India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
Srinagar, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday informed the Assembly that more than 200 unauthorised constructions have been identified across key tourist destinations, with the highest number reported from Doodhpathri. Replying to a query by PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, the government said that Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs) have initiated action in these cases, including sealing, demolition, imposition of penalties and issuance of notices. Doodhpathri alone accounted for 147 such constructions where notices have been served and FIRs registered. The reply further stated that Pahalgam reported 28 illegal constructions, of which 13 have been sealed while action is ongoing in the remaining cases. In Gulmarg, 21 unauthorised structures were identified -- 20 have been sealed and one demolished. In Patnitop, 15 constructions have been demolished, while others were stopped at the initial stage. Verinag recorded four violations that were penalised, Sonamarg reported five cases, while in Bhaderwah, 358 notices were issued in connection with illegal constructions. The government also revealed that 807 building permissions were granted by various TDAs over the past three years, including 245 in 2023-24, 147 in 2024-25 and 415 in 2025-26. These include residential houses, commercial buildings, hotels, huts and guest houses. Additionally, 2,613 homestays have been registered so far with a total bed capacity of 19,328. It was also stated that GIS-based monitoring systems are being used in some tourist zones, while efforts are underway to expand digital oversight and strengthen regulatory mechanisms across all areas. (KNC)
NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday extended the term of the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Ravi Agrawal by one year, an official notification said.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the re-appointment of Agrawal, an IRS officer of the 1988 batch, as CBDT chairman for one year from July 1 this year to June 30, 2026, on contract basis.Agrawal took over as the CBDT chairman from Nitin Gupta in June 2024 after Gupta's extended tenure ended. Agrawal has been a member of CBDT. He was member administration and had served as DG investigation in Delhi. The gover ...Read More >
KOLKATA: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday described Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) Kolkata as a vital platform to explore avenues for collaboration between Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal and promote mutual growth in the tourism sector. Inaugurating the Travel & Tourism Fair (TTF) Kolkata-2025, India's oldest and most trusted B2B travel trade show, at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Kolkata, the Chief Minister emphasized that the fair would encourage all stakeholders to contribute meaningfully towards strengthening the cultural and economic ties between the two regions The inaugural ceremony ...Read More >
Jammu, Sep 28: Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday described the election of son of the soil Mithun Manhas to the post of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president as a "momentous occasion to celebrate". He also took pride in the fact that Sunday (September 28, 2025) proved to be "providential" for the erstwhile district of Doda, one of the remotest parts of Jammu and Kashmir, which was his (Jitendra's) home district as well. The erstwhile Doda district comprised the present Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts. Dr Jitendra's reference was to the historic ...Read More >
Srinagar, Oct 18 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday strongly asserted that his party National Conference would never join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party to hasten the return of statehood to the Union territory, indicating a refusal to repeat the "mistakes" of the past made by others. The NC leader claimed that a deal with the BJP for the return of statehood is "out of the question", making reference to the negative consequences of the 2015 PDP-BJP alliance. "We have already seen how much that (alliance) ruined J-K. It was a useless coalition between the B ...Read More >
Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday reaffirmed the government's commitment to phased regularisation of daily-wage workers, announced a Rajasthan-style behavioural training model to improve the tourism experience in Jammu and Kashmir, and informed the Assembly that 578 illegal constructions had been identified in tourist destinations over the past three years. Replying to a private member's bill moved by CPI(M) MLA Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami seeking regularisation of casual and other workers in various government departments, the chief minister said the government had already commit ...Read More >
Srinagar, Dec 17 : Cold conditions continued across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday, with several places in the Kashmir Valley recording sub-zero minimum temperatures, officials said. In the Kashmir region, Pulwama and Shopian were the coldest, both recording a minimum temperature of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, followed by Anantnag at minus 4.2 degrees and Pampore at minus 4.0 degrees Celsius. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature at Srinagar airport settled at minus 2.6 degrees, officials said. Other places in the Valley also remained ...Read More >
Jammu, July 18 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat has reviewed the security, law and order, anti-terror operations, and administrative readiness in the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar during his visit to Bhaderwah town. He was received by DIG DKR Range, Shridhar Patil, along with the SSP Doda, SSP Kishtwar, and other senior officers of CAPF and army. A police spokesman here today said that a detailed review meeting was held to assess deployment for Yatra's and ...Read More >
It was partially cloudy during the day with light rains in Qazigund and Gulmarg in Kashmir and in Jammu's Batote. However, as the evening progressed dark clouds hovered over the Valley with chances of more rains expected by late evening. The J&K meteorological centre in Srinagar forecast light rains on Sunday and Monday while predicting a western disturbance approaching the Union territory from April 7. "From April 7-8, there will be intermittent light to moderate rain and snow (higher reaches) ...Read More >
New Delhi: Traffic in central Delhi will be affected on Thursday as the traffic police has issued an advisory due to the Janmashtami and Tazia processions.According to police, the traffic movement in Paharganj is likely to be affected from 1.30pm in view of the shobha yatra for Janmashtami and the Tazia procession.The Janmashtami procession will start from Mandir Shri Banke Bihari Ji in Paharganj's Sangatrasan Bazar and pass through Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Chuna Mandi, Main Bazar, Munja Chowk and Arakashan Road. The Tazia procession will start from Ajmeri Gate and proceed through Pul Paharganj ...Read More >
Srinagar: A sharp winter chill tightened its grip across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Tuesday as temperatures plunged across the region. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, while Zojila Pass emerged as the coldest place at a bone-chilling minus 17 degrees Celsius, the Meteorological Department's Srinagar centre said. Several parts of the Kashmir Valley dipped well below the freezing point overnight. Pampore and Pulwama were among the coldest inhabited areas, both recording minus 4 degrees Celsius. Shopian followed closely at minus 3.8 degrees, while Anantn ...Read More >
Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 14 (ANI): Ahead of the 79th Independence Day celebration, a grand Tiranga Rally was organised in Rajouri on Thursday featuring a 2-kilometre-long National Flag. The rally saw a huge participation of people filling the atmosphere with patriotic fervour. Police officials were also stationed to maintain tight security. Earlier, on Wednesday, the Bhaderwah valley witnessed a vibrant Tiranga Rally organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, led by SDPO Bhaderwah, who joined police, students, and locals in waving a 100-meter national flag, thereby spreadi ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday called for a paradigm shift in the agriculture sector by embracing cutting-edge technology and fostering greater synergy among stakeholders. He said this while addressing the 96th Annual General Meeting of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Society at the NASC Complex in the national capital. Speaking at the high-profile event chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Dr Singh underscored that every technology available global ...Read More >
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said his government will revoke the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA) as soon as the Union territory gets statehood. Commenting on his party's commitment to the Act made in its election manifesto, the CM said that his government can do it only once law and order is its domain. "We need to have a full statehood to remove it (the PSA). Security and law and order should be with the elected government. The day these powers are vested with us, I will not even wait for the assembly session; we will remove this law through an ordinance," Abdull ...Read More >
Srinagar, Mar 30: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant stride in the tourism sector as over 6.25 crores tourists, including 1.57 lakh foreigners, visited the region in the last three years. According to the details, the highest tourist footfall was recorded in 2024 with a total of 2.36 crores people visiting the region, surpassing all the previous records. In 2023, around 2.12 crores (21,180,011) tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir. Out of them, over 2.11 crores (21,124,674) are domestic and 55,337 are foreigners. In 2024, over 2.36 crores (23,590,081) visited the region, while over 2. ...Read More >
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir is ideally placed as a destination for adventure tourism activities. Addressing the 17th Annual Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) Convention at SKICC here, Omar Abdullah also said that while adventure tourism thrives on adrenaline, it must never compromise on safety or sustainability, an official press release said. The four-day event being held in Srinagar from December 17 to 20, 2025, is aimed at positioning Jammu & Kashmir as a leading global destination for adventure tourism. The ch ...Read More >
Jammu: Heavy rains in the Jammu region on Tuesday brought in cold wave-like conditions with day temperatures plunging up to 7.2 degrees Celsius below normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that an active western disturbance has impacted the region for 36 hours, bringing widespread rainfall, a sharp fall in temperatures and disruption to normal life. Jammu city recorded a maximum temperature of 23.2 degrees Celsius, which is 7.2 degrees below normal, marking a significant dip under persistent cloudy and rainy conditions, as per the IMD. Similar trends were recorded across the ...Read More >
Arctic blast invades the Midwest, Northeast: Latest forecast KENTON GEWECKE and EMILY SHAPIRO December 4, 2025 at 3:09 PM 0 Freezing temperatures are hitting millions in the Midwest and Northeast on Thursday and Friday, bringing a brutal cold usually seen in January, not early December. On Thursday morning, the wind chill -- what the temperature feels like -- plunged to minus 14 degrees in Minneapolis; minus 17 in Green Bay, Wisconsin; and minus 5 in Chicago. When wind chills reach minus 20 ...Read More >
The Eco-fragile Doda region comprising Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, not only falls under seismic zone 4 and 5 but also receives heavy rains and snowfall during peak weather seasons. Dr Singh stated that the Doppler weather radar will enable accurate and real-time monitoring of weather conditions. This will improve early warning systems and support disaster management efforts in the district, he added. He was chairing the district development coordination and monitoring committee (DISHA) ...Read More >
Doda/Jammu, Sept 13 (PTI) Markets in the district headquarters and other major towns in the hilly district of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir sprang to life on Saturday after the authorities announced a six-hour relaxation in restrictions imposed earlier this week after the detention of sitting AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under the stringent Public Safety Act, officials said. Malik, who is also the chief of AAP's J-K unit, was detained on Monday for allegedly disturbing public order. His detention sparked violent protests, prompting the authorities to impose prohibitory restrictions and snap mobile intern ...Read More >
Srinagar, Apr 01: Jammu and Kashmir's tourism sector is witnessing rapid infrastructure growth, but the expansion is increasingly shadowed by a surge in illegal constructions across key destinations, official data tabled in the Legislative Assembly reveals. The response shared by the government in reply to a query by MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para revealed that a total of 415 building permissions were granted by various Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs) over the past three years. The figures show a fluctuating trend, with 245 permissions issued in 2023-24, dipping to 147 in 2024-25, before pic ...Read More >
Srinagar- As Jammu and Kashmir braces for light to moderate rainfall from July 5 onwards, several areas across the region experienced a slight drop in temperatures on Wednesday, offering relief from the intense heat wave that gripped the Valley over the past week. According to the Meteorological Department, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a maximum temperature of 32.8°C, down from 34.2°C a day earlier. Qazigund recorded 29.2°C, while Pahalgam saw a pleasant 27.2°C. Kupwara, Kokernag, and Gulmarg registered maximum temperatures of 34.4°C, 30.0°C, and 22.8°C, respect ...Read More >
Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 14 (ANI): The Office of LG J&K X account commended the Tiranga Horse Rally, organised by Nomadic Tribals in Rajouri district as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga initiative, describing it as truly inspiring. The X account of the Office of LG J&K posted, "Tiranga Horse Rally by Nomadic Tribals in Rajouri is truly inspiring. With pride in their hearts, every citizen is marching ahead on the glorious path of infinite possibilities. @dmrajouri #HarGharTiranga" Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir: Massive Cloudburst Hits Kishtwar's Chashoti Near Machail Mata Yatra ...Read More >
Srinagar, April 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Meteorological (MeT) Department on Friday forecast erratic weather in Jammu and Kashmir from Friday till Sunday, with peak activity likely around April 4. A statement by the local MeT Department said, "J&K is expected to experience erratic weather with light to moderate rain and snow across many places from April 3 to April 5, 2026, with the peak of this activity expected around April 4. On Friday, generally cloudy conditions with intermittent light to moderate rain and snow in higher reaches, accompanied by thunder, hailstorms, and gusty winds (30-50 k ...Read More >
JAMMU, June 8: Severe heat wave continues to grip many parts of Jammu region for the past few days while Samba recorded the highest temperature of 44 degrees Celsius in the region. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The weatherman has predicted severe heat wave conditions in Jammu region during next five days, with slight disturbance in the weather on Monday evening. Windstorm in some parts of Jammu region followed by thundershowers on the evening of June 9 has been predicted. Chief Scientist, Agrometeorology Department of SKUAST-Jammu, Dr Mahender Singh said that Jammu recorded ...Read More >
JAMMU, Sept 29: Kishtwar the hilly and remote district of Jammu and Kashmir has been designated under PM Dhan Dhaannya Krishi Yojna (PMDDKY) as aspirational agriculture district. The Kishtwar figures among 100 districts of the country selected for PMDDKY in the country out of over 800 districts. A letter to this effect was written by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan to Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh who represents Udhamapur -Doda -Kishtwar Parliamentary constituency. The letter said that the Government of India (GoI) in i ...Read More >
Govt admits illegal constructions across major tourist hubs like Gulmarg, Pahalgam Jammu, Apr 01: The government on Wednesday said over 800 building permissions have been granted by Tourism Development Authorities across Jammu and Kashmir in the last three years, even as illegal constructions continue to surface at several key tourist destinations. In response to MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para's query, Tourism Minister said a total of 807 permissions were issued between 2023 and 2026. The number sto ...Read More >
Jammu, Apr 7 (PTI) Heavy rains lashed the Jammu region on Tuesday, triggering cold wave-like conditions with day temperatures plunging up to 7.2 degrees Celsius below normal, while landslides forced the closure of the strategic Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that an active western disturbance has impacted the region for 36 hours, bringing widespread rainfall, a sharp fall in temperatures and disruption to normal life. Jammu city recorded a maximum temperature of 23.2 degrees Celsius, which is 7.2 degrees below normal, markin ...Read More >
New Delhi: With the completion of eight years, implementing the goods and services tax (GST) -- one of the country's biggest tax reforms, India has broken all the stereotypes by showcasing a perfect balance between Centre and state administrations and coming together to make decisions and resolve issues as well. Back on July 1, 2017, the GST was rolled out with a promise that the country will bring 'one nation, one tax' by merging various indirect taxes under one umbrella. As of today, it is part of every common man's daily lives; from a cup of tea to a car almost everything he/she buys has a ...Read More >
JAMMU, July 02: With the annual ShriAmarnathJiYatra 2025 set to commence tomorrow, a vibrant spiritual atmosphere prevails at the YatriNiwas Base Camp in Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, where around 3,500 pilgrims are ready to begin their sacred journey. "All arrangements have been made, and nearly 3,500 pilgrims are currently stationed at the Jammu Base Camp," said Rajesh Raina, a senior officer of the Tourism Department, speaking to Rising Kashmir. Registration counters have been set up inside YatriNiwas, and vehicles from the J&K Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) are on standby to transport the pi ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 14: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and AMPIN Energy Transition, in collaboration with Deloitte & Sumitomo Corporation, successfully concluded its pivotal seminar titled Renewable Energy Transition for Commercial and Industrial Consumers in the Southern Region at Hotel Taj MG Road. The event brought together a diverse group of industry leaders, policymakers, and C&I consumers who discussed the roadmap to achieve 100 RE for Corporates & Industrial consumers in South India. Delivering the inaugural address, Shri Gaurav Gup ...Read More >