Visits remote border village Baba-Gael in Uri; assures swift redressal of public grievances
KS News Desk
Baramulla, April 9: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa on Wednesday visited the remote border village of Baba-Gael in Uri Sub-division.
The DC was accompanied by SDM Uri, Shubhankar Pratyush Pathak and other concerned officers during the visit.
The visit was aimed at assessing on-ground developmental issues and engaging directly with the inhabitants living close to the border to understand and resolve any infrastructural and service delivery challenges faced by the local population.
During the visit, the locals put forth several pressing issues affecting their daily lives which included frequent wild animal attacks resulting in loss of life and property, the need for macadamization and upgradation of road infrastructure, construction of retaining walls in landslide-prone areas, and improvement in healthcare and education facilities.
The DC gave a patient hearing to all the concerns raised by the villagers and assured the public that the administration is committed to the development and welfare of border residents and that all genuine issues would be addressed in a time-bound manner.
The DC further issued directions to the concerned departments to conduct on-ground assessments for necessary action, especially in critical areas like road connectivity and prevention of landslides.
Earlier,DC visited the under-construction Water Supply Scheme at Shakot-Warikha being constructed under NABARD, with a capacity of 50,000 gallons.
The concerned Executive Engineer, Irfan Ahmad apprised the DC that 70 percent of the work has been completed and the scheme is expected to be completed by July 2025.
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.
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.
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
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.
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.
Urges minister Javed Rana to intervene, ensure swift resolution Srinagar, March 11: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone on Tuesday expressed deep concern over an ongoing protest by contractors of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department in Handwara, who have been demonstrating for two consecutive days over the non-release of long-pending dues dating to 2019. Lone described the situation as emblematic of a deeper administrative failure as the contractors claim that payments have remained withheld for over five years, driving many into acute financial distress. "These contractors have been suffering for years. Every new Executive Engineer arrives with a new narrative, but the reality on the ground remains unchanged," he said. PC President disclosed that during a departmental review meeting held some months ago, he had put forward a viable mechanism for settling the outstanding liabilities, a proposal that was initially accepted by the officers present. He expressed strong displeasure that the same understanding was subsequently reversed. "They backtracked later, leaving the contractors in the same uncertainty and distress," he said. Furthermore, he had also raised the matter in the Assembly to underscore its urgency and to press for justice for contractors who had executed government works in good faith. Appealing for swift intervention, Lone urged Jal Shakti Minister Javed Ahmed Rana to personally examine the matter and if necessary, convene a meeting between the concerned officers and the protesting contractors. "I would strongly recommend such an engagement so that a fair and immediate resolution can be reached," he concluded.
Sopore, Mar 3: Security has been tightened in North Kashmir with senior police and CRPF officers conducting a detailed review of the arrangements in Sopore, Bandipora and other areas of Baramulla district. DIG North Kashmir Zone Maqsood-ul-Zaman, along with DIG CRPF North Kashmir, visited various places to take stock of the ground situation. The officers were accompanied by senior functionaries of Police and CRPF. The visiting team inspected the existing security and law and order arrangements and issued necessary directions to the field formations to ensure peace and safety of the people. The DIG also appealed to the locals to maintain peace and extend full cooperation to the security agencies.
Srinagar, Feb 26: J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday urged graduates of the University of Kashmir (KU) to view education as a “powerful instrument of change” and contribute meaningfully to nation-building. Addressing the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir, the LG congratulated Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nilofar Khan, faculty members and students, describing the ceremony as a symbol of generational transformation and the people’s enduring faith in modern education. He highlighted women’s achievements and said that out of 249 gold medals, 186 were awarded to female students, while 108 of 164 PhDs also went to women. “When given opportunity, encouragement and freedom, girls don’t just participate — they lead and set new standards of excellence,” he said. The LG urged students to respect and carry forward Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage while remaining adaptable to rapid global change. Referring to Darwin’s principle of adaptability, he stressed the need to evolve with shifts in education, technology and society. Emphasising the growing role of artificial intelligence, LG Sinha said technology should be used as a tool, not as a substitute for human intelligence. “AI can accelerate research, mentoring and problem-solving. Design your own degree — learning is a lifelong process,” he said. He encouraged students to view failure as an essential part of learning, noting that setbacks often open new pathways and opportunities. Stressing the importance of ethics and moral values, the LG called for the responsible use of AI, free from bias and guided by decisions that serve society. LG Sinha also advocated breaking traditional academic silos, encouraging integration of disciplines such as engineering with humanities and biology with economics to develop holistic solutions to modern challenges. Curiosity, creativity and adaptability, he said, would define the leaders of the future. (KNO)