KS News Desk
Kupwara, April 14: In a powerful example of inclusive development and national service, Simari, a border village in Karnah Valley, Jammu and Kashmir, was on Monday fully electrified and LPG-enabled through a joint initiative of the Indian Armys Vajr Division and Aseem Foundation, under the aegis of Chinar Corps.
Situated along the Line of Control, with one half of the village across in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Simari holds deep strategic and democratic importance as Polling Booth number one of India.
Until now, the villagers struggled with limited power and primitive cooking facilities. This project has transformed 53 households with solar microgrids and clean cooking LPG kits, significantly improving the quality of life.
The initiative is dedicated in the memory of Col SantoshMahadik, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal, who laid down his life in service of the Nation.
In a solemn tribute, Col Mahadiks mother, KalindaMahadik, Commander Tangdhar Brigade and SarangGosavi, Founder and MD of Aseem foundation jointly inaugurated the solar electrification system in Simari.
The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of large border population including women, children, local elders, along with media representatives and civil dignitaries.
The emotionally charged gathering reflected a deep sense of pride, gratitude, and unity, as light brought happiness to homes and a soldiers legacy was honoured at the Nation's edge.
This initiative is a testament to the Indian Armys steadfast commitment to border area development, in alignment with the Government of Indias Vibrant Villages Programme.
It reinforces the Armys role not just as defenders of the nation, but as partners in progress-bringing light, dignity, and opportunity to even the remotest frontiers of India.
Chinar Corps in cooperation with theAseem Foundation, through its sustained efforts in rural electrification, clean energy adoption, and community development, has been playing a vital role in empowering border communities across Jammu and Kashmir.
"Its partnership in this project reflects a deep commitment to Nation-building through innovation, inclusion and local engagement," the official handout reads.
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.
Seek maximum coverage of target groups for inclusive growth Udhampur, March 10: The Deputy Commissioners of Udhampur and Samba districts on Tuesday chaired two separate meetings of District Consultative Committee (DCC) and District Level Review Committee (DLRC) attended by bankers and departmental heads. In Udhampur, the Lead District Manager briefed the DC Udhampur Minga Sherpa about the overall performance and achievements of the banks across different sectors. Detailed discussions were held on several important issues, including sector-wise achievements in lending to priority and non-priority sectors, credit disbursement under government-sponsored schemes, position of Kisan Credit Cards, extension of KCC, status of PM Mudra loan, financial literacy programme, functioning of financial literacy counseling centre, Prime Ministers Fasal Bima Yojana, setting up of new campus of RSETI, implementation of the Financial Inclusion Plan, Stand-Up India Programme and the number of financial literacy programmes conducted by rural bank branches during the quarter. The submission of data by banks and other related matters were also reviewed in detail. The DC directed the bankers to enhance outreach activities and ensure that target groups are effectively covered under all financial schemes. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and mission-oriented efforts to accelerate progress and achieve tangible results on the ground. Emphasizing the need for better coordination between banks and government departments, the DC called for a joint approach to achieve the fixed targets for the welfare of the rural population. He exhorted the bank officers and line departments to set realistic targets based on the needs and potential of their respective areas to ensure optimum results within the stipulated time-frame. Meanwhile, a meeting of the DLRC/DCC for the quarter ended December 2025 was held at DC Office Samba to review the performance of banks in deposits, advances, CD ratio and achievement under the Annual Credit Plan for FY 2025â26. The meeting also reviewed the progress under the Government-sponsored and social security schemes and was chaired by District Development Commissioner Ayushi Sudan and convened by Lead District Manager (LDM) Samba Subash Chander. The DDC took an extensive review of Government-sponsored schemes with special focus on PMEGP, JKREGP, KCC, HADP, PMAY, NRLM and NULM. She impressed upon the banks to achieve 100% digitization of bank accounts. She advised all sponsoring agencies and banks to spread awareness among the people about various self-employment schemes launched by the Government and motivate them to avail the benefits of these schemes for generating self-employment opportunities in the district. She also directed the banks to clear the pending cases sponsored by different Government departments/agencies at the earliest and to give a boost to lending, particularly under Agriculture and Allied Activities, MSME, Housing and Education sectors, to achieve a healthy CD ratio. She further directed the banks to cover all eligible persons under social security schemes viz. PMSBY, PMJJBY and APY. The meeting was also attended by LDO RBI, DDM NABARD, Chief Agriculture Officer, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, District Sheep Husbandry Officer, AD Fisheries, District Coordinators of J&K Bank, SBI, PNB, JKGB, representatives from other banks and officials of sponsoring Government departments/agencies. Earlier, the LDM informed the house that banks operating in Samba district have recorded deposits of Rs 9058.05 crore and advances of Rs 5171.25 crore as on Dec 31, 2025. The CD Ratio of the District was 57.09%. The achievement of banks in the District under the Annual Credit Plan 2025â26 stood at Rs 2698.13 crore against the annual target of Rs 2580.44 crore as on Dec 31, 2025. Under the Priority Sector, the achievement by banks stood at Rs 1490.00 crore against the annual target of Rs 2032.41 crore, , while under the Non-Priority Sector the achievement was Rs 1208.13 crore against the annual target of Rs 548.03 crore.
Jammu, March 8: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday interacted with the youth from Ladakh visiting Jammu as part of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishadâs (ABVP) "Studentsâ Experience in Regional Understanding (SERU) â Rashtriya Ekatmata Yatra 2026â, at Lok Bhavan, Jammu. During the interaction, the Lieutenant Governor welcomed the youth and encouraged them to learn from diverse cultures and experiences and contribute positively to society. He said that programmes like SERU are instrumental in strengthening the spirit of national unity and fostering mutual understanding among youth from different parts of the country. The youth also shared the experience and exposure they gained during the SERU programme. A group of 30 students representing diverse regions of Ladakhâincluding Nubra, Kargil, Leh, Lamayuru, Shang, Nyoma, and Zanskarâis participating in the National Integration Tour. Organized by ABVP in collaboration with the Vidhyarthi Ceva Educational Trust and SEIL, the tour provides youth with educational and cultural exposure across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
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.