Initiative yielding direct result on ground, says GOC Dagger division
Baramulla, April 8: The General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the 19 Infantry Division Major General Manoj Joshi on Wednesday stressed the need to channelise potential of youth towards constructive opportunities.
He was speaking during the concluding ceremony of the two-day job fair hosted by Chinar YUVA Centre, Baramulla.
The event was organised to connect job seekers with leading employers across sectors including IT, Hospitality, Automobile, Insurance, Retail and Allied fields.
Joshi highlighted the growing scale and impact of such initiatives aimed at employment generation and youth engagement in Kashmir.
"Around 1150 vacancies are currently being facilitated, the number is expected to rise to 4,500 and eventually touch 5,000 next year," he said.
He said these initiatives, carried out jointly with the administration, are yielding direct results on the ground.
"The programme is driven by a broader vision of peace and development in which several organisations and foundations from across the country are contributing to the initiative," he said.
He referred to collaborations who are working at grassroots level to guide and motivate youth.
"The facilities such as the Chinar Youth Centre have been operational for several years and are playing a key role in skilling young people. Around 3,500 youth are currently engaged through such initiatives," he added.
He said the objective of the annual job fair was to steer youth away from negative influences by providing them with meaningful employment opportunities.
"In the past, many youngsters were once caught in cycles of unrest, but the focus now is on putting opportunity in their hands to secure a better future," he said.
He said a gradual shift in mindset among Kashmiri youth was visible on ground saying that the earlier focus remained largely confined to government jobs within local areas.
“Now youth are exploring opportunities beyond traditional boundaries and are increasingly willing to join private sector jobs,” he said.
He further urged youth not to limit their aspirations and said they must contribute positively to nation-building.
"India’s growing youth population will play a decisive role in making the country a leading global economy by 2050. Your decisions will determine the future of the country. Choose growth and progress over conflict,” he said.
He further encouraged he participation in private sector employment saying the government jobs cannot accommodate everyone which paves the way for embracing diverse career opportunities.
"Army has been organising such outreach programmes for the past five years and job fairs were conducted over the last two years. The initiative will continue in future to create sustained employment avenues for youth in the region," he said.
Notably, employers participating in the event included Flipkart, Swiggy, Blinkit, LG, Ather, Amazon, Raymond, Phone Pe, Hotel Sarovar Portico, Hotel Khyber, Myntra, Honda, Bajaj and SBI Life.
The event featured online interviews by ten companies along with physical interviews, followed by short-listing and selection of candidates.
In addition, representatives of the District Employment and Counselling Centre provided career counselling on industry trends and skill-building through Mission Yuva scheme.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. “Hundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,” said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the faculty’s demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. “We are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,” he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. “The irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,” he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for “equal work, equal pay” gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. “Promises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,” he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. “This issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) will declare the result of class 10th and 12th examination on January 14 of, 2026 (Wednesday), minister for education Sakina Itoo said on Monday. Minister for education Sakina Itoo said the government has decided to declare the result of both the classes-10th and 12th on the same day. "We understand that students have been waiting for the results. So we decided that result of both the classes will be declared on Wednesday (January 16 of 2926)," Sakina Itoo said. She said the meeting of the Result Declaration Committee (RDC) will be convened by the Secretary JKBOE along with the members-Director School Education (DSE) Kashmir and Jammu division besides the joint secretaries as well. "We will give the administrative approval to the result instead of getting approved by the chairman," she said. The announcement comes amid the delay in appointment of chairman JKBOSE as the position is lying vacant for the last one year. "After declaration of the results, we will also appoint the permanent chairman for JKBOSE as well," education minister said. An official from JKBOSE said the class 1oth result will be declared on Wednesday morning followed by the declaration of result of class 12th students in late afternoon on the same day. As per the official figures, 94783 students- 68804 from Kashmir and 25,224 students from winter zone areas of Jammu division besides 660 students from Kargil and 95 from Leh district registered for the class 10th JKBOSE examination this year. Also, the examination for class 11th and 12th students was scheduled from November 19 and November 8 of 2025 respectively. Approximately, 81622 students – 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 students—56423 from Kashmir and 13694 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 12th examination.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). “About a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,” he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.“If we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,” he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeeb’s research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. “In this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,” he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. “It is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,” he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,” he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. “My parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,” he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. “Just as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.” “Young people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,” he further added.
Calls for strong academic ecosystem Srinagar, March 6: President of the Private Schools Association Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK), Dr. Baba Nazrul Islam Friday extended his heartfelt congratulations to the 17 candidates from J&K and Ladakh who successfully cleared the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examination. He termed the achievement as a moment of immense pride for the region and a powerful inspiration for the youth. He said that success of these candidates reflect the immense talent, determination, and intellectual potential present among the students of the region. Nazrul Islam Baba emphasised that educational institutions must work collectively to create a robust academic ecosystem that encourages students to aspire for and excel in national-level competitive examinations like the IAS. He stressed that schools should nurture curiosity, discipline, analytical thinking, and leadership qualities from the early stages of education. “Such remarkable achievements demonstrate that our youth possess the capability to compete at the highest national platforms," he said. He said a supportive academic environment, mentorship, and access to quality resources need to be kept available so that more students from J&K and Ladakh can prepare for and succeed in prestigious examinations. PSAJK President further highlighted the need to develop benchmark institutions and academic support systems in the region that can guide and mentor students aspiring for civil services and other competitive examinations. "Creating a culture of excellence and competition within educational institutions will help channelize the talent of the youth towards nation-building roles," he said. He urged educators, parents, and policymakers to work in synergy to foster an environment where students feel motivated to pursue ambitious goals and contribute meaningfully to society. “Every success story from our region becomes a beacon of hope for thousands of young minds. These achievers have shown that with perseverance, dedication, and proper guidance, no dream is beyond reach. Their journey should inspire our students to believe in their abilities and strive for excellence,” he added. PSAJK expressed hope that this achievement will ignite a new wave of aspiration among students across schools in J&K and Ladakh, motivating them to prepare for the country’s most competitive examinations and play a vital role in shaping the future of the nation.
Jammu, Jan 18: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, Information Technology, ARI & Trainings, Satish Sharma Sunday said that the remarkable achievements of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth are a powerful testament to what can be accomplished through fair opportunities, modern infrastructure and unwavering government support. Addressing the gathering during the SRIJAN initiative conference, the Minister stated that the success of young athletes clearly demonstrates that with the right ecosystem in place, the UT youth are capable of overcoming every challenge and competing confidently at national and international platforms. Highlighting the core focus areas of the SRIJAN programme, Satish Sharma said "the initiative is playing a transformative role in strengthening the sports landscape of the Union Territory by expanding grassroots sports infrastructure across Jammu, Kashmir and other regions. This is being done by ensuring transparent, merit-based selections free from any bias; integrating sports with education and skill development; promoting greater participation of girls and enhancing inclusivity and establishing sports as a dignified and sustainable career option with viable livelihood opportunities, he said0. He reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment and said that sustained efforts were underway to create international-standard sports facilities, including modern cricket stadiums in Jammu and Srinagar. He also highlighted the strengthening of Khelo India Centres, promotion of traditional sports such as Dangal and enhanced collaboration with the Union Ministry to transform Jammu & Kashmir into a national sports hub. “As Sports Minister, I assure our athletes that the government stands firmly with them. Our focus is not only on infrastructure creation but also on nurturing talent, discipline and confidence among the youth,” he said. The Minister lauded the determination, resilience and dedication of young sportspersons, describing them as the living legacy of the SRIJAN mission. He urged them to continue training with passion, remain disciplined and dream fearlessly, assuring them of full institutional support at every step of their journey. Satish Sharma expressed hope that the conference would serve as the foundation of a new era where every talented child, from the mountains of Kashmir to the plains of Jammu, is provided an equal opportunity to shine on the global stage. He concluded by reiterating the government’s resolve to make sports a powerful vehicle for youth empowerment, social inclusion and regional pride in Jammu and Kashmir. Director General, Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta and prominent persons from different fields and states along with senior officers of the Youth Services and Sports Department, were also present on the occasion.
Initiative yielding direct result on ground, says GOC Dagger division Baramulla, April 8: The General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the 19 Infantry Division Major General Manoj Joshi on Wednesday stressed the need to channelise potential of youth towards constructive opportunities. He was speaking during the concluding ceremony of the two-day job fair hosted by Chinar YUVA Centre, Baramulla. The event was organised to connect job seekers with leading employers across sectors including IT, Hospitality, Automobile, Insurance, Retail and Allied fields. Joshi highlighted the growing scale and impact of such initiatives aimed at employment generation and youth engagement in Kashmir. "Around 1150 vacancies are currently being facilitated, the number is expected to rise to 4,500 and eventually touch 5,000 next year," he said. He said these initiatives, carried out jointly with the administration, are yielding direct results on the ground. "The programme is driven by a broader vision of peace and development in which several organisations and foundations from across the country are contributing to the initiative," he said. He referred to collaborations who are working at grassroots level to guide and motivate youth. "The facilities such as the Chinar Youth Centre have been operational for several years and are playing a key role in skilling young people. Around 3,500 youth are currently engaged through such initiatives," he added. He said the objective of the annual job fair was to steer youth away from negative influences by providing them with meaningful employment opportunities. "In the past, many youngsters were once caught in cycles of unrest, but the focus now is on putting opportunity in their hands to secure a better future," he said. He said a gradual shift in mindset among Kashmiri youth was visible on ground saying that the earlier focus remained largely confined to government jobs within local areas. “Now youth are exploring opportunities beyond traditional boundaries and are increasingly willing to join private sector jobs,” he said. He further urged youth not to limit their aspirations and said they must contribute positively to nation-building. "India’s growing youth population will play a decisive role in making the country a leading global economy by 2050. Your decisions will determine the future of the country. Choose growth and progress over conflict,” he said. He further encouraged he participation in private sector employment saying the government jobs cannot accommodate everyone which paves the way for embracing diverse career opportunities. "Army has been organising such outreach programmes for the past five years and job fairs were conducted over the last two years. The initiative will continue in future to create sustained employment avenues for youth in the region," he said. Notably, employers participating in the event included Flipkart, Swiggy, Blinkit, LG, Ather, Amazon, Raymond, Phone Pe, Hotel Sarovar Portico, Hotel Khyber, Myntra, Honda, Bajaj and SBI Life. The event featured online interviews by ten companies along with physical interviews, followed by short-listing and selection of candidates. In addition, representatives of the District Employment and Counselling Centre provided career counselling on industry trends and skill-building through Mission Yuva scheme.
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.
Jammu, Mar 30: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday called for an immediate end to the ongoing West Asia conflict, stressing that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is uniquely positioned to facilitate peace. Talking to reporters outside the Assembly complex in Jammu, CM Omar said he had mentioned in the House, that we want the war to end as soon as possible. "The role that PM Modi can play, perhaps no one else can, because he has good relations with all these countries. Even knowing the challenges involved, a ceasefire should be declared and the conflict should be brought to an end here itself,” Omar said. He highlighted the complexities of international diplomacy, citing Iran, Israel and the United States. “Even after knowing that reckless steps could be taken, no one has ruled Iran effectively for many years. Ending this conflict won’t be simple,” CM Omar Abdullah said. "We want the war to end. If any country can help achieve that, let it be. And if India can play a better role, we should take it.” Referring to the BJP’s collaborations in Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, he said these alliances will ultimately decide outcomes, including in Pondicherry.
