Srinagar, Oct 10: The much-awaited expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet is likely to take place next week, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expected to return from the national capital to hold consultations with National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah, top party sources said on Saturday.
The sources in the NC’s top leadership said that no decision has been taken yet on the expansion and the consultations will follow only after a final call is made.
The Chief Minister is scheduled to return to the Valley. He will hold talks with the party president only after a decision is taken on the expansion, a senior NC source told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS).
The source indicated that an announcement regarding the reshaped cabinet could come as early as next week.
Dismissing speculation surrounding possible inductees, the sources said the names doing the rounds are mere rumours and no decision has been reached on who would be given a ministerial berth or whether any changes would be made in the existing leadership.
"Nothing has been decided yet — neither on the number of new ministers nor on any changes in the present setup. Whatever is being spread about certain names is pure speculation," the source added.
The cabinet expansion has been widely anticipated, with intense speculation over the induction of new faces and a possible rejig in the council of ministers.
Under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, the Council of Ministers cannot exceed one-tenth of the 90-member Assembly’s strength — capping it at nine.
The present Council has six members — CM Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and ministers Sakeena Masood (Itoo), Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma leaving three vacancies. (KNS)
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. “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.
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.
Srinagar, Oct 10: The much-awaited expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet is likely to take place next week, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expected to return from the national capital to hold consultations with National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah, top party sources said on Saturday. The sources in the NC’s top leadership said that no decision has been taken yet on the expansion and the consultations will follow only after a final call is made. The Chief Minister is scheduled to return to the Valley. He will hold talks with the party president only after a decision is taken on the expansion, a senior NC source told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS). The source indicated that an announcement regarding the reshaped cabinet could come as early as next week. Dismissing speculation surrounding possible inductees, the sources said the names doing the rounds are mere rumours and no decision has been reached on who would be given a ministerial berth or whether any changes would be made in the existing leadership. "Nothing has been decided yet — neither on the number of new ministers nor on any changes in the present setup. Whatever is being spread about certain names is pure speculation," the source added. The cabinet expansion has been widely anticipated, with intense speculation over the induction of new faces and a possible rejig in the council of ministers. Under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, the Council of Ministers cannot exceed one-tenth of the 90-member Assembly’s strength — capping it at nine. The present Council has six members — CM Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and ministers Sakeena Masood (Itoo), Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma leaving three vacancies. (KNS)
Srinagar, June 28: Apni Party president Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari on Sunday accused the ruling National Conference (NC) of maintaining a "behind-the-scenes" understanding with the BJP and said the people of Jammu and Kashmir would not accept any covert political arrangement. In an interview with KNS, Altaf Bukhari said his party had been subjected to a propaganda campaign during the 2024 Assembly elections, with rivals portraying the Apni Party as the BJP's "B-team". "For the last six years, a narrative was built that we were the face of the Government of India or the BJP's B-team. That propaganda was spread against us," he said. Referring to the NC's recent political outreach, Bukhari said his party was not consulted before the programme was announced. "If they had discussed it with us, perhaps we would have participated. But they announced it as an NC programme without any consultation," he said. The Apni Party chief also questioned the NC's political stand, alleging that the party periodically raises issues such as plebiscite but does not pursue them consistently. Altaf Bukhari rejected allegations made by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti that he was close to the BJP leadership. "I have never been to Nagpur, nor am I close to Nagpur. By the grace of Allah, we have the courage to speak the truth," he said. He also criticised the PDP's 2014 alliance with the BJP, calling the decision "wrong". "People were played with. That decision was wrong then, and it remains wrong today," Bukhari said. He alleged that the NC was continuing to maintain ties with the BJP behind the scenes. "If you have to work with the BJP, do it openly before the people. Doing it behind closed doors creates suspicion. Treat the BJP as a political party and be transparent," he said. Altaf Bukhari said political parties should maintain consistency in their stand towards the BJP before and after elections instead of changing positions after the polls. (KNS)
Srinagar, June 5: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, on Friday raised a clarion call and criticism over PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti chairing a review meeting at AIIMS, terming the development a "constitutional crisis" and questioning the authority under which such a meeting was conducted. In a statement issued here, Lone said the episode represented yet another instance of institutional disempowerment in Jammu and Kashmir and accused the present administration of remaining silent despite what he described as a direct challenge to the constitutional competencies of the elected government. "Irony does a thousand deaths today on Kashmiri politics," Lone said. He expressed surprise that a former chief minister had presided over a review meeting of an institution functioning under the Union Government. He argued that constitutional powers vested in the elected government are, in essence, assets belonging to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and cannot be allowed to be diluted or bypassed. Questioning the legal and administrative basis of the meeting, Lone asked under what authority Mehbooba Mufti chaired the review. He sought clarity on whether there had been any special notification, government order, or authorization from New Delhi permitting such an arrangement. "Constitutionally, a former chief minister cannot chair review meetings of departments functioning under the elected government, let alone institutions that fall under the Central Government. Chairing a review meeting of a Central Government institution is a constitutional impossibility," he said. Drawing comparisons with other states, Lone questioned whether former chief ministers such as Mamata Banerjee or M. K. Stalin would be permitted to conduct similar review meetings, and asked whether a "special arrangement" was now in operation in Jammu and Kashmir. He further wondered whether the region was witnessing the emergence of a "third power centre," suggesting that such developments could signal a new phase of political and administrative interference. Lone cautioned that while reviewing public institutions is important, Jammu and Kashmir, already grappling with diminished institutional powers, cannot afford another round of disempowerment. "This is not just a review meeting. There is much more than meets the eye. Today it is Mehbooba Ji, tomorrow it could be someone else. Be prepared for a lot of theatre," he said. Lone also took note of the optics surrounding the meeting, referring to the presence of security personnel and describing the entire episode as reflective of a deeper constitutional and political concern that requires immediate clarification from the authorities.
