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J&K Assembly Passes Private Universities Bill; CM Omar Abdullah Calls It ‘Game-Changer’ for Youth

J&K CM Omar Abdullah in Assembly

Jammu, Apr 4 (NVI): In a major legislative push to transform the education sector, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Saturday passed the Private Universities Bill, 2026, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hailing it as a “milestone moment” for the Union Territory’s youth.

Congratulating Education Minister Sakeena Itoo and all stakeholders, the Chief Minister said the legislation marks a decisive step towards building a robust higher education ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The passage of the Private Universities Bill is a significant move towards shaping a brighter future for our youth,” Omar Abdullah said, adding that it will open new avenues for quality education within the UT.

He bill would reduce the compulsion for students to move outside J&K for higher studies while attracting reputed private institutions to establish campuses in the region.

The Chief Minister said the initiative aligns with the government’s broader vision of strengthening academic infrastructure, promoting innovation and creating a dynamic environment for learning and research.

Describing it as a transformative reform, Omar Abdullah said the legislation will help position Jammu and Kashmir as an emerging hub of higher education and academic excellence.

Earlier, the Bill (L.A. Bill No. 08 of 2026) was moved by Education Minister Sakeena Itoo on the concluding day of the Budget Session and was subsequently passed by the House through a voice vote.

The development is being seen as a landmark step in reshaping the educational landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. (NVI)

Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary Inaugurates Key Bridge in Jammu, Calls It ‘Lifeline’ for Connectivity

Jammu, Apr 4 (NVI): Marking a major boost to urban infrastructure, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday inaugurated a crucial single-span RCC bridge at Bus Stand Jammu, asserting that the government is committed to fast-tracking public welfare and development across Jammu and Kashmir.

Calling the bridge a “lifeline” for transport and livelihoods, the Deputy Chief Minister said the structure will significantly improve mobility and connectivity across Jammu, Kashmir and the Chenab Valley. The bridge had been severely damaged in last year’s floods and has now been reconstructed in record time.

“This is not just a bridge, but a vital link for people, trade and transport. Its timely reconstruction reflects our resolve to deliver on development commitments,” Choudhary said.

Accompanied by local MLA Yudhvir Sethi, the Deputy Chief Minister credited coordinated efforts for the swift completion of the project and lauded Sethi’s role in pushing for its execution.

Addressing transporters, traders and other stakeholders, Choudhary emphasized that infrastructure development remains a top priority for the government, aimed at easing public hardships and strengthening economic activity.

He also assured that key concerns at the bus stand, including parking constraints, traffic management and operational issues, would be addressed on priority.

Recalling the devastation caused by floods that washed away the bridge, the Deputy Chief Minister said restoring the structure was critical to normalising daily life and economic movement in the region.

MLA Yudhvir Sethi and representatives of various stakeholder groups appreciated the government and executing agencies for completing the project within a stipulated timeframe.

The inauguration is being seen as a significant step towards strengthening core infrastructure and improving public services in Jammu and Kashmir. (NVI)

Speaker Rather Sets Benchmark as J&K Budget Session 2026 Concludes Smoothly

Jammu, Apr 4 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir Budget Session–2026 concluded on a high note on Saturday, with Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and legislators across party lines hailing Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather for ensuring smooth, disciplined and highly productive proceedings.

Praising the Speaker’s leadership, the Deputy Chief Minister said that despite political differences and usual challenges, the House functioned in an orderly and effective manner, reflecting strong parliamentary control and experience.

He noted that first-time MLAs particularly benefitted from the Speaker’s guidance, gaining valuable exposure to legislative procedures and debates. “The session provided a meaningful platform for constructive discussions, strengthening democratic processes,” he said.

Choudhary also lauded the efforts of Assembly staff and officials for their behind-the-scenes role in ensuring seamless conduct of the session, while appreciating the media for effectively carrying the voice of the House to the people.

On the concluding day, members from treasury and opposition benches alike expressed gratitude to the Speaker for maintaining decorum, ensuring fair participation and giving adequate time to raise constituency issues.

Several legislators, including Surjeet Singh Slathia, M Y Tarigami, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Sajad Gani Lone and others, praised the Speaker’s impartial and efficient handling of proceedings, noting that the session witnessed minimal disruptions and maximum participation.

Members observed that, for the first time, extended opportunities were provided to raise public issues, calling it a significant step towards inclusive and transparent governance.

The House unanimously acknowledged that the Budget Session–2026 has set a new benchmark in terms of discipline, productivity and democratic engagement in Jammu and Kashmir. (NVI)

J&K LG Orders Suspension of IPS Officer Pending Probe into Fund Irregularities

Srinagar, Apr 4 (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has suspended an IPS officer pending an inquiry into alleged misappropriation of General Provident (GP) funds and income tax deductions of police personnel, officials said on Saturday.

According to an order issued by the Home Department, Sanjeev Kumar Khajuria, IPS — the then Commandant of JKAP-4 Security Battalion and currently Commandant of 1st Border Battalion, Jammu — has been placed under suspension with immediate effect.

The action follows allegations of irregularities in handling GP funds and income tax deductions of personnel posted in the JKAP-4 Security Battalion, the officials said.

As per the order, Khajuria will remain attached to the Police Headquarters, Jammu and Kashmir, during the period of suspension pending completion of the inquiry.

Further details are awaited as the investigation proceeds.(NVI)

UAE compels Pakistan to return its loan amount

File pic of Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif

New Delhi, Apr 4: Already on the verge of bankruptcy, Pakistan is likely to face further financial problems as it is being compelled by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to return the debt of $3.5 billion immediately.

 

The UAE, which has been going easy on the debt issue for decades, hardened its stance reportedly due to its anger against Pakistan for supporting Iran which has caused a lot of damage to the UAE by carrying out repeated attacks during the ongoing war.

 

The Iranian attacks have caused immense losses to the UAE as several of its oil facilities and other crucial infrastructure have been damaged.

 

Pakistan had received the amounts of loans from the UAE way back from 1996-97 and instead of clearing the debt, Islamabad repeatedly requested for rollover which happened multiple times.

 

But, now the UAE has decided to end the rollover mechanism and insisted that the debt be cleared.

 

Under pressure, Pakistan has decided to repay $3.5 billion to the UAE within this month, marking a shift away from long-standing rollover arrangements, according to the ‘Dawn’ newspaper of Pakistan.

 

The UAE had originally given these funds to Pakistan to support its balance of payments and had been rolled over regularly.

 

For the current fiscal year, Pakistan required a rollover of about USD 12 billion in external deposits, including USD 5 billion from Saudi Arabia, USD 4 billion from China and USD 3 billion from the UAE.

Pakistan currently holds more than USD 21 billion in reserves and will proceed with the repayment, though it may require external financing in the coming months.

Due to the serious economic condition, Pakistan depends heavily on finances from “friendly” countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China which have been providing crucial support to the economy by maintaining financial deposits.

 

The outgo of such an amount of money is going to hurt Pakistan badly, adding woes to its ongoing economic crisis which has caused immense hardships to the common people.

The economic situation has worsened after the West Asia war began as it caused acute shortages of fuel and energy.

The Pakistan government had even to resort to partial shut down of the country because of the severity of the situation. (NVI)

India’s latest Nuclear-powered submarine INS Aridhaman; Check out the details

Nuclear-powered Submarine INS Aridhaman inducted in Indian Navy

New Delhi, Apr 4: The prowess of the Indian Navy has got a further boost with the induction of INS Aridhaman, the third indigenously-built nuclear-powered submarine equipped with ballistic missiles.

 

INS Aridhaman is an advanced version of the Arihant-class submarines and follows induction of INS Arihant in 2016 and INS Arighaat in August 2024.

 

The submarine is powered by an 83 MW CLWR-B1 compact light water pressurised reactor derived from the prototype naval reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

 

It can carry and fire longer-range missiles, boosting India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence as it enhances both the strike capability as well as survivability in line with the country’s nuclear doctrine.

INS Aridhaman has been built under the Advanced Technology Vessel project at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam.

 

The submarine was reportedly laid down around 2017 to 2018. It was then launched quietly on November 21 or 23, 2021 and was undergoing harbour acceptance and sea trials since 2022.

The final weapon and reactor checks were completed by mid-2025, paving the way for induction in the Indian Navy on April 3.

Key features:

INS Aridhaman can carry a load of heavy weapons like missiles larger than earlier Arihant-class units as it has eight vertical launch system (VLS) tubes in the raised hull section compared to four on INS Arihant and INS Arighaat.

The submarine thus has the capability to carry up to 24 K-15 Sagarika submarine-launched ballistic missiles, with a range of about 750 kilometers.

Otherwise, it can have up to eight K-4 SLBMs, with ranges around 3,500 kilometers, and is widely expected to be compatible with future K-5 missiles, which are described as having a range between 5,000 and 6,000 kilometers.

The INS Aridhaman also retains a set of six 533 mm torpedo tubes to launch heavyweight torpedoes such as the Varunastra, as well as certain cruise missiles or mines for self-protection and limited conventional strike roles.

INS Aridhaman is said to have the speed of 12 to 15 knots when surfaced and about 24 knots when submerged.

Its displacement is reported to be around 6,000 tonnes on the surface and approximately 7,000 tonnes submerged, with a complement of roughly 95 to 100 crew members, including officers and sailors.

India’s nuclear submarines

India’s first leased nuclear attack submarine, INS Chakra, was designated as S1, leading to the naming of subsequent submarines: INS Arihant as S2, INS Arighaat as S3, and INS Aridhaman as S4.

Future classes of Indian SSBNs are expected to have a displacement of 6,000 tons, double that of the Arihant class, and will carry nuclear missiles with ranges exceeding 5,000 kilometers and beyond. (NVI)

Sharp Exchange Between Minister Itoo and PDP’s Para Rocks Assembly

File Photo : Sakina Itoo, Minister for Social Welfare, Health, and Education

Srinagar, Apr 4 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on Saturday following a heated verbal exchange between Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para during House proceedings.

Tensions escalated after Sakina Itoo held the PDP responsible for the prevailing political and administrative situation in the Union Territory. She alleged that the region’s lack of statehood and power stemmed from the party’s past decisions, triggering strong objections from opposition members.

“The lack of power and statehood is because of PDP,” Itoo said, drawing protests from PDP legislators and other opposition benches.

The minister further blamed the party for developments following the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent governance challenges faced in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a sharp remark aimed at the opposition, Itoo asserted that the present dispensation believes in “action, not drama,” intensifying the confrontation and leading to noisy scenes in the Assembly.

The exchange disrupted normal proceedings for some time as members engaged in heated arguments. (NVI)

Jammu and Kashmir: PDP MLA welcomes Magisterial Probe ordered by Lt Governor into Ganderbal Encounter

PDP MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi

Jammu, Apr 4 (NVI): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi on Saturday welcomed the decision of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to order a magisterial inquiry into the recent encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, saying the move would help bring out the truth.

Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly complex here, Mehdi said concerns raised by the family of the deceased youth must be addressed through a fair and transparent investigation.

“The apprehensions expressed by the family need to be looked into. It is important that the probe is conducted in a transparent manner so that the truth comes out,” he said.

The MLA termed the LG’s decision to order a time-bound inquiry, with directions to submit the report within a week, as a “positive and welcome step.”

“We have to wait for the findings, but this is certainly a good development. It is perhaps for the first time that such a probe has been ordered at this level,” Mehdi said.

He also referred to past incidents, alleging that there have been cases where innocent people were wrongly targeted, and expressed hope that the latest move would ensure accountability.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had on Friday ordered a magisterial probe into the encounter in Ganderbal and directed the district administration to complete the inquiry within seven days.(NVi)

BRO, J&K Police Rescue 38 Vehicles in Overnight Operation on Bandipora–Gurez Road
85-km Artery Shut Amid Adverse Conditions; Traffic Suspended

Srinagar, April 4 (NVI): In a major overnight rescue operation, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in coordination with Jammu & Kashmir Police successfully evacuated 38 stranded vehicles on the strategic Bandipora–Gurez road, officials said on Saturday.

The swift action came amid difficult weather and road conditions that left several vehicles stuck along the high-altitude stretch. Rescue teams worked through the night to ensure the safe evacuation of commuters, preventing any casualties.

Meanwhile, authorities have ordered the closure of the 85-km-long Bandipora–Gurez road for vehicular movement as a precautionary measure. Officials said the decision was taken considering safety concerns due to prevailing conditions.

Passengers have been advised to avoid travel on the route until further notice, while restoration work and weather assessment are underway.(NVI)

Jhelum, Tributaries Flow Normal Across Kashmir; No Flood Threat: I&FC

Srinagar, April 4 (NVI): The Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) Department on Saturday reported that the water levels in River Jhelum and its tributaries across Kashmir Valley are flowing well within safe limits, with no flood threat at present.

According to the 9:00 AM gauge reading, the River Jhelum recorded 6.63 ft at Sangam, 0.53 metres at Pampore, 7.05 ft at Munshibagh, and 4.83 ft at Asham, all significantly below alarm levels. The level at Wullar Lake stood at 1574.08 metres, also within normal range.

Among tributaries, Vishow Nallah at Khudwani, Rambiyara at Wachi, Lidder at Batkoot, Doodhganga at Barzulla, and Sindh at Doderhama were all recorded below danger marks, indicating stable flow conditions.

Officials said the overall hydrological situation remains calm and under control, with continuous monitoring in place. “There is no cause for concern as all rivers and streams are flowing normally,” the department said.(NVI)

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