Greater Kashmir

The passing of Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal on 14 July 2026 marks the end of an important chapter in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir. As the younger son of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, he inherited a distinguished political legacy, yet his own identity was shaped not merely by lineage but by decades of dedicated public service, organisational leadership, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC). Serving as the partys Additional

In a recent post on X, PDP leader and MLA Pulwama Waheed ur Rahman Para strongly criticised the government, particularly the R&B department over severe delays in the macadamisation of the roads. The concerned MLA highlighted that despite the allocation of thousands of crores to the department, the ground reality remains alarming. He expressed deep concern that half of the working season has already passed yet not a single road has been taken up for macadamisation or blacktopping. The government

This Write up is penned down to underline an urgent societal need as women employees suffer in absence of washrooms in their offices. On January, 15, 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered a significant judgment, declaring that access to clean public toilets is a basic right and essential for human dignity. This decision had been set as part of a wider exertion to address sanitation issues and ensure that public toilets are available, accessible, and maintained for everyone, regardless of ge

At the outset, I assumed myself an exceedingly proficient driver. Confidence behind the wheel came naturally to me; and over time that confidence twisted into overconfidence. I had the notion that my driving abilities were advanced and that accidents happened only to sloppy drivers. What made me even more confident was the fact that I stunned everyone at home with how well I could drive. They had no idea that I had acquired such skills and their amazement gave me a sense of attainment. It felt a

Beyond the age of sixty, what memories finally settle within us? Life gradually comes to revolve around doctors, diseases, and prescriptions, while memory lingers over neglected opportunities, ungrateful relationships, and the burdens of family obligations. These recollections often deepen the solitude of old age. Yet some possess the rare wisdom to release the past, embrace the present, and refuse to be burdened by the uncertainties of the future. For them, retirement is not a period of decline

As to those who reject Faith, it is same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe (2:6) Rejection of Faith, where it is deliberate without the least striving to see the truth is Kufr in Quranic idiom and the person with such an inclination is Kafir where as mistaken, mistaken idea of Allah (SwT) or faith nevertheless with a striving to see the Truth called Haq falls in a different category, where there is enough room for guidance to the right path. The outfall of

Srinagar, Jul 16:The University of Kashmir on Thursday felicitated its winning team that emerged as the national champion in the 17th National Youth Parliament Competition, organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India. A statement of KU issued here said that the felicitation ceremony was organised by the Department of Students' Welfare (DSW) at Gandhi Bhawan to honour the outstanding achievement of the students and their mentor. The ceremony was presided over by the Vi

Srinagar, Jul 16: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to deliberate upon the broad contours of the proposed Minor Mining Policy-2026, being formulated by the Department of Geology and Mining to address existing policy gaps, strengthen regulatory mechanisms and establish a transparent, technology-driven and sustainable framework for scientific management of minor mineral resources across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting besides the ACS, Mining Department, Ashwani Ku

Srinagar, Jul 16:The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday declared the results of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026, with 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH and allied courses. Two candidates from Jammu and Kashmir also featured in the official state-wise toppers' list.Hadiya Nisar emerged as the highest-ranked candidate from J&K, securing All India Rank (AIR) 99 with a percentile score of 99.9931. Zaidan Wani

Srinagar, Jul 16:Children with tooth decay, despite the growing awareness about oral hygiene, are increasing in Kashmir.A study has shown, one in every eight children attending the Dental Specialty Hospital has developmental defects of enamel (DDE). Their teeth are vulnerable to sensitivity, cavities and cosmetic problems. Regular dental checkups can prevent long term burden of dental issues, the study advocates. The hospital-based study has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Cureus. Ca

Srinagar, Jul 16:Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday urged the Centre to show humanity and compassion towards Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 19 days, saying the government should initiate dialogue instead of remaining silent as his health deteriorates. He also reiterated that the National Conference (NC)'s proposed protest in New Delhi on July 20 over the restoration of statehood would go ahead as planned, while expressing disappointmen

Jammu, Jul 16:Bolstering its energy conservation initiatives and prudent utilisation of resources, J&K government has chalked out a set of action points for implementation by its administrative departments, commencing from the Civil Secretariat Kashmir and Jammu and trickling down to other subordinate offices. As per official sources, the action points focus to leverage the use of virtual platforms and video conferencing for conduct of official meetings and party meetings as a measure to reduce

Jammu, Jul 16:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with the members of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and senior officials, and reviewed the Offerings and Donations Management System at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The meeting was attended by the members of the shrine board - Mahamandleshwar Swami VishveshvaranandGirijiMaharaj, Baleshwar Rai, Ashok Bhan, SudhaMurty, Gunjan Rana, K KTalwar, Kulbhushan Ahuja, LalitBhasin, Suresh Kumar Sharma; Mandeep K Bha

New Delhi, Jul 16:Iran launched fresh attacks on US military bases in neighbouring Gulf countries while the United States carried out another wave of overnight strikes for the sixth day on military targets across Iran. According to a BBC report, Tehran said it had targeted US military facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, as the sixth day of renewed hostilities further weakened efforts to end the conflict. The US military said it carried out a six-hour operation targeting command centres, a

Srinagar, Jul 16:Srinagar recorded 34.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the second-highest daytime temperature of the month, as hot and humid conditions returned to Kashmir after a week of relatively cool weather.The city recorded this month's highest maximum of 34.5 degrees Celsius on July 10. Temperatures dropped sharply after July 11 following intermittent rain and brief intense showers across parts of Jammu and Kashmir.On July 12, Srinagar's maximum fell to 22.7 degrees Celsius, well below norm

New Delhi, July 16: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday declared the result of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), NEET (UG) 2026. The result has been declared in time so that the medical-admission and counselling calendar for candidates stays on track. A total of close to 20 lakh candidates appeared for NEET (UG) 2026 at 5,440 centres in 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. 11.21 lakh candidates have qualified for admission to undergraduate medical, dental

Srinagar, July 16: The management, doctors and staff of PARAS Health Srinagar have expressed profound grief over the demise of veteran Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal. Expressing his condolences, Dr Murtuza Habib, Associate Vice President & Facility Director, PARAS Health Srinagar, said: On behalf of PARAS Health Srinagar, and in my personal capacity, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family on the passing of the esteemed Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kama

New Delhi, Jul 16: A Delhi court on Thursday allowed jailed Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid to attend the Monsoon session of Parliament in custody on all dates. Special Judge (NIA) Prashant Sharma was hearing the plea filed by Rashid seeking custody parole to attend the upcoming parliamentary session scheduled from July 20 to August 13 and allowed the plea. Custody parole entails a prisoner being escorted by armed police personnel to his place of visit. The court conducted the proceedings in camera

Jammu, July 16: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting with the Members of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and senior officials, and reviewed the Offerings and Donations Management System at the holy Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji Shrine. The meeting was attended by the Members of the Shrine Board - Mahamandleshwar Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj, Baleshwar Rai, Dr. Ashok Bhan, Sudha Murty, Gunjan Rana, Dr. K.K. Talwar, Kulbhushan Ahuja, Lalit Bhasin, Sures

Srinagar, July 16: As part of its continued crackdown on narcotics-related activities, Police in Shopian have attached a residential house valued at Rs 23,79,669/- belonging to Abdul Hamid Thoker, son of Abdul Raheem Thoker, resident of Nusipora Keegam. Officials said the property was identified as having been acquired through proceeds generated from the illegal trade of drugs and narcotics. Accordingly, the said property has been attached in connection with FIR No. 31/2026 of Police Station Sho

Jammu, Jul 16: Jammu University (JU) has banned and blacklisted the authors and publishers of the two controversial books allegedly containing inappropriate content related to separatism, having potential for creating law and order situation. The decision is in continuation to University circular issued on July 7, 2026 - in consonance with the Government Order number 257-JK(Edu) of 2026 dated July 4, 2026. The varsity has also ordered the withdrawal of any book or printed material written or pub

Jammu, July 16: Indian Railways has extended its 3 percent benefit (bonus) scheme on booking unreserved tickets through the RailOne App till March 31, 2027, to encourage passengers to book tickets through digital modes. This decision, according to railway authorities, will provide great relief to regular travellers and will also promote digital transactions. Under the scheme, passengers booking unreserved tickets through the RailOne App, using all digital payment modes including UPI, debit or cr

Jammu, Jul 16: Jammu Railway Division on Wednesday opened its newly constructed two platforms i.e., 6 and 7 - under the station redevelopment work, for the operation of all trains at Jammu Railway Station. With platforms 4 and 5 also becoming active again, according to railway officials, all seven platforms are now operational at Jammu Railway Station. To enhance passenger convenience and facilitate the increasing rail traffic at Jammu Tawi Station, Northern Railway, Jammu (Railway) Division has

Ramban, July 16: The Ramban district administration has issued a public advisory ahead of the scheduled opening of the gates of the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Station reservoir at Chanderkote for periodic silt flushing. According to the advisory issued by the Office of the District Magistrate, Ramban, the gates of the Baglihar Dam will be opened at 10:00 pm on July 16, 2026, to facilitate the routine silt flushing operation. The administration has cautioned that the release of water is likely

New Delhi, Jul 16: Activist Sonam Wangchuk has ruled out ending his indefinite hunger strike despite appeals from political leaders and supporters, saying breaking the fast without any response from the government would send the wrong message. If I eat, what message will go? The message to the government will be that there is no need for accountability. Protesters sit and leave... said Wangchuk and asked what would change if he ended the fast. Instead, he urged people to strengthen the Cockroach

In rural areas, we see water, yet there is no drop to drink. The problem does not stem from the consumers, scarcity, or water consumption, but from the unaccountable use of water. We cannot define the importance of water in simple words. It is life itself, and this vital resource, upon which all life depends, is wasted due to mismanagement and improper use and lack of proper mechanisms. How we can provide neat and clean water to every household in Kashmir is a question addressed by many policies

A Hindi poet, Hubnath Pandey, has written a poem called Giro Fall. It circulates widely on social media in a reel narrated by veteran actor Rajendra Gupta, and addresses an unnamed subject with elaborate, savage encouragement: fall, yes, fall but do not fall alone. Take religion with you. Take duty. Take country, trees, rivers, mountains, culture and finally vikriti, perversion itself and fall. Crowned with bitter irony, the poem tells its unnamed subject that in this one art the perfected

When your Lord said to the angels, I am going to establish a vicegerent upon the earth. This is a readers first encounter with the Adams story in the Holy Quran. Its perhaps the first time one feels a sudden pang in the heart due to ones natural participation in the subject of the verse, Humanity. Just like when a person of significance, such as a favourite teacher or a revered mentor suddenly mentions your name, even if only in passing. It never fails to draw your attention to the matter instan

Every society has had its sceptics, yet not every society has cultivated a culture of doubt. The distinction is significant. Scepticism, when pursued with intellectual honesty, has often deepened human understanding. A culture that habitually trivialises faith, however, reshapes the imagination long before it changes the mind. More than nine centuries ago, one of Islams greatest spiritual psychologists, Ab mid al-Ghazl, offered a profound account of this process in Iy Ulm al-Dn (Revival of the R

Jammu, Jul 15: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Wednesday, while emphasising seamless operational readiness, asserted that synergised and unrelenting alacrity would retain decisive edge over inimical elements. He was deliberating with the commanders on ground during his security review visit to Basantgarh in Udhampur. Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, Army Commander Northern Command, visited Basantgarh to review the prevailing security situa

Srinagar, Jul 15:Over the past decade, J&K has more than tripled its MBBS seat capacity, with the number of undergraduate medical seats rising from about 500 to 1675 for the upcoming academic session. J&K has been allotted 1675 MBBS seats, an increase of 100 seats over the previous approved strength of 1575, as per the latest seat matrix released by National Medical Commission (NMC). The expansion of MBBS seats is driven primarily by the establishment of new government medical colleges. In addit

Srinagar, Jul 15:National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah on Wednesday received support from relatives of People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti and Islamic scholar Sameer Siddiqui during an outreach programme in Bijbehara, the Mufti familys hometown and the PDPs traditional stronghold for nearly 25 years. The meeting, hosted by Mehbooba Muftis paternal cousin and late Mufti Muhammad Sayeeds nephew Sajad Mufti at his residence, was attended by youth, loca

Srinagar, Jul 15:Kashmir's chief preacher Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in PoK, where clashes have left many people dead ahead of a major protest march to Muzaffarabad. The ongoing unrest, sparked by a long-running dispute over representation, electricity tariffs, and subsidies, has drawn sharp criticism from India, which termed the situation a direct consequence of Islamabad's decades-long exploitation of the region. For the first time, the

Jammu, Jul 15:Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) cumulatively are generating over 900 tonnes of waste per day, out of which they are capable of processing only 505 TPD (tonnes per day). In a comparative performance audit, while SMC takes an unenviable lead over its Jammu counterpart in generation of waste; it emerges as a laggard performer in its collection and processing, when weighing against JMC. Particularly, in case of waste processing, SMC is way beh

Srinagar, Jul 15:National Conference (NC) Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said there would be no change in the party's planned protest in New Delhi on July 20 despite the demise of senior party leader and his uncle Sheikh Mustafa Kamal. Speaking to reporters after paying tributes to his uncle, CM Omar said the party would honour Kamal's wishes by going ahead with the demonstration. There will be no change in that. Neither would Mustafa Kamal have wanted any change, h

Srinagar, Jul 15:The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) being replaced by the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM-G) marks one of the biggest changes in the Indian rural employment scheme within two decades, and for Jammu and Kashmir, where employment through public work has been an essential source of income in periods when agriculture has been less profitable owing to climatic problems, the new scheme brings both opportunitie

New Delhi, Jul 15:US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that Washington would intensify its military campaign if Tehran failed to return to negotiations. Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said Iran faced more severe action in the coming days unless it agreed to talks. Next week it gets really bad for them. We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate, Trump said.

New Delhi, Jul 15:The United States resumed its naval blockade of Iranian ports and launched a fresh wave of airstrikes across Iran, intensifying military pressure on Tehran as the conflict entered a new phase amid mounting concerns over the security of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces resumed the naval blockade at 4 pm Eastern Time, preventing vessels from transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. US force

Jammu, July 15: Dr. Suresh Awasthi Smriti Nyas in Varanasi today organized a commemorative event to observe his 20th Punya Smriti Diwas. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha delivered the keynote address on AI: Effects and Side Effects. The Lieutenant Governor paid his heartfelt tribute to Dr. Awasthi, a remarkable personality who embodied knowledge and humility. He said Dr. Awasthi was a distinguished scholar and a visionary who saw political science as a powerful instrument for shaping society and

Srinagar, Jul 15: Congress leader Saifuddin Soz on Wednesday said the National Conference should not confine its protest to Jantar Mantar for only the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir but also raise the demand for the reinstatement of special status under Article 370 for the erstwhile state. Soz, who was a member of the Lok Sabha when the NC was part of the NDA, defied the party whip and voted against the 13-month-old government of Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1999, leading to its fall.

Jammu, Jul 15: A Multi Grenade Launcher (MGL) shell and a 51 mm illuminator shell were recovered near the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba on Wednesday, officials said. The shells were noticed on the banks of Devika river in Ramgarh sector by some locals who immediately informed the nearby police and BSF posts, the officials said. They said a joint party of BSF and police secured the area and later the shells were safely defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad.

Srinagar, July 15: In a significant action under the ongoing 100 Days Campaign, Police in Kulgam, in coordination with the Revenue Department, have attached immovable properties with an estimated market value of approximately Rs 1.50 crores in District Kulgam as part of sustained efforts to curb unlawful activities and dismantle the infrastructure supporting such offences. A police spokesperson said the action was carried out by Police Station Kulgam under the directions of SSP Kulgam. The attac

Udhampur, July 15: Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma today visited Basantgarh area of Udhampur to review the prevailing security situation and assess the operational preparedness. The deliberations with commanders on ground focused on current security environment, measures undertaken to strengthen vigilance and operational readiness. The Army Commander underscored the importance of sustained alertness and synergy with all stakeholders for retaining the decisive edge over i

Udhampur, July 15: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma today chaired a comprehensive review meeting regarding the investigation and progress of cases registered under UAPA. The meeting was attended by SSP Reasi, Addl.SP Udhampur, DySP Basantgarh, DySP Latti, DySP DAR Udhampur, DySP Police Component Udhampur, SDPO Mahore and SDPO Ramnagar. The concerned Investigating Officers also participated in the meeting and briefed the DIG on the status of various UAPA case

Jammu, Jul 15: Members of the erstwhile West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) community on Wednesday demanded early grant of land ownership rights and release of one-time settlement benefits. The members claimed that hundreds of eligible families have yet to receive the relief promised by the government. The demands were raised during a gathering here under the leadership of the West Pakistani Refugees chairperson Labha Ram Gandhi. Around 902 registered refugee families in Kathua have not been granted