BUSINESS

The Jammu Kashmir Government is set to introduce a new Shops and Establishments Bill in the Assembly on Wednesday, allowing women to work night shifts with safety provisions and permitting shops to operate round the clock. The J&K Shops and Establishments (Licensing, Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2025 also ensures equal pay and protection from discrimination, sexual harassment, and mandates transport for women working at night. The bill proposes flexible working hours but caps total work at 48 hours per week and eight hours per day, with overtime paid at double the regular rate. It also mandates basic welfare measures including drinking water, toilets, first aid, and paid holidays. Two other bills will also be tabled — one to increase the State Elec...

The Jammu Kashmir Tourism Department on Tuesday said it has spent more than ₹500 crore in the past two years on upgrading tourism infrastructure and promotional campaigns, which it credited for record tourist arrivals across the region. Tourism Minister informed the Legislative Assembly that ₹253.75 crore were allocated under the Capex budget in 2023–24 and ₹268.42 crore in 2024–25 for infrastructure development. “No centrally sponsored scheme was implemented during this period,” he added. The minister said ₹50.50 crore were earmarked for advertisements and publicity, of which ₹42.74 crore were utilised. The campaigns, he said, helped promote new destinations and contributed to a sharp rise in tourist inflow. “Over four crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir in the past two year...

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has rejected allegations made in a Washington Post investigation that claimed Indian officials had approved a plan to channel nearly $3.9 billion (₹32,000 crore) of LIC funds into the Adani Group. In a statement issued on Friday, the state-run insurer called the report “false and baseless,” asserting that no such proposal was ever drafted or received. LIC said all its investment decisions are taken independently, based on internal policies, regulatory norms, and board approvals — without any direction from the government. “The Department of Financial Services (DFS) or any other government authority has no role in LIC’s investment decisions,” the insurer said, adding that the report appeared to be “an attempt to mislead the public and mali...

Rising unemployment in Kashmir remains a pressing concern, with many young people still chasing government jobs. Experts say the solution lies in local entrepreneurship, but timely financial support and guidance from the government are essential to unlock the potential of the valley’s youth. From agriculture and dairy to tech and tourism, there are numerous profitable business opportunities in Kashmir that can generate steady income and create local jobs. Here are 10 top business ideas for 2025. 1. Agriculture Business Agriculture contributes around 23% of Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP, yet much of the sector remains unorganized. Local entrepreneurs can generate jobs while reducing dependency on imports. High-potential niches: Potato cultivation Onion cultivation Mushroom cult...

With rising financial needs in India, personal loans remain a popular option for everything from home improvements to medical emergencies. Experts recommend comparing interest rates, processing fees, loan amounts, and eligibility before applying. Here is a breakdown of the top 10 personal loan offers from banks and NBFCs in India for 2025, highlighting key features for borrowers. Top 10 Personal Loan Offers Bank / NBFC Interest Rate (p.a.) Processing Fee Loan Amount Tenure Best For Key Notes HDFC Bank 10.50% – 21.00% 1–2% ₹50,000 – ₹40 lakh 12–60 months Salaried professionals, high-value loans Quick disbursal for existing customers SBI 9.60% – 20.50% 1–2% ₹50,000 – ₹20 lakh 12–60 months Government employees, low-rate loans Attractive for goo...

During the peak apple harvest, the Indian Railways facilitated large-scale movement of horticultural produce from the Valley, dispatching 19 trains between 11 and 21 September 2025 from Budgam, Anantnag, and Baramulla stations. According to officials, a total of 5,42,699 apple boxes were transported to major markets, mainly Delhi. Anantnag station contributed the largest share, with 4,30,013 boxes loaded across ten trains. On 20 September alone, Anantnag set a record by loading 91,662 boxes in a single day. Budgam followed with 94,388 boxes sent in eight trains, along with 225 walnut bags and 74 walnut giri boxes. From Baramulla, one train carried 18,298 boxes, including apples and 200 pear boxes. Officials said the smooth and timely dispatch of these trains is crucial for Kashmir...

Danishwar Hameed Apple growers in Kashmir on Monday announced that they will file a missing report, accusing the government of being absent at a time when the Kashmir's crucial horticulture sector is reeling under massive losses. Farmers’ bodies, Jammu Kashmir Kisan Tehreek and Apple Farmers Federation, said the unusual decision symbolises their desperation, as apples worth crores continue to rot on the highways while authorities, they alleged, are doing little beyond symbolic gestures. Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, Zahoor Ahmad, a senior member of the farmers’ unions, said the step reflected the level of frustration among growers. “We invested a year’s labour in these orchards only to see our produce wasted because nothing substantial has been done,” he said. The unions are demand...

The fruit mandi in Shopian has remained closed for the second consecutive day owing to the non-availability of transport and steep fare hikes, leaving apple growers distressed at the peak of the harvesting season. Growers said apple consignments worth nearly Rs 30 crore are stranded, with eight-tyre trucks carrying fruit not being allowed to ply on the Mughal Road, which has become a major bottleneck for transportation. According to traders, thousands of apple crates are lying unsold and unattended at the mandi, while growers fear heavy financial losses if the situation is not resolved immediately. “Transportation charges have gone up abnormally, and even then trucks are not being allowed. Our fruit is perishable, and every passing hour adds to the losses,” said one of the growers...

To strengthen horticultural logistics in Kashmir, two coaches (parcel van) loaded with apples are set to depart from Budgam station today—one attached to a Delhi-bound train and the other to a Jammu-bound train, officials said on Thursday. Officials said that the initiative is aimed at ensuring faster, safer, and more reliable transportation of Kashmiri apples to national markets, reducing dependence on the Srinagar–Jammu Highway that often remains vulnerable to weather vagaries and landslides. A senior railway official said that the move will directly benefit growers by saving both time and cost. “Railways has made special arrangements this season to facilitate smooth transportation of apples. With two coaches (parcel van), growers will have an assured, efficient corridor to supply th...

Suhail Dar Under the September sky in Sallar, a village tucked in the folds of Anantnag’s mountains, the sound of sticks striking branches echoes through the walnut groves. This is the pulse of autumn in Kashmir, walnut season, when families gather in orchards and on hillsides to bring down the prized fruit that has made the Valley famous across the world. “Kashmiri walnut has no match,” says Younis Ahmad, a farmer from Sallar, brushing dust from his hands after a long morning’s work. “It is the finest in taste and oil content, and the world knows it.” Kashmir produces more than 95 percent of India’s walnuts, and its varieties, Wonth, Kaghazi, and Barzul, are known for their unique flavor, texture, and organic purity. From the terraced orchards of Anantnag to the forests of Kupwar...