YS Jagan Mohan Reddy criticises Chandrababu Naidu over forced relocation of tribal school students
The News Mill
Chennai Metro Records 1.04 cr Passenger Journeys in August
Single-journey paper QR tickets purchased at Metro stations accounted for 20,20,687 passenger journeys, while static QR tickets generated at stations were used by 2,28,732 passengers
Iran says it killed large number of US forces in Jordan; America says no casualties
Iran on Wednesday claimed its attacks on US forces in Jordan killed a large number of American personnel, a claim Washington rejected by reporting no casualties. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards also said it struck US bases in Erbil with missiles and drones, while Bahrain said its air defences intercepted Iranian drones.
Ram temple cash theft: Journalist accuses cops of digital tracking
Trump Feasts, Americans Go Hungry!: AOC Goes Nuclear Over $600 Million Ballroom Project | Watch
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez launched a blistering attack on Donald Trump over his priorities, accusing the president of focusing on a lavish White House ballroom while ordinary Americans struggle to afford food and other basic necessities.AOC used the ballroom project to hammer Trump over the cost-of-living crisis, contrasting the presidents construction plans with families struggling with grocery bills and affordability. Her remarks form part of a broader Democratic attack on Trumps economic record and his handling of concerns over everyday costs.
NEW CANADA DEAL ON THE TABLE: Carney Breaks Trump After With Threat; Mike Johnsons Admits Loss
House Speaker Mike Johnson has weighed in on Donald Trumps escalating trade confrontation with Canada, suggesting that a new agreement with Ottawa remains on the table even as tariff tensions continue to strain relations between the longtime allies.#MikeJohnson #DonaldTrump #MarkCarney #Canada #Trump #TrumpTariffs #CanadaUS #USCanada #Tariffs #TradeWar #CanadaTariffs #USCongress #Republicans #TradeDeal #BreakingNews
Lahkmen terms UDP-BJP switch a
SHILLONG, Sep 1: Amid a week of intense speculation over a possible realignment in the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, with reports that nine of the UDPs 12 legislators have been in talks with senior BJP leaders, two senior voices from the coalition struck carefully different notes on Tuesday. Cabinet Minister and UDP MLA Lahkmen Rymbui []
Charlie Kirk murder suspect pleads not guilty as judge clears way for death penalty trial
Tyler Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, a capital offence in Utah, and six other counts.
Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton suspended as Sony investigates allegations
Sony Pictures Television Studios says it is recasting the
New Zealand Tribunal Rejects 40 Khalistan-linked Asylum Claims
New Zealands Immigration and Protection Tribunal has rejected all 40 published asylum cases linked The post New Zealand Tribunal Rejects 40 Khalistan-linked Asylum Claims appeared first on Khalsa Vox .
Major Cyber Fraud Uncovered in Gurugram, 11 Arrested
Gurgaon, September 2: Gurugram police have arrested 11 individuals in connection with a large-scale cyber fraud operation involving a fake call center. The suspects were deceiving American citizens by posing as Apple customer service representatives and swindling them out of millions of dollars. Authorities seized 9 laptops, 20 mobile phones, 2 cars, 1 bike, and ... Read more Major Cyber Fraud Uncovered in Gurugram, 11 Arrested
NC-BJP face-off set to hit streets as parties announce rival gheraos in J&K
Srinagar, Sep 1:Jammu and Kashmirs political contest between the National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set for a sharper street-level confrontation on Wednesday, with the NC announcing counter-gheraos of BJP headquarters in Srinagar and Jammu hours after the BJP called for a Secretariat gherao against the Omar Abdullah-led government. The rival programmes have transformed September 2 into a political face-off, with both parties attempting to set the terms of the public debate and, crucially, decide where accountability for Jammu and Kashmirs unresolved issues should lie. The BJPs protest is aimed at the elected government, while the NC is preparing to take its counter-campaign directly to BJP offices, putting the spotlight on the Centre and its commitments towards J&K. Announcing its programme, the NC said its protests would remain peaceful and would demand accountability for commitments made by the Centre in Parliament and before the Supreme Court. The party has identified four demands: constitutional guarantees, restoration of statehood, clearance of the reservation file and justice for the people of J&K. The political messaging is unmistakable. Faced with a BJP campaign questioning the performance of the NC-led administration, the ruling party is seeking to move the debate from governance in J&K to the larger question of what the Centre has promised J&K and what remains undelivered. At the heart of the NCs counter-offensive is statehood. Restoration of statehood has been one of the partys defining demands since the reorganisation of the erstwhile state in 2019. By placing it alongside constitutional guarantees and the reservation issue, the NC is seeking to frame Wednesdays protest not as a defence of the Omar Abdullah government but as a broader political demand directed at New Delhi. The partys reference to the mandate is equally deliberate. The mandate of the people of J&K is not a blank cheque. It must be respected, not taken for granted, the NC said. The statement effectively draws a political line between the mandate received by the elected government and the authority of the Centre, while signalling that the NC does not intend to allow the BJP to monopolise the narrative on accountability. For the BJP, the counter-protest presents a different challenge. Its decision to take its agitation to the Civil Secretariat is designed to put the NC government directly under pressure over issues it says remain unresolved under the present administration. The NCs decision to respond at BJP headquarters turns that campaign into a two-way political contest. Rather than allowing the BJP protest to dominate the political conversation, the NC is seeking to force the Centre and the BJP to answer questions over statehood, constitutional safeguards, and other commitments. The confrontation also reflects the changing political dynamics after the 2024 Assembly elections, when the NC emerged as the principal force in government while the BJP retained its position as the dominant political force in Jammu. Both parties are now attempting to consolidate their respective political constituencies while expanding their narratives beyond their traditional regional strongholds. For the NC, statehood remains a particularly potent issue because it allows the party to connect the question of J&Ks political status with the electoral mandate received by the elected government. For the BJP, the emphasis on governance allows it to argue that the elected administration should be judged on its performance rather than on issues falling within the Centres domain.
KPDCL sought ToD withdrawal; JERC retained it
Srinagar, Sep 1:The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limiteds (KPDCL) decision to withdraw its own proposal for introducing a Time-of-Day (ToD) tariff for 2026-27 has assumed significance after the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) went ahead with the mechanism, potentially creating a substantial financial advantage for government offices, educational institutions and industries whose electricity consumption is concentrated during daytime hours. In an additional submission dated July 1, 2026, filed while the tariff proceedings were still before the Commission, KPDCL explicitly sought withdrawal of its ToD proposal for FY 2026-27. The DISCOM told JERC that ToD should not be implemented, in any consumer category during the year and proposed that it be introduced later in phases, as adequate smart-meter penetration was achieved. The reason cited was essentially technological readiness. Without adequate smart metering, consumption during different time blocks could not be uniformly measured and billed, making immediate implementation difficult. JERC, however, did not accept KPDCLs position in its entirety. In its tariff order issued on August 20 and effective from September 1, the commission introduced ToD for consumers, other than agriculture, having sanctioned load or contract demand above 10 kW, subject to the availability of compatible metering and billing infrastructure. Under the approved structure, electricity consumed during solar hours from 9 am to 5 pm - attracts a 20 percent rebate. Consumption during peak hours attracts a surcharge of 20 percent for industrial and commercial consumers and 10 percent for other eligible categories. This leaves the DISCOM in an unusual position: having sought withdrawal of ToD for the entire financial year, KPDCL must now implement the mechanism wherever compatible metering and billing infrastructure is available. The divergence also raises a broader regulatory question. If inadequate smart-meter coverage made ToD impractical for 2026-27, why was complete withdrawal considered necessary when the mechanism could be applied selectively to consumers whose connections already have compatible infrastructure? JERC appears to have addressed precisely that concern by limiting implementation to eligible consumers with the required metering and billing systems, rather than waiting for universal smart-meter coverage. The Central Governments Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules themselves envisage ToD as a demand-management instrument. The framework provides for solar-hour tariffs to be at least 20 percent below normal tariffs and links ToD implementation to smart meters. The question, therefore, is whether incomplete smart-meter penetration was sufficient reason to withdraw ToD altogether when a phased, infrastructure-based implementation was possible. The economics of the approved tariff make the issue more significant. The government establishments could emerge as major beneficiaries. Their tariff has increased from Rs 7.90 to Rs 8.30 per unit. But the 20 percent solar-hour rebate brings the daytime energy charge down to Rs 6.64 per unit - nearly 16 percent below the old tariff. Government offices, colleges, and universities largely operate during the 9 am5 pm solar window. Where compatible meters are already available, the rebate could therefore reduce their effective electricity cost despite the increase in the base tariff. For the DISCOM, this could mean lower revenue from substantial consumers whose electricity consumption was already concentrated during daytime, without necessarily producing any significant shift in their consumption behaviour. Kashmirs predominantly daytime industries could similarly turn the tariff increase into a saving. For LT industry, the new Rs 4.60 per-unit tariff falls to Rs 3.68 during solar hours - 12.38 percent below the earlier Rs 4.20 tariff. For HT industry, the Rs 4.50 tariff falls to Rs 3.60, around 12.2 percent below the previous Rs 4.10 rate. The benefit, however, is not automatic. It depends on when electricity is consumed. Units operating substantially during peak hours will face the applicable surcharge, which could offset the saving generated by daytime consumption. That is also the central purpose of ToD: to encourage consumers to shift electricity use away from periods of peak demand and towards solar hours, when power availability from solar generation is generally higher. The J&K tariff structure, however, could reward some consumers for behaviour they were already following. Government offices and single-shift industrial units that naturally consume most of their electricity between 9 am and 5 pm may receive the 20 percent rebate without making any substantial change to their operating patterns. In such cases, ToD could reduce the DISCOMs revenue without necessarily achieving the demand-shifting objective for which the tariff was introduced. But where are the households in this framework? The overwhelming majority of ordinary domestic consumers have sanctioned loads below 10 kW and therefore remain outside the ToD benefit under the JERC order. That is significant because households collectively have considerable flexibility in when they consume electricity. Washing machines, water heating, cooling appliances, ironing, electric cooking and several other energy-intensive household activities can, to varying degrees, be shifted from morning and evening peak periods to daytime solar hours. Across hundreds of thousands of households, even modest changes in consumption patterns could potentially have a greater aggregate impact on the load curve than shifting demand among a relatively smaller pool of large consumers.
J&K LA Autumn Session: Legislative business to be processed, managed through NeVA portal
Jammu, Sep 1:The legislative business related to the ensuing autumn session of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, commencing from September 21, 2026 will be processed and managed through the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) portal. The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a digital platform for facilitating paperless functioning of Legislative Assemblies and streamlining the management of Legislative Business. It (NeVA) was partially introduced in the 2026 budget session of J&K Legislative Assembly (February to April) in Jammu. The replies of cut motions were processed through the portal. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, in a pre-budget session presser in January this year, had announced the partial introduction of NeVA in J&K Legislative Assembly to encourage paperless functioning. Partially, we will begin work from the (2026) budget session but hopefully it will be fully in place from the next session (following the budget session). This will facilitate all, he had assured. For the implementation of NeVA project in J&K, two committees, one headed by the Assembly Secretary and other apex committee under his (Speakers) chairmanship were also constituted. To ensure the processing, submission, receipt and disposal of legislative business through the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) portal during autumn session, J&K Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Commissioner Secretary AchalSethi has issued a set of circular-instructions for all the administrative departments. Asserting that the legislative business relating to the ensuing autumn session is required to be processed and managed through the NeVA portal, Sethi has pointed out that the questions received from the MLAs have already been sent to the concerned departments by the Assembly Secretariat and the log-in credentials of the departments have also been created. Accordingly, all administrative departments have been asked to access their respective NeVa log in accounts on daily basis and ensure that legislative business concerning their respective departments, including government bills, legislative proposals and amendments, replies to Legislative Assembly Questions, assurances, notices, references and other related documents, is submitted, received and processed through the NeVA portal in accordance with the prescribed procedure and timelines. The concerned departments have also been directed to ensure that the documents uploaded on the portal are complete, duly authenticated and correspond to the approved version of the relevant proposal or document. In this connection, each department will designate a nodal officer or NeVA coordinator, wherever not already designated, to coordinate with the Legislative Assembly secretariat and the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and to deal with legislative business received through the portal. The concerned departments will make necessary arrangements before commencement of the session to ensure smooth transition to the electronic system and avoid any delay in legislative business, Sethi has asserted, adding that any technical issue relating to the Portal may be taken up with the Legislative Assembly Secretariat or concerned technical support team. All the administrative secretaries have been asked to ensure effective implementation of the specified arrangements in their respective departments from the ensuing autumn session. On August 12, 2026, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had summoned the autumn session of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Srinagar on September 21 at 10 am. After the LG Sinha issued an order summoning the session, the J&K Legislative Assembly Secretariat, through a bulletin, asked the MLAs to submit notices of 8 questions (each) 4 starred and 4 unstarred and one bill (each) by or before August 25, 2026 and two resolutions each by or before September 5, 2026, with the direction that they (MLAs) may also send their notices (questions, bills-resolutions) on NeVA (National e-Vidhan Application digital) platform of J&K Legislative Assembly. The Speaker, Legislative Assembly has yet to list the provisional calendar of business and sittings after deliberations with the elected government. The Business Advisory Committee may, later, tweak the calendar if some changes are warranted. It is being presumed that the autumn session may last 10-12 days with a provision of 7-8 sittings. The session is being held almost a fortnight ahead of the expiry of the deadline i.e., October 4 of convening a session within six months of the previous session, as per the constitutional requirement. Previous session i.e., the budget session of J&K Legislative Assembly in Jammu had ended on April 4, 2026. In January, 2025, in alignment with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's vision for early implementation of project National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in UTs Legislative Assembly, J&K was accorded financial approval for the same by the Centre. Costing Rs 16 crore (approximately), the project NeVA for J&K Legislative Assembly was approved through a virtual meeting in January last year by the Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India. For the first three years, the project will be fully funded by the Centre.
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a method for measuring gene expression in individual cells, allowing observation of various cellular processes, including cell differentiation, the cell cycle and stimulus response, for each unique cell instead of averaging across millions of cells. It provides high-resolution snapshots of biological processes. However, it does not track the same cell continuously over time. To address this limitation, trajectory inference approaches have been developed that computationally arrange cellular snapshots along an inferred developmental trajectory known as pseudotime.
JioHotstar debuts in UK, Canada, Singapore with a new slate
JioHotstar launches internationally in the UK, Canada, and Singapore, aiming to engage the South Asian diaspora and a global audience with a catalogue of new content. The platform offers a variety of shows, including live voting for Bigg Boss and access to multiple South Asian channels.
JioHotstar enters UK, Canada and Singapore as it expands global footprint
Streaming platform offers over 160,000 hours of content in more than 12 languages as it targets the South Asian diaspora and broader audiences in three markets
JioHotstar expands into UK, Canada and Singapore
JioHotstar has over 500 million users in India The international launch of JioHotstar will connect with the South Asian diaspora and also expand its global reach JioHotstar, the leading OTT in the country has announced its entry into three international markets - UK, Canada and Singapore as it l
Iran Wedding Turns Into Warzone!: Mojtaba Vows Destructive Revenge On U.S. After Trump Strikes
Iran has vowed a powerful response after Iranian authorities said fresh U.S. strikes hit a wedding gathering in Sirik County in southern Hormozgan province, killing two people and injuring several others.The reported wedding strike came during a new wave of American attacks across southern Iran, with explosions reported in several locations. Iranian authorities also said a U.S.-launched projectile struck an area outside the runway at Jiroft Airport in Kerman province, though officials reported no casualties or damage to airport infrastructure.
Rajasthan civic poll feud turns violent as councillor candidate's husband attacked
Rajasthan civic poll feud turns violent as councillor candidates husband attacked
US Open PIX: Andreeva Breezes Past Tjen To Round 2
French Open champion Mirra Andreeva secured a comfortable 6-2 6-2 victory over Janice Tjen in her U.S. Open first-round match, demonstrating her prowess on hard courts and advancing to the second round.
Dharwad: Three Dead, Three Injured In Early Morning Accident Near Venkatapur
The accident occurred around 3.20 am when the car reportedly hit the divider, police said.
Cup noodles made with cold water? BBC tries Japan's viral snack
The BBC's Tokyo correspondent Kurumi Mori tries Japan's latest food trend, instant noodles made using cold water.
Lindsay Clancys CHILLING STARE After Jury Deadlock Sparks Outrage: Pure Evil | WATCH
Lindsay Clancys murder trial has taken another shocking turn after her jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict, and now a viral courtroom video is fueling fresh outrage. The Massachusetts mother appears to stare toward the jury in footage spreading online, with viewers calling the moment chilling and accusing Clancy of showing pure evil and zero remorse. As deliberations continue, the jury must decide Clancys fate over the 2023 deaths of her three children.
Major administrative reshuffle : 136 JKAS officers transferred
Srinagar, Sep 01: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday ordered a major administrative reshuffle, transferring and posting 136 officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) across various departments, institutions and districts. The transfers were ordered with immediate effect by the General Administration Department (GAD) through Government Order No. 1463-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated September 1. The government has directed that all the officers covered by the order shall be deemed to have been relieved immediately from their respective places of posting. Among the significant changes, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza, JKAS, Member, J&K Special Tribunal, has been transferred and posted as Secretary, J&K Public Service Commission, against an available vacancy. Khalid Majeed, JKAS, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Special Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, while Kanta Devi, JKAS, Regional Director, Survey and Land Records (ex-officio Settlement Officer), Jammu, has been posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Health and Medical Education Department. Rajinder Singh, JKAS, Special Secretary to the Government, Agriculture Production Department, has been posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, while Sanjay Gupta, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Mining Department, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment. Amarjeet Singh, JKAS, Special Secretary to the Government, Hospitality and Protocol Department, has been posted as Additional District Development Commissioner, Poonch, while Pankaj Gupta, JKAS, Additional Inspector General of Registration, Jammu, has been posted as Regional Director, Survey and Land Records (ex-officio Settlement Officer), Doda. Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, JKAS, Administrator, Associated Hospitals, Srinagar, has been transferred and posted as Additional District Development Commissioner, Pulwama. Namrita Dogra, JKAS, Additional Commissioner, State Taxes (Administration and Enforcement), Jammu, has been posted as Regional Director, Survey and Land Records (ex-officio Settlement Officer), Jammu. Anju Gupta, JKAS, Additional Transport Commissioner, J&K, has been posted as Additional Inspector General of Registration, Jammu, while Ghulam Rasool, JKAS, Special Secretary to the Government, Revenue Department, has been posted as Additional District Development Commissioner, Kupwara. Jogindera Singh Rai, JKAS, Special Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, has been posted as Managing Director, J&K Agro Industries Development Corporation, while Rifat Aftab Qureshi, JKAS, Additional District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, has been posted as Director, Command Area Development, Kashmir. Rajneesh Gupta, JKAS, Chief Operating Officer, Himayat, has been posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Hospitality and Protocol Department, while Dr Fayaz Ahmad Banday, JKAS, Director, Command Area Development, Kashmir, has been posted as Director, Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir. Basharat Hussain, JKAS, Chief Executive Officer/Secretary, J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board, has been posted as Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Rajouri. Vinod Kumar Behnal, JKAS, Additional District Development Commissioner, Kishtwar, has been posted as Executive Director, J&K Rehabilitation Council, Social Welfare Department, relieving Bashir Ahmad Khan, JKAS, Secretary in the Social Welfare Department. Tahir Firdous Dutta, JKAS, Additional Commissioner (Central) in the office of Financial Commissioner (Revenue), J&K, has been posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment. Vishal Sharma, JKAS, Special Secretary to the Government, Hospitality and Protocol Department, has been posted as Regional Director, Survey and Land Records (ex-officio Settlement Officer), Rajouri. Dhananter Singh, JKAS, Special Secretary to the Government, Health and Medical Education Department, has been posted as Additional Commissioner, State Taxes (Administration and Enforcement), Jammu. Tazayun Mukhtar, JKAS, Chief Executive Officer, Urban Development Agency, Kashmir, holding additional charge of Mission Director, DJAY, has been posted as Secretary, J&K Sports Council. Rakesh Kumar, JKAS, Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes (IT, Data Analytics and Economic Intelligence), Jammu, has been posted as Special Secretary to the Government, Estates Department. Dr Zahoor Ahmad Magray, JKAS, Joint Director, Industries and Commerce (Development), Kashmir, has been posted as Additional Commissioner in the office of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir. Masarat Hashim, JKAS, Deputy Labour Commissioner (Central), J&K, has been posted as Administrator, Associated Hospitals, Srinagar.Ghulam Nabi Bhat, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Agriculture Production Department, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes (Recovery), Kashmir. Veedushi Kapoor, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Civil Aviation Department, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Revenue Department, while Shahid Mehmood, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Labour and Employment Department, has been posted as Programme Officer, ICDS Project, Pulwama. Anil Salgotra, JKAS, Joint Chief Electoral Officer in the office of Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, has been posted as Joint Director, School Education, Jammu. Raj Mohammad, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Industries and Commerce Department, has been posted as Director, Land Management, Srinagar Development Authority. Afshan Masood, JKAS, Secretary, J&K Advisory Board for Development of Other Backward Classes, has been posted as Joint Director, J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD). Mohammad Aslam, JKAS, Registrar-cum-Controller of Examinations, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar, has been posted as General Manager, DIC, Ganderbal. Avleen Kour Bali, JKAS, Secretary, J&K Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People, has been posted as Joint Registrar, Cooperatives (Special), Jammu. Shazia Koser, JKAS, Joint Director, Handloom, Jammu, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes (IT, Data Analytics and Economic Intelligence), Jammu. Sumera Shamim, JKAS, Director, Land Management, Srinagar Development Authority, has been posted as Joint Registrar, Cooperative Societies (Special), Kashmir, against an available vacancy. Ashima Sher, JKAS, Joint Director, J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development, has been posted as Joint Director (Administration), Directorate of Rural Development, Jammu. Virender Kumar Manyal, JKAS, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Patnitop, has been posted as Joint Registrar, Cooperatives (Banking and Finance), J&K.Vinay Khosla, JKAS, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Culture Department. Syed Ahmad Kataria, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes, Enforcement (North), Kashmir. Rakesh Dubey, JKAS, Joint Registrar, Cooperatives (Banking and Finance), J&K, has been posted as Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Patnitop. Tariq Hussain, JKAS, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Gulmarg, has been posted as Registrar-cum-Controller of Examinations, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar. Rakesh Sharma, JKAS, Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Poonch, has been posted as Deputy Secretary to the Government, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. Vijay Kumar, JKAS, Deputy Commissioner, Relief Organization (Migrants), Jammu, has been posted as Programme Officer, ICDS Project, Reasi. Minakshi Vaid, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Information Technology Department, has been posted as Joint Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Jammu. Syed Naseer Ahmad, JKAS, Secretary, Srinagar Development Authority, has been posted as Additional Mission Director, J&K Rural Livelihood Mission, Kashmir. Samir Ahmad Jan, JKAS, General Manager, DIC, Kupwara, has been posted as Joint Director, Handlooms, Kashmir. Afaq Ahmed, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Mining Department, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Skill Development Department. Sudhir Bali, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, has been posted as Member, J&K Services Selection Board. Alyaz Ahmad Naisroo, JKAS, Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes (Appeals-II), Srinagar, has been posted as Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Gulmarg.Fareed Ahmad Kohli, JKAS, Joint Director, Geology and Mining, Jammu, has been posted as Programme Officer, ICDS Project, Poonch, and shall also hold charge of CEO, Tourism Development Authority, Poonch, in addition to his own duties till further orders. Preeti Sharma, JKAS, Joint Registrar, Cooperatives (Special), Jammu, has been posted as Joint Director, Geology and Mining, Jammu. Rehana Akhtar Bijli, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department, has been posted as Secretary, J&K Advisory Board for Development of Gujjar and Bakerwals. Giasul Haq, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department. Mohammad Imran Khan, JKAS, Additional Mission Director, J&K Rural Livelihood Mission, Kashmir, has been posted as Programme Officer, ICDS Project, Shopian. Gurdev Kumar, JKAS, Joint Director, School Education, Jammu, has been posted as Joint Chief Electoral Officer in the office of Chief Electoral Officer, J&K. Sanchi Misra, JKAS, Joint Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Jammu, has been posted as Joint Director, Handlooms, Jammu. Mantasha Binti Rashid, JKAS, General Manager, DIC, Ganderbal, has been posted as Joint Director (Administration), Directorate of Rural Development, Kashmir. Mohsin Raza, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, has been posted as General Manager, DIC, Kishtwar. Aijaz Ahmad Shah, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Civil Aviation Department, has been posted as General Manager, DIC, Bandipora. Parvinder Kour, JKAS, Joint Director (Administration), Directorate of Rural Development, Jammu, has been posted as Registrar, District Doda, with additional charge of General Manager, DIC, Doda. Nasir Mahmood Khan, JKAS, Joint Director (Administration), Directorate of Rural Development, Kashmir, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes, Enforcement (South), Kashmir, headquartered at Lower Munda.Akhil Sadotra, JKAS, Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD), Kathua, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Information Technology Department. Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Industries and Commerce Department, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department. Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Additional Secretary (Legal) in the Power Development Department, has been posted as Chief Executive Officer/Secretary, J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board. Hilal Ahmad Bhat, JKAS, Deputy District Election Officer, Bandipora, has been posted as Sub-Registrar, Beerwah. Sheraz Ahmad, JKAS, Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Ramban, holding additional charge of Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD), Ramban, has been posted as Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD), Rajouri. Gulshan Kumar, JKAS, Deputy Secretary to the Government, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, has been posted as Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD), Kathua. Dr Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, JKAS, Executive Officer, J&K State Haj Committee, has been posted as Deputy Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department. Angrej Singh, JKAS, Assistant Commissioner (Central) with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, has been posted as District Social Welfare Officer, Reasi. Savita Chouhan, JKAS, Deputy Director, Tourism, Jammu, has been posted as Sub-Registrar, Vijaypur. Dr Priya Darshani Gautam, JKAS, Secretary, J&K Housing Board, has been posted as Deputy Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Jammu. Akshay Rajan, JKAS, Sub-Registrar, Vijaypur, has been posted as Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Reasi. Hakim Riyaz-ul-Haq, JKAS, Deputy Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, has been posted as Secretary, J&K Housing Board. Tarun Sharma, JKAS, Deputy Director, Motor Garages, Jammu, has been posted as Personnel Officer, Associated Hospitals, Jammu. Abdul Jabbar, JKAS, Personnel Officer, Associated Hospitals, Jammu, has been posted as Deputy Director, Motor Garages, Jammu. Narsingh Dayal Verma, JKAS, Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Samba, has been posted as Collector, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Jammu, with additional charge of Collector, ERA, Jammu. Saddat Iqbal, JKAS, Deputy Director, Hospitality and Protocol, Kashmir, has been posted as Deputy Secretary to the Government, Civil Aviation Department. Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, JKAS, Deputy Director, ICDS, Kashmir, has been posted as Deputy Registrar, Academics, Government Medical College, Srinagar. Sakhi Mohd. Khan, JKAS, Deputy Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department, has been posted as Secretary, Srinagar Development Authority. Irfan Ali Khan, JKAS, Deputy Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department, has been posted as Assistant Commissioner, State Taxes, Kashmir. Dr Arshad Hussain Ganai, JKAS, Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Pulwama, holding additional charge of Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD), Pulwama, has been posted as Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Anantnag. Mohammad Imran Naik, JKAS, Deputy Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department, has been posted as Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD), Ramban. Naveed Hussain Badroo, JKAS, DMO, Kupwara, has been posted as Deputy Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department. Shruti Bhardwaj, JKAS, Deputy Director, Information (KBI), New Delhi, has been posted as Deputy Director, Rural Sanitation, Jammu. Auqil Nuvaid, JKAS, Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD), Rajouri, has been posted as Deputy Secretary to the Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Majid Manzoor, JKAS, Block Development Officer, Kunzer, Baramulla, has been posted as Deputy Director, District Employment and Counselling Centre, Anantnag. Hilal Arafat, JKAS, Block Development Officer, Khag, Budgam, has been posted as Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD), Pulwama. Ghulam Rasool Mir, JKAS, Deputy District Election Officer, Shopian, has been posted as Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Pulwama. Mohammad Akbar Wani, JKAS, Deputy District Election Officer, Srinagar, has been posted as Development Officer, Handicrafts (Non-Textiles), Kashmir. Sanjeev Kumar, JKAS, Block Development Officer, Chiralla, Doda, has been posted as Deputy Director, District Employment and Counselling Centre, Udhampur. Arif Ayaz Dar, JKAS, Block Development Officer awaiting orders of adjustment in the office of Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD), Kulgam, has been posted as Assistant Commissioner Panchayat, Poonch. Ramesh Chander, JKAS, Block Development Officer in the office of Chief Operating Officer, Himayat, has been posted as Deputy Director, District Employment and Counselling Centre, Kathua. Asiya Nazir, JKAS, CDPO, Lar, Ganderbal, has been posted as Deputy District Election Officer, Budgam. Kewal Krishan Sharma, JKAS, State Project Manager, Himayat Mission, J&K, has been posted as Deputy Secretary to the Government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment. Joginder Mangol, JKAS, Assistant Director, Handicrafts, Udhampur, has been posted as District Social Welfare Officer, Poonch. Amit Singh Manhas, Junior Scale JKAS, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Under Secretary to the Government, Culture Department. Mohd. Ashraf Wani, Junior Scale JKAS, Under Secretary to the Government, Skill Development Department, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Dr Neha Sharma, Junior Scale JKAS, Under Secretary in the J&K Services Selection Board, has been posted as Administrative Officer, Government Medical College, Jammu. Punika Pandita, Junior Scale JKAS, Assistant Transport Commissioner, J&K, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Social Welfare Department. Mohd. Sagir, Junior Scale JKAS, Assistant Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Rajouri, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Industries and Commerce Department. Sonika Parihar, Junior Scale JKAS, Administrative Officer, Government Medical College, Jammu, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Social Welfare Department. Mohammad Iqbal Mir, Junior Scale JKAS, Deputy Registrar, Cooperatives, Pulwama, has been posted as Under Secretary to the Government, Cooperatives Department. Waheed Ahmed, Junior Scale JKAS, Under Secretary to the Government, Labour and Employment Department, has been posted as Under Secretary to the Government, Health and Medical Education Department. Aadil Iqbal Lone, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer, Shangus, Anantnag, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Social Welfare Department. Javid Rehman Hajam, Junior Scale JKAS, presently posted in the Sports Council, J&K, has been posted as Under Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare Department. Devia Nanda, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer in the Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Jammu, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Industries and Commerce Department. Talat Mahmood Wani, Junior Scale JKAS, CDPO, Ganderbal, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Finance Department. Maqbool Ahmed, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer, Surankote, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Social Welfare Department. Mohib Ali Bukhari, Junior Scale JKAS, Under Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Employment Department. Basharat Mehmood, Junior Scale JKAS, District Social Welfare Officer, Anantnag, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Tourism Department. Asha Kumari Sharma, Junior Scale JKAS, Under Secretary to the Government, Health and Medical Education Department, has been posted as Under Secretary to the Government, Labour and Employment Department. Sheikh Ansar Hussain, Junior Scale JKAS, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Finance Department. Anis Ahmed Wani, Junior Scale JKAS, ARTO, Ganderbal, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Adnan Nazir, Junior Scale JKAS, Deputy Registrar, Cooperatives, Baramulla, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Tourism Department. Aafreen Wahid Ganai, Junior Scale JKAS, Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies Agriculture Inputs, Srinagar, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Finance Department. Shashank Padha, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer, Sumb, Samba, has been posted as Under Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department. Hidaitullah Mir, Junior Scale JKAS, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Under Secretary to the Government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment. Mahnaz Chishti, Junior Scale JKAS, ARTO, presently on maternity leave, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Social Welfare Department. She will join her new place of posting after completion of maternity leave. Pankaj Sharma, Junior Scale JKAS, CDPO, Thathri, has been posted as Under Secretary in the J&K Services Selection Board. Mohammad Arif Shah, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer, Budgam, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Transport Department. Junaid Amin Bhat, Junior Scale JKAS, Under Secretary to the Government, Information Department, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Khanzada Mohd Usman, Junior Scale JKAS, Information Officer, Anantnag, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Finance Department. Mamta Sudershan, Junior Scale JKAS, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kishtwar, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. Saima Ramzan, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer, Pampore, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Social Welfare Department. Tawheed Ahmad Mir, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer, Natnussa, Kupwara, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Transport Department. Mudasir Ahmad Najar, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer, Bankote, Bandipore, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. Niharika, Junior Scale JKAS, Assistant Director, Handlooms, Samba, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Social Welfare Department. Rakesh Kumar, Junior Scale JKAS, DSWO, Reasi, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Industries and Commerce Department. Kuldeep Kumar, Junior Scale JKAS, CDPO, Inderwal, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Transport Department. Mohd Irfan, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer, Block Plangarh, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Employment Department. Shefali Bhagat, Junior Scale JKAS, CDPO, Billawar, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Finance Department. Aamina Lateef, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer (Hqr), Kupwara, has been transferred and her services placed at the disposal of Industries and Commerce Department. Sunil Kumar, Junior Scale JKAS, Block Development Officer, Ramban, has been transferred and his services placed at the disposal of Industries and Commerce Department. Dharam Paul, Under Secretary to the Government, Revenue Department, has been transferred and posted as Under Secretary to the Government, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. in another order issued on Tuesday, Mir Afroz, who was awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Member, J&K Special Tribunal, with immediate effect.
JKSSB announces 2,863 Class-IV, sanitation posts
Srinagar, Sep 01: The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has announced 2,863 vacancies for Class-IV (MTS) and Sanitation Worker posts across various departments under the Union Territory, divisional and district cadres. According to the recruitment notification issued on Tuesday, eligible candidates can submit their applications online from October 5, while the last date for filing applications has been fixed as November 3, 2026. Of the total 2,863 posts, 105 vacancieshave beenearmarked under the UT cadre, 1,990 under divisional cadres and 768 under district cadres. The divisional allocation comprises 1,093 posts in the Jammu division and 897 in the Kashmir division. Under the district cadre, 59 posts have been allocated to Anantnag, 20 to Bandipora, 75 to Baramulla, 47 to Budgam, 46 each to Doda and Ganderbal, 65 to Jammu, 50 to Kathua, 25 to Kishtwar, 23 to Kulgam, 24 to Kupwara, 53 to Srinagar and 46 to Udhampur. The notification states that applicants must be domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir and possess a valid domicile certificate by the last date for submission of applications. For Class-IV (MTS) posts, candidates must have passed matriculation but should not possess a qualification higher than 10+2. For Sanitation Worker posts, the minimum educational qualification is Class 8, while candidates with qualifications above 10+2 are not eligible. The posts carry a pay scale of Level SL1, ranging from Rs 14,800 to Rs 47,100. As per the notification, the maximum age limit, reckoned as on January 1, 2026, is 40 years for Open Merit candidates, 43 years for several reserved categories and 42 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). An additional five-year relaxation in the upper age limit will be available to eligible candidates claiming additional weightage as casual workers under the applicable rules. The application feehas beenfixed at Rs 600 for general candidates, while candidates belonging to SC, ST-1, ST-2, EWS and PwBD categories will be required to pay Rs 500. The fee can be deposited online through net banking, credit card or debit card. Selection will be made on the basis of a written examination and additional points, as prescribed under the Jammu and Kashmir Appointment to Class IV (Special Recruitment) Rules, 2020. The written examination will comprise objective-type multiple-choice questions. Candidates will face negative marking, with one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question deducted for every wrong answer. The JKSSB said the date of the examination and examination centres will be notified separately through its official website.
Aaqib Nabi Joins Surrey for County Championship Matches
New Delhi, September 2: Recently selected for the Indian national team, fast bowler Aaqib Nabi has joined the English county team Surrey for the County Championship, where he will play three matches. The 29-year-old has made a name for himself in Indian domestic cricket with an impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy, taking 60 wickets ... Read more Aaqib Nabi Joins Surrey for County Championship Matches
Can J&Ks air survive its vehicle boom?
Srinagar, Sep 01: Kashmir may still be known for its clean mountain air, but the numbers on its roads tell a rapidly changing story. Jammu and Kashmir's vehicle fleet has nearly doubled in less than a decade, raising fresh concerns over traffic congestion, emissions andthe deteriorating quality of urban air. According to the J&K Economic Survey 2024-25, the number of public and private vehicles increased from 14.88 lakh in March 2017 to 27.29 lakh by December 2024an increase of nearly 84 per cent in less than eight years. The latest figures show the growth has continued. Government data cited in the 2026 transport sector assessment put the total registered fleet at27,36,197vehicles at the end of 2024-25. During the financial year alone,1,69,012new vehicles were registered. Another1,47,448vehicles were added between April and December 2025, indicating that the upward trajectory has not slowed. The official Economic Survey's year-wise figures show the acceleration clearlythe fleet stood at 20.14 lakh in March 2020, 21.36 lakh in March 2021, 22.73 lakh in March 2022, 24.30 lakh in March 2023, 25.67 lakh in March 2024 and 27.29 lakh by December 2024. With roads and urban infrastructure struggling to keep pace, the increase has consequences beyond traffic jams. It also means more exhaust, more fuel combustion and greater pressure on the Valley's already fragile air environment. A study published in Scientific Reports, examining Srinagar's air pollution sources, identified transport asone of the major sourcesof PM2.5 emissions. Its emission inventory estimated 220.5 tonnes of PM2.5 annually from vehicular combustioninthe study period. Another detailed emission inventory for Srinagar, published in 2022, painted an even broader picture. Researchers Mansoor Ahmad Bhat and Eftade O. Gaga estimated that on a typical day in 2018, vehicles in Srinagar generated around 248.13 tonnes of carbon monoxide, 39.39 tonnes of nitrogen oxides and 2,400 kg of particulate matter. The study also estimated 4,415.13 tonnes of CO2 per day from fuel combustion by the vehicle fleet. The rapid growth of the vehicle population, urbanisation and traffic congestionhadincreased the pressure on Srinagar's air quality, the researchers noted. The problem is not simply the number of vehicles, but how those vehicles move matters too. Research on Srinagar's air has repeatedly pointed towards the interaction of vehicular emissions with other urban pollution sources. A Scientific Reports study found that while coal burning was the largest estimated PM2.5 source in its inventory, transport remained a substantial contributor, accounting for an estimated 220.5 tonnes of PM2.5 annually. The official Srinagar City Air Quality Action Plan has also recognised vehicular emissions as a key concern and calls for regular checking of vehicular emissions and enforcement of Pollution Under Control certification. The plan records the existence of dedicated pollution-checking centres and emission-monitoring arrangements for J&K. Yet the vehicle numbers continue to climb. In 2023-24 alone,1,65,278 vehicles were registered, including 36,282 commercial and 1,28,996 non-commercial vehicles. In the first nine months of 2024-25, another 1,33,197vehicles were registered, the Economic Survey states. This means the Valley is facing a double challenge: more vehicles and limited urban space to absorb them. Experts have increasingly called for stronger public transport, better traffic management, stricter enforcement of emission norms, accelerated scrappage of highly polluting vehicles and greater adoption of cleaner mobility. Every additional vehicle adds another potential source of emissions to an urban atmosphere already under pressure from dust, construction, heating and other combustion sources, said a climate and environment expert, Dr Tauseef Ahmad Bhat. The question now is whether the Union Territory can keep adding vehicles at this pace without allowing its roadsand its airto pay the price. The roads are getting fuller. The fleet is getting bigger. And unless cleaner mobility catches up, the air could become the next casualty of Kashmir's vehicle boom.
Hyderabads Vishesh In Joint Lead At Golconda Masters Golf
Sheoran made 11 birdies against a solitary bogey to register the lowest score of his career
TN CM Joseph Vijay gifts glasses to elderly woman during Mettur visit
The News Mill
With 19 airports, Gujarat steps up aviation infrastructure push: CM Patel
Ahmedabad, Sep 2 (IANS) The launch of international hub-and-spoke flight services from Ahmedabad will give international travellers from Gujarat direct benefits in terms of convenience, while passengers from smaller cities will be spared repeated boarding, customs and immigration procedures, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said. The service was formally inaugurated at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport []
Rain brings respite from hot weather
Srinagar, Sep01: Jammu and Kashmir partswitnessed fresh rainfall on Tuesday amid cloudy weather conditions, bringing down the temperature by a few degrees after a brief rise in mercury over the past couple of days. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain and thundershowersat many places till Wednesday evening. Director Meteorological Department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy with one or two spells of light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places, with brief intense heavy showers in the Jammu division towards early morning, late afternoon and evening hours till September 2. On September 3, the weather would remain generally dry with brief showers at a few places, while on September 4, light to moderate rain and thundershowers are expected at many places with brief intense showers. From September 5 to September 12, generally dry weather is expected across Jammu and Kashmir with brief spells of rain and thundershowers at isolated to scattered places towards early morning and afternoon hours. Amid the forecast of light to moderate rain till Wednesday, several areas across J&K witnessed precipitation. According to MeT, significant rainfall was recorded at multiple places, with Kathua AWS recording 73 mm, Katra 62 mm, Poonch 38.5 mm, Udhampur 27 mm and Jammu 1.4 mm till Tuesday morning. In Kashmir, rainfall was also received from multiple areas, including Budgam, Bandipora, Shopian, Pahalgam, Anantnag and other areas. The MeT has also issued an advisory, saying that brief intense showersatlocalized areas may generate flash floods, mudslides and landslides during September 1 and 2. Farmers may continue harvesting and other farm operations, the advisory reads.
In 2006, NASA and French Space Agency CNES launched a satellite in a joint mission to probe the properties of Earth's thin clouds and aerosols. CALIPSO studied clouds and airborne particles from orbit. Its data helped scientists understand climate, weather and air quality, while its observations improved atmospheric models and satellite weather measurements.
CM revamps cancer fund for poor
Srinagar, Sep 01: In a major leap forward for public healthcare and social welfare, the Chief Minister led government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the landmark Cancer Treatment & Management Fund for Poor (CTMFP) to ease the out-of-pocket financial burden on poor and vulnerable patients battling cancer. This major policy shift directly targets the critical gaps that previously left low-income families financially exhausted. While major inpatient operations and therapies are broadly covered under the Ayushman BharatPMJAY SEHAT ecosystem, patients historically suffered massive out-of-pocket expenses for outpatient care, routine diagnostics, and daily medication. Addressing this gap head-on, Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs modified guidelines raise the annual family income eligibility limit from Rs 2.40 lakh per annum (Rs 20,000 per month) to Rs 4.00 lakh per annum, extending a strong safety net to other low-income families. Furthermore, recognising that cancer recovery demands sustained assistance, the administration has replaced the old one-time grant with up to three distinct financial sanctions. The revised scheme showcases a modern transformation when evaluated against the original 2010 guidelines. The Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs updated initiative institutes clear assistance slabs of Rs 75,000 for families earning up to Rs 3 lakh annually and Rs 50,000 for those earning between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4 lakh. Further, beneficiaries are no longer confined to a short list; they can now access care at any hospital empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY-SEHAT network. The modified scheme modifies traditional approach of assistance sent to hospital accounts. Instead, direct bank transfers via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the patient shall be made. Further, once sanction is received from the Chief Ministers office, Deputy Commissioners are required to deposit sanctioned funds directly into beneficiary bank accounts within 72 hours of release from the Chief Minister's Secretariat. This modified scheme is the governments decisive move to address financial vulnerability of patients suffering from life threatening disease and to provide governmental support to the families in need.
Irans Religion Is Corrupt!: Mike Johnson Insults Mojtaba After Trumps Big U-Turn On Peace Deal
House Speaker Mike Johnson invoked religion as he weighed in on the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict, putting the spotlight on faith, Irans leadership and the stakes of President Donald Trumps confrontation with Tehran.#MikeJohnson #DonaldTrump #Iran #IranWar #Trump #TrumpIran #USIran #IranReligion #Tehran #MiddleEast #USCongress #Republicans #IranCrisis #USPolitics #BreakingNews
Abdul El-Sayed Turns JD Vances Usha Attack Back on Him With EXPLOSIVE Trump Hypocrisy Claim
JD Vance has sparked a political firestorm after invoking Will Smiths infamous Oscars outburst while warning Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to keep wife Usha Vances name out of his mouth. But El-Sayed has now fired back, accusing Vance and President Trump of hypocrisy and questioning their attacks on who gets to be considered truly American. Watch the explosive JD Vance-Abdul El-Sayed clash as the Usha Vance controversy escalates.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls for comprehensive efforts to expand natural farming and boost farmers
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Bukhari urges pol parties, civil society to safeguard J
J&K Bank has served region for decades; its local interests must be prioritised SRINAGAR: Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, former Finance Minister and President of the Apni Party, on Tuesday expressed deep concern over what he describes as the gradual drift of J&K Bank away from the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In []
Accountability, transparency cornerstone of govt
Inaugurates 97 lakh BDC building at Kralgund, Kupwara KUPWARA: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar on Tuesday inaugurated the Block Development Council (BDC) Building at Kralgund, Kupwara, marking another step towards strengthening the Panchayati Raj institutions. MLA Langate, Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad, accompanied the Minister during []
Mirwaiz welcomes HC order reinstating dismissed bank officer
Calls for justice in similar cases SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq has welcomed the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court ordering the reinstatement of a J&K Bank officer who had been dismissed on alleged anti-national grounds without a proper inquiry. In a post on X, Mirwaiz said the High Courts decision []
IGP Sujit Kumar calls on Omar Abdullah
Srinagar, Sep 01: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday met several officers, deputations and other individuals at the Civil Secretariat here, including Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Sujit Kumar, who recently assumed the charge. Omar Abdullah extended his best wishes to the Kashmir Police chief for his new assignment and discussed matters about the security and policing environment in the region. A group of newly inducted IAS officers, including Babila Rakhwal, Shabnam Shah Kamili, Rachna Sharma, Leena Padha, Rajinder Singh Tara, Munir ul Islam, Sajjad Hussain Gani, Anoo Malhotra, Nitu Gupta, Prediman Krishan Bhat, Bhawani Rakhwal and Anuradha Gupta, made a courtesy call and met the Chief Minister. The officers were recently inducted into the Indian Administrative Service. The Chief Minister congratulated the officers on their induction into the country's premier civil service and wished them a successful tenure. He expressed hope that they would continue to serve the people with the same dedication and enthusiasm. Commissioner Secretary, Information and Planning Department, R. Alice Vaz, separately met the Chief Minister and apprised him of the preparations for the First International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK), scheduled to be held from September 7 to 10, 2026. The Chief Minister took note of the preparations and stressed the need for ensuring seamless arrangements and effective coordination among all concerned departments and agencies for the successful conduct of the international film festival. Managing Director, Ernst & Young (E&Y), Amit Khandelwal, and Regional Head, E&Y, Navreet Singh, also called on the Chief Minister. The delegation briefed him on the work being undertaken by the firm in Jammu & Kashmir. The Chief Minister also chaired a meeting with members of the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) J&K at the Civil Secretariat and discussed a range of issues concerning governance, development, environment and public welfare. Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani was also present at the meeting. The civil society group was led by Khurshid Ahmed Ganai (IAS Retd.) and comprised other members of the GCC. The delegation raised several issues of public importance, including governance, environmental protection, municipal administration and waste management. Particular attention was drawn to the conservation of water bodies and wetlands and the need for effective measures to safeguard these important ecological assets. The GCC also raised issues relating to the conversion of agricultural land, traffic management, flood mitigation and management, and power development, including greater focus on renewable energy. Issues pertaining to skill development and employment generation, as well as digitisation of revenue records, were also discussed. The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to the concerns and suggestions put forth by the members of the GCC. He noted the issues raised during the meeting and assured that these would be taken into consideration by the government while examining the relevant matters.
Media delegation from Ahmedabad visits CSIR-IIIM
Explores drug discovery, purple revolution JAMMU: As part of the exposure tour of Press Information Bureau (PIB) a media delegation from Ahmedabad, visited the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu on Tuesday. The delegation, comprising journalists from print, television and digital media, interacted with scientists and visited several research facilities to understand the translation []
Dir Agri reviews expenditure status of Shopian, Anantnag
KULGAM: Director Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah on Tuesday undertook a comprehensive review of the expenditure status and implementation of various departmental schemes in the districts of Shopian and Anantnag. During his visit, the Director inspected the Soil Testing Laboratory at Bijbehara, where he took detailed stock of its functioning, infrastructure and facilities available for []
Modi credits people for 7.8% GDP growth; slams
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday applauded the countrys people for the 7.8 per cent GDP growth rate, calling the feat particularly impressive, coming against the backdrop of global turmoil, geopolitical conflicts, and supply chain disruptions. In a video message on Instagram, the prime minister also slammed those spreading jhooth ki goonj (an []
Glen Powell reveals wild night with country stars ended with beer pong at Jelly Roll
Glen Powell recalls a wild Nashville night with Hardy and Dan + Shay that ended with beer pong at Jelly Roll
4 Killed, Over 50 Injured As US Strike Hits Wedding In Iran
An Iranian official said on Tuesday that two people were killed and several others were wounded by a US attack while attending a wedding in the south.
Jyotiraditya Scindia Inspects Shivpuri Railway Station, Inaugurates Projects Worth
Shivpuri, September 2: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia visited the newly constructed Amrit Bharat Railway Station and the ongoing railway overbridge project in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday. He inaugurated development projects exceeding 17.5 crore. As the Member of Parliament for the Guna constituency, Scindia assessed the facilities for passengers at the Shivpuri Railway Station and ... Read more Jyotiraditya Scindia Inspects Shivpuri Railway Station, Inaugurates Projects Worth 17.5 Crore
Preity Zinta Resumes Workouts After Shoulder Injury During Vibe Shoot
Mumbai, September 2: Actress Preity Zinta has returned to her workout routine after suffering a shoulder injury while filming her upcoming comedy movie, Vibe. Zinta shared that being unable to exercise due to her injury was quite challenging for her. However, she is now gradually getting back on track. The Veer-Zaara star expressed, For someone ... Read more Preity Zinta Resumes Workouts After Shoulder Injury During Vibe Shoot
Changes in pre- and post-SIR voter lists prove poll theft by BJP: Rahul
Warmer waters, pest species and habitat loss major threats to small, rare freshwater fish
One of Australia
US stocks today: US stocks end lower as oil, yields raise September jitters
US stocks started September lower as rising oil prices and Treasury yields heightened inflation and rate concerns. Renewed U.S. strikes on Iranian targets pushed crude higher, while a global bond selloff lifted yields. Markets now price a 68.2% chance of a Fed hike this month.
Gandhari | Song - Dil Jaaneya (Reprise)
Watch the song 'Dil Jaaneya (Reprise)' from Hindi movie 'Gandhari' starring Taapsee Pannu. 'Dil Jaaneya (Reprise)' is sung by Deepali Sahay, Yash Kapoor, and music of the song is given by Shor Police, Clinton Cerejo, Bianca Gomes. Lyrics of 'Gandhari' song 'Dil Jaaneya (Reprise)' are written by Kausar Munir. To know more about 'Dil Jaaneya (Reprise)' song from Taapsee Pannu starrer 'Gandhari', watch the video.
Healthy consumption: GST collections surge to Rs 2 lakh crore, car sales jump 36%
India's economic indicators showed resilience and growth in August. Goods and services tax collections rose 14.8 percent to 2 lakh crore. Bulk car sales surged 36 percent, and UPI transactions reached a new record. Power consumption increased 12.9 percent, signaling economic momentum. These figures reflect healthy consumption and improving compliance across the nation.
280 decayed trees to be axed in Gulmarg
Srinagar, Sep 1: In a major safety measure at Kashmirs famed tourist destination Gulmarg, the Forest Department has identified 280 decayed trees as posing a threat to public safety and plans to axe them within the next month. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Tangmarg Feroz Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that the department has completed an enumeration of 643 trees in the Gulmarg range, including along the Gulmarg stretch, which have either dried up or pose a potential threat to life and property. Of the 643 trees, 487 are located inside the forest area while 156 are outside the forest area. Out of these, 280 trees have been identified as posing a threat to life and will be axed within a month. All the trees have been enumerated and geo-tagged, he said. The DFO said the department has prepared a detailed list of the identified trees, which will be forwarded to the higher authorities for further necessary action. The move comes months after residents and visitors raised concerns over the presence of decaying and potentially hazardous trees in Gulmarg, urging authorities to take immediate measures to prevent any untoward incident. Feroz said the deterioration of trees could be attributed to both natural causes and human intervention, with the department examining the latter seriously. Decaying of trees can happen naturally or due to human interventions. When wastewater from urinals of hotels and other properties in Gulmarg enters forest land, it can weaken the roots and contribute to the decay of trees. But sometimes they expire with age, he said. He said the department has already issued notices in cases where such violations have been observed and further action will follow. The official said the Forest Department also provides clear guidelines while granting permissions for new hotel construction in Gulmarg to prevent damage to the surrounding forest ecosystem. We have clearly mentioned that septic tank waste should not be discharged into forest land and that the buffer zone also needs to be maintained, he said. According to the DFO, the department is also fencing vulnerable forest areas to prevent the entry of waste and protect the forest ecosystem. Feroz said the concerned agencies have been apprised of the issue and that measures are being taken to ensure the safety of visitors and residents. The Forest Department has already been working on this issue so that people do not suffer, he said.
19-year-old arrested for rape of minor in Itaunja
Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja takes charge as 47th DGAFMS, succeeds vice admiral Arti Sarin
N-GEN GAMING Adjustable Lumbar High-Back Chair with Footrest & Linkage Armrest $79.98
N-GEN GAMING Adjustable Lumbar High-Back Chair with Footrest & Linkage Armrest $79.98
Enjoy the new Punjabi music video for 'Rishta' by R Nait
Enjoy the latest Punjabi song 'Rishta' sung by 'R Nait'. The music is given by R Nait and lyrics of the song are by 'R Nait'. Don't miss the opportunity to watch the latest Punjabi video song 'Rishta' and immerse yourself in its energetic beats. For more Punjabi songs, be sure to visit the music videos section of Punjabi ETimes. Experience the musical brilliance of 'R Nait', New Punjabi Video Songs of 2026, Punjabi Gana Video Song, 'R Nait' songs and 'R Nait' music videos.
Raja's Playlist | Song - Konji Konji
Watch the song 'Konji Konji' from Tamil movie 'Raja's Playlist' starring Jaiyan, Sona Olickal. 'Konji Konji' is sung by Yuvan Shankar Raja, and music of the song is given by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Lyrics of 'Raja's Playlist' song 'PKonji Konji' are written by Vignesh Srikanth. To know more about 'Konji Konji' song from Jaiyan, Sona Olickal starrer 'Raja's Playlist' watch the video.
Kashmir tourism eyes September revival
Srinagar, Sept 1: Tourism activity in the Kashmir Valley is expected to witness a significant revival from September, with stakeholders expressing optimism over an increase in tourist arrivals during the month and the upcoming autumn and winter seasons. Chairman J&K Hotelier Club Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya, said that the tourism sector is likely to see a considerable increase in activity from this month, adding that the hospitality industry has made necessary preparations to welcome visitors from across the country as well as abroad. Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Chaya said that hoteliers and other stakeholders associated with the tourism sector are fully prepared to provide visitors with the required facilities and ensure a comfortable stay. We are ready to welcome tourists and have kept all necessary facilities in place. We appeal to tourists, whether from within the country or from abroad, to visit Kashmir and experience its beauty and hospitality, he said. Chaya said Kashmir is known across the world for its hospitality, adding that the traditional values associated with Kashmiriyat have also contributed significantly to the Valleys appeal as a tourist destination. He said tourism activity had witnessed a slight slowdown during the past two months at some of the Valleys major destinations, including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg and the iconic Dal Lake. Over the past two months, there was a slight slowdown in tourism activity. However, September traditionally witnesses an increase in tourist inflow, and we are hopeful that activity will pick up from this month, Chaya said. He added that hoteliers generally anticipate the seasonal rise in tourist arrivals during September and therefore begin preparations in advance to ensure that adequate facilities are available for visitors. According to tourism stakeholders, Kashmir witnessed strong tourist footfall during the first half of the year, with lakhs of visitors arriving in the Valley and visiting various destinations across the region. Chaya said that the tourism sector was now looking forward to the upcoming autumn and winter months, with stakeholders already beginning preparations to cater to visitors during the winter season as well. We have also started preparations for the winter season so that tourists who come to Kashmir during winter can enjoy their stay and experience the Valley in the best possible manner, he said. He maintained that all stakeholders associated with the tourism sectorincluding hoteliers and service providershave been making preparations to ensure that visitors receive quality facilities and services. Meanwhile, neighbouring Ladakh has also continued to attract a significant number of visitors. More than three lakh tourists had visited Ladakh by the end of July, reflecting continued interest in the wider Himalayan region. Chaya said Kashmirs natural beauty, hospitality and cultural ethos continue to make it an attractive destination for both domestic and international travellers. He expressed confidence that with improved tourist inflow from September onwards and preparations for the winter season already underway, the tourism sector would witness renewed activity in the coming months.
Protect Kashmirs ecology before its too late: Mirwaiz
Srinagar, Sep 1: Kashmir's head priest Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday warned that growing human intervention in Jammu and Kashmirs fragile ecosystems was pushing the region towards an ecological crisis, urging both the government and people to shoulder responsibility for protecting the environment. Expressing concern over the condition of Dal Lake and Wular Lake, Mirwaiz said that while development of tourism and creation of facilities for visitors were important, such initiatives could not come at the cost of environmental balance. Dal Lake and Wular Lake are facing serious ecological pressure. We all want to develop tourism and create facilities for visitors, but we cannot afford development at the cost of environmental balance, he told reporters here. He said unplanned construction in mountainous areas and tourist destinations, coupled with roads being constructed without adequate regard for the terrain and environment, was placing additional pressure on the regions fragile ecological systems. This is an ecological and environmental disaster, and we must act before it is too late, Mirwaiz said. Referring specifically to Pahalgam, he expressed concern over what he described as large-scale construction and the haphazard manner in which roads were being built in the area. Mirwaiz said the government must certainly be held accountable for ensuring sustainable planning and enforcing environmental regulations, but citizens could not absolve themselves of their own responsibilities. While the government can be held accountable, we cannot ignore our responsibilities. It is high time that we shoulder our responsibility to prevent natural disasters, he said. He said the increasing frequency of extreme weather-related events in Kashmirincluding hailstorms, cloudbursts and flash floodswas deeply disturbing and should prompt serious introspection about the relationship between human activity and nature. The trend in Kashmir, like rising incidents of hailstorms, cloudbursts and flash floods, is disturbing and signals human intervention with nature, Mirwaiz said. He called for a balance between development and conservation, saying tourism infrastructure should be planned in a manner that protects the regions mountains, forests, water bodies and other fragile ecosystems. Mirwaiz's remarks come amid growing concern over the vulnerability of Jammu and Kashmir's mountainous landscape to extreme weather events and the environmental consequences of unplanned development.
Quote of the day by Denzel Washington: Denzel Washington emphasizes commitment and consistency for achieving success. He shared this message while accepting an NAACP Image Award in 2017. Washington highlighted that success is not easy and requires persistent effort. He pointed to accomplished actors who faced difficult journeys to illustrate this. His enduring lesson is to keep working, learning, and growing.
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Govt tightens checks on unlicensed pesticides
Srinagar, Sep 01: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir will take strict action against the sale and movement of unlicensed pesticides and agricultural medicines across J&K, Agriculture Minister Javaid Ahmad Dar said on Tuesday. Dar made the statement during his visit to the Kralgund area of north Kashmirs Handwara, where he inaugurated the newly constructed Block Development Office building. The minister said the government is strengthening its enforcement mechanism to prevent unauthorised agricultural medicines from entering the market and reaching farmers. He said checkpoints will be established at existing entry points, where officials from the enforcement team and Agriculture Department will conduct checks on agricultural medicines being brought into the region. Dar said the government will also act on complaints and information regarding the sale of unlicensed products. I request farmers that if any dealer is selling unlicensed medicines, inform our officers. We will take action, he said. The minister said some people try to make profits by bringing unauthorised agricultural medicines into the market. He said the government will strengthen monitoring to ensure that farmers receive approved and authorised products. Dar urged farmers and the public to cooperate with the authorities and immediately report any dealer found selling unlicensed pesticides or agricultural medicines. He also spoke about the revision of administrative costs for MGNREGA supporting staff and said the government was examining the existing arrangement. Dar said the GRS had been revised in 2022 and implemented in 2024, while efforts are now underway for another revision. On the Panchayat elections, Dar said the elections would be held on time. We will have the Panchayat elections on time, he said.
CM hints at renaming MP's Jahangir Mahal after Veer Singh
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has indicated a potential renaming of Orchha's historic Jahangir Mahal to Veer Singh Mahal, honouring Bundela ruler Veer Singh Judeo. Yadav stated that Veer Singh originally built the palace, and the move aims to highlight overlooked historical aspects. Former minister Narottam Mishra supported the proposal, citing a malicious attempt to erase our historical heritage by Mughals. The palace, a blend of Bundela and Mughal architecture, was built for Jahangir but he never resided there.
AAP protests over BJP MPs at Sajjan Kumar tribute, Chugh & Dhillon hits back
Bihar Forms Expert Committee for Examination Reforms, Justice Harish Kumar to Lead
Patna, September 2: The Bihar government has initiated the formation of an expert committee aimed at comprehensive reforms in the states examination system. Justice Harish Kumar of the Patna High Court has been appointed as the chairperson of this committee. The General Administration Department issued a notification regarding this on Tuesday. According to the notification, ... Read more Bihar Forms Expert Committee for Examination Reforms, Justice Harish Kumar to Lead
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Power tariff hike comes into force across J&K
Srinagar, Sep 1: Electricity consumers across J&K will start paying higher power tariffs from Tuesday (September 01) as the revised tariff approved by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh comes into effect. The JERC has approved an average 6.83 per cent increase in retail electricity tariffs for the financial year 2026-27. The revised rates will apply to electricity consumed from September 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. For metered domestic consumers, the energy charge has been fixed at 2.45 per unit for monthly consumption up to 200 units, 4.20 per unit for consumption between 201 and 400 units and 4.60 per unit above 400 units. The fixed charge has also been revised to 10 per kW per month. The revision has drawn criticism from consumers and political groups, who questioned the timing of the increase and the governments earlier promise of 200 units of free electricity. Several consumers said the tariff hike would add to the financial pressure on households, particularly during months when electricity consumption rises. Instead of giving consumers the promised 200 units of free electricity, the government has increased the tariff. This will directly affect ordinary families, a consumer said. Another consumer questioned the governments decision, saying, People were expecting relief in their electricity bills. They are now facing higher charges instead. Political leaders have also criticised the move, arguing that the government should have focused on providing the promised relief instead of increasing tariffs. The government had spoken about 200 units of free electricity. Consumers are now being asked to pay more. The government must explain this change in policy, an opposition leader said. The tariff revision follows JERCs assessment of the revenue requirements of JPDCL and KPDCL. The commission assessed their combined annual revenue requirement at 10,275.72 crore against projected revenue of 7,352.87 crore at existing tariff levels, leaving a gap of 2,922.85 crore. JERC said covering the entire gap through tariffs would have required an increase of around 40 per cent. Financial support of 2,420.78 crore from the J&K Government helped restrict the average tariff increase to 6.83 per cent. The revised tariff also introduces Time-of-Day billing for consumers with sanctioned loads above 10 kW, except agricultural consumers.
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BJP MP Kaushal Kishore Announces Self-Respect Rally, Claims Intentional Humiliation
Lucknow, September 2: BJP MP Kaushal Kishore has stated that he has been intentionally humiliated. He announced that the Self-Respect Rally, scheduled for September 13 at the Rashtriya Prerna Sthal in Lucknow, is not just for him, but also to honor the martyrs of independence, defenders of Sanatan Dharma, and contract workers who are underpaid. ... Read more BJP MP Kaushal Kishore Announces Self-Respect Rally, Claims Intentional Humiliation
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India and the U.S. Forge Major Deal on Critical Minerals Amid G20 Meetings
Asheville, September 2: India and the United States have agreed to deepen their collaboration on critical minerals as part of their long-standing economic relationship. This agreement was reached during discussions between Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Basset. The two leaders met on Monday in Asheville, North Carolina, during the G20 Finance ... Read more India and the U.S. Forge Major Deal on Critical Minerals Amid G20 Meetings
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IndiaCanada Reset: Building a Partnership for a Fragmented World
The world is entering an era in which old certainties are disappearing faster than new arrangements are taking shape. The post-Cold War belief in an increasingly integrated global economy has given way to geopolitical competition, strategic protectionism, fractured supply chains and a renewed contest for technology, energy and critical minerals. Europe remains unsettled by war; West Asia continues to experience profound instability; the United States and China are locked in an increasingly consequential strategic and economic competition; and countries across the Global South are demanding a greater voice in the institutions that govern the international system. It is against this unsettled backdrop that the emerging IndiaCanada rapprochement deserves to be viewed. What is taking place between New Delhi and Ottawa is more than a diplomatic thaw. It has the potential to become an important example of how two democracies can move beyond a period of profound disagreement and construct a relationship based on economic complementarity, strategic autonomy and institutional dialogue. The timing could not be more consequential. The inaugural IndiaCanada Finance Ministers Economic and Financial Dialogue held in Toronto on August 27 has given the reset a concrete economic foundation. The two countries have set an aspiration to expand bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion by 2030, while India has expressed readiness to begin negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Treaty. Cooperation is also being explored in financial technology, modern payment systems, cross-border remittances, capital markets and critical minerals. (Canada ) This is no longer diplomacy conducted primarily through statements. It is diplomacy being translated into institutions. From confrontation to strategic pragmatism IndiaCanada relations suffered a severe setback following Canadian allegations concerning the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. The resulting diplomatic confrontation damaged political trust and disrupted normal high-level engagement. The lesson from that difficult period should not be that India and Canada have incompatible interests. The opposite is true. Their interests are sufficiently complementary that prolonged estrangement carries a cost for both. A mature bilateral relationship does not require two countries to agree on every question. Democracies will inevitably have differences over law, security, foreign policy and domestic politics. What matters is whether those differences are managed through evidence, due process, diplomacy and institutional channels. Canada has a responsibility to uphold its constitutional commitments, the rule of law and freedom of expression. India has an equally legitimate responsibility to protect its national security, territorial integrity and citizens from terrorism and violent extremism. These principles need not be contradictory. The present reset represents an important recognition on both sides that disagreements should be contained within the relationship rather than allowed to define it. That is the essence of mature diplomacy. Canada is looking beyond dependence Canadas strategic circumstances have changed dramatically. For generations, the United States was the overwhelmingly dominant economic and strategic partner of Canada. Geographic proximity made this inevitable and economically advantageous. But the recent intensification of USCanada trade tensions has demonstrated the vulnerability inherent in excessive dependence on a single market. Prime Minister Mark Carneys government has therefore placed greater emphasis on economic diversification and building new international partnerships. Canadas present circumstances make that strategy not merely desirable but necessary. The breakdown of recent USCanada trade negotiations and escalating tariff tensions have added urgency to Ottawas diversification strategy. (Reuters ) India naturally assumes significance in this search for diversification. India is not simply a large consumer market. It is a major economic, technological and geopolitical power with a young population, expanding infrastructure, growing energy requirements and an increasingly important role in the Indo-Pacific and the Global South. Canada, meanwhile, possesses precisely those resources and capabilities that India increasingly needs: energy, critical minerals, agricultural commodities, advanced technology, capital, research capacity and access to North American markets. The relationship therefore offers a rare combination of complementarity and scale. Indias economic rise meets Canadas resource strength The next chapter in IndiaCanada relations should be built around economics. The recent Finance Ministers Dialogue demonstrates how rapidly the agenda is expanding. The two countries are looking at financial-sector cooperation, FinTech, capital markets, payment modernisation, cross-border remittances and merchant payments. Canada and India have also discussed expanding the use of Indias Unified Payments Interface in Canada. (Canada ) This is significant because modern diplomacy increasingly operates through economic infrastructure. A successful IndiaCanada economic relationship should encompass at least six strategic pillars. First, trade and investment. The proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement should provide predictable rules for businesses and investors and create a framework extending well beyond traditional merchandise trade. Second, critical minerals. Canadas resource base and Indias manufacturing ambitions create an obvious strategic partnership. Batteries, semiconductors, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced technologies all depend upon secure mineral supply chains. Third, energy security. Indias enormous and growing energy requirements create opportunities for Canadian LNG, clean energy, nuclear cooperation and other energy technologies. Fourth, technology and artificial intelligence. Both countries possess strong technology ecosystems and substantial pools of highly educated talent. Collaboration in AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies and digital infrastructure could produce benefits well beyond the bilateral relationship. Fifth, financial cooperation. Canadian pension funds and institutional investors already have substantial exposure to India. Canada has acknowledged the significance of its long-term institutional capital in Indias development, while both sides are examining ways to deepen engagement between financial institutions and investors. (Canada ) Sixth, education and human capital. Universities, research institutions and professional networks can provide the intellectual infrastructure for the partnership. A CEPA concluded without these broader dimensions would be an opportunity missed. The Finance Ministers Dialogue: diplomacy becoming architecture The August 2026 Finance Ministers Dialogue deserves particular attention because it represents a shift from episodic diplomacy towards institutionalised economic engagement. The dialogue was established following the commitment made by Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Carney during their March 2026 meeting. Both governments have committed themselves to concluding CEPA negotiations by the end of 2026. (Canada ) This institutionalisation matters. Relationships become resilient when they are supported by permanent mechanisms rather than dependent upon individual leaders or temporary political moods. The IndiaCanada relationship now needs precisely such institutional resilience. Regular finance, trade, defence, science, technology, consular and migration dialogues should become permanent features of the relationship. The two Prime Ministers June meeting at the G7 Summit already reflected this broader approach. They welcomed progress on economic cooperation, resilient supply chains, energy security and CEPA, while also agreeing to launch negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement and deepen defence and security cooperation. (PM of Canada ) That is a far more comprehensive relationship than the one that existed only a few years ago. The human bridge must become a strategic asset Perhaps the most extraordinary strength of IndiaCanada relations is the people-to-people connection. The Indian-origin community has become deeply embedded in Canadian economic, academic, cultural and political life. At the same time, Canada has developed generations of students, researchers, entrepreneurs and professionals with strong connections to India. This human bridge must be treated as an asset rather than a source of political contestation. Diaspora communities should never become instruments of geopolitical rivalry. Canadas commitment to multiculturalism and freedom of expression deserves respect. But freedom of expression cannot become a shield for incitement to violence or terrorism. Conversely, allegations of foreign interference or transnational repression must be investigated through credible evidence and due process rather than political rhetoric. The objective should be to create a relationship in which the Indian diaspora feels secure in Canada, and Canada feels confident that its institutions are respected by India. That is entirely achievable. Security cannot be separated from friendship No serious analysis of IndiaCanada relations can avoid the security question. India has consistently expressed concern about extremist and separatist activities emanating from Canadian soil. Canada has raised concerns regarding foreign interference and transnational repression. These concerns require dialogue, not denial. The two countries should establish a sustained senior-level security mechanism involving diplomatic, intelligence and law-enforcement agencies. Cooperation should focus on terrorism, organised crime, money laundering, extortion, cybercrime and violent extremism. The Kanishka tragedy remains a terrible reminder of what happens when terrorism transcends national boundaries. The principle should be universal: terrorism and political violence cannot be legitimised by ideology, ethnicity, religion or political grievance. India and Canada can disagree profoundly on many political matters and still cooperate against violence. Indeed, that is what mature democracies should do. Two middle powers, one changing world The deeper significance of this rapprochement lies in the character of the two countries. India and Canada are not superpowers. Neither seeks to dominate the international system. Both, however, possess substantial economic, diplomatic, technological and human capital. This makes them important middle powers. The emerging international system will increasingly depend upon such countries. India has pursued strategic autonomy, maintaining relationships with the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, the Gulf, Africa and the Global South. Canada is now attempting to diversify its external relationships while retaining its traditional partnerships. Their approaches are different, but their strategic requirement is increasingly similar: neither country wants its national interests to be determined entirely by the preferences of a larger power. This is where their partnership acquires a larger geopolitical meaning. India and Canada can help build a world of multiple partnerships rather than rigid blocs. The Indo-Pacific opportunity The Indo-Pacific provides another important area for convergence. India occupies a central strategic position in the Indian Ocean and is an essential actor in the Indo-Pacific. Canada, with its Pacific geography and expanding interest in the region, can become a constructive partner. Cooperation in maritime security, critical-mineral supply chains, infrastructure, clean energy, technology and freedom of navigation can strengthen the broader regional architecture. India has also supported Canadas engagement with the Indian Ocean Rim Association, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of Canadian participation in the wider Indo-Pacific framework. (PM of Canada ) The relationship should therefore not be confined to bilateral geography. It can become part of a larger Indo-Pacific strategy. From reset to strategic partnership The danger now is complacency. Diplomatic reconciliation can be fragile if it is not converted into institutional habits. India and Canada should therefore pursue a structured five-year roadmap. They should conclude CEPA with ambition and balance; begin serious investment-treaty negotiations; establish permanent financial and security dialogues; expand cooperation in critical minerals and energy; strengthen university and research partnerships; and create mechanisms for regular consultation between parliamentarians, businesses, civil society and diaspora representatives. The objective should be to ensure that no future bilateral disagreement can once again bring the entire relationship to a halt. The true test of diplomacy is not whether countries remain friendly when they agree. It is whether they remain engaged when they disagree. A partnership suited to the twenty-first century The IndiaCanada relationship should not be described merely as a return to normalcy. The old normal itself has disappeared. The international system today is more fragmented, more competitive and more uncertain. Economic security has become national security. Supply chains have become strategic assets. Technology has become a component of geopolitical power. Critical minerals have become as important to future economies as oil was to the industrial age. In such a world, countries need trusted partners across regions. India needs Canada for resources, capital, technology, education and access to North American markets. Canada needs India for economic diversification, a vast and growing market, technology partnerships, investment opportunities and a stronger connection with the Indo-Pacific. But both need something even more important: dependable democratic partnerships in an uncertain international environment. That is why the present IndiaCanada reset should be seen as an opportunity of historic proportions. The task before New Delhi and Ottawa is not to forget their disagreements. It is to develop the political maturity to prevent those disagreements from destroying the larger relationship. The future should move from estrangement to engagement, from episodic diplomacy to institutional partnership, from suspicion to evidence-based cooperation, and from limited commerce to comprehensive economic interdependence. If that transformation succeeds, India and Canada will have achieved something larger than a bilateral reconciliation. They will have demonstrated that democracies can disagree without becoming adversaries; that strategic autonomy does not mean strategic isolation; and that economic interdependence can coexist with national sovereignty. In a fragmented world, that lesson matters. The future international order will not be built only by the great powers. It will also be shaped by countries willing to create bridges across geopolitical divides. India and Canada have an opportunity to become such bridge-builders. Their relationship can be a model of what twenty-first-century diplomacy should look like: principled but pragmatic, sovereign but interconnected, commercially ambitious but strategically responsible, and capable of turning disagreement into dialogue rather than estrangement. The reset has begun. The real challenge now is to give it permanence, purpose and strategic depth. In a world increasingly divided into competing camps, India and Canada should choose partnershipnot because they agree on everything, but because they understand that their shared interests are greater than their differences. (The author is a political analyst, a constitutional thinker and a senior advocate in the Supreme Court of India)
Voices, Not Victory: The Struggle for Youth Power
PROF. (DR) SUNIL GOYAL Indias youth policies have entered a new phase. The emphasis is no longer confined to enrolment in schools, recruitment into training programmes or participation in sporting events. The larger ambition is to create young citizens who can lead, innovate and shape the countrys future. This is essential for the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, but it will succeed only if participation is transformed into genuine power. The figures suggest considerable progress. More than 50 lakh young people took part in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 quiz, leading to the identification of 6,000 youth leaders for a district-level database. The My Bharat platform has registered over 2.22 crore young people, while the National Service Scheme grew from 34.09 lakh volunteers in 201415 to 38.90 lakh in 202526. These developments point to a growing culture of civic engagement. However, participation should not become a numbers game. A youth platform is meaningful only when young people can influence decisions, monitor public programmes and see their ideas implemented. A quiz, a volunteering certificate or a short-term internship can generate enthusiasm, but leadership requires sustained responsibility and institutional access. Young citizens must be involved in local planning, municipal initiatives, school management, environmental action and public accountability. Digital platforms can help build this bridge. The Academic Bank of Credits, the National Credit Framework, SWAYAM and DIKSHA are expanding flexible and technology-enabled learning. More than 35.27 crore APAAR IDs had reportedly been issued by August 2026, while SWAYAM had recorded over 6.5 crore enrolments. These systems can make education more portable and accessible, especially for learners who cannot follow a conventional academic path. Yet digitisation also carries risks. Access to a platform does not mean equal access to learning. Poor connectivity, limited devices, language barriers and inadequate digital literacy can exclude precisely those students who need public support the most. Every digital reform must therefore be accompanied by investment in teachers, community facilities, accessible content and offline alternatives. Employment is another crucial measure of empowerment. The unemployment rate cited in the government backgrounder fell from 7.71 per cent in 2014 to 4.2 per cent in 2025. Skill programmes, apprenticeships and the Prime Ministers Internship Scheme are intended to improve employability. The internship scheme alone provided 1,64,902 opportunities across 31 sectors by August 12, 2026. But employment statistics must be read alongside job quality, informality, wages and security. A young person cannot be considered empowered if work is temporary, underpaid and disconnected from a viable career. Entrepreneurship offers an alternative route, with recognised start-ups rising to more than 2.47 lakh. But the start-up narrative should not obscure the needs of millions who seek ordinary employment. Economic policy must support both innovation-driven enterprises and labour-intensive sectors capable of creating large numbers of stable jobs. The same principle applies to sports and health. Khelo India has supported athletes, academies and infrastructure, while adolescent-friendly clinics and Tele-MANAS have expanded health and mental-health services. These are valuable investments, but they must reach smaller towns, villages and vulnerable communities. Mental health, substance-use prevention and physical fitness should be treated as essential public services, not optional additions. The true measure of youth empowerment is not how many young people are registered, trained or invited to participate. It is whether they possess the capabilities, confidence and institutional voice to shape their own lives and the country around them. Indias young citizens should not merely be mobilised for national goals; they must be trusted with a meaningful role in defining those goals. (The author is an Eminent S ocial S cientist , P rofessor and C olumnist , presently working at the Department of Higher Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh. He can be reached at email gasspub@gmail.com )
The Clock India Has Not Built Yet
TECHNOLOGY & NATIONAL SECURITY In 1999, during the Kargil conflict, India asked the United States for GPS data over the heights and was turned down. That refusal is the founding document of India's own satellite navigation programme. NavIC exists because somebody in Washington decided Indian soldiers did not need to know where they were standing. Twenty-seven years on, the government has made Indian time legally binding. On 27 August, the Department of Consumer Affairs notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026, as G.S.R. 761(E). Indian Standard Time becomes the only lawful reference for civil, commercial and legal purposes. For telecommunications, financial services, energy and data centres, the rules also name the sources time may be drawn from. GPS is not one of them. Four weeks earlier, the same government had told Parliament that NavIC could no longer fix a position on its own. A mandate arrives before the machinery Rule 7 is the widest clause. No entity may use, display or record any time reference other than IST, for any purpose. Storing timestamps in Coordinated Universal Time is ordinary practice in server logs worldwide. Whether the rule reaches that, or only the time an organisation holds out as official, the text does not say. MediaNama, which reported the rules first, has asked the department and has no answer yet. Rule 6(4) then makes accuracy the responsibility of whoever uses the signal rather than whoever supplies it, and Rule 6(5) requires that user to monitor deviation, log it, and prove traceability to the national standard. A stock exchange does this already. A cooperative bank or a regional internet provider in Srinagar does not. Rule 9(6) extends redundancy obligations to defence, power grids, telecommunications, banking and data centres, then adds enterprises and an open-ended etcetera. That is a scope with no visible edge. The rules take effect 180 days after gazette publication, placing commencement in early 2027. The constellation that cannot navigate On 29 July, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Space Dr Jitendra Singh told the House that only three NavIC satellites still deliver positioning, navigation and timing service. Four are needed for a fix. His wording was careful. NavIC cannot provide standalone positioning, he said, but its timing service is functional. The distinction is real. Positioning needs a fourth satellite to solve for the error inside the receiver's own clock. Timing is a lighter demand. The difficulty is the sentence after it. Users face no operational vulnerability, the reply said, because Indian receivers work in a multi-constellation environment combining NavIC with GPS, Galileo and GLONASS. The armed forces do the same. One arm of the government defends the condition of NavIC by pointing at GPS. Another arm, four weeks later, writes GPS out of the authorised list for the sectors where failure hurts most. The rest of the picture is thin. IRNSS-1B went up in 2014 and has outlived its ten-year design life. NVS-02 was stranded in transfer orbit in January 2025 after a valve failure. NVS-03 sits ready at Sriharikota with a launch expected in early September, and two more are to follow without a date. Why a clock is a target Between November 2023 and February 2025, airlines reported 465 GPS interference and spoofing incidents in Indian airspace, a figure the Civil Aviation Ministry has confirmed in Parliament. Most were in the Amritsar and Jammu corridors. Readers here will not need that geography explained. The problem has since moved inland. Spoofing was reported around Indira Gandhi International Airport late last year, with interference logged at Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. The DGCA now wants pilots and controllers to report a GNSS anomaly within ten minutes. Timing sits underneath much more than aviation. Mobile networks hand a call from one tower to the next on the assumption that both agree about the microsecond. Power grids compare phase measurements across state boundaries. Every log a forensic investigation depends on is a claim about when something happened. That is why time is worth attacking. An adversary who shifts your clock steals nothing. He corrupts the record that any later inquiry will read. Which is also the strongest argument for the new rules. GPS is a foreign military signal, it was withheld from India once, and it is being interfered with along the western border now. Two routes to the same room The objection is not to the direction. It is to the order of operations. Rule 8(2) obliges the Director, Legal Metrology to publish the addresses and access protocols of every authorised timing service. No such list is public. Engineers were asking for exactly this in 2022, when CERT-In first told organisations to synchronise their clocks with NIC or NPL servers. Publication is now a legal duty and still has not happened. Capacity is no clearer. Answering an RTI filed by MediaNama in December 2022, CSIR-NPL said it ran 20 NTP servers, all of them at one location in Delhi. NIC declined to give a count, citing security. Those figures are nearly four years old, and nothing public has replaced them. Then there is the part that is easy to miss. NavIC does not keep independent time. Published metrology work on the IRNSS Network Timing Facility describes its time scales as linked to UTC(NPLI), the realisation of universal time maintained at CSIR-NPL in Delhi. For a bank in Jammu, NavIC and the national time servers are not two independent sources of truth. They are two routes to the same laboratory. The rules also decline to say how accurate is accurate enough. Rule 2(a) defines accuracy as conformity to IST without a millisecond or microsecond figure anywhere in eight pages, and Rule 10 provides for audits against a standard the text never states. Rule 11 says a breach is punishable under the Act without naming a section or an amount, and Rule 8(5) lets the Director charge a fee for legally mandated time. Bottom Line Sovereign time is the right objective. A country that refused a navigation signal during a war should not run its banks and its grid on a foreign military system it cannot audit or repair. But a mandate is not a capability, and withdrawing the fallback before the primary is ready produces exposure with better paperwork. Three things ought to be public before these rules bite. The authorised source list Rule 8(2) already requires. The current number and physical distribution of NTP and PTP servers at NPL and NIC. And an answer to a question nobody in government has yet been asked: what happens to Indian time if the Delhi facility goes dark? (The author studies Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA. He is interested in emerging technologies and innovation, and can be reached on LinkedIn at @arssh-kumar14)
PDP and the Politics of Deception: Kashmir Cannot Be Fooled Again
For more than two decades, the Peoples Democratic Party has attempted an extraordinary political balancing act in Jammu & Kashmirspeaking one language while exercising power and another when sitting in opposition. Its politics has repeatedly moved between constitutional mainstream, soft-separatist rhetoric, reconciliation with Pakistan and aggressive criticism of New Delhi, depending upon the political circumstances of the moment. This is not ideological consistency. It is politics of convenience. The 2014 Contradiction The clearest example remains 2014. PDP sought votes in Kashmir by positioning itself strongly against BJP. Yet after the election it entered into an alliance with the very party it had opposed and formed the Government. BJP's ideological position was never concealed. Its views on nationalism, Article 370 and complete integration of J&K with India were known for decades. PDP nevertheless shared power with BJP. If BJP was politically acceptable when ministerial offices were available, how did it suddenly become ideologically unacceptable when PDP lost power? Principles cannot change according to one's distance from the Chief Minister's chair. 2016 Exposed the Contradiction The unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in July 2016 provides an even more telling example. When Mehbooba Mufti was Chief Minister and responsible for maintaining law and order, her language was very different from the rhetoric PDP frequently employs from the opposition benches. In August 2016, she said a small percentage was creating havoc and questioned those attacking police stations and security camps. Later that year, she urged security forces to exercise restraint and avoid pellet guns where possible. The important point is not to reopen the tragedy of 2016. It is to ask a question of political consistency. When responsible for government, PDP understood the compulsions of maintaining public order. Outside government, why does its political narrative so frequently sound as though those compulsions never existed? Kashmir deserves honesty about this contradiction. Jamaat-e-Islami: Why This Political Priority? The contradiction continues today. In July 2026, Mehbooba Mufti said PDP would join the proposed opposition protest in Delhi only if its agenda included restoration of Article 370, release of political prisoners and lifting the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami. BJP is entitled to ask: why should lifting the ban on Jamaat become such an important political priority? Every organisation is entitled to whatever legal remedies are available to it. But political parties seeking to govern J&K must make their priorities equally clear. At a time when young Kashmiris want jobs, investment, modern universities, technology, tourism and entrepreneurship, politics should concentrate upon connecting them with India's enormous opportunities rather than constantly returning them to old ideological battlegrounds. Pakistan Again and Again PDP's 2024 manifesto once again placed considerable emphasis upon the Kashmir issue, India-Pakistan engagement, restoration of constitutional guarantees and cross-LoC economic connectivity. Dialogue between countries is ultimately a matter for the Union Government, determined by national interest and security circumstances. But Kashmir's people must ask what decades of Pakistan-centred political discourse actually delivered to their families. Did it create jobs? Did it bring industries? Did it protect tourism from instability? Did it give Kashmir's children uninterrupted education? The ordinary Kashmiri paid the greatest price whenever terrorism, street violence and instability overwhelmed normal life. The children of Kashmir need laptops, not another generation of conflict. Article 370 and Political Convenience PDP's politics around Article 370 presents another contradiction. Its 2014 manifesto called Article 370 essential and advocated using it to restore J&K's original special status. Yet PDP subsequently governed in coalition with BJP despite knowing BJP's decades-old ideological position on Article 370. Today PDP again projects restoration of constitutional guarantees as central to its politics. It is perfectly entitled to advocate its constitutional position democratically. But voters are equally entitled to ask: If these ideological differences were so fundamental, how did they become manageable while governmental power was being shared? BJP's Position Has Never Been Hidden This is where BJP offers a fundamental contrast. One may support or oppose BJP, but its position has been consistent. BJP opposed Article 370 for decades. When it acquired the parliamentary and constitutional capacity, Article 370 was rendered inoperative. There was no separate position in Jammu, another in Srinagar and a third in Delhi. Political clarity is healthier than calculated ambiguity. Kashmir's Youth Deserve Better The biggest victims of emotional politics have always been ordinary young Kashmiris. Political families survived every turmoil. Ordinary families bore the consequences. When schools closed, ordinary children lost education. When tourism collapsed, ordinary workers lost income. When markets shut, ordinary traders suffered. When violence erupted, ordinary families lived in fear. J&K cannot afford another generation trapped in grievance politics. Its youth want careers, startups, artificial intelligence, tourism, world-class infrastructure, sports, universities and opportunities across India and the world. They should not become raw material for anybody's political revival. Politics Must Move Forward PDP must decide what it ultimately wants to represent: a modern democratic party competing on development and governance, or a political formation repeatedly returning to emotionally charged issues whenever it needs to recover electoral space. Jammu & Kashmir has changed. The old political formulas cannot indefinitely be repackaged and sold to new generations. Kashmir's pain cannot become anybody's permanent political business model. People deserve consistency. They deserve accountability. Above all, they deserve leaders who say the same thing whether they are in Government or opposition. PDP's record raises a question it cannot escape: Why do its political principles appear strongest when it is out of power and most flexible when power is within reach? The people of Jammu & Kashmir have seen this politics before. They should not be deceived by it again. (The author is Senior Advocate & Chief Spokesperson, BJP J&K)
Building All-Season Tourism in Kashmir
Kashmir has long been celebrated for its beauty, but beauty alone cannot sustain an economy. For decades, the Valleys tourism narrative has risen and fallen with the seasons, peaking in spring and summer and slowing sharply when winter arrives. That pattern has made the sector vulnerable to weather, uncertainty, and shocks. If Jammu and Kashmir is serious about long-term prosperity, then all-season tourism must move from slogan to strategy. The idea is not new. Successive governments have spoken of winter tourism, adventure tourism, wellness tourism, heritage tourism and religious tourism. Yet the ground reality has often lagged behind the promise. A destination cannot call itself year-round if its transport links are fragile, its hospitality infrastructure remains uneven, and its peripheral tourist circuits are left underdeveloped. Real diversification requires planning, investment and consistency, not just promotional campaigns. Kashmir has everything it needs to become a true all-season destination. Snow-covered landscapes can attract winter sports enthusiasts. The Valleys rivers, forests, orchards and meadows can support eco-tourism and nature tourism. Its shrines, monasteries, cultural traditions and cuisine can draw visitors beyond the conventional sightseeing calendar. Gurez, Bangus, Doodhpathri, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and the urban heritage of Srinagar all have the potential to remain relevant throughout the year, provided they are developed responsibly and connected properly. But tourism growth cannot be built on fragile foundations. The first requirement is dependable infrastructure. Roads must remain open and safe. Airports, rail connectivity and local transport must work in a coordinated manner. Power supply, water availability, waste management and emergency services must be strengthened in tourist zones. If a visitor encounters poor facilities or unsafe conditions, no amount of branding will bring them back. The second requirement is policy continuity. Tourism needs long-term vision, not seasonal announcements. The administration must involve stakeholders hoteliers, transporters, guides, artisans, skiers, trekkers, farmers and youth in shaping tourism policy. Local communities should not be treated as spectators in a sector that depends on their land, labour and hospitality. When tourism benefits the people, it becomes sustainable. When it excludes them, it becomes shallow. The third requirement is balance. Kashmir must not chase numbers alone. Overcrowding in fragile destinations, unregulated construction and environmental neglect will only damage the very asset that draws tourists in the first place. All-season tourism must therefore be eco-sensitive tourism. The Valleys natural wealth is not unlimited, and its preservation is inseparable from its economic future. There is also a larger lesson here. Kashmir cannot afford to depend on a single season, a single circuit or a single narrative. A mature tourism economy is one that can endure snowfall, rainfall, political noise and market shifts alike. That is the kind of resilience the Valley now needs. All-season tourism, then, is not merely about attracting more visitors. It is about building confidence in Kashmirs future. If pursued seriously, it can create jobs, expand livelihoods, support local enterprise and project a more stable image of the Valley. But to succeed, it must be treated as a public priority, not a passing headline.
