Srinagar, October 12: Indian Army Dog Zoom, who underwent surgery after getting injured in an encounter with terrorists in Anantnag, is in critical condition for the next 24-48 hours and is under the close observation of medical team, the Indian Army officials said on Wednesday.
“Army dog Zoom is stable after surgery was performed on him. His fractured rear leg was plastered and splinter injuries on his face were treated. The next 24-48 hours are critical and he is under close observation of the medical team at Army Veterinary Hospital in Srinagar,” Indian Army officials said.
In a combat operation in Kokernag of Anantnag, Army’s dog ‘Zoom’ attacked terrorists and sustained grave injuries after receiving two gunshot wounds.
“In spite of the injuries, he continued his task which resulted in the neutralisation of two terrorists. The canine is under treatment in Srinagar,” the official said.
However, he is stable now, the official said that the next 24-48 hours are critical for him.
The assault dog was a part of Operation Tangpawas’s combat team.
The Indian Army Chinar Corps took to Twitter to wish to Zoom a speedy recovery.
“Army assault dog ‘Zoom’ critically injured during the operation while confronting the terrorists. He is under treatment at Army Vet Hosp Srinagar. We wish him a speedy recovery,” they tweeted. (Agencies)
‘Next 24-48 hours critical’: Indian Army officials on assault dog Zoom’s health
IAF Puts Up Dazzling Air Show In J&K’s Udhampur; Apache, Chinook, Rafale On Display
JAMMU, Oct 12: The Indian Air Force on Wednesday, October 12, kicked off its Air Display Show to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee at IAF’s Udhampur Air Force station in Jammu and Kashmir. Several Air Force aircraft and helicopters took part to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the Headquarters of Air Officer Commanding Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in Udhampur.
The flypast not only will not display state-of-the-art warplanes like Rafale and Sukhoi and helicopters like Chinook and Apache, but it will also display IAF’s prowess as it showcases its combat operations as well as civil missions in front of people including civilians who have come to experience the might of the Indian Air Force. (Agencies)
Several IITs boycott Times Higher Education World University Rankings, IISc only entry in top 300
NEW DELHI, OCT 12: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) improved its position in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 and was the only Indian university in the top 300 list, even as several IITs boycotted it for the third consecutive year raising doubts over its parameters and transparency.
Seventy-five Indian institutes were part of the rankings in 2023 as compared to 56 in 2020 and just 31 in 2017.
Universities ranked lower in the India Rankings by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) as well as the QS World University Rankings 2023 have raced ahead of higher education institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Benaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University in the Times Rankings, raising more questions on its parameters and transparency.
The Times Higher Education (THE) and QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), both of which are based in London, are two of the most prominent higher-education surveys in the world.
India is the sixth most represented country in the 2023 rankings with 75 ranked universities. Six Indian universities have made their rankings debut this year, with Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences the highest ranked of the newcomers, ranked at 351-400.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati was last featured in the 2020 edition and returns this year in the 1001-1200 band.
India’s policy leaders have fully embraced the vital need for India to join the global knowledge economy network and to ensure that the nation’s universities compete with, collaborate with, and benchmark themselves against the very best universities in the world.
“This will all be vital to realising India’s full potential as the world’s largest democracy and the key to unlocking the full economic might of India’s vast youth population – improving training in high-level skills and enabling new knowledge creation and innovation. And the data shows that the policy is succeeding and delivering real change,” said Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer, Times Higher Education.
While the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science (IISc), IITs, NITs and universities such as JNU, Jamia or Delhi University traditionally top among Indian institutions in majority of the global as well as national rankings, the Times Higher Education rankings since 2000 has seen the top technical institutions missing in the lists.
Seven IITs – Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee – had in 2020 opted out of THE World University Rankings raising doubts over transparency and parameters of the rankings.
“The seven IITs will not participate in the ranking this year. They will reconsider their decision next year if Times Higher Education is able to convince them about the parameters and transparency in their ranking process,” the institutes had then said in a joint statement.
IIT-Guwahati rejoined the ranking this year.
For Indian institutions, in this year’s THE rankings, higher education institutions such as IIT-Indore, JNU and AMU are ranked below institutions which have been ranked significantly lower in NIRF rankings.
Globally, the University of Oxford retains the top spot for the seventh consecutive year.
A record number of 1,799 universities from 104 countries and regions are ranked, 137 more than last year. The number of U.S. universities represented in the top 100 continues to fall, from a peak of 43 in 2018 to 34 this year.
“We are not just seeing more representation for India in the rankings, we’re seeing a rise up the rankings: the leading institution, Indian Institute of Science, has risen to make the world top 300 this year, and we now have nine Indian institutions in the world top 600, up from just six last year,” said Mr. Baty. (Agencies)
‘Miyan kya bowling karte hain’: Murali Karthik praises Mohammed Siraj, check out his response
Murali Karthik praised Mohammed Siraj after the pacer starred in Team India’s 7-wicket win over South Africa in the third and final ODI of the series in Delhi on Tuesday. Siraj picked up two wickets, and thus helped restrict the Proteas to just 99 runs.
It was a clinical performance from the Men in Blue which enabled them to win the ODI series 2-1, having lost the first match. Meanwhile, Siraj boosted his credential for selection in India’s T20 World Cup.
Earlier, Siraj had replaced Bumrah for the T20I series against the Proteas, after the star pacer was ruled out of the World cup owing to his back injury.
With both Mohammed Shami and Siraj still in contention to replace Bumrah in the 15-man roster, the former is leading the race, although the latter gave a good account of himself in the third ODI.
After India’s series win, former India batter Murali Karthik interacted with Siraj in Hyderabadi as he reserved some special praise for the younger.
The 28-year-old pacer was adjudged the Player of the Series for his excellent bowling against South Africa in the ODI leg. He even stated that he was satisfied with his performances and glad to win the Player of the Series award.
Amit Shah vs Nitish Kumar in Bihar: ‘Sitting in Congress’ lap,’ says Shah; Bihar CM hits back in verbal feud
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was on a visit to Bihar yesterday, delivered a strongly-worded speech in the native village of Jayaprakash Narayan, who led the Bihar movement in the 1970s, giving the country majority of its political leaders.
During his speech at the Sitab Diara village, Amit Shah launched a series of attacks on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, owing to the recent turn of events in state politics, when the alliance of JDU and BJP was broken by Kumar.
Amit Shah accused Nitish Kumar of “changing sides five times” even though he claimed to be a follower of Jayprakash Narayan, but has now left the path shown by the socialist icon. This statement sparked a war of words between the two leaders.
Partly cloudy sky, light rain likely in Jammu and Kashmir: MeT
JAMMU, Oct 12: Partly cloudy sky with light rain is likely during the next 24 hours in Jammu and Kashmir, the Meteorological (MeT) office said on Wednesday.
The weather was clear with light rain in the union territory during the last 24 hours.
“Partly cloudy sky with light rain at isolated places is likely in J&K during the next 24 hours,” an official of the MeT department said.
Jammu had 15.7, Katra 13.6, Batote 8.9, Banihal 8.8 and Bhaderwah 10.2 as the minimum temperature.
Srinagar had 10.6, Pahalgam 6 and Gulmarg 3.4 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
Drass town in Ladakh had 2.3 and Kargil 4.5 as the minimum temperature. (Agencies)
Solar plant to light houses in J&K’s Palli functioning normally after rains
JAMMU, Oct 12: The Palli Panchayat in Jammu and Kashmir’s border district of Samba has achieved the distinction of becoming the country’s first panchayat in adopting several government initiatives including the measures to become carbon neutral Panchayat. The Panchayat boasts of a 500 KV Solar Power Plant inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on National Panchayat Day on April 24, 2022.
Due to recent intermittent rains in and around district Samba, agricultural fields were waterlogged due to poor runoff from the surface. The site of the 500 KW Solar Power Plant, which is surrounded by paddy fields, also got water-logged as such. However, the functioning of the solar plant was not affected as it continues to work normally. Taking immediate cognizance of the accumulation of water at the solar plant, Deputy Commissioner Samba gave directions for earth levelling to resolve the problem of water logging. Further, wild growth of grass has also been removed, according to an official release.
Meanwhile, the Teams of Rural Development, Power Development Department, District administration Samba and JAKEDA also visited Palli Panchayat to inspect the condition of the 500 KW Solar Power Plant installed by CEL a Public Sector undertaking under “Gram Urja Swaraj”, a Panchayat owned systems operating model. The team of JAKEDA officials headed by Additional Secretary, Science & Technology Department informed that the system is fully functional and generating the desired amount of energy which is being fed to the Utility Grid.
The district administration team was headed by ADDC, Rajinder Singh. The RDD was asked for prompt removal of the unwanted grass from the site, which has been removed. The inspection of the solar power plant has revealed that the SPV panels are maintained in reasonably good structural integrity and no damage is caused to the said SPP, the release said.
The said solar plant is a first of its kind which has been developed as a pilot project at Village Palli in District Samba, making it the country’s first panchayat on its way to becoming carbon neutral. The PRIs of panchayat, who were also present at the site, intimated that land for the expansion of the solar power plant has also been identified so that its capacity could be augmented for the benefit of the residents of the Palli Panchayat.
The development of such a Grid Connected Solar Project in J&K has helped DISCOMs in meeting the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets set by the Ministry of Power in respect of Jammu and Kashmir. The release said that after the visit of the PM during the national PRI conference, Palli is fast emerging as a model panchayat. District administration is focusing on 100 per cent saturation of all major Government schemes in the Panchayat.
All landholders in Palli have been issued land passbooks. The panchayat is also saturated in Aadhar and Ayushman Sehat and other social security schemes. Among many firsts, Palli has also formulated Climate Resilience Plan for making the Panchayat carbon neutral.
The release said a detailed survey was conducted for studying carbon emission level and formulation of plan accordingly. Several important steps have already been undertaken like the planting of 500 plants of guava, lemon, jamun, mango etc and introduction of diversification of crops. Many other steps as suggested by experts have been incorporated in the plan which will make Palli completely carbon neutral within the next six years. As part of Mission Amrit Sarovar, which was launched by the PM during the PRI conference, a beautiful Amrit Sarovar has been completed at Palli. (Agencies)
Active Covid cases in country decline to 26 292
New Delhi, Oct 12: India logged 2,139 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,46,18,533, while the active cases dipped to 26,292, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.
The death toll climbed to 5,28,835 with 13 fatalities which includes four deaths reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The active cases comprise 0.06 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate increased to 98.76 per cent, the ministry said.
A decline of 1,082 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.
The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.81 per cent and the weekly positivity rate at 1.13 per cent, according to the ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,40,63,406, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent.
According to the ministry, 219.09 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.
India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.
The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed the four-crore mark on January 25 this year.
The nine new fatalities reported in the last 24 hours include four from Maharashtra and two from Uttar Pradesh. (Agencies)
ARTO Doda suspends 9 DLs for violating traffic rules, Rs 183000 fine imposed
By King RJ
Bhadarwah, Oct 11:- While giving a strong message to traffic violators, ARTO Doda suspended 9 Driving licenses and imposed Rs 183000 fine.
According to reports, the ARTO Doda suspended 9 DLs for using cellphone while driving by the traffic violators and an Amount of Rs183000/- (Rs.One lac Eighty thousand only) was imposed as Fine.
Er Kuldeep Singh ARTO Doda along with his team including MV Inspector Jasbir Singh and others launched an extensive checking Drive of vehicles on different routes of the District including National Highway NH-244.
During the drive about 158 vehicles were checked out of which 20 vehicles were challaned for different Traffic Violations.
ARTO Doda Er Kuldeep Singh said that one vehicle was seized for plying without documents and nine drivers were found using cellphone while driving and some 2-Wheeler Drivers found riding 2-Wheeler without Wearing Helmet. “the driving licenses of such drivers were placed under suspension which was issued by
the Licensing Authority Doda and Licenses issued by other Licensing Authorities were recommended for Suspension”, ARTO informed.
Beside this an amount of Rs. 183000/-
(Rs.One lac Eighty thousand only) was recovered as Fine during the drive.
The team also includes Surinder Kumar, Amreek Singh, Irfan ul Haq, Pritam Singh and Mohd Azim.
AC approves liberal provisions for sale of beer and other Ready to Drink (RTD) beverages
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 10: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the proposal for authorizing departmental stores to sell beer and other Ready to Drink (RTD) beverages in urban areas.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor and Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K attended the meeting.
The Administrative Council approved incorporation of liberal provisions in Jammu and Kashmir Liquor License and Sale Rules, 1984 and Excise Policy, 2023-24 for grant of License JKEL-2A for retail sale of Beer and Ready to Drink (RTD) beverages in Departmental Stores in urban areas of UT.
The Departmental Stores in a Commercial Complex, approved by the competent authority, fulfilling conditions like having total carpet area of minimum 1200 (One Thousand Two Hundred) Sq. Feet, annual turnover of minimum 5 Crores in Jammu and Srinagar Cities and 2 Crores for stores in other urban areas will be eligible under the scheme. Moreover, chain of Departmental Stores having annual turnover of more than Rs.10 Crores will be eligible to apply for separate licenses for each of its Store.
The Departmental store should have been inexistence for at least 12 months prior to the date of application. However, this condition shall not be applicable in case of a new/recently opened Departmental Store belonging to a chain of Departmental Stores having annual turnover of more than Rs. 10 Crores.
Further the departmental stores should be selling a minimum of six of the category of items including Grocery Items; Frozen Foods; Confectionery/Bakery Items; Toiletries; Cosmetics; Household Goods; Utensils/kitchenware; Sports Items; Electrical/Electronic Appliances; Apparels; and Stationery. In addition, no application for the grant of License shall be considered for Departmental Stores functioning at Petrol Pumps as per the said decision.
The Administrative Council also approved permission to the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation for retail sale of Beer and Ready to Drink beverages in unserved/ underserved areas in consultation with the concerned Deputy Commissioner.