Srinagar, Sep 26: Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Jammu & Kashmir Campus in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) organised a Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) programme on “Behavioural Forensics: Advancing Psychological Approaches to Investigation” here on Saturday.
The programme marked a significant academic and professional initiative in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, being organised for the first time in the Kashmir region with a dedicated focus on behavioural forensics, forensic psychology and neuropsychology in the context of investigation and justice.
The initiative provided professionals with an opportunity to engage with emerging interdisciplinary approaches and contemporary developments in the field.
The programme commenced with Dr. Mohammad Akmal Shah, Assistant Director, RRU, J&K Campus, who delivered a session on “Introduction to Behavioural Forensics.” He provided participants with an overview of the fundamentals and investigative relevance of behavioural forensics.
The session was followed by an interactive question and answer segment, during which Dr. Shah addressed the queries of the participants.
Prof. Jamuna Rajeswaran, Professor and Former Head of Clinical Psychology Department (NIMHANS), subsequently delivered sessions on “Brain and Behaviour: A Forensic Neuropsychological Perspective” and “Mind, Brain and Law: Assessing Disability Through Forensic Neuropsychology.”
She examined the interface between brain, behaviour and law, with emphasis on the application of forensic neuropsychology in assessment and justice-related contexts.
The programme concluded with a valedictory function, graced by Dr. Mahesh A. Tripathi, Director, RRU, J&K Campus. Dr. Tripathi presented certificates to the participating professionals. The valedictory function formally marked the successful culmination of the CRE programme.
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.
Suhail Rather Gurez, Nov 10: Residents of Khandyal village in Gurez have sought the relocation of six water supply pipelines passing through privately owned land, alleging that their underground placement is obstructing the construction of residential houses and limiting the use of their property. The pipelines, located near the Panchayat Ghar and a local water channel (kul), have become a point of contention between affected landowners and the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department. The landowners alleged that the pipelines pass through their milkiyat land and were laid without their consent. They said the issue came to their notice when they planned to undertake construction of residential houses on the plots. According to the residents, the pipes have been laid only a few inches below the ground, creating difficulties in carrying out foundation work and restricting the utilisation of their land. The affected families said they were not seeking disruption of the existing water supply network but wanted the department to shift the pipelines towards the edge of their land to allow construction without affecting the supply to other consumers. Responding to the issue, Executive Engineer PHE Gurez Gulzar Ahmad said the pipelines had been laid in 1980 and questioned why objections had not been raised by the landowners at the time. He said landowners intending to undertake construction could apply online for a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which would be issued by the department. The residents have appealed to the district administration and the concerned department to examine the matter and work out a solution that protects both public water supply infrastructure and the rights of private landowners. Meanwhile, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurez Dr Mukhtiyar Ahmad said he would take up the matter with the Executive Engineer, PHE Department, and explore the possibility of resolving the issue. The landowners have urged the authorities to intervene, saying the matter requires a practical resolution that allows them to use their property while ensuring uninterrupted water supply to the area. (KNS)
Baramulla, Oct 24: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday asked people to show courage and stand together to defend their rights, warning that they risked perishing if they failed to confront challenges. Addressing a workers’ convention in Baramulla, Dr Farooq said Jammu and Kashmir is going through difficult times and people needed to stand together to bring about change. “If you have the courage, we will fight them; if you don’t, you will perish,” Dr Farooq said. He urged people to speak the truth and stand firmly for their rights. “We would have vanished, but having courage and fighting back will help us persist,” he said. He said people should not expect change to come on its own, stressing that collective efforts were necessary to secure their rights. “We do not want to go against the country, but we want to tell them (our neighbours) to change themselves,” he said. The NC president said the Centre had promised to restore statehood after delimitation and elections, but the commitment remained unfulfilled. “We are going through tough times. In Delhi, we were promised statehood after delimitation and elections, but that is nowhere,” he said. Dr Farooq further urged people to rise above religious and sectarian differences and raise a united voice, saying unity was essential to address the challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir. “Rulers come and go. They oppress, but that doesn’t last,” he said. He also expressed concern over the lack of awareness among young people about Jammu and Kashmir’s history, urging them to understand the region’s past and the circumstances that shaped its political journey. “We never said we are not Indians, but we keep on reiterating that we have joined Gandhi’s India, Nehru’s India,” he said. Dr Farooq also criticised the Peoples Democratic Party, alleging that its alliance with the BJP had contributed to the loss of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019. (KNO)
Srinagar, Oct 15: Bandipora Deputy Commissioner Indu Chhib on Thursday said a probe has been ordered against a doctor in connection with the death of a pregnant woman from the remote Gurez valley, and assured strict action against those found responsible. Addressing a press conference, Indu Chhib said the administration has ordered an inquiry against the doctor. Strict action will be taken against whoever is found responsible, she told reporters. She said compensation had been provided to the bereaved family through the Red Cross. The woman died while being shifted to the District Hospital in Bandipora early Wednesday, while her baby was stillborn. Her family has alleged that snowfall and restrictions on night-time movement delayed her emergency referral. The incident has triggered anger in the remote Gurez valley, with locals demanding accountability over the alleged delay in medical evacuation.
