Inaugurates 5-day training programme on inclusive education at SCERT Jammu
Jammu, March 02: JKSCERT divisional office Jammu in collaboration with DIET Jammu kick started a five-day training programme on inclusive education under NISHTHA for in-service teachers, masters and lecturers from Jammu district (Phase II).
The event has been organised to strengthen the inclusive education in Jammu and Kashmir.
The training is being held from March 2 to March 6, 2025, at Government Polytechnic College Jammu.
The sessions aim to equip the educators with knowledge, innovative strategies and best practices necessary to foster an inclusive learning environment in schools.
The programme commenced with an inaugural ceremony attended by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Education Department Shantmanu, who was the chief guest at the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Shantmanu emphasised the transformative role of inclusive education in ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or abilities, receives equal learning opportunities.
He also impressed upon the fact that the teachers are the multi tasker who need to continuously enhance their knowledge and skills, and trainings are essential components for their knowledge and upliftment.
On the occasion, the ACS also released Design of Training (DoT).
Joint Director SCERT Jammu division Dr. Sindhu Kapoor presented a detailed report about 14 trainings recently conducted in series by JKSCERT divisional Office Jammu in collaboration with all DIETs of Jammu division in their respective districts on Inclusive Education under NISHTHA.
HoD DIET Jammu Dr. Romesh Kumar threw light on the concept and need of inclusive education, emphasizing its importance in fostering an equitable learning environment.
Programme Coordinator Dr. Sanjeevani Sharma presented the keynote address while Principal MC Khalsa College of Education Dr. Madhu Singh highlighted the ways and means by which the special needs of individuals can be effectively addressed.
With 272 educators participating, the training programme featured a series of insightful sessions led by distinguished resource persons covering various aspects of inclusive education.
One such impactful session was delivered by Dr. Rohnika Sharma, Director, Composite Regional Centre (CRC) for Skill Training, Jammu, on the topic Education for Children with Special Needs (CWSN), providing a comprehensive overview of inclusive teaching methodologies, policies and assistive strategies to ensure equal access to quality education.
The five day programme is poised to empower educators with specialised skills and tools to create barrier-free learning spaces in alignment with NEP 2020 and the vision of JKSCERT Jammu Division.
The proceedings of programme were conducted by Shamim Nazki. The inaugural session concluded with vote of thanks by Anjali Gupta, Principal, DIET Jammu.
New Delhi, May 12: A massive protest organised by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) broke out near the Shastri Bhawan on Tuesday, against the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG this year. The exam was held on May 3, following which allegations of paper leak surfaced, triggering investigations by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and central agencies. Earlier, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, and said the examination will be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately. In a statement, the NTA said the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system.
Srinagar, Feb 12: Jammu and Kashmir recorded over 15.48 lakh traffic violation cases in 2025, with authorities collecting more than Rs 34.17 crore as penalty under the Motor Vehicles Act, the Centre informed Parliament on Thursday. The information was shared in the Lok Sabha in response to a question raised by MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal. According to the official data, 15,48,525 challans were issued across the Union Territory in 2025, while the penalty amount recovered stood at Rs 34,17,36,740. The figures further show that in 2024, a total of 15,44,105 violations were registered with a penalty collection of around Rs 43.40 crore, while in 2023, 12,38,584 challans were issued and Rs 34.56 crore was collected. For the current year, till February 8, 2026, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 1,63,531 traffic violation cases, with revenue collection of about Rs 2.11 crore. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 are aimed at ensuring better compliance and deterrence. It also said that traffic enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of States and Union Territories. The government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for electronic monitoring and is promoting technology-driven enforcement through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras integrated with the VAHAN database. Awareness campaigns under the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan are also being carried out to improve road safety.
New Delhi, Jan 25: The Dental Council of India (DCI) has directed all universities and dental colleges across the country to strictly ensure a minimum of 80 percent biometric attendance for Post Graduate students before allowing them to appear in examinations. The decision has been taken to curb absenteeism among postgraduate dental students. According to a circular issued by the Dental Council of India-a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the decision has been taken after multiple complaints were received from dental colleges in Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh regarding non-attendance of PG students. "The matter was examined by the Grievance Sub-Committee of the DCI in its meeting held on November 24, 2025," the circular reads. It reads that after detailed discussion and deliberation, the committee recommended that all universities and dental colleges must ensure compliance with Regulation 18(a)(i) of the DCI Master of Dental Surgery Course Regulations, 2017, which mandates at least 80 per cent attendance. "The recommendation of the Grievance Sub-Committee has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Dental Council of India through circulation and has now been formally communicated for information and necessary action," the circular reads. As per the circular, all the universities and dental colleges have been directed to ensure minimum 80 per cent biometric attendance of all PG students before permitting them to appear in examinations. The order, issued by Deputy Secretary Dental Council of India Mukesh Kumar, is expected to be implemented with immediate effect across the country.
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. âHundreds 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,â said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the facultyâs demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. âWe are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,â 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. âThe 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,â 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 âequal work, equal payâ gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. âPromises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,â 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. âThis issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,â he said.
Srinagar, March 6: Around 17 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir have qualified the Civil Services Examination (CSE)-2025, the result for which was declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday. The commission recommended a total of 958 candidates for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and various central services. Anuj Agnihotri, an MBBS graduate, has topped the civil services examination 2025, while Rajeshwari Suve M and Akansh Dhull have got the second and third ranks respectively. According to the official list released by the UPSC the 17 candidates from J&K who have figured in the final merit list include Suvan Sharma (Rank 148), Sugandha Gupta (207), Towseef Ganie (Rank 254), Ritika (Rank 456), Sooyash Shivam (Rank 572), Muneeb Parrah (Rank 581), Ghulam Din (Rank 683), Dwarka Gaadhi (Rank 721), Akash (Rank 747), Koh E Safa (Rank 763), Yasaar (Rank 811), Abhishek (Rank 820), Pankaj (Rank 856), Mohammad Ajaz (Rank 869), Azhar (Rank 886), Sarfraz (Rank 936), and Irfan (Rank 957). The results were declared after conducting the written examination in August 2025 followed by the personality tests (interviews) conducted between December 2025 and February 2026. As per the result notification issue by the UPSC, a total of 958 candidates have been recommended for appointment against 1087 vacancies reported by the government for the examination cycle. These include 180 vacancies in the IAS, 55 in the IFS, 150 in the IPS, 507 in Central Services Group A and 195 in Group B services. Of the total recommended candidates, 317 are from the general category, 104 from the economically weaker sections, 306 from other backward classes, 158 from scheduled castes and 73 from scheduled tribes. A consolidated reserve list of 258 candidates has also been published in accordance with the rules. The claims of recommended candidates regarding reservation categories will be subject to verification by the concerned authorities. The UPSC has stated that the candidature of 348 recommended candidates has been kept provisional, while the result of the two candidates has been kept withheld. The CSE is conducted annually in three stages- preliminary, Mains and interview by the UPSC to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. The civil services (preliminary) examination 2025 was conducted on May 25 of 2025. A total of 937876 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 5,76,793 actually appeared in the test. A total of 14,161 candidates qualified for appearance in the written (Main) examination which was held in August, 2025. Of these, 2736 candidates had qualified for the personality test (interview) of the examination. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the candidates who qualified the UPSC exam. "Congratulations to all those who have successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination, 2025. Their dedication, perseverance and hard work have led to this significant milestone. Wishing them the very best as they embark on a journey of serving the nation and fulfilling the aspirations of the people," PM Modi wrote on his official X handle. "To those who may not have secured the desired outcome in the Civil Services Examination, I understand that such moments can be difficult. However, this is only one step in a larger journey. Many opportunities lie ahead, both in future examinations and in the many avenues through which you can contribute to our nation. My best wishes for the road ahead," his post on X reads. UPSC chairman Ajay Kumar announced the declaration of the result and congratulated the candidates who qualified the exam. "Congrats to all successful candidates as you begin a career of service to the nation. For those who did not make it-the learning from this journey will guide you in the paths ahead," UPSC Chairman wrote in a post on X. Among the 17 candidates from J&K who qualified UPSC exam inlcude a visually impaired candidate Irfan Ahmad Lone, a resident of Manzpora in the Naidkhai area of Bandipora.
Jammu, Oct 12: The Prime Ministerâs Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) has registered a significant progress during the current academic session 2026â27, with 4715 scholarships allotted against the annual target of 5000, thereby achieving 94.3 per cent of the overall target so far. PMSSS provides students of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh through AICTE counselling process, an opportunity to pursue undergraduate studies in institutions outside these Union Territories, with financial support towards academic fees and maintenance expenses. The scheme aims to improve access to quality higher education, enhance skills and expand employment opportunities for youth. During the current Academic Session 2026â27, 1894 scholarships have been allotted under General Degree Courses against 2070, and 2741 scholarships under Professional Courses against 2830, and 80 scholarships under Medical/BDS courses against the target of 100. The current achievement is significantly higher than the full- year figures recorded during the previous three academic sessions. PMSSS had recorded 3627 beneficiaries in 2023â24, 3674 in 2024â25 and 3585 in 2025â26. The current-year allotment is already 1130 higher than the 2025â26 figure, registering an increase of around 31.5 per cent. The Higher Education Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, has been facilitating and coordinating the implementation of PMSSS in the UT, including timely commencement of registration and counselling, besides facilitating through Facilitation Centres and Facilitation-cum-Document Verification Centres for students. The Department also plays an important role in the verification and review mechanism under the scheme through the UT-level Review Committee headed by the Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education Department, with the Director Colleges, J&K as its Member Secretary. The accelerated progress during the current academic session reflects coordinated efforts of the Higher Education Department, concerned authorities and field-level facilitation mechanisms to ensure that eligible students are able to avail the benefits of PMSSS. With 4715 of the 5000 scholarships already allotted, the scheme is expected to further strengthen access to quality higher education and expand educational opportunities for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir.
Srinagar, Oct 9: In a significant achievement reflecting its growing research excellence, 20 scientists from the University of Kashmir (KU) have featured in the prestigious Stanford University Rankings 2026, marking a notable milestone for the University. KUâs representation is among the highest and the largest among universities in the J&K UT underscoring its growing contribution to global research. The list also features women faculty members and researchers highlighting the Universityâs expanding research participation. The KU scientists featuring in the 2026 list include Dr Adil Gani, Prof Imtiaz Ahmad, Dr. Idrees Ahmad Wani, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Masoodi, Dr Faheem Arjamend Sheikh, Dr. Mudasir Ahmad, Dr Shabir Ahmad Parah, Dr Abdul Mueed Hafiz, Prof. Ghulam Jeelani, Dr. Basharat Ahmad Bhat, Prof Aijaz Ahmad , Dr Firdous Ahmad Shah, Dr. Arshid Bashir, Dr. Reyaz Hassan Mir, Dr. Farooq Ahmad Khanday, Dr. Akhtar Alam, Dr. Aaliya Qureashi, Dr. Shazia Shafi Sofi and Dr. Nusrat Jan. The Universityâs representation has grown from 14 researchers in 2024 and 2025 to 20 in 2026. The increase reflects the expanding impact of research at the University across disciplines. The continued presence of KU researchers in the list over successive years also reflects the steadiness and consistency of their scholarly contributions and their growing visibility in the global research community. Congratulating the researchers, Vice-Chancellor, KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, said the recognition was a matter of pride for the University and reflected the dedication of its faculty towards impactful research. âThis recognition reflects our researchersâ commitment to advancing knowledge and contributing to the global scientific community. The inclusion of our scientists, particularly women faculty members, is encouraging and will inspire young researchers to pursue excellence and innovation,â she said. Dean Academic Affairs, KU, Prof. Shariefuddin Pirzada, said the achievement reflected the quality of scholarship at the University and would motivate students and early-career researchers to pursue meaningful, internationally recognised research. Dean Research, KU, Prof. Bashir Ganaie, said the Universityâs representation in the global list shows its sustained research activity across disciplines and the importance of strengthening a vibrant research culture. Registrar, KU, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, described the recognition as both an honour and a responsibility, noting that the continued presence of KU scientists in global rankings reaffirmed the Universityâs standing as a centre of academic and research excellence in the region. The rankings draw on standardised citation indicators, including citations, h-index, co-authorship and other measures of research impact, to assess scientistsâ contributions. KUâs representation across diverse research areas reflects its continued efforts to strengthen research, foster collaboration and encourage scholarly contributions with global relevance.
Srinagar, Sep 20: The 5th edition of the Green Valley Model United Nations (GVMUN) concluded at Green Valley Educational Institute (GVEI) after three days of intensive debate, diplomatic deliberations and discussions on pressing global issues. More than 200 delegates from schools across the Valley participated in the three-day event. The conference was jointly inaugurated by advisor to J&K CM Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar. The valedictory ceremony was attended by social activist Roma Wani as the chief guest and was accompanied by Chairman GVEI, Mohammad Yousuf Wani, Director GVEI Prof. (Dr) Fayaz Ahmad Nika, Principal GVEI, Reyaz Ahmad Kathjoo, faculty members, delegates, staff and students. The three-day conference featured six committees, with delegates taking on the roles of diplomats, policymakers and international representatives to deliberate on complex issues including the Gulf Crisis, international shipping and energy security, and global drug policies. The conference showcased not only public speaking and debating skills but also the ability to develop well-researched policy implications and practical diplomatic solutions, with award-winning papers reflecting diverse approaches to some of the most challenging international questions. Discussions on global drug policies moved beyond conventional debates on prohibition and enforcement, with one position paper advocating a dual-pillar approach combining universal public health, harm reduction and treatment with targeted intervention against transnational criminal networks. The other committees namely Historical Crisis Committee, UNWC, UNSC witnessed thought provoking debates. The Director GVEI Prof. (Dr) Fayaz Ahmad Nikka welcomed the guests and talked about the efforts of this institution in providing the best possible education to its students. The Chief Guest, Roma Wani personally visited the various houses during the last session and interacted with the delegates. She enquired from the delegates about how their interactions and debates can bring changes in the real world. "It is important to take some life lessons from these debates and discussions," she said. While addressing the delegates she said such conferences are very important in nurturing our future generation. "I appreciate the intellect, energy and grit of our students. Our future seems to be in secure hands.â She added. She further said that youth has a greater responsibility to discuss, debate and help in creating a drug free society. The highlight of the valedictory ceremony was the felicitation and prize distribution, where outstanding delegates were recognized for their performance across the various committees, with awards acknowledging excellence in research, diplomacy, articulation, negotiation and committee participation. The vote of thanks was proposed by the Principal GVEI Riyaz Ahmad Kathjoo who expressed gratitude to the chief guest, delegates, other dignitaries and also acknowledged the efforts of the GVMUN Core Team, Executive Board, organising committee, faculty coordinators and participating schools, whose collective efforts contributed to the successful conduct of the conference. The students also presented some cultural performances during the event.
