that knowledge finds true meaning only when joined with humility and service. Addressing the Harbah Festival at Teerathraj Lok Bhawan in Anantnag, Sinha said spiritual valueshad to form the basis of people's lives if a peaceful, prosperous and balanced world wasto be built. I would especially like to request the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. I believe that knowledge is only fulfilled when it is connected with humility. Knowledge becomes pure when it is connected with service, he said. Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, the LG said, Your right is only to perform your actions. Therefore, without worrying about the results, always perform your duties and do good deeds. He said the new generationhad to be inspired towardsresponsibility and selfless action for the nation. We have to bring the ideals of Sanatan Dharma into our actions. I believe that when individuals and organisations follow the principles of dharma, trust and prosperity grow in society, he said. Sinha said mental and spiritual health deserved as much attention as physical strength. In today's stressful life, physical strength as well as peace of mind is necessary, he said, adding that self-reflection, meditation, self-discipline and positive thinking were needed for a balanced life. The Lieutenant Governor said technology gave strength while values gave direction, and development gave momentum while culture provided balance. Sanatan culture never meant defeating others; it meant conquering oneself. Hence, since ancient times, the message of Bharatvarsha has been peace, coexistence and the welfare of humanity, he said. Earlier, Sinha said the Harbah Festival was a moment of devotion, gratitude and spiritual experience, and that every stone, water source and breath at the site carried the message of the eternal consciousness of Sanatan culture, whichhadshown humanity the path of truth, compassion and dharma for centuries. He said the ancient name of the place was Lokpunya, with its mention found in Kalhana's Rajatarangini. The annual yajna and flag-hoisting ceremony, he said, had not only continued a tradition but revived an eternal flame symbolising faith, service, sacrifice, patience, courage and social cohesion. The real strength of society, Sinha said, layin spiritual values and human connections. When there is compassion within a person, peace is established in society, he said, adding that while science, technology andinnovation had brought the world closer, loneliness, intolerance and division hadalso increased. Today, although the means of communication have increased, the distance between hearts seems to be growing, he said. The Lieutenant Governorsaid the message of Mata Sidh Lakshmi and Teerathraj Lok Bhawan was not only about prosperity but also wisdom, spiritual attainment and goodness. He said the Vedic traditionhad always regarded humanity as one family and that division couldnever be a solution. Solutions are born from constant cooperation, he said, adding that true devotionwasexpressed through human service, respect and selfless love.
Kargil Vijay Diwas : India builds startups, Pakistan builds terror: Rajnath Singh
Drass, Jul 26: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asserted that national security is not solely the responsibility of the armed forces but a collective duty of all 140 crore Indians, calling upon every citizen to imbibe the discipline, courage and patriotism of a soldier. Addressing the Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations at the Kargil War Memorial in Drass after paying homage to the martyrs of Operation Vijay, Singh said the spirit of Nation First must remain alive in every Indian. Congratulating the nation on the completion of 27 years of Operation Vijay, the Defence Minister described Kargil as a diamond attached to the crown of Mother India and paid rich tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives during the 1999 conflict. He said every peak of Kargil stands as a testimony to the indomitable courage, unwavering resolve and supreme sacrifice of the Indian armed forces. Recalling the Kargil War, Singh said Pakistan had occupied strategic mountain peaks through deception, believing India would be unable to reclaim them. However, he said Indian soldiers overcame impossible odds, scaling steep, heavily defended heights under enemy fire to secure victory. He said the Kargil War was not merely a military triumph but a defining moment that showcased the bravery and professionalism of Indian soldiers before the world. Referring to international appreciation of the operation, Rajnathsaid that even foreign military expertshadacknowledged the extraordinary courage displayed by Indian troops in one of the most challenging high-altitude battles in military history. Launching a sharp attack on Pakistan, the Defence Minister said the trajectories of the two neighbouring countries have diverged significantly over the past 27 years. India is building a Start-up ecosystem, while Pakistan is building a Terror ecosystem. India is doing Chip Design, while Pakistan is engaged in Terror Design. India is leading in innovation, technology and development, while Pakistan continues to promote terrorism and infiltration, he said. Referring to Operation Sindoor, Singh said India's response to terrorism has demonstrated that every act of aggression against the country would receive a firm and decisive reply. He reiterated that there would be no dialogue with Pakistan exceptonPakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which he described as an integral part of India under illegal occupation. Paying homage to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice, the Defence Minister remembered the grief of families who lost their loved ones and said the stories of heroes such as Captain Vikram Batra and Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey continue to inspire generations of Indians. He said Kargil Vijay Diwas is not just a commemorative occasion but a reminder that sacrifice and service form the backbone of a strong nation. Highlighting India's security policy, Singh said the spirit of Captain Vikram Batra's famous battle cry, Yeh Dil Maange More, continues to inspire the country's defence preparedness. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, the armed forces are undergoing rapid modernisation while the country's defence manufacturing sector is steadily moving towards self-reliance. Stressing the importance of national preparedness, Singh said every citizen should possess the vigilance and discipline of a soldier. I am not saying every citizen should become a soldier, but every Indian must awaken the consciousness of a soldier within. Whenever the nation requires, every citizen should be mentally, morally and practically prepared to stand for the country, he said. The Defence Minister said India's vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047 is not limited to economic growth but also includes strategic strength, cultural pride and social harmony. He added that the government remains committed to strengthening border infrastructure, modernising the armed forces and promoting indigenous defence production, including advanced aircraft, helicopters, drones, submarines and next-generation weapon systems. Assuring the armed forces of the government's unwavering support, Singh said the welfare of soldiers and the security of the nation remain the Centre's highest priority. He expressed confidence that the Indian armed forces would continue safeguarding the country's borders with the same courage, determination and dedication that ensured victory during Operation Vijay.
Railway revises redevelopment deadlines for ERS, ERN stations
Projects have been pushed to 2028 after the Railway terminated contracts over missed timelines and initiated fresh tenders; passenger groups press for better amenities during the redevelopment
Paying to Preserve Paradise: Bhutan Model India Should Embrace
Travelling is an essential, experiential counterpart to learning by word of mouth. It replaces textbook theories of life with direct, tactile experiences, broadens your worldview, cultivates independence as also builds an inherent empathy. It is no brainer that travelling helps we apply real-world scenarios directly into our learned concepts. It was precisely with the above avowed aim that self and better half packed our daily existence in two small suitcases last month and became part of a small travellers group who too like both of us were charged up to explore places hitherto pushed into the realm of a backburner. Landing in Bhutan, the only Himalayan monarchy and experiencing it first hand was an immersive lesson in how a nation can balance tourism, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation with remarkable wisdom. As we travelled through the pristine valleys of Paro, the bustling yet disciplined streets of Thimphu , the spiritual calm of Punakha and the breathtaking heights of Dochula pass , one feature of Bhutans tourism policy repeatedly stood out---the SDF( Sustainable development fee) charged from international tourists. Initially like most of visitors to this landlocked Himalayan kingdom, we too wondered why a country would deliberately make itself a relatively expensive destination. However after having criss-crossed the length and breadth of Bhutan, with its spanking clean highways, protected forests, pollution- free atmosphere, disciplined urban planning and deeply rooted respect for nature, the answer was self-evidently clear. Bhutan has chosen quality over quantity. It has adopted a policy that prioritizes sustainability over mass tourism, ensuring that every visitor contributes directly towards protecting the very beauty that attracted them in the first place. Bhutan follows a much regulated tourism policy, and entry rules differ slightly for travellers from neighbouring countries as mentioned above by me. I was mighty surprised when the SDF too was levied upon our tour expenses in Bhutan. Now one may askwhat is SDF? The Sustainable development fund is a daily levy paid by the visitors to support Bhutans long term development. Since the kingdom opened its portals to tourism in 1974, the visitors have played an important role in the countrys growth. This SDF is collected by the national exchequer and channeled into projects that create sustainable opportunities for the Bhutanese people. These include funding for free health-care, education, and skills training, up skilling them within tourism and hospitality sector, infra development, environmental protection and the ilk. As India grapples with mounting environmental challenges caused by unregulated tourism in many of its fragile ecosystems, it set me thinking that our country needs to follow the footsteps of Bhutan without rancor. For Indian nationals, the SDF is charged at INR 1,200 per person per night spent in Bhutan and must be paid when the entry permit is processed. Children above age 12 need to pay in full. For visitors, except those from India the SDF is USD 200. However effective September 01 2023, a 50% discount on the SDF has been in place for US dollars paying tourists. This means, the SDF comes down to USD 100 per person per night. It is important to note that this arrangement shall be in place till August 31, 2027. In the course of this write up I have made an endeavour to touch upon few vital points which I observed while in Bhutan in so far as sustaining tourism is concerned. The same could be serving as a template for Indian tourism philosophy to sustain itself in times to come. Tourism with responsibility Unlike many popular destinations where attracting tourists remains the guiding mantra, Bhutan follows an entirely different philosophyHigh value, low volume. Under this approach, visitors contribute through SDF, the proceeds of which are utilized for environmental conservation, infra development, heritage preservation, education, healthcare & community welfare. The fee is not viewed as a tax imposed on tourists but as an investment made by every visitor towards conserving Bhutans ecological wealth for future generations. Consequently tourism becomes a partnership rather than consumption. Every traveller becomes a stake holder in conservation. Does India do all these actions in a participative manner? There are states like HP, Uttrakhand and J&K whose mainstay is tourism for sustenance. If not pan India, couldnt these states be enjoined upon to follow the Bhutan pattern of tourism? Experiencing sustainability first-hand Our group witnessed this philosophy throughout our journey. The roads, though winding through mountainous terrain, were remarkably clean. Plastic litter was virtually absent. Rivers were crystal clear, with forests remaining untouched despite increasing footfall of tourists. The nation has been directed by its constitution to maintain a minimum of 60% of forest cover. Juxtapose the same in Indian context. Most of our hills barring few are naked eye sores with blatant deforestation ranging from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh. One could sense that environmental consciousness was not limited to government policies alone; it had become part of the Bhutans national character. How many decades India will take where Bhutan has reached in its tourism industry? At the magnificent Dochula pass, where 108 chortens stand amidst stunning Himalayan vistas, visitors like us were overwhelmed with the serenity of the place , yet the place looked unobtrusive. Compare this pass with our Nathu la pass or even with the highest motorable pass of Khardungla. Both the latter ones are choc- a bloc with trash and people alike notwithstanding the strategic importance of these two passes to India. Such experiences leave a lasting impression that cannot be measured in hotel revenues or visitor statistics. Investing in nature Bhutan is globally recognized as the worlds only Carbon Negative country. Its forests cover more than 70% of its land area, far exceeding the constitutional requirement of maintaining at least 60% forest cover .In contrast whats the situation in India? The less the better. States that were once the epitome of forest conservation HP, Uttarakhand, J&K, etc.) are fast hurtling down the lane of deforestation. Hydroelectric power, one of the mainstays of Bhutans economy, provides clean energy, while forests absorb more carbon dioxide than the country emits. Maintaining this ecological balance requires continuous financial commitment. This is where the SDF comes into play. SDF is a practical application of the polluter pays, and beneficiary contributes principle. Empowering local communities Another abiding lesson from the Bhutan visit that I thought prudent enough to share is that conservation succeeds only when local communities become beneficiaries. Villagers should receive employment opportunities in the form of nature guides, eco-tourism operators, homestay owners, wildlife interpreters, waste management workers, adventure activity supervisors, the likes of which we had in the form of Kinley and Wangchen with us during the tour. When communities derive sustainable livelihoods from conservation, they naturally become its strongest protectors. Preserving culture alongside nature Bhutan has successfully demonstrated that environmental conservation and cultural preservation reinforce each other. Traditional architecture remains mandatory. National dress ( Gho & Kia ) continues to be respected and worn with lan. Religious sites maintain their sanctity. Festivals retain their authenticity rather than becoming a purely commercial spectacle. The SDF also carries an educational message. Visitors understand that environmental conservation has a tangible value. Responsible tourism begins in Bhutan even before its arrival. Many tourists subsequently are like virtual ambassadors to their respective countries and are carriers of this abiding mantra in their own unique manner. Technology & sustainability goes hand in hand Bhutan has very ably dovetailed technology to sustain its eco-tourism. It has made digital platform implementation easier than before. On line booking systems are ruling the roost in this Himalayan kingdom wherein the SDF too is collected automatically. QR codes can provide expenditure details in almost all the hotels/Homestays in Bhutan. GPS based waste collection systems in capital city of Thimphu and even at Paro was an eye opener for me. Technology combined with transparent governance can make sustainable tourism both efficient and accountable. Where is India in this regard? The road ahead for India Indias tourism sector is poised for tremendous expansion in the coming decades given the size as well as the human resource at its disposal. Domestic tourism already is ticking in the millions of visits annually while international arrivals continue to grow. But without sustainable planning, degradation may become irreversible in this sector too. Destination specific SDF could become an important component of Indias tourism sector. Such funds should be accompanied by scientific carrying capacity assessments, efficient public transport, plastic free campaigns, rainwater harvesting, independent audits, public accountability and the ilk. Only then tourism can become truly sustainable rather than exploitative. A personal reflection As our group stood at Dochula pass ready to embark the coaster bus, gazing across the snow clad Himalayan ranges (though partially visible due to fog), prayer flags fluttering gently in the mountainous breeze ; one thought repeatedly crossed my mind: such beauty survives only because someone has chosen to protect it. Tourism should never become a reason for natures decline. Every traveller who leaves footprints on a mountain trail or memories in a pristine valley should also leave behind a small contribution towards protecting that landscape. Bhutan has transformed this philosophy into public policy. Can India emulate its Himalayan neighbour in so many ways as enunciated by me in the preceding paragraphs? A food for thought for the readers of Rising Kashmir. (The Author is a retired army officer and a regular scribe of Rising Kashmir paper. He can be approached on his email at: slalotra4729@gmail.com)
Truce about Jantar-Mantar: Time will tell whether it was a risk worth taking...!
FRAGRANCE OF IDEAS Last week, the 20th July 2026 belonged to the anarchy and anarchists in India and especially so in the Delhi region. The heart of the Delhi city, comprising the busiest areas in and around Jantar-Mantar, Janpath, Connaught Place, Lutyens New Delhi, Parliament surroundings and even the Prime Minister's residential areas, were targeted specifically. All these were brought into the purview of chaos, violence, stone-pelting, attack on men and women in police uniform, retaliatory police action, damage to police and private vehicles and properties, detentions and petty political battles on roads and in the parliament. The opposition parties and particularly the Congress didn't lag behind in encashing the volatile situation notwithstanding their constitutional and socio-political responsibilities and accountability towards the parliament, the monsoon session of which also started on 20th July 2026. Their demonstrations in the highly sensitive area of the Prime Minister's residence under Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, followed by typical tantrums, were an absolute political mockery reflecting their immaturity and irresponsible attitude. The same is the position of those public figures who have, on a number of occasions in the past, supported anarchy and anarchists openly and publicly. It included people like Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, Yogendra Yadav and many of their ilks. There is a perception among a large segment of the population that PM Narendra Modi is the only best solution to any attempt of anarchy in the country at the hands of those who want India to follow Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal in this context. He is perceived as the biggest guarantee against such a situation. His government is supposed to be stable, responsive, accountable, transparent and strong. Any concession to violence, anarchy and damage to public order is not in its syllabus. People of the country see the current Modi government in the light of its previous two incarnations and as the biggest tool for transforming India. In regard to the unfortunate happenings, there are various views and opinions in public, and all hold water to some extent. It all started with the announcement of a sit-in-protest by a known activist of Ladakh, Sonam Wangchuk, at Jantar-Mantar on the issue of the NEET paper leak, followed by his indefinite hunger strike at the same venue. Consequently, his hunger strike evoked interest and follow-up among the students and youth of the country. He was later joined by the activists of a newly formed social media group called 'Cockroach Janta Party' led by one Abhijeet Dipkey living in Boston, US. The founder of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke 'thanked Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, saying the CJI's earlier cockroaches remark about unemployed youth became the trigger for a movement that eventually led to Jantar-Mantar agitation and pressure upon the government of India to initiate dialogue with it and eventually making the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign. He also said that had the remark not been made, he might not have returned to India and the youth-led agitation may not have taken shape in that manner. The CJI, Surya Kant, had later clarified that his comments were taken out of context and were actually aimed at individuals with fake or bogus degrees, not unemployed youth in general. The CJP ended its 36-day agitation on 25 July, 2026 after the government accepted its remaining demands, including compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy and withdrawal of FIRs against protesters. However, there is no clarity about the withdrawal of cases about the people against whom there are serious charges of violence, arson and attack on policemen in uniform on duty. The time frame for reforms in the education system have also been discussed but details have not been made public as yet. It becomes important in the foregoing to have more discussion about the whole issue in order to arrive at a convincing conclusion. The government of India seems to have taken a huge risk while considering the demands of the agitating students and youth led by Sonam Wangchuk and the CJP leaders and entering into a truce with them officially. On the face of it, the whole exercise is based upon reposing trust in the people who were in the lead of the agitation. The declarations and other details on behalf of the government are reminiscent of the farmers agitation way back in 2020-21. As has been communicated by the government and the party in power -the BJP- the whole issue was dealt with by the government keeping in view the national interests and peace in the country, the interests of the students and youth in general and the possible reformation process in the educational sector. However, these clarifications havent convinced a large segment of the supporters of the BJP and the government. They view it as a surrender before the anarchists and anarchy. They view the whole issue in a chronological order. Sonam Wangchuk, who runs a number of NGOs, was accused of anti-national activities in 2007 in an official government communique when there was the UPA government at the centre. He was the person who issued a public statement only a few years back that in case China would advance towards India, they would welcome them in Ladakh and also show them the way. There were also a number of cases related to foreign funding against him. He was the same person who was held responsible for violence and arson in Leh in September 2025, in which four persons were killed. A number of public properties were burnt by the agitating crowds there. The government of India blamed Wangchuk for the events and detained him under the NSA and put him in Jodhpur jail. He was consequently released in March 2026, enabling him to enter into a dialogue with the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the other Ladakh activists for a democratic set-up in Ladakh. There was an agreement to this effect between the two sides that has seen an implementation process on the ground recently. When Wangchuk decided to go for the sit-in-protest at Jantar-Mantar, New Delhi, on the NEET issue, he received a meager support from the youth. However, he continued with his mission in hand and decided to go for the indefinite hunger strike on the issue from the same venue. That decision charged the atmosphere, and it started building pressure on the government. Later on, it was joined by the CJP activists who made it known from the very beginning that they wouldnt end the stir before the resignation of the Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, as he was morally held responsible for the paper leak, though he had no direct hand in it. The movement gained strength with a few opposition leaders lending support to it, some celebrities joining it physically and a few andolan-jeevies becoming a part of it. It was a situation similar to the farmers agitation and Shaheen Bagh. Forces opposite to the BJP, Modi, NDA, Hindutva, RSS and even some anti-national groups joined the agitation publicly and started speaking venom against everyone and every institution and organisation they traditionally opposed. It was virtually a free-for-all at the venue of the agitation. Naked abuses against the Prime Minister, BJP, RSS and Hindutva were made at the Jantar-Mantar. The situation eased a bit when Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital on 18 July, 2026 by the police on the directions of the court. On the fateful day of 20 July 2026, the parliament was to begin its monsoon session. The CJP and others chose the same day for the parliament siege. The situation had become very tense, and the government decided to declare Section 163 of the BNSS at Jantar-Mantar. Assembly of more than five was declared illegal. People gathered there despite heavy police 'bandobast' around the venue. All sorts of people besides the agitators, including history-sheeters, criminals, communal elements and people belonging to certain opposition parties, joined the Sansad-Chalo march. What happened thereafter is well known and recorded. The agitators attacked even the media men and women covering the event. There are wide coverages available in the public domain and also with the police depicting truthful facts about the mayhem on that day in Delhi. Despite what unfortunate developments took place on 20 July 2026, the government went ahead with the dialogue process in order to end the agitation and its possible outbreak at a national level. The Prime Minister deputed two ministers to negotiate with the agitators. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a midnight video broadcast, communicated about his concerns to the youth of the country and assured about the reforming process in the education sector. He also assured strong action against the people responsible for paper leaks. His message on social media broke all records of the past, and its viewership went into hundreds of millions. His number of followers swelled to a further more than one million. This surely testifies to the fact that he remains the star attraction and the leader of the masses and particularly of the youth in any sort of situation. In the developing scenario, it is now to be seen whether the government took a wise decision or not. The whole issue is of the trust that the government reposed in the agitating leaders and also about the implementation of the agreement that was reached between the two sides. Keeping in view the latest statements of the leaders of the CJP that it shouldnt be seen as an end in itself,anything is possible in the near future. It is only the time that will determine whether it was a risk worth taking for the government of India! (The author is a senior BJP & KP leader, Human Rights Defender and a columnist and can be reached at: ashwanikc2012@gmail.com )
Chanapora Crash: Another Life Lost to Our Collective Negligence
A young life cut short, another hanging in the balance, and a rider who chose flight over responsibility, the fatal crash on Chanapora Bridge in Srinagar is not an isolated mishap. It is yet another grim entry in Kashmirs growing ledger of preventable road deaths, a tragedy that exposes not just one bikers recklessness but a wider culture of impunity on our roads and the failure of institutions tasked with keeping them safe. According to officials, Imad Aijaz, a resident of Sebdan in Budgam and originally from Karnah, died on the spot after two motorcycles collided on the bridge. An 18-year-old woman, now lies injured after being rushed to hospital. The other motorcyclist is alleged to have fled the scene with his vehicle, leaving behind a dead body, an injured girl and a shattered family. This is not merely an accident; it is a crime against basic humanity. Hit-and-run episodes have become disturbingly frequent in the Valley. They flourish in an environment where speeding is normalised, traffic rules are treated as suggestions rather than laws, and enforcement oscillates between sporadic drives and long spells of indifference. The Chanapora crash forces an uncomfortable question: if the fear of law was real, would a rider dare to flee the scene of such a grave collision? Equally troubling is our social response. The public has grown desensitised to road carnage. Headlines about deaths on highways, bridges and urban stretches appear with numbing regularity, only to be forgotten once the next crisis arrives. Road safety is discussed briefly after a major tragedy and then quietly pushed down the priority list of both government and society. There is outrage, but little sustained pressure for structural change. The police have registered a case and launched a hunt for the absconding biker. That is the bare minimum. What is required is a visible, time-bound investigation, public disclosure of findings and exemplary punishment if culpability is established. Justice in such cases should not depend on public memory, which fades within days, but on an institutional resolve to make our roads safer and our laws meaningful. Beyond this specific case, the administration must treat road safety as a governance priority, not as a seasonal campaign. That means strict enforcement of helmet use and speed limits, calibrated surveillance on accident-prone stretches like bridges and narrow corridors, and prompt penalties for violations. It also demands better engineering of roads and junctions, improved signage and lighting, and regular safety audits, not just paper exercises. But laws and infrastructure alone will not suffice. Parents handing over powerful two-wheelers to untrained or immature riders, peers glorifying risky stunts, and public at large staying silent about habitual offenders all contribute to the this deadly culture of rash and irresponsible driving. Road safety must become a social value, not just a traffic rule. Chanapora Bridge should not be remembered merely as the site of yet another fatal crash. It must become a turning point. The absconding rider must be traced and held accountable, and the incident should trigger a sustained campaign against the everyday recklessness that stalks our roads. Each life lost to such preventable violence is an indictment of the state, of society, and of each of us who chooses silence over responsibility.
True Education Beyond the Classroom
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhas assertion that true education is putting knowledge into practice goes beyond a ceremonial soundbite. The Reading Marathon at Dal Lake, organised on Sunday as part of Education Week to mark six years of the National Education Policy, offers a timely reminder that classrooms and examinations alone cannot shape the future of Jammu and Kashmir. When thousands of students gather on the banks of Dal to read, run and reflect on the environment, they enact a vision of learning that is lived, not merely learned. The theme, Run for a Green Future, underlines an urgent truth. A region already vulnerable to ecological stress cannot afford a generation that treats environmental awareness as an extracurricular hobby. By linking reading with fitness and environmental responsibility, the event suggests a holistic idea of citizenship: one where the mind is informed, the body disciplined and the conscience awake to the crises unfolding around us. Yet symbolism, however powerful, must translate into sustained change. The three pledges the LG urged upon the youth; to read daily, to practise environmental conservation and to turn the spirit of the marathon into lifelong commitment will mean little if they remain confined to one days enthusiasm and official speeches. School and university campuses across J&K need libraries that are alive, curricula that foster critical thinking and institutional practices that reflect genuine respect for the environment, from waste management to energy use. The invocation of Kargils young heroes on the eve of Vijay Diwas adds another layer to this message. The courage and sacrifice of soldiers in their early twenties are often recalled to inspire nationalism. But their stories should also prompt a sober question: what kind of society are we building for todays youth, whose energies are as easily consumed by unemployment, uncertainty and social media fatigue as they are by higher ideals? A Nation First attitude cannot be demanded while ignoring the structural barriers that prevent young people from realising their potential. If the Reading Marathon is to be more than an annual spectacle, it must push institutions and policymakers to act. That means investing in public libraries, protecting lakes and forests, supporting mental and physical health in campuses, and ensuring that the promises of the National Education Policy reach beyond press releases. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir do not lack spirit; they need systems that trust and enable them. Only then will education in the Valley truly move from the page to practice.
Rarely has the sport seen so many stars leaving the stage within a space of so little time. We also saw the curtain coming down on two high-profile coaching stints: of Brendon McCullum and Stephen Fleming. As if all that wasnt enough, Garry Sobers, crickets greatest all-rounder of all time, bid an even more poignant farewell
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When History Speaks to the Young: Chinar Book Festival and the Return of Rajatarangini
Every civilisation is, in the end, a story it tells its children. In Kashmir, that story has lived for nearly nine centuries in the verses of Kalhana's Rajatarangini - the River of Kings - carried faithfully through the corridors of universities and research libraries, waiting for the moment it could reach the young readers who might draw the most meaning from it. This year, at the third edition of the Chinar Book Festival in Srinagar, that moment arrived, in a manner that feels less like an event and more like the start of a restoration. The Chinar Book Festival began as a gathering, a celebration of the written word in a region whose relationship with literature has always been intimate. Across three editions, it has grown into something more deliberate: a working institution, a place where translation workshops are convened, where scholars and authors share their writings, and where the results of that labour are handed directly to the public within a year or two. It is this discipline festival as it that has now delivered three of the most substantial literary interventions Kashmir has seen in years. To understand why the Stories from Rajatarangini initiative matters, it helps to understand what Rajatarangini actually is. Composed in Sanskrit between roughly 1148 and 1150 CE, it is among the earliest sustained works of historical writing produced anywhere in the Indian subcontinent - a chronicle, in verse, of Kashmir's kings from legendary antiquity down to Kalhana's own century. Kalhana was no distant observer of court life; he was the son of Champaka, chief minister to King Harsha of Kashmir, and the brother of the musician Kanaka. He wrote from inside the machinery of power, which makes his commitment to judging that power honestly all the more remarkable. The poet Mankhaka called him a master craftsman of narrative, and later chroniclers - Jonaraja, Srivara, Prajyabhatta and Shuka carried the tradition he began forward, extending the river of Kashmir's recorded history for centuries after his death. What sets Rajatarangini apart from court chronicles elsewhere in the medieval world is a single, striking claim Kalhana makes about his own method: that the true historian must write like an impartial judge, his account grounded in truth rather than attachment or favour. That ambition was unusual for its time, and it is why the text has endured as something closer to history than to hagiography. It is also why a work built on that founding principle feels less like an antique curiosity and more like a quiet, enduring model. The text's scholarly credentials were secured in the late nineteenth century, when the orientalist Sir Aurel Stein, working with the Kashmiri pandit Govind Kaul, produced the English translation that introduced Rajatarangini to a global academic audience. That translation, and the Hindi scholarship that followed it, secured the chronicle's place in university syllabi and research institutions for well over a century. The next natural step and the one the Chinar Book Festival has now taken is to carry that same chronicle, in Kalhana's own spirit of instructing rulers and citizens alike, into the hands of young readers who can meet Lalitaditya and Kota Rani in a story written just for them. The Stories from Rajatarangini initiative exists to make that meeting possible, and it has been built with real care over real time. During the second edition of the Chinar Book Festival in 2025, the National Book Trust convened a dedicated Rajatarangini Workshop, bringing together novelists, historians and language scholars to work through a genuinely rewarding question: how does one take a twelfth-century court chronicle, rich with genealogy and statecraft, and shape it into something a contemporary young reader will love to finish? The participating writers weighed which figures carried the strongest narrative charge Queen Yashovati, Avantivarman, Lalitaditya, Matrigupta, Queen Didda, Nar-Kinnara, Jayapida, Jayasimha, Kota Rani and built outlines for each before a single chapter was drafted. That patience has paid off handsomely. At this year's festival, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, launched the first five completed novels in the series, each one built around a ruler whose story offers far more than a record of a reign: Lalitaditya, the Chakravarti Emperor, tells the story of Kashmir at its most expansive, an empire carried across northern, central and southern Asia into Tibet and Turkestan, frontiers successfully defended against Arab and Tibetan forces, and the construction of the magnificent Martand Sun Temple, whose ruins still draw visitors today. It is, among the five, the most overtly heroic account, and a natural entry point for readers drawn to scale and spectacle. Queen Yashovati offers something the historical record rarely preserves anywhere in the world: a woman ruler whose authority is the very centre of the story, not its footnote. Drawing on both Rajatarangini and the older Nilamata Purana, the novel follows a queen who steadied a kingdom exhausted by two wars, acted as capable regent for her young son, put down rebellion, and governed with a steadiness that earned her a lasting place in the chronicle. NBT celebrates her as among the earliest recorded female sovereigns in world history a distinction that deserves far wider recognition. Jayapida, grandson of Lalitaditya, is the most psychologically rich of the five, as much an inquiry into ambition, loyalty and self-reflection as it is a chronicle of conquest. It rewards slightly older readers especially well, since its depth lies as much in Jayapida's inner journey as in his campaigns. Matrigupta tells a story of ascent: a poor but gifted and honest young man who rises to high office through integrity, perseverance and poetic talent, inspired along the way by the legendary Emperor Vikramaditya. It is the novel most directly built to model values such as duty, courage, fairness for a young readership, achieving this with genuine narrative charm rather than heavy-handed moralising. Kota Rani completes the first phase with a story of triumph and enduring legacy. Set amid the political turbulence of fourteenth-century Kashmir, it follows the daughter of the commander Ramachandra as she rises past entrenched patriarchal power to become one of the most formidable rulers in the chronicle's later chapters - commissioning the Kuta Kul, the canal that still bears her name, and earning her place in history as the last Hindu woman ruler of Kashmir. It is the most reflective of the five, and perhaps the most quietly important, ensuring that Kashmir's history is remembered in its fullness. Taken as a set, these five novels amount to a curriculum in disguise teaching statecraft through Lalitaditya, resilience through Yashovati, self-awareness through Jayapida, integrity through Matrigupta, and enduring courage through Kota Rani. NBT has been clear that this is only the first phase, with further novels planned on the remaining figures explored during the 2025 workshop Avantivarman, Queen Didda, Nar-Kinnara, Jayasimha and others. Standing alongside the Rajatarangini novels as this year's most meaningful achievement is the release of twenty-four bilingual children's books in Gojri. These titles - four in DogriGojri, six in EnglishGojri, three in KashmiriGojri, and five each in UrduGojri and HindiGojri were produced through the region's first-ever Gojri Translation Workshop, held during the 2025 edition of the festival and bringing together writers, translators and language experts to lay the foundation of a genuine children's literature in Gojri. Gojri is spoken widely and warmly among Kashmir's Gujjar and Bakarwal communities, carried for generations through song and proverb, and now, thanks to this workshop, given its first substantial body of printed children's literature. The workshop's output was well-loved international and Indian children's titles translated across five language pairs into Gojri representing genuine foundational work: books like What is a Tree, Friends, A Tale of Tails and Bond of Love now exist for the first time in a script and idiom that Gojri-speaking children can call entirely their own. For a child, learning to read in one's mother tongue transforms the experience of reading itself, turning it from an obligation into a discovery. Taken together, the Rajatarangini novels and the Gojri translations rest on the same underlying conviction: that access to literature is a right worth building deliberately into a language, a curriculum, and a childhood from the very start. A textbook can teach a child the dates of Lalitaditya's reign. A well-told story can make that child feel a genuine claim on the land those dates describe. And holding a book written in the language one dreams in offers young readers something no curriculum can fully replicate on its own. The truest measure of this year's festival will be seen in how far these books travel into the hands of its readers, into homes far beyond the festival tents where the launch took place. What the Chinar Book Festival has demonstrated across three editions is that heritage and readership can grow together rather than compete for the same limited attention. A twelfth-century Sanskrit chronicle and a five-year-old's first Gojri picture book can, with sufficient patience and craft, occupy the same festival and eventually the same bookshelf. That is a considerable achievement to state so simply. It may, in time, prove to be one of the more consequential things a book festival in this country has done. (Courtesy: The National Book Trust, India)
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PDP chiefs remarks trigger political backlash
Srinagar, July 26: National Conference Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq and Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday launched a sharp attack on PDP President Mehbooba Mufti over her recent remarks comparing Gen Z protesters at Jantar Mantar with protesters in Kashmir and referring to Kashmiri protesters as militants. Both leaders accused the PDP chief of justifying the use of force during the 2016 unrest in Kashmir, saying her remarks had reopened painful memories of pellet injuries, deaths and alleged excesses during her tenure as Chief Minister. Bukhari termed Mehboobas comments deeply unfortunate, saying describing Kashmiri protesters as militants amounted to stooping very low and reflected the mindset she had displayed while in power. People of Jammu and Kashmir have not forgotten what happened during her tenure. Hundreds of young boys and girls lost their eyesight or suffered life-altering injuries because of pellet guns. These painful memories cannot be erased by political rhetoric or selective narratives, he said. The Apni Party chief alleged that the latest remarks exposed Mehbooba Muftis ruthless violence during her tenure and accused her of pursuing opportunistic politics according to changing circumstances. He said Mehbooba first went to Jantar Mantar to appease Congress leaders and was now branding Kashmir protesters as militants to appease her masters in the BJP. Meanwhile, NC leader Tanvir Sadiq said Mehboobas banta hai remark had ripped open the wounds of 2016 and exposed what he termed the PDPs mindset of justifying the brutal suppression of people. In a statement issued from Nawa-e-Subha, Sadiq said portraying Kashmiri protesters as militants was not only insensitive but an endorsement of policies that left thousands injured and traumatised. For the mothers who lost their sons, the youth who lost their eyesight to pellets, and the families whose lives were shattered, there is nothing that banta hai about state excesses, he said. Sadiq accused Mehbooba of defending one of the darkest chapters in Kashmirs recent history instead of expressing remorse, saying no political rhetoric could erase the scars of 2016. Both leaders demanded accountability from the PDP leadership and said people of Jammu and Kashmir would not allow what they described as an attempt to rewrite history. Meanwhile PDP alleges that Mehboobas comments were distorted using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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Nagrota farmers embark on seven-day agri exposure tour
Jammu, July 26: In a significant initiative to strengthen farmers' knowledge and promote the cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), the Member Legislative Assembly Nagrota Devyani Rana on sunday flagged off a seven-day exposure visit of farmers to Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, from the Chief Agriculture Office, Jammu under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) MAP Clusters. The exposure visit comprises 50 farmers from Keri, Sarote and Mathwar villages (MAP Cluster Mathwar) in Sub-Division Marh Jammu, who will gain first-hand exposure to advanced technologies, scientific cultivation practices, value addition, processing and marketing strategies related to medicinal and aromatic plants through interactions with experts, research institutions and progressive farmers in Palampur. The flag-off ceremony was attended by District Agriculture Officer, Jammu Vinod Khajuria, Subject Matter Specialist (District Level) Munshi Ram Rukwal, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Marh Khalid Hassan Tantri, Subject Matter Specialist (Sub-Division Level) Vishali Bagal, besides field officers and officials of the Agriculture Department. Speaking on the occasion, the MLA emphasized the importance of exposure visits in equipping farmers with practical knowledge and innovative farming techniques. She said that the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme is transforming the agriculture sector by creating new opportunities for diversification, entrepreneurship and higher farm incomes. She urged the participating farmers to actively engage during the visit, learn modern cultivation and post-harvest management practices and disseminate the acquired knowledge among fellow farmers upon their return. She also appreciated the Agriculture Department for organizing such capacity-building initiatives for the farming community. SDAO Marh informed that the exposure visit has been organized to enable farmers from MAP clusters to gain practical insights into successful cultivation models, quality planting material production, processing technologies and market linkages. He expressed confidence that the visit would motivate farmers to adopt scientific practices and contribute towards the sustainable development of the medicinal and aromatic plant sector in Jammu district. The participating farmers expressed gratitude to the Agriculture Department for providing them with the opportunity to visit reputed institutions and interact with experts, which would help them improve productivity, quality and profitability of their farming enterprises. The programme concluded with the flagging off of the farmers' contingent amidst best wishes from the dignitaries and officials for a productive and successful learning experience.
AIP seeks swift relief for Beerwah flood-hit traders
Srinagar, July 26: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi has called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to immediately implement the assurances he made to the traders whose shops were destroyed after the devastating flash floods along the Sukhnag Nallah in Beerwah. Inam Un Nabi said that the affected traders have lost not only their shops but also their only source of livelihood. He stated that the Chief Minister's visit to the affected area had raised hopes among the victims, and those assurances must now be translated into immediate action. The government must not allow these promises to remain mere announcements. The affected traders deserve swift rehabilitation, fair compensation and a clear timeline for restoring their businesses. Delays will only deepen the economic and psychological distress of families already struggling to recover, he said. He demanded the immediate release of compensation, early completion of the assessment process, and allotment of suitable temporary commercial spaces until permanent rehabilitation is ensured. He also urged the government to formulate a comprehensive rehabilitation package that addresses both immediate relief and long-term livelihood restoration. Inam Un Nabi further stressed the need for permanent flood mitigation measures along the Sukhnag Nallah, including strengthening embankments, improving drainage infrastructure and conducting regular safety audits of vulnerable commercial structures to prevent such disasters in the future. Reaffirming Awami Itihaad Party's solidarity with the affected traders, Inam Un Nabi said the party stands firmly with them in their hour of crisis and will continue to press the government until every commitment made to the victims is fulfilled in letter and spirit.
Dr. Farooq, Omar extend Urs greetings
Srinagar, 26 July: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have extended their warm greetings to the people on the annual Urs of the revered Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Qamar-ud-Din Bukhari (RA), popularly known as Qamar Shah Sahab (RA) Ganderbal. In their message, the duo said that the life and teachings of Hazrat Qamar Shah Sahab (RA) continue to illuminate the path of spirituality, compassion, humility, and selfless service to humanity. They said the saint's enduring legacy inspires generations to uphold the values of communal harmony, brotherhood, tolerance, and love, which have been the hallmark of Kashmir's rich Sufi ethos. They prayed that the auspicious occasion brings peace, prosperity, and harmony to Jammu and Kashmir and serves as a source of blessings for all. They also prayed for the acceptance of the prayers and devotions offered during the sacred Urs and wished the devotees a spiritually fulfilling observance.
Sonam Wangchuk to be discharged from hospital on July 27
The activists team says he will visit Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi before leaving for Ladakh
JKPCC pays tributes to Kargil heroes at Balidan Stambh
Jammu, July 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) on Saturday paid tributes to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Kargil War on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas. A homage ceremony was held at Balidan Stambh in Jammu, where JKPCC leaders and workers offered floral tributes to the Kargil heroes and observed a two-minute silence in their memory. The programme was led by JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, who said Kargil Vijay Diwas represents a glorious chapter in Indias history and reflects the courage, patriotism and sacrifice of the armed forces. Bhalla said the soldiers defended the countrys sovereignty with extraordinary valour and their supreme sacrifices would continue to inspire generations. He added that honouring the nations heroes was the responsibility of every citizen. Former Minister and DCC Jammu Urban President Yogesh Sawhney said the Kargil War demonstrated the bravery and determination of the Indian Army under challenging circumstances. He called upon the youth to draw inspiration from the sacrifices of soldiers and contribute towards nation-building. JKPCC General Secretary Satish Sharma said the sacrifices of Kargil martyrs would never be forgotten and reaffirmed the partys commitment to honouring the armed forces and supporting soldiers and their families. Several senior Congress leaders and party workers participated in the ceremony, including Manmohan Singh, Vijay Sharma, Jatinder Singh Chib and others. The programme concluded with patriotic slogans, as participants reiterated that the sacrifice of Kargil heroes would remain etched in the nations memory.
Students federation organises rally seeking abolition of NEET and NTA
