A female assistant professor was killed and her husband was injured in a road accident in Kallar area of Rajouri district on Thursday.
Officials told that a Maruti Swift car met with an accident at Kallar this morning. In the incident, a lady, Dr. Tabassum Naz, an assistant professor posted at Degree College Poonch, was killed, while her husband received multiple injuries. He is being treated at GMC Rajouri.
Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident. (GNS)
Iran allowed India and a number of other “friendly nations” including China and Russia to use the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said.
Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).
West Asia has been a major source of India’s energy procurement.
“We have permitted certain countries that we consider friendly to pass through (Strait of Hormuz). We allowed China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan to transit,” Araghchi said, according to Iranian State TV.
At the same time, the Iranian foreign minister made it clear that ships linked to Iran’s adversaries will not be allowed to transit through the strategic waterway.
“We are in a state of war. The region is a war zone, and there is no reason to allow the ships of our enemies and their allies to pass through. But it remains open to others,” he said.
There have been growing global concerns over disruptions in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with US President Donald Trump warning Iran of severe consequences if it does not fully reopen the waterway.
In the last couple of weeks, India has made diplomatic efforts focused on ending the conflict in West Asia as soon as possible and ensuring the unimpeded flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz.
New Delhi thinks there could be serious ramifications for fuel and fertiliser security for many countries including India if the blockade of the shipping lane continues. (Agencies)
Chaitra Navratri has drawn a huge rush of pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, with over 2.69 lakh devotees offering prayers at the cave shrine during the ongoing festival.
“The yatra is going on smoothly. There is a huge rush. As many as 2,69,716 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the temple till March 25,” a senior official of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said.
Hundreds of devotees, chanting ‘Jai Mata Di’, are trekking along the serpentine pathway to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple to pay obeisance.
Chaitra Navratri, being observed from March 19 to March 27, is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Navdurga and holds special significance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, which records one of its highest pilgrim footfalls during this period.
According to the data, 31,815 pilgrims paid obeisance at the temple on the first day of Navratri on March 19, while 34,805 devotees visited the shrine on March 20, 41,078 on March 21, 43,482 on March 22, 45,478 on March 23, 38,158 on March 24 and 34,900 on March 25.
The registration of pilgrims was suspended twice for brief periods to manage the heavy rush of pilgrims, they said.
Katra, the twin routes and the Bhawan temple area, dazzling with lights and flower-decked decorations, resonate with spiritual fervour and traditional gaiety as the nine-day-long festival of Chaitra Navratri began amid multi-tier security.
Authorities have put in place multi-tier security arrangements at the Katra base camp and en route to the shrine to ensure a safe yatra.
The Board has deployed volunteers to guide pilgrims, manage the anticipated rush and ensure smooth movement along the 13-km yatra route, the official said.
This year, the Shrine Board introduced wireless communication to enhance coordination and communication along the yatra route. A multi-tier security grid involving the police, CRPF, other paramilitary forces and quick-response teams (QRTs) is in place throughout the festival, officials said.
The sacred Shat Chandi Maha Yagya commenced at the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on March 19, heralding the auspicious beginning of Chaitra Navratri, officials said.
The divine vibrations of Vedic chants and rituals at the holy cave are invoking blessings of peace, prosperity and well-being for all humanity, they said.City & Local Guides
Despite back to back Western Disturbances that brought snow and rains in last week, the Kashmir Division recorded a 52pc rainfall deficit, while the Jammu Division recorded a 46pc deficit.
According to data released by the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, most districts in both divisions received below-normal precipitation during the month of March.
In Kashmir, several districts recorded large deficits in seasonal rainfall. Ganderbal was the only district in the division to record near-normal rainfall during the period.
The data showed that the twin district of Kulgam and Shopian in south Kashmir recorded the highest rainfall deficits in the Valley.
Kulgam recorded only 22.4 mm rainfall, showing a deficit of 86 percent, while Shopian received 16.3 mm rainfall, registering an 83 percent deficit.
Other districts also recorded deficit rainfall, including Budgam with a 71 percent deficit, Anantnag 63 percent deficit, Pulwama and Srinagar 46 percent deficit each, Bandipore 41 percent deficit and Baramulla 38 percent deficit.
Kupwara recorded a comparatively lower deficit of 37 percent, while Ganderbal was the only district to record normal rainfall during the period. Overall, the Kashmir Division recorded a large rainfall deficit during the period from March 1 to March.
Overall, the Kashmir Division received 55.43 mm rainfall against the normal of 115.23 mm, indicating a 51.90% deficit.
In the Jammu Division, rainfall was also below normal in most districts. However, Poonch and Samba recorded normal rainfall, while other districts such as Jammu, Kathua, Ramban and Udhampur remained in the deficit category.
The division recorded 71.12 mm rainfall against the normal of 131.34 mm, showing a 45.85% deficit.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre Srinagar has predicted generally cloudy weather with intermittent light to moderate rain and snowfall over higher reaches across Jammu and Kashmir from March 28 to 30, accompanied by thunder and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph.
The MeT office has also issued an advisory warning of moderate snowfall over a few higher reaches and thunder and lightning at many places, particularly during the night of March 28 to March 30. (Agencies)State Government Orders
The Jammu and Kashmir General Administration Department has issued a stern warning to administrative officers regarding delays in submitting and processing Annual Performance Reports (APRs) of JKAS officers.
Citing a significant backlog for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 assessment years, the Government has granted a final opportunity for officers to complete pending files on the J&K SPARROW platform.
A Government order said for the 2023-24 cycle, all reports must be finalized by March 31, 2026, or the window will be permanently closed.
Meanwhile, a strict new schedule has been set for the 2024-25 cycle, starting with a deadline of April 7th for reporting officers and concluding by April 28th for accepting authorities.
Officials warned that any reports remaining incomplete after these dates will be “force forwarded” and closed automatically, as the competent authority looks to enforce accountability and streamline the administrative process.
After a gap of three years, the J&K UT Men’s Hockey Championship commenced today at the KK Hakku Hockey Stadium, with participation of 17 teams from across the Union Territory.
The championship was inaugurated by Nuzhat Gul, Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council.
On the occasion, Taran Singh welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries, highlighting various initiatives undertaken by Hockey J&K, including sub-junior tournaments and district-level competitions. He also informed that teams are gearing up for upcoming Sub-Junior Men and Women National Championships to be held in Rajgir and Ranchi.
A total of three matches were played on the opening day. In the first match, Jammu North registered a dominant 12-0 victory over Bandipora. Jotveer Singh and Kirandeep Singh scored three goals each, while Mankiran and Gurpreet netted two goals each. Rahul and Deepak contributed one goal apiece.
In the second match, Anantnag defeated Rajouri by 5-1. Dar Saini scored a hat-trick, while Mbariz and Suzain added one goal each. Harmeet scored the lone goal for Rajouri.
In the third match, Jammu South beat Srinagar 8-4. Surinder Singh and Karandeep Singh scored three goals each, while Manjeet Singh added two. For Srinagar, Rohan Preet Singh scored twice, while Sheikh Salman and Varun Preet Singh scored one goal each.
Rajive Sharma presented the vote of thanks and reiterated commitment towards the development of hockey in the region.
Among those present were Murti Gupta, Ravinder Singh, Kuldeep Handoo, B. S. Jaggi, along with officials, coaches and parents.
The matches scheduled for tomorrow include Kupwara vs Ganderbal at 10:30 am, Jammu West vs Shopian at 12 noon, and Budgam vs Kathua at 2:30 pm.
Mumbai: A consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group has emerged as the lead bidder to acquire Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a staggering USD 1.78 billion (approximately Rs 16,706 crore), sources said on Tuesday.
The consortium includes global investment firm Blackstone, led by CEO Viral Patel, Bolt Ventures owned by American investor David Blitzer, and media conglomerate Times of India.
According to sources, the group has reached an agreement with United Spirits Limited (USL) to acquire a 100 per cent stake in the franchise, which includes both the men’s and women’s teams. USL, a subsidiary of Diageo, had been looking to exit ownership as the franchise was no longer central to its business strategy.
As per the proposed arrangement, Aryaman Vikram Birla, Director of Aditya Birla Group, is set to become the chairman of the franchise, while Satyan Gajwani of Times of India will serve as vice chairman.
However, the deal is subject to approvals from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the IPL Governing Council, its Women’s Premier League counterpart, and the Competition Commission of India.
The development comes after the earlier high-profile acquisition of Rajasthan Royals by a US-based consortium led by Kal Somani for USD 1.63 billion (around Rs 15,290 crore). The consortium included Rob Walton of the Walmart family and members of the Hamp family associated with Ford Motor Company.
Kal Somani, an Arizona-based entrepreneur, is known for founding ventures such as IntraEdge, Truyo.Ai and Academian.
Other contenders in the race to acquire RCB included a Times Internet-led consortium and the Mittal family led by Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal.
If approved, the deal would mark one of the biggest franchise acquisitions in the history of the Indian Premier League.
New Delhi: Amit Shah, Union Home Minister, has written to all states urging them to reserve twenty per cent jobs for Agniveers to support their rehabilitation after completing their four-year tenure under the Agnipath Scheme in 2027, officials said on Wednesday.
The letter, addressed to Chief Ministers, highlights the need to provide employment opportunities to Agniveers after their service period. According to Madan Sheel Sharma, Director of the Sainik Welfare Department, the communication has been formally shared with all states for necessary action.
Following the Centre’s directive, the Sainik Welfare Department in Himachal Pradesh has submitted a report to the state government recommending consideration of the proposal.
The Union Ministry has suggested that the reservation be provided in various uniformed and allied services, including posts such as forest guards, mining guards, police constables, firemen, mounted police personnel, jail wardens, Special Police Officers and members of the State Disaster Response Force.
Meanwhile, Haryana has emerged as the first state to implement reservation for Agniveers in uniformed services, covering positions such as police personnel, mining guards, jail wardens, Special Police Officers and Group C posts.
Similarly, Uttarakhand has also announced reservation for Agniveers in police and other uniformed services, indicating a positive response from states towards the Centre’s initiative.
The move is aimed at ensuring a structured transition for Agniveers into civilian employment while utilising their training and skills in strengthening public services.
Jammu: Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, today chaired a high-level meeting to assess the status of updation of Recruitment Rules (RRs) across various departments, stressing the need for transparency, efficiency and employee welfare in public administration.
The meeting was attended by Shabnam Shah Kamili, Commissioner Secretary, ARI & Trainings Department, along with Administrative Secretaries of different departments.
Emphasising timely finalisation of Recruitment Rules, the Chief Secretary directed all Administrative Secretaries to work in close coordination with the ARI & Trainings Department and complete the process within a defined timeframe. He said updated and well-structured RRs are essential for ensuring a transparent, merit-based recruitment system and for filling vacancies promptly across departments.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment to administrative efficiency, Dulloo instructed that the entire exercise be carried out in mission mode, eliminating delays and ensuring uniformity in recruitment procedures.
During the meeting, Shabnam Shah Kamili informed that the initiative marks a shift towards digital governance. She said a dedicated online portal has been developed in collaboration with BISAG-N to streamline the process of updating Recruitment Rules.
She further stated that from April 1, 2026, all offline submissions for Recruitment Rules will be discontinued and departments will be required to route proposals exclusively through the online portal. The portal has been made fully operational after security audits and includes SMS-based communication features. To facilitate the transition, four high-level training sessions have been conducted for departmental nodal officers.
Highlighting progress, officials informed that the Standing Committee constituted for the purpose has held 53 meetings since early 2024. Recruitment Rules for 33 services have been finalised, while draft proposals for 81 additional services have been prepared. Additionally, 12 services have been cleared through executive orders to address urgent administrative requirements.
The meeting was also apprised that these efforts aim to clear the backlog and align departmental structures with modern governance standards and best practices.
Addressing key issues, officials noted that internal audits have identified outdated pay scales linked to the 5th Pay Commission and 6th Pay Commission, as well as stagnation in “Schedule-I” post allocations.
Departments were advised to adopt uniform model Recruitment Rules for ministerial staff and clearly define parameters such as “experience” to remove ambiguity and ensure fairness in the recruitment process.
The Chief Secretary also directed major departments, including Health, Education, Revenue and Agriculture, to resolve pending mapping issues on priority and finalise their Recruitment Rules without further delay.
The meeting concluded with a reiteration of the government’s resolve to modernise administrative processes, enhance transparency and ensure timely recruitment through a robust, technology-driven framework.
NEW DELHI: (Mar 24) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the government is trying to procure gas and crude oil from all available sources, and efforts will continue in the coming days as the war in West Asia has created a serious energy crisis globally.
In a statement in the Rajya Sabha, Modi said the war in West Asia is a cause of concern, and India wants peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy.
India’s aim is de-escalation of the war and opening of Strait of Hormuz, he said, adding the country’s attempt is to encourage all sections to peacefully resolve all issues.
If the West Asia crisis persists for a longer period, serious consequences are imminent, the prime minister said.
Commenting on India’s efforts for energy security, he said in the past 11 years, 53 lakh MT strategic oil reserves have been created; work on 65 lakh MT additional capacity is on.
Besides, the government has started a Rs 70,000-crore project to manufacture ships, he added.