Jammu, Feb 16: In a remarkable milestone for Jammu and Kashmir's sports ecosystem, Pawandeep, a highly skilled Physical Education Teacher (PET) with the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) J&K—currently deputed as Senior Athletics Coach to the J&K Sports Council—has qualified as a World Athletics Race Walking Judge at the prestigious Bronze Level.
This certification, awarded following a rigorous evaluation conducted by World Athletics, underscores her exceptional expertise in the technical nuances of race walking, a discipline demanding precision, endurance, and unwavering adherence to international standards.
As per the reports over 70 candidates appeared in the examination, out of which 11 have successfully qualified the same
A National Institute of Sports (NIS) diploma holder in athletics, Pawandeep's achievement now positions her to officiate at elite global events, including World Championships, Asian Championships, and other prestigious international competitions.
Her journey reflects not just personal excellence but a profound commitment to elevating athletics in the Union Territory.
Pawandeep has earned widespread acclaim for her pivotal role in nurturing national-level talent from Jammu and Kashmir. Under her guidance, several promising athletes from the region have risen to compete at the highest levels, producing a legacy of "national stuff" that inspires the next generation.
Director General of Youth Services and Sports J&K, Anuradha Gupta, felicitated Pawandeep today in the presence of Joint Director (Jammu), Vinakshi Koul.
Describing her as an invaluable asset to the department, Gupta said that such dedicated officials are a great boost for any organization.
"On behalf of the Department, I extend my best wishes for her future endeavours," she said.
She said that this accomplishment not only bolsters J&K's standing in international athletics but also highlights the department's focus on capacity-building for its coaches and officials.
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.
Srinagar, Jan 17: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi on Saturday strongly condemned PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti’s statement suggesting that if religious places are to be “profiled”, the process should start with temples and Hindu priests, instead of mosques and Imams. Inam Un Nabi said AIP was categorically against profiling of any religious place, irrespective of faith or community and such statements only deepen mistrust and polarisation in society. “Let it be Masjids and Imaams or temples and priests, profiling of religious institutions is unacceptable. AIP rejects it completely. Had the issue involved only temples or priests, AIP would have shown the same resentment and protest as we do for Masjids and Imaams,” he said. The AIP spokesperson said faith is a matter of personal conscience and religious belief and it should not be dragged into a culture of surveillance or administrative interference. “We do not want policing of faith. The role of the administration is to ensure peace and law and order, not to monitor religious identity or religious spaces,” Inam Un Nabi added. He appealed to all political parties to act responsibly and avoid statements that pit one community against another, stressing that Kashmir has a long history of communal harmony which must be protected. “AIP stands for dignity, equality and justice for all. We will oppose any attempt that targets places of worship, whichever religion it belongs to,” he said.
Jammu, Feb 16: In a remarkable milestone for Jammu and Kashmir's sports ecosystem, Pawandeep, a highly skilled Physical Education Teacher (PET) with the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) J&K—currently deputed as Senior Athletics Coach to the J&K Sports Council—has qualified as a World Athletics Race Walking Judge at the prestigious Bronze Level. This certification, awarded following a rigorous evaluation conducted by World Athletics, underscores her exceptional expertise in the technical nuances of race walking, a discipline demanding precision, endurance, and unwavering adherence to international standards. As per the reports over 70 candidates appeared in the examination, out of which 11 have successfully qualified the same A National Institute of Sports (NIS) diploma holder in athletics, Pawandeep's achievement now positions her to officiate at elite global events, including World Championships, Asian Championships, and other prestigious international competitions. Her journey reflects not just personal excellence but a profound commitment to elevating athletics in the Union Territory. Pawandeep has earned widespread acclaim for her pivotal role in nurturing national-level talent from Jammu and Kashmir. Under her guidance, several promising athletes from the region have risen to compete at the highest levels, producing a legacy of "national stuff" that inspires the next generation. Director General of Youth Services and Sports J&K, Anuradha Gupta, felicitated Pawandeep today in the presence of Joint Director (Jammu), Vinakshi Koul. Describing her as an invaluable asset to the department, Gupta said that such dedicated officials are a great boost for any organization. "On behalf of the Department, I extend my best wishes for her future endeavours," she said. She said that this accomplishment not only bolsters J&K's standing in international athletics but also highlights the department's focus on capacity-building for its coaches and officials.
Srinagar, Feb 12: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone on Thursday raised critical concerns about governance in the J&K Assembly while paying tribute to the institutional dignity that must be preserved. Commenting on the Roads and Buildings Department, he said that the Deputy Chief Minister now holds a portfolio once led by distinguished leaders such as Mirza Afzal Beg, Devidas Thakur, Mangat Ram Sharma, Muzaffar Baig and Nirmal Singh. He expressed hope that the current minister would uphold its dignity. "Currently, it does not look like it. I pray that the dignity of this chair remains intact," he said. In his address, Lone drew attention to a fundamental issue where the Assembly represents a Union Territory that was downgraded from what was once the strongest House in India. "The strongest House in India was downgraded to a Union Territory," he said. He said this reduction in status means that votes cast in Jammu and Kashmir are considered less powerful than those in states like Gujarat or Haryana. "They belittle us. But when a sitting minister belittles an MLA, they assist Delhi in this demeaning," Lone added. He stressed that such behavior makes officials complicit in undermining the Assembly's stature. He emphasised that the Assembly is accountable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who elected its members. "We are accountable to the people of J&K who elected this Assembly and I must answer them tomorrow. When the minister acts according to his own whims, who answers the people?" he asked. Lone appealed for respect toward the House and its MLAs. "MLA has their constitutional role and a minister has theirs. You are also an MLA—why not stand for the dignity of the House?" Drawing from personal experience, he added, "I speak from experience. The same could happen to you tomorrow." Reflecting on his time on the ministerial benches, Lone recalled, "I was once on that bench and I say with my hand on my heart that when ruling party MLAs claimed certain things were happening, I refused to accept it. The existing MLA decides, not outsiders. They left in anger, but this is the reality we must all face." On technical matters, Lone raised concerns about macadamization, expressing bewilderment at official claims. "I do not understand what they mean when they say, 'Sir, macadamization has happened.' It is as if they are living on another planet," he said. He said that the reality on the ground tells a starkly different story. "Look at the state of the roads. The macadam is not even finished before it begins coming off the next day," he added. He insisted that the minister must be held responsible for this failure. "When decisions involving thousands of crores of rupees are made, there must be accountability. Why does the macadam lift after a few days?" Lone further criticized the biased allocation of funds saying that the minister, especially the Deputy Chief Minister, cannot say, "I will give less here and more there. That is not appropriate." Turning to institutional matters, he made a strong appeal for the revival of the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation, describing it as the region's own corporation and a source of pride that was unfortunately shut down. On the issue of undervaluation in tendering processes, Lone highlighted a systemic problem. "If our engineers set a tender at 100 rupees and someone bids 50, either the engineer erred—in which case accountability is needed—or it is impossible." He proposed implementing a 10 percent band system suggesting for setting a 10 percent band. "If a tender is 100 rupees, reject bids below 90 and above 120." He emphasized the long-term consequences of this problem. "For the past 70 years, undervaluation has caused contracts to fail. We cannot allow unqualified contractors to undercut our educated engineers." When questioned about the constitutional viability of rejecting the lowest tender by the Speaker, Lone firmly responded, "Yes, we can. The Constitution does not force us to close our eyes." He pointed out that global practices are evolving. "Globally, lowest bidding is no longer the norm. It is questioned in medicine and other sectors because it can produce substandard outcomes. Even the GeM portal faces such issues. Billions of rupees have been lost due to unviable low bids." On infrastructure development, Lone requested the construction of a major highway to Kupwara in North Kashmir comparable to those in South Kashmir. "Big highways are the true paths to development and this has not been done." Addressing industrial policy, he highlighted a troubling disparity under the NCSS 2021-22 package. "A package of 28,400 crore rupees was released. 26,000 crore went to Jammu and only 2,000 crore to Kashmir. This is deeply unfair." He criticized changes to laws such as the requirement of four kanals to build a hotel. "Most hotels in India occupy less than one kanal, but here the poor cannot participate. Land and capital requirements exclude them. Industrial packages including tourism and service sectors have largely failed to benefit Kashmir." On mining administration, Lone revealed concerning findings. "Inquiries show that nine out of 20 District Mining Officers have pending inquiries yet were appointed to these posts." He documented a dramatic escalation in costs, stating the cost of a sand truck has risen from 2,500–3,000 rupees before 2019 to 15,000–20,000 now. "The additional amount mostly benefits corporate interests while laborers receive only a fraction." He raised ecological concerns and argued that allowing outsiders to mine destroys local environments whereas local villagers would self-regulate. "This House is responsible not only for current governance but also for future generations." Lone also raised the issue about the rising unemployment crisis, noting that sand mining once provided employment to many people, supplied affordable construction materials and supported local livelihoods. "Corporate dominance since 2019 has disrupted this," he said. He urged for a return to traditional manual methods that historically balanced employment needs with ecological sustainability and community welfare.
Srinagar, Feb 10: JK Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone on Tuesday delivered a critical assessment of the recently introduced Jammu and Kashmir budget during his address to the Assembly. He called it the first budget under complete political oversight since 2018. He characterised it as a typical bureaucratic budget lacking the distinctive political imprint that usually accompanies an elected government's fiscal proposals. "When politicians come, when there is an elected government, there is a mark of politics on the budget. That mark is not visible," Lone said. He questioned why the ruling party's manifesto promises had not been translated into concrete budgetary allocations. He suggested this disconnect would become a recurring point of contention from the opposition over the next five years. "So if the mark of the manifesto is there, why is it not in the budget? This is a question that the opposition will ask you repeatedly, for the next five years," he said. Lone pointed to weak execution of previous budgetary assurances, highlighting a significant gap of 13,000 crores between budget estimates and revised estimates. He observed that capital investment had decreased substantially. "In the whole world, people have a problem with money; here, it seems there is a problem with spending. We don't seem to have the capacity to spend money," Sajad Lone said. The budget's composition troubled Lone, with 70 percent allocated to revenue expenditure and only 30 percent to capital expenditure. "This means that long-term assets will not be built, and this reflects a weak internal revenue base," he said. He detailed the territory's financial dependence, noting that of the total receipts of 1,27,000 crores, only 31,800 came from internal tax and non-tax sources while central assistance amounted to approximately 42,000 crores, centrally sponsored schemes 13,000 crores, and borrowing 14,000 crores. "So this limits our fiscal autonomy. When all the money is coming from outside," Lone said. The legislator reserved his sharpest criticism for what he termed the "great rebate grab" surrounding the six cylinder announcement. He methodically broke down the mathematics, explaining that the manifesto had promised 12 cylinders for economically weaker sections. "The exact words in your manifesto are 12 cylinders for economically weaker sections. So, no, thank you will not last long. I think you will have to change it," he said. Lone said there are two lakh AAY families and 14 lakh BPL, now called priority households. "So since when did the poor BPL become economically strong? I didn't understand this. They are also economically weak," he said. He calculated that the manifesto promise would have cost 1,680 crores annually or 8,500 crores over five years, but the government was delivering only 120 to 130 crores annually. "So against a promise of 8,500 crores for five years, what you are paying is 360 crores. Sir, this is pure mathematics, no theory, no history. If I am wrong, I would love to be corrected," Lone added. JKPC President described the funding mechanism as taking from one set of poor to pay another. "Where did this money come from? The money came from reducing the rebate on diesel, which is normally used in public vehicles, in public transport. That will bring in about 250 crores from there. So you took 150 from the pocket of the poor, gave 150 or 120 to other poor people, and 130 still stayed with the government," he said, He called it "a new kind of justice and lamented that no government had ever levied taxes on the top 5 percent of earners in Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, the promise of free education up to graduation was diluted, with 14 lakh families excluded from the benefit. "So it is a very diluted version of what you promised. Sir, CM Sahab, if you think that instead of 100 you are happy with 5, then fine," Lone said. On employment, Lone challenged the claim of 7,500 jobs created last year, estimating that hardly 2,000 went to Kashmir. He defended his past work on the 3 percent reservation bill. "I am proud of it. I passed the 3% reservation bill in this very hall." He clarified that when he spoke of 60 percent of the population including Pahari brothers, Gujjar brothers, and Kashmiri Pandit brothers having only 25 percent of jobs, this included all these communities. "When I say district and divisional recruitment, I mean it for Pahari and Gujjar brothers living in Kashmir Valley. If you think they want to compete in the general category, it would be better if you ask them," Lone said. The outsourcing of 24,000 jobs drew particularly fierce criticism. "Sir, you didn't do this, to be very honest with you. This was done by the Babus. The system of Babus is centralised, outsourced. May God outsource their jobs too, those who outsourced these jobs, then they would know what it's like to outsource a poor person's job," Lone said. He questioned why the current administration continued this policy. "If you were against everything in the Governor's rule for the last five years, then why are you doing the same today?" Lone warned that outsourcing cannot work in places without Western-style social security nets. "Where it works in the West, there is a social security net. "The government even provides money for children's diapers and milk. This is a societal disaster," he said. He traced a troubling progression from permanent jobs to contractual positions to outsourcing, questioning how private companies could be trusted with quality recruitment when government institutions themselves had suffered major scandals. "The government is about learning curves. It is hire and fire; they can keep anyone, how will the government run?" he said. "Where you said you would create one lakh jobs, forgive me, you converted 24000 government jobs into private ones. So, sir, don't give us 1 lakh, but at least don't make them private. Stop converting government jobs into private ones. This is an economic disaster and a societal disaster. It will wreak havoc in society," Lone said. While not expecting the Chief Minister to produce funds overnight, Lone emphasized that budgets should set an economic tone. "One thing that should attract investors—let's go to J&K, it's the next investment destination. Sir, we are one of the most regulated economies in the country. It's like the Soviet Union. NOC culture," he said. He explained that these permissions had become channels for corruption. "The problem is that our CM Sahab, with due respect, has never applied for permission. He doesn't know that this NOC is money. Even if all the papers are there, you still have to give; if not, you have to give four times more," Lone said. He said that this centralization intensified over the last five years as bureaucrats sought to maintain control. "They have done IAS and they think they are the most intelligent, nothing will happen without them. Ask us first." Lone urged the government to review and dilute orders from the past six years that centralized NOCs. He questioned government involvement in homestays. "Why do you have to see? What does the government have to do with homestays? Is the government a housekeeper? Is the government going to see if the room is clean or not? Market forces will decide that if the homestay is good, the person will come again," he said. Despite acknowledging some positive developments like e-office implementation, he said that the tendency toward centralization and high regulation would deter investors. "We are a highly over-regulated economy; that was my assessment that they would fix it, but it didn't happen," he said. The legislator identified tourism and horticulture as potential gold mines if properly recognized. He also made a plea to correct economic misstatements made in the house, noting, "When you want to check a traditional economic theory of whether a country is backward or developed, you look at how many people are in agriculture. The more there are, the more backward it is. The fewer there are, the more it is a high-income country." Throughout his speech, Lone maintained that Jammu and Kashmir desperately needs reform. "I would appeal to all of you that we desperately need to deregulate and decentralize our economy, because otherwise, no investors would be coming here," he said.
