According to the tariff order issued by the regulator, the revised rates will come into effect from September 1, 2026, with electricity consumed from that date to be billed at the new tariffs.

The hike is likely to increase the power bills of consumers across Jammu and Kashmir.

The tariff revision has also triggered strong criticism from opposition political parties, with leaders accusing the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government of failing to fulfil its 2024 Assembly election promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to households.

Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and BJP senior leader Sunil Sharma termed the tariff hike a “betrayal” of the people, saying the NC had promised 200 units of free power but had instead allowed consumers to face higher bills.

“The NC government promised 200 units of free electricity to every household. But instead of fulfilling that commitment, people are now facing an increase in electricity tariffs. This is not relief; it is a betrayal of the trust placed in the government,” Sharma said.

PDP leader and MLA Waheed Parra also criticised the government, saying the tariff increase came at a time when unemployment and inflation were already putting pressure on ordinary families.

“At a time when unemployment is at a peak, inflation is biting hard and ordinary families are struggling to make ends meet, the government has imposed a 6.83pc power tariff hike,” Parra said in a post on X.

He questioned the government’s failure to implement its election promises, saying, “From free tariff promises of relief to higher bills, what happened to the promise?”

Peoples Conference chief and MLA Sajad Lone said the tariff hike would come as a “shock” to consumers who had been promised free electricity.

“It is definitely a shock for those who were promised 200 units free in 2024 by the ruling party,” Lone said in a post on X, alleging that almost two years had passed without consumers receiving any benefit from the promised free power.

Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari also opposed the hike, describing it as an additional burden on people already facing unemployment, inflation and difficulties in the tourism and horticulture sectors.

“Only a government that is insensitive towards the problems and grievances of people can think of putting an additional burden on them by increasing power tariffs,” Bukhari said.

He said the ruling party had sought votes by promising 200 units of free electricity and free gas cylinders for domestic use, but had failed to deliver the promised relief.

“Two years after coming to power, instead of providing relief to people already struggling with hardships, the government has chosen to increase power tariffs. This is deeply disappointing,” Bukhari said, adding that the Apni Party would oppose the tariff hike and raise the issue with the authorities

In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “On his birth anniversary today, my tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji.”

Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi became India’s youngest prime minister at the age of 40 after the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984. He subsequently led the Congress and the country until the party’s defeat in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections.

Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure was marked by a strong emphasis on modernisation and the use of technology. His government pushed computerisation and the expansion of telecommunications, besides introducing initiatives in areas such as education and Panchayati Raj. His government also lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

After the Congress lost power in 1989, Rajiv Gandhi became the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He was assassinated on May 21, 1991, in a bomb blast at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress observes his birth anniversary as Sadbhavana Diwas, with party leaders and workers paying homage to him at Veer Bhumi, his memorial in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has regularly paid tribute to Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary. In 2024, he had posted, “Tributes to our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji on his birth anniversary.”

The tribute comes as Rajiv Gandhi’s political legacy remains closely associated with the Nehru-Gandhi family and the Congress. His son, Rahul Gandhi, is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and remains one of the principal leaders of the party.

“No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran a greater opportunity to make a Deal than me. TRAGICALLY, for them, they have failed to take it. Therefore, today, I am announcing the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The US President said that any country whose businesses and government entities are providing support to Iran will face tremendous economic consequences.

“Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences. Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies – It all needs to stop NOW,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He described his economic operation against Iran as an isolation on an unprecedented scale and called on US allies to join these measures.

“This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” he added.

Earlier, Trump told the media that the United States could put even more economic pressure on Iran on top of the heavy sanctions already imposed.

“Well, we have things that we could sanction. We have very draconian sanctions, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters.

CNN has reported, citing US officials, that the US authorities had informed their political allies that they are shifting to a strategy of gradually economically “strangling” Iran instead of pursuing their previous course of military action. The officials said a new package of sanctions against Iran was expected to be introduced this week, while the blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place.

On Tuesday, Trump said that Washington was not holding and did not plan to hold any talks with Tehran.

Delivering his second Independence Day address since returning to office at Bakshi Stadium here, Omar also renewed his call for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights and statehood, saying India’s federal structure must be strengthened by restoring the powers taken away from the union Territory.

He said strengthening federalism in India should begin with Jammu and Kashmir and that whatever had been taken away from the region should be returned so that federalism was not confined to “rhetoric” but reflected in practice.

Omar said that after eight decades of Independence, the country needed to reflect on whether it had achieved the vision of India envisaged by its founding leaders and freedom fighters.

Recalling the events of 1947, Omar highlighted the role played by the people of Jammu and Kashmir in defending the erstwhile state during the tribal invasion. He said Kashmiris had resisted the invaders even before Indian troops reached the Valley, with people from all walks of life joining the fight to protect their towns and villages.

Referring to the unrest in POJK, the Chief Minister said developments over the past eight decades had proved that the decision taken by Kashmir’s leadership in 1947 was the right one. He said the sacrifices made by those who defended Jammu and Kashmir during that period had been vindicated by the course of history.

“Today, when I look at the situation across the LOC (Line of Control) and across Jammu and Kashmir, I feel sad. I feel sorry. I feel worried. I feel that if our situation hadn’t changed in J&K in 2019, the people of that Kashmir would have been protesting to reunite with us,” Omar said. “That part of Jammu and Kashmir is ours. We consider those people as our own. No one is a stranger.”

Omar said seats are reserved in the J&K Assembly for POJK residents and there remains hope that one day those seats will be occupied.

Omar Abdullah said India’s two greatest strengths are democracy and federalism and that protecting both was a collective responsibility.

Omar reiterated his demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional guarantees and the return of statehood.

“Our country is a union of states. …In fact, this is accepted constitutionally…So today, when we talk of strengthening that federalism, we should start with Jammu and Kashmir. Whatever was taken from us should be returned so that federalism and identity do not remain confined to words but are put into practice,” he said.

He argued that federalism could not be strengthened by reducing the powers of one state or by converting it into union Territory.

“To strengthen federalism, we must strengthen all states. When the powers of states are eroded and central agencies begin interfering in matters that fall within their jurisdiction, federalism suffers,” he said.

The Chief Minister also linked recent student protests at Jantar Mantar to what he described as growing centralisation in sectors such as education.

He said education and health had traditionally been the responsibility of the states, but the introduction of centralised examinations such as NEET and JEE had reduced the role of states in determining admissions to medical and engineering institutions.

“The result is protests in Delhi against the same,” he said.

While acknowledging the importance of national entrance examinations for institutions such as IITs, IIMs and other centrally administered institutions, Omar said states should retain greater authority over their own educational institutions.

He also referred to recruitment-related irregularities in Jammu and Kashmir and said restoring public trust should remain a priority.

“It takes only minutes to lose trust in a system, but years to rebuild it,” he said, emphasising the need for transparency and merit-based recruitment.

Concluding his address, Omar reiterated his government’s commitment for restoring statehood and reclaiming constitutional safeguards .

“We will continue to represent you. We will continue to serve you. We will continue to do our work to bring Jammu and Kashmir to that level. The dream of Jammu and Kashmir, the people who were martyred in the fight for freedom, to salute that martyrdom, we will make those dreams come true. Whether it is to bring Jammu and Kashmir to that level again. Whether it is to restore the constitutional guarantees of Jammu and Kashmir. Whether it is to regain the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Whether it is to start a new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir. Your government is not only promised for all these things, but your government will implement it,” he said.

Reflecting on India’s post-independence journey, Modi said, “The country gained independence-independence accompanied by many dreams. Yet, we failed to pick up pace or gather momentum. We remained mired in an attitude of ‘hoti hai,’ ‘chalti hai,’ ‘ho jaega,’ or ‘dekha jaega.”

He noted that by 2014, “the entire world had relegated us to the ranks of the ‘Fragile Five.” But, he added, “over the last 12 years, India has gathered new momentum. We are surging ahead rapidly, and the resolve of our 1.4 billion citizens is such that nothing can now halt our collective determination and capability.”

Delivering a sweeping address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on India’s 80th Independence Day, the PM pushed for an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

Modi placed strong emphasis on self-reliance, declaring that “energy security is the demand of our times.” He said, “Becoming an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is crucial… India should no longer live in dependence on other nations; we must become self-reliant,” pointing to citizens’ growing participation in initiatives like “Make in India,” “Swadeshi,” and “Local for Local.”

On critical technology, he said chips were indispensable in today’s world, noting that “India has moved towards self-reliance in this sector; three major semiconductor plants have already been established,” with production already underway for export, and “five to eight additional semiconductor plants are set to commence operations” in the coming 7-8 years. He added that “many countries are now depending on India for critical minerals.”

Modi took a sharper tone while recalling the turbulence of recent years, saying, “In the last 12 years, we have faced many dangers. As soon as we emerged from Covid, there was news of wars that started to arise from Ukraine side and West Asia.”

He criticised those who, he said, spread panic during that period. “Some people gain joy in keeping the nation terrified by spreading rumours that vaccines will not be available, petrol, diesel, and fertiliser will not be available in the country.”

He also reflected on what he called India’s past “poverty of thought” over ocean resources, revealing that “we have declared 99% of our coastline as a ‘No Go area.” He said that mindset is changing: “Sectors that were once seen as ‘No-Go Areas’ are now ‘Go-Ahead Areas.”

Citing progress in domestic energy access, Modi said, “12 years ago, piped gasline was available in only 70 cities. In the last 12 years, this number has grown to 700 cities. Today, 1.75 crore households are connected to piped gas lines in the country.”

The Prime Minister also addressed families affected by recent floods and landslides across parts of the country, offering assurance of government support.

“My dear Indians, in the past few days, some parts of the country have witnessed floods and landslides, and many families have been affected. We fully understand their pain and suffering. I assure the affected families that the entire country stands with them,” he said, expressing solidarity with those hit by the calamities.

In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Our young companions are not only the future of the country, but also its greatest strength in the present. They have created a distinct identity across the world through their sensitivity, spirit of service and capability.”

He also shared a Sanskrit verse: “Chakshuṣā manasā vācā karmaṇā ca caturvidham, prasādayati yo lokaṁ taṁ loko’nuprasīdati.” The verse conveys the message that one who wins over or serves people through the four means of sight, mind, speech and action receives goodwill and goodwill in return from society.

The Prime Minister’s message placed young people at the heart of India’s present as well as its future development, while drawing attention to values of empathy, service and individual capability. He also underlined the contribution of young Indians in earning recognition for the country globally.

Modi has repeatedly stressed the importance of youth participation in nation-building, particularly in areas such as innovation, entrepreneurship, skill development, technology and public service. The government has also sought to position the country’s young population as a key force in advancing its broader vision of a developed India.

By highlighting sensitivity and a spirit of service alongside capability, the Prime Minister’s latest message sought to underline that the contribution of young Indians extends beyond economic and professional achievements. Their engagement with society, commitment to public service and willingness to contribute to the wider community, the message suggested, are equally important to the country’s progress.