Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the arrangements for the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 and directed senior officials to ensure seamless registration, effective ground-level assistance and hassle-free darshan for all pilgrims.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department, Ashwani Kumar, Principal Secretary, Home Department, Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and CEO, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, besides other senior officers.
Officials informed the meeting that more than 1.13 lakh devotees have so far paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine.
The Lieutenant Governor instructed senior officers to ensure that every devotee is properly registered and receives adequate assistance throughout the pilgrimage.
“Our goal is to make this pilgrimage a truly memorable experience by providing devotees with the best possible amenities. Safety, security and hassle-free darshan of Baba Barfani must remain our top priority,” Sinha said.
Describing the annual pilgrimage as a symbol of India’s spiritual and civilisational heritage, the Lieutenant Governor said the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra reflects the country’s enduring traditions and serves as an important expression of national identity.
“Ensuring the smooth, safe and successful conduct of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is our collective responsibility and commitment,” he said.
Sinha urged all departments and stakeholders to work in close coordination to make this year’s Yatra a landmark event and set new standards for spiritual tourism across the country.
“Such a collective effort can create a model that inspires similar pilgrimages nationwide,” he added.
The Lieutenant Governor also appealed to devotees to experience not only the spiritual significance of the pilgrimage but also the warmth of Jammu and Kashmir’s hospitality and its rich cultural heritage.
He encouraged pilgrims to support local artisans and businesses by purchasing locally made products.
“By supporting and promoting local products, we can ensure that the pilgrimage becomes not only a profound spiritual experience but also a meaningful celebration of the local economy, culture and heritage,” he said.
During the meeting, Sinha also reviewed the functioning of the 24×7 Control Room established by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board at Lok Bhavan to monitor the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
He took stock of arrangements along both Yatra routes, including security deployment, functioning of langars, queue management systems at various transit points and the Holy Cave, besides reviewing overall facilities being provided to the pilgrims.

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting with senior officers and reviewed the action taken regarding the circulation of books and literature containing anti-national and separatist content in educational institutions.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Shri Atal Dulloo; Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department, Shri Ashwani Kumar; Principal Secretary, Home Department, Shri Chandraker Bharti; Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Additional Director, Intelligence Bureau, Shri Pankaj Thakur; ADGP, CID, Shri Nitish Kumar and Commissioner/Secretary School Education Department, Shri Ram Niwas Sharma.
Officials briefed the Lieutenant Governor on the recovery of books allegedly glorifying separatism, emphasizing that those responsible for procuring, approving, or circulating the literature will face strict legal consequences.
Taking serious note of the matter, the Lieutenant Governor directed the concerned departments to put in place effective mechanism to ensure no procurement, distribution and availability of any publications including books, journals, magazines or any literature containing anti-national, separatist or objectionable content in the Universities, government and private colleges and schools, public and private libraries etc. This would include the heads of these institutions affirming within specified period against availability of any such material in their respective institutions, apart from conduct of comprehensive audit and inspection thereof.
The Lieutenant Governor also instructed the authorities to examine the websites and digital repositories of universities and higher educational institutions and immediately remove any objectionable material, if any.
Emphasising that such incidents must not recur, the Lieutenant Governor directed the formulation of a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) governing the procurement of books and academic material for schools, colleges and universities. The SoP should provide for a robust screening mechanism, including periodic random scrutiny by a panel comprising eminent educationists, intellectuals and senior officers, to ensure that no material promoting anti-national or separatist narratives enters educational institutions.
The Lieutenant Governor warned that any lapse would invite strict accountability, and the Head of the Institution concerned would be held personally responsible for the same.
Reiterating the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the educational ecosystem, the Lieutenant Governor said educational institutions must remain centres of learning, nation-building and constitutional values, and there will be zero tolerance for any attempt to mislead or radicalise students through objectionable literature.

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the roadmap for the revival and operationalisation of the Jammu & Kashmir Overseas Employment Corporation Limited (JKOECL) and reviewed J&K’s overseas recruitment facilitation infrastructure, with a focus on creating a robust institutional framework to connect J&K’s skilled youth with global employment opportunities.
The meeting reviewed the proposed strategy for reviving JKOECL as the government’s nodal recruitment agency for facilitating safe, transparent and market-driven overseas employment. Discussions centred on strengthening institutional mechanisms, expanding international partnerships, enhancing skill development aligned with global standards, and establishing an integrated ecosystem to prepare youth for overseas careers.
A detailed presentation by Director Employment J&K Harvinder Singh outlined a phased roadmap for operationalising JKOECL, including the creation of a digital overseas employment portal, partnerships with licensed recruiting agencies, foreign languages and international certification programmes, employer engagement, counselling, pre-departure orientation and post-placement support. The proposed framework seeks to position JKOECL as the nodal agency coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Protector of Emigration, Indian Missions abroad, skill institutions and licensed recruiting agencies to ensure ethical, transparent and legally compliant overseas recruitment.
Protector of Emigration, Chandigarh, Ministry of External Affairs, Yashu Deep Singh, also made a presentation on emigration trends from Jammu & Kashmir, the region’s contribution to overseas remittances, and employment opportunities available through India’s labour mobility agreements with several countries. He highlighted sector-wise demand for workers, emerging job roles in global markets, and key challenges affecting overseas migration from J&K, including limited public awareness of legal migration channels, inadequate institutional outreach, dependence on unverified social media information, and the need to develop skills that meet international standards.
Reviewing the proposals, the Chief Minister emphasised that the objective should not merely be to facilitate migration but to prepare a globally competitive workforce.
“We should not only send people abroad; we should send skilled people there. Our focus should be on skilling,” he said.
The Chief Minister directed the concerned departments to prepare a time-bound implementation plan and convert the proposed pillars into clearly defined, actionable outcomes. He also called for adopting best practices from states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which have successfully institutionalised overseas employment facilitation.
Emphasising long-term sustainability, Omar Abdullah directed that the forthcoming Industrial Policy should provide for the establishment of skill development and training institutes to nurture an ecosystem capable of meeting international workforce requirements. He also stressed the need for a complementary industrial policy that encourages greater private sector participation in skill development and employment generation.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Education Sakina Itoo, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma, Secretary Labour &Employment Rajiv Ranjan, Protector of Emigration, Chandigarh, Ministry of External Affairs, Yashu Deep Singh, Director Employment, Director Skill Development and other senior officers.

Jammu: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin on Tuesday held a high level meeting in Jammu to discuss the party’s strategy for Jammu and Kashmir and preparations for the 2029 Parliamentary elections.
Reports said that separate meetings with district leaders were consolidated into one session due to scheduling changes. The party’s organizational structure, increasing public outreach security and governance challenges in the region were discussed at length. During the meeting, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma slammed Jammu and Kashmir Government for allegedly delaying local body and panchayat elections, expressing concerns over the lack of commitment to establishing a robust democratic framework.
Addressing the meeting Nabin emphasized the BJP’s ongoing commitment to the development of Jammu and Kashmir and highlighted the transformative impact of the abrogation of Article 370, which he claimed has led to significant advancements in infrastructure, tourism, and women’s empowerment. Nabin also underscored the ideological importance of Jammu and Kashmir to the BJP, linking the party’s foundation to the movement for “Ek Pradhan, Ek Nishan,” associated with Syama Prasad Mukherjee. His visit coincided with Mukherjee’s 125th birth anniversary, during which he paid tributes to prominent leaders and engaged with party workers, including those from the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities. However, Nabin had to cut short his visit, canceling a planned pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine due to official commitments in New Delhi. This adjustment marked the conclusion of his inaugural visit to the Union Territory as BJP president, which included a series of organizational meetings and interactions with party members.

Jammu, Srinagar: The annual Amarnath Yatra is showing a remarkable increase in pilgrim attendance, with over 113,000 devotees visiting the holy cave shrine within the first five days of the pilgrimage.
Official figures available so for show that on a single day, 28,035 pilgrims performed darshan, contributing to a total of 113,814 since the yatra commenced on July 3. The pilgrim participation includes 20,270 men, 7,053 women, 284 children, 136 sadhus, nine sadhvis, five transgender individuals, and 278 security personnel. The pilgrimage is witnessing one of its highest participation rates in recent years, with thousands arriving daily via both the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route.
On Tuesday, a record 8,815 pilgrims departed from Jammu as part of the sixth batch, organized under stringent security measures. This batch included a diverse group of participants, with 5,831 men, 2,193 women, and various other categories of devotees, all traveling in a convoy of 363 vehicles. Officials have reported that the yatra is proceeding smoothly, supported by comprehensive security arrangements and provisions for medical care, accommodation, and other essential services. The pilgrimage, which lasts for 57 days, is set to conclude on August 28, coinciding with the festival of Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan).

Srinagar: Welcome to Jammu and Kashmir, where the “smooth ride” promised by officials has officially transformed into a bone-rattling, spine-shattering off-road simulation.
Thanks to a strike by hot mix plant owners over skyrocketing bitumen prices—which doubled faster than a commuter’s heart rate hitting a crater—road projects are entirely frozen. While the government and contractors bicker over pricey asphalt and missing mining royalties, local drivers are busy training for the Olympic Pothole-Dodging finals.
With the brief summer working season rapidly slipping away, public fury is hitting a crescendo. Local residents joke that navigating the neighborhood bazaar now requires an actual NASA lunar rover. Until the administration untangles this sticky situation, citizens remain trapped in a collective, teeth-chattering rage, wondering if smooth asphalt has officially become a luxury of the past.