JAMMU, DECEMBER 24: The Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha has extended his heartiest greetings to the people on the joyous occasion of Christmas.
In a message, the Lieutenant Governor said, “On the joyous occasion of Christmas, I convey my warm greetings to the people. I hope that this occasion of festivity ushers in love and harmony amongst the people.
The festival, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, serves as a reminder to embrace Lord Christ’s teachings of love, compassion, and forgiveness in our daily lives. This auspicious occasion inspires us to renew our commitment towards the welfare of each other for a prosperous future for all.
May the spirit of Christmas encourage us to help those in need and bring peace, prosperity and happiness to all”.
Srinagar, December 23: Shri Shantmanu (IAS), Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Higher Education Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, has announced winter vacations for all Government Degree Colleges across the Union Territory.
As per Government Order No. 497-JK(HE) of 2025, issued by the Higher Education Department, Government Degree Colleges falling in the Winter Zones of both Kashmir and Jammu divisions shall observe winter vacations from December 24, 2025, to February 14, 2026.
Meanwhile, Government Degree Colleges located in the Summer Zone of the Jammu Division shall remain closed for winter vacations from January 1, 2026, to January 10, 2026.
The order comes into effect immediately and shall be applicable to all Government Degree Colleges across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Awantipora, Dec. 23: The Centre for Health and Wellness in collaboration with IUST Radio station is broadcasting a series of programmes aimed at creating awareness on issues concerning the youth.
The university places special emphasis on motivating the youth towards productive ventures and helping them realize their potential for the larger good of the society. This features prominently in the outreach plan of the university that among other things involves adoption of local villages, conducting awareness programmes covering different aspects of societal importance including drug abuse, women safety, saturation of government schemes. As a part of this mission, IUST is reaching out to the local committees under the aegis of Centre for Health and Wellness through its Community Radio Station. Talk shows hosting students, faculty and experts are held who share their experiences, coping strategies and other aspects for a wider impact and resonance among the youth. Prof. Yasmeen Ashai, Coordinator in a session on women safety talked about women’ safety, awareness of rights, timely reporting of issues etc. Ms Urooj Manzoor University Councillor who has curated the sessions also talked about emotional resilience prioritizing self-care and mental well-being.
JAMMU, DECEMBER 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today released a coffee-table book titled ‘Samnvay’, which showcases the digital transformative journey of Jammu and Kashmir and documents the key projects and technological contributions of the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) in J&K.
The launch event was attended by Minister for Science & Technology and Information Technology Satish Sharma; Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department Shantmanu; Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta; Commissioner Secretary GAD/Information M. Raju; Secretary IT Piyush Singla; Special Director BISAG-N; Secretary School Education; CEO JKeGA, and other senior officers.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister lauded BISAG-N for crafting practical, innovative solutions to complex governance challenges in Jammu and Kashmir, noting that many of these solutions have relevance beyond J&K. He said J&K’s unique geography and climatic conditions necessitate a strong push towards digitisation, as technology enables uniform delivery of public services irrespective of location. “Digitising governance and services ensures that people of Jammu and Kashmir receive the same quality of service, whether they live or work in remote areas or urban centres,” the Chief Minister observed.
Calling Samnvay a comprehensive snapshot of this cooperation, the Chief Minister said the publication offers an overview of how technology-driven interventions have supported administrative efficiency and service delivery.
Thanking the Director General of BISAG-N and his entire team for their sustained efforts, CM Omar Abdullah expressed hope that Samnvay would be the first of many such publications documenting future projects and milestones, as the Government of Jammu and Kashmir continues to leverage technology for better governance in the months and years ahead.
Administers Polio drops to toddlers, children at Gandhinagar Hospital
JAMMU, DECEMBER 21: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo kick-started the Pulse Polio Campaign across Jammu and Kashmir from Jammu by inaugurating National Immunization Day (Polio Day) at Government Hospital Gandhinagar here today.
The campaign was inaugurated by Health Minister while personally administering Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) drops to toddlers and children, symbolically marking the beginning of campaign across Jammu and Kashmir and symbolizing the commitment of the Government towards safeguarding the health of future generations.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Sakeena emphasized on the critical role of routine immunization and community participation in maintaining J&K’s polio-free status. She urged parents and guardians to actively cooperate with healthcare workers and ensure that every child receives the life-saving polio vaccine during the campaign. “To ensure administration of Polio drops to child under this campaign is very important responsibility for both parents and not just mother”, the Minister stated.
The Minister reiterated the Government’s unwavering resolve to protect child health and to sustain India’s Polio-Free status through sustained vigilance and robust immunization efforts. She emphasized that no child under five years of age should be left unvaccinated, and called for active participation from parents, frontline health workers, community leaders and all stakeholders to ensure universal coverage.
The Minister highlighted that the Health department is working efficiently under this campaign and achieved polio free status for J&K. She lauded the efforts of frontline health workers, ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, volunteers, and district health teams for their tireless dedication in reaching every household, including those in far-flung and vulnerable areas.
“Going to far-flung areas and giving these two drops to children there is very challenging, but our frontline staff delivered on that efficiently”, she said.
The Minister further highlighted that the department has established around 11000 booths across J&K, involving almost 42000 healthcare workers and around 20 lakh children will be administered Polio drops during the campaign.
She added that special immunization booths, mobile teams, and house-to-house visits have been put in place across all districts to cover every eligible child, besides robust monitoring mechanisms have also been established to ensure effective implementation of the campaign.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Vikram Randhawa said that National Immunization Day (Polio) Campaign forms a key component of the government’s public health strategy to protect future generations and strengthen disease prevention measures across Jammu and Kashmir. He called upon all the parents, public and responsible citizens to contribute towards this campaign.
The MLA also lauded the continuous efforts of Health Minister, Sakeena Itoo for bringing improvements in healthcare infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.
In his address, Secretary Health, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed said that this day is very important for maintaining the status of Polio free India, which our country achieved in the year 2014. He called upon the parents and public to actively participate in this campaign. He further said that the department has established around 11,000 booths for the administration of Polio drops to the children across Jammu and Kashmir.
CEO State Health Agency, Ananth Dwivedi; Mission Director ICDS, Sajad Hussain Ganai; Commissioner Food and Drug Administration, Smita Sethi; Director Family Welfare and Immunization, Dr. Poonam Sethi; Director Health Services Jammu, Dr. Abdul Hamid Zargar; doctors, paramedical staff, healthcare professionals and large number of locals and children were also present on the occasion.
Pertinently, the Pulse Polio Campaign 2025 across Jammu & Kashmir is being conducted on a massive scale, with 10,893 vaccination booths established across the Union Territory. A total of 42,564 health workers and volunteers have been deployed to ensure smooth implementation of the programme. To cover children on the move, 256 transit vaccination points and 520 mobile teams have been established. Through these extensive arrangements, the campaign aims to administer Oral Polio Vaccine to approximately 20 lakh children under five years of age across J&K, ensuring that no child is missed and the Polio-Free status of the region is sustained.
JAMMU, DECEMBER 20: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level review meeting of Subordinate Departments of Home Department, at Lok Bhavan, Jammu.
The meeting was attended by Shri Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary, Shri Deepak Kumar, Director General of Police, Prisons; Shri Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary Home; Shri Santosh D. Vaidya, Principal Secretary, Finance Department; Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor; Shri Abdul Ghani Mir, Commandant General Home Guards; Shri Alok Kumar, Director Fire and Emergency Services; Brig. Pankaj Chib (Retd), Director Sainik Welfare Department; Shri Om Prakash, Director, Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL) and other senior officials.
The meeting discussed the Budget and Expenditure Position of Prisons, Prosecution, Home Guards/CD & SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Sainik Welfare, and Advisory Board under PSA in BE 2025-26.
The Lieutenant Governor took a comprehensive review of progress achieved under vital ongoing projects including construction of High Security Prison at Mahanpur Kathua; establishment of Cyber Division at FSL Jammu, up-gradation of Cyber Division at FSL Srinagar and construction of Bunkers in Border Districts of J&K.
He directed for expediting the pace of works and strengthening of various wings of the Home Department through coordinated efforts.
The Lieutenant Governor also instructed for sensitization of prison officers and staff and frequent checking and surveillance of prisons across UT of J&K.
Baramulla, December 20: Police in Baramulla have bust a gang of cheaters and recovered looted substantial amount and counterfeit gold coins from their possession.
On 18/12/2025, a complaint was received at Police Station Pattan from Furqan Akbar resident of Trisal, Pulwama, stating that he and his associate Suiliman Bhat were cheated and robbed by certain persons on the pretext of selling gold biscuits.
The accused initially took an advance of ₹1,00,000/- and later called the complainants to Zangam Crossing to deliver the gold. However, the accused forcibly snatched the remaining cash, threatened the complainants, and fled, thereby cheating and robbing them of a total amount of ₹7,00,000/-.
Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 241/2025 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Pattan and investigation was taken up.
During investigation, three accused persons were arrested, leading to the recovery of ₹6,00,000/- cash and 17 counterfeit gold coins. Two vehicles used in the crime, Swift (UP65FT-7605) and Maruti Ignis (JK05P-3743), were also seized. The fourth accused is absconding, and efforts are underway to arrest him. Further investigation is in progress.
J&K Police reiterates its commitment to act firmly against fraudsters and urges the public to remain vigilant.
SRINAGAR, DECEMBER 19: A One-Day Training Camp for Nasha Mukth Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) Nodal Officers was successfully organised in hybrid mode at the Mini Auditorium of Islamia College of Science & Commerce, Srinagar.
The programme was organised by the Higher Education Department (HED) in collaboration with the Civil Society Forum Kashmir, with active participation from the Jammu & Kashmir Health Department, J&K Police and IMHANS Kashmir.
The training programme aimed to sensitise and equip NMBA Nodal Officers with practical knowledge and skills related to substance abuse prevention, early identification of substance users, mental health awareness, counselling mechanisms, rehabilitation strategies, and inter-departmental coordination.
More than 70 NMBA Nodal Officers from the Kashmir Division participated in the programme, while 71 Nodal Officers from the Jammu Division joined the programme virtually, reflecting wide institutional engagement across the Union Territory.
Prof. (Dr.) Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, Director Colleges, Higher Education Department (Member of the Task Force for Rehabilitation of Victims of Drug Abuse), in his inaugural address emphasised the need for coordinated and sustained efforts among academic institutions, health services, civil society organisations, and law enforcement agencies to effectively address substance abuse.
He stated that the Mentor–Mentee model in colleges will be further strengthened and made outcome-oriented, with a focused mandate to identify at-risk students, facilitate early intervention, and shield youth from substance abuse through mentoring and support mechanisms, including closer monitoring of student attendance patterns and timely flagging of absenteeism.
He further highlighted the importance of encouraging students to voice their concerns through the Higher Education Department’s initiatives such as the SIGMA platform, and reiterated the Department’s firm commitment to proactive interventions under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, while urging NMBA Nodal Officers to translate the learnings from the training programme into effective action at their respective institutions.
The host College Principal, Prof. (Dr.) Tehmina Yousuf, highlighted the growing concern of substance abuse among youth and underscored the critical role of educational institutions and NMBA Nodal Officers in prevention, early intervention, and awareness generation.
During the programme, Abdul Waheed Shah, SSP Crime Branch, Kashmir, and Mohd Anwar-ul-Haq, SSP Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), J&K, shared valuable insights on drug abuse trends, preventive mechanisms, and the legal framework governing antinarcotics efforts.
The technical sessions were conducted by experts from IMHANS Kashmir, who addressed mental health dimensions of substance use disorders, early identification of at-risk individuals, counselling strategies, and referral mechanisms. The sessions witnessed interactive participation from the NMBA Nodal Officers.
The training camp reaffirmed the collective commitment of all stakeholders towards creating a drug-free, healthy, and supportive academic environment. The Higher Education Department reiterated that sustained capacity building, awareness generation, and institutional ownership will remain central to its strategy in safeguarding the youth of Jammu & Kashmir from the menace of substance abuse.
Srinagar, December 19: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has commenced the admission process for its January 2026 admission cycle for various undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, PG diploma and certificate programmes offered in distance learning and online modes. Interested applicants can apply through the University’s national website or directly on the admission portal.
IGNOU offers a wide range of programmes, and in this cycle has also introduced around 60 new programmes, including Four-Year Undergraduate Programmes (FYUP) in disciplines such as Commerce, Economics, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology, Hindi, Sanskrit, Urdu, Social Work, Philosophy, Biochemistry, and Facilities and Service Management. New postgraduate programmes include M.Sc. Geography, Geo Informatics, Applied Statistics and Renewable Energy, among others.
Candidates have been advised to carefully fill the application form and securely retain their login credentials for future use.
Regional Director, IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar, Dr. A.H. Rizvi encouraged aspirants to apply well before the deadline and cautioned them against fraudulent calls or messages seeking admission fees through QR codes, WhatsApp or social media platforms, clarifying that IGNOU accepts payments only through its official online portals.
The last date for submission of online admission forms for the January 2026 cycle is 31 January 2026, while re-registration for continuing learners is open till 15 January 2026.
Shopian, December 19: Jammu and Kashmir Police in Shopian have taken prompt action against a stunt biking incident reported from the Zawoora area. In this connection, a case FIR No. 270/2025 has been registered under Sections 281 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The motorcycle involved in the incident has been seized and further investigation is underway.
The accused rider has been identified as Furqan Ahmad Dar son of Mohd Ashraf Dar resident of Zawoora, Shopian. He was found indulging in dangerous stunts on a public road, thereby endangering his own life and posing a serious risk to other road users.
J&K Police have reiterated that stunt biking and rash driving on public roads are strictly prohibited and will attract stringent legal action. Public roads are meant for safe commuting and such irresponsible behaviour can lead to tragic consequences. The police have appealed to the youth to adhere to traffic rules and adopt responsible driving practices. Parents and guardians have also been urged to guide and counsel their children regarding road safety and traffic discipline.
Jammu and Kashmir Police remain committed to ensuring road safety and maintaining smooth and disciplined traffic movement across the district. Strict action against traffic violators will continue in the interest of public safety.
