'Picnics crucial in NEP-2020 framework for promoting holistic student development but wellbeing of students a prime concern'
Muhammad Adnan
Srinagar, April 13:
The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for government and private recognised schools and coaching centres for planning picnics, outings and camps for the school children.
The instructions have been issued in wake of the tragic road accident of a Degree College bus in which students died while 25 were injured while travelling from Sogam to Pahalgam for picnic.
The SoPs have been issued following the advisory from Tourism Department, Kashmir and Traffic Police J&K.
"It has been felt imperative to issue Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Government and recognised private schools, and coaching centres in the interest of student's safety and wellbeing during such outings," the DSEK circular reads.
The schools have been asked to obtain consent from parents at least 10 days before the scheduled trip.
"High and Higher Secondary Schools should mandatorily get permission from the concerned Chief Education Officer (CEOs) while as Primary and Middle Schools from the concerned Zonal Education Officer," it reads.
The DSEK has stated that excursions and picnics were crucial as per the NEP-2020 framework for promoting holistic student development, experiential learning, and a more engaging educational experience.
"Picnics offer a break from the traditional classroom setting, encouraging social interaction, team building, and real-world learning opportunities but at the same time we need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the students which needs to be our prime concern during these pace setting exercises," read the circular instructions.
The Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) have been asked to grant permission to the schools which hire licensed transport operators approved by the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD).
"Parents should be informed about the purpose of the trip, timing, destination, and items to carry. The visiting spot should be selected on the basis of its educational implications to derive maximum benefit to the students and teachers about their learning teaching," it reads.
The schools have been asked to depute one active staff member, in advance to the proposed place to coordinate with the development authority and local administration under whom the proposed place falls.
"All the school staff should be given the full responsibility of the activities related to discipline and safety of students during the picnic. Senior staff members should not skip this outing but guide other staff members properly," the DSEK circular reads.
As per the SoPs, the schools have been asked not to leave before 8.00 am for picnic and should return their respective homes by 6 pm.
"Schools should ensure adequate supervision with a minimum ratio of 1 teacher per 15 students for escorting them. First aid kits must be carried on all trips, and at least one staff member should be trained in basic first aid," it reads.
The schools have been directed that emergency contact numbers and health information for all students must be available with staff.
"Educational institution shall cooperate with police and security agencies deployed for maintenance of law and order. Educational institution shall not allow the students to venture or play near the water bodies, restricted areas, forest areas or any such place which may prove dangerous or shall be conflicting with the wild animals," it reads.
The schools have been asked to hired authorised and licensed transport operators approved by Motor Vehicle Department and should possess all the requisite certificates.
"Vehicles must be in good condition with proper documentation, including registration, insurance and fitness certificates. The escort drivers must have valid driving license," it reads.
It reads that escort teachers must ensure that nobody should be allowed to encourage thrilling driving during the travel and the speed must be strictly maintained as per the prescribed limits and road condition.
"Students should wear proper uniform and no student should be allowed to travel without proper school uniform. Students are expected to follow the code of conduct and behave responsibly at all times," it reads.
The schools have been asked to check weather advisory before planning outdoor activities and make arrangements for drinking water, sun protection, and hygienic food.
"Avoid destinations with potential health risks or unsafe conditions. Long distance picnics and outings shall be avoided for middle school level," it reads.
The DSEK has stated that the cooperation of all school staff is essential in ensuring that school outings or picnics remain safe, enjoyable, and educational experiences for students.
"The SOPs, as mentioned above, shall be followed in letter and spirit," it reads.
'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.
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 8: The University of Kashmir (KU) has made the biometric attendance mandatory for the students of its affiliated colleges from Academic session 2026-27. The development comes in wake of the complaints about the thin attendance of the students in various private B.Ed colleges affiliated with the Kashmir University. A circular in this regard has been issued by the Assistant Registrar Dean Colleges Development Council (DCDC) of the University. "All the Chairpersons and Principals of private affiliated colleges of the University of Kashmir are hereby informed that biometric attendance for all the enrolled students and staff has been made mandatory from the year 2026-27," the KU circular reads. The Principals of all the affiliated colleges have been directed to install biometric attendance machines in their respective institutions on or before the commencement of the Academic year 2026-27 under intimation to the Dean College Development Council of the University. "The college shall also ensure proper upkeep, maintenance, and systematic preservation of all biometric attendance records for future reference and verification," it reads. The Colleges have been directed to comply with this directive "without fail." The move comes in wake of the inspections conducted last year by the DCDC of KU in various B.Ed colleges where most of the students were found absent. An official said that there were complaints about the poor attendance of the students in B.Ed colleges. "The students do not attend their B.Ed classes regularly which defeats the purpose of the course," the official said. Earlier, DCDC of KU earlier barred the B.Ed students to appear in teh semester exams for falling short of attendance. The decision was taken in wake of the surprise inspection conducted by Dean College Development Council (DCDC) in various B.Ed colleges of Kashmir in June-July month of 2025 and several students were found absent from the classes. Following this, the students were directed to attend supplementary classes to complete the recommended attendance for appearing in their exams. Also, the exam of these students was deferred by few months.
Baramulla, Jan 9: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla on Thursday said that the situation caused by the landslides on Ur-Baramulla was temporary and would be resolved once the excavation process of the road is completed. The statement comes amid the concerns over recurring landslides on the Uri–Baramulla road due to ongoing road widening project being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Talking to Kashmir Square, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa said that such issues are common during the construction of hill roads and should not be viewed as an unusual development. “There is no major issue. Whenever a hill road is constructed or widened, such problems are recurrent,” he said. He further said that the slopes usually take time to stabilise after excavation. "The excavation process affects the natural stability of the hillside and it generally takes one to two years for slopes to fully stabilise," he said. Minga Sherpa said several slope stabilisation measures are already in place to minimise risks. “Grouting has been done and protective walling has also been constructed at several points,” DC Baramulla told Kashmir Square. He further said that around 200 metres of excavation work is still pending on the stretch and the remaining cutting work is expected to be completed within a month. “Once the excavation is finished, the BRO and concerned agencies will carry out full-fledged slope stabilisation measures. After that, such incidents will not occur again,” he said. Over the past few weeks, the Uri–Baramulla road, a vital link connecting the border town of Uri with Baramulla district witnessed intermittent traffic disruptions due to landslides triggered by excavation work, raising safety concerns among commuters. The Baramulla–Uri National Highway remained closed on Thursday after another landslide struck the stretch - the third such incident reported in the last 20 days, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. A fresh landslide hit the highway on Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to immediately halt traffic movement on the route as a precautionary measure. It was the third such incident in just 20 days on the Baramulla–Uri National Highway, following two earlier slides that also triggered full traffic halts and diversions through alternate routes. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass, while all routine traffic was stopped to avoid any untoward incident. An official said the road clearance operations were launched soon after the incident, with personnel and machinery mobilised to remove debris and stabilise the affected area. "The highway was made motorable again from the evening hours," he said. The closure of the main Baramulla–Uri National Highway compelled authorities to divert vehicles through the dilapidated Khadniyar–Gantamulla road.
Srinagar, Jan 8: The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has pulled up the officers vested with the powers of Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) as their additional assignment, for indulging in administrative works, beyond their domain. As per the order issued by the Director School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Wani, the officers having additional DDO powers, have been reprimanded for going beyond their role of duties. "It has come to the notice of the DSEK that many officers of the department vested with DDOs powers are affecting transfers and doing administrative works having no authority to do so," the order reads. As per the order, all these DDOs holding charge in additional capacity have been asked to utilise the powers for the purpose of drawing and disbursing salary and other financial matters within the limits of the authority. "The officers shall not exercise any administrative powers particularly with respect to the transfer of staff," it reads. The DSEK has warned of disciplinary action in case of violation of the order by any officers. "Any deviation from the instant order shall be viewed seriously and invite disciplinary action," it reads.
Jammu, Jan 11: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha Sunday chaired the 9th meeting of Executive Council of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) Rajouri, at Lok Bhavan. The meeting was attended by Prof. Jawaid Iqbal Vice Chancellor BGSBU, Prof. Umesh Rai Vice Chancellor Jammu University, Prof. Nilofer Khan Vice-Chancellor University of Kashmir, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Ram Niwas Sharma Secretary Higher Education Department, Abhishek Sharma Deputy Commissioner Rajouri and Registrar BGSBU, Prof. Bechan Lal former Vice-Chancellor Cluster University of Jammu, Prof. O P Mishra, Dean (Research) & Professor of Pediatrics, Heritage Institute of Medical Sciences Varanasi, Prof. Aquil Ahmed, Department of Statistics & Operations Research, Aligarh Muslim University, Dr. Titi Xavier Dean School of Nursing and Biomedical Sciences, BGSBU and other members of Executive Council. The Executive Council discussed several important academic and administrative issues and gave in-principle approval to various agenda points presented during the meeting. The Lieutenant Governor directed the University to take a comprehensive review of university’s existing curriculum, envisioning a strategic transformation that positions Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University as a centre of excellence. The Lieutenant Governor asked the Executive Council to focus on educating tomorrow and create learning spaces in the university for the next generation. He called for renewed commitment to skill-centric education and institutional accountability. He directed the University to focus on curriculum development and attractive courses of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and emerging digital technologies aligned with the evolving needs and career aspirations of the students. “By shaping minds, we can shape the brighter future of India. The future of nation begins in the University campus, so we must reimagine education for the brighter tomorrow, design curriculum which inspires innovation and cutting-edge research,” the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the University must identify and provide innovative solutions to the localized problems of tribal areas and ensure opportunities to tribal students. He also highlighted the need to increase student enrolment and modernizing operations through the complete implementation of the e-office system. The Lieutenant Governor issued directions for holding the convocation, and conducting the University’s Executive Council meetings after every six months. He also directed the University to facilitate active student engagement in flagship awareness programs of the Government of India and the UT administration. The meeting also discussed important matters pertaining to admissions, recruitment, introduction of new Academic Programmes, faculty career advancement, infrastructure development including all Nursing Colleges and other reforms to bring further qualitative improvement in the overall functioning of the University. Prof. Jawaid Iqbal, Vice Chancellor, BGSBU presented various Agenda items before the Executive Council for approval and ratification. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor laid the e-foundation stone for various infrastructure projects in Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University including Girls Hostel for Nursing students (G+1), new main Gate and Indoor Games Complex under PM-USHA (Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan), and Rooftop Solar Power Plant (1 MW).
Srinagar, Jan 9: The University of Kashmir (KU) on Friday announced winter vacations for its main and satellite campuses from January 10 to February 22 of 2026. Registrar Kashmir University Prof Naseer Iqbal confirmed about the development. "The university shall observe winter vacations from January 10 to February 22, 2026,” Registrar KU said. Notably, the varsity administration earlier announced vacation for students stating that the winter vacation for faculty will be announced within days. The winter vacations were delayed for the faculty of the University in view of the Convocation scheduled in January, as earlier notified by the varsity administration. The University administration in a notification issued earlier had said the 21st Convocation of the University will be held in the last week of December 2025. However, a KU official said that the dates were not finalised as the varsity could not receive the confirmation about the Chief Guest for the occasion. Meanwhile, Registrar KU said that as and when the varsity will receive the confirmation about the chief guest and the final dates, the event will be held accordingly. "Vacations will not be any hurdle in it," he said.
Srinagar Jan 8: The Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir on Thursday said that the designation of Persian department as Gyan Bharatam for Cluster Centre for manuscript preservation will strengthen KU's role as key contributor to national cultural, research priorities. The statement comes in the wake of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, designating KU’s Persian Department as a Gyan Bharatam Cluster Centre for J&K for a five-year term. The selection has been done in recognition of the Department’s sustained academic performance and expertise in manuscript studies. Prof. Nilofer Khan welcomed the recognition and said the designation of the Department of Persian as a Gyan Bharatam Cluster Centre reflects the University’s long-standing commitment to safeguarding the nation's manuscript heritage. "This initiative will help preserve invaluable intellectual traditions for future generations through systematic and scientific methods," she said. She added that the project would strengthen varsity’s role as a key contributor to national cultural and research priorities. The Department will undertake large-scale projects related to the identification, cataloguing, preservation, conservation, digitisation, and research of manuscripts across Jammu and Kashmir. The initiative will cover valuable manuscripts housed in government, semi-government, public and private repositories, as well as temples, khanqahs, gurdwaras, trusts, and personal collections. Jammu and Kashmir is home to nearly 70,000 to 90,000 manuscripts, many of which suffered extensive damage during the 2014 floods, resulting in the loss of a significant portion of the region’s documentary heritage. The project will be implemented in line with the guidelines of the Gyan Bharatam programme, Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, and will include the establishment of sub-centres in Jammu and other parts of the Valley to ensure wider outreach and access. The Department of Persian KU already hosts a Manuscripts Resource Centre (MRC) under the National Mission for Manuscripts and has successfully completed several major projects supported by UGC, ICHR, ICSSR, and the Ministry of Culture. The initiative is expected to play a key role in restoring, documenting, and researching rare manuscripts and Indian literary heritage in Jammu and Kashmir over the next five years. The initiative will be implemented under a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier between Gyan Bharatam, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Department of Persian, University of Kashmir, for a period of five years.
