RAINFALL DEFICIT
The alarming rainfall deficit across Jammu and Kashmir during the October–December period highlights a growing climate vulnerability that can no longer be treated as seasonal aberration. With 22 out of 23 districts recording below-normal precipitation and an overall shortfall of 39 percent, the Union Territory finds itself in a precarious position as winter advances. […]
Leh Freezes at –10.6°C as Sub-Zero Cold Tightens Grip on Kashmir
Cold conditions continued across Kashmir and Ladakh on Saturday, with large parts of the Valley recording sub-zero night temperatures, while Ladakh remained in the grip of intense cold, officials said.Kashmir History books In Ladakh, temperatures stayed well below the freezing point, with Leh recording a minimum of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius. Kargil was colder at […]
Short Circuit in Electric Blanket Triggers Fire in Srinagar
A fire that broke out at HMT Shah Vilayat Colony in Srinagar during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday was swiftly brought under control, with timely action by Fire and Emergency Services preventing a major mishap, officials said. The fire erupted in a three-storeyed residential house in Sector 8 after a short circuit in […]
FIRSTHAND ENGAGEMENT
Recently Chief Secretary Ladakh’s first-day directive to senior officers to undertake regular field visits marks a welcome shift towards grounded and accountable governance. In a geographically vast and climatically challenging Union Territory like Ladakh, administration from conference rooms and distant capitals is no substitute for firsthand engagement with people’s realities. By mandating fortnightly field […]
DEMOCRATIC DISSENT
The recent decision to prevent a peaceful student sit-in in Srinagar has once again exposed the uneasy relationship between governance and democratic dissent in Jammu & Kashmir. By placing political leaders and student supporters under house detention ahead of the proposed protest, the administration may have achieved temporary control, but at the cost […]
DECISIVE SHIFT
The Government’s move to operationalize the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) marks a decisive shift in India’s strategic response to cross-border terrorism. By linking sustained terror attacks, such as the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, with long-standing cooperative frameworks, New Delhi has signalled that treaties cannot exist in isolation from ground realities. […]
Tawi Railway Station
The ongoing redevelopment of Jammu Tawi Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme reflects a determined push to modernise rail infrastructure and enhance passenger experience in Jammu and Kashmir. As the region’s principal railhead, Jammu Tawi is not merely a transit point but a vital gateway connecting the Union Territory with the […]
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
India’s unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent in October 2025, as reported by the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey, offers a mixed picture of the country’s labour market. While the headline figure suggests relative stability, a closer look reveals persistent structural challenges that demand sustained policy attention. The sharp contrast between rural and urban unemployment […]
FRESH ASSESSMENT
The Union Home Ministry’s move to seek a fresh assessment of bunker requirements in Jammu and Kashmir’s border areas reflects a sobering lesson drawn from recent hostilities. Operation Sindhoor, marked by unprecedented Pakistani shelling of civilian zones, exposed both the vulnerability of border populations and the critical role protective infrastructure plays in preventing displacement […]
Change of Land Use
The recent draft Change of Land Use (CLU) Policy proposed by the Revenue Department of the Union Territory of Ladakh is a timely and necessary intervention. For years, the absence of a uniform land conversion framework has encouraged ad-hoc development, delayed approvals, and created uncertainty for both residents and investors. By introducing […]
