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Hooria Gillani In Jammu Kashmir, the general category that consists of over 75 per cent of the population will have a mere 40 per cent access to government jobs in the region. The recent decision by the Manoj Sinha led administration to substantially raise Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservations by 10 per cent, thereby reducing open merit to only 40 per cent, has left many astonished and prompted serious concerns about fairness. Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act of 2024 has introduced these significant changes. Under this amendment, the Pahari Ethnic Group, Padari Tribe, Kolis, and Gadda Brahmins have been granted a 10% reservation quota, stirring both anticipation and concern within the region. The original act, enacted in 2005, focused on providing reservation quotas for Scheduled ...

In a display of honesty and integrity, the people of Kashmir have once again proven their reputation for hospitality and sincerity. Ms. Fiza, a tourist from Malaysia, found herself in awe of the honesty exhibited by the locals during her recent visit to the Kashmir valley. Her admiration for the Kashmiri people stems from an incident that unfolded at a coat and textiles shop in Khanyar area of Srinagar. While shopping, Ms. Fiza accidently left her bag containing more than 1.75 lakhs behind. Rather than seizing the opportunity, the shopkeepers, upon discovering the forgotten bag, chose to safeguard it, hoping for her return. Expressing their concern, the shopkeepers waited anxiously, even though they lacked Ms. Fiza's contact information. "We were not able to work or sleep becau...

A video circulating on social media depicts a man in uniform instructing an elderly Kashmiri to chant "Jai Shri Ram," sparking controversy in the region, as reported by The Telegraph. ALSO READ: Army forced people to raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans in Pulwama mosque: Mehbooba Mufti  The authenticity of the video remains unconfirmed,  The Telegraph said in its report. National Conference spokesperson Sarah Hayat Shah condemned the incident, highlighting it as alarming for the region's dynamics. https://twitter.com/SaraHayatShah/status/1755141513078792334?s=19 "Shocking! Man in uniform holds the arm of an Elderly Kashmiri Muslim man firmly, asks him to utter Religious (Hindu) slogan “Jai Shri Ram”. Wow! This is NAYA KASHMIR. Hoshiyaar, Khabardaar. ALLAHU-AKBAR," Sarah tweeted. In ...

Amid an internet shutdown in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu Kashmir, The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Bill, opposed by the Gujjar Bakerwl community aims at empowering Pahari Ethnic Group, Padari Tribes, Koli and Gadda Brahmin by providing Scheduled Tribe status. The inclusion of these communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu Kashmir will have absolutely no impact on current level of reservations available to the existing Scheduled Tribe communities such as Gujjars and Bakarwals, s per the government. "They will continue to get reservation like before,"  said the government in an official handout. “Reservation to the newly listed Scheduled Tribes will be provided in such a mann...

Code of Conduct: TK seeks to publish informed opinion based on analysis of evidence with adherence to the highest editorial standards. The editors welcome critical, controversial, or contrarian opinions. That being said, every argument must be substantiated by credible sources and presented in a respectful manner that advances meaningful dialogue on strategic issues in and around Kashmir. TK pieces must be original, topical, and informed by quantitative and qualitative data. We assume that any piece submitted to us is being offered exclusively and that no piece accepted for publication at TK will be published elsewhere simultaneously in any form without our knowledge. TK will not publish articles that fail to live up to these standards. Editors’ Goals: The editors view the review pro...

The Kashmiriyat offers a unique 4-month remote internship program with limited spots, catering specifically to journalism or English graduates. We highly value strong skills in writing, design, and photography. As part of the internship, participants will engage in part-time work and have the opportunity to attend online workshops conducted by seasoned professionals in the media industry. Successful completion of the program may open doors to a permanent position based on individual performance. Interns can anticipate receiving a certificate and a commendation from The Kashmiriyat team upon concluding the internship, providing a valuable addition to their professional credentials. Prospective candidates interested in joining The Kashmiriyat's internship program can reach out by...

Jammu Kashmir is home to nine snow leopards while Ladakh has the highest number at 477, officials revealed Tuesday. They said that the snow leopard, an endangered species, has been estimated to have nine in J&K, while Ladakh holds the highest count in India at 477. Experts told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that these figures are satisfactory, but there are still many more areas to be covered. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav released India's first-ever Snow Leopard Population Assessment report, revealing a total of 718 snow leopards in the country. The Wildlife Institute of India, in collaboration with Nature Conservation Foundation and WWF-India, conducted the assessment covering 70% of the potential snow leopard range. Ladakh leads with 477, followed by Utta...

Arif Bashir Naik, a filmmaker from Kashmir, has won the Swedish Academy Of Motion Picture Award in the short film category for his creation, "Where is Kashmir (Kasheer Kaete)," chosen from numerous entries. Arif Bashir, the writer-director, draws on his personal experiences growing up in Kashmir, offering a glimpse into the difficult life of an ordinary boy in a violence-affected region. Arif expressed his appreciation, saying, “It is always great to find appreciation for your films, your artworks.” He shared the team's aim to participate in festivals like Cannes and Sundance, despite technical delays preventing submissions to other festivals. A resident of North Kashmir’s Tangmarg area, Arif, a writer, poet, and communications postgraduate, will receive the award in about a month. ...

Ratle Hydro Electric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL), a collaboration between NHPC Limited and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC), has finalized a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services Limited. This agreement pertains to the procurement of power generated from the 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The PPA spans 40 years from the Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the project, following the power allocation specified by the Ministry of Power, Government of India. The signing of the PPA took place in Jaipur on January 3, 2024, in the presence of senior officials from RHPCL and Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services Limited. However, the recent power purchase agreem...

The BJP divided the land and resources of Jammu and Kashmir for the benefit of its “cronies” and used brute majority in Parliament to pass laws that disempower the region’s people, the Peoples Democratic Party said in its periodical. “Other than dividing up our land and resources for their cronies and using their brute majority in the Parliament to airdrop laws to disempower our people, what has BJP done for us?” the PDP asked in its monthly newsletter SPEAK UP. The PDP said Kashmir is grieving after the verdict of the Supreme Court on abrogation of Article 370. Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in the Parliament on “blunders” of Jawaharlal Nehru’s handling of Kashmir, the party said Kashmir had acceded to India because of the country’s first prime minister. ...