Greater Kashmir

New Delhi, Sep 01: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday commended the people for the 7.8 per cent GDP growth rate, noting that the feat was accomplished despite wars, instability, and supply chain disruptions. In a video message on Instagram, the prime minister said that if people continue to stress on Swadeshi and self-reliance, the country's youth will be presented with a developed India in the 100th year of Independence. He also asked people not to go for foreign holidays, host weddings ab

Bishkek, Aug 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in Bishkek, on the margins of the 26th SCO Summit. This was their first meeting this year. The two leaders had earlier met in Delhi for the 23rd Annual Summit in December 2025. The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation in a range of fields, including political, economic, defence, energy, space, mobility and people-to-people ties. They welcomed the outcome of the 27th

Srinagar, Aug 31: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to experience a spell of rain over the next 24 to 48 hours, with the Meteorological Department forecasting brief intense showers and gusty winds and warning of possible landslides, mudslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas. Director of the Meteorological Department J&K, Mukhtar Ahmad, said weather conditions are expected to become somewhat unsettled from Monday late afternoon and evening, with the Jammu division likely to witness more significan

Srinagar, Aug 31: MBBS and BDS interns staged peaceful demonstrations at various government medical institutions across Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, demanding an increase in their internship stipend. The protests were held at Government Medical Colleges and SKIMS Bemina, among other institutions, where interns gathered and raised slogans in support of their demand for a revision of the stipend paid during the compulsory internship period. The protesting interns said they work long hours and unde

Srinagar, Aug 31: Green spaces can help cities fight rising heat, but simply adding more green cover may not be enough. A new study from Lucknow suggests that the size, vegetation condition and surroundings of green patches can determine how much they cool the urban landscape. The study, published in Discover Cities, examined 456 urban and peri-urban green patches in Lucknow using satellite observations from 2019 and 2024. The researchers found that green patches were generally cooler than adjac

Jammu, Aug 31: An ex-serviceman was killed after his throat was slit by a Chinese kite string while he was travelling through the Ring Road here, officials said on Monday. Naib Subedar (Retd) Lakhvinder Singh sustained critical injuries after coming into contact with the killer string while passing through Bishnah area on a two-wheeler late Sunday, the officials said. They said the retired soldier was immediately shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries. Singh was returning to his ho

Lahore, Aug 30: Pakistan's human rights body has said the state resorted to disproportionate use of force against protesters in the PoK and raised serious questions about the credibility of the electoral process marred with violence and allegations of massive rigging. A report by the fact finding mission of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released on Saturday attributed the unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to longstanding political and socio-economic grievances, instituti

Dubai, Aug 31: Iran's supreme leader called on Muslim countries to stand together against Israel and the United States. Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei urged rulers of Muslim nations to know your real enemy, understand its plans and confront it, and called the US and Israel enemies of all Islamic nations, the official IRNA news agency reported. Six months after the US and Israel attacked Iran, killing Khamenei's father and other senior leaders, Khamenei still has not been seen publicly. His comments

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu & Kashmir, has prohibited the sale, storage, distribution and display of 10 identified brands and batches of ghee across the Union Territory after laboratory analysis found the products to be sub-standard, unsafe or misbranded. The action has been taken under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, following examination of samples by notified food analysts at the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, and the Food Testing Laboratory

Srinagar, Aug 30:The proposed expansion of Srinagar International Airport Civil Enclave, involving an estimated investment of Rs 1667 crore, is expected to substantially increase the passenger-handling capacity of the Valleys main airport, while a separate proposal to examine the feasibility of an airport or an alternative aviation facility in Katra has also been put forward. The details were submitted by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and placed before

Srinagar, Aug 30:After years of waiting and scores of representations, and despite a government committee recommending an increase, medical interns have been pushed to wall to start a strike from August 31. MBBS and BDS interns across J&K are set to begin an indefinite strike from Monday, August 31, withdrawing their services from all hospitals. They are demanding revision of their monthly stipend from the existing Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000. The strike is the latest escalation in an unmet demand t

Srinagar, Aug 30:Businesses and businessmen in Jammu and Kashmir are seeking a comprehensive one-time settlement (OTS) scheme on the lines of the State Bank of Indias 2020 framework, arguing that more than three decades of disruption have left enterprises struggling with legacy debt despite repeated restructuring and relief measures. Business chambers across Kashmir have called for authorities to facilitate a broader settlement mechanism with J&K Bank, saying borrowers have operated under extrao

Srinagar, Aug 30:Underscoring that there is a clear distinction between President or the Governors power under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution and J&K Banks Managing Director (MD) and CEOs power under Clause 12.29 of the Officers Service Manual (OSM), the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has quashed the dismissal of a J&K Banks Officer. In response to a plea which it allowed, a bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar, held that the bank could not invoke Clause 12.29 of OSM to terminate an employee witho

Srinagar, Aug 30:Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a sharp decline in several key indicators of terrorism and violence, with stone-pelting incidents dropping by 98.6 percent and youth recruitment into terrorism has also declined by 99 percent between 2018 and 2025. The NITI Aayog figures produced on significant improvement in Law and Order compares compares key security indicators between 2018 and 2025 and points to a substantial reduction in violence-related incidents across J&K. As per the figur

Srinagar, Aug 30:The deadly August 26 flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border have drawn attention to a high-altitude hazard that can unleash destructive floods without a glacial lake - the sudden failure of glacier ice, rock and debris on an unstable slope. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said satellite analysis showed a high-magnitude glacier-rock collapse, or ice-rock avalanche, entering Lende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi river, before turning

Tashkent, Aug 30: India and Uzbekistan on Sunday decided to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and set a target of USD 5 billion in annual trade by 2030 following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The two sides inked 11 agreements for boosting engagement in several key sectors, including mining and tourism and agreed to establish a framework for long-term supply of Uranium from Uzbekistan to India in line with cooperation

A pro-active leader on solo march and an inertia-ridden organisation refusing to shrug-off its lethargy; it is an interesting-phenomena, dichotomous, that has landed Congress in a bind. Not the political rivals but the partys top leadership should take the blame for this confusion, showing no hurry to extricate themselves out of this situation. There is no doubt that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is a man on the march. From a reluctant player, during his first two terms as Lok Sabha MP and i

Jammu, Aug 29: Probe into the rape and subsequent death of a 15-year-old girl in Kishtwar district has been handed over to the Crime Branch, officials said on Saturday. The teenager had been allegedly raped by her school teacher over several months. She died on August 20 during a pregnancy termination procedure. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the police has so far arrested six persons in connection with the case, including the alleged rapist teacher and a nurse. The case transfer to the C

Vadodara, Aug 29: Operation Sindoor marked a very significant shift in India's approach towards Pakistan as the strikes targeted not only terrorist hideouts near the border but also their supporters deep inside the neighbouring country, former Army chief General M M Naravane said on Saturday. Speaking to reporters after attending a private event in Vadodara to promote the start-up ecosystem, he said the operation, carried out following the Pahalgam terror attack a year ago, demonstrated that tho

Srinagar, Aug 29: Alkhuddam Hajj & Umrah Services, which has been serving pilgrims from across India with a special focus on Jammu and Kashmir, has secured its place in the Category-1 eligible list for Hajj 2026, the organisation said. The development marks a significant step forward for the company after a four-year period during which it was unable to secure eligibility under the revised cluster-based arrangements introduced under the new Hajj policy. The company said it was recognised as a St

Jammu, Aug 29: Jammu Railway Division of the Northern Railway has restored the train service between Budgam and Katra from today, August 29, 2026. Keeping in view the convenience of passengers and devotees of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Northern Railway's Jammu Division has taken this major passenger-friendly decision. Train number 04688/04687 has now been restored between Budgam (BDGM) to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra (SVDK) with effect from August. This train will run on its regular route from toda

New Delhi, Aug 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he was looking forward to advancing India's vision for the SCO, anchored in security, connectivity and opportunity, and to working with fellow members for a region free from the scourge of terrorism. Ahead of his two-nation tour to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, the Prime Minister also said that he was confident that his visit will strengthen India's strategic partnerships in Central Asia and deep

Mendhar, Aug 29: A drone suspected to be from Pakistan was spotted hovering over forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, prompting security forces to launch a search operation in the area early Saturday, officials said. The drone was noticed at Balakote areas Behrooti village in Mendhar sector late Friday evening, and it moved towards the Mangalnar-Dabrote side near the border before returning to Pakistan, the officials said. They said Army troops gu

Dubai, Aug 28: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed five people on Friday, despite a fragile ceasefire brokered by the United States. Meanwhile, thousands of sailors remain stranded in the Persian Gulf by the Iran war, while Iran is touting an energy deal with Russia and the US has imposed restrictions on a major Egyptian bank for its ties with Iran. Here's a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East. Full coverage can be found here. Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 5 Is

Ramban, Aug 29: A female health worker has been arrested in connection with the death of a minor girl from Chatroo in Kishtwar district, taking the total number of accused arrested in the case to six, officials said. The accused, identified as Sonika Parihar, a Female Multipurpose Health Worker (FMPHW) posted at District Hospital Kishtwar, was arrested during the ongoing investigation into FIR No. 34/2026 registered at Police Station Chatroo. The case has been registered under relevant provision

Centre on Friday approved and notified the names of twenty-three Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers for their induction in AGMUT cadre of Indian Administrative Service (IAS). President, as per the notification of Department of Personnel and Training of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has notified the select lists of State Civil Service officers of UT of J&K segment, in exercise of powers conferred by Rule 8(1) of the Indian Administrative Service

Srinagar, Aug 28:Kashmir Government Polytechnic (KGP), Srinagar, has achieved a significant milestone in technical education by securing international placement opportunities for 10 of its students during a campus recruitment drive. The selected students will join the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, marking a notable achievement for the college in connecting its students with global industry opportunities. The recruitment drive was organised by the Training and Pl

Member NITI Aayog Dr M Srinivas on Friday said that the successful initiatives and best practices emerging from Kashmir will be showcased and replicated in other parts of the country Talking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) Srinagar, Srinivas said that NITI Aayog will use the regions achievements as a benchmark for other states. Srinivas said the purpose of the NITI Aayog delegations three-day visit was to assess the progress acr

The oxygen generation plant at District Hospital Shopian has remained non-functional for nearly two months, causing inconvenience to patients and forcing the hospital to rely on oxygen concentrators and cylinders to meet emergency requirements. We were shocked to learn that the plant was not working, said Mohammad Rafiq, an attendant of a patient admitted to the hospital. He said the patient, who was suffering from a respiratory-related illness, developed breathing difficulties after his oxygen

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Friday said the Centre was committed to providing special constitutional provisions under Article 371 for the Union Territory of Ladakh as an exceptional case. Speaking at the Silver Jubilee Founders Day celebration of Druk Padma Karpo School in Shey, Leh district, Rijiju said the Ministry of Home Affairs was working to extend the special provisions to Ladakh under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under Ar

Srinagar, Aug 28:In a significant initiative to extend entrepreneurship development and MSME schemes to remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the Branch MSME Development and Facilitation Office (DFO), Srinagar, Ministry of MSME, organised entrepreneurship awareness and capacity-building programmes at Tangdar and Keran in Kupwara district. The programmes, organised with the support and coordination of the District Administration, Kupwara, marked the first such capacity-building and entrepreneurship

Srinagar, Aug 28:From having no reported mobile subscriber base in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2016 to serving 58.5 lakh users a decade later, Reliance Jio has emerged as the largest net mobile subscriber gainer in the J&K-Ladakh telecom circle. Since its commercial launch on September 5, 2016, Jio has significantly reshaped the telecom market in J&K, driving subscriber growth and intensifying competition in the sector. According to data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Jio

In the mid-1970s, as Jammu and Kashmirs political landscape was changing, plans for a major medical institute began taking shape. A series of land contributions, from private individuals as well as the government, laid the physical foundation for what is today the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) at Soura, Srinagar. Among the private contributors, one name stands out Bhai Anant Singh Gauri, a pioneering cinema entrepreneur whose contribution is commemorated by a plaque at a

Baramulla, Aug 28: Kashmirs traditional apple-growing landscape is undergoing a gradual transformation, with an increasing number of growers shifting to high-density plantations in pursuit of higher productivity, better fruit quality and improved market returns. The shift, initially adopted by a relatively small number of progressive growers, has gained momentum in recent years as the government promotes modern orchard systems and growers increasingly look for ways to improve returns from limite

The Shaher-Khaas Traders Alliance, under the leadership of its president, Nazir Ahmad Shah, has categorically rejected and condemned the arbitrary hike in electricity charges announced by the Omar Abdullah-led government. Nazir Ahmad Shah, as per a statement, stated that this authoritarian move has sent shockwaves through both the commercial sector and ordinary households, who are already struggling under immense economic stress. We gave the National Conference (NC) a resounding mandate to repre

New Delhi, Aug 28: The Ministry of Defence has introduced a series of reforms to simplify procedures for defence exports and make it easier for Indian manufacturers to access international markets. The reforms, undertaken by the Department of Defence Production under the guidance of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, aim to reduce procedural requirements while ensuring that national security safeguards remain in place. Under the revised Defence Export Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), stakeholder

The 43rd Ahad Zargar Day will be observed on 30th August 2026 at the Mausoleum of Ahad Zargar, Narwara, Srinagar, with great reverence, enthusiasm and fervour. The occasion, as per a statement, will commemorate the life, literary legacy and remarkable contribution of Ahad Zargar, one of Kashmirs most revered Sufi poets and literary figures. His poetry, spiritual thought and profound understanding of Kashmiri culture continue to resonate deeply with generations of Kashmiris. The day carries immen

New Delhi, Aug 28: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 76 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets in two intelligence-led operations in Assam and Mizoram and arrested two people under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. In the latest operation on August 25, DRI officers, assisted by personnel of the 38th Battalion of Assam Rifles, intercepted a 12-wheeler truck at Lalpani, around 40 km from Silchar near the Assam-Manipur border. The truck was ide

The Group of Concerned Citizens J&K(GCC) held a G.H. Kango Memorial meeting here on Friday, presided over by Khurshid Ahmad Ganai. Besides the Chairman of the Group, other Members, as per a statement, who spoke on this occasion included G.J.Nehvi, Syed Raza Shah Madni, Latif-ul-Zaman Deva , Mohammad Rafi, Er Hakim Iftikhar, Manzoor Ahmad Tak and Prof Dr Farooq Ahmad Peer. Some of Late GH Kango's old and young colleagues recalled fond memories of their personal or official association with him ov

The Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) Jammu and Kashmir has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of former senior bureaucrat Ghazanfar Ali. In a heartfelt condolence message, Senior Trade Union Leader and President EJAC, Fayaz Ahmad Shabnam, as per a statement, expressed his profound sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. He described Ghazanfar Ali as a dedicated, upright and compassionate officer whose contribution to public adminis

New Delhi, Aug 28:The devastating floods in Nepal have highlighted the vulnerability of the densely populated plains of northern India, particularly Bihar, to disasters originating in the Himalayas, reports international media. Nepals Himalayan rivers feed several major Indian river systems, including the Gandaki and Kosi, besides the Bagmati, Kamla-Balan and other rivers, before flowing into Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Bihar, one of Indias most flood-prone states, faces a particular risk b

Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leader Yawar Mir on Friday accused the National Conference of repeatedly making promises before elections and changing its position after coming to power, urging voters to remember their grievances when they next cast their ballots. People themselves brought the NC to power despite repeated disappointments. They need to introspect themselves as to why they have been making the same mistakes for the past 70 years, former Rafiabad MLA said. He said that voters should

New Delhi, Aug 28:Chinese authorities have suspended rescue operations near the Nepal-Tibet border after a lake formed by debris from a landslide began filling with water, raising fears that it could burst its banks and trigger another flood, the BBC reported. Officials have been monitoring rising water upstream from Gyirong port, a key land crossing between Nepal and Tibet that was swept away by a torrent of mud and water following Wednesdays landslide. According to the BBC, hours of heavy rain

New Delhi, Aug 28:The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said 400 Indian nationals stranded on the Chinese side of the border are safe and have contacted their families and travel agencies. However, 320 Indian nationals remain uncontactable or missing, while more than 100 people of Indian origin, who may hold other nationalities, are also unaccounted for. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a media briefing that 21 Indian nationals who had reached Kathmandu from the Chinese si