FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| LG reshuffles admin; 7 DCs among 22 IAS, KAS officers transferred | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 20: In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday ordered the transfer and posting of 22 IAS and JKAS officers including seven Deputy Commissioners in the interest of administration with immediate effect.
New Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have been appointed at Doda, Reasi, Anantnag, Baramulla, Udhampur, Budgam and Kulgam districts.
According to Government Order No. 230-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated February 20, 2026, issued by the General Administration Department (All India Services Section) several senior officers have been assigned new responsibilities.
Ashwani Kumar, IAS (AGMUT: 1992), has been posted as F... | |
| | | | 30,000 vacancies to be filled this year: CM Omar | | From the Assembly | | 
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today reiterated that his government is committed to filling vacancies in a time-bound manner, announcing that over 30,000 vacancies will be filled during current year.
The Chief Minister made... | |
| | | | ‘Over 35,000 youth trained under Himayat scheme in J&K’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 20: The Government on Friday informed the House that a total of 35,316 candidates have been trained under the Himayat project in Jammu and Kashmir since its inception.
Replying to a question tabled by MLA Ali Mohammad Dar, the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department said that district-wise figures reveal the highest number of trained candidates in Kathua (4,581), followed by Jammu (4,113), Udhampur (3,024) and Baramulla (2,887).
Other districts include Doda (2,496), Budgam (2,183), Kupwara (2,127), Anantnag (2,087), Rajouri (1,785), Reasi (1,246), Kishtwar (1,232), Pulwama (1,209), Ramban (1,191), Ganderbal (1,068), Samba (861), Kulgam (860), Sri... | |
| | | | ‘No power tariff hike since Dec 2023’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today informed the Legislative Assembly that there has been no hike in power tariff since December 2023. He stated that billing in metered areas is carried out strictly as per actual electricity consumption, while in non-metered areas, bills are raised on a flat-rate basis in accordance with the agreed load, without any arbitrariness.
The Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri during the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Responding to a supplementary regarding rationalisation of power tariff, the Chief Minister informed the H... | |
| | | | ‘Tourism projects worth Rs 307.12 lakh completed in Ramgarh’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today informed the Legislative Assembly that three tourism projects have been completed and one project is currently in progress in Ramgarh Constituency at a total cost of Rs 307.12 lakh under the Capex Budget.
The Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, which was asked on his behalf by member Surjeet Singh Slathia during the Question Hour.
The House was informed that the Tourism Development Plan for the year 2026–27 has not yet been formulated. However, new projects for Ramgarh Constituency will be considered for 2026–27, subject to feasibility as per established tourism norms, avai... | |
| | | | In 3 years, Jammu sees steady rise in tourist footfall | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 20: The government on Friday said that Jammu Division has witnessed a steady rise in tourist footfall over the past three years, with 1,80,24,166 visitors in 2023, 2,00,91,379 in 2024 and 1,62,35,036 tourists recorded in 2025 so far.
Replying to a starred question tabled by MLA Javid Hassan Baig in the Assembly, the Minister Incharge, Tourism Department said the department maintains destination-wise data, and the details have been placed as Annexure-A.
As per official figures, in Reasi district, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi/Katra recorded 97,28,712 tourists in 2023, 94,55,605 in 2024 and 69,32,922 in 2025 (till date), accounting for the highest share of arriva... | |
| | | | Rearrested Pak nationals handed over to SOG | | Agencies probe terror link in R S Pura escape case | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 20: In a worrying shift in strategy, Pakistan-based terror handlers are now increasingly attempting to exploit criminal networks in the Jammu region to revive militancy, in addition to using narco channels to fund terror outfits.
Recent developments — including the arrest of a Gangyal youth in Mohali for alleged links with Dubai-based Pakistani gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti and the escape episode at the RS Pura Juvenile Home — have reinforced intelligence inputs that terror handlers across the border are trying to lure local gangsters to further their designs.
Sources said a similar modus operandi was used in the early 1990s, when certain crim... | |
| | | | Poor quality work: SMC engineer suspended as Govt orders probe | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 20: In a significant administrative action over alleged irregularities in infrastructure works, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday suspended Er Imtiaz Ahmad, In-charge Executive Engineer (Civil) of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), following complaints regarding the poor quality of macadamisation and other development projects. According to an official order, the suspension was carried out on the directions of the Deputy Chief Minister’s Office. The move comes amid rising concerns over the quality of road construction in Srinagar, with authorities taking serious note of alleged substandard execution.
The order, issued by Financial Commissio... | |
| | | | HC sets aside order rejecting compensation to terror victim’s family | | 2003 Poonch Attack | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 20: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has set aside an order rejecting compensation to the family of a woman killed in a 2003 terrorist attack in Poonch district, holding that delay cannot be used to deny relief to victims of terrorism.
According to the details available Justice M A Chowdhary directed the authorities to reassess the claim of the bereaved family in accordance with the Centre’s scheme for assistance to civilian victims of terrorist ... | |
| | | | Northern Army Commander reviews anti-infiltration grid in Kashmir | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 20 : Northern Army commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma on Friday reviewed the anti-infiltration grid in Kashmir and assessed the operational preparedness of the forces along the Line of Control (LoC). “Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, #ArmyCdrNC, visited #NorthKashmir to review the anti-infiltration grid and assess operational preparedness along the #LoC,” the army’s Northern Command said in a post on X.
It said that during his visit, the army commander interacted with the troops, commending them for their battle-hardened resilience, indomitable courage and unwavering commitment to duty.
“He exhorted all ranks to relentlessly refine their professional acumen and harnes... | |
| | | | Pak violates ceasefire in Kupwara | | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 20: Pakistan violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday, officials said.
“Ceasefire violation took place around noon at TMG (Toot Mar Gali) in Nowgam Sector of Kupwara (in north Kashmir) when PoK posts fired through small arms on Indian posts,” the officials said.
The firing stopped after some time, they mentioned further, adding there was no loss of life or injury.... | |
| | | | IED found in Baramulla | | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 20: Security forces detected an improvised explosive device (IED) in Baramulla district, officials said on Friday.
The IED was detected by security forces at Janbazpora area of the district on Thursday night.
They said a bomb disposal squad was called to the spot which defused it without causing any harm. ... | |
| | | | AK-47 rifle, ammunition seized | | | |
Early Times Report
Rajouri, Feb 20: Security forces on Thursday recovered war-like stores during a search operation in the Nathua Tibba area of Sundarbani sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district, a day after an infiltration bid was foiled, officials said.
Troops of the Army’s Crossed Swords Division under the White Knight Corps launched a comprehensive search operation in the area following intelligence inputs.
During the operation, heavily blood-stained tracks were observed, indicating serious injuries to the infiltrating terrorists, the officials said.
The security forces recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines with ammunition, three rucksacks, blankets, ration... | |
| | | | 3 IAS officers relieved | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 20: The General Administration Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government today relieved three IAS officers from the Union Territory following their transfer orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
As per separate Government orders issued by the department, Santosh D Vaidya, the 1998 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, has been relieved to join his new posting in Delhi.
Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah, the 2012 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, has been relieved to take up his assignment in Chandigarh and Baseer Ul Haq Chaudhary, 2015 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, has been transferred to Ladakh and relieved accordingly.
All three officers stand relieved with... | |
| | | | NH toll plazas may go cashless from Apr 1 | | | | Early Times Report
New Delhi, Feb 20: Highways authority NHAI is considering discontinuing cash payments at highway toll plazas from April 1, requiring commuters to use only digital modes such as FASTag or UPI for toll payments.
Post implementation, all toll payments at National Highway fee plazas will be processed exclusively through digital modes, using FASTag or Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said.
The authority said it is contemplating completely discontinuing cash transactions at the National Highway fee plazas across the country from April 1, 2026, in order to develop a fully digital National Highway tolling ecosystem.
The propo... | |
| | | | Weather to remain dry till month end | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 20: Director Meteorological Department, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, on Friday said that no major rain or snowfall is forecast across Jammu and Kashmir till the end of February.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said that weather conditions are expected to remain generally dry from February 20 to 25. On February 26, the weather is likely to be partly to generally cloudy, while light rain or snowfall at isolated places cannot be ruled out on February 27 and 28 under partly to generally cloudy conditions.
Giving the outlook for the first week of March, he said from March 1 to 3, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy with chances of light rain or snowfall over higher r... | |
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