Every student's talent deserves equal respect and opportunity: LG Sinha

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today inaugurated the New School Building of Swami Pranavanand Vidyamandir in Panjgrain, Nagrota. The School is run by Bharat Sevashram Sangha, a renowned socio-cultural and philanthropic organisation. Bharat Sevashram Sangh started pre-primary to Class 8 education here in 2014 under 'Har Ghar Shiksha'. Over half the students are from poor families; they have illuminated countless lives. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the Lieuten...

Justice must reach every citizen, not remain confined to courtrooms: CJ Arun Palli

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: In a significant step towards strengthening access to justice and expanding outreach of legal services to the grassroots level, Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority in the august presence of Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority and other Companion Judges of the High Court at Jammu today flagged off a fleet of Multi Utility Vehicles for District Legal Ser...

West Bengal records historic 91.91% voter turnout, Tamil Nadu sees 84.80%

24/04/2026
NEW DELHI, Apr 23: Polling for the Assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.91 per cent in Phase I polling compared to Tamil Nadu, which recorded 84.80 per cent turnout, according to the latest data by the Election Commission of India. The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh...

Four overground LeT aides, including woman, arrested in Srinagar

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: Police have arrested four overground workers, including a woman, for allegedly providing logistical support to a recently busted interstate Lashkar-e-Taiba terror module, official sources said on Thursday. They said the arrests were made during the ongoing investigation in the terror module in which two terrorists Abdullah alias Abu Hureira and Khubaib alias Usman Bahi, both residents of Pakistan, along with a local associate Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Mama, a resident of Dani...

Advanced-stage recruitment can't be scrapped on flimsy grounds: DB

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has held that a recruitment process which has reached an advanced stage cannot be scrapped on weak or purely technical grounds, while dismissing appeals filed by the Union Territory and restoring the selection process for Assistant Engineers (AE) and Junior Engineers (JE) in JAKEDA. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal dismissed the Letters Patent Appeals (LPA), upholding the earlier decis...

DB dismisses review plea in recruitment case, says review cannot be appeal in disguise

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a review petition challenging its earlier judgment in a recruitment dispute, holding that the petitioners were seeking a rehearing of the case under the guise of review. A division bench of Justice Sindhu Sharma and Justice Shahzad Azeem rejected the plea filed by Sapna Devi and another against the judgment dated February 17, 2026, which had upheld the Central Administrative Tribunal's decision quashing a selection p...

HC splits verdict in RS Pura murder case, acquits three, upholds life term of one

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has delivered a split verdict in the 2014 R.S. Pura murder case, acquitting three convicts while upholding the conviction and life sentence of one accused, holding that the prosecution failed to prove its case against the co-accused beyond reasonable doubt. A Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar passed the judgment in a criminal appeal challenging the trial court's verdict. The case pertains to FIR N...

Liberty can't be curtailed on executive ipse dixit: HC quashes PIT-NDPS detention

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the preventive detention of a Rajouri resident under the PIT-NDPS Act, holding that personal liberty cannot be curtailed in a mechanical or arbitrary manner on vague grounds. Justice Rajesh Sekhri allowed a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Mohd. Kabir and set aside detention order No. PITNDPS 36 of 2025 dated June 16, 2025, issued by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu. The petition was filed through the deten...

HC quashes one PSA detention, upholds three others

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has delivered a split verdict in a batch of habeas corpus petitions under the Public Safety Act (PSA), quashing one detention while uphold-ing three others. Justice M A Chowdhary passed the orders in separate petitions arising from Baramulla, Kupwara, Anantnag and Pulwama. The court granted relief to Ghulam Hassan Malla of Kupwara, quashing his detention under Order No. 16-DMK/PSA of 2025 dated May 1, 2025. It held that the detent...

HC dismisses plea with Rs 50,000 costs for suppression of facts

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a writ petition challenging execution of a revenue-related order, imposing costs of Rs 50,000 on the petitioners for suppres-sing material facts and abusing the process of law. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal held that the petition filed by Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh and others was "wholly unnecessary and misconceived" as the grievance had already been addressed by the trial court. The petitioners, represented by advocate ...

Trump orders US military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz

24/04/2026
DUBAI, Apr 23: President Donald Trump said Thursday he has ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines to choke traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's post on social media came shortly after the US military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratchetting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20 per cent of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes. “I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot a...

Pahalgam terror attack deep scar on collective conscience of J&K: Farooq

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday called last year's Pahalgam terror attack a deep scar on the collective conscience of the region. "The Baisaran terror attack remains a deep scar on the collective conscience of the region, with its human and economic consequences still resonating across Kashmir," Abdullah said in a statement here. The first anniversary of the terror attack in the Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam on April 22, which left 25 tourists a...

CAT directs Kashmir University to decide faculty plea, flags delay in handling representations

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: The Central Administrative Tribunal has directed the University of Kashmir to decide a representation filed by five faculty members seeking regularisation and release of salary, while expressing concern over delays in disposal of such grievances. A bench comprising Member (A) Prasant Kumar and Member (J) M S Latif issued notice on the plea filed by Ajaz-ul-Hamid Wani and others, who have sought directions for declaring their services permanent and release of pending salary at...

HC cracks whip on laxity in district judiciary, mandates strict adherence to office timings

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed all officers and officials of the district judiciary in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh to strictly adhere to prescribed office timings, warning of serious action in case of violations. In a circular issued by Registrar General M K Sharma, the court noted instances of non-compliance with existing instructions, observing that some officers and staff were functioning in a casual manner and not adhering to fixed offi...

Respect all views except Whatsapp University: SC in Sabarimala case

24/04/2026
NEW DELHI, Apr 23: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it respects the views of all eminent authors and thinkers, but it cannot accept information from 'WhatsApp University'. The observation by a nine-judge Constitution bench came while hearing petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, and on the ambit and scope of religious freedom practised by multiple faiths. The bench was composed of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justic...

We don’t disturb anyone, but don’t spare those who attack us: Rajnath on Op Sindoor

20/04/2026
Radhapuram (Tamil Nadu), Apr 19: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India does not disturb anyone but does not spare those who attack it, remarks made in reference to Operation Sindoor. His comments came days ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where terrorists killed 26 tourists in an incident that sparked national outrage. "Operation Sindoor-remember, we do not disturb anyone, but we do not spare anyone if they disturb us. Wait, your ambiti...

Soldier found hanging in camp, investigation underway

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: A soldier posted in an army dog unit was found dead inside a military camp here on Sunday, officials said. The soldier was found hanging with a rope from the ceiling of his room in the family quarters area of the camp at Nagrota in the early hours of the day, they said. The body of the deceased was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital for medico-legal formalities. Preliminary reports suggest it to be a case of suicide but the exact cause of death will be ascerta...

Two US nationals detained at Srinagar airport after satellite phone found in luggage

20/04/2026
Srinagar, Apr 19: Two US nationals were detained at the Srinagar Interna-tional Airport on Sunday after a satellite phone was recovered from their luggage during routine screening, officials said. The two have been detained for questioning, the officials said. Further details are awaited.

Pahalgam Terror Attack Anniversary: Security tightened across tourist spots in Kashmir

20/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 19: Security has been beefed up at tourist spots across Kashmir ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were shot dead by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on April 22 last year, officials said here. All security agencies have been asked to remain alert for any possible subversive activities on the eve of the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary, especially around tourist spots, they said. Preparatory meetings to devise a foolproof security plan we...

Opposition ‘played with fire’, conspired to derail women’s reservation bill: Hardeep Puri

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday alleged that opposition parties led by Congress "hatched a conspiracy" to derail the Women's Reservation Bill, warning they have "played with fire" and will face serious consequences. Addressing a press co-nference alongside Rajya Sabha MP and former National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma here, Puri said even at the last minute, the government made efforts to accommodate the opposition's concerns to ensure passage...

Modi makes unscheduled stop at Jhargram, savours street food ‘jhalmuri’

20/04/2026
Kolkata, Apr 19: Making an unscheduled stop during his campaign tour in West Bengal on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi savoured 'jhalmuri', a popular Bengali street food made of puffed rice, green chilies and other spices at Jhargram. Bystanders and the vendor were surprised when the PM's convoy suddenly stopped before his modest shop in Jhargram and none but Modi walked up to the stall asking the price of 'jhalmuri'. "Bhai, apkajhalmurikhelao, kitna?Accha se bana do jhalmuri (treat me wi...

For Modi, Women’s Reservation a matter of faith, not mere legislation: Dr Jitendra

20/04/2026
SHIMLA, Apr 19: "For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women's reservation is a matter of faith and commitment, not mere legislation," said Union Mini-ster Dr. Jitendra Singh, underscoring that over the past decade, wo-mencentric governance has been at the heart of policy-making-from flagship welfare sche-mes to the rise of nearly 40% women-led StartUps-reflecting a consistent effort to position women as key drivers of India's development. The Minister launched a scathing attack on the Congress an...

2 Punjab men get 10-year imprisonment in Udhampur drug case

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: A court in Udhampur has sentenced two inter-state drug peddlers from Punjab to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each in a 2020 NDPS Act case, police said on Sunday. The convicts, Jaspreet Singh & Sandeep Singh, both residents of Ludhiana, were also fined Rs 1 lakh each. In default of payment, they will undergo an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment, the police said. They were apprehended on September 9, 2020, after being found in possession of 175 kg of poppy straw i...

Infant drowns, mother and aunt rescued after slipping into Chenab river in Kishtwar

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: A four-month-old infant drow-ned, while his mother and aunt were rescued after they slipped into the Chenab river in Kishtwar district on Sunday, officials said. The trio was attempting to cross the river using makeshift wooden logs in Mughal Maidan area when they lost balance and were swept away by the current, the officials said. Locals rushed to the spot and managed to rescue the two women, after strenuous efforts, while the boy drowned and his body was later retrieved downs...

18 injured as tempo overturns in Rajouri

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: At least 18 persons were injured when a passenger vehicle skidded off the road and overturned in a field in Rajouri on Sunday, officials said. Four of the injured were stated to be in critical condition, they said. The accident occurred after the driver of the tempo traveller lost control while negotiating a sharp curve at Tralla near crusher Morh on the Darhal-Rajouri road, they added. They said the vehicle veered off and turned turtle in an adjacent field. Locals rushed to t...

SC issues pan-India directions for road safety, says expressways should not become corridor of peril

20/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 19: Observing that expressways must not become corridors of peril due to administrative lethargy or infrastructural gaps, the Supreme Court has issued a slew of pan-India guidelines for enhancing road safety, including a ban on parking of heavy vehicles on such roads. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar pointed out that national highways constitute two percent of India's total road length but account for nearly 30 percent of all road fatalities. A bench of Justi...

Women’s Reservation: Cong, DMK ‘betrayed’ women, BJP will ensure justice: Amit Shah

20/04/2026
ERODE (Tamil Nadu), Apr 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday lashed out at the Congress & DMK for voting against the Women's Reservation amendment bill in the LokSabha, accusing them of "betraying" women from getting the quota in Parliament and state Assemblies. However, the Prime Minister NarendraModi government would not allow the "conspiracy" to succeed and ensure justice for the women of the country, he said. Addressing a roadshow here in support of his party's Modakurichi candidate...

LeT’s ‘Khargosh’ found in Saudi Arabia, used fake passport

20/04/2026
Srinagar/New Delhi, Apr 19: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Umer Harris, alias 'Khargosh' (rabbit), is believed to be in Saudi Arabia after managing to escape the country using a forged passport issued in the name of Sajjad, claiming to be a resident of Rajasthan, officials said on Sunday. The Srinagar Police, which is spearheading the investigation into the inter-state LeT terror module, has shared details with central intelligence agencies, raising concerns about systemic loopholes that allo...

Trump says US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran

20/04/2026
Washington, Apr 19: President Donald Trump said US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran, raising hopes of extending a fragile ceasefire set to expire by Wednesday even as Washington and Tehran remain in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran did not immediately confirm the talks but its chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed BagherQalibaf, said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday that "there will be no retreat in the fi...

‘Our relationship with India is very strong’: Representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India on shooting incident in Hormuz

20/04/2026
Hyderabad, Apr 19: Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, on Sunday emphasised the strength of India-Iran relations following the shooting incident involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while calling for peace in the region. "Our relationship with India is very strong... India has benefited from the good relationship between Iran and India in getting their oil and tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Prime Minister of I...

Census 2027: J&K, Ladakh conclude 4-day training for master trainers

20/04/2026
Srinagar, Apr 19: The Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on Saturday concluded a four-day training progra-mme for master trainers for the Census 2027. A training programme for master trainers for Census 2027 was organised by the Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at the Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD), here. Director of Census Operations and Chief Principal Census Officer, J&K and Ladakh, Amit...

VP Radhakrishnan discusses further deepening of bilateral ties with Sri Lankan President Dissanayake

20/04/2026
Colombo, Apr 19: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake here on Sunday and held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted bilateral ties, housing projects and fishermen issues between the two South Asian neighbours. Radhakrishnan, who arrived here earlier in the day on a two-day visit, also discussed with Dissanayake the ongoing Indian project implementation in Sri Lanka with emphasis on the USD 450 million Cyclone Ditwah aid offer...

Women’s Power Bill could not pass in Parliament, I apologize to all mothers and sisters: Modi in Address to Nation

19/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed the opposition parties for defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha to tweak women's reservation and apologised to the "mothers and sisters" in the country saying "Women's Power Bill could not pass in Parliament". In Address to the Nation, PM Modi said crores of women across the country had their eyes on Parliament yesterday and noted that while naiton's interest in paramount for BJP-led NDA, for some people self...

At Cabinet meeting, PM Modi tells ministers to expose opposition’s ‘anti-women’ mindset before people: Sources

19/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Congress and other parties will have to pay a price for not supporting the bill for the early implementation of the women's reservation and asked Union ministers to expose the opposition's "anti-women" mindset before the people, according to sources. At a Cabinet meeting, the prime minister reaffirmed his government's support and commitment to get the women's reservation implemented in the 2029 LokSabha elections. The source...

J&K launches QR code-based identification system for all tourism stakeholders in Pahalgam

19/04/2026
Pahalgam, Apr 18: The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have introduced a unique QR code-based identification system for all tourism service providers for the safety of tourists in Pahalgam, which was rocked by a deadly attack last year orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. The system enables easy identification and verification of genuine and registered service providers, including pony-ride operators, hawkers, business establishments, as well as outside vendors, officials said. The ini...

Separatist Shabir Shah arrested in terror related case, send to 10-day NIA remand

19/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 18: Separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah was arrested by the NIA in connection with a three-decade-old terror case and remanded in the agency's custody for 10 days by a special court on Saturday, officials said. Shah was arrested by the Srinagar branch of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday in the 1996 case involving a terrorist attack on policemen during a militant's funeral, and was produced before the Patiala House Court in Delhi which allowed a three-day transit rem...

LG leads padyatra in Rajouri, says 63 drug smugglers arrested in 5 days long crackdown

19/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday continued his campaign for a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir by leading a padyatra in Rajouri. Highlighting a recent action, Sinha said that more than 45 FIRs were registered and 63 smugglers were arrested during the first five days of the 100-day 'NashaMukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan', launched on April 11. He added that extensive seizures were made and regular checks are being conducted in schools, pharmacies and drug agencies across the re...

CJI pitches for energy justice as ‘moral architecture’ for India’s growth

19/04/2026
Bengaluru, Apr 18: CJI Justice Surya Kant on Saturday emphasised that the only defensible development is one that is environmentally responsible and stressed that India's growth must be aligned with ecological sustainability and the principles of energy justice. He said that the country must be prepared and equipped to undertake a delicate balancing exercise between "our pursuit of development and our fidelity to a greener future". Addressing the International Conference on Sustainable Energy...

Don’t fear AI; it’s only aid, not substitute: CJI Surya Kant

19/04/2026
Bengaluru, Apr 18: Cautioning that the adoption of technology in the judiciary must be accompanied by a clear and conscious understanding of its inherent limitations, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday urged judicial officers not to be "afraid" of AI. Asserting that technology must remain an aid, not a substitute, he said the integration of Artificial Intelligence into the judicial process must be guided by a principle of balance-leveraging its benefits to enhance efficiency while s...

HC refuses to quash murder charge in Reasi assault case, says issues must be tested at trial

19/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 18: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has declined to quash murder charges against a Reasi resident accused of fatally assaulting a man with a wooden stick, holding that the issues raised by the accused involve disputed facts that can only be adjudicated during trial. Dismissing a petition filed by Manga Ram, Justice Shahzad Azeemup held an order of a trial court framing charges under Sections 302 (murder) and 341 (wrongful restraint) of the IPC in connection with FIR No....

HC censures authorities for ‘predatory’ conduct, grants relief to migrant industrial unit

19/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 18: In a strongly worded judgment, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has granted relief to a migrant industrial unit while pulling up the authorities for what it termed as "predatory" and inequitable conduct in dealing with the allotment of an industrial shed in Srinagar. Justice Rahul Bharti, while deciding a writ petition filed by M/s Sports Goods Industry against the Union Territory administration and others, held that the petitioner had been subjected to unfair treatm...

HC grants bail to councillor, ex-MLA in Leh violence case

19/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 18: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has granted bail to a sitting councillor and a former legislator in connection with the Leh violence case, observing that continued custody was not warranted at this stage of investigation. Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani allowed bail applications filed by councillor Smanla Dorje Nurboo and former MLA DeldanNamgail in FIR No. 144/2025 registered at Police Station Leh. The petitioners had approached the court under provisions of the Bharatiy...

HC quashes fresh PSA detention order based on old grounds

19/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 18: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed a fresh preventive detention order issued under the Public Safety Act (PSA) against a Ganderbalresident, holding that the authorities relied on substantially the same grounds that had earlier been set aside by the court. Justice M. A. Chowdhary passed the order in a habeas corpus petition filed by Arshid Ahmad Khan alias Abu Musa, challenging detention order No. 01-DMG-PSA-2025 dated April 5, 2025, issued by the District M...

Omar sees off first Haj pilgrims batch from Srinagar

19/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today bid farewell to the first batch of Haj pilgrims from Srinagar International Airport, marking the formal commencement of Haj operations 2026 from Jammu & Kashmir. On the occasion, the Chief Minister interacted with the pilgrims, extending warm greetings and wishing them a safe, peaceful and spiritually fulfilling journey. He expressed hope that the sacred pilgrimage would reinforce the values of compassion, unity and brotherhood. Speaking to...

Property of drug peddler demolished

19/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 18: The local administration has demolished the residential property of a drug peddler in Jammu amid heavy security arrangements as part of its ongoing crackdown on narcotics, officials said on Saturday. A large contingent of officials and police, armed with heavy-duty bulldozers, demolished the property owned by Shamsdin alias Pappi in Belicharana for his involvement in drug peddling, they said. The authorities demolished Shamsdin's house, removed grass huts and seized some two-whe...

Ladakh violence: Former MLA among 2 Cong leaders released after nearly 7 months of detention

19/04/2026
Leh, Apr 18: Two Congress leaders, including a former MLA, were released from the Leh district jail on Saturday after spending nearly seven months in detention in connection with the September 2025 violence that left four persons dead and scores injured, officials said. Former J-K Member of Legislative Assembly Deldan Namgyal and LAHDC Leh Councillor Smanla Dorje were accorded a traditional welcome by a large number of locals, led by leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), soon after they walked o...

Cabinet approves continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III upto March 2028

19/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 18: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday gave its approval for the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond March 2025 upto March 2028. It involves consolidation of Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. The revised outlay of the scheme will be Rs 83,977 crore, according to an official release. The Cabinet fur...

One Indian vessel crosses Hormuz, four others turn back as IRGC opens fire

19/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 18: One Indian-flagged oil tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, while at least four others trying to transit the choke point turned back after Iran signalled the strategic waterway was closed again. Oil tanker DeshGarima appeared to have successfully crossed the Strait on Saturday, ship tracking data showed. The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) tanker is the 10th India-flagged vessel to have crossed the Strait since early March. As of Saturday evening, it was sail...

Govt takes over management of 58 valley schools linked with proscribed organisation

19/04/2026
Srinagar, Apr 18: Jammu and Kashmir government on Satur-day took over the management of 58 schools associated with the ban-ned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in the valley, officials said. The schools were directly or indirectly affiliated with the JeI'sFalah-e-Aam Trust (FAT), they said. "The government took over the management of 58 FAT schools in different parts of the valley on Saturday," an official said. The government, in August last year, had taken over management of 215 schools affiliated with...

HC orders summer Darbar Move from Jammu to Srinagar, sets April 30 closure

19/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 18: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has announced the ann-ual Darbar Move for the Summer Season-2026, directing that its main wing at Jammu shall close on April 30 after office hours and reopen at Srinagar on May 4 in the forenoon. According to an official order, the arrangement will also apply to the offices of the Principal Secretary to the Chief Justice, Registrar Vigilance, Director of the J&K Judicial Academy, Registrar Rules, Registrar Computer (IT) and the Centr...

Cabinet clears 2% DA hike for employees, pensioners; over 1.18 cr to benefit

19/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 18: The union Cabinet on Saturday approved an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, raising both by 2 percentage points with effect from January 1, 2026, in a move aimed at cushioning the impact of rising prices. Announcing the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the increase takes the DA and DR rates from the existing 58% to 60% of bas...

National security flows from soldiers and border residents: LG Sinha

18/04/2026
#LG says infrastructure push underway in border villages RAJOURI, Apr 17: Lieutenant Gover-nor Shri Manoj Sinha on Friday emphasized that a nation is defined by its remotest village where our borders begin and our identity shines before the world. "Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, India advances with renewed resolve. Border areas are no longer the nation's edge but its first village and foremost opportunity. New commitment thrives and connectio...

Constitution Amendment Bill to tweak women quota law defeated in LokSabha

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the LokSabha was defeated on Friday in the Lower House. While 298 members voted in support of the Bill, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority. According to the Constitution Amendment Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationa...

Police attaches properties of 2 drug peddlers in Rajouri, Udhampur

18/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 17: Police has attached properties worth more than Rs 55 lakh belonging to two drug peddlers in Rajouri and Udhampur districts as part of a crackdown on narcotics, officials said on Friday. In Rajouri, police attached a single-storey residential building worth about Rs 43.13 lakh owned by Sourab Kumar from Muradpur, an accused in multiple cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, they said. In Udhampur, police attached a Honda City car bearing a fake reg...

CJI warns new advocates-on-record against outsourcing legal work to AI

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: Underlining the ethical obligations of the legal profession, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Friday warned the newly qualified batch of advocates-on-record (AoRs) against outsourcing legal work to artificial intelligence (AI) or other external parties. According to the rules framed by the Supreme Court under Article 145 of the Constitution, only advocates designated as advocate-on-record can plead for a party in the top court. The top court conducts the examination for...

HC sets aside levy warrants, directs decision on Section 47 plea first

18/04/2026
Srinagar, Apr 17: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has set aside levy warrants issued against a Sopore resident, holding that an executing court must first decide objections raised under Section 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure before proceeding with coercive steps. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal passed the order while allowing a petition filed by Feroz Ahmad Dar, who had challenged the execution proceedings arising out of an ex parte money decree obtained by M/s Himalayan Motors. The...

DB upholds 2009 notional appointment of Junior Engineer

18/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 17: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal directing the authorities to treat the appointment of Raghu Singh Jandla as Junior Engineer (Electrical), Grade-II on a notional basis from August 22, 2009, the date when other candidates from the same selection process were appointed. The Court also upheld directions for refixation of his seniority, grant of consequential promotion benefits and coverage under the Old Pension S...

Opposition against women’s reservation, increase in SC, ST seats: Amit Shah in LS

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: Alleging that the opposition parties are against women's reservation in LokSabha and state Assemblies as well as an increase in the number of SC, ST seats, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the delimitation exercise will lead to rationalisation of voters in every constituency, some which now have electors in the range of nearly 40 lakh. Replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the three bills introduced to amend the women's quota law and to set up a delimitation...

Govt expanding capacity building to scientists, academics: Dr Jitendra

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday said that the government is expanding capacity building to scientists and academics, as part of its continuous efforts towards preparing institutions for evolving governance demands. Addressing the valedictory ceremony of "Sadhana Saptah 2026" here, he described artificial intelligence and digital tools as key enablers of future ready governance, noting that government employees are increasingly adopting emerging competencies to ke...

State can’t be allowed to plead helplessness or take shelter under own inadequacies: SC

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: The Supreme Court on Friday termed "startling and disquieting" the bizarre submission of the Madhya Pradesh government pleading helplessness that its forest officials lack adequate firepower to match the weaponry of the sand mafia. The court observed that the State cannot be allowed to "plead helplessness" or take shelter under its own inadequacies, particularly when those directly contribute to the perpetuation of illegality, violence, loss of human life and an irreversible...

Iran says Strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ for all commercial vessels, Trump welcomes move

18/04/2026
Tehran/Washington, Apr 17: Iran on Friday said that the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" for all commercial vessels, a move welcomed by US President Donald Trump. "In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X. The announcement of the reopening of the vital waterway by Araghchi comes a day after Pr...

Denominational practices can be subject matter of judicial scrutiny: SC in Sabarimala case

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: Observing that denominational practices can be subject matter of judicial scrutiny, the Supreme Court on Friday said that judges must rise above personal religious beliefs and be guided by freedom of conscience and the broader constitutional framework while adjudicating matters of faith. The remark by a nine-judge constitution bench came while hearing petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, and on the ...

Time to give half of country’s population its rights: PM Modi to LS members on women’s quota bill

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to all LokSabha members to vote in favour of the women's reservation bill and said the time has come to ensure that half of the nation's population receives its rightful due in decision-making. Shortly before the voting on the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the LokSabha and state assemblies, Modi urged all members not to do anything that may hurt the sentiments of wo...

Admin bans inflammatory social media content for 60 days, warns strict action

18/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 17: The administration on Thurs-day imposed a blanket prohibition on posting or sh-aring communally sensitive and inflammatory content on social media platforms across Jammu district for a period of 60 days, citing threats to public order and communal harmony. It pointed out that social media platforms have been increasingly misused to spread communally provocative, false and inciting content, which has the potential to disturb public peace, cause communal tensions, and endanger liv...

Year after brutal attack, Pahalgam strongly emerges out of shadow of terror

18/04/2026
Srinagar, Apr 17: On April 22, 2025, the world was shocked when a dastardly terrorist attack ripped through the quaint Baisaran meadow in J-K's Pahalgam, snuffing out 26 innocent lives, mostly tourists. The brutal attack carried out by Lashkar-e-Toiba cadres led to an exodus of tourists from Jammu and Kashmir, prompting the authorities to shut nearly 50 tourist spots before reopening some of those in a phased manner after a security audit. Now, about a year down the line, the famed meadows of ...

India, Norway discuss ways to fully utilise free trade agreement

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: India and Norway have discussed the need to address certain trade and investment barriers to take full benefit of the free trade agreement implemented in October last year, an official statement said on Friday. India and the four European nations bloc, EFTA - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland - have implemented the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on October 1, 2025, following its signing on March 10, 2024, to boost economic ties. The barriers, ...

Had a very good conversation with friend Modi: Trump

18/04/2026
Washington, Apr 17; US President Dona-ld Trump on Friday said he had a "very good conversation" with his "friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was referring to the talks the two leaders had on Tuesday. "I had a very good talk with him, and he's a friend of mine from India, and he's doing great. We had a very good conversation," Trump told reporters here as he headed to Las Vegas to address a roundtable on tax cuts. Trump had called Modi on Tuesday to discuss the bilateral relationship an...

“Government fully committed” : India in active pursuit of Nirav Modi’s extradition from UK

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reaffirmed the Indian government's steadfast res-olve to secure the extradition of fugitive diama-ntaire NiravModi from the United Kingdom, confirming that New Delhi remains in constant communication with British officials regarding the matter. During a media briefing, MEA spokesperson RandhirJaiswal addressed the current status of the extradition effort, noting that the case is moving through the British judicial system. "We have ...

PM Modi and myself don’t have ‘wife issue’: Rahul Gandhi

18/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 17: In a lighthearted addr-ess during a discussion on the Women's Rese-rvation Amendment Bill and Delimitation, Cong-ress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday highlighted the role of women in everyone's life, and drew laughter from members when he observed that both he and Prime Minister NarendraModi don't have "wife issues." The Leader of the Opposition also concluded his speech in the LokSabha with a cyptic remark. Stating that he knows "much more" than what he was saying in the House, R...