Greater Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 22: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para on Saturday slammed government over power tariff hike, questioning chief minister Omar Abdullah that what happened to those promises made with the people of Jammu and Kashmir before coming into power. The PDP leader while listing the current crisis said that when unemployment is at its peak, inflation is biting hard and ordinary families are struggling to make ends meet, the government has imposed a 6.83 percent po

Kangan, Aug 22: The body of an 18-year-old youth from Srinagar was retrieved from Nallah Sindh in the Kangan area of central Kashmirs Ganderbal district following an intensive two-day joint search and rescue operation. The deceased has been identified as Danish Bilal, a resident of the Srinagar. The incident occurred when Danish reportedly slipped and was swept away by fast-flowing currents while taking a bath in Nallah Sindh near the Dumping Park at Kijpara in Kangan on Friday. Alarmed onlooke

Jammu, Aug 22: A special NIA court here has rejected the bail plea of Insha Jan alias Insha Tariq, an accused in the 2019 Pulwama suicide attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel, observing that sufficient material existed on record to presume that the accusations against her were prima facie true. In his 15-page order delivered on August 20, Special Judge Prem Sagar held that the statutory bar under Section 43-D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) also operated against the accused

Srinagar, Aug 22: Electricity consumers across Jammu and Kashmir will face higher power bills from September 1 after the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) approved an average 6.83 per cent increase in the retail supply tariff for 2026-27. The revised tariff has been approved through JERC Order No. 06 of 2026 dated August 20 and will remain applicable to electricity consumption from September 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. For metered domestic consumers, the energy charge has been fixed

Kangan, Aug 22: The rescue teams including J&K Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local volunteers on Saturday continued its search for a Srinagar youth feared drowned in Nallah Sindh at Preng in the Kangan area of Ganderbal district. The search operation entered its second consecutive day on Saturday after 18-year old Danish Bilal, a resident of Illahibagh, Srinagar, reportedly drowned while bathing at Kijpara Kangan on Friday. SDRF teams from Ganderbal and Gund, Police along with lo

Srinagar, Aug 22: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday morning carried out simultaneous searches at multiple locations across several districts of the Kashmir Valley in connection with an ongoing investigation into a militancy-related case, official sources said. Teams of the central investigation agency conducted the searches at multiple locations, with Jammu and Kashmir Police and personnel of Central Armed Police Forces assisting the NIA teams during the operation. The searches

Geneva, Aug 22: An 18-year-old man with a sword attacked a school Friday in central Sweden, leaving one person dead and at least two others seriously injured, a police chief said. Police Chief Tommy Alriksson told a news conference that the suspect had been arrested following the attack at the school in the central town of Fagersta, northwest of the capital, Stockholm. Police confirmed that shots were fired during the arrest. It was not clear whether the suspect had been injured, but he was bein

New Delhi, Aug 21:Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Friday that reforms in all spheres are his government's commitment and that India continues to take several steps to ensure continued growth momentum. Addressing the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Modi also said India has political stability and continuity in its policies, and the world sees the country as a bright spot of growth and hope. India continues to take several steps to ensure continued growth momentum. India is pushing ah

Srinagar, Aug 21:Kashmir's Himalayan Snow Trout, locally known as Khont, once abundant in the Jhelum and its tributaries, could get a new lease of life after researchers successfully bred the vulnerable native fish in captivity. Researchers at the Fish Resource Management Laboratory, Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), have standardised breeding and larval-rearing protocols for Schizothoraxplagiostomus, one of several sno

Srinagar, Aug 21: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a dramatic improvement in its power supply position over the past decade, with the gap between electricity requirement and availability shrinking from thousands of million units (MU) annually to just 19 MU in 2025-26, even as its own power generation remains below the levels recorded around the end of the last decade. Official data accessed by Greater Kashmir shows that J&Ks power requirement stood at 20,185 MU during 2025-26, against availability

Srinagar, Aug 21:United States Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, who arrived in Leh, Ladakh, visited Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh, on Friday, exploring the historic monastery and experiencing its rich Buddhist heritage and cultural traditions. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor arrived in Leh on Thursday as part of his maiden official tour to the high-altitude frontier region. Perched atop a hill roughly 19 km from Leh, the 15th-century Gelug monastery celebrated for its striking architectural rese

Srinagar, Aug 17:The inquiry ordered into the reported deaths of two patients at a private hospital in Srinagar has once again raised an uncomfortable question. Under what circumstances are these procedures carried out in the private sector, and what is the level of monitoring and emergency care set-up necessary to safeguard lives during surgery. Chief Medical Officer, Srinagar last week constituted a seven-member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the cases at Moj Gobur (Medlyn

Moscow, Aug 16: Ukraine launched hundreds of drones across Russia Sunday, killing at least six people in one of Kyiv's largest aerial attacks of the war. Russia's Ministry of Defense said that it had destroyed 822 drones overnight, with 600 headed toward the Russian capital. Five people were killed in Russia's southwestern Rostov region, where three towns came under attack, local Gov. Yury Slyusar said. An 83-year-old man was killed after a Ukrainian drone hit a private home in the Moscow region

Shopian , Aug. 16: Former PDP MLA from Wachi, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, on Sunday said he was detained by police at his residence in Zainapora in south Kashmirs Shopian district ahead of a proposed protest at Ghanta Ghar, Shopian, demanding the introduction of a comprehensive crop insurance scheme for apples and cherries. Mir told Greater Kashmir that police had locked the gate of his residence and prevented him from leaving. They have also sealed the roads, he alleged. Mir had called on farmers to gathe

Labuan Bajo, Aug 16: Searchers dug through collapsed buildings and landslide debris Sunday in eastern Indonesia as they searched for bodies and possible survivors a day after a powerful earthquake killed at least 47 people, injured more than 100 and displaced thousands. At least 24 people died in Manggarai regency and 17 in neighbouring East Manggarai, with additional fatalities reported in Sikka, Ngada and Ende regencies, the National Disaster Management Agency said. Rescuers were still searchi

Cairo, Aug 15: Iran said Qatar was holding three of its pilots who had been missing since March, which Qatar denied. The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of again attacking one of its vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran-backed Houthis again struck a Red Sea port in Yemen. And in southern Lebanon, 11 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, some of the deadliest since a shaky truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah went into effect on June 20. Here's a look at the latest developmen

J&K Bank facilitated the settlement of life insurance claims amounting to Rs 2.55 crore in favour of the legal heirs of a deceased High Net Worth Individual (HNI) customer of its Residency Road branch in Srinagar. The settlement, covering multiple insurance policies, provided financial support to the bereaved family and underscored the importance of adequate life insurance in safeguarding the financial future of dependents. At a function held to mark the settlement, J&K Banks Zonal Head, Srinaga

Jammu and Kashmir showcased its rich handicraft, handloom and traditional products at the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav (Indian Trade Expo) 2026, held from August 12 to 15 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The participation was organised by the J&K Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO), under the aegis of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of J&K, as part of the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) intervention of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).

The Income Tax Department on Saturday notified a new voluntary disclosure scheme allowing small taxpayers to declare certain undisclosed foreign assets and income by paying an effective 60 per cent tax, as the government seeks to bring overseas holdings into the tax net without exposing eligible taxpayers to further penalties or prosecution. The Foreign Assets of Small Taxpayers-Disclosure Scheme (FAST-DS), announced in the 2026-27 Budget, will take effect from August 16, with online declaration

The Jammu and Kashmir Resident Commission, New Delhi, today celebrated the 80th Independence Day with high patriotic fervour and enthusiasm at its premises at 5, Prithviraj Road, New Delhi. The celebrations commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Additional Resident Commissioner, Anil Sharma in presence of officers and officials of the Resident Commission and its subordinate offices. The Additional Resident Commissioner paid rich tributes to the freedom fighters and national heroes w

The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh celebrated the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour, enthusiasm and a spirit of unity at the High Court Complex, Srinagar. The celebrations commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag by Acting Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh, Sanjeev Kumar in presence of Judges of the High Court, former Judges, Senior Advocates, Judicial Officers, Government Advocates, officers of the Civil and Police Administration, officers and officials of

The iconic Lal Chowk here wore a festive look on Saturday as hundreds of tourists celebrated the country's 80th Independence Day in front of the famous Clock Tower. A huge number of visitors thronged the crossing in Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Once emblematic of separatist discourse, Lal Chowk was swept in tricolours. Netra Gurjar, a first-time tourist from Mumbai, said she was not wrong to visit the spot. It is my first time visiting Kashmir. We have been in Kashmir for

The much-awaited Sungal Tunnel on the JammuPoonch road was inaugurated on Saturday by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), providing a major boost to connectivity for commuters travelling towards Rajouri, Poonch, Nowshera and surrounding areas. The tunnel, constructed through the Kalidhar Range, will bypass a difficult stretch of the existing route and is expected to reduce the travel distance by around 11 to 13 kilometres, besides saving considerable travel time. The development comes as the wi

Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and stressed the need for a comprehensive audit and effective monitoring of budgetary allocations, central support and centrally funded projects in Jammu and Kashmir. This would ensure transparency, timely execution and also that public money reached the intended beneficiaries, MP Khatana said, while holding an extensive discussion with the PM on the present situation, development priorities and as

In a latest development, the authorities at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) Rajouri have ordered a detailed verification of attendance records of its administrative offices, including biometric data, amid a move to ascertain whether prescribed attendance norms have been followed. As per the official communication, the university has constituted a three-member committee to scrutinise attendance records maintained from January 1, 2026 and identify any deviations from the prescribed gui

The 80th Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour and gaiety across Ladakh union territory. In Leh district, the main function was held at the historic Pologround where the Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena hoisted the National Flag, inspected the parade and saluted the marching contingents, including the Armed forces and school students, which took part in the march past during the event. Addressing the gathering, Saxena paid tribute to the freedom fighters whose sacrifices s

The 80th Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm at District Headquarters, Poonch, where the minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, hoisted the National Flag amid high patriotic fervour and enthusiasm. He took salute at the impressive march past presented by the contingents of J&K Police, IRP, CRPF, Forest Protection Force, NCC cadets and school children at the main ceremonial function held at Sports Stadium Poon

Awantipora, Aug 15:Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, hoisted the National Flag at a ceremony held on the university campus to mark the 80th Independence Day. The ceremony was attended by Prof. Sheikh Aijaz Bashir, Dean Academic Affairs; Prof. Shamim Ahmad Shah, Registrar; Finance Officer Sameer Wazir; deans, heads of departments, senior officers, faculty members and staff. Addressing the gathering, Prof. Romshoo extended Indep

Srinagar, Aug 15:Kashmir Medical College and Hospital (KMCH), Sempora, on Saturday celebrated the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm, with faculty, doctors, staff members and students participating in the celebrations. Managing Director KMCH, Tausif Ahmad, hoisted the Tricolour and took the salute in the presence of Executive Director InshaQazi, Principal/Dean Prof. Nazir Ahmad Khan, Medical Superintendent Dr Syed Mubashir, heads of departments, faculty members, doctors

Ganderbal, Aug 15:Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir) celebrated the 80th Independence Day with enthusiasm, with Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A. RavinderNath, hoisting the National Flag at the Tulmulla Campus here on Saturday. Registrar, Finance Officer, Controller of Examinations, Deans of Schools, Heads and Coordinators of Departments, Librarian, Dean Students Welfare, faculty members, statutory officers, administrative staff, research scholars and students were present on the occasion. The Un

Srinagar, Aug 15:The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has rejected a plea by three directors of a pharmaceutical company whereby they had sought to quash criminal proceedings against them related to a drug declared Not of Standard Quality by the Government Analyst. In response to the plea which it dismissed finally, a bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal noted that the directors of Corona Remedies Pvt Ltd could not seek quashing of the proceedings at the threshold merely by claiming that they were no

Srinagar, Aug 15: Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Saturday undertook a comprehensive review of the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness in the hinterland across the Kashmir Valley, with particular focus on maintaining a high state of readiness amid heightened security arrangements for Independence Day. The review came a day after Lt Gen Sharma chaired a high level security review meeting in Srinagar with senior officers of the Army, Jammu and Kas

Anantnag, Aug 15:The 80th Independence Day was celebrated across Anantnag district with great patriotic fervour, enthusiasm and national spirit. The main function of the day was organised at Shaheed Himayun Muzzamil Memorial Government Degree College, Khanabal, where a large gathering of people joined the celebrations to commemorate the historic occasion and honour the sacrifices of the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the nations independence. Minister for Education, Higher Educat

Srinagar, Aug15: The 80th Independence Day of the nation was celebrated with immense enthusiasm, patriotic fervour, and mass participation across all sports zones of J&K by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports J&K (DYSS) The district level functions, organised by the respective district administrations, witnessed strong collaboration and seamless support from various departments, prominently including the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports through its District Youth Services and Sp

Srinagar, Aug 15: A spirited display of Judo, Yoga and Taekwondo by J&K Sports Council athletes added to the patriotic fervour of the 80th Independence Day celebrations, with the performance earning the team the second prize. The 80th Independence Day celebrations, as per a statement, were held in a vibrant atmosphere of patriotism, with the venue beautifully adorned in the Tricolour, creating a strong sense of national pride, unity and celebration. The performance showcased was highly appreciat

Kathua, Aug 15: The 80th Independence Day was celebrated with patriotic fervour at Sports Stadium Kathua, where Minister for FCS&CA, IT, Youth Services and Sports, Science and Technology Satish Sharma hoisted the National Flag at Sports Stadium Kathua. The Minister took salute from the impressive march-past presented by the contingents of police, Security Forces, Forest, NCC and school students. MLA Kathua Dr Bharat Bhushan, Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma, SSP Kathua Mohita Sharma, sen

Rice is not merely a staple crop in Kashmirit is woven into the geography, folklore, and civilizational memory of the Valley. From mythological beginnings as an aquatic expanse to the modern scientific interventions at SKUAST-Kashmir (Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology), the narrative of Kashmiri paddy reflects an ongoing balance between ecology, engineering, and economic survival. Coming from district Pulwama till recently the rice bowl of the valley, I have seen

It is a clash of titans which is unfolding before the all-important 2027 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha polls. It is an unusual clash unfolding in the annals of BJP- unheard of during the last decade of Narendra Modi-Amit Shah supremacy, as the enthusiastic Opposition watches with glee from sidelines. It is so because they, Opposition, are for the time being, out of this clash which is between the two power centres of the saffron party, Modi-Shahs centralised ove

The game of Chess evolved from an ancient Indian game called chaturanga over 1,500 years ago. Chaturanga is a Sanskrit word that means four divisions (infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots). The game moved to Persia, where people called it shatranj. The term checkmate came from and sounds like Persian phrase shh mt, which means the king is helpless. The game reached Europe by the Middle Ages where the advisor piece was changed into the queen we use today. Thus Chess started in India as chat

CSR initiatives can focus on waste management, plastic-free tourism, renewable energy, water conservation, and environmentalCorporate Social Responsibility can play a significant role in strengthening tourism and rural development by encouraging corporates to invest directly in the places where they operate or have a business presence. Corporates can contribute towards preserving local culture and heritage, improving tourism infrastructure, supporting local artisans and entrepreneurs, creating e

They say wisdom does not usually announce itself. Yes, it does not enter a room with a certificate. It does not carry any title. It does not ask to be introduced. We usually notice it much later. Sometimes, wisdom is a sentence spoken by an old man sitting in a corner. Sometimes, it is a mother saying, Leave it. It is not worth fighting over. Sometimes, it is a doctor choosing not to prescribe another medicine. Sometimes, it is simply knowing when to remain silent. Most of us confuse wisdom with

A friend recently shared with me that his son, a highly accomplished doctor who had spent nearly two decades building a successful career in Saudi Arabia, had decided to return to Kashmir for good. From every practical standpoint, the decision seemed puzzling. He enjoyed professional recognition, financial security, and a comfortable life. My first thought was that the lack of a path to Saudi citizenship had finally compelled him to leave. But I was mistaken. The real reason lay much deeper. His

Srinagar, Aug 15:The 80th Independence Day celebrations across Jammu and Kashmir passed off peacefully on Saturday under a tight multi-layered security grid, with no untoward incidents reported from any venue, officials said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hoisted the national flag and took the salute at the main J&K-level function at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, where men, women, and children participated in the parade and cultural programmes. Similar flag-hoisting ceremonies, marches, and cultura

Jammu, Aug 15:Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday, while reiterating the demand for early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, hoped that it (J&K) would celebrate its next Independence Day as a State and not as a Union Territory. Whatever Ive said in my Independence Day address, is my final statement. It is up to you (media) how you want to perceive it. Early restoration of statehood to J&K is our fervent demand. This has been promised by the Prime Minister and the Hom

Srinagar, Aug 15:Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma on Saturday called Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs Independence Day speech irresponsible, alleging that the occasion was used to raise political issues instead of focusing on national unity and the future of Jammu and Kashmir. Reacting to CM Omars address at Bakshi Stadium, LoP Sharma said the Independence Day platform should be above politics and should be used to celebrate the tricolour. I dont want to talk abou

Srinagar, Aug 15:Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday hosted an At Home reception on the occasion of Independence Day at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here this evening. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, Speaker Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, several legislators, judges of the High Court, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Administrative Secretaries, senior civil and p

Srinagar, Aug 15:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called for building a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. Hoisting the national flag at Lok Bhavan on the occasion of the nations 80th Independence Day, LG Sinha emphasised the difficult journey, struggle, and sacrifice for independence. He paid tribute to the civilians who tragically lost their lives in unfortunate natural calamities this year. On this historic day, I join all citizens in paying heartfelt tributes to our foundi

Srinagar, Aug 15:Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday referred to protests and the situation across the Line of Control (LoC) saying that the recent developments had reinforced his belief that the decision taken by Jammu and Kashmirs leadership 80 years ago to accede to India was the right one. When I see the situation across the border and the Line of Control, I realise that our ancestors who said hamlavar khabardar, hum Kashmiri hain tayyar (attackers beware, Kashmiris are prepared) were r

New Delhi, Aug 15: Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a series of initiatives and targets covering Artificial Intelligence, education, sports, Civil Defence, semiconductor manufacturing, nuclear energy and women-led development. Key announcements from the Prime Ministers address include: 1. AI Skilling for One Crore Youth: The Prime Minister announced that one crore youth would be trained in AI skills over