Author: Agencies
JAMMU: Continuing its sustained crackdown against illegal timber smuggling, Jammu (Rural) Police, in coordination with the Forest Department, achieved a major success by intercepting camels being used for the illegal transportation of Khair wood in the jurisdiction of Police Station Gharota. Acting on specific inputs, a joint team of Police Station Gharota and Forest Department officials conducted a night checking operation in Sarote village during the intervening night of December 28 and 29, 2025. During the operation, two camels were intercepted and found carrying illegally transported Khair wood weighing approximately 10 to 15 quintals. The timber was being smuggled for…
JAMMU: The 17th Junior Roll Ball National Championship was inaugurated on Monday at the MA Stadium Skating Rink, Jammu, marking the start of a major national sporting event in Jammu and Kashmir. The championship will continue till January 1, 2026. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma, and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani graced the opening ceremony as chief dignitaries. They were warmly welcomed by the Secretary, J&K Sports Council. Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister said that hosting national-level championships reflects the growing sports ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.…
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday chaired the 6th meeting of the Wildlife Board for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at Lok Bhavan, focusing on conservation priorities and development projects requiring wildlife clearance. The meeting was attended by Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana; MLAs Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal and Mian Mehar Ali; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Principal Secretary to the LG Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Commissioner Secretary Forest, Ecology & Environment Sheetal Nanda; senior forest and wildlife officials, security representatives, conservationists, environmentalists, Army representatives and NGOs. The Board…
JAMMU: Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Mandeep Kaur, on Monday conducted an extensive inspection of various animal shelters across Jammu to assess infrastructure, animal welfare facilities and the progress of ongoing works. The shelters inspected included Bandhu Rakh, Chowadi, Bhagwati Nagar, Roopnagar, and the Gaushala at Panjgrai, Nagrota. Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Dr. Devansh Yadav, accompanied the Commissioner Secretary during the tour. During the inspection, Mandeep Kaur directed the construction of a new cow shelter at Bandhu Rakh on vacant land belonging to JMC and instructed the concerned authorities to initiate the process immediately. She also reviewed…
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) on Monday submitted its 66th Annual Report for the year 2024–25 to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhavan, Jammu. The report was presented by a delegation of Commission members led by Chairman JKPSC Arun Kumar Choudhary, along with Dr Rajiv Singh, Tariq Ahmad Zargar, Yashpal Kotwal and Asaf Mehmood Sagar. The submission was made in accordance with Article 323(2) of the Constitution of India. The Annual Report highlights a year marked by significant administrative reforms and offers a comprehensive overview of the Commission’s functioning. It details selections made during the…
NEW DELHI: Ahead of New Year, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Minister of State in the PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today inaugurate the new Secretariat complex of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC), describing it as a key milestone for the future bioeconomy of India. The BRIC Secretariat office complex is located on the 4th Floor, NSIC Business Park, New Delhi. The Secretariat will function as a lean coordinating mechanism to facilitate collaboration among BRIC’s 14 autonomous institutions, while preserving their institutional autonomy and strengthening linkages…
JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday interacted with IAS Officer Trainees of the 2025 batch, who are on a five-day visit to Jammu as part of their Winter Study Tour (Bharat Darshan Programme). The officer trainees are currently undergoing Phase-I training at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie. During the interaction, the Lieutenant Governor shared his insights on governance, public service and leadership, and highlighted the transformational journey of Jammu and Kashmir across various sectors in recent years. The group of IAS Officer Trainees includes Muskan Srivastava (Haryana cadre); Meghna Chakravorty and Mudita Bansal (West…
KATRA: Continuing its drive against narcotics and to ensure the safety of pilgrims visiting the holy town of Katra, District Police Reasi achieved a major success by arresting a drug peddler and recovering a heroin-like substance during routine naka checking. Officials said that on the intervening night of December 28 and 29, Police Station Katra had established a naka at Searli, keeping in view the heavy influx of yatris. During checking of vehicles and pedestrians, a Swift Dzire car (JK20C-5483) travelling from Udhampur to Katra was intercepted. During the search, police recovered 3.320 grams of heroin (chitta)-like substance from the…
JAMMU: To manage the heavy passenger rush during the New Year and winter holiday season, Jammu Division of Northern Railway has introduced a special reserved train between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and New Delhi. The special train, numbered 04082/04081, is operating from December 27, 2025, to January 1, 2026, with the aim of providing improved connectivity to devotees visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and easing travel congestion during peak days. The operation of the special reserved train proved successful on its first run on December 28, as it adhered to the scheduled timetable and effectively handled the increased…
JAMMU: Employees of the Commercial Department, Jammu Division, Northern Railway, were honoured with the prestigious Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM) Award–2025 for their outstanding performance and dedication to duty. The awards were conferred on December 29, 2025, at the General Manager’s Office, Baroda House, New Delhi, by the Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Northern Railway. This annual award recognises Commercial Department personnel for exceptional professionalism, innovation, and devotion to service. Notably, this marks the first time since the formation of Jammu Division in 2025 that its Commercial Department employees have received the PCCM Award—an important milestone for the division. The awardees…