KCCI Reacts to Union Budget 2025: Mixed Bag of Optimism and Concern

KCCI Reacts to Union Budget 2025: Mixed Bag of Optimism and Concern

Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Union Budget 2025-26 The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has expressed a blend of optimism and concern following the Union Budget 2025-26 announcements. While the budget includes several commendable initiatives that promise to enhance economic activity, KCCI highlights the pressing need for a special revival and infrastructural development package tailored to the unique challenges faced by Jammu and Kashmir, especially considering the huge unemployment problem facing the region. Concerns Raised KCCI expresses concern over the absence of a special revival package…

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The Virtual Casino: How Kashmir’s Youth are Betting Their Futures Away

The Virtual Casino: How Kashmir’s Youth are Betting Their Futures Away

Online Gambling in Kashmir: A Silent Epidemic Fueling Financial Ruin and Emotional Despair By: Javid Amin The Rising Tide of Online Gambling in Kashmir In the picturesque valleys of Kashmir, a silent crisis is unfolding. Online gambling, once a distant concern, has now become a pervasive issue, pushing countless families into financial ruin and emotional despair. What began as a seemingly harmless pastime has morphed into a full-blown epidemic, ensnaring the youth and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Experts warn that the accessibility of online betting platforms,…

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Union Budget 2025: Big Relief for Middle Class with No Tax Up to ₹12 Lakh

"Union Budget 2025: Big Relief for Middle Class with No Tax Up to ₹12 Lakh"

Union Budget 2025 Highlights Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025 in Parliament, announcing several key measures aimed at providing relief and boosting various sectors of the economy. Here are the major highlights: Income Tax Relief Zero income tax will be levied on incomes up to ₹12 lakh under the new tax regime, providing significant relief to the middle class. New Income Tax Bill A new and simpler income tax bill will be introduced next week to streamline the tax process. Agriculture and MSMEs The budget includes a…

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Kashmir Faces Water Shortage as Chillai Kalan Ends with 75% Deficit

Kashmir Faces Water Shortage as Chillai Kalan Ends with 75% Deficit

Jammu and Kashmir ends Chillai Kalan with just 25% normal rainfall, experiencing erratic weather patterns, with mild rains and snowfall forecasted. Some parts of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed mild rains in plains and snowfall over mountains on Friday as the Valley’s harshest winter period – Chillai Kalan – ended, recording just 25% of the normal precipitation, the meteorological centre said. The 40-day Chillai Kalan, which started on December 21, has behaved erratically this winter starting with a bone chilling night temperatures of -8° to -12° Celsius but ending with day…

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Mehbooba Mufti Appeals to Andhra, Bihar CMs to Halt Waqf Amendment Bill

Mehbooba Mufti Appeals to Andhra, Bihar CMs to Halt Waqf Amendment Bill

Former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti caims that the Waqf Amendment Bill is against religious and constitutional rights of Muslims Claiming that the Waqf Amendment Bill is against religious and constitutional rights of Muslims, former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Friday wrote to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, urging them to halt the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), after clearing the Waqf bill, had recently presented it before Parliament.…

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Dark Nights Ahead: Kashmir’s Hydel Power Generation Plummets by 76%

Dark Nights Ahead: Kashmir's Hydel Power Generation Plummets by 76%

Dark nights ahead, Kashmir’s hydel power generation falls by 76 % Srinagar, Jan 31 : Owing to the low water level, the Power Development Department (PDD) is currently able to produce only 24 Megawatts (MWs) of electricity against the total capacity of around 250 MWs from the power plants in Kashmir region. A top official from Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that “From Kashmir power plants, we have a power generation capacity of around 250 MW out of which currently,…

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Navigating Life in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Guide for Expats

Navigating Life in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Guide for Expats

Working and Living in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Guide By: Javid Amin Saudi Arabia has long been a top destination for expatriates seeking job opportunities in the Gulf region. The Kingdom offers numerous advantages, from tax-free income and a strong Islamic environment to a high standard of living. However, life in Saudi Arabia comes with its unique set of challenges. This comprehensive guide aims to provide valuable insights and actionable advice for those planning to live and work in this fascinating country. Advantages of Working in Saudi Arabia 1. Islamic…

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Washington DC Air Disaster: 67 Feared Dead in Plane-Helicopter Crash

Washington DC Air Disaster: 67 Feared Dead in Plane-Helicopter Crash

67 feared dead in Washington DC mid-air collision New Delhi, Jan 30: A mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. military Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport has left no known survivors, officials confirmed. Media reports President Donald Trump, in a news briefing, says the U.S. is grieving after a plane and a military helicopter crashed in Washington, D.C., last night. He mentions that there were Russians on board but does not talk about other nationalities. “We can only try to understand the pain…

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Delhi Meeting: Ruhullah Mehdi and Mirwaiz Address Post-2019 Kashmir Issues

Delhi Meeting: Ruhullah Mehdi and Mirwaiz Address Post-2019 Kashmir Issues

The two discussed about a joint effort for the rejection of Waqf Amendment Bill inside and outside Parliament -legislatively and politically – by meeting important political players National Conference (NC) Member of Parliament Ruhullah Mehdi and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq held a surprise meeting in New Delhi and discussed the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, religious freedom of Muslims in the country, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir post 2019 and the plight of youth of Kashmir who are in jails. The two discussed about a joint effort for the…

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Experts Sound Alarm: Kashmir’s Snowfall Drop Could Lead to Water Scarcity

Experts Sound Alarm: Kashmir's Snowfall Drop Could Lead to Water Scarcity

Kashmir receiving less snowfall can lead to water scarcity in coming months, say experts Srinagar, Jan 30 : Kashmir witnessing less snowfall during peak winter season this year could lead to water scarcity in coming months, experts said on Thursday. Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the experts said the changing weather patterns have led to decline in the intensity of snowfall in Kashmir and it can have far reaching consequences. Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that the snowfall in winters is important for the…

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