New Delhi, Feb 11: The government is planning to use Artificial Intelligence to identify 'mule' accounts where cyber fraudsters park swindled funds, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said.
Chairing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs on the topic of 'Cyber Security and Cyber Crime' on Monday, Shah also said that for national security reasons, 805 apps and 3,266 website links have been blocked based on the recommendations of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), the government's cybercrime monitoring and detection wing.
Additionally, he said, 399 banks and financial intermediaries have come on board, over six lakh suspicious data points have been shared, more than 19 lakh mule accounts have been caught, and suspicious transactions worth Rs 2,038 crore have been prevented.
Shah said efforts are underway to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for identifying mule accounts, in coordination with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and all banks to establish a system for their detection, an official statement said.
The home minister said the government will ensure the closure of mule accounts before they even become operational.
A mule account is a bank account used by criminals to move stolen money.
He said a total of 1,43,000 FIRs have been registered on the I4C portal which has been used by more than 19 crore people.
In light of financial cyber fraud, the '1930' helpline provides a one-point solution offering various services, such as blocking cards, Shah said.
He said the government has also ensured that people are made aware of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra 'STOP-THINK-TAKE ACTION' to make them more vigilant against cybercrime.
In recent years, there has been an expansion of digital infrastructure in India, which has naturally led to an increase in the number of cyber attacks, the home minister said.
He said that when cyberspace is looked at from a different perspective, it forms a complex network of 'software', 'services', and 'users'.
"Until we consider controlling cyber fraud through software, services, and users, it will be impossible to resolve the issues of cyberspace," he said.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken several significant steps towards making India a cyber-safe nation, Shah said.
He added that cybercrime has erased all geographical boundaries and called it a 'borderless' and 'formless' crime, as it has no limits or fixed form.
"India has witnessed a 'digital revolution' in the last decade and without understanding the size and scale of this digital revolution, we cannot face the challenges in the cyber domain," Amit Shah said.
Today, 95 per cent villages in the country are digitally connected, while one lakh gram panchayats are equipped with Wi-Fi hotspots, he said.
In the past 10 years, the number of internet users has increased by 4.5 times and in 2024, a total of 246 trillion transactions worth Rs 17.221 lakh crore were made through UPI.
In 2024, 48 per cent of global digital transactions took place in India, and in terms of the startup ecosystem, India has become the third-largest country in the world, Shah said.
In 2023, he said, the contribution of the digital economy to the gross domestic product (GDP) was around Rs 32 lakh crore, which is 12 per cent, while nearly 15 million jobs were created in this period.
Shah also said that today India has become the third-largest country in the world in terms of digital landscape, and the digital economy contributes 20 per cent to the total economy of the country.
"The Ministry of Home Affairs' goal is to ensure zero cybercrime cases," he said.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmirâs 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). âAbout a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,â 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.âIf we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,â he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeebâs research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. âIn this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,â he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. âIt is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,â 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,â 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. âMy parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,â he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. âJust as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.â âYoung people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,â 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 â 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 studentsâ56423 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. 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.
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. âSuch 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. âEvery 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,â 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 countryâs most competitive examinations and play a vital role in shaping the future of the nation.
New Delhi, Mar 10: The oil ministry has constituted a committee to examine supply issues after a sudden shortage of commercial LPG cylinders alarmed the hospitality sector, with restaurant associations warning that eateries could shut down within days if supplies are not restored. As the widening conflict in the Middle East disrupted fuel lifelines, including India's LPG supplies, the government has prioritised domestic cooking gas supplies to households. This has led to supply crunch for hotels and restaurants which use market priced commercial LPG. "For LPG supply to other non-domestic sectors, a committee of three Executive Directors (EDs) of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been constituted to review the representations for LPG supply to restaurants/hotels/other industries," the ministry said in a post on X. India consumed some 31.3 million tonnes of LPG annually. As much as 87 per cent of this is in the domestic sector i.e. household kitchens, and the rest in commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants. Of this total requirement, as much as 62 per cent is met through imports. The US and Israel attack on Iran and Tehran's retaliation has shut the Strait of Hormuz - the conduit through which India got 85-90 per cent of its LPG imports from countries like Saudi Arabia. As alternate sources are being scouted, the limited supplies available meant the government prioritising supplies to the domestic sector, and in process the commercial establishments have suffered. Industry sources say the disruption has already begun affecting operations in Mumbai and Bengaluru, as hotels and restaurants struggle to secure cooking gas. Vijay Shetty, president of the India Hotels and Restaurant Association, said the shortage is spreading rapidly and could soon paralyse the sector. While maintaining that the country has adequate fuel stocks, the ministry in recent days directed refineries to maximise LPG output by curtailing petrochemical streams and extended the LPG refill booking cycle to 25 days from 21 days. "In light of current geopolitical disruptions to fuel supply and constraints on supply of LPG, the ministry has issued orders to oil refineries for higher LPG production and using such extra production for domestic LPG use," the ministry said in the post on X. "The ministry has prioritised domestic LPG supply to households and introduced a 25 day inter-booking period to avoid hoarding/black marketing." Non domestic supplies from imported LPG are being prioritised to essential non domestic sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions, it said. (PTI)
New Delhi, Feb 11: Member of Parliament used his intervention during the Union Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha to forcefully reiterate the demand for the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A, asserting that the constitutional guarantees taken away from Jammu and Kashmir must be returned. Speaking in the House, Engineer Rashid said he had already submitted his legal demands to the Finance Minister and expressed hope that they would be duly examined. He said his core concern, however, remains the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Baramulla MP Er Rashid said political parties may fight based on their respective ideologies, but his struggle for Jammu and Kashmirâs rights would continue âeven if it takes a hundred yearsâ. He categorically told the House that Article 370 and Article 35A cannot be wished away and must be restored. âYou will have to return Article 370 â and you will have to return it with interest,â he said, underlining the political and emotional damage caused by its abrogation. âYou have committed numerous atrocities against Kashmiris; even if you carpet the streets of Kashmir with gold, you will still have to return Article 370.â He said the constitutional rights of Kashmiris cannot be bought, compensated or silenced through economic packages or political narratives. Er Rashid challenged the narrative surrounding the abrogation and called for a referendum in Jammu and Kashmir to ascertain the will of the people. He said Kashmiris should be asked directly whether they favour the restoration of Article 370 and 35A or support their abrogation, instead of decisions being imposed without consent.
New Delhi, Jan 28: The Budget Session of Parliament will begin on Wednesday with the address of President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both Houses. According to reports, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to table the Budget on February 1, which falls on a Sunday -- a rare occurrence that would require special arrangements. The Economic Survey, providing a comprehensive review of the economy, is anticipated to be laid before Parliament on January 29. Earlier this month, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on X: "On the recommendation of the Govt of India, Honâble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji has approved the summoning of both the Houses of Parliament for the Budget Session 2026. The Session will commence on 28 January 2026 and continue till 2 April 2026. The first phase concludes on 13 February 2026, with Parliament reassembling on 9 March 2026, a vital step towards meaningful debate and people-centric governance." The announcement sets the stage for one of the most important parliamentary events of the year, during which the Union Budget for the financial year 2026-27 is expected to be presented. Rijiju's post stressed the government's commitment to transparent and effective legislative processes. The two-phase format allows for initial discussions on the Budget and other key matters, followed by detailed scrutiny in standing committees during the recess, before final deliberations and passage of financial bills. This session comes at a crucial time as the government focuses on economic growth, fiscal consolidation, and addressing emerging challenges in sectors like infrastructure, employment, and sustainability. Parliamentarians from across political parties are expected to engage in intensive deliberations on taxation, public expenditure, and policy reforms. The entire session will consist of 30 sittings of Parliament. (IANS)
