New Delhi:  The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday said no decision has been taken on preparing a National Register of Indian Citizens at the national-level yet.

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said, “Till now, the Government has not taken any decision to prepare National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) at the National-level.”

He said in Assam, on the direction of the Supreme Court, the hard copies of the supplementary list of inclusions and online family-wise list of exclusions in NRC have been published on August 31, 2019.

On the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Minister said it has already been notified on December 12, 2019.

In reply to another question on number of Indians who have given up Indian citizenship, Rai said as per Ministry of External Affairs data, a total number of 1,33,83,718 Indian nationals are living in foreign countries.

In 2017, 1,33,049 Indians gave up their citizenship, in 2018, the number was 1,34,561, and it grew further in 2019, reaching 1,44,017 for the year.

However, a drop was registered in the pandemic year, 2020, and only 85,248 took the citizenship of another country. In 2021, by September 30, 1,11,287 Indians have given up their citizenship in India and taken up the citizenship of another country. (UNI)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Union Territory’s Budgam district have recovered an ancient sculpture of Goddess Durga from Khag area, the police said on Tuesday.

“A team of officials from the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums were called for examination of the recovered sculpture at district police office, Budgam,” the police said.

“During examination, it was revealed that the recovered sculpture of Goddess Durga dates back roughly to 7th AD (about 1,300 years old).”

The sculpture is carved in a black stone with Goddess Durga seated on lion throne. However, some part of the left side arm is missing. Moreover, the sculpture is having the influence of Gandhara School of Art.

The recovered sculpture was handed over formally to Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh, Deputy Director Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and his team by Tahir Saleem Khan, SSP Budgam.

This is the second sculpture of Goddess Durga recovered in Kashmir in 2021.

In August, Jammu and Kashmir police recovered a 1,200 year-old sculpture of Goddess Durga. The sculpture was retrieved from Jehlum river at Pandthrethan area of Srinagar by labourers while extracting sand.

The recovered sculpture of Goddess Durga is carved in a black stone with Goddess Durga seated on lion throne along four attendants.

Srinagar: Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF), Kashmir Frontier, Raja Babu Singh appealed to the youth of Kashmir to “come and join the nation building for a brighter future.”

“India is calling you (youth), come and join in nation building, it is your country”, Singh told the reporters on sidelines of the Brass & Jazz Band occasion held in view of the 57th raising Day of the force at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of famous Dal Lake in Srinagar on Tuesday.

“If any person or “Beti” from Kashmir qualifies in Indian Administrative Service (IAS) the people in my ancestral home in Uttar Pradesh proudly celebrate their success,” he added.

He said, people love Kashmir as it is “heaven on earth”.

The IG BSF said this year a record number of tourists thronged Kashmir which is worth celebrating.

“I invite people of the country and tourists from all over the world to visit Kashmir and cherish its beauty, it is safe as we (BSF) is here”, Singh said. “Kashmir valley is safe and Srinagar is safe for the tourists and travelers all across the world”, he added.

He said BSF has served in Kashmir valley in the 1990s and did commendable work here to contain the militancy.

He said, on Indo Pak border or Indo Bangla border BSF has given sufficient contribution in national building. “Not only in guarding the borders the force has contained militancy in north east, Punjab and Kashmir also”, he added.

The BSF, which is responsible for guarding the vast stretches of international borders of the country, is celebrating 57th raising Day

To celebrate the occasion, today the Brass & Jazz of BSF Kashmir Frontier organised a big symphony martial music show at SKICC to spread the message of unity and solidarity among the people of Kashmir valley.

The world famous Dal Lake reverberated with drum beats and trumpets as the band played patriotic songs and music. Visitors and spectators enjoyed it to the fullest, a BSF spokesman said.

The audience also liked the BSF theme song “Hum Seema Ke Prahari Hain” played by Brass and Jazz Band in wonderful tuning with heart touching lyrics.

Besides the BSF Officials, the show was enjoyed by the school children alongwith their staff. (UNI)

New Delhi: Admiral R Hari Kumar took charge as the 25th Chief of the Naval Staff on Tuesday, succeeding Admiral Karambir Singh, who retires today after a service of over forty one years in the Indian Navy.

Admiral R Hari Kumar is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1983.

In his career spanning over 38 years, he has commanded Coast Guard Ship C-01, IN Ships Nishank, Kora, Ranvir and the Aircraft Carrier INS Viraat.

A Gunnery specialist, he has held several key appointments, including Fleet Operations Officer and Fleet Gunnery Officer of Western Fleet, Executive Officer (EXO) of INS Vipul, Gunnery Officer (GO) of INS Ranjit, commissioning GO of INS Kuthar and commissioning crew of INS Ranvir.

His shore appointments include Command Gunnery Officer at Headquarters Western Naval Command, Naval Advisor to Government of Seychelles, UN Mission in Somalia (UNOSOM II) at Mogadishu and Training Commander, INS Dronacharya.

As a Flag Officer, he has served as Commandant of the Naval War College at Goa, Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF), Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command, Controller Personnel Services and Chief of Personnel (COP) at Naval Headquarters. He has also served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) at the critical junction during the creation of the institution of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

He was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command at Mumbai, prior taking over helm as Chief of the Naval Staff on 30 November 2021.

Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh meanwhile took over as the Flag Officer Commanding–inChief (FOC-in-C), Western Naval Command (WNC) from Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar. (UNI)

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 171 fresh covid-19 cases while there was no death due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.

Among the fresh cases, 32 were reported from Jammu Division and 139 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 336852.

There was no death due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4476 persons—2185 in Jammu and 2291 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.

Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials said that Srinagar reported 62 cases, Baramulla 42, Budgam 16, Pulwama 1, Kupwara 5, Anantnag 1, Bandipora 3, Ganderbal 9, Kulgam 0, Shopian 0, Jammu 18, Udhampur 2, Rajouri 2, Doda 1, Kathua 3, Samba 0, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 0, Ramban 1 and Reasi 2.

A number of these cases were confirmed at CD hospital’s diagnostic laboratory and include male (26) (NA) from Parraypora sgr, female (55) (NA) from Humhama, female (55) (NA) from Kawdara, male (63) (NA) from Bemina sgr, female (20) (NA) from Langate, male (17) from Sogam lolab, male (30) Doniwari lolab, female (17) (NA) from Doorusa lolab, female (20) from Darpora lolab, male (40) (NA) from BSF Kupwara, female (68) (NA) from Brain, male (58) from Ishbar, male (43) (NA) from Brain Nishat, male (35) from Batpora, male (15) (NA) from Alamgiri bazar Sgr, female (55) (NA) from Gonjiwara sgr, male (75) (NA) from Naqashpora sgr, male (72) (NA) from Hazratbal, male (37) (NA) from Barzulla, female (46) (NA) from Barzulla, female (45) (NA) from Kupwara and male (47) (NA) from Habbak Sgr.

Moreover, 172 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time, 22 from Jammu Division and 150 from Kashmir, they said.

So far 330751 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 1625—191 in Jammu and 1334 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 49 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said.

The officials also informed that 52425 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)