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The Jammu Kashmir government on Monday announced that apple, saffron, mango, and litchi crops have been officially brought under the Re-structured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme, paving the way for a formal crop insurance cover for apple growers. The government said that the tendering process to select an insurance company for implementing the scheme is currently in progress. The assurance came in response to a question raised by PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra in the Assembly, who sought details on government initiatives to safeguard the interests of apple growers and bridge infrastructure gaps in the horticulture sector. In a written reply, the government said that the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), first launched in 2019 through the National Agricultural Cooperati...

Meer Irfan A quiet Charsoo village in Anantnag district was rocked by grief when two relatives lost their lives on the same stretch of road, just hours apart. Early on the morning of October 23, 58-year-old Ghulam Mohammad Bhat was struck by a speeding car while walking along the highway. Villagers rushed to the scene, but he succumbed to his injuries before help could arrive. Later that morning, Khateeja, a close relative from Mundoora in Tral, came to console the grieving family. As she crossed the same road, she was hit by a motorcycle. Despite being rushed to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar, she too died from her injuries. The double tragedy left Charsoo in shock, with residents struggling to come to terms with the loss. The same road, which had witnessed a life cut short in t...

Sadaket Malik A wave of jubilation swept through Bhalessa in Jammu Kashmir as its illustrious son, Mithun Manhas, assumed the most powerful post in Indian cricket,  President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The 45-year-old former cricketer succeeds Roger Binny, who stepped down upon turning 70, becoming the 37th president of the world’s richest cricket board. For the people of Bhalessa, a region nestled in the Chenab range, known for its meadows, streams, and cultural heritage, the moment carries deep emotional significance. Celebrations erupted across villages such as Soti Gandoh, Jitota, Chilli, Neeli, and Bathri, with residents distributing sweets, bursting crackers, and rejoicing at the rise of a son of the soil to Indian cricket’s top office. Born on Octo...

The continued restriction on heavy motor vehicles along the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway has triggered severe disruptions in Kashmir’s supply chain, inflicting massive losses on fruit growers, creating a shortage of fuel and pushing up the prices of essential commodities. Authorities on Tuesday kept the highway open only for light motor vehicles from Jammu towards Srinagar, citing major road damage and ongoing restoration work. Heavy trucks carrying apples, vegetables, petroleum products and other bulk supplies remain stranded, unable to move beyond Udhampur. The blockade has come at the peak of the apple harvesting season, leaving fruit growers alarmed. Thousands of boxes of apples packed for outside markets are lying unsent, raising fears of spoilage and price crashes. Growers s...

The opposition parties have strongly criticized the government's proposed legislation that mandates the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Union or State Ministers upon arrest or detention for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges. They argue that this move is a strategic attempt to undermine opposition-led governments and centralize power. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi expressed deep apprehension, labeling the proposed law as the "best way to destabilize opposition." He highlighted the lack of arrest guidelines and the disproportionate targeting of opposition leaders. Singhvi emphasized that the law could facilitate arbitrary arrests by central agencies, allowing for the removal of opposition Chief Ministers without electoral defeat. Similarly, a s...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce the Jammu Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in Parliament today, a move that has already triggered speculation about its intent and political consequences for the Union Territory. The bill is part of a broader legislative push by the Centre, which has listed multiple important legislations for discussion during the ongoing Monsoon Session. However, the spotlight remains firmly on Jammu  Kashmir, given the region’s sensitive political history and the long-standing debate over the restoration of its statehood. The amendment bill proposes significant changes to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019, the law that came into effect after the unilateral abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the former state ...

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for greater self-reliance in Jammu Kashmir’s agriculture and allied sectors, describing them as the backbone of the region’s economy and a major source of employment. Speaking at an event at the Shalimar Convention Centre, SKUAST-K, where appointment orders were handed over to newly recruited Veterinary Assistant Surgeons and Horticulture Development Officers, Abdullah said no sector could replace agriculture in its contribution to the state’s GDP. He stressed there should be no perception of competition between agriculture and tourism, arguing that the most significant employment and growth potential lay in farming and related industries. Highlighting the government’s focus on dairy, Abdullah announced plans to set up a dairy processing uni...

Jammu Kashmir is facing a severe stray dog crisis, ranking second among Indian states with approximately 23 stray dogs per 1,000 people, according to government data. Only Odisha surpasses it, with about 40 stray dogs per 1,000 people. In contrast, several northeastern states such as Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur report near-zero stray dog populations, highlighting significant regional differences in stray dog density across the country. Urban centers like Delhi and Kolkata have moderate densities of around four dogs per 1,000 people, while southern states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have relatively lower densities, approximately three to four stray dogs per 1,000 people. The rising stray dog population in Jammu Kashmir has been accompanied by a sharp increase in dog bite...

Since 2019, Jammu Kashmir’s development trajectory reveals clear governmental priorities, with expansion of road infrastructure sharply contrasting with a significant reduction in public educational facilities. Official data shows that Jammu and Kashmir’s road network has expanded by approximately 17.6% over the past six years, growing from around 35,000 kilometers in 2019 to more than 41,000 kilometers in 2025. Daily road construction rates have tripled, and the share of blacktopped roads has increased from 66% to 74%. Major projects, including 47 highway initiatives and the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel, underline a strong push for improving physical connectivity and economic integration in the region. In sharp contrast, data presented in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of S...