'Please visit and see what it is all about. I assure you, we will send you back with best of memories'
New Delhi, Feb 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday urged people to visit Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing that J&K has something for everyone and is a year-round destination.
He made these remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of SATTE (South Asia s Travel & Tourism Exchange) at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was the guest of honour at the inaugural event said J&K has it all be it pilgrimage or religious tourism.
"Whether you are looking for a destination for a wedding or engagement, whether you simply want to be an Instagram or TikTok influencer, or you want to visit for adventure tourism, or just to sit back with a book and enjoy beautiful and natural surroundings, Jammu and Kashmir has it all for you.
Jammu and Kashmir is participating in SATTE 2025, showcasing J&K s breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality.
This year s SATTE event would host over 2,000 exhibitors and is expected to attract more than 40,000 visitors from across the globe.
It provides a comprehensive platform for domestic and international buyers and professionals from the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries, along with National and State Tourism Boards.
Talking about the background of the famous Persian couplet by poet Amir Khusrau in Kashmir, the Chief Minister said: It is inscribed in the Red Fort from the 13th-14th century, basically saying that if there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here, talking about Jammu and Kashmir.
Reflecting on Kashmir s past as a favorite leisure and film shooting destination, Omar Abdullah remarked: What does one say about Jammu and Kashmir that hasn t already been said? No honeymoon in India was considered a honeymoon unless it was planned in the houseboats of Dal Lake. No movie in India was considered complete unless it had at least one sequence from our mustard fields or the snow-capped mountains, and no holiday was a holiday unless it was spent somewhere in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the challenges J&K faced over the last three decades, he stated that the region is emerging from difficult times.
Could we have this concept of nazar, evil eye. All that beauty had to result in something going wrong. 30-35 years of a very difficult time from which Jammu and Kashmir is now emerging.
He highlighted the revival of domestic tourism, saying there can be no denying that Jammu and Kashmir is once again one of India s preeminent destination for domestic tourism.
International tourism is picking up in spite of the difficulties that we have with travel advisories issued by various embassies and consulates.
He further emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir is not resting on its laurels, not trying to sell you a soft story because, as was made amply clear in the very warm introduction that I got before coming up here, Jammu and Kashmir has something for everyone. Touching upon the region s investment potential, the Chief Minister remarked: Jammu and Kashmir today is also a destination ripe for investment in any and every sector to do with the tourism industry, and that is why for us, for the team that has accompanied me, it s a pleasure to be back at SATTE. We understand the importance that SATTE as an event holds in the annual calendar for tourism and travel promotion events.
Speaking about new and emerging tourist destinations in J&K, he said: Jammu and Kashmir is beyond Pahalgam or Gulmarg in Kashmir or other locations. When you talk about Jammu and Kashmir, similarly when you talk about Kashmiri wazwan food, you talk about culinary dishes Gushtaba and Rista, and those are the two things everyone has heard about. When we talk about tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, immediately Pahalgam and Gulmarg as destinations spring to mind. But Jammu and Kashmir is more than that.
He highlighted Jammu s heritage tourism, saying: For heritage tourism, Jammu is the city of temples, starting from Raghunath Mandir and going beyond. Jammu has more to offer in terms of border tourism that is often not projected but something that we believe offers great opportunity as new places to visit. Kashmir is more than just Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
The Chief Minister emphasized new tourist destinations such as Sonamarg as a year-round destination, thanks to the newly inaugurated tunnel. Gurez, which was once unheard of but is now among the fastest-growing tourist areas. Border tourism at Tangdhar, Machhil, Karnah, and Keran, attracting increasing visitors. Meadows like Bangus and Doodhpathri are gaining popularity in J&K.
Highlighting J&K s adventure tourism potential, he said: Jammu and Kashmir is about adventure tourism, rafting on our rivers, skiing down our mountains, water skiing on the Dal Lake or Mansar.
He further added: I truly believe that a holiday is not a holiday unless it s spent in Jammu and Kashmir. And therefore, I am here with a whole host of people from Jammu and Kashmir to remind you that we are there. And tongue firmly in cheek, I ve often said that Jammu and Kashmir was heaven on earth long before Kerala became God s own country.
Inviting SATTE 2025 attendees to J&K, he said: For your next visit, for your next conference, for your next seminar, or for just time on your own. If you just want to come and sit and relax, Jammu and Kashmir is now increasingly becoming a destination for wellness, for health. We have a number of events on our calendar.
Speaking about sports tourism, he noted: Last year, it had the inaugural Kashmir Marathon, both a half marathon and full marathon. This year, we intend to start with the Jammu Half Marathon and the Jammu Ultra Marathon while continuing with the Kashmir Marathon.
J&K s enhanced connectivity, he said: Gone are the days when you had a flight once or twice a day from Delhi, and that was the only connectivity that was available to you. Today, you have direct flights from Amritsar, from Chandigarh, from Bangalore, from Ahmedabad, from Mumbai, from Delhi, and of course, countless connections.
He added: And in the not-too-distant future, in fact, we are hoping to be counting that time on the fingers of our hands, we will have Jammu and Kashmir connected to the rest of the country by a rail link that has been a few decades in the making.
Concluding his speech, the Chief Minister extended a warm invitation saying that it is much easier to get to Jammu & Kashmir as opposed to other mountainous and hill destinations.
CM invited the participants to see for themselves and enjoy the locales and hospitality on offer which would clear the negative image that was being projected by some to dissuade travel to this place with J&K getting mentioned for the wrong reasons.
So please come and visit and see what it is all about. And I assure you, we will send you back with the best of memories and the best experience.
Suhail Khan Baramulla, Jan 6: A young aerospace engineer from Sopore in north Kashmirâs Baramulla district is proving that dedication and ambition can propel one to global heights. Munaf-ul-Raquib who holds a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering, has gained international recognition for his research on black holes and cosmology. Munaf-ul-Raquib revealed that his paper on the thermodynamics of black holes was recently published in the International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR). âAbout a year ago, I conducted research on the gravity of black holes and cosmology, which has now been published in IJSR,â he said. He said that since his research was published in the international journal, he has been receiving opportunities from various countries to participate in research dialogues. Raquib added that in the coming months he is scheduled to participate in international conferences in Paris on April 16 and later in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Sopore aerospace engineer noted that he is also participating in various conferences across different countries. Speaking about his research, Munaf-ul-Raquib addressed a fundamental paradox in astrophysics: how black holes can appear to violate thermodynamic laws, particularly concerning entropy.âIf we observe a black hole, it seems to contradict thermodynamic principles,â he said. Using the frameworks of Anti-de Sitter space (AdS) and Conformal Field Theory (CFT), Raqeebâs research proposes a theoretical model that reconciles black hole mechanics with thermodynamics. âIn this paper, I have explained how a black hole can function without violating thermodynamic laws,â he said. He described the achievement as both personal and symbolic. âIt is a proud moment for me to represent my state, especially Sopore, on an international platform,â he said. Raqeeb shared that Astrophysics was his childhood dream, and his grandfather encouraged me immensely. "After my grandfather passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, my parents continued to champion my aspirations. My parents left no stone unturned in helping me pursue my dreams,â he said. He said that his academic path included taking the JEE and later the AME CET entrance exams, through which he secured a seat in aerospace engineering at the Nasik Research Centre. âMy parents not only supported me morally but also created an environment where I could pursue my dreams freely,â he said. He emphasized the role of family in nurturing talent. âJust as my parents supported me, it is the responsibility of all parents to help their children follow their dreams.â âYoung people should avoid wrong practices. They must dream of a beautiful tomorrow but work hard today to make their parents proud,â he further added.
Srinagar, Jan 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) will declare the result of class 10th and 12th examination on January 14 of, 2026 (Wednesday), minister for education Sakina Itoo said on Monday. Minister for education Sakina Itoo said the government has decided to declare the result of both the classes-10th and 12th on the same day. "We understand that students have been waiting for the results. So we decided that result of both the classes will be declared on Wednesday (January 16 of 2926)," Sakina Itoo said. She said the meeting of the Result Declaration Committee (RDC) will be convened by the Secretary JKBOE along with the members-Director School Education (DSE) Kashmir and Jammu division besides the joint secretaries as well. "We will give the administrative approval to the result instead of getting approved by the chairman," she said. The announcement comes amid the delay in appointment of chairman JKBOSE as the position is lying vacant for the last one year. "After declaration of the results, we will also appoint the permanent chairman for JKBOSE as well," education minister said. An official from JKBOSE said the class 1oth result will be declared on Wednesday morning followed by the declaration of result of class 12th students in late afternoon on the same day. As per the official figures, 94783 students- 68804 from Kashmir and 25,224 students from winter zone areas of Jammu division besides 660 students from Kargil and 95 from Leh district registered for the class 10th JKBOSE examination this year. Also, the examination for class 11th and 12th students was scheduled from November 19 and November 8 of 2025 respectively. Approximately, 81622 students â 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 studentsâ56423 from Kashmir and 13694 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 12th examination.
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. âHundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,â said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the facultyâs demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. âWe are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,â he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. âThe irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,â he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for âequal work, equal payâ gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. âPromises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,â he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. âThis issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,â he said.
Jammu, Jan 18: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, Information Technology, ARI & Trainings, Satish Sharma Sunday said that the remarkable achievements of Jammu and Kashmirâs youth are a powerful testament to what can be accomplished through fair opportunities, modern infrastructure and unwavering government support. Addressing the gathering during the SRIJAN initiative conference, the Minister stated that the success of young athletes clearly demonstrates that with the right ecosystem in place, the UT youth are capable of overcoming every challenge and competing confidently at national and international platforms. Highlighting the core focus areas of the SRIJAN programme, Satish Sharma said "the initiative is playing a transformative role in strengthening the sports landscape of the Union Territory by expanding grassroots sports infrastructure across Jammu, Kashmir and other regions. This is being done by ensuring transparent, merit-based selections free from any bias; integrating sports with education and skill development; promoting greater participation of girls and enhancing inclusivity and establishing sports as a dignified and sustainable career option with viable livelihood opportunities, he said0. He reaffirmed the governmentâs firm commitment and said that sustained efforts were underway to create international-standard sports facilities, including modern cricket stadiums in Jammu and Srinagar. He also highlighted the strengthening of Khelo India Centres, promotion of traditional sports such as Dangal and enhanced collaboration with the Union Ministry to transform Jammu & Kashmir into a national sports hub. âAs Sports Minister, I assure our athletes that the government stands firmly with them. Our focus is not only on infrastructure creation but also on nurturing talent, discipline and confidence among the youth,â he said. The Minister lauded the determination, resilience and dedication of young sportspersons, describing them as the living legacy of the SRIJAN mission. He urged them to continue training with passion, remain disciplined and dream fearlessly, assuring them of full institutional support at every step of their journey. Satish Sharma expressed hope that the conference would serve as the foundation of a new era where every talented child, from the mountains of Kashmir to the plains of Jammu, is provided an equal opportunity to shine on the global stage. He concluded by reiterating the governmentâs resolve to make sports a powerful vehicle for youth empowerment, social inclusion and regional pride in Jammu and Kashmir. Director General, Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta and prominent persons from different fields and states along with senior officers of the Youth Services and Sports Department, were also present on the occasion.
New Delhi, March 2: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a nationwide security alert to all states and Union Territories, warning of possible violence and sporadic protests in the wake of recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran, officials said. The advisory has been issued against the backdrop of protests by members of the Shia community across several parts of the country following the assassination of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. The ministry noted that rapidly evolving international developments have the potential to impact Indiaâs internal security situation. In its communication to state governments, the MHA has directed security agencies to remain on high alert and closely monitor the activities of both pro-Iran and anti-Iran groups. States have also been instructed to strengthen security arrangements around Iranian, American and Israeli embassies and consulates, as well as other diplomatic establishments. The advisory flags potential threats from Shia militias and terrorist organisations such as the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. Intelligence inputs suggest that extremist groups may seek to exploit the prevailing tensions to foment unrest or carry out disruptive activities, it said. According to the alert, major tourist destinations, Jewish institutions and establishments linked to Western countries could be potential targets, apart from diplomatic missions. The Centre has advised states to step up the deployment of security personnel at critical and sensitive locations. Local police units have been asked to intensify checks in crowded areas and vulnerable sites and to conduct regular inspection drives to detect explosives, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Directors General of Police have been instructed to ensure that quick response teams remain operational and ready to respond swiftly to any untoward incident. The Home Ministry has also placed special emphasis on monitoring social media platforms to curb the spread of inflammatory messages, misinformation and rumours that could disturb communal harmony. Cyber cells have been directed to keep a close watch on online content and take prompt action wherever necessary. The MHA said it is continuously reviewing the security situation and remains in close coordination with state authorities to ensure preparedness and prevent any escalation of law-and-order issues.
Srinagar, Feb 01: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday proposed Rs 43290.29 crore for Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory in the Union Budget 2026-27, which is nearly Rs 2000 crore more than the allocation for the current year. According to budget figures, the Union Finance Ministry has proposed Rs 43290.29 crore in transfers to Jammu & Kashmir for 2026-27. J&Kâs assistance for the current financial year has been revised to Rs 41340 crore, up from Rs 41000.07 crore, marking an increase of Rs 340 crore. For 2026-27, the budget proposes Rs 42650 crore as central assistance to bridge the resource gap of J&K,Rs 279 crore as grants towards contribution to the Union Territory Disaster Response Fund, Rs 259 crore as equity for the Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project and Rs 101 crore as support for capital expenditure in the Union Territory.
New Delhi, Jan 26: Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Monday was conferred with the Ashoka Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry honour, by President Droupadi Murmu during the 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path. Shukla travelled to the International Space Station under the Axiom-4 mission and undertook his space flight in 2025. After Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, he became the second Indian astronaut to travel to space. He has been honoured for displaying exceptional courage, swift decision-making and unwavering commitment to duty during the mission. During his stay in space, Shukla conducted several research experiments and also carried out agricultural trials. He successfully cultivated fenugreek and mung beans in space. Experts believe his journey will inspire future generations, demonstrating that no goal is unattainable with determination and inner strength. Despite extremely challenging conditions, he ensured the successful completion of the mission. His professional excellence, leadership and calm decision-making have been recognised through this prestigious honour. His achievement is being seen as a matter of pride for the Indian Air Force and the nation, while his courage and dedication continue to serve as a source of inspiration for the youth. Meanwhile, ahead of the 77th Republic Day, President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of gallantry awards on 70 Armed Forces personnel for displaying exceptional courage, devotion to duty and sacrifice in the defence of the nation. Six of these awards will be given posthumously. The gallantry awards include one Ashok Chakra, three Kirti Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras (one posthumous), one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 44 Sena Medals (Gallantry) (five posthumous), six Nau Sena Medals (Gallantry) and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). Additionally, Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair will receive the Kirti Chakra. He is a distinguished fighter test pilot. He is among the four astronauts selected for India's first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. As an Air Force pilot, he has logged over 3,000 flying hours. He also served as a backup crew member for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station. Since 2019, he has been training in collaboration with ISRO under the Gaganyaan programme. (IANS)