States

Fadnavis fires Ghajini barb at Thackeray cousins over protest march

In a dig, he said one should try to sound believable while speaking lies

FBI Director Kash Patel gets engaged to longtime girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins

Ms. Wilkins, 27, posted a black-and-white photo of herself standing with Mr. Patel, 46, flashing her hand in front of them to show off her ring

The right to more than a room and roof

The Odisha government has formulated guidelines to safeguard the property rights of persons with disabilities. Satyasundar Barik spoke to those impacted and to activists, who say that these guidelines were needed for both inherited and self-acquired property, and how mandates help improve lives

Man, two grandchildren drown in agricultural pond in Chickballapur

The Chintamani Rural Police visited the spot and conducted an initial inspection. The bodies were subsequently recovered from the pond and shifted to the Chintamani Government Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.

Now it's Typhoon Nolo after Pacific hurricane crosses international dateline

Nolo is expected to keep moving west across the Pacific and is not forecast to threaten any land through Friday (October 1), forecasters said

UN pre-COP climate summit kicks off in Fiji

This week's talks in Nadi and on the atoll nation of Tuvalu are a precursor to the larger UN-sponsored global climate summit - known as COP31 - to be held next month in Turkey

Brazils Flavio Bolsonaro beats polls in presidential vote, faces Lula in runoff

The two leading candidates will advance to the second round of voting on October 25

Georgia block party shooting kills two, injures dozens

Authorities do not believe there is a remaining threat to the public, but have not publicly named any suspects or persons of interest, and have not identified a motive for the shooting

ANNUAL REPORT 2025-2026 PART 3 : J&K Bank strengthens risk framework to tackle climate, cyber, fraud risks

Srinagar, Oct 04: Jammu & Kashmir Bank has strengthened its risk-management architecture to deal with an increasingly complex banking environment, placing greater emphasis on credit quality, liquidity, fraud prevention, operational resilience, cybersecurity and emerging climate-related risks. The banks Integrated Annual Report 2025-26, accessed by Rising Kashmir, shows that risk management is no longer confined to conventional financial risks, with the institution broadening its framework to include physical and transition risks arising from climate change, alongside environmental, social and governance concerns. At the top of the structure, the Board of Directors sets the banks overall risk philosophy and appetite, while the Integrated Risk Management Committee oversees credit, operational, liquidity, market and Pillar II risks, including stress testing and the Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process. An independent Risk Management Vertical headed by the Chief Risk Officer is responsible for identifying, assessing, measuring, monitoring and mitigating risks. The framework is supported by specialised committees dealing with credit, market and operational risks, as well as the Asset Liability Committee, the report reads. It states that the Banks Board-approved Risk Appetite Framework establishes limits across credit, market, liquidity, operational, reputational, concentration and strategic risks, with risk considerations integrated into business planning and capital allocation. Credit risk remains a key area of focus, with the bank seeking to contain potential losses from borrower defaults through tighter underwriting, assessment of repayment capacity and cash flows, internal credit ratings and exposure limits, the report reads. Exposures are continuously monitored across sectors, products and borrower segments, while early-warning indicators and regular portfolio reviews are used to identify stress before it develops into larger asset-quality problems. Stress testing under adverse but plausible scenarios is also integrated with the banks capital adequacy assessment. The report states that liquidity and interest-rate risks are being managed through a Board-approved Asset Liability Management Policy, with the Asset Liability Committee regularly reviewing deposit and lending pricing, balance-sheet composition and compliance with prescribed limits. The Bank monitors liquidity through structural and dynamic liquidity statements, behavioural studies of deposits, and regulatory indicators including the Liquidity Coverage Ratio and Net Stable Funding Ratio, the report reads, adding that a contingency funding plan provides defined triggers and escalation mechanisms in the event of liquidity stress. It notes that the market risks arising from movements in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices and credit spreads are being controlled through exposure, duration, stop-loss and profit-and-loss limits. The Bank also uses tools such as Value at Risk, modified duration, PV01, stress testing and scenario analysis to assess potential losses, it reads. Operational risk has received a similarly broad treatment, with the bank adopting a three-lines-of-defence model supported by risk and control self-assessments, key risk indicators, internal controls and independent assessments of new products, processes and outsourcing arrangements. The bank said it is also investing in technology, cybersecurity and system resilience, while maintaining business-continuity arrangements aligned with ISO 22301 and periodically testing disaster-recovery mechanisms. Fraud prevention forms another major pillar of the framework. A dedicated Fraud Risk Group under the Chief Risk Officer, real-time monitoring of digital transactions and analytics-based detection mechanisms are being used to identify suspicious activity and emerging fraud indicators, it said. According to the report, the bank is also tracking Red Flagged Accounts and conducting root-cause assessments of fraud cases to strengthen controls and prevent recurrence. Whistleblower and protected-disclosure mechanisms have been positioned as part of efforts to promote an ethical and risk-aware organisational culture. One of the emerging areas highlighted in the report is climate and ESG risk. The bank has initiated a phased ESG framework under which physical risks from extreme weather and longer-term climate shifts, as well as transition risks arising from policy, technology and market changes, will increasingly form part of its risk assessment, the report adds. Such risks could affect borrowers cash flows and collateral values, increase credit and operational losses and disrupt banking operations. The bank has adopted a Board-approved ESG Policy and undertaken an assessment of its existing practices against Indian and international sustainability and disclosure frameworks. It is progressively integrating climate risks into credit appraisal, portfolio monitoring and enterprise risk assessment, the report notes.

U.S. Air Force removes all bombers from British air base targeted by a suspected terror attack

The U.S. Air Force has brought home its bombers stationed at a U.S.-run military air base in England used to strike Iran following an investigation into a planned terror attack at the RAF Fairford base

PM Surya Ghar : 43,000 solar rooftops installed in J&K

Srinagar, Oct 04: Jammu and Kashmir has crossed a milestone in its clean energy journey, with 43,000 rooftop solar installations completed under the PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana, as the Union Territory accelerates its transition towards renewable power. Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Mehmood Ahmad Shah, who was accompanying Secretary, Union Ministry of Power, Pankaj Agarwal, to review developments in the power sector in J&K, including projects being implemented under the Centre's Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) and the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, shared the figures of rooftop installations with reporters. According to him, the Kashmir Valley has recorded 26,000 installations so far, while Jammu has seen only 17,000 till date. Shah acknowledged that some districts are lagging behind but stated that many of the Valley districts are doing extremely well. Srinagar, Budgam and Kupwara, Shah said, are doing extremely well, while Baramulla and Bandipora are lagging. The PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to provide free electricity to households through rooftop solar installations, reducing dependence on conventional power and lowering electricity bills for consumers. The review by the Union Power Secretary, along with the MD KPDCL, underscores the Centre's focus on strengthening J&K's power infrastructure, including ongoing projects under the RDSS, which aims to improve the operational efficiency and financial sustainability of power distribution companies.

October heat breaks records across Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 04: Kashmir witnessed an extraordinary spell of October warmth on Sunday, with temperatures soaring several degrees above normal and multiple weather stations breaking or approaching long-standing records for the month. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 31.2C, making it the second-highest October temperature on record for the city. The reading was 5.7C above normal and surpassed the previous October high of 31.1C recorded on October 2, 2008. The all-time October record remains 33.9C, recorded on October 2, 1931. The heat was even more pronounced in Qazigund, where the mercury climbed to 31.4C, breaking the previous October record of 31.2C recorded on October 1, 1985. The temperature was 7.3C above normal, making Sunday the hottest October day ever recorded at Qazigund. Kokernag too witnessed a new October benchmark, recording 29.4C, against the previous record of 29.2C registered on October 4, 2008. The reading was 5.8C above normal. Even the higher reaches were not spared. Gulmarg recorded 23.2C, surpassing the previous October high of 23.0C recorded only a day earlier. The resort's all-time October record stands at 23.4C, recorded on October 1, 2009, putting Sunday's temperature among the highest ever recorded there for the month. Independent weatherman Faizan Arif said the readings were particularly striking because the unusual warmth was being recorded simultaneously across several stations and elevations. This is not just a warm day at one location. When several stations across Kashmir record temperatures substantially above their October normals, it becomes important to look at the larger atmospheric and climatic pattern, Arif said. Climate expert Dr Touseef Ahmad Bhat said the unusual October warmth should be viewed in the context of the broader changes being witnessed in Kashmir's climate. October is traditionally a transition month when temperatures begin to decline noticeably. Such persistent and exceptional warmth indicates that the seasonal transition is becoming increasingly irregular, Bhat said, adding that individual weather events should not alone be treated as proof of climate change, but repeated deviations from historical patterns warrant close scientific attention. Former MeT Director and weather expert Sonam Lotus said temperature records have to be assessed alongside larger atmospheric conditions, including the behaviour of western disturbances, cloud cover, winds and precipitation patterns. The exceptional warmth comes after Kashmir experienced significant weather fluctuations this year, including a prolonged precipitation deficit followed by episodes of intense rainfall. The India Meteorological Department's Srinagar centre had already recorded 30.8C in Srinagar on October 3, 4.1C above normal, while Qazigund touched 30C and Gulmarg 23C. The latest spell therefore represents not merely a warm October afternoon but another striking departure from the Valley's usual seasonal pattern. For Kashmir, where October traditionally marks the transition from relatively mild autumn weather towards colder conditions, the record-breaking temperatures are likely to renew questions over the changing character of the Valley's seasonsand what prolonged warmth could mean for agriculture, water resources, ecosystems and the onset of winter. With several stations now registering their highest or near-highest October temperatures, Sunday's heat has added another unusual chapter to Kashmir's increasingly volatile weather calendar.

Tourism boom tests Kashmirs traffic system

Srinagar, Oct 04: Kashmirs tourism revival brought a massive surge in road traffic during this years peak season, with around 30,000 tourist vehicles from different states entering the Valley during April, May and June, adding considerable pressure to the regions already stretched traffic system. The additional rush of tourist vehicles put Kashmirs traffic management to a test, with authorities claiming that additional burden was challenging but managed smoothly. DIG Traffic Kashmir Haseeb ur Rehman told Rising Kashmir that the influx of vehicles from outside Jammu and Kashmir had placed an additional burden on roads during the peak tourist months. The movement of around 30,000 tourist vehicles from various states during April, May and June put additional pressure on the traffic system. It was challenging, but extra deployment of men and machinery was made. We managed the rush smoothly, he said. Tourism is increasing, and we have to plan accordingly for the winter tourism rush and also for the next year. The vehicle surge came amid a sharp rise in tourist footfall. More than 5.4 lakh tourists visited Kashmir in May and June alone, with 2,19,449 visitors recorded in May and 3,21,196 in June. Another 2,66,363 tourists visited in July, taking the May-July total to 8,07,008. The sharp increase in visitor numbers translated into heavier movement on major tourist corridors linking Srinagar with Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, while the city itself had to accommodate the additional tourist traffic alongside its regular local vehicle population. The scale of the traffic-management challenge is also reflected in enforcement figures. Srinagar recorded 52,545 traffic challans between April and June 2026, almost twice the 26,331 challans issued during the preceding 12 months. The citys automated enforcement network comprises 835 cameras across 66 junctions, with 792 cameras and 62 junctions reported functional. The rising road traffic comes as Kashmir increasingly attracts visitors travelling by private cars, taxis and tourist coaches, putting pressure on roads, parking spaces and key intersections, particularly during weekends and holiday periods. Officials have increasingly had to balance tourist movement with the requirements of local commuters, public transport and emergency services, making advance traffic planning crucial during the tourism season. DIG Rehman said the Traffic Department would use this years experience to strengthen its arrangements before the next tourist season. For next year, our preparations will be more advanced. We will analyse the movement patterns and identify the pressure points so that we are better prepared to handle the additional traffic, he said. The preparations are expected to focus on advance deployment of personnel, better regulation at vulnerable points, route management and improved coordination along busy tourist corridors. The figures underline the scale of the challenge ahead. With 8.07 lakh tourists visiting Kashmir in May-July alone, and around 30,000 tourist vehicles from outside the UT entering during April-June, the tourism boom is creating a parallel demand for stronger traffic-management capacity. For the Traffic Department, the summer experience has provided a clear lesson--as Kashmir attracts more tourists, managing the vehicles carrying them is becoming an equally important part of sustaining the Valleys tourism growth.

Road Safety Needs More Than Rules on Paper

Road safety in Kashmir cannot continue to be treated as a matter of occasional campaigns, ceremonial inspections and appeals to motorists. Every crash that claims a life or leaves a family devastated is a reminder that the crisis is not caused by recklessness alone. It is also rooted in unsafe roads, weak enforcement, poor traffic planning, defective vehicles and an administrative culture that often responds only after tragedy strikes. The valleys roads are under growing pressure. The number of vehicles has increased sharply, while road infrastructure, parking facilities and traffic management systems have failed to keep pace. Narrow roads, encroachments, inadequate signage, missing crash barriers and poorly marked diversions have made ordinary journeys hazardous. In several areas, pedestrians, cyclists and schoolchildren are forced to compete for space with fast-moving traffic. This is not merely an inconvenience; it is a serious public safety failure. Overspeeding, dangerous overtaking, driving under the influence and the use of mobile phones behind the wheel remain major causes of accidents. But enforcement cannot be reduced to occasional challans or roadside drives. The law must be applied consistently, visibly and without favour. Commercial vehicles, private cars, motorcycles and government vehicles must be held to the same standards. Fitness certificates should be issued only after genuine inspections, and unfit vehicles must not be allowed to remain on the roads. Road engineering also demands urgent attention. Black spots must be identified through data, not guesswork, and corrected through proper lighting, signage, lane markings, speed-calming measures and protective barriers. Roads near schools, hospitals and densely populated settlements require special treatment. Footpaths, pedestrian crossings and safe waiting areas are not luxuries; they are essential components of a functioning transport system. The administration must also improve emergency response. The minutes immediately after a crash often determine whether an injured person survives. Ambulance networks, trauma-care facilities and coordination between police and hospitals need to be strengthened, particularly along highways and remote roads. A quick response can save lives that might otherwise be lost because help arrived too late. Public awareness remains important, but responsibility should not be shifted entirely onto citizens. Campaigns urging people to wear helmets or seat belts will have little impact if helmets are of poor quality, seat belts are ignored by enforcement agencies, and roads remain dangerously designed. Awareness must be supported by accountability. The government should publish district-wise road safety targets, accident data and progress reports. Independent audits and community participation can help identify risks that official inspections overlook. Road safety is not a seasonal slogan. It is a continuous obligation involving every departmentfrom transport and police to public works and health. Kashmir needs a coordinated road safety policy that values human life above speed, convenience and administrative routine. Until that happens, each accident will remain a warning ignoredand each preventable death a failure for which someone must answer.

No Beeps, No Rings: A day without Phone !

PERSPECTIVE The realization hit me the moment I reached school some days ago. My pocket felt weightless. In the morning rush, I had left my phone behind at home. For anyone in charge of an institution, this is not a small slip. It triggers raw, cold panic. In public administration today, the smartphone is no longer a tool for leisure. It is a digital leash. Official WhatsApp groups never sleep. Circulars drop at all hours. Midday data demands arrive with strict deadlines. Directives marked for immediate compliance flood the screen throughout the working day. We live in constant administrative scrutiny. An unread notification feels like an invitation to a show-cause notice or a suspension in some extreme cases. Yet, the problem runs deeper than official pressure. We have inflicted another wound upon ourselves. Over the years, checking the device has turned into an involuntary reflex. We unlock the glass every few minutes without reason. We scroll aimlessly through algorithmic feeds. We refresh inboxes that need no attention. The mind stays broken in two. One half sits in the physical room, while the other drifts inside a cloud of digital noise. I had no choice that morning. I walked into the school without my digital armor. What followed was an absolute revelation. At first, a quiet dread shadowed every step. I worried about missed deadlines. I braced for high-priority calls from senior officers or so. But then the morning assembly bell rang. The reality of the open ground took over. There were no beeps. There were no shrill ringtones. There were no flashing screens. Suddenly, the day settled into a calm, humane rhythm. The first real difference showed in human contact. Colleagues walked into the office to discuss academic and non-academic matters. Our conversations were complete and unbroken. My eyes never dropped to check a face-down screen on the desk. My fingers never fidgeted across glass. We listened with genuine patience. It hit me with quiet force: true professional strength does not come from instant connectivity. It comes from presence, focus, and depth. Out in the corridors and classrooms, I found the profession regained its soul. Teaching has always been a quiet, human art. It demands stillness to notice a struggling child. It requires mental clarity to unpack a difficult lesson. It needs silence to weigh pedagogical results. Over recent years, the craze for endless digital compliance has hollowed this work out. It has turned dedicated teachers into exhausted data clerks, which may be an unavoidable requirement. Without the constant hum of the screen, the school found its voice again. I heard the sharp tap of marker against whiteboards. Even so, the old dread never vanished entirely. A cold whisper kept returning to my thoughts throughout the afternoon. What if an urgent departmental order had dropped? What if a missed instruction brought severe administrative wrath? What if an official explanation was demanded by sundown? In an environment where obedience is now measured in minutes everywhere. The final verdict waited until evening. I stepped into my house and approached the forgotten phone with nervous hands. I turned on the screen, expecting the undesired things. There was no departmental crisis. There was no scathing reprimand from officers. The sky had not fallen. Instead, the screen showed dozens of missed calls from close acquaintances and relatives. Accustomed to my constant digital presence, they had grown alarmed by my silence. Their affection was deeply moving. Yet it also revealed a tragic truth about our time: the moment a person slips offline for half a day, the world assumes they are in danger. The administrative emergency had lived only inside my conditioned fears. Modern office culture, in general, has tagged the workplace with a dangerous myth. It treats round-the-clock availability as a mark of competence. It mistakes frantic speed for genuine importance. It confuses nervous panic with real leadership. That silent school day proved the opposite. True competence, sometimes, demands the courage to step back from the deluge. Declaring a truce with the small but fast machine is not an act of negligence. Rather, it should be considered an act of preservation. It protects the quality of our work, on the contrary. It restores our human bonds. Above all, it gives the mind back its quiet sanity after a long time. Thanks to my negligence in forgetting my phone at home, at least for a day. (The author is a regular columnist of RK and can be reached at reyazmir58@gmail.com)

Who Is Protecting Kashmirs Ecology?

Illegal mining in Kashmir is no longer a hidden violation confined to a few riverbanks or remote stretches of land. It has become a serious assault on the Valleys fragile ecology, public safety and collective future. Across several districts, the unchecked extraction of sand, gravel, boulders and other minerals is altering river channels, damaging agricultural land, destabilising slopes and deepening the sense that environmental laws exist only on paper. The scale of the problem is visible in the scars left behind. Riverbeds are excavated without regard for natural flow. Heavy machinery enters areas where mining is prohibited. Trucks move material under the cover of darkness or in full public view. Water sources are disturbed, embankments weakened, and fertile soil carried away. What is presented as a local business or a source of construction material is, in reality, a destructive activity that transfers private profit to a few while imposing long-term costs on the entire population. Kashmirs rivers are not merely channels carrying water. They are living ecological systems that sustain agriculture, recharge groundwater, support biodiversity and protect settlements from floods. When their beds are indiscriminately dredged, their natural balance is disturbed. The consequences may not always appear immediately, but they accumulate over time. Riverbanks become vulnerable to erosion, bridges and roads face greater risk, and flood patterns can change in ways that threaten communities downstream. The damage is even more dangerous in a mountainous region. Unregulated quarrying and hill cutting weaken slopes that are already vulnerable to landslides, cloudbursts and intense rainfall. The removal of vegetation and the blasting of rock can turn a natural hazard into a preventable disaster. Every illegally excavated hillside increases the burden on roads, homes, farms and public infrastructure. When calamity strikes, the destruction is often described as an act of nature. But in many cases, human greed and administrative negligence have already prepared the ground. The question that demands an answer is simple: how does illegal mining continue despite the presence of laws, departments, inspections and enforcement mechanisms? The answer lies partly in weak monitoring, but it also lies in selective enforcement and institutional failure. Authorities often conduct raids after public complaints or media reports, seize machinery and announce action. Yet the activity resumes soon afterwards. Such temporary interventions cannot substitute for a sustained enforcement system. There is also a troubling gap between official claims and ground reality. Government departments frequently report seizures and penalties, but the public rarely receives a clear account of how many cases resulted in prosecution, how much revenue was recovered, how many repeat offenders were blacklisted or whether officials responsible for permitting violations faced consequences. Without transparency, enforcement becomes a performance rather than a deterrent. Illegal mining also thrives because of the powerful networks that surround it. The activity requires machinery, transport, labour, storage and access to markets. It cannot be sustained for long without local knowledge and administrative blind spots. The responsibility, therefore, cannot be placed only on individual operators. Those who finance the activity, transport illegally extracted material, facilitate access to protected areas or ignore repeated violations must all be held accountable. At the same time, the demand for construction material cannot be dismissed. Kashmir is developing, and homes, roads, bridges and public projects require minerals. But development cannot mean the destruction of the natural systems that make human life possible. Scientific extraction, clearly marked mining zones, strict environmental assessments and regulated transport can help meet legitimate demand without sacrificing rivers and hills. The choice is not between development and conservation. The real choice is between responsible development and reckless exploitation. The administration must move beyond sporadic raids and establish a credible, public enforcement framework. Mining sites should be mapped and monitored through technology, including satellite imagery, GPS-based transport tracking and digital permits that cannot be easily manipulated. District-level data on permissions, seizures, penalties and prosecutions should be made available to the public. Repeat offenders should face cancellation of licences, attachment of equipment and prosecution under environmental and criminal laws. Local communities also need a meaningful role. Residents living near rivers and quarrying sites are often the first to witness violations, but their complaints may be ignored or delayed. A responsive complaint system, protection for whistle-blowers and community-based monitoring can strengthen official oversight. Environmental protection cannot be enforced effectively when the people most affected are excluded from the process. The judiciary and pollution-control authorities, too, have an important role in ensuring that environmental violations are treated as serious public harms rather than minor regulatory offences. Penalties that are lower than the profits earned from illegal mining do not deter anyone. The law must make environmental crime financially unviable. Kashmir has already paid a heavy price for poor planning and delayed action. Rivers have narrowed, wetlands have shrunk, slopes have been cut, and urban spaces have expanded without adequate safeguards. Allowing illegal mining to continue will only intensify these crises. The loss will not be limited to landscapes. It will affect drinking water, agriculture, roads, livelihoods and the safety of future generations. Illegal mining is therefore not simply a matter of unauthorised extraction. It is a test of governance. If laws are enforced selectively, if powerful operators are allowed to return after symbolic action, and if public resources are treated as private property, the damage will become irreversible. The government must act before the Valleys rivers and hills are reduced to sources of profit for a few. Kashmirs natural wealth belongs to the people and to generations yet unborn. Protecting it is not an environmental luxury. It is an obligation of the state and a matter of public survival. ( The Author is an environmental researcher and columnist)

Holding Up the Mirror: Reflective Practice for Teacher Professional Growth

While attending the three-day programme at RIE Ajmer on Experimenting Reflective Practices for Augmenting Teachers Professional Competencies as per NPST, I found myself reflecting on a simple but important question: How often do we, as teachers, actually stop to examine our own classroom practice? As a classroom teacher and teacher trainer, I have increasingly felt that teaching cannot be reduced to completing a lesson, covering the syllabus or conducting an assessment. If our purpose is to ensure that the teaching-learning process achieves the desired learning outcomes to the optimum level possible, we have to look beyond the act of teaching itself. We have to look at what happened after we taught. That requires reflection. Teaching needs a pause The routine of classroom teaching can easily become repetitive: plan, teach, assess and move on. In this cycle, we may not always pause to ask what actually happened. A reflective teacher asks: What worked well? What did not work? Why did it happen? Which learners benefited? Who struggled? What could I have done differently? What should I focus on next? These are not questions of fault-finding. They are questions of professional learning. Student assessment gives us important evidence, but it cannot always tell us everything about our teaching. A learner's performance is influenced by prior learning, individual differences, motivation and the learning environment. The teacher, therefore, also needs to examine his or her own decisions, strategies and interactions. The question changes from Why did my students not learn? to What does this evidence tell me about my teaching? That shift is significant. Competencies need to be visible in practice The National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) provides a national framework for teacher quality, defining expectations and competencies at different levels of expertise and stages of a teacher's career. NCTE describes progression through Proficient, Advanced and Expert levels. For me, these should not be seen merely as labels. They can become a professional mirror: Where am I now, what evidence supports my understanding, and what do I need to do to grow further? The six competencies that formed the basis of our reflective work offer meaningful areas for this self-examination: planning lessons with clear objectives and sound content understanding; addressing learner diversity; promoting student engagement; applying assessment for, as and of learning; integrating ICT meaningfully; and integrating content knowledge with pedagogy. Each competency can be converted into a question. Planning: Am I planning for learning or merely for completion? Learner diversity: Am I providing meaningful opportunities for different learners? Engagement: Are students actually thinking, questioning, creating and collaborating? Assessment: Am I using assessment to improve learning, or mainly to record it? ICT: Is technology adding value to learning? Content and pedagogy: Do I merely know my subject, or do I know how to make it learnable? When such questions become part of everyday teaching, professional standards move from a document into classroom practice. A small reflection from my own classroom One of my reflections concerned the competency Promote student engagement in learning. While teaching the classification of triangles, I noticed that students struggled to differentiate and classify triangles when learning relied mainly on textbook diagrams and verbal explanations. This made me reconsider my approach. I decided to move towards more hands-on, collaborative and experiential learning, using simple activities such as constructing triangles with sticks or straws, sorting triangle cards, identifying triangular shapes in the surroundings and discussing findings in groups. The challenge was not simply to find an activity. It was to make the activity meaningful for diverse learners, manage time, ensure participation and address misconceptions. The reflection therefore led to a professional goal: to incorporate more activity-based geometry learning and examine its impact on student understanding. For me, this illustrates the real value of reflection. A classroom difficulty need not end with the conclusion that students are weak. It can instead lead the teacher to ask, What can I change in my teaching? Reflection needs evidence Reflection becomes stronger when it is based on evidence. Student work, classroom observations, assessment responses, learner feedback, peer feedback and lesson records can all help a teacher examine practice more honestly. But evidence should not be limited to marks. A learner who repeatedly remains silent, a misconception that keeps appearing, an activity that generates participation but little understanding, or a question that most learners cannot answer can also provide valuable evidence. I would put it simply: Reflection without evidence can become perception; reflection supported by evidence can become professional learning. From reflection to action The reflective framework provides a practical sequence: Evidence Focus of Reflection Challenges Perceived Future Professional Goals The important part is what comes next. Reflection should lead to action. If questioning is dominated by recall, we can experiment with higher-order questions. If some learners remain disengaged, we can try differentiated or collaborative approaches. If assessment reveals persistent learning gaps, we can reconsider our teaching strategy rather than simply record the results. The cycle becomes: Experience Evidence Reflection Self-introspection Challenge Professional Goal Action New Evidence Further Reflection. This is how reflection becomes reflective learning. From individual reflection to professional culture Reflection need not remain an individual exercise. Peer discussion can help teachers see what they may have missed themselves. Sharing classroom experiences, discussing challenges and examining alternative approaches can make professional learning richer. A school should ideally become a place where teachers can comfortably say: This worked. This did not. I am not sure why. I tried something different. What could I do differently next time? Such a culture can strengthen peer learning, mentoring, collaborative planning and action research. The progression envisaged in NPST also reminds us that professional growth can extend beyond improving one's own classroom towards supporting and contributing to the professional learning of colleagues. The real purpose: better learning Ultimately, reflection is not about producing another document or finding faults with teachers. It is about improving what happens between the teacher and the learner. A reflective teacher continually asks whether planning, pedagogy, engagement, assessment, inclusion, technology and subject knowledge are working together to produce meaningful learning. Perhaps the most important question after a lesson is therefore not: Did I teach well? but: What did this lesson teach me about my teaching? For me, this is where the idea of the teacher as a lifelong learner becomes real. Experience becomes professional learning only when it is examined, questioned and used to improve future practice. When teachers learn to hold up the mirror to their own practice, reflection becomes more than a professional exerciseit becomes a pathway to better teaching, deeper professional competence and, ultimately, better learning for every child. (The Author is a teacher and columnist and can be reached at: abuaalim@gmail.com)

AdiVaani: Technology for the Margins

India is home to over 700 tribal communities and more than 100 distinct tribal languages and dialects yet only a handful have a script, a dictionary or any presence online. For a Gondi speaking farmer trying to read a government health advisory or a Santhali student searching for a word in a textbook, the digital world has, until now, simply not spoken their language. AdiVaani is changing that through one sentence, one recording, one translated page at a time. AdiVaani is an AI based translation and language technology platform being developed under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) by IIT Delhi. Its mission is deceptively simple: build tools that let English and Hindi speak to tribal languages and let tribal languages speak back in text and in voice and vice versa. AdiVaani has gone live with four languages Santali, Mundari, Bhili and Gondi with Kui and Garo close behind, and a further eight languages, including Katkari, Koya, Kokborok, Betta Kuruba, Chodri, Thadou Kuki and Tangkhul, lined up for the next phase. A Full Toolkit, Not Just a Translator AdiVaani brings together a full toolkit under one roof, not merely a translator. It offers Text-to-Text Translation, converting English or Hindi text into a tribal language and back again, instantly; Speech-to-Text (ASR), which turns spoken tribal language into text and offers a lifeline for languages with few or no fluent readers; Text-to-Speech, which generates natural spoken tribal-language audio from written text so that non-literate speakers can access information aurally; and Speech-to-Speech, a cascaded pipeline that lets two people speaking different languages understand each other in near real time. The platform also carries an Optical Character Recognition feature that digitises old textbooks, folk manuscripts, primers and dictionaries existing only on paper, often the last surviving record of a dialect, alongside a public mobile App and Web Access portal carrying dictionaries, learning modules and feedback tools for continuous improvement. Bringing the Periphery to the Centre For decades, India's tribal languages have existed at the edge of the country's digital and administrative life rich in oral history, ecological knowledge and cultural memory, yet almost invisible to the internet, to AI systems and often to policy itself. AdiVaani inverts that equation. A welfare scheme notification, a health advisory or an NCERT textbook chapter that once existed only in Hindi or English can now be rendered accurately and respectfully into Santali or Bhili and read aloud to someone who cannot read at all. Government officials, teachers, and health workers can, in turn, understand what a tribal citizen is trying to communicate in their own words. The traffic runs both ways and that is the point: AdiVaani is not simply giving tribal communities access to the mainstream; it is giving the mainstream access to tribal India. The project treats tribal languages not as data sources for AI but as living knowledge systems connected to oral tradition, agriculture, ecology and community identity. Not Just for Tribal India- A Platform for Everyone AdiVaani's promise extends well beyond tribal households. Researchers and linguists gain a reproducible, benchmarked dataset for some of the world's most under documented languages. Civil servants, doctors, teachers and NGO field workers posted in tribal districts most of whom are not themselves tribal get a real time translation companion that turns awkward, error prone communication into genuine dialogue. Students of linguistics and anthropology gain digitised manuscripts and oral archives that would otherwise decay unseen in local libraries. And every Indian, tribal or not inherits a small but meaningful correction to the digital record: languages that were at risk of existing only in memory now have a searchable, speakable, teachable home online. This is what makes AdiVaani more than a translation app, it is public infrastructure for inclusion, built the way inclusion should be built: with the community at the centre, not at the receiving end. Community First, Technology Second AdiVaani's most distinctive feature may not be its models at all but its method. Native speakers, translators, field linguists and community elders are treated as knowledge partners not just annotators. Every dataset passes through a maker checker superchecker workflow, where community validators catch the subtle ways AI tends to flatten a minority language toward Hindi or English,a dropped suffix, an over normalised idiom, a lost oral register. Machine generated translations are never treated as final: they return to native speakers for correction before they re-enter the corpus. It is AI development grounded in consent, cultural respect and the recognition that a language is not a dataset it is a way a people remembers itself. This is where the State Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) become indispensable. Long before a sentence reaches an AI model, it is the TRIs in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and elsewhere that anchor the entire corpus-building effort on the ground mobilising native speakers, verifying dialectal variations across villages and blocks, and vetting every translated or transcribed sample before it is accepted into the training data. Their field knowledge decides which recordings are authentic and which idioms have been flattened in translation, making them the frontline check between raw community language and a usable digital corpus. Without this continuous, on-the-ground vetting by the TRIs, the models AdiVaani builds would carry the very distortions the project was set up to avoid. Looking Ahead AdiVaani's work is far from finished. Over the next nine months, it plans to add ten more languages improve its speech recognition and voice technology, and build much larger collections of verified recordings reaching hundreds of thousands per language. But beyond the numbers, AdiVaani stands for something bigger: proof that technology can protect and support tribal languages instead of erasing them. In a country where languages are vanishing every few years, AdiVaani gives tribal communities a way to be heard in their own voices, on their own terms and gives the rest of India a reason finally to listen. (The Author is Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Courtesy: PIB)

30 lakh road work inaugurated in Nanga

Ramgarh, Oct 4: Ramgarh MLA Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal on Sunday inaugurated blacktopping work on a road in Nanga village being executed at an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakh under the City and Town Scheme. Speaking on the occasion, Manyal said improving road infrastructure was a priority as better connectivity was essential for the socio-economic development of rural areas. He said the project would improve movement for residents, students, farmers and other sections of the community. He assured residents that development works across the Ramgarh constituency would be taken up in a phased manner, with focus on basic infrastructure and local requirements. Mandal President Nancy Choudhary, former DDC member Anita Choudhary, party workers and local residents were present on the occasion. Local residents thanked the MLA for taking up the road improvement work.

AIP seeks safeguards for Shopians orchards

Shopian, Oct 4 : Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, during visits to various areas of Shopian and interactions with local residents and fruit growers, called for a firm and precautionary policy to protect the districts orchard ecosystem from activities that could undermine its long-term horticultural character. In a statement, Nabi said that Shopian cannot be treated as ordinary land available for unrestricted commercial activity. The districts orchards are a vital economic resource and any decision affecting them must consider its broader and cumulative impact. If permission is granted to one person to establish a crusher or undertake any other activity that could potentially affect the surrounding orchards, on what basis will the authorities prevent others from seeking similar permissions? This is precisely why the authorities must act before a precedent is established, not after the damage is done, he said. Inam Un Nabi urged the administration to adopt a clear precautionary policy for sensitive orchard areas and to thoroughly assess the environmental and horticultural consequences of proposed activities before granting permission. Shopian is known as the Orchard Bowl of Jammu & Kashmir. This identity cannot be protected through statements issued after the fact. The authorities must take decisions today that safeguard this ecosystem for tomorrow. We cannot allow short-term commercial interests to gradually alter the character of an entire horticultural belt, Inam Un Nabi said. He clarified that AIP is not opposed to legitimate development or economic activity but stressed that development cannot come at the cost of the ecological and economic interests of the people of Shopian. The government must draw a clear line. Once the orchard ecosystem is disturbed, no permission or policy can easily restore it. The responsibility lies with the authorities to exercise caution now and protect what generations of fruit growers have built, he added.

ECI Must Remain Independent and Free from Political Influence: Hakeem Yaseen

Srinagar, Oct 05: Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) President and former Cabinet Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Sunday said that India is one of the largest democracies in the world and has a long-standing democratic tradition based on constitutional institutions and democratic values. In a statement, Yaseen said that questions being raised by political parties and various sections of society regarding the functioning of the poll body cannot be ignored. Yaseen said the Election Commission has traditionally been viewed as an independent constitutional institution entrusted with conducting free and fair elections. He said that any controversy surrounding its decisions or functioning has the potential to affect public confidence in the electoral process. Recent developments and controversial decisions have raised questions about the functioning of the Election Commission. These concerns need to be addressed in the larger interest of democracy and the confidence of the people, Yaseen said. He maintained that the credibility of democratic institutions depends upon their independence, transparency and impartial functioning. Yaseen said that in view of the controversies surrounding the functioning of the ECI, the Chairman/Chief Election Commissioner should consider resigning from the responsibility, saying that such a step would help restore public confidence in the institution. He said the Election Commission should not be perceived as working in favour of, or under the influence of, any particular political party. The Election Commission must operate independently. No individual, political party or government should have undue influence over its functioning. Its decisions must inspire confidence among all sections of society, he said. Yaseen also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to strengthen the credibility and independence of democratic institutions. He said the Prime Minister, as the head of the Union Government, has an important role in ensuring that democratic institutions retain the confidence of the people. Indias democratic strength lies in the independence of its institutions and respect for the aspirations of its people. Strengthening the credibility of the electoral system will further enhance the image of the worlds largest democracy, Yaseen said. He emphasised that electoral institutions must remain above political considerations and work strictly in accordance with constitutional principles, ensuring that the peoples mandate is protected and their democratic aspirations respected.

Javid Dar bats for youth entrepreneurship

Anantnag, Oct 04: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, today inaugurated a new Barista Hybrid cafe at Mattan Main Chowk, marking a significant addition to the local commercial and hospitality landscape. MLAs Reyaz Ahmad Khan, Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri, Zafar Ali Khatana and other prominent persons were also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the growing tourist and visitor footfall in Kashmir presents considerable opportunities in the hospitality and service sectors, particularly for young entrepreneurs. He said the establishment of branded outlets in emerging locations can contribute to local employment and stimulate economic activity. Javid Dar said the Government is promoting youth entrepreneurship in the hospitality and allied sectors through various schemes, including PMFME, Mission Yuva and other UT-level initiatives, besides providing support through programmes of the Agriculture Production Department. He urged young people to make use of these opportunities and explore viable business ventures suited to local demand and emerging markets. The Minister congratulated the management of the Barista Hybrid Caf and appreciated the initiative to establish the outlet at Mattan. He said such investments can encourage more young people to take up entrepreneurship and create employment opportunities locally.

Teachers shape future of society, nation: Sakeena

Srinagar, Oct 04: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Sunday said that teachers are the cornerstone of the education system and play an indispensable role in shaping the future of society and nation. The Minister was addressing a one-day Mega Teachers Conference on the theme Roles, Rights and Responsibilities of Teachers, organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum (JKReTTF) at SCERT Bemina here. The conference witnessed participation of a large number of teachers besides senior officers of the School Education Department. Addressing the gathering, Sakeena Itoo appreciated the contribution of the teaching community towards nation-building and acknowledged the dedication of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers, particularly those who have rendered their services in remote, far-flung and difficult areas of Jammu and Kashmir. She said that the contribution of teachers who served under the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme has been instrumental in extending education to areas where educational facilities were once either inadequate or non-existent. When the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme was introduced, perhaps no one could have imagined that schools in many remote areas, which were once closed or without adequate teaching facilities, would become functional and vibrant centres of learning. The children educated in these schools have gone on to achieve their goals, and the credit for this transformation goes to our teachers, the Minister said. Sakeena Itoo maintained that the Government recognizes the immense contribution of teachers and would continue to take steps to strengthen their dignity, professional standing and welfare. A teacher is not merely an employee of the Education Department; a teacher is the person who creates the future of our society. We cannot claim to build a strong and progressive Jammu and Kashmir unless we ensure that our teachers are respected, heard and empowered, Sakeena Itoo remarked. The Minister assured the teaching community that the genuine issues raised during the conference would be examined with due seriousness and that the Government would make every effort to address them within the applicable rules and procedures. I want to assure you that the Government has worked for you and will continue to work for you. The issues and demands placed before me today are genuine and deserve consideration. We will listen to your concerns, examine them and take them forward so that the hopes of our teaching community are not disappointed, she said. Referring to the role of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in supporting the concerns of the teaching community, the Minister said that the Governments commitment towards teachers was reflected in the resolution recently passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on issues concerning the teaching community. The Chief Minister has, on every appropriate occasion, spoken about the concerns and dignity of our teachers. The resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly was not an act of favor, it was an expression of our responsibility towards the teaching community, she said. Sakeena Itoo said that she had personally taken up the matter of the Assembly resolution after receiving representations from teachers, adding that she had ensured that the commitment made before the teaching community was translated into a formal legislative resolution. I had promised you that we would bring this issue before the Assembly, and I was determined to fulfil that commitment. I did not want the promise to remain merely an announcement. I wanted the resolution to be brought before the House, discussed and passed. I am satisfied that this commitment has now been fulfilled, she stated. Sakeena Itoo said that the resolution has provided an opportunity for members of the Legislative Assembly to deliberate upon the importance of teachers and the issues confronting them. The discussion in the Assembly once again demonstrated how important our teachers are for Jammu and Kashmir. Members cutting across the House spoke about the contribution of teachers and the need to safeguard their legitimate interests. The time available to the House was limited, but the sentiment was clearthat the teaching community deserves our respect and institutional support, the Minister said. The Minister further stated that the Government was not making commitments merely for the sake of announcements, but was working towards taking issues to their logical conclusion. My approach has always been that an announcement should be followed by action. I do not believe in making commitments here and leaving them unattended. Wherever an issue requires action at the level of the Department, the concerned Director or the Government, we are pursuing it through the proper process, she said. On the demand for a comprehensive transfer policy for Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers, Sakeena Itoo said that the process was already at an advanced stage. The transfer policy for Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers is almost ready. We had placed the draft in the public domain so that suggestions could be received from all stakeholders. The suggestions received are now being examined and we are making efforts to incorporate whatever is feasible within the policy framework, she said. Sakeena Itoo informed that several issues raised by the teachers require action at different levels, including the concerned Heads of Departments and the administrative authorities, and that the process for examination and disposal of such matters was already underway. The Minister also urged the teachers and their representatives to ensure that all requisite service records and supporting documents were properly compiled and submitted to the concerned authorities. Sometimes, genuine cases get delayed because the required documents are not available on the file. I request our teachers and their representatives to ensure that all documents relating to promotion, service matters and other issues are properly compiled and submitted to the Department. This will help us process cases efficiently and avoid unnecessary delays, she said. Sakeena Itoo reiterated that the Government would continue to engage with the teaching community and work towards resolving genuine and long-pending issues through a structured and time-bound process. Wherever we have to raise our voice for our teachers, wherever we have to stand with them and wherever their legitimate interests have to be represented, we will do so. We will not shy away from our responsibility, she asserted. The Minister also emphasized that empowerment of teachers must go hand in hand with professional accountability and commitment towards students. Rights and responsibilities go together. While the Government remains committed to protecting the legitimate rights and dignity of teachers, I also expect every teacher to continue discharging his or her responsibility towards students with dedication, compassion and professionalism, she said. She called upon the teaching community to remain committed to the larger objective of providing quality education to children, particularly those belonging to disadvantaged and remote areas. Director School Education Kashmir, Naseer Ahmad Wani also addressed the conference and appreciated the contribution of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in strengthening the education system across Jammu and Kashmir. He acknowledged the dedication of teachers serving in challenging and far-flung areas and underscored their role in ensuring access to education for children in remote communities. On the occasion, the leadership of the Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum presented a comprehensive memorandum to the Minister, highlighting various issues concerning the welfare and professional advancement of teachers. The representatives of the teaching community also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakeena Itoo for the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly concerning the issues of teachers. They said that the decision had strengthened their confidence in the Governments commitment towards addressing the genuine concerns of the teaching community.

Qazi Touqeers Bigg Boss journey hits Srinagar walls

Srinagar, Oct 04: A colourful mural featuring Bigg Boss contestant and Kashmiri singer Qazi Touqeer has caught the attention of residents and visitors on a Srinagar road opposite Amar Singh College, adding a touch of popular culture to the citys growing street-art landscape. The painting has been created by local artists Shahran Fayaz and Er Sahil Manzoor, who have portrayed Qazi Touqeer on a roadside wall in a vibrant artwork. A video shared on Instagram by the artists shows glimpses of the making of the mural, from the initial work on the wall to the final portrait. In the video, the artists can also be heard using the Kashmiri phrase Khanyaruk Tcchur, while one of them is seen using his signature expression, I am a Rockstar Baby. The mural has since become a point of attraction for people passing through the area, with visitors stopping to look at the artwork and take photographs. The artists said the painting was made as a gesture of support for Qazi Touqeer and to celebrate his journey in the entertainment space. The artwork has also generated interest among youngsters, particularly Qazis followers, who have been sharing photographs and videos of the mural on social media. Qazi Touqeer, who hails from Srinagar, gained widespread recognition after his participation in Bigg Boss 20, where his personality and journey attracted a sizable following. His growing popularity has also made him a familiar face among Kashmiri audiences. The mural comes at a time when street art and public murals are increasingly being used in Srinagar to transform otherwise ordinary walls and public spaces into colourful expressions of local culture, personalities and contemporary themes. For visitors, the Qazis mural has now become another visual landmark on the busy stretch opposite Amar Singh College, reflecting the growing influence of social media, entertainment and street art on Kashmirs urban cultural landscape.

Govt working to facilitate Kashmiri in Assembly: Speaker

Srinagar, Oct 04: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Sunday said the government is working on a mechanism to facilitate the use of the Kashmiri language in the house, acknowledging that the absence of translators has been a major hurdle for legislators seeking to speak in their mother tongue. Rather said the issue needed to be addressed to ensure that members are able to express themselves in Kashmiri during Assembly proceedings without facing procedural difficulties. Speaking as the chief guest at the Youm-e-Meeras event in Sopore, the speaker said the government was examining the matter from different angles. The government has to look into many angles. Currently, we don't have any translator in the Assembly, which often becomes a hurdle in speaking in Kashmiri. Efforts are on to address this concern in future, Rather said. Rather said he had never barred any member from speaking in Kashmiri, but the lack of translation facilities made it difficult to officially record such interventions. I told those who tried to speak - speak, but it cant be recorded as we dont have a translator in the Assembly currently, he said. The Speaker also addressed concerns over an alleged regional imbalance in the issuance of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) certificates, saying the matter should be examined to ensure that no section of society suffers injustice. Rather said he had directed the government to look into the issue and identify areas where corrective measures could be taken. Yes, I have directed the government to examine the same wherever there is scope of improvement to avoid injustice to any section of society, he said. He stressed that the matter needed to be examined seriously so that any existing disparity could be addressed and no section of society was deprived of its legitimate entitlements.

Bag recovered near Doodhpathri encounter site

Budgam, Oct 4: In a significant development in the investigation into the September 29 encounter, Budgam Police have recovered a bag containing medicines and eatables from the vicinity of Palmaidan, Doodhpathri, where Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Hashim Moosa was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces. According to police, the recovered items are suspected to have been intended for the use of the slain terrorist. The recovery assumes significance in the context of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his presence in the area and the possible network involved in providing him logistical support. Budgam Police are investigating all relevant aspects of the recovery, including the origin of the consignment, the circumstances in which it was placed at the location and the possible involvement of overground workers, co-conspirators and other accomplices. Further investigation is underway to identify and establish the role of individuals allegedly associated with the suspected logistical support network. The encounter took place on September 29 following coordinated action by security forces based on intelligence inputs. The subsequent recovery of the bag forms part of the continuing investigation into FIR No. 181/2026 registered at Police Station Khansahib under relevant sections of law. Police said the investigation is aimed at uncovering the wider support network and bringing all those found involved to justice.

Values shape society of tomorrow: Mirwaiz

Srinagar, Oct 4: Maktaba Maseel-ul-Ummah, in association with the Mirwaiz Foundation, organised a prize distribution ceremony for a Seerah competition at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar on Sunday. Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq presided over the ceremony and presented cash prizes, mementos and certificates to the winners. Addressing the gathering, Mirwaiz said inculcating values such as honesty, compassion, respect, responsibility and empathy in children was essential for building a healthy society. He said children would become the citizens, professionals, parents and decision-makers of tomorrow, and the values imparted to them today would shape society in the future. Mirwaiz said the purpose of introducing children to the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (saw) was not merely to familiarise them with historical events, but also to help them imbibe its values in their conduct and relationships. He stressed that character-building was a collective responsibility of parents, teachers, religious institutions and society, and called for moral education to receive attention alongside academics. He appreciated the organisers for holding the competition and said such initiatives should be encouraged to help children learn and practise the values of Seerah in their daily lives. In the under-12 category, Moomin Shabir of Maktabah Taleem-ul-Quran, Sheeshgari Mohalla, Khanyar, secured the first position, followed by Maryam Suhail of Maktaba Meseeh-ul-Ummah, Chandpora, and Sheikh Saliha Fayaz of Darasgah Taleem-ul-Quran, Lar, Ganderbal. In the under-18 category, Hadiya Gulzar of Maktaba Taleem-un-Nisa, Nawa Kadal, secured the first position, while Arooba Niyaz of Supreme Coaching Centre, Gojwara, stood second. The third position was jointly secured by Iqra Ashraf, Mantashah Shabir, Hammad Jehanggeer, Bisma Gulzar, Sadiya and Mayasar Mushtaq. The winners received cash prizes ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000, besides mementos and certificates. Girls featured prominently among the top position-holders in both categories.

Muziris to be made international heritage tourism destination, says Satheesan

The Chief Minister says the government is planning to expand water taxi and kayak services to Ezhikkara, Kottappuram and Azheekode as part of the Muziris Heritage Project

276 illegal mining seizures in Sukhnag since 2024

Budgam: The Mining Department has carried out 276 seizures in and around Sukhnag Nallah between January 2024 and April 2026 as part of action against illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of minerals, recovering 37.20 lakh in penalties from offenders. According to official details, the enforcement drive also resulted in the registration of 36 FIRs against habitual offenders during the same period. The department has also taken action In compliance with the directions of the National Green Tribunal contained in its order dated 08.03.2022 titled Raja Muzaffar Bhat versus Union of India & Others, an amount of Rs. 1.00 crore was deposited by the Department of Mining, J&K (UT) with the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, for carrying out restoration works in the affected areas of Doodhganga and Mamath Khul. As part of the enforcement measures in the Doodhganga Nallah area since 2022-23, eight FIRs have been registered, while 104 vehicles, machinery and tools involved in illegal mining activities were seized. The department said 12.61 lakh was recovered as compounding charges from offenders. Seven restoration works were identified and executed through the Flood Control Department in the affected areas of Doodhganga Nallah and Mamat Khul. The department stated that all seven works had been completed. Meanwhile, the Mining Department has established a Satellite-Based Integrated Mine Surveillance System (IMSS) in collaboration with BISAG-N to monitor illegal extraction and transportation of minerals. The system generates triggers and alerts that are subsequently subjected to field verification. In Budgam, the system generated five triggers and 69 alerts, all of which were physically verified. The department reported penalties of 2.04 lakh in cases where violations were established. The department has also reported that the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT), Budgam, accrued 8.41 crore between 2021-22 and August 2026. The funds are intended for schemes undertaken under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY).

Eviction looms over 700 families near Prime Ministers residence

AAP steps up stir against CEC; bid to vitiate atmosphere: BJP

Oppn. party doubles down on demand for Gyanesh Kumars removal, demands FIR against police officer accused of sexual harassment by 3 women scribes; traffic restricted in parts of central Delhi

JKECC seeks action on pending employee issues

Ganderbal, Oct 4: Jammu and Kashmir Employees Coordination Committee chairman Shah Fayaz has urged the government to expedite the resolution of long-pending issues concerning employees, including the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), recruitment rules, pay anomalies and promotions. Addressing a press conference, JKECC Chairman Shah Fayaz said the committee, representing employees from over 40 departments, had recently discussed various concerns with district-level representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Association. He said employees had been waiting for progress on several issues and expressed hope that the elected government would initiate a process to address their concerns. Fayaz called for extending OPS-related benefits to employees appointed before 2010 but regularised after the implementation of the New Pension Scheme, including contractual teachers, Rehbar-e-Taleem employees and workers in other departments. He also referred to ongoing protests by different employee groups, including NHM workers, vocational trainers and tourism corporation employees, daily wagers said the employees body preferred dialogue and smooth functioning of departments. However, he said continued delay in addressing genuine concerns could leave employees with no option but to consider further action. The committee also raised concerns over pending reports of committees constituted in previous years to examine employee issues, besides highlighting matters related to Panchayat Account Assistants, Junior Engineers and vocational trainers. Fayaz welcomed the governments resolution on the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), while urging that the matter be taken up with the Centre for its effective implementation in Jammu and Kashmir. He also sought greater clarity and accuracy in vacancy data, particularly in the education sector, and called for a stronger mechanism to ensure that employee-related matters are addressed within a defined timeframe.

INDIA bloc to protest outside CEOs office on Wednesday

Colbys mid-term report card, what it means for India

The evolving defence strategy of the United States offers India an opportunity to build leverage

How regulation stifles HEIs

If intensive regulatory mechanisms were the real engine of quality, our most tightly regulated universities and HEIs would have been outperforming the IISc, IITs, IIMs NITs and other similar institutions.

Three Kangan schools set for Higher Secondary upgrade

Ganderbal, Oct 4: Three government high schools in Kangan constituencyBoys High School Cherwan, High School Anderwan and Girls High School Waliwarare set to be upgraded to the Higher Secondary level, with classes expected to commence from the upcoming academic session. The recommendation for the upgradation has been made by Kangan MLA Mian Mehar Ali. Following the upgrade, Boys High School Cherwan will be designated as Higher Secondary School Cherwan, while High School Anderwan and Girls High School Waliwar will also offer higher secondary classes. The move is expected to provide students from the three areas and adjoining villages an opportunity to pursue education beyond Class 10 closer to their homes. The upgrade will also expand the availability of government institutions offering higher secondary education in the constituency, potentially reducing the need for students to travel to other areas for senior secondary schooling. Higher secondary classes at the three institutions are expected to begin with the new academic session, subject to the completion of necessary administrative and academic arrangements. The development marks an expansion of senior secondary education facilities in Kangan constituency and is expected to benefit students seeking continued schooling within their respective areas.

The sore lack of hostels in DU

While 30 to 40 colleges were established under different political dispensations in Delhi, none of them have attempted to provide hostel accommodation on their campuses

Mad Sandhu killing: vanishing social media posts and Punjabs queer history

The killing of Mad Sandhu has left police chasing unverified online claims while queer voices in Punjab draw attention to a history of gender and sexual expression that predates todays anxieties over visibility

Two or three?: On the Court, students, three-language policy

Students must be free to choose a third language that is not tested in a Board exam

Campaigning for byelection ends in Madurantakam and Dharapuram

Polling will take place on October 6. The byelection will be a five-cornered contest, with the TVK-led Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, the AIADMK-led NDA, the Left parties, and the NTK in the fray

Police nab three migrant workers over murder of their co-worker in Velachery

Tiruvottiyur residents seek flood-free, pollution-free neighbourhood

Outbound force: On the U.S. leaving Iraq

The U.S. is leaving Iraq in weariness, if not defeat

Fresh meniscus transplantation programme launched

FIR filed after IIT-D scholar found injured in Munirka flat dies at AIIMS

Fisherfolk oppose plan to build Secretariat at Foreshore Estate

They hoist black flags to mark their opposition to the proposal. They demand that the govt. return the lands belonging to Srinivasapuram, build new houses for 15,000 fishermen along the Marina Loop Road, and discuss the matter with them

Youth held for allegedly raping transwoman in Kochi

31-year-old techie killed as lorry rams bike at PM Palem

Welfare Secretary booked for allegedly misappropriating 2.17 lakh meant for pensioners

Valedictory of World Tourism Day to be held in Araku Valley

Fire breaks out at metal scrap godown

The police said that an electrical short circuit could have been the reason for the accident

Pink Saheli card roll out hit by persistent glitches; paper tickets remain in use across city

Free ayurvedic camp held at Andhra University

It is nobodys business when or how many times I meet my people, says Vijay

Taking out a roadshow in Dharapuram on the last day of campaigning for the bypoll, he hits out the impudence of DMK president M.K. Stalin in body-shaming his partys candidate for the constituency

500 detained in Delhi on Day 3 of protests seeking CECs exit; Thackerays lead Mumbai march

Delhi Police stop protesters as they try to march towards heavily barricaded Jantar Mantar; in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray describes CEC as BJPs 'weapon', Raj Thackeray calls for use of ballot papers instead of EVMs

12kg LPG price rises by Tk 252

The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has increased. The price of a 12kg LPG cylinder has jumped by Tk 252, rising from Tk 1,585 to Tk 1,837. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new price on Sunday. The prices of LPG cylinders weighing between 5.5kg and 45kg have also been increased at the same rate. The price of LPG used in vehicles, known as autogas, has been raised from Tk 73.09 per litre to Tk 84.62 per litre. However, the price of a 12.5kg LPG cylinder supplied by the state-owned company has been kept unchanged at Tk 825. Announcing the new prices, BERC said the prices in the domestic market had been adjusted due to an increase in LPG prices in the international market. Despite the higher official price, LPG is reportedly unavailable in some areas. In places where it is available, there are allegations that a 12kg cylinder is being sold for Tk 2,200 to Tk 2,500. Make the news lead sharper Use more natural news English Strengthen the shortage paragraph The post 12kg LPG price rises by Tk 252 appeared first on Energy Bangla .

Report: 17 Nations Back Kyoto Vision for Science

Kyoto, October 4 : Kyoto Vision for Science has reportedly been endorsed by the United States and 16 other countries as part of an international effort to accelerate scientific discovery through advanced artificial intelligence, expanded computing access and new research funding models. The initiative, formally described as the Kyoto Vision for a Golden Age of [] The post Report: 17 Nations Back Kyoto Vision for Science appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .

Painter stabbed to death by carpenter in Bengaluru

Mumbai: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray lead opposition rally against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Uddhav and Raj Thackeray led an opposition rally in Mumbai against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, demanding the scrapping of SIR and greater electoral transparency.

Negligence alleged in death of two pregnant women at Bihars Jamui hospital

High drama as video of Minister Shreyasi Singh shouting at Jamui Sadar Hospital management goes viral; District Magistrate forms a three-member team to probe the deaths

Keralam Health department introduces district-level system to monitor medicine stocks

The district-level teams have been instructed to conduct direct inspections at hospital pharmacies and stores rather than relying solely on records

Punjab AAP suspends MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana over anti-party activities

Punjab AAP has suspended MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana after he questioned teacher shortages in government schools and the State governments education reform claims.

CEC protests in Delhi: A student on how she was harassed by the Delhi Police during protests

IIT-Gandhinagar scientists demo quantum link through 5.5 km of air

The feat has been described as Indias first free-space quantum-key distribution (QKD) link at a distance of 5.56 km

Tamil Nadu bypolls: Vijay faces first electoral test as TVK seeks to win Madurantakam, Dharapuram

The high-decibel campaign for the bypolls in Madurantakam, Dharapuram Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu has ended.

Sangama clean-up drive removes over 1,000 kg of waste

Chinmaya Missions Gita chanting competition draws over 15,000 students in Madurai city

Campaign ends for high-stakes bypolls in three States, one U.T.

The bypolls set to take place on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) will be held in five Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, as well as in one Lok Sabha seat in Assam; the votes will be counted on Friday

Clean-up drive, awareness activities mark Wildlife Week celebrationin Coimbatore

Rift in Chickballapur and Kolar Congress units spills into the open

Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara formally invited to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara

Congress Govt. failed minorities by not keeping promises: Harish Rao

SFI-police face-off intensifies after inspection at SFI leaders home and protest outside police officers residences

The incidents happened a day after an alleged threat by Cantonmentsub-inspector Gokulsurfaced in the aftermath of the recent clash between Youth Congress and SFI activists in the capital city

Four arrested for extorting money from youth in Coimbatore

Keralam government gets legal opinion to proceed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in abetment to suicide case

T. Asaf Ali, Director General of Prosecution, gives legal advice that there is no legal bar in proceeding against Gyanesh Kumar. The case pertains to the reported suicide of Malaysian Lee See Been, a former chief project officer of Kerala State Transport Project for reconstruction of M.C. Road

Spurious drugs case: Kingpins travel to turkey throws light on rackets international links

Kuki man found dead a day after abduction in Manipur

Armed men reportedly took the 71-year-old at gunpoint after torching his house in a village in Kangpokpi district

Tusker Pallatt Brahmadathan dies after lightning strike near Erattupetta in Keralams Kottayam

Known for his calm and gentle nature, Brahmadathan was fondly referred to by elephant lovers as Gaja Kausthubham Pallatt Brahmadathan

Nearly 30% of Karnatakas waterbodies used mainly to recharge groundwater

Karnataka has the second-highest share among the major southern States, after Tamil Nadu

Hindu Mahaganpati immersed after 21-day festival in Kalaburagi

Ethiopia controls Tigray capital as regional rivals meet in Egypt

The presidents of Egypt, Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea all of whom have difficult relations with Ethiopia were set to meet in the Egyptian city of Alamein on Sunday to discuss the conflict.

It takes foreign influencers viral video for officials to act on broken, pothole-ridden stretches in Indiranagar

Vayalar Award for R. Rajasrees Athreyakam

Literary personalities visit Prof. Haimendorfs memorial museum at Marlavai in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district

China says 'divergent opinions' contributed to lack of G20 consensus

The draft called on all countries to move to eliminate structural excess capacity in their economies, among other actions

Central team assesses drought situation in Saligrama taluk

LDF alleges Thiruvananthapuram BJP councillor R. Sugathans signature was forged in council attendance register

According to the LDF, the act is intended to falsely show Sugathans presence at Corporation council meetings he actually missed while in hiding

Naidu to launch water schemes worth 30,156 crore in Kadapa on October 5

With 27.36 lakh new tap connections, the scheme aims to provide clean drinking water to 3.27 crore rural households

Thackeray cousins lead march to BMC against CEC, seek end to SIR in Maharashtra

The march added to the campaign that Opposition parties have run against the Election Commission over the SIR and the working of the panel

Senior cardiothoracic surgeon gets award