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Omar, Mehbooba Remember Gandhi, His Ideals Of Peace, Inclusive Society

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Mahatma Gandhi’s message of truth, non-violence, peace, and harmony inspires generations, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Friday in tribute to the freedom fighter on his birth anniversary.

Abdullah called upon the people to follow Gandhi’s ideals and work for a more compassionate and inclusive society.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said remembering Gandhi means finding courage to stand up for the India he gave his life for.

“On Gandhi Ji’s Jayanti, seeing our young people, despite all odds, gather at Shivaji Park and Jantar Mantar to defend the India we believe in fills my heart with hope,” Mehbooba said on X.

The former chief minister said Gandhi gave his life for an idea of India where every citizen could live with dignity and freedom.

“Today, that India is being tested. For me, remembering Gandhi Ji means finding the courage to stand up for the India he gave his life for,” Mehbooba said. (Agencies)

CS Directs DCs To Certify 100% Coverage Of Eligible Farmers Under Agristack

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Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress of digitisation of land records and implementation of AgriStack across Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting has a particular focus on district-wise progress in creation of Farmer IDs, generation of Unique Land Parcel Identification Numbers (ULPINs), digitisation and integration of cadastral maps through BhuNaksha and proposed integration of digitised land records with RBI’s Unified Lending Interface (ULI).

The meeting besides ACS, Finance; was attended by Secretary, Revenue; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu/Kashmir; Deputy Commissioners; Managing Director, AgriStack; Director, Land Records; representatives of RBI, BISAG-N and NIC besides other concerned officers.

Taking a detailed district-wise appraisal of each component separately, the Chief Secretary enquired from Deputy Commissioners about the reasons for delays and the gaps between targets and achievements.

He directed the district administrations to ensure that no eligible farmer is left out of AgriStack or Farmer ID registration, and asked them to furnish certificates to this effect after due verification.

The Chief Secretary also directed the Deputy Commissioners to fix responsibility wherever undue delays are observed, besides conducting frequent field inspections to monitor both progress and quality. He further enjoined upon them to depute other concerned officers to undertake regular field inspections and submit weekly progress reports.

ACS Finance, Shailendra Kumar, stressed the need to prioritise farmers available in villages, observing that they constitute the overwhelming majority of the target population, while exceptional cases of absentees could be taken up subsequently.

He advised against generalising exceptions and urged the field agencies to make every effort to complete AgriStack work without further delay.

The ACS Finance also asked Deputy Commissioners to formulate specific operational guidelines for different situations encountered by field functionaries, so that procedural issues do not become a reason for delaying the work.

On this occasion the Secretary, Revenue, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, gave out instant solutions to the issues raised bt DCs He also took this occasion to apprise the meeting that J&K has achieved 100 per cent digitisation coverage across its foundational land administrative units, covering all 20 districts, 207 tehsils and 6,818 villages.

As many as 68,62,596 land parcels (Khasras) have been digitised. The backlog of 6,47,274 mutations has also been incorporated across all 20 districts, leaving no pending backlog.

Moreover it was given out that the Department has received 14,48,748 grievances, of which 14,38,571 were non-quasi-judicial. As many as 14,27,576 non-quasi-judicial grievances have been resolved.

The meeting was informed that against a base of 71,04,737 Khasras across 6,818 villages, data entry for AgriStack has progressed substantially, with 65,77,944 Khasras submitted, 58,17,502 verified and 57,30,681 approved, representing 80.7 per cent of the total base.

In Jammu Division, 2,770 out of 3,750 villages have been fully approved, with an overall Khasra approval rate of 80.8 per cent. Similarly in Kashmir Division, 1,945 out of 3,068 villages have been fully approved, with an overall Khasra approval rate of 80.5 per cent.

The meeting was informed that 1,21,472 Farmer IDs have been generated across 1,663 villages so far. Kashmir Division accounts for 70,979 Farmer IDs across 836 bucketed villages, while Jammu Division has generated 52,751 Farmer IDs across 827 villages.

Regarding the Digital Crop Survey it was given out that the same for Kharif 2026 is being undertaken across 5,714 villages covering around 30.61 lakh agricultural plots.

Survey has been completed for 30,61,696 plots, representing 96.55 per cent progress, while supervisors have approved 27,27,189 plots.

As far as ULPIN generation is concerned it was divulged that the process has gained substantial momentum and significant progress has been recorded in generation of Unique Land Parcel Identification Numbers (ULPINs).

The meeting was apprised that as of September 25, ULPIN coverage had expanded to 5,275 villages, up from 4,078, while the number of ULPINs generated increased to 33,47,011, registering an addition of 4,08,887 since the previous review.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of BhuNaksha and integration of cadastral maps with digitised land records. Under the prescribed six-step workflow, the process involves inventory and collection of Shajra/Mussavi maps, geo-referencing, Khasra-wise subdivision into daughter maps, topology and boundary checks, integration with Jamabandi/Record of Rights and field validation by Patwaris.

Out of 6,818 village maps, 6,468 have been handed over to BISAG-N, of which 6,049 have been received back. Geo-referencing of 425 maps is pending, while attribute tables for 5,754 maps have been completed.

The meeting was also apprised of the proposed integration of J&K’s digitised land records with RBI’s Unified Lending Interface (ULI) through specialised APIs.

The integration is envisaged to facilitate secure access to relevant land and farm-related information for agricultural lending, including landowner and land parcel details, farm parameters, mortgage details, crop information and flag-marking of existing loans.

The Chief Secretary directed all concerned agencies to work against fixed timelines and clearly assigned responsibilities.

Deputy Commissioners have been asked to complete locking of RoR/Jamabandi within one month of Farmer ID generation, complete Farmer ID generation in all bucketed villages and address unclaimed buckets and cross-district land parcels within two months.

The Chief Secretary stressed that the digitisation exercise should not remain confined to data generation, but must translate into accurate, updated and field-validated land records that enable faster citizen services, transparent land administration and easier access to institutional agricultural credit for all farmers in the days to come.

CM Omar Hails J&K Compressed Bio-Gas Policy 2026 As Major Step Towards Clean Energy, Circular Economy

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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has termed the Jammu and Kashmir Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) Policy 2026 a major step towards promoting clean energy, strengthening the circular economy and turning organic waste into wealth in Jammu & Kashmir.

Following its approval by the Council of Ministers chaired by the Chief Minister, the Government has notified the Jammu and Kashmir Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) Policy 2026, providing a comprehensive framework for converting organic waste into clean automotive fuel and organic fertiliser.

The policy aims to promote investment in CBG production by facilitating the utilisation of diverse organic waste streams, including cattle dung, apple pomace, municipal solid waste, pine needles and crop residues. It seeks to simultaneously address waste management, energy security, rural employment and sustainable agricultural practices.

A key feature of the policy is capital expenditure support of ₹0.50 crore per TPD, with assistance capped at ₹10 crore per project. Government land will be made available at nominal lease rates of ₹1 per square metre, with 100 per cent exemption from stamp duty.

To facilitate ease of doing business, the policy provides for 60-day deemed approvals for non-statutory permissions through the Single Window Portal, enabling eligible clearances to be deemed granted if not disposed of within the stipulated timeframe.

The policy also provides for 100 per cent SGST reimbursement for the first five years of operation, a manpower subsidy of ₹3,000 per month per local unskilled worker for two years, and interest subvention of up to ₹2 crore on bank term loans.

The Government will also facilitate feedstock aggregation and market linkages for bio-manure, with the policy targeting distribution of bio-manure to 10,000 farmers. The initiative envisages creation of around 2,000 direct rural jobs by 2030, besides generating livelihood opportunities across the CBG value chain.

The policy, valid up to 2032, is aimed at creating a conducive ecosystem for green investment while promoting decentralised waste-to-energy solutions and strengthening rural economies.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated Minister for Science & Technology Satish Sharma and the Department of Science & Technology for notifying the policy, describing it as an important initiative towards sustainable energy development and a cleaner, more resource-efficient Jammu & Kashmir.

Vande Bharat Crosses Chenab, Anji Bridges At 100 Kmph As Katra-Banihal Train Speed Limit Raised

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A Vande Bharat Express crossed the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River and India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge at Anji at 100 kmph, as the maximum permissible speed on the 111-km-long Katra-Banihal broad-gauge rail section was raised to 100 kmph, officials said.

The speed enhancement on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section under the Jammu division of Northern Railway was successfully tested on Thursday, marking a significant operational milestone for the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project.

“The maximum permissible speed on the 111-km-long Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Banihal section has been increased from 75 kmph to 100 kmph,” Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said.

He said the Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 26401/26404) created a new record by crossing both the world’s highest Chenab Bridge and India’s first cable-stayed Anji Bridge at 100 kmph.

The 111-km Katra-Banihal section is a crucial and technically challenging component of the USBRL project, which is aimed at providing seamless rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the country.

The Railway Ministry approved the enhancement in the maximum permissible speed to 100 kmph after all prescribed safety conditions were complied with by the Railways in August this year, officials said.

Earlier, trains were permitted to operate at a maximum speed of 85 kmph on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Sangaldan section and 75 kmph on the Sangaldan-Banihal section.

The increase in the permissible speed is expected to make train operations on the USBRL project smoother, reduce travel time and provide faster, safer and more comfortable journeys to passengers.

With the enhancement, travel time between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Banihal is also expected to come down, providing faster and more comfortable rail connectivity in the region.

The Katra-Banihal section traverses some of the most difficult and rugged terrain of the Pir Panjal and lower Himalayan ranges, involving deep valleys, steep mountain slopes, major rivers and highly complex geological formations.

The construction of the line has therefore required extensive use of advanced engineering techniques, including long tunnels, high-level bridges and sophisticated railway infrastructure, officials said.

The section has some of the country’s most prestigious and challenging engineering structures, including the Chenab Railway Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, constructed over the Chenab River near Reasi, and the Anji Khad Railway Bridge, India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.

The section also has 33 tunnels.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra on June 6, 2025. (Agencies)

Saffron Cultivation Begins In Ladakh

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A chunk of land in Leh, which was barren till 3 months ago, is all set to grow some exquisite saffron for the first time in Ladakh.

Buoyed by the stupendous success of the Lilium flower fields in Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has undertaken another agricultural-diversification exercise of growing saffron in the cold desert of Ladakh. As an ambitious experiment, nearly 800 kg corms (90,000 nos.) of premium Iranian saffron have been planted over nearly 4000 square meters of land, which was earlier barren and has been recently restored and rejuvenated, as part of Project Him Sarovar, under the guidance of L-G Saxena. Agriculture experts said these saffron corms are expected to produce a good quantity of saffron.

The initiative is guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of diversifying traditional agricultural practices for financial sustainability and economic empowerment of the farmers and the youth. Saffron plantation in Ladakh builds on the Administration’s successful experiment with high-value floriculture, particularly the massive cultivation of Lilium and Gladiolus in Leh, that has opened new employment and livelihood opportunities for farmers, Self-Help Groups and other local entrepreneurs.

The pilot saffron cultivation is being undertaken at Command Area Gate No. 27 at Spituk Pharka in Leh. For this purpose, high-quality Iranian saffron corms with a circumference of 8 to 10 cm, a diameter of 2.5 to 3 cm or larger, and a weight of 10 grams or more, which are considered the best corms, have been planted. These specifications are considered suitable for high-quality saffron production.

L-G Saxena said the saffron plantation has immense potential to strengthen our local economy by introducing another high-value crop under Ladakh’s unique high-altitude agro-climatic conditions. This, he said, would also bust the myth that saffron cannot be grown in Ladakh and that the barren or degraded land could not be restored.

“Our endeavour is to transform degraded and barren land into productive assets and create new opportunities for our farmers. The introduction of saffron is another important experiment in crop diversification, which can open a new avenue for enhancing farmers’ incomes through a premium-value crop,” said L-G Saxena.

Saffron is a high-value crop with strong market demand and commands a premium price, offering the potential to provide farmers with an additional and remunerative source of income. Jammu and Kashmir is the primary region for saffron cultivation in India, accounting for approximately 90 per cent of the country’s total production. Its introduction in Ladakh is, therefore, being undertaken as a pilot to assess its suitability to the region’s climatic conditions and explore its economic potential.

It may be noted that the saffron plantation site is part of the 800 acres of land being restored in Leh by bringing fresh water from the adjoining Igoo–Phey irrigation canal, which was recently restored and operationalised. On the directions of the Lieutenant Governor, unutilised or excess water from the canal is being channelled towards the barren land to increase its moisture content and make it suitable for cultivation.

The Command Area also has four water ponds as part of Project Him Sarovar, which are located adjacent to the site, with a combined storage capacity of around 24 million litres.

Book Distribution Programme | Seva Parv 2026

As part of Seva Parv 2026, a book distribution programme was organised at DIET Basohli by the Zonal Education Office, Basohli, in presence of ADC Basohli Pankaj Bhagotra and Tehsildar Basohli Sagar Vishav Karma

Seva Parv 2026: Kathua witnesses series of cleanliness drives, health and public welfare initiatives

Seva Parv 2026: Kathua witnesses series of cleanliness drives, health and public welfare initiatives

As part of the ongoing Seva Parv 2026 celebrations, a series of cleanliness, awareness, health and community outreach activities were organised across District Kathua, reaffirming the commitment of various departments towards cleanliness, public welfare and citizen participation.At DIET Basohli, a Book Distribution Programme was organised as part of Seva Parv 2026 to encourage reading habits and facilitate access to educational resources. ADC Basohli Pankaj Bhagotra, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and highlighted the importance of promoting education, learning and community-oriented initiatives.Under the able guidance of Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma, cleanliness drives were organised at various AYUSH institutions across the district, alongside a cleanliness drive at the Range Forest Office, Bani. The initiatives witnessed active participation of officers and staff, reinforcing the message of cleanliness, hygiene, environmental responsibility and collective civic participation under Seva Parv 2026.Further strengthening the cleanliness campaign, Municipal Committee Kathua organised a Plogging Run to promote cleanliness, environmental responsibility and active citizens participation. The initiative combined physical activity with collection of litter, conveying the message of keeping public spaces clean through collective efforts.Meanwhile, JKPCC Kathua conducted an awareness drive against banned polythene and single-use plastic in the Kathua market as per the directions of Deputy Commissioner Kathua. During the drive, the public was sensitised about the harmful environmental impact of banned polythene and single-use plastic and encouraged to adopt eco-friendly alternatives. Around 6 kg of banned polythene (below 120 microns) and 500 grams of single-use plastic (SUP) were seized during the enforcement drive.Under the health component of Seva Parv 2026, Health Department Hiranagar organised medical camps across various villages under Hariachak and Main Hiranagar zones of Block Hiranagar. More than 400 beneficiaries were screened and provided health check-ups, medical consultation and necessary assistance.In addition, a Health Check-up-cum-Medical Camp for sanitary workers was organised at Municipal Committee Hiranagar, providing health screening and medical consultation to sanitation workers in recognition of their important role in maintaining cleanliness and public hygiene.The activities organised across the district under Seva Parv 2026 highlighted the coordinated efforts of various departments and institutions towards cleanliness, environmental protection, health awareness, education and community welfare, while encouraging citizens to actively participate in building cleaner, healthier and more responsible communities.

J&K Govt Orders Transfers, Postings Of Eight Forest Department Officers

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Jammu, Oct 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered transfers, postings and assignment of additional charges of eight Forest Department officers with immediate effect.Vande Bharat tickets

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Bus turns turtle on NH-44 at Marog; District Administration Ramban launches rescue operation

Bus turns turtle on NH-44 at Marog; District Administration Ramban launches rescue operation

A tourist bus bearing registration number WB 41K 2929, carrying tourists from West Bengal, turned turtle on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) near Marog in Ramban district today. The tourists were travelling from Srinagar towards Jammu when the accident occurred.As many as 33 tourists sustained injuries in the accident and were immediately evacuated from the spot and shifted to District Hospital Ramban for medical treatment. Among the injured 9 tourists were referred to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital Jammu for specialised treatment.Soon after receiving information about the accident, the District Administration Ramban, under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan, swung into action and launched a coordinated rescue operation. SSP Traffic NHW Raja Adil Hameed, Additional Deputy Commissioner Varunjeet Singh Charak, Additional SP Majeeb-ur-Rehman, ACR Shokat Hayat Mattoo and other concerned officers rushed to the spot and monitored the rescue and evacuation operations.Personnel from J&K Police, CRPF, Civil QRT Ramban and Civil Administration actively participated in the rescue operation and ensured the safe evacuation of the injured tourists from the accident site.The officers also visited District Hospital Ramban and supervised the treatment being provided to the injured. The Medical Superintendent, District Hospital was directed to ensure the best possible medical treatment and all necessary healthcare facilities to the injured tourists.The District Administration monitored the rescue, evacuation and medical care arrangements to ensure timely assistance to all the affected tourists.

PM Modi Has ‘Good Ideas’ For Settlement Of Ukraine Conflict: Putin

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “very good ideas” on a mutual settlement of the Ukraine conflict and raises the issue at “every meeting”, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

Putin made the remarks on Thursday at the annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, according to state-run TASS news agency.

“As for Prime Minister Modi’s position on ending wars, I can say that he is one of those world leaders who, despite our very good, even friendly relations, including at the personal level, constantly raises the issue and asks questions about ending the conflict in Ukraine,” Putin said.

The Russian leader said Modi “brings up these matters at every meeting we have and takes a keen interest in them”.

“He has very good ideas aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions,” Putin added.

Ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi last month, Putin and Modi held talks, during which the Russian leader briefed Modi on the overall situation regarding the Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, and ongoing peace initiatives.

A few days before that, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would welcome any peace efforts by India to end the Ukraine conflict, noting that Moscow’s strategy aligns closely with New Delhi’s position for a resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.

Putin, at the forum on Wednesday, also expressed appreciation for India’s cultural diversity and unity.

“India cannot fail to amaze with its scale and diversity,” he said.

“Few people know this, but Mr. [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi told me that of the 1.5 billion people, 600 million Indians speak their native language, Hindi, while most speak their own languages, and they all live together – amazing,” he said.

Asserting that this cannot fail to inspire admiration, he said, “There is something unique about Indian culture that can certainly serve as an example of how diversity and unity can coexist. It is certainly something to learn from.” (Agencies)