Jammu & Kashmir

Srinagar: Vice Chairperson of the Khadi and Village Industries Board Hina Shafi Bhat had a ‘narrow escape’ during a fire incident at the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday.

“Had a narrow escape in a fire incident in my Jammu office. I am sorry as I couldn’t attend most of the calls but I am highly grateful to all the well wishers for their care and concern!” she said in a Facebook post.

As per reports, fire was reported from the retiring room of the Vice Chairperson of the Khadi and Village Industries Board.

Ramban, Dec 29 : A man died after his vehicle skidded off the road in Ramban district on Thursday morning, officials said here.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that an the vehicle rolled down on National Highway 44 near Kelamorh in Ramban.

He said the driver of the vehicle died on the spot and his body was later recovered following a rescue operation—(KNO)

Srinagar, 28 Dec: A women and her three childrens found dead in a mysterious circumsistance inside there house in Checknarwa area of Banihal today morning.

Reports reaching to GNS said that four of a family members found dead police and other official on the spot to ascertain the cause of death of four family members. They have been identified as Noor Jahan (35) wife of Abdul Rashid, Zaffer Ahmad son of Abdul Rashid (12), Shazia bano daughter of Abdul Rashid (08) and Asiya Bano Daughter of Abdul Rashid 05).

SSP Ramban confirmed to death of a four family members said that we are assertaining the facts.(GNS)

Srinagar, Dec 28: Four unidentified militants, travelling in a truck to Kashmir were killed in a “chance encounter” with a joint team of police and army in Sidhra area of Jammu on Wednesday, police said.

A huge quantity of arms and ammunition including seven AK-47 rifles, one M-4 rifle, a pistol and 14 grenades were recovered, a police spokesperson said in a statement to GNS. Police also said that the truck driver fled from the scene and investigations so far have revealed that plate of the truck has been found to be fake while its engine and chassis number was found “tampered”.

“On the eve of January 26 and considering previous history of interception of (militants) during this season, the Border Security grid was strengthened in Jammu Province,” a police said, adding, “Two weeks back a huge consignment of arms and ammunition was also recovered from a truck in Narwal area of Jammu.”

Considering these developments, he said, a high alert had been sounded in all districts of Jammu province. “Today, at around 7:25 am, suspicious movement of a truck was observed on the highway in Sidhra area,” police said, adding, “This truck was intercepted by a joint team of Police and Army at Sidhra Naka. During checking of the vehicle, the hiding militants) fired upon the security forces and an encounter started.”

Taking “advantage”, he said, the driver of the truck fled away from the spot.

“In the encounter which followed, four (militants) were eliminated and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered,” he said, adding, “The recoveries include 7 AK-47 rifles, 1 M-4 rifle, 1 pistol, 14 Grenades around 50 thousand in cash along with ammunition and pouches.”

He said the Truck owner is yet to be identified. “The number plate of the truck has been found to be fake. The engine and chassis number has also been tampered and help of forensic teams will be sought in this regard,,” he said, adding, “A manhunt has been launched to apprehend the driver. Search is being done at Bus stands, railway stations and market places. All Nakas have been alerted.”

The scrutiny of seized items is being done to obtain clues about the identity of killed militants and the driver, he said. “Other scientific and electronic evidence is being collected to identify the (militant) group to which the (militants) belonged and to identify the OGW support structure of these (militants.” He said a case (FIR) has been registered in this regard and investigation started. (GNS)

Srinagar, December 28: Special Investigation Unit of Police conducted multiple Raids in South Kashmir’s Shopian and Pulwama district on Wednesday.

In a handout to GNS, the police said that continuing efforts to dismantle the militancy ecosystem, the State Investigation Unit ( SIU) Shopian today conducted raids and carried out search at various locations in district Shopian and Pulwama in connection with investigation of militancy related FIR. In district Shopian, sleuths of SIU Shopian conducted raids and search at two suspected location at Zainpora and in district Pulwama, raids and subsequent search was carried out at suspected location in Naina Bhatpora village. Search warrants were obtained from the concerned court of law.

The spokesman further said that during search sleuths of SIU collected and seized incriminating material & important documents including digital devices. Proper SOPs were followed while carrying out the search in the suspected locations.

It is pertinent to mention that the raids were conducted in connection with investigation of Case FIR No 83/2022 registered U/s 18,23 UAP, 7/25 Arms act in Police station Kellar. Two accused arrested in the instant case are presently under judicial custody. More recoveries and arrests are expected during further investigation, reads the statement.(GNS)

Srinagar, Dec 28: The prolonged dry spell would likely end in the Valley as the weatherman here has predicted light snowfall in plains and light to moderate snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir tomorrow.

“There is a forecast of a two-day wet spell from tomorrow,” Deputy Director Meteorological department (MeT) told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said that the plains are expected to receive light snowfall while the higher reaches would experience light to moderate snowfall on Thursday.

He further added that the weather conditions would improve from Friday afternoon, adding that there is no forecast of any major wet spell so far.

“The weather would remain mostly dry till January 07,” he said.

As per the forecast, he said that the night temperatures are expected to increase from tomorrow.

Pertinently, Pahalgam, a famous tourist destination in South Kashmir and Kupwara in northern district recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 7.4 degree Celsius and minus 5.5 degree Celsius respectively.

As per the details, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a low of minus 5.6 degree Celsius while Kokernag and Qazigund in Southern district of Kashmir recorded minus 3.4 degree Celsius and minus 5.0 degree Celsius.

The mercury at Gulmarg, a world famous ski-resort, settled at minus 6.0 degree Celsius.

However, the MeT has issued an advisory, saying that surface transportation on Sonmarg-Zojila, Sinthan Top, Gurez- Bandipora may get disrupted on December 30th.

“Although, there’s no forecast of any major snowfall but even light Snowfall & below freezing temperature may led to temporary disruption of surface transportation on Sonmarg-Zojila, Sinthan Top, Gurez- Bandipora etc. on 30th,” the advisory reads—(KNO)

Jammu, Dec 28 : Three militants have been killed in a brief encounter between government forces and militants in Sidra area of Jammu district on Wednesday morning.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that three unidentified militant have been killed while as search operation is on in the area.

Earlier an official said that a joint team of security forces launched a cordon and search operation on specific information about the presence of militants in Sidra area.

He said that as the joint teams of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon them which was retaliated, triggering an encounter—(KNO)

Jammu Dec 28 : A gunfight has started between Government forces and militants in Sidrah area of Jammu district on Wednesday morning.

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that on specific inputs about the presence of militants cordon and search operation was launched in the area by joint team of forces in Sidrah area.

As forces zeroed in towards suspected spot, hiding militants fired upon forces which was retaliated, triggering an encounter, he said

Two to three militants are believed to be trapped and firing was going on when this report was filled—(KNO)

Srinagar, Dec 27 : Following the two years of continuous closure of educational institutes because of COVID lockdown, this year has remained productive for the School and Higher Education Department pertaining to academic days and implementation of uniform academic calendar.

Besides making a historic change after more than four decades by implementing the uniform academic calendar in Jammu and Kashmir in sync with the national academic calendar, the School and Higher Education Department this year witnessed more than 195 academic days.

Reopening of educational institutes

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), about 13,000 schools in winter zones of Jammu and Kashmir divisions reopened in March for physical academic activities after a gap of nearly two years except for a few months.

The schools were initially closed in March 2020 following the outbreak of COVID-19 that led to closure of all educational establishments.

The schools in Kashmir were again thrown open in March 2021 but the establishments were closed again following the surge in COVID-19 cases in the first week of April. Later, the schools again reopened for the regular academics at the fag end of the academic year.

Implementation of Uniform Academic Calendar

The School Education Department in the first week of October-2022 said that it has decided to implement the Uniform Academic Calendar thereby the exams of Classes 1-9 will be conducted in March now.

“Sanction is accorded to the implementation of Uniform Academic Calendar including conduct of annual examinations in March-April session for classes’ up to 9th standard in all the Government and Government recognized Private Schools of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” the government said.

The department had further ordered that new admissions shall commence from the month of March of the calendar year.

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) had also said that it will likely do away with the October-November session.

In this regard, SCERT had forwarded a proposal to the Principal Secretary, School Education Department of which official orders were issued on Friday.

In this regard, a joint meeting of all the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) of SCERT was held in virtual mode to seek inputs on adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in winter zone areas of JKUT and formulation of budget estimates 2022-23 Viz 2023-24.

“In the meeting a threadbare discussion was held with all stakeholders for smooth implementation of Uniform Academic Calendar upto class 9th in JKUT sync with the Uniform Academic Calendar notified by Government of Jammu & Kashmir (UT) for class 10th 11th and 12th,” reads the minutes of meeting.

It states that all participants in the meeting had agreed for adoption of Uniform Academic Calendar up to class 9th in JKUT.

“All the participants in the meeting have agreed to implement Uniform Academic Calendar in rural and urban and winter zone areas in sync with the academic calendar of other classes 9th to 12th as notified by the government,” it reads.

BOSE Identifies 444 hard zone schools for April Session

The Board of School Education (BOSE) has identified 444 such schools in the both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir for which annual regular examinations will be held in the month of April instead of March.

Besides, the Board has also declared the whole Leh district of Union Territory of Ladakh as a hard zone and has accordingly directed to conduct the exams in the Month of April.

Director Academics, BOSE said it has decided that the Uniform Academic Calendar has been adopted in the Union territory of JK from current academic session and the various public examinations held by the JKBOSE shall now be conducted uniformly across the Union territory of JK and Union territory of Ladakh, as per the schedule.

“Annual Regular Examinations held by the JKBOSE of classes 10th, 11th and 12th shall be held in the month of March in both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir and UT of Ladakh excluding hard zones or areas,” BOSE said.

It also said that the annual regular examination of hard zones or such areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh shall be held in the month of April.

“Result of annual regular examination of Kashmir Division and Jammu division and Union territory of Ladakh including hard zones shall be declared simultaneously in the month of June,” director academics said.

The board also said that the annual private and bi-annual examination in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh shall be held in the month of August and its result shall be declared in the month of October.

“The revised academic calendar for the current academic session depicting schedule of the activities of JKBOSE like tentative date for submission of examination, forms, conduct of examination, declaration of results etc has also been fixed,” reads the notification.

Pertinently, the government has decided to shift all annual regular board exams from October-November to March session except for the identified 444 hard zones for which it has decided to conduct the exams in April.

CSs remarks on implementation of National Education Policy

Earlier the Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta has said that Jammu and Kashmir will fully implement the National Education Policy (NEP) from the current academic session.

Mehta has also said that the implementation of NEP-2020 will also move to a uniform academic calendar which in turn will be synchronized to the national academic calendar.

In July, the Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) said that Uniform Academic Calendar shall be followed from academic year 2022-23.

Besides, the department has also said that the calendar shall be prominently displayed on the college website.

The HED had also said that in line with the vision of the NEP 2020, it has initiated a series of reforms for improving the quality of learning and teaching in all government institutions.

Student Evaluation Report

JKSCERT in a proposal regarding ‘student assessment and evaluation scheme up to 9th classes had said that it will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) based software to track the progress of student’s upto 9th standard.

In a draft regarding ‘a student assessment and evaluation scheme upto 9th class has JKSCERT said, “Aim of assessment in the culture of our schooling system will shift from one that is summative.”

“It will also primarily test rote memorization skills to one that is more regular and formative, is more competency-based, promotes learning and development for our students, and tests higher-order skills, such as analysis, critical thinking, and conceptual clarity,” it said.

SCERT said, “Multidimensional report card or progress card that reflects in great detail the progress as well as the uniqueness of each Learner (360 Degree), the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based software to track progress of students and to enable them to make optimal career choices. Support for Gifted Students and Students with Special Talent.”

The draft also reads that “All students will take school examinations in Grades 3, 5, and 8 which will be conducted by the appropriate authority. The Grade-III examination, in particular, would test basic literacy, numeracy, and other foundational skills.”

Earlier, the department had drafted that it would conduct the Summative Assessment (SA) of regular exams for only 40 marks for Classes up to 9th standard.

However, in the draft it has said that the rest of 60 percent of marks would be assessed on the basis of co-curricular component and non academic activities.

Contribution of medical seats for All India Quota

The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to contribute 15 percent of medical for All India Quota from the ongoing year.

BOPEE has informed the eligible candidates that, “From current year that is 2022, the government of J&K has decided to contribute 15 percent seats for All India Quota as per the instructions.”

The Board has further said that it will notify the schedule for online or offline registration of eligible candidates separately and the eligible or the willing candidates in their own interest are advised to remain in touch with the BOPEE website for daily updates and keep all the relevant documents or certificates ready for registration as and when asked for the same.

“Moreover, the candidates who have appeared in NEET-UG-2022 from other State’s or UT’s and whose roll numbers do not figure in the list of JKBOPEE but claim to belong to the UT’s of J&K and Ladakh shall have to submit all relevant documents at BOPEE Office Jammu or Srinagar physically up to October-03-2022,” it reads

Pertinently, in 2012 all the states and union territories of India were asked to contribute 15 percent of their MBBS seats in the AIQ.

Earlier, the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was preserving all medical seats for the local students and some of the students were opting to fetch admission out of the All India quota in other states and union territories

NEET qualifiers in JK increases by nearly 10 percent

In Jammu and Kashmir, the pass percentage of UG NEET qualifiers has increased by nearly 10 percent in comparison to the previous year.

In NEET-2021, only 42.59 percent student’s from JK had qualified the exams, however in NEET-2022, more than 52 percent of students have qualified it.

The official figures revealed by the National Testing Agency reveals that a total of 38,140 students had registered from JK out of which 36,374 appeared and 20,005 qualified it.

Likewise, in 2021, a total of 34, 615 candidates had registered from JK out of which 31,479 appeared and 14,743 qualified.

UPSC-2021: ‘No candidate’ from Kashmir cracks the exam

In Kashmir valley, ‘no candidate’ of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination 2021 has qualified it.

However, at least four candidates from the Jammu and Ladakh regions have qualified the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination, 2021—(KNO)