J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) received more than 26.22 lakh applications in the previous four years for the 26,687 positions it advertised, demonstrating the popularity and demand for government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir. Job seekers have submitted a total of 26,22,285 applications to the JKSSB from 2019 to 2022 for over 26,000 advertised positions, and selections have been made for 17,668 of those positions over the course of four years. For 2026 announced positions, JKSSB got 1.30 lakh applications in 2019. The hiring agency received 13.66 lakh applications for…
Read MoreYear: 2023
Khanmoh Fossil Park, slated to be the world’s second, remains a pipe dream
Despite the passage of several years since its inception, the Fossil Park at Khanmoh on the outskirts of Srinagar is yet to materialise. After China, this was supposed to be the first rich Triassic Park with decades-old formations. USA’s The Penn Dixie-Natural History Society had agreed to the Kashmir-based Environment Policy Group (ECG) to develop the park further. The massive bio-extinction, which was believed to have occurred 252 million years back in the geological times of Permian Triassic Era, is fully stored in a great rock system at Guryul Ravine…
Read MoreFrom Flood Alerts to Heatwaves: Exploring the reasons behind weather extremes in different states
Several parts of India experienced extreme weather conditions on Monday — there was flooding in the northeastern states including Assam and Sikkim, heavy rain in arid Rajasthan triggered by cyclone Biparjoy, waterlogging in parts of Tamil Nadu, and the death toll from the heatwave in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha climbed to 114— as weather vagaries laid bare the impact of the climate crisis. While the monsoon has arrived only in parts of southern and northeastern India — it advanced into some parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, parts of…
Read MoreStatehood must be on MHA Agenda for further talks: Ladakh Leaders Firm Stand
Ladakh leaders met a panel of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to discuss their four-point agenda, including statehood and special status for the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in Delhi on Monday. The discussion was organised to set the agenda for the high-powered committee (HPC) meeting, scheduled to be held in the coming weeks. The six-member delegation of Ladakh said it wouldn’t take part in the upcoming meeting if the agenda doesn’t include statehood and Sixth Schedule. The other two demands are related to separate…
Read MoreEthnic violence in Manipur: A brief history
Ethnic clashes have overrun Manipur since early May, leading to widespread deaths, injuries and displacement. The state’s fault lines were exposed in the first week of May after a rally by a tribal Kuki group to protest against a move to consider the inclusion of the dominant and politically stronger Meitei community to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list sparked a wave of violence between the two communities. While the state is no stranger to violent protests, the latest showdown between the Kukis and the Meiteis is perhaps the first time…
Read MoreKashmir to experience continued hot and humid weather conditions
Hot and humid weather conditions to prevail during the next six days in Jammu and Kashmir, Met officials said on Monday. The meteorological department predicts hot and humid weather to continue for the next six days in Jammu and Kashmir with 60 per cent chances of light to moderate rain coupled with thunder and lightning likely at scattered to fairly widespread places. It said the weather mainly remains dry, but a brief spell of Shower or thunderstorm mainly towards late afternoon or evening can’t be ruled out till June 23.…
Read MoreOmar taunts as J&K marks five years under central rule: ‘Democracy ends where J&K begins’
Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah on Monday taunted the continuation of central rule in Jammu and Kashmir and said democracy ends where J&K begins. “Democracy is in our veins, it is in our culture’; ‘India is the mother of democracy’; ‘India is the temple of democracy’. Great sounding words that the international community lap up & regurgitate ad-nauseam,” Omar tweeted. “Meanwhile J&K completes 5 years under central rule today. Democracy ends where J&K begins.” It has been five years since Jammu & Kashmir saw…
Read MoreJammu and Kashmir completes five years under Central Rule
Jammu and Kashmir completed five years under central rule today – the second-longest period of Presidential rule in the country since Independence. Across India, Central rule has been imposed on states 125 times. Jammu and Kashmir has gone under direct Central rule eight times since 1977. It is also the place which had the longest stint of Central rule – over six years. The last assembly elections were held in 2014, which threw a fractured mandate. Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party and the BJP formed alliance after agreeing on a…
Read MoreKashmir witnessed Hottest Day of the Season
The heat wave has started to grip Kashmir as Sunday recorded the hottest day of the season so far with Srinagar recording 31.8 degrees Celsius while the Meteorological Department predicted hot and humid conditions for a week. “Today was the hottest day of the season in Kashmir so far,” the MeT officials said. They said that mainly dry weather was expected during the next week even though the possibility of brief spell of showers and thunderstorms mainly towards late afternoon or evening could not be ruled out. “Hot and dry…
Read MoreEarthquakes rock J&K and Ladakh, 11 in a week
Eleven earthquakes in J&K and Ladakh in the past one week have caused panic among residents even as a study by the Geology Department of University of Jammu suggests that the region is vulnerable and activities beneath the Earth’s crust have been going on for a long time. Six earthquakes hit parts of J&K and Ladakh on June 17 and 18. The series of earthquake of magnitude of mostly above 4 on the Richter scale started on June 13 when Doda district of Jammu division was hit by an earthquake…
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