The objective of the event was to strengthen the assessment practices in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curricular Frameworks.

Commissioner Secretary Education, Ram Niwas Sharma, presided over the programme while Director, School Education Jammu and Director, SCERT J&K, Dr. Naseem Javaid Chowdhary, was the guest of honour.

Senior officers of the Directorate of School Education Jammu including Manisha, Personal Officer, Mohd. Mushtaq and Anil Salgotra, Joint Directors, DSEJ were also pre.

The participants included Chief Education Officers (CEOs), Principals of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) from Jammu Division. They are being provided an important platform for deliberations on contemporary assessment reforms and their effective implementation across schools.

In his address, Ram Niwas Sharma underscored the importance of translating the vision of NEP 2020 and the National Curricular Frameworks into tangible improvements in school education. He emphasised the need for a fundamental shift from rote memorisation and examination-driven instructions towards conceptual understanding, critical thinking and the practical application of knowledge.

The Commissioner Secretary also highlighted the collective responsibility of educational administrators and institutional heads in ensuring effective implementation of assessment reforms and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across schools.

Addressing the participants, Director SCERT, emphasised the critical role of educational leadership in translating national policy provisions into effective institutional practices. He highlighted the need for systematic academic planning, sustained professional capacity-building and evidence-based interventions to address the learning gaps identified through RashtriyaSarvekshan. He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts among the educational functionaries to strengthen school-level academic processes and improve learning outcomes.

Rakesh Kumar Chobber, Coordinator of the Programme, presented the concept note, outlining the rationale, objectives and significance of the orientation. He highlighted the need to move beyond conventional examination-oriented practices towards learner-centred, competency-based and formative assessment approach in consonance with the vision of NEP 2020.

As part of the inaugural proceedings, SCERT J&K presented key academic publications including SAMVAAD, A Compendium on NEP 2020 Implementation  for Jammu Division and TAP (Talent Acceleration Programme), to the Commissioner Secretary. The documents SAMVAAD and TAP were prepared by Dr. Rohini Sharma while the NEP 2020 Implementation Compendium for Jammu Division was prepared by Monica Sharma, Manu Vasudeva and Rakesh Kumar Chobber.

The occasion also witnessed the launch of मनस्पर्श (MANSPARSH) 2026, World Mental Health Awareness Quiz on the DIKSHA platform as part of World Mental Health Month 2026. The quiz was developed by Vivek Jandial, DIKSHA Coordinator, SCERT J&K.

Earlier, Professor Sindhu Kapoor, Joint Director, SCERT J&K, Divisional Office Jammu, highlighted the significance of the orientation in fostering a shared understanding of evolving assessment practices and strengthening institutional commitment towards improving the quality of school education.

The programme also featured an exhibition of educational resources and academic materials developed by SCERT J&K. The display showcased a diverse range of resource books, teaching-learning materials, curriculum-support resources, research-based publications and other academic initiatives.

In recognition of their commendable professional contributions and dedication to the teaching fraternity, the SCERT felicitated Mohd Ayaz Raina, Lecturer in Botany, GHSS Dalhori, District Rajouri and Kuldeep Gupta, Lecturer in Zoology, GHS Jindrah, District Jammu.

The technical sessions covered a wide range of themes, including National Education Policy 2020: From Policy to Practice; Implementing National Curricular Frameworks in Schools; Understanding the Holistic Progress Card (HPC): A Comprehensive Approach to Learners; Assessment Reforms under NEP 2020; Digital HPC and Understanding the Findings of RashtriyaSarvekshan.

The sessions were facilitated by SCERT faculty members Rajesh Hali, Monica Sharma, Rakesh Kumar Chobber and Manu Vasudeva, along with Shahnawaz Gani, Teacher Educator, DIET Ramban.

The meeting was attended by MLAs Hilal Akbar Lone, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri, Bharat Bhushan, Sheikh Khursheed and PeerzadFeroz Ahmad of the Committee, who are the members of the Committee.

Commissioner Secretary ARI & Training Shabnam Kamili, Commissioner Secretary Law Justice Parliamentary Affairs Achal Sethi besides senior officers of the concerned Departments/organizations and officers of the J&K Legislative Assembly Secretariat were present in the meeting.

The Chairman emphasized the need for expeditious finalization of recruitment rules, observing that prolonged delay in framing such rules adversely affects the functioning of institutions and the service interests of employees. He stressed that the concerned departments should accord priority to the matter and complete the prescribed formalities at the earliest.

The Committee was apprised by the Commissioner Secretary, ARI & Trainings Department, that draft recruitment rules are in process and will be finalizaed after getting concurrence from the Finance Department.

During the meeting, the Chairman stressed the desirability of framing uniform/model recruitment rules for Medical and Dental Colleges, wherever the posts, requirements and recruitment procedures are substantially similar, instead of adopting separate rules for each institution.

In this regard, the Committee was informed that the ARI & Trainings Department has already shared a format with the Health &Medical Education Department for devising Model Recruitment Rules for all Medical/Dental Colleges.

The Committee expressed concern over delay in finalization of Recruitment Rules and emphasized that the process should be accorded the highest priority, particularly in view of its direct bearing on functioning of health institutions and the career prospects and service interests of employees.

Srinagar : Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, AkshayLabroo, on Monday conducted an on-site inspection of the  construction work of District Circuit House, Srinagar at Bemina.

He also inspected the progress of ongoing works on the Additional Accommodation Block of the Zila Sainik Welfare Bhawan at Batamaloo.

During the visit, the DC was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mir, Imtiyaz Ul Aziz, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Aadil Fareed, Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, IAS Probationer, Sai Kiran, Superintending Engineer R&B North, Shabir Ahmad, Superintending Engineer R&B, South, Tatheer Manzoor,  SDM West, SeeratBaji, SDM East, Zubair Ahmad,ACR, Umar Gulzar, Executive Engineer R&B, Fareed Khan, Executive Engineer R&B, Abdul Qayoom, Executive Engineer, KPDCl 3rd, Abrar Hussain, Executive Engineer, Water Works, Aijaz Rafiq, Tehsildar South, Sajad Rasool, Tehsildar North, Syed Shahid and other concerned Officers.

At the construction site of the District Circuit House at Bemina, the Deputy Commissioner took stock of the progress of ongoing works and reviewed various components of the project, aimed at augmenting cost effective accommodation &  reasonable facilitation amenities in the District.

On the occasion, the DC underscored the significance of the facility in strengthening cost effective accommodation and facilitation infrastructure in Srinagar and improving the availability of suitable accommodation for public, official and other designated purposes.

The DC directed the concerned executing agency to expedite the pace of work while ensuring strict adherence to prescribed quality standards and stipulated timelines, stressing that all components of the project must be completed in a time-bound manner without compromising on quality.

Later, the Deputy Commissioner also reviewed the progress on the construction of the Additional Accommodation Block at Zila Sainik Welfare Bhawan, Batamaloo aimed to enhance the accommodation capacity of the facility and strengthen the delivery of welfare services to eligible beneficiaries, particularly the wards of ex-servicemen and martyrs who visit or temporarily reside in Srinagar for educational purposes.

During an interaction with Officers and Officials of Zila Sainik Welfare Bhawan, the DC was informed that more than 40 percent of the civil works had been completed, with the ground floor completed and work underway on the first floor.

The DC stressed the need for expeditious execution of the remaining works, directing the concerned Officers to ensure timely completion of the project so that the facility can be made functional at the earliest. He emphasized that the timely completion of the Accommodation Block would enhance facilities for beneficiaries and contribute to the more effective delivery of welfare services to the wards of ex-servicemen

The farewell function was attended by Additional Chief Executive Officer, Suhail Ul Islam; Joint Commissioner, Nuzhat Khurshid Qureshi; Chief Engineer, SSCL; General Managers of Finance, Planning & Urban Development (P&UD) and Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC); and other senior officers and officials of the organisation.

On the occasion, officers acknowledged Haseeb’s professional commitment, administrative leadership and contribution towards advancing SSCL’s mandate of urban transformation and strengthening civic infrastructure in Srinagar.

During his tenure, SSCL continued to advance key urban development and infrastructure projects aimed at promoting the planned, sustainable and integrated development of Srinagar.

SSCL placed on record its appreciation for the services rendered by FazLul Haseeb, and extended its best wishes for success in his future assignments.

The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the momentum of urban transformation, strengthening civic amenities and improving the quality of life for the people of Srinagar.

The meeting was attended by District Agriculture Officers, Area Development Officers, Assistant Entomologist, Seed Analyst Jammu. Divisional Seed Certification Officer, Jammu, Assistant Botanist, Mushroom Development Officers, Apiculture Development Officers, Spawn Production Officers, Farm Managers of Chinore and Chakroi and other concerned officers and officials.

The meeting held detailed deliberations on the settlement of pending seed recoveries pertaining to previous seasons, submission of treasury challans and revenue realisation statements and reconciliation of amounts deposited in the official account.

The meeting also reviewed bills under the Aatmanirbharta in Pulses programme, the list of farmers covered under the Seed Village Programme and details of farmers who received seed minikits.

Special emphasis was laid on the timely submission of pending reconciliation statements, along with details of the total quantity of seed distributed under various schemes, duly authenticated by the concerned Chief Agriculture Officer, District Agriculture Officer and Store Officer.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of mushroom cultivation, including district-wise details of mushroom growers, units established under departmental interventions and various schemes, including the HADP and the PMFME scheme. Under the apiculture sector, the review covered the registration of new beekeepers on the Madhukranti Portal, implementation of projects under HADP, JKCIP and NBHM, assessment of losses caused by Small Hive Beetle, honey production, FSSAI licensing and production and revenue performance.

The central message of the NukkadNatak was: “Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs.”

Through an impactful NukkadNatak, the artists highlighted the grave social, physical and psychological consequences of substance abuse. The performance effectively conveyed the message of prevention and encouraged youth to make informed choices and remain vigilant against the menace of drugs.

The presentation by the artists encouraged the public to stay away from drugs and actively participate in spreading awareness in society.

The programme witnessed the attention and appreciation of commuters, passengers and members of the public present at the venue, who lauded the initiative for addressing a critical social issue through an engaging medium of communication.

The event was conducted under the supervision of Cultural Officer Rajinder Kumar Digra and under the direction of Joint Director DIPR Jammu Deepak Dubey.

Jammu :The new Director General (DG) of Prosecution, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir Sunita Kargotra Monday underscored the need to strengthen the prosecution system through professional excellence, institutional discipline/strengthening, accountability and effective coordination among Prosecutors across the Union Territory.

In her maiden address to the Prosecutors of UT of J&K after taking over as the DG, Sunita Kargotra emphasised the pivotal role of the Prosecution Department in the Criminal Justice Delivery System. The Director General stated that the foremost objective of the Directorate would be to ensure effective, fair and legally sound prosecution, while upholding the rule of law and public confidence in the Justice System.

She stressed that every Prosecutor must discharge his or her duties with integrity, diligence and a high degree of professional competence. Timely examination of Judgments and Court Orders, prompt legal action wherever warranted, effective case preparation and close coordination with investigating agencies/ Stakeholders were identified as important areas requiring sustained attention.

The Director General also emphasised the need to foster a work culture founded on responsibility, merit and performance. She observed that officers, who take initiative, demonstrate leadership and complete assignments with dedication, even under challenging circumstances, deserve recognition and encouragement.

Underscoring the importance of collective responsibility, she called upon senior officers to lead by example, mentor their colleagues and ensure that the Directorate functions as a cohesive and professionally driven institution.

She further assured that genuine professional concerns and issues relating to the working conditions and welfare of Prosecutors would receive due consideration and would be taken up with the higher authorities for early consideration.

Reaffirming the core principles governing Prosecution,  Kargotra observed that the role of a Prosecutor extends beyond securing convictions and includes assisting the courts in the fair administration of Justice. She emphasised that independence, impartiality and adherence to law must remain the guiding principles of every Prosecutor.

The Director General expressed confidence that, with the collective commitment and cooperation of all officers, the Prosecution Department would continue to strengthen its institutional capacity and contribute meaningfully to an effective, transparent and credible Criminal Justice System in UT of Jammu & Kashmir.

The initiative witnessed enthusiastic and active participation of more than 150 students and members of NCORD Committee to mark the 6th anniversary of NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NBMA)

The programme was formally flagged by the Principal of the College Prof. Naveen Kumar Anand and member of the NCORD Committee Prof. Reena Bhagat.

They emphasized the critical role of the youth in Nation-building and tackling contemporary challenges.  “Events like these are not just Symbolic; they serve as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to innovate, lead with integrity and stand together for a greater cause,” they added.

Later, all participants took a solemn pledge and made a human chain to firmly promise to stay away from harmful substances and actively work towards creating a healthier and safer society.

The event was also attended by Prof. Archana Gupta, Convener NCORD Committee and Prof. Anju, Dr. Pervaiz Ahmed and Prof. Anoop Singh Chib.

In a statement issued here on Monday, Police said the operation was conducted under the supervision of DySP Headquarters Baramulla across the stretch from Veerwan–Pandith Colony to Sheeri New Police Station, in coordination with the Mining and Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) departments. Case FIR No. 166/2026 has been registered to investigate the illegal riverbed mining.

In a statement issued here on Monday, Police said the vehicles (JK13E-5166 and JK05F-3163) were driven by Rasiq Hassan S/O Ghulam Hassan Sheikh R/O Batgund and Sajjad Ahmad Bhat S/O Ghulam Ahmad Bhat R/O Gang. Both drivers were intercepted and the machinery was impounded under FIR No. 112/2026 at Police Station Tral.