Srinagar, Apr 4: Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan on Friday reviewed the operational readiness and security situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir during his visit to formations under the Chinar Corps. According to an official release issued by the Ministry of Defence, the CDS visited strategically significant areas under Chinar Corps in Srinagar, where he assessed the prevailing security landscape and operational posture.  He commended the formation for its high standards of preparedness, doctrinal coherence and professional excellence. At Baramulla, General Chauhan was briefed on future force application and ongoing technology infusion initiatives aimed at enhancing operational capabilities. Addressing officers, the CDS highlighted the rapidly evolving nature of warfare, stressing the need to transition from a domain-centric approach to Multi-Domain Operations (MDO).  He underscored that effective integration across land, air, maritime, cyber, space and cognitive domains is crucial for achieving decisive military outcomes. He called for accelerated joint training, harmonisation of doctrines and development of interoperable command and control structures to ensure coordinated and synchronised operations across all domains. Emphasising future preparedness, General Chauhan advocated for a comprehensive roadmap to tackle emerging security challenges through technological adaptation, cognitive resilience and unified efforts. He reiterated that a whole-of-nation approach, backed by innovation and a cohesive warfighting philosophy, is essential to counter evolving threats. The CDS also interacted with representatives of the civil administration, eminent personalities and local stakeholders in Baramulla, and reviewed ongoing efforts towards nation-building. He urged all ranks to maintain operational excellence, adopt jointness as a core principle and remain fully prepared to address the full spectrum of future conflicts. 

Jammu, Apr 4: In a significant development, the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Saturday passed the Jammu and Kashmir Private Universities Bill, 2026. The legislation provides a legal framework for establishing private universities and regulating their functioning, management, and academic standards. The Bill was taken up for consideration and passage in the House and was later passed by voice vote in the House. According to the provisions, a sponsoring body can set up a private university in J&K only if it has been registered for at least three years, has education as its primary objective, possesses sound finances and clean credentials, and holds lawful possession of adequate land and facilities. The sponsoring body must also appoint qualified faculty, maintain proper infrastructure, and comply with government and UGC regulations. The bill states that the Government may permit the establishment of a private university by any sponsoring body in the manner provided under the legislation and shall declare such establishment by notification upon satisfaction of the specified conditions. “The Private University shall be of the unitary type with its main campus in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and shall not have power to affiliate or recognize any college or institution,” the Bill reads. It further provides that a private university may establish constituent colleges, regional centres, additional campuses, and study centres at such places in the Union Territory as deemed fit, subject to UGC and other regulatory norms. Any sponsoring body desirous of establishing a private university must submit an application to the Government, including an outline of the purpose and vision of the proposed institution, a detailed project report, and a non-refundable application fee not exceeding ₹25 lakh, as prescribed by rules. The Government shall constitute an Expert Committee headed by the Administrative Secretary of Higher Education to examine applications. The Bill states that a Regulatory Authority will oversee private universities, ensuring compliance with the law, conducting inspections, advising the Government, handling complaints, and recommending action against violators.

Private Universities to generate employment, boost investment, strengthen knowledge economy of J&K: G N Var Srinagar, April, 4: The Civil Society, on Saturday welcomed the J&K Government over passing Jammu & Kashmir Private Universities Act Bill while describing the move as a historic and much-needed reform aimed at addressing a long-standing gap in the J&K’s Private higher education sector.  Addressing a press conference here, members said the landmark legislation marks a significant step toward expanding academic opportunities within Jammu & Kashmir and is expected to play a transformative role in strengthening the region’s educational infrastructure, research capacity and knowledge-based economy. Speaking to the media, Dr. Mehboob Makhdoomi (Founder WathHarbor Foundation) said the enactment of the Private Universities Act Bill marks a progressive step toward strengthening the private education sector in Jammu & Kashmir. He said for many years, the absence of a structured legislative framework for private universities had compelled thousands of students to move outside Jammu & Kashmir in pursuit of quality higher education, leading to both intellectual migration and financial strain on families. He added that the new law lays the foundation for reversing this trend by enabling reputed local institutions to establish campuses within the region, thereby expanding academic opportunities locally. "Modern universities are not confined to traditional classroom learning but function as knowledge hubs that promote research, innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development aligned with emerging global disciplines such as artificial intelligence, data science, and sustainability studies," he said. He further said that the establishment of private universities would create local employment opportunities, encourage investment, strengthen innovation ecosystems and contribute to the overall socio-economic growth of Jammu & Kashmir. Founding President of Private Schools Association J&K and Chairman Coaching Centres Association G N Var welcomed the initiative of the Jammu & Kashmir Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, education minister Sakina Itoo and all Members of the Legislative Assembly who supported this historic bill. He also expressed special appreciation for MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah for strongly supporting the bill and for consistently raising important discussions on education within the Assembly. Var extended his gratitude for his constructive role in strengthening the education sector and promoting policies that expand opportunities for students. He described the passing of the Private Universities Act Bill as an important milestone in the educational journey of the region, reflecting a progressive vision similar in spirit to the educational reforms initiated by Shere-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, founder of the National Conference and popular leader of J&K, who introduced landmark education reforms in the early years of his governance, laying the foundation for expanding access to education across Jammu & Kashmir. Var said that this forward-looking policy will strengthen academic infrastructure, create healthy competition, improve quality standards and expand opportunities for students to pursue advanced studies within their home region. S P Qaisar eminent consultant stated that the legislation will provide a structured regulatory framework ensuring transparency, accountability and academic excellence. He expressed optimism that credible local private institutions will be encouraged to establish campuses in Jammu & Kashmir, enhancing the credibility and competitiveness of the region’s higher education system. Ishfaq Zehgeer, representing the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industries (KCC&I), welcomed the development, saying that private universities will play a transformative role in boosting economic growth, encouraging investment, generating skilled employment and supporting the expansion of innovation-led enterprises across the region. Qazi Touseef, representative of KTMF, welcomed the initiative and  that the development of robust higher education infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir will strengthen the overall business ecosystem. He added that such universities will contribute to sustainable economic growth while creating new opportunities for local enterprises. Dr Touseef Bhat, prominent Socio environmental Activist and industrial consultant, expressed that private universities could positively contribute to advancing research and promoting sustainable development studies. He highlighted the constructive role academic institutions may play in supporting the region through well-informed, research-driven policy recommendations.  Prof Nighat Fatima, Educationist, highlighted that the introduction of private universities will broaden the scope of specialized courses, particularly in research-driven disciplines, professional education and skill-oriented programmes. She emphasised that collaboration between academic and industry would help students gain practical exposure and improve employability prospects. Dr Afifa Kamili Member, WathHarbor Foundation observed that private universities act can play a vital role in strengthening research culture and academic innovation. She stated that improved access to modern laboratories, faculty exchange programmes and international collaborations would significantly enhance the quality of higher education in Jammu & Kashmir. He emphasised that the policy will particularly benefit students from economically weaker backgrounds by expanding access to diverse educational opportunities. Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the Jammu Kashmir Students Association, welcomed the initiative, stating that the establishment of private universities within Jammu & Kashmir will significantly benefit local students by expanding access to diverse academic programmes and modern learning opportunities within the region. He said that this development will reduce the compulsion for students to migrate outside J&K for higher education, ease the financial burden on their families and create a more supportive academic environment closer to home. Khuehami further said that the presence of reputed institutions will enhance skill development, promote research based education and open new pathways for career growth among the youth of Jammu & Kashmir. The civil society and other members of the WathHarbor Foundation said that the passage of the Jammu & Kashmir Private Universities Act Bill 2026 marks the beginning of an important transformation in the higher education landscape of Jammu & Kashmir. Members emphasised that the priority should now be to establish  local credible, inclusive and high-quality institutions aligned with the long-term educational, social and economic aspirations of Jammu & Kashmir. Civil society representatives expressed their commitment to constructive engagement with policymakers, academic experts and industry stakeholders to ensure that the implementation of the Act leads to the development of a transparent, accountable and future-ready higher education ecosystem capable of empowering students and supporting sustainable growth in the region. The participants deliberated on the significance of the Jammu & Kashmir Private Universities Act Bill and highlighted its potential to strengthen higher education, promote research and innovation, enhance skill development and contribute to long-term economic progress in Jammu & Kashmir.

Conducts surprise visit of Srinagar schools, says morning assemblies must integrate moral education Srinagar, Apr 3: The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Naseer Ahmad Wani Friday directed all the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) of across Kashmir to visit schools in their jurisdiction for morning inspections. The ZEOs were asked to submit weekly reports to the directorate as well. He issued these instructions to the heads of the schools during his surprise visit to some of the schools of Srinagar district during first half hour of opening of the educational institutions. He further asked the school heads to incorporate moral and value based education in morning assemblies besides focusing on ensuring punctuality, discipline, and institutional accountability. DSEK also monitored the attendance of teaching staff and assessed the overall functioning of schools as well. During his visit to Government Middle School (GMS) Aloochi Bagh, DSEK personally verified staff attendance and also joined the students in the morning prayer. During his interaction with the staff, Wani said the initial moments of school opening set the tone for the entire day and must reflect discipline, commitment and a sense of purpose. "Morning assemblies should be conducted with full enthusiasm while incorporating moral and value-based education as an essential component," he said. He also highlighted the importance of structured academic functioning and emphasised that all teaching-learning activities should be carried out in an organized manner and strictly in accordance with the academic calendar prescribed by the department. DSEK said the department was committed to strengthening accountability, improving academic standards and fostering a disciplined and value-driven educational environment in all schools across Kashmir.