Kashmir Observer
Erase Colonial Mindset, Take Truth To Global Readers: LG To Writers
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated the third edition of the Kashmir Literature Festival in Srinagar and called upon writers to play an active role in shaping positive discourse, correcting historical distortions, and...
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J&K Cyber Police Sound Alarm Over Surge In Online Scams
Srinagar: Amid a growing number of online frauds and digital scams, the Jammu and Kashmir Cyber Crime Department has issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant against cyber criminals using fake calls, phishing links, OTP frauds and...
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Fight Is To End Narco-Terror & Heal Families: LG
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said drug cartels and narco-terror networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir were being systematically dismantled, asserting that the administration would continue its crackdown until “every drug...
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No Dinners, No New Posts: J&K Govt’s Austerity Push
Srinagar:The Jammu and Kashmir government has rolled out a sweeping set of austerity measures for the financial year 2026-27, imposing curbs on official spending that include restrictions on travel and vehicle purchases, a ban on official dinners and...
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‘Pick-&-Choose’ Hiring A Fraud On Constitution: High Court
Srinagar: In a strong indictment of backdoor appointments and subsequent regularisation policies, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh has held that permitting the State to make ad hoc and temporary appointments through a “pick-and-choose” method without...
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Nutrition Of Young Generation Will Shape Our Future: LG
Jammu:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said the nutrition of the younger generation will shape the future of the nation as he laid the foundation stone of Akshaya Patra’s centralized mid-day meal kitchen in Katra. Once operational, the...
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Why Kashmir’s Businesses Rarely Reach Dalal Street
Srinagar: When investors gathered in Mumbai in recent months to discuss India’s booming SME listings, Kashmir barely entered the discussion. A region filled with established business families, profitable enterprises and widely recognized local brands...
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We Will Tear Out Roots Of Narco-Terror: LG
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday issued a stern warning to drug smugglers and narco-terror operatives, saying law enforcement agencies would “hunt them down even in their deepest hideouts” as the administration...
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Terror Recruitment Almost Negligible In J&K, Omar Doing Great Work: LG
Srinagar: Asserting that recruitment into terror ranks has become “almost negligible,” Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said terrorism in the Union Territory has been pushed to the margins. In an interview with a national...
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Army Chief To Pak: ‘Choose Geography Or History’
New Delhi: In a stern military message to Islamabad, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday said if Pakistan continues to harbour terrorists and operate against India, then they have to "decide whether they want to be part of geography or history...
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From Coaching Rooms To Exam Halls: CBI Maps NEET Leak Chain
Srinagar: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday claimed to have cracked the NEET-UG paper leak case with the arrest of a Punebased professor alleged to be the “source” of the leaked chemistry paper. Professor P V Kulkarni, a chemistry expert...
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India Flags West Asia Crisis, Warns On Sanctions
New Delhi: India on Thursday flagged grave concerns over the West Asia crisis and its impact on energy supplies and maritime stability in the Strait of Hormuz and urged BRICS nations to develop "practical ways" to navigate geopolitical upheavals as...
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Kashmir’s Liquor Economy Faces A Hard Calculation
Srinagar: Near midnight at Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, doctors moved quickly between a young crash victim with a fractured skull and two women waiting after a domestic assault complaint. Attendants standing near the emergency ward...
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Will Chase Every Rupee Of Drug Cartels: LG
Srinagar: “We will chase every rupee, every asset and shell company of drug traffickers, ensuring the harshest punishment for those destroying our youth’s future,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Monday while participating in the DrugFree Jammu...
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Somnath Temple Survived Invasions to Inspire New India: LG
Srinagar: Describing the Somnath Temple as a symbol of resilience that withstood repeated invasions and destruction over centuries, Manoj Sinha on Sunday said the temple continues to embody India’s spiritual strength and civilisational...
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Is J&K Heading Towards A Water Crisis?
Experts Warn of Falling Water Levels, Power Stress Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an alarming rainfall deficit for the sixth consecutive month, triggering fears of a looming water crisis, declining river levels and stress on hydropower...
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Centre Grants Emergency Telecom Powers To LG Sinha
New Delhi: The Centre has authorised the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise powers related to interception, decryption and suspension of telecom services in the Union Territory during public emergencies or in the interest of public...
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Op Sindoor Anniversary: No Safe Haven for Terror Camps, India Warns
New Delhi: Marking one year of Operation Sindoor, India on Thursday issued a strong warning to Pakistan, asserting that no terror sanctuary across the Line of Control is safe and that Indian forces retain the freedom to strike terrorist infrastructure...
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Institutions Must Nurture Ethical, Courageous Minds: LG
ieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said educational institutions must nurture ethical, sensitive and courageous personalities capable of leading society, while inaugurating the Shri Narsingh Dev Sanskrit Gurukul at the historic Shri Narsingh...
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Silence Won’t Defeat Drug Crisis: LG; Announces ‘Parents Brigade’
Srinagar: Stepping up the government’s anti-drug campaign, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday joined a massive padyatra in Budgam and pledged sweeping action against drug smugglers, while calling for a united societal response to curb the...
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BJP’s Bengal Breakthrough, Assam Sweep; Kerala Goes To UDF
Srinagar: The 2026 Assembly election results delivered a decisive mandate across key states, with the BJP scripting a major breakthrough in West Bengal, retaining Assam with a landslide, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a...
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Narco Money Ends Up Fuelling Terror, Radicalisation: LG Sinha
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said drug trafficking in Jammu and Kashmir has a direct link with terrorism, asserting that money generated through the illegal trade ultimately fuels radicalisation. “Some drug traffickers might...
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Ladakh A Model Of Rapid Transformation Since 2019: Shah
Srinagar:Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Ladakh has emerged as a model of rapid transformation since the 2019 bifurcation of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, listing wideranging political, social and economic changes in the Union...
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Jammu To Srinagar Now In 4 Hours: Vande Bharat Flagged Off
20-Coach All-Weather Train Equipped For Sub-zero Operations, Heavy Snowfall Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday witnessed a landmark moment in its transport history as the first direct high-speed Vande Bharat Express between Jammu Tawi and...
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PMGSY-IV Push: Chouhan Rolls Out 330 Road Projects In J&K
Srinagar: Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday launched PMGSY-IV (BatchII) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here, announcing a wide-ranging rural development push for Jammu...
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J&K Gets ₹4,568 Cr Rural Push, 330 Roads Planned
Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir is set for a major rural development push with Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan announcing a ₹4,568 crore package, alongside the rollout of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak...
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SC Directs States, UTs To Draft ‘Practical’ Plan For ICUs
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has asked all the states and Union Territories to prepare a “realistic and practical” action plan to implement the guidelines necessary as a minimum standard for intensive care units. The apex court was informed that...
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Collective Force Has Risen Against Drugs: LG Sinha
Jammu: Manoj Sinha on Friday said a “collective force” has risen across Jammu and Kashmir against drug abuse, as he launched the ‘Drug-Free J&K Campaign’ in Reasi and called for a sustained, societywide movement to eliminate narcotics. Addressing the...
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Buried In Absence: The Child Who Could Not Be Found
Srinagar- War is often counted in numbers—casualties, strikes, targets—but its truest measure lies in what cannot be counted: the absence that lingers, the lives that vanish without trace, the grief that finds no closure. For the parents of...
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Grief, Resolve & A Message On Terror
Srinagar: One year after the Pahalgam terror attack, the nation mourned the victims and sent a firm message on terrorism as commemorations were held across the country and security was stepped up across Kashmir. Across Jammu and Kashmir and beyond,...
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US-Iran Talks In Doubt As Truce Nears End
Tehran: The prospect of a second round of US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad hung in the balance on Tuesday, as Tehran refused to engage “under the shadow of threats” and Donald Trump sent conflicting signals on diplomacy while indicating he was in no...
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Smart Bus Expansion Row Stalls Kashmir Transport
Srinagar: Kashmir Valley witnessed a near-complete halt in public transport on Monday as private operators enforced a valley-wide “chakka jam” against the proposed expansion of Smart City bus services into district routes, disrupting normal life across...
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Budget Session Ends With Key Women's Bill Defeat
Srinagar: A turbulent Budget Session of Parliament concluded on Saturday, marked by repeated disruptions, sharp confrontations between the government and the opposition, and the unprecedented defeat of a key Constitution Amendment Bill seeking to...
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3 Bills To Tweak Women’s Quota, Set Up Delimitation Panel Introduced
New Delhi: The government on Thursday introduced three key pieces of legislation in the Lok Sabha aimed at modifying the existing women’s reservation framework and initiating a fresh delimitation exercise, triggering a sharp political debate in the...
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Govt, Opposition Set for Face-Off Over Delimitation, Women’s Quota
Srinagar: A high-stakes political confrontation is set to unfold in the Lok Sabha as the government prepares to introduce key legislations aimed at implementing the women’s reservation law and undertaking a fresh delimitation exercise, with the...
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Constitution Now Fully Applicable: PM On Art 370 Move
Srinagar: Asserting that the abrogation of Article 370 ensured the full application of the Constitution across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the move had strengthened India’s constitutional unity. Paying tributes to Dr B R...
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From Passports To Property, Nothing Will Be Spared: LG
Jammu: Delivering a stern warning to drug traffickers, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhaon Saturday said that assets of drug smugglers will be seized, ringleaders prosecuted, and punishment delivered swiftly, as the administration launches an intensified...
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Drug Influx Part Of Larger Conspiracy: LG
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the influx of drugs into Jammu and Kashmir is part of a larger conspiracy aimed at undermining the future of the youth, as he chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness for the...
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Ceasefire Teeters As Iran Says ‘Hands On Trigger’
Tehran: A fragile ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel appeared to be unravelling within hours of its announcement on Wednesday, as Iran warned of a possible return to full-scale war following Israeli strikes in Lebanon that Tehran...
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NGT Team Surveys Illegal Mining In Kashmir Villages
Srinagar: A team appointed by the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday inspected sites in Pulwama and Budgam districts where residents have alleged large-scale illegal earth mining. The joint team included senior officials from the Ministry of...
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Mission Ongoing On UCC, One Nation One Election: PM Modi
Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the government’s push for key reforms such as the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and ‘One Nation, One Election’ remains firmly on track, with “serious discussions” underway and “tremendous progress”...
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CAG Flags ₹34,000 Crore Unutilized Funds in J&K
Srinagar: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has flagged serious financial management lapses in Jammu and Kashmir, revealing that over ₹34,000 crore in savings were not surrendered by government departments during 2023–24, in violation of...
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Foreign MBBS Under Scanner: NMC Warns Against Non-Compliant Colleges
New Delhi: For thousands of Indian students unable to secure a medical seat at home, studying MBBS abroad often appears as a practical alternative. But a fresh advisory by the National Medical Commission (NMC) suggests that this route may be far...
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J&K Power Dues Cross ₹3,747 Cr; PHE, CRPF Among Top Defaulters
Srinagar: Outstanding electricity dues in Jammu and Kashmir have crossed ₹3,747 crore, with a large share owed by government departments, public sector units and security agencies, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the legislative assembly on...
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No Family Should Be Left Out, No Genuine Need Unnoticed: LG
Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said border villages are India’s “first line of defence” and asserted that residents living along the frontiers must see tangible improvements in their quality of life, not just symbolic...
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J&K Assembly: Security, Jobs & Housing Relief Dominate Proceedings
Jammu: Security concerns, recruitment plans and housing relief measures dominated proceedings in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, with members across party lines raising issues impacting governance and public welfare. Chief...
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J&K Assembly: 6 Private Bills Withdrawn, 2 Rejected
Jammu: Nine private members’ bills were introduced in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday, with six withdrawn after government assurances and two rejected by voice vote following discussion in the House. Among those withdrawn was a...
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Over 3,000 Schools Run Nearly Empty In J&K: Govt
Jammu: A significant number of government schools across Jammu and Kashmir are operating with little to no students, with official data revealing that 3,192 institutions have reported enrolment of less than 10 or zero since 2022. In a written reply in...
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West Asia Crisis: PM Flags ‘Serious Side Effects’, Sets Up 7 Panels
Srinagar:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the constitution of seven empowered groups to address the potential longterm fallout of the ongoing West Asia conflict, underlining the need for a coordinated “Team India” approach between the...
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Trump Delays Iran Strike After 48-Hour Ultimatum Escalates Crisis
Cairo: A dramatic escalation in the ongoing West Asia conflict took a sudden turn on Monday as US President Donald Trump stepped back from his own 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, announcing a five-day delay in threatened strikes on Iranian power...
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J&K Poised For Vibrant, Prosperous Future: LG Sinha
Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that Jammu and Kashmir has the potential to emerge as a vibrant cultural hub and a prosperous Union Territory, asserting that achieving this vision depends largely on the younger...
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Eid In Saudi On Friday
Srinagar: The Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted anywhere in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, authorities announced, confirming that Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed on Friday, March 20. According to reports, the crescent marking the beginning of Shawwal 1447...
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Back-to-Back WDs To Bring Rain, Snow To J&K
Srinagar: Two back-to-back Western Disturbances are expected to affect Jammu and Kashmir between March 15 and March 20, bringing a brief return of winter-like conditions across the region, the Meteorological Department said on Saturday. Director...
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Jumat-ul-Vida: Congregations Across Kashmir; 80,000 Offer Prayers At Hazratbal
Srinagar: Thousands of devotees gathered at mosques and shrines across Kashmir on Friday to offer special congregational prayers on the occasion of Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. The largest gathering was witnessed at the...
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Bid On Dr Farooq's Life: LG Assures Probe, Orders Security Review
Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday spoke with National Conference president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah following an assassination attempt on the veteran leader during a wedding function in Jammu, and assured that a...
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Study Links Social Media Use to Poorer Mental Wellbeing Among Kashmir Students
Srinagar: A new study has found a negative relationship between social media use and psychological wellbeing among high school students in Kashmir, with higher levels of smartphone use, messaging and video gaming linked to increased anxiety and poorer...
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No Immediate Hike In Petrol, Diesel Prices: Sources
New Delhi: Petrol and diesel prices will not be increased for now despite international crude oil rates crossing USD 100 per barrel, government sources said on Monday, even as authorities stepped up efforts to maintain uninterrupted fuel supply lines...
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Normal Life Resumes In Kashmir After Restrictions Lifted
Srinagar: Life returned to normal across Kashmir on Saturday after authorities lifted restrictions that had remained in place for nearly a week following protests in several parts of the Valley over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali...
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Why Has Dal Lake Turned Green? Locals Question, Experts Cite Ecological Factors
Srinagar: The sudden green appearance of large patches of Dal Lake has triggered debate among residents, lake dwellers and experts, with locals raising concerns over possible interference while officials attribute the change to ecological factors such...
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Fear, Anxiety As Kashmiri Students Remain Stranded In Iran
Srinagar: Fear and anxiety have gripped families across Jammu and Kashmir as hundreds of students from the Valley, enrolled in medical and other professional courses in Iran, continue to face an uncertain security situation amid escalating tensions in...
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War Spreads Across Gulf, World Watches Nervously
Dubai: Iran expanded its targets on Tuesday, striking the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia as Washington began to pull many staff out of the Middle East. The US and Israel battered Iran with airstrikes in what President Donald Trump suggested was just the...
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Let's Throw Out Our Colonial Mindset: VP
Srinagar: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Thursday called upon the nation to shed its colonial mindset and embrace Swadeshi innovation to emerge as a global leader in technology and sustainable development, while urging youth to anchor their...
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CAT Quashes ‘Dies Non’ Order Against 80-Yr-Old Retiree
Srinagar: Bringing relief to a retired government employee who has been litigating for over four decades, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Srinagar Bench, has quashed a government order that treated nearly 30 years of his service as “dies...
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Centre Approves Rs 1,677 Cr Civil Enclave at Srinagar Airport
Srinagar: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the development of a new Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport at an estimated cost of Rs 1,677 crore. The project aims to...
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Khelo India Winter Games At Gulmarg Now A True National Festival LG
Srinagar:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated the sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg, describing the event as a true national festival that celebrates unity, resilience and the transformative power of...
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Return Of KPs With Dignity PM Modi's Commitment: LG Sinha
Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that the return of Kashmiri Pandits with full dignity and security remains the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir is moving towards lasting peace and...
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Ramazan Begins In J&K; Markets Abuzz Across Valley
Srinagar: The holy month of Ramazan commenced across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, with Muslims observing the first fast after the crescent moon was sighted the previous evening. Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi, had announced...
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J&K GST Collections Cross Rs 24,000 Cr In 3 Yrs
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir recorded a steady rise in GST collections, with total revenue amounting to Rs 24,080.79 crore over the past three financial years, reflecting improved compliance and a widening tax base, the UT government said on...
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