KS News Desk
Srinagar, March 9: The Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK) has welcomed J&K Budget 2025-26 presented by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. PSAJK State President G N Var lauded the government's visionary approach in prioritizing education and introducing several people-friendly initiatives aimed at uplifting the socio-economic landscape of the Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, G N Var hailed education as the foundation of progress and welcomed the government's commendable move to strengthen the sector.
He particularly lauded the establishment of a National Law University, calling it a landmark initiative that will provide quality legal education and empower students from J&K.
"With an initial allocation of ?50 crore, this step reflects the governments commitment to advancing higher education in the region," the PSAJK statement reads.
Var also appreciated the overall budget allocation of ?1,388.97 crore for the education sectoran increase of ?242.75 crore from the previous fiscal yearemphasizing that this major boost will drive transformative improvements in educational infrastructure, foster academic excellence, and enhance student welfare across J&K.
"The government's commitment to upgrading 40 higher secondary schools into integrated K-12 institutions is a welcome move, as it will help create a modernized education system that caters to evolving academic needs," G N Var said.
He also welcomed the government's focus on strengthening higher education, emphasizing that enhancing infrastructure and services in degree colleges will play a crucial role in improving academic standards.
"The addition of 600 polytechnic seats to expand technical education opportunities is another significant step, as it will boost vocational training and skill development, preparing students for diverse career paths," he added.
PSAJK also emphasized that the private education sector should be the government's top priority in addressing the genuine grievances faced over the past several years. Private schools in J&K provide employment to lakhs of youths, ranging from peons, teaching and non-teaching staff, drivers, conductors, security guards, administrative personnel, accountants, IT support staff, librarians and other support workers.
Also, by paying taxes, board fees, power bills, water bills and other charges to the government, private schools significantly contribute to the economy.
Recognising and supporting the role of private institutions in education will not only enhance learning outcomes but also contribute significantly to the regions employment generation and economic stability.
Apart from the education sector, Var also praised the governments pro-people initiatives that will significantly benefit the underprivileged sections of society. He highlighted the provision of 200 units of free electricity and 10 kg of free ration per person per month for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households as landmark steps toward social security.
He also appreciated the enhancement of the Marriage Assistance Scheme from ?50,000 to ?75,000, free public transport for women, and the increase in pensions under the Integrated Social Assistance Scheme (ISSS) and National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), calling them "progressive measures that will uplift vulnerable communities.
While welcoming the budget, PSAJK urged the government to ensure the efficient implementation of these initiatives so that their benefits reach the grassroots level. "Budgetary allocations must translate into on-ground improvements. We look forward to timely execution and monitoring to ensure transparency and accountability," G N Var said.
The PSAJK reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the J&K government, led by Omar Abdullah, to support education reforms and contribute to the overall development of the region.
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 11: The two-day special intensive voter nrolment drive organised across Jammu and Kashmir concluded on Sunday with a strong response from electors and election functionaries undertaking extensive outreach to facilitate voter registration. The event was also aimed at addressing public grievances and raise awareness about electoral services. The drive was conducted at polling stations across J&K from 9 AM to 5 PM and provided eligible citizens with an opportunity to enrol as voters, seek correction or updation of their electoral particulars, and obtain assistance with matters related to electoral registration, in keeping with the guiding objective of the Election Commission of India: “No Eligible Voter to Be Left Behind.” The drive was conducted under the overall supervision of Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Shri Sanjeev Verma while the district election machinery was coordinating arrangements and facilitating the delivery of enrolment services across the Union Territory. District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Deputy Director Information (Nodal Officer SVEEP), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Election Naib Tehsildars (ENTs) oversaw the exercise in their respective jurisdictions, while Booth Level Officers (BLOs) played a key role in assisting electors at polling stations and at the grassroots level. BLOs remained available at polling stations to guide citizens through the prescribed electoral registration formalities. Assistance was provided regarding Form 6, Form 7 and Form 8. Citizens were also guided on accessing digital services through the Voter Helpline App. During the drive, grievances and queries raised by electors were taken up by the election functionaries concerned for redressal and appropriate action. Contact numbers of officials concerned were also shared with the public to facilitate direct communication and enable citizens to seek assistance regarding their electoral particulars and enrolment-related matters. The Election Department reiterated that the election machinery across Jammu and Kashmir remains available round-the-clock to assist the public, address grievances and provide guidance on voter enrolment and other electoral matters. The Election Department further clarified that any eligible person, including young and first-time voters, may apply to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) concerned for inclusion of their names in the electoral roll under the process of continuous updation. Meanwhile, a significant component of the special-drive exercise was door-to-door outreach, inspection by election officers and election functionaries to identify and reach eligible voters. The outreach also focused on encouraging eligible voters to avail themselves of the enrolment facilities. Deputy Director Information Salam Din who is also the Nodal Officer SVEEP in the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, interacted with the media during the drive and highlighted the importance of voter awareness, accessible enrolment facilities and sustained public participation in the electoral process. He also acknowledged the media’s role in ensuring that information about the drive reached the public and in encouraging greater awareness about voter enrolment. The two-day exercise reflects the continued efforts of the Election Commission of India and the Election Department, J&K, to make electoral registration more accessible and inclusive. It also underscores the importance of accurate and comprehensive electoral rolls in ensuring that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. With the conclusion of the current drive, the Election Department reiterated its commitment to making such camps and voter facilitation exercises a regular feature in the future.
Srinagar/New Delhi Oct 09: Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Friday said that Northern Command destroyed seven terrorist camps during ‘Operation Sindoor,’ while nearly 12,000 artillery rounds were exchanged along the Line of Control (LoC) during an 88-hour operation in May 2025. Addressing Defence Summit in New Delhi Lieutenant General Sharma said the Northern Command was assigned the responsibility of destroying seven out of the nine camps. “The task was accomplished successfully,” he added. He said that while fighting continued in the air and missile domains, troops along the Line of Control (LoC) were also involved in frequent exchanges of fire and faced heavy ceasefire violations. “Exchange of artillery fire continued for nearly 88 hours. Almost 12,000 rounds were used. It was a successful execution,” Sharma said. (KNO)
Srinagar, Sep 12: Kashmiri Pandit employees working in Kashmir Valley under the prime minister's package on Friday urged the Centre to take immediate measures in view of "security concerns" and "growing sense of insecurity" to prevent "another cycle of displacement". In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, president of All PM Package Employees Forum Sunny Raina flagged "serious security concerns" and "the growing sense of fear and uncertainty prevailing" among Kashmiri Hindu employees and their families currently residing and working in the Kashmir Valley. The letter comes amid a series of security threats received by the Kashmiri Pandits who have returned to the valley as government officials under the prime minister’s rehabilitation package. Raina said Kashmiri Pandits have been making a “sincere but extremely difficult effort” to resettle in Kashmir, but targeted killings of civilians and Kashmiri Hindus since 2021 have "created a deep sense of fear among our families". "Every such incident revives the painful memories of the 1990s and raises a genuine concern that Kashmiri Hindus may once again be forced into displacement from their homeland," the letter said. The employees said the situation may appear normal on the surface, but at the grassroots level, "a sense of uneasiness and tension continues to exist". "Many families remain deeply concerned about their safety and the future of their children,” he said. "There is also a perception among many of us that the process of our complete social rehabilitation and acceptance has not progressed as we had hoped. We are trying to rebuild our lives here, but the atmosphere of uncertainty makes this process extremely difficult," he added. Stressing that the community was concerned about the recent "increase in threatening letters and intimidation", the employees said the developments cannot be viewed in isolation. "We remember that during the 1990s, threatening letters and notices were among the early warning signs that created fear among Kashmiri Hindu families and contributed to the atmosphere that ultimately resulted in their mass displacement," they said. Urging Shah to take the recent threatening letters and communications against Kashmiri Hindus and PM Package employees with utmost seriousness and order a thorough investigation, the letter demanded strict legal action against those responsible for issuing threats, intimidation or inciting violence. "Strengthen intelligence gathering and preventive security measures around PM Package employees, their families and residential colonies. Conduct a comprehensive security review of all PM Package employee accommodations and settlements," it said. The letter also stated that the Union Home Ministry should ensure employees are not compelled to choose between their livelihood and their personal safety. "Establish an effective mechanism through which PM Package employees can immediately report threats and receive timely protection. Closely monitor any emerging pattern of targeted intimidation so that the situation does not deteriorate into another cycle of displacement," it said. The employees emphasised that their appeal is rooted in a desire to remain in the Valley rather than abandon it. "We have spent the last 15 years trying to rebuild what was destroyed decades ago. We do not want another displacement. We want to stay in Kashmir, work here and live here with dignity and security. "The Government of India has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment towards the rehabilitation and security of Kashmiri Hindus. We therefore place our faith in your leadership and earnestly request immediate, visible and concrete action before the present atmosphere of fear becomes another humanitarian crisis," the employees said.
