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.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmirâs 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). âAbout a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,â 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.âIf we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,â he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeebâs research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. âIn this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,â he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. âIt is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,â 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,â 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. âMy parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,â he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. âJust as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.â âYoung people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,â 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 â 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 studentsâ56423 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. âHundreds 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,â said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the facultyâs demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. âWe are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,â 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. âThe 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,â 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 âequal work, equal payâ gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. âPromises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,â 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. âThis issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,â he said.
Calls for strong academic ecosystem Srinagar, March 6: President of the Private Schools Association Jammu & Kashmir (PSAJK), Dr. Baba Nazrul Islam Friday extended his heartfelt congratulations to the 17 candidates from J&K and Ladakh who successfully cleared the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS) examination. He termed the achievement as a moment of immense pride for the region and a powerful inspiration for the youth. He said that success of these candidates reflect the immense talent, determination, and intellectual potential present among the students of the region. Nazrul Islam Baba emphasised that educational institutions must work collectively to create a robust academic ecosystem that encourages students to aspire for and excel in national-level competitive examinations like the IAS. He stressed that schools should nurture curiosity, discipline, analytical thinking, and leadership qualities from the early stages of education. âSuch remarkable achievements demonstrate that our youth possess the capability to compete at the highest national platforms," he said. He said a supportive academic environment, mentorship, and access to quality resources need to be kept available so that more students from J&K and Ladakh can prepare for and succeed in prestigious examinations. PSAJK President further highlighted the need to develop benchmark institutions and academic support systems in the region that can guide and mentor students aspiring for civil services and other competitive examinations. "Creating a culture of excellence and competition within educational institutions will help channelize the talent of the youth towards nation-building roles," he said. He urged educators, parents, and policymakers to work in synergy to foster an environment where students feel motivated to pursue ambitious goals and contribute meaningfully to society. âEvery success story from our region becomes a beacon of hope for thousands of young minds. These achievers have shown that with perseverance, dedication, and proper guidance, no dream is beyond reach. Their journey should inspire our students to believe in their abilities and strive for excellence,â he added. PSAJK expressed hope that this achievement will ignite a new wave of aspiration among students across schools in J&K and Ladakh, motivating them to prepare for the countryâs most competitive examinations and play a vital role in shaping the future of the nation.
Jammu, Mar 12: Former J&K chief minister and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah Thursday said he was saved by God and that he doesn't know the attacker. The statement comes a day after he escaped unhurt in an assassination attempt made by an individual on him during a wedding function in Jammu. Talking to reporters in Jammu, Farooq Abdullah said that he does not know the attacker and had no personal dispute with him. "I don't know this man at all. He has said that he had been waiting for 20 years and had a personal grudge, but I don't know what his purpose was. I have never tried to harm anyone," he said. He said he initially mistook the gunfire for firecrackers before being informed by his security personnel that a man attempted to open fire at him. "I felt a sudden heat but did not immediately realise that gunshot had been fired. My security personnel quickly put me inside my car. Then they told me that the man fired two bullets from his revolver," he said. The NC president also raised questions over the absence of adequate security arrangements at the venue. "To say there was a security lapse is a big statement, but the fact is there was no police arrangement there. Many high profile people had come to attend the wedding, so there should have been protection," he said. "I thank Allah that my security personnel were there. Our ministers and MLAs also gave me courage at that time," he said. He added that he also received a phone call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the incident and that he assured a thorough probe would be conducted into the incident. "I extended gratitude to the Union Home Minister for calling me and I was assured that proper investigations will be conducted in this case," he said.
Jammu, March 10: J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the status of vacancies and the progress of recruitments being undertaken through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) across various departments of the Union Territory. The meeting was attended by the concerned Administrative Secretaries, Chairperson JKSSB, Secretary JKPSC and other concerned representatives from different departments. While reviewing the progress, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for expeditious filling of all critical vacancies to strengthen governance and improve public service delivery. He called upon all Administrative Secretaries to hold regular follow-up meetings with their departments and recruitment agencies to ensure that pending issues are resolved and vacancies are filled at the earliest. He emphasized that timelines fixed for ongoing recruitment drives must be strictly adhered to, and directed that all posts received by the recruiting agencies should be advertised without delay. The Chief Secretary further advised the recruiting agencies to prepare and publish examination calendars simultaneously, enabling aspirants to have clarity regarding the schedule of examinations and adequate time to prepare. During the review, the Chief Secretary also took note of several bottlenecks affecting certain recruitments in JKPSC and JKSSB. He examined each issue in detail and directed the concerned departments to issue necessary clarifications and resolve procedural hurdles immediately so that the recruitment process is not delayed. Observing that prolonged recruitment cycles often create uncertainty for job aspirants, the Chief Secretary underscored the importance of conducting recruitment within a defined timeframe. He noted that a predictable recruitment cycle would allow applicants to plan their careers better and reduce anxiety among candidates. During the meeting, the Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), M.Raju presented a comprehensive overview of vacant posts across government departments. The data revealed that a total of 40,661 posts are currently vacant in different departments, including 3,808 Gazetted, 24,507 Non-Gazetted, and 12,351 Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) posts. Among major departments, Health & Medical Education accounts for a significant share of vacancies with 2,497 Gazetted, 8,088 Non-Gazetted and 2,712 MTS posts, while other departments with substantial vacancies include Agriculture Production, Power Development, Finance, Revenue, Forest, Public Works (R&B) and Youth Services & Sports. While reviewing the recruitment being undertaken by the JKSSB for Non-Gazetted and MTS posts the Chairperson SSB, Vikas Kundal revealed that since 2019 the Board has received 46,744 posts, out of which 9,260 were withdrawn, leaving 37,484 posts for recruitment. The Board has already completed selections for 32,956 posts, including 27,449 selections pertaining to this period. He further added that at present, 10,035 posts remain under different stages of recruitment with JKSSB. These include 2,532 posts yet to be advertised, 4,768 posts at the examination stage, 1,258 at the selection stage, and 1,477 posts under live advertisements awaiting completion of the recruitment process. Meanwhile the Secretary, JKPSC, Bashir Ahmad Dar apprised the meeting about the status of posts referred to the JKPSC for recruitment. He divulged that at present, 1,745 Gazetted posts are under process with the Commission out of these, against 1,573 posts selection schedule has already been drawn, while 172 posts are yet to be scheduled due to certain procedural issues. He also gave out that a recruitment timeline has been worked out by the Commission for filling these posts. As per the schedule, 630 selections are targeted for completion by March 2026, 476 during AprilâMay 2026, 158 during JuneâJuly 2026, and 309 during AugustâSeptember 2026. Additionally department-wise analysis shows that the highest number of posts with JKPSC pertains to Health & Medical Education (872 posts) followed by School Education (470 posts), General Administration (170 posts) and Higher Education (129 posts), among others. The meeting was informed that all departments have shared the latest status of advertised posts, vacant positions and posts proposed to be referred to recruiting agencies. It was resolved that all clear vacancies without legal or procedural issues will be referred to the respective recruiting agencies at the earliest for timely recruitment.
Jammu, March 8: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Sunday called upon the Anti-Corruption Bureau to ensure that each decision, investigation and prosecution stands firm under scrutiny of the courts and must harness the authority granted by the nation's Constitution to expose injustice, eradicate corruption entirely, and earn the trust of the people. âJammu Kashmir no longer settles for mediocrity or the ordinary. It now dares to dream big. Among our people, a firm belief has taken root that a golden future lies ahead. Fulfilling this vision is also the responsibility of the officers and staff at the Anti-Corruption Bureau,â the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Anti-Corruption Bureau Headquarters Building at Sidhra, Jammu and ACB APKS Branch, Awantipora. The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that the two buildings inaugurated today are not merely structures of steel, glass, and concrete; they stand as a bold declaration of transparency in public life and a corruption-free Union Territory. âToday, J&K stands at a pivotal juncture. Over the past 5-6 years, we have ushered in transformative changes, rendering the system transparent and dedicating it to public service. Entire machinery now operates not for the benefit of a select few, but for every individual across the Union Territory. Under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we have established a faceless mechanism to eradicate corruption from government processes, eliminate delays, and deliver all services directly to ordinary citizens,â the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that the speed of project execution has accelerated significantly over the past few years. Revolutionary progress in industry, infrastructure, agriculture, self-employment, health, power, and rural development across nearly every sector stemmed from a transparent and accountable governance model, he said. The Lieutenant Governor asked the Anti-Corruption Bureau officers to conduct a daily self-audit of their work to strengthen the hard-earned credibility. âYour efforts should thrive on maximum collaboration. In today's interconnected world, corruption knows no borders, and data scatters across various networks. Information held by one agency might form the crucial final piece in another's probe, so genuine and timely cooperation is essential wherever needed,â the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor also called for speedy investigation, observing that delayed justice does not merely deny society its due but it actively undermines outcomes in corruption cases. He stressed on cultivating a work culture that eliminates all delays in delivering justice. The Lieutenant Governor said that corruption is not merely a loss of public money but it is the opportunity stolen from youth, it is the security snatched from a family, it is the injustice inflicted on an elderly member of society. âWe must recognize that corruption is no abstract offense committed solely against the public exchequer but a direct assault on the lives of living human beings. The ill effects of corruption extend far beyond economic damage; it scars the lives of multiple generations. We must work together to build corruption-free J&K,â the Lieutenant Governor said. The newly established APKS Branch at Awantipora will cater to the ACB Police Station Anantnag, which has jurisdiction over all districts of South Kashmir. The facility is expected to enhance operational efficiency, improve accessibility, and facilitate timely handling of complaints and investigations in the region. Director Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) briefed about the functioning of the Bureau and the salient features of the newly constructed buildings. He highlighted that the enhanced infrastructure will provide a conducive working environment and strengthen field-level vigilance operations. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, ADGP Headquarters M K Sinha, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Commissioner Secretary General Administrative Department M Raju, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Dr. Rakesh Minhas and senior officials attended the inaugural ceremony.
