FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Climate change: Snow deficit, rainfall shortage push J&K to brink | | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 18: The postponement of the second phase of the 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games is a stark reminder that Jammu and Kashmir is bearing the brunt of climate change. With hilly areas experiencing below-average snowfall and the plains suffering from a significant rain deficit, the region is facing a looming environmental crisis that threatens both agriculture and water availability.
The prolonged dry spell has left farmers across both Jammu and Kashmir deeply concerned about their crops, while experts warn of an impending water crisis in the summer months due to the depletion of groundwater levels.
Originally scheduled to be held in Gulmarg fro... | |
| | | | Kashmir may see drought: MeT | | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 18: Kashmir has witnessed a dry winter this year with the months of January and February recording a precipitation deficit of around 80 per cent, which has raised the possibility of drought in the valley this summer, the MeT department officials said.
Several water bodies are flowing below the zero level mark at many places while some springs in south Kashmir have dried up completely due to the receding water table, they said.
“There has been a 79 per cent deficient precipitation in the month of January and the situation in February so far is worse. If the dry weather continues, it is going to cause problems for the residents of the valley as there ... | |
| | | | Karra questions NC’s absence from statehood campaign! | | | 
Early times Report
Jammu, Feb 18: While refraining from directly criticizing coalition partner National Conference (NC), Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Tariq Hameed Karra subtly questioned the party’s absence from the Congress-led movement for the restoration of statehood.
Speaking at a rally in Doda as part of the “Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq” campaign, Karra urged the media to ask the National Conference why it has chosen not to support the ongoing agitation.... | |
| | | | Para to introduce Bill for legalising houses on state land in J&K | | PDP revives Roshni-Style law to grant ownership rights | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 18: Waheed Ur Rehman Para, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Pulwama, will introduce a Private Member Bill titled “The Jammu and Kashmir (Regularisation and Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Public Land) Bill, 2025” in the upcoming session of the Legislative Assembly. The proposed legislation aims to legalise and confer property rights upon residents who have constructed and lived in houses on state-owned, common, and other lands for d... | |
| | | | CB arrests 5, including J&K Bank officer in loan scam case | | | 
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 18: Crime Branch (CB) has arrested five accused including a J&K Bank Officer and a fake District Horticulture Officer in multi-crore J&K bank loan scam, a CB spokesman said in a statement. He identified the arrested accused as the then J&K Bank Manager (Scale-II) branch Rajouri Jatinder Singh (now demoted) S/o Dharampal Sharma R/o Narwal Bala Jammu, fake District Horticulture Officer Mohd Kabir S/o Mohd Yousuf R/o Fatehpur Poonch, fake Social Mobilizer IWMP P... | |
| | | | Kathua: 2 held with cash in crores | | | 
Early Times Report
Kathua/Jammu, Feb 18: Two people were nabbed after a huge amount of cash was recovered them them in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said.
The Kashmir-bound vehicle was coming from Punjab and was intercepted at Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir, an official said.
He said the cash in crores of rupees was found hidden in a specially built cavity inside their car and the income tax department was informed about the seizure.
The passen... | |
| | | | CEC, ECs appointments: SC to hear pleas today | | | 
New Delhi, Feb 18:
Agencies
The Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed February 19 to hear pleas against the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners under the 2023 law saying if anything happens in the interregnum, the consequences are bound to follow.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was told by advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for an NGO, that earlier the pleas were scheduled to be heard on Wednesday but now they have been listed for... | |
| | | | Maha Kumbh: Over 540 million devotees take holy dip in 36 days | | | 
Prayagraj, Feb 18:
Agencies
The Mahakumbh has witnessed a record-breaking massive turnout this time, and it is set to conclude on February 26. Many more are expected to visit and take a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam.
The ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025, the world’s largest human gathering, has witnessed an overwhelming turnout, with over 540 million devotees taking a holy dip in the first 36 days, officials said on Monday.
According to official data, on February 17, 2025, till 8 PM, more th... | |
| | | | 2 JCOs killed in Ladakh accident | | | 
Early Times Report
Leh, Feb 18: Two Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) were killed in an accident in Ladakh, officials said on Tuesday, as the army paid rich tributes to the brave-hearts for laying down their lives in the line of duty.
Subedar Santosh Kumar and Naib-Subedar Sunil Kumar died due to bursting of a water tank at a camp in Nyoma area, 150 km from Leh in southern Ladakh, the official said.
They said a police investigation is underway in the incident which occurred on Sunda... | |
| | | | CRPF jawan shoots himself dead | | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 18: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself dead with his service rifle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Tuesday, officials said.
The jawan was part of a road opening party deployed in Tikri area along Jammu-Srinagar national highway when he shot himself dead, they said.
They said the deceased was identified as Praveen Patil, a resident of Maharashtra.
The motive behind his extreme step was not known immediately, the officials said, adding that police have started inquest proceedings in this connection. ... | |
| | | | Supreme Court slams States, UTs | | | 
New Delhi, Feb 18:
Agencies
The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up several states and union territories for not filing status reports over the implementation of the domestic violence law while allowing them four more weeks subject to the payment of Rs 5,000 as costs.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Prasanna B Varale took note when the petitioner’s counsel said several states and UTs did not file their status reports despite the top court’s direction.
“The counsel for the respe... | |
| | | | MHA promotes 25 IPS officers | | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 18: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, has promoted 25 Joint AGMUT Cadre IPS officers of Jammu and Kashmir to the Junior Administrative Grade (Level 12 in the pay matrix) of the IPS. ... | |
| | | | Subrahmanyam’s tenure extended | | | 
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 18: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved a one-year extension for BVR Subrahmanyam, a retired IAS officer of the 1987 batch, as Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog beyond February 24, 2025 or until further orders.
Subrahmanyam, who previously served as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, has been instrumental in policy planning at the premier think tank. ... | |
| | | | UPSC extends last date | | | 
New Delhi, Feb 18:
Agencies
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has extended the last date to apply for this year's civil services preliminary examination till February 21.
This is the second extension in the deadline for applying to the examination, conducted annually by the UPSC in three stages -- preliminary, mains and interview -- to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.
The l... | |
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