New Delhi, Dec 31: Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Thursday evening announced that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Board examinations-2021 will commence from May 4.
Announcing the dates of commencement of the CBSE Board examinations-2021, Mr Pokhriyal said the Board Examinations for Classes 10 and 12 will be held from May 4 to June 10 and results will be declared by July 15.
He further said that Practical exams of Class 12th will start from March 1.
Pokhriyal said students, teachers and schools are facing an unprecedented and uncertain situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but teachers have worked tirelessly to ensure that students do not face any difficulty in their studies.
He appreciated the teachers for working hard and adopting new techniques and methods of teaching.
The Minister highlighted that Government has also taken various steps to provide a platform and content for learning through digital medium.
Pokhriyal said the decision on the dates have been taken after considering the suggestions given by students, teachers and parents.
The Minister extended his greetings on New Year’s Eve and wished students great success in board exams, as well as in life ahead.

Reading zones of SPS, SRS Libraries to remain open from 9 am to 5 pm: Dir Lib
Precious Kashmir news
Jammu, Dec 31; Responding to the persistent demand of the students and other library users, the Department of Libraries & Research has decided to keep the Reading Zones in SPS Library Srinagar and SRS Library Jammu open beyond official working hours.
“Reading Zone of SRS Library Jammu and SPS Library Srinagar shall remain open on all working days except gazetted holidays from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm observing COVID-19 protocol,” said a circular issued by Director, Libraries & Research, Mohammad Rafi.
In a separate order, the Director, Libraries & Research has ordered that the Reading Rooms of District Library Srinagar and City Central Library be made operational immediately to facilitate the readers.
The issue had been flagged by the readers through the Lt Governor’s Grievance Cell and was also raised by them with the Secretary to the Govt, Department of Culture, Sarmad Hafeez and District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Shahid Choudhary during their recent visit to the SPS Library.
The Department of Libraries & Research has embarked on a plan of action to reinvent the role of public libraries in J&K by offering Career Guidance and Information Services to the students through the vast network of libraries spread across the UT.
“Due to the cut-throat competition and overflow of information in the fast-changing academic and career scenario, it is very important to provide the right information to the right user and public libraries can play a critical role in guiding the students with right career options,” said Director, Libraries & Research regarding the new initiative.
He said the Department has a network of around 140 public libraries spread across the nook and corner of J&K and these libraries will be repositioned as Career Guidance Centres to facilitate the students with reliable information about admissions in academic and professional colleges/universities, scholarships, fellowships and job opportunities.
“We have embarked on a program to build the requisite infrastructure in the libraries pertaining to student needs with the focus on e-resources,” he said and added that to begin with around 300 reference books and 50 prestigious journals/magazines are being provided in SPS Library Srinagar and SRS Library Jammu to help students prepare for various competitive examinations. This, he said, will be a value-addition to the already mandated responsibilities of the public libraries.
The Director Libraries said in the next step, IT hubs are being set up at both SPS and SRS Library to conduct virtual career guidance sessions/classes for students in collaboration with prestigious academic and professional institutions in the country. He said the Department will also install digital display boards in the Reading Zones of these libraries to provide real-time updates to the students regarding college/university admissions, academic courses, scholarships/fellowship and job opportunities.

Tasaduq Hussain
Jammu, Dec 31: Jammu and Kashmir transporters Thursday called for a complete ‘Chakka Jam’ (No vehicle movement) on January 6 as a mark of protest against the Union Territory administration for failing to facilitate transporters during crisis time.
Addressing a press conference at Jammu, All J&K Transport Welfare Association J&K Jammu, chairman, S.T.S Wazir said that there will be complete Chakka Jaam from Lakhanpur to Uri Baramulla on January 6 and the inconvenience caused will be the sole responsibility of UT administration.
He said that transporters across the globe faced tough times in the ensuing year similarly the transporters in Jammu and Kashmir faced the same situation but the transporters elsewhere were facilitated in different manners with ease and even government helped them.
Referring to Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, Wazir said these states have to Waive off the tax for the entire year as Himachal government waived off the tax of Covid lockdown period.”It is disappointing that J&K UT administration revoked the fare hike order without our consultation and reasons,” he said.
Wazir said that they were made to pay penalty in Jammu and Kashmir for the documentation which is illegal and in these crisis times, “our vehicles can’t ply as our community is facing immense hardships and a dearth of proper income.”
He said that the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has no time for the transporters since he didn’t give them time to meet him so that they could apprise him about the issue faced by them. “We’re repeatedly made to pay huge interest for document renewal”, he said.
He said that the situation has crumbled the transport sector. “We are not in a condition now to run our vehicles further,” he said. “We’ve decided to observe complete Chakka Jaam on January 6 next month from Lakhanpur to Uri Baramulla and the inconvenience caused to students and public will be the sole responsibility of government alone.”
The government of Jammu and Kashmir has entirely abandoned the transport sector. “We’re not given any attention by the government”, he said—(KNO)

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 31: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) on Thursday urged the government for extension of the VAT Amnesty Scheme for another one year.
“The situation emerging after August, 2019 onwards has gone from bad to worse due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our economy is the worst hit due to the stress,” KCC&I spokesperson said in a statement.
KCC&I urged the government to look the prevailing economic situation and with experts predicting a period of deep recession, “we feel that our suggestion is based on a practical appraisal and would also be in public interest.”
“It is not out of place to mention here that most of the dealers/ traders and Companies in Jammu & Kashmir are not in a position to file for GSTR-9 and GST-9C returns for the financial year 2018-19, we request Government to intervene for further extension of the above said filling returns.”
KCC&I urged government to look into the matter of Fiscal Incentives to manufacturing Industry in Jammu & Kashmir to ensure uniform disbursal of the incentives and benefits.

Srinagar, Dec 31: Alleging that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is summoning people who are known to her or her party, former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said that she is ready to face any agency provided the process is legitimate.
Mehbooba in a letter to the Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that ‘the use of the ED against political opponents is not an unknown device for a party in the power at the centre’.
Mehbooba said it has come to her notice that the ED is summoning various persons from Kashmir, possibly in connect with ECIR/16/HIV/2020.
“The only common threat connecting there persons appears to be that they are all acquainting with me, my family or my political party in one or another way. The questioning of these persons is also focused on myself, my personal, political and financial affairs; my later father’s grave and memorial, my sister’s finances, home construction, my brother’s finances and personal affairs etc,” she wrote.
“Not very long ago, a key person of the PDP, who has now been returned successful by the people of Kashmir in the DDC elections, Waheed Parra, was arrested by the NIA in what appears to be a non-existent case around the dates of the elections. On the eve of the results, several of my relatives and party leaders were kept unlawful detention by the J&K administration,” she added.
The PDP president said the use of the ED against political opponents is not an unknown device for a party in the power at the centre. “I wish to notify you that as a responsible citizen and politician, a former chief minister and Members of Parliament, and daughter of one of the most illustrious public personalities in this country, I am ready and willing to face any questioning by any agency. But, I will insist upon the legitimacy of the process,” she said.
“I have understood that mobile phones and personal digital devices of some of the persons summoned in connection with the aforesaid ECIR has been seized by or at the behest of ED, or by intelligence agencies coincidental with the summons issued by the ED,” Mehbooba further said.
“It is further to put you on notice that if you intend to question me or examine my electronic or digital devices or those of the members of my family, you shall only do it in the presence of myself or my representative and under the supervision of an impartial/judicial authority. If there is any breach of what I consider to be the norms of law, good conduct and constitutionalism, I shall not hesitate to take matter up legally and politically,” she added.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 31: Former minister and president of Apni Party (AP) Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Thursday urged the administration to clear the misgivings about the Hokarsar encounter in which three youths were killed by the forces on Wednesday.
In a statement here this afternoon Bukhari expressed deep concern over the family inputs of three slain youth that have created misgivings about the veracity of Lawaypora encounter.
Bukhari demanded that the J&K government should clear the facts about the credentials of the three slain youth while taking into consideration the testimonials given by their respective families.
“The version of families of the slain trio is contradictory to what the army and the police claim about the Hokersar encounter. So the government must clear the air and remove the misgivings about the same,” he demanded.

Baramulla, Dec 31: Property worth lakhs of rupees has been destroyed in a fire incident in the frontier district of Kupwara on Thursday, official sources said.

They said fire broke out in a shop at Wajhama, Langate, in Kupwara in north Kashmir today. However, before the fire tenders could reach the spot, fire spread to nearby shops, they said.

Fire tenders from different parts of the area were rushed to the spot and finally the fire was brought under control, they said adding four shops and other property worth lakhs of rupees has been damaged.

The cause of fire was not known, they said adding police has registered a case and initiated proceedings.

Precious Kashmir News
Ganderbal, Dec 31: The Beacon rescued 300 passengers and 106 vehicles, who were stuck at Zojila Pass due to the slippery road conditions, during the preceding night.
On getting the information 122 RCC of Beacon party headed by Captain Vikram Jadhav Beacon launched a recue operation to pull out the stuck up vehicles and passengers from the Zojila Pass.
BRO Captain Vikram Jadhav said as soon as the information was received about vehicles and passengers which were stuck on Zojila, immediately a rescue operation was launched by 122RCC of Beacon along with other machinery and workers to rescue the passengers safely.
“ After hectic efforts Beacon rescued all the passengers and vehicles safely which were trapped on Zojila Pass”, he added. (KNT)

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Dec 31: National Conference Member of Parliament from Anantnag Justice (retd) Hassnain Masoodi Thursday sought an impartial investigation into the Hokarsar killings and impressed on the government to clear the ambiguities leading to the killing of three youth.
Masoodi while demanding an impartial probe into the killings said the stated version of the police was far from convincing and ambiguous.
The NC MP demanded thorough investigation into the killing and return of bodies of slain youth to their families so that their last rites are observed by their families at their respective places.
“The matter warrants time bound inquiry as the versions of family and the police are contradictory. It becomes imperative upon the government to come clean on the matter. In previous Shopian killings, the boys were found innocent,” he said adding he spoke to Principal Secretary Home Shaleen Kabra home and demanded a probe into the matter.
“I will also take up the matter with LG Manoj Sinha and Advisor Home to LG RR Batnagar,” added Masoodi.

Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 31: A woman from Srinagar who become first Kashmiri woman to successfully summit the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest last year has now started her own adventure business to organize trekking, school camping and other events.
Nahida Manzoor, 26, a resident of Zewan area of Srinagar has been scaling others peaks as well after she became first Kashmiri woman to summit Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.
Nahida said that since her childhood, she was passionate about mountaineering and in the year 2016 she took a mountaineering professionally and pursued many courses in mountaineering, rock climbing and skiing.
“Before scaling Mount Everest, I have climbed Mount Deo Tibba, Mount Mahadev, Friendship Peak, Mount Tatakooti,” she said, adding that after summiting Mount Everest, she continued scaling other peaks as well.
“To achieve my dream of summiting Mount Everest, I had to start a crowdfunding because it was an impossible task to arrange Rs 30 lakh for expenses but finally I was sponsored by TCI Max, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, DIG CRPF and others and due to their support it was possible to achieve my dream,” she said.
Nahida said she has now started her own business adventure namely ‘Pampori and daughters adventure’ and is organising trekking and school camping events.
“I believe that something like money shouldn’t stop you from dreaming big if you have the support of your parents you can achieve any goal,” she said—(KNO)