Srinagar, Jul 22: The Private Schools' Association Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK) Wednesday clarified that no elections of the association were held under its banner on July 18 at Hotel Palms, saying that claims of an election conducted on that day were "false, misleading and unconstitutional."
The clarification came after a meeting of the PSAJK State Executive Committee was held to discussed recent developments concerning individuals claiming to represent the association.
In a statement, the committee said reports suggesting that "for the first time elections of PSAJK were conducted" on July 18 were contrary to the association's constitution and hye-laws.
The committee further announced the termination of the basic membership of office-bearers who allegedly participated in the July 18 proceedings, accusing them of financial irregularities, embezzlement of association funds and failure to submit audited accounts despite repeated directions.
According to PSAJK, the former president had already retired from office and was only serving in an ex-officio capacity until October 12, 2025, without any authority to convene or authorise elections.
The association said that, under its Constitution, no Annual General Meeting (AGM), Special General Meeting or election process can be convened without the approval of the President on the recommendation of the State Executive Committee.
It said any exercise undertaken outside this framework is "null and void."
PSAJK condemned attempts by a "self-styled and illegitimate group" to mislead the school fraternity and the public.
The executive committee approved the continuation of legal proceedings and complaints before competent law enforcement agencies for the recovery of association funds and action against former office-bearers accused of financial irregularities.
The executive committee of PSAJK also resolved to inform financial institutions and other relevant authorities about the termination of the concerned individuals and the alleged illegitimacy of any group claiming to function on behalf of PSAJK without constitutional authority.
Reiterating the legitimacy of the existing leadership, the Committee said the association's recognised elections had already been conducted in accordance with prescribed norms, with the participation of member schools, for a three-year term. It alleged that a few retired and terminated individuals were attempting to undermine the elected body for "ulterior motives."
The committee appealed to member schools, stakeholders, government departments and the general public to recognise only those office-bearers functioning in accordance with the PSAJK Constitution and to disregard claims made by any unauthorised persons or groups.
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, Jul 22: The Private Schools' Association Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK) Wednesday clarified that no elections of the association were held under its banner on July 18 at Hotel Palms, saying that claims of an election conducted on that day were "false, misleading and unconstitutional." The clarification came after a meeting of the PSAJK State Executive Committee was held to discussed recent developments concerning individuals claiming to represent the association. In a statement, the committee said reports suggesting that "for the first time elections of PSAJK were conducted" on July 18 were contrary to the association's constitution and hye-laws. The committee further announced the termination of the basic membership of office-bearers who allegedly participated in the July 18 proceedings, accusing them of financial irregularities, embezzlement of association funds and failure to submit audited accounts despite repeated directions. According to PSAJK, the former president had already retired from office and was only serving in an ex-officio capacity until October 12, 2025, without any authority to convene or authorise elections. The association said that, under its Constitution, no Annual General Meeting (AGM), Special General Meeting or election process can be convened without the approval of the President on the recommendation of the State Executive Committee. It said any exercise undertaken outside this framework is "null and void." PSAJK condemned attempts by a "self-styled and illegitimate group" to mislead the school fraternity and the public. The executive committee approved the continuation of legal proceedings and complaints before competent law enforcement agencies for the recovery of association funds and action against former office-bearers accused of financial irregularities. The executive committee of PSAJK also resolved to inform financial institutions and other relevant authorities about the termination of the concerned individuals and the alleged illegitimacy of any group claiming to function on behalf of PSAJK without constitutional authority. Reiterating the legitimacy of the existing leadership, the Committee said the association's recognised elections had already been conducted in accordance with prescribed norms, with the participation of member schools, for a three-year term. It alleged that a few retired and terminated individuals were attempting to undermine the elected body for "ulterior motives." The committee appealed to member schools, stakeholders, government departments and the general public to recognise only those office-bearers functioning in accordance with the PSAJK Constitution and to disregard claims made by any unauthorised persons or groups.
Srinagar Jul 16: The Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), University of Kashmir (KU), organised a Golden Jubilee Alumni Meet at the Main Campus to commemorate 50 years of the Centre's contribution to distance and online education. The event witnessed participation of alumni, former directors, faculty members, administrators and students to reflect on the Centre's journey over the past five decades and discuss its evolving role in expanding access to higher education. The programme also provided an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with their alma mater and share their experiences of learning through the Centre. Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, said that the Centre has played an important role in making higher education accessible to learners from diverse social and geographical backgrounds. "For five decades, the Centre has created opportunities for thousands of learners who aspired to pursue higher education despite various constraints. As higher education continues to evolve, CDOE has an important role in advancing inclusive, flexible and technology-enabled learning," she said. Dean Research KU, Prof. Bashir Ahmad Ganaie, said the Centre's sustained contribution to academic outreach reflects the University's commitment to widening educational opportunities. Registrar KU, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, and Controller of Examinations, Prof. Majid Zaman, highlighted the Centre's steady growth over the years and acknowledged its contribution to the University's academic ecosystem. Dean, School of Open Learning KU, Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, and Director, Admissions & Competitive Examinations KU, Prof. Fayaz Ahmad, also shared their reflections on the Centre's journey and appreciated its role in extending educational opportunities to learners across the region. Earlier, in his welcome address, Director, CDOE, Prof. Altaf Ahangar, traced the evolution of the Centre and highlighted key milestones in its fifty-year journey. He spoke about the Centre's transition from conventional distance education to online and blended learning models, while acknowledging the contributions of former administrators, faculty members and staff in shaping its growth. A highlight of the programme was the felicitation of former Directors and faculty members of CDOE in recognition of their significant contributions to the development and expansion of the Centre over the past five decades. An interactive session with alumni was held during which participants shared their academic and professional experiences, recalled their association with the Centre and offered suggestions for strengthening alumni engagement and further enhancing the quality of distance and online education. The proceedings of the programme were conducted by Dr. Zubair Ahmad Dada, faculty member at CDOE KU.
Leh, Jul 4: A transformative two-day career seminar, aimed at guiding students from the Union Territory of Ladakh towards premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the National Defence Academy (NDA), concluded on Friday. The event, held across two separate towns in Leh and Kargil, drew a large and enthusiastic turnout of students from across the UT. Organised by the Career Defence School, the seminar was spearheaded by founder and CEO Er. Vinay Rai, alongside Administrative Officer Er. Gagan Wadhwa. The programme was coordinated by Khan Jahangeer, Amir Suhail ensuring the sessions resonated with the unique aspirations of Ladakh’s youth. The Leh segment of the seminar was graced by ADC to Lieutenant Governor, Shiekh Adil, alongside the District Planning Officer, DIET Principal S.D. Namgail, and Anchay Yagdol HOD DIET. In Kargil, the event saw the participation of President of the Private Schools Association, Murtaza Khaleli, and In-charge Chief Education Officer, Dr. Sarwar.Shahzad (KAS) who attended as esteemed guests. Addressing the students in Leh, Shiekh Adil delivered an inspiring address saying that failures are not the end of the career. "After every hardship, there is success. If hardships become your excuse, the first casualty will be your goal," he said. He emphasized the growing importance of competitive education and advised students to build confidence, improve communication skills, and remain consistent in their efforts. DIET Principal S.D. Namgail lauded the initiative, calling it a “meaningful program” that would equip students with the necessary awareness to compete on national platforms and seize career opportunities they might not have otherwise considered. In Kargil, Murtaza Khaleli stressed the need for dedication, hard work, and moral values in student life. He highlighted the importance of education, discipline, and critical thinking, urging students to channel their energy toward constructive goals and stay away from negativity. Talking to the media, Er. Vinay Rai expressed his confidence in the potential of Ladakhi students. “Students from Leh and Kargil possess immense talent. They only require proper guidance, discipline, and exposure to shine on the national stage,” he said. “Career Defence School is fully committed to preparing students for competitive exams like JEE Mains, NEET, RIMC, and NDA, while simultaneously focusing on personality development, leadership, and nation-building.” The seminar featured detailed question-and-answer sessions in both locations, during which students actively raised queries regarding NDA eligibility, IIT entrance preparation, hostel facilities, scholarships, physical fitness requirements, and the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence in modern career paths. The career awareness sessions were conducted in close collaboration with the Education Department of the Union Territory, underscoring a collective effort to empower the youth of Ladakh.
