Jammu, Dec 16: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha paid tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives for the Nation during the 1971 war. The day commemorates the historic victory of Indian Armed Forces and the indomitable spirit of the brave soldiers.
In his message, the Lt Governor said- “On Vijay Diwas, let us remember the valour of our soldiers and their unwavering commitment to defend India’s sovereignty and protect human dignity”.
We are eternally indebted to our brave soldiers for their courage and selfless service to the nation for protecting our frontiers from the enemies and maintaining peace in the country, he added.
“I salute our gallant soldiers for their exemplary courage and supreme sacrifice to gain a decisive victory for our Nation in the 1971 war”, said the Lt Governor.

More than 13000 works worth Rs11000 crores hosted on website
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 16: In a major initiative to bring transparency and accountability in the execution of public works in furtherance of directions of Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Financial Commissioner, Finance, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta today launched a web based initiative to put details of all the ongoing capital works into the public domain.
On the occasion Principal Secretary Information Department, Rohit Kansal; Director General Budget, Mohammad Yaqoob Itoo; Deputy Director, Budget, Shafaat Yehya besides the IT professionals from the National Informatics Centre (NIC) were present.
The EMPOWERMENT (Enabling Monitoring of Public Overview of Works Being Executed &Resources for Meaningful Transparency) is a web portal hosting all the works being executed under the capex component of the UT budget. The same can be assessed through BEAMS website of Finance department.
The objective of this initiative, as described by Dr Mehta is that every citizen should be able to view every detail about the nature and extent of work under execution in his or her area or any part of the Union Territory.
The FC Finance also impressed that the initiative would be reviewed continuously for incorporation of improvements based on the feedback of general public. He urged the people to utilize the information available on this portal to help government bring about greater responsiveness andaccountability besides greater participation of stakeholders in the process of development happening in their area.
The portal is an interactive one as it offers public an opportunity to give their feedback about any of the worksgoing on in J&K. Therefore this unique initiative taken by J&K government is the one made to enable the citizens to directly participate in the development of their area.
It was informed that any person can search for any of the work going on in UT or District sector in his village, block anddistrict. The same will provide him/her all the relevant details of the work(s) going on there. The name, cost and position of funds released and expenditure incurred against the said work could be viewed by simply accessing the BEAMS website of the J&K Finance department. Thereafter every area specific, village specific work could be viewed along with the details pertaining to that work.
The portal currently hosts some 13264 works being executed in the Union Territory at a cumulative cost of Rs10968.52 crores. These include 10838 works under UT sector to be completed at a cost of more than Rs10550 crores and 2426 District sector works to be completed at a cost of Rs418.50 crores. It has also been revealed that against the same an amount of more than Rs6738.33 crores has been released by Finance department through BEAMS portal and Rs 3646 crores expended till date.
Moreover the portal offers links to view the works under execution under MGNREGA, PM Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission Urban and Swachh Bharat Mission Rural. These works could be accessed from this portal itself and would include all the works executed throughout J&K under any scheme in the future, as was given out by the officers on the occasion.
FC Finance complimented the team of NIC for designing this portal in such a short period of time. He said that site had many of the significant details put forth lucidly. The portal has been designed by the IT experts from the local chapter of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) here at Moving Secretariat, Jammu and would be available for public usage from tomorrow forenoon.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 16: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday launched portal for online registrations/validation of Pharmacies under Pharmacy Act, 1948.
As many as three candidates who had uploaded their documents were handed over certificates as Registered Pharmacist on spot.
Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo, formally after launching the portal while appreciating functioning of Pharmacy Council of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed hope that all stakeholders shall get immensely benefitted by this initiative.
He said that Pharmacists play a pivotal role in the healthcare system and their contribution is critical towards mitigating sufferings of ailing masses.
He expressed hope that the Pharmacy Council shall strive hard to ensure that the practice and profession of Pharmacy in the Union Territory of J&K is regulated in an efficient manner and this body continues to uphold the sanctity of moral ethics, code and conduct among Pharmacy professionals.
He appreciated the Jammu & Kashmir Pharmacy Council for eliminating physical interface in various services offered by it.
He said that a transparent, accountable and time-bound system is always required to address the problems being faced by candidates aspiring to acquire grant/renewal of their Pharmacist Registration certificates.
He said in the past these applicants had to run from pillar to post to get their bonafide claims settled. He, however, expressed hope that Pharmacy Council shall secure due diligence to ensure that the Web Portal designed for the purpose is subjected to periodic reviews and updated as per requirements of beneficiaries.
He lauded the Central Government for considering a one-time exemption of considering all those Registered Pharmacists who were registered under the repealed State Law, i.e J&K Pharmacy Act, Samvat, 2011 (1955 A.D) by incorporating a proviso 32C in the Pharmacy Act, 1948.
He said that the candidates pursuing profession and practice of Pharmacy in the UT of J&K have been enabled and motivated to join the national mainstream in all aspects governing the field.
He directed the President of J&K Pharmacy Council, Lotika Khajuria, to arrange periodic training programs targeted to enhance the technical expertise of Pharmacists who are engaged in hospital Pharmacies across the UT borders.
He also directed the concerned authorities to provide a toll-free number for redressal of any grievance that may accrue due to administration of Pharmacy regulation.

New Delhi, Dec 16: Amid border tension with China, the government today said it may blacklist certain telecom equipment vendors and prepare a list for “India Trusted Sources”.
The government move effectively means the telecom sector will have a list of companies from where firms can safely buy products and services.
The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security to “enhance security of telecom sector” by designating trusted vendors, said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

“The Cabinet Committee on Security has given approval for a National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector. Under this, in order to maintain the integrity of supply chain security, the government will declare a list of trusted sources or products for the benefit of telecom service providers,” Prasad said.
“So there’s a trusted source and there’s a not-trusted source,” he added.
The government refused to elaborate on whether the move could lead to curbs on Chinese vendors.
Prasad called it an important step for national security. “Existing telecom equipment with operators will not be impacted,” he said.
Last month, the government banned several Chinese mobile apps for activities “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.
The apps were banned under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said today.
The move was based on “comprehensive reports received from Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, Ministry of Home Affairs,” said a government statement.
Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a drawn out standoff at the border in Ladakh since April. The two countries have had several rounds of military and diplomatic dialogues in which India has demanded that the Chinese troops restore status quo.

Case tally reaches 116932, 415 more patients recover, say officials

Jehangeer Ganai
Srinagar, Dec 16: Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday reported five Covid-19 related deaths while as 332 new positive of deadly virus reported as well in the Union Territory taking the number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 116932.

Officials said that of the total 332 cases, 181 were from Jammu and 151 from Kashmir.

“Of the five fresh deaths, four were reported in Jammu and one from Kashmir division,” he said.
Moreover, 415 more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from various hospitals including 239 from Jammu Division and 176 from Kashmir Division.

According to the daily Media Bulletin on novel Corona virus (Covid-19), out of 116932 positive cases, 4346 are Active Positive, 110769 have recovered and 1817 have died; 660 in Jammu division and 1157 in Kashmir division.

The Bulletin further said that out of 3420425 test results available, 3303493 samples have been tested as negative till December16, 2020. “Till date 836758 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 20163 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 4346 in isolation and 28088 in home surveillance. Besides, 782344 persons have completed their surveillance period,” the bulletin said.

Providing district-wise breakup, the Bulletin said that Srinagar has 24444 positive cases (including 53cases reported today) with 1056 Active Positive, 22951 recovered (including87 cases recovered today), 437 deaths; Baramulla has 7773 positive cases (including 19 cases reported today) with 175 Active Positive, 7429 recovered (including 21 cases recovered today), 169deaths; Pulwama reported 5324 positive cases (including 12 case reported today) with 171 active positive cases, 5065 recovered (including 08 cases recovered today), 88 deaths; Kulgam has 2630 positive cases with 64 Active Positive, 2513 recoveries (including 02 cases recovered today), 53 deaths; Shopian has 2433 positive cases (including 01 case reported today) with 76 Active Positive, 2320 recovered and 37 deaths; Anantnag district has 4686positive cases (including 15 cases reported today) with 111 Active Positive, 4493 recovered (including 02cases recovered today), 82 deaths; Budgam has 7362 positive cases (including 19 cases reported today) with 272 Active Positive and 6985 recovered (including 23 cases recovered today), 105 deaths; Kupwara has 5400 positive cases (including 13 cases reported today) with 174 Active Positive, 5138 recovered (including 14cases recovered today), 88 deaths; Bandipora has 4564 positive cases (including 09 cases reported today) with 81 Active Positive, 4426 recovered (including 19 cases recovered today), 57 deaths and Ganderbal has 4375 positive cases (including 10 cases reported today) with 106 active positive cases, 4228recoveries and 41 deaths.

Similarly, Jammu has 22470positive cases (including 96 cases reported today) with 819 active positive cases, 21315 recoveries (including 82 cases recovered today), 336 deaths; Rajouri has 3739 positive cases (including 12 cases reported today) with 245 active positive cases, 3441 recovered (including 08 cases recovered today), 53 deaths; Ramban has 2049 positive cases (including 07 cases reported today) with 83 active positive, 1945 recoveries(including 03 cases recovered today) and 21 deaths; Kathua has 3050 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 107 Active positive, 2896 recovered (including 24 cases recovered today), 47 deaths; Udhampur has 3982 positive cases (including 14 cases reported today) with 229 active positive cases, 3699 recovered (including 31 cases recovered today) and 54 deaths; Samba has 2647 positive cases (including 11 cases reported today) with 184 Active Positive, 2429 recoveries(including 53 cases recovered today)and 34 deaths; Doda has 3315 positive cases (including 12 cases reported today) with 121 active positive cases, 3134 recoveries (including 21 cases recovered today), 60 deaths; Poonch has 2424 positive cases (including 02cases reported today) with 30 active positive, 2372 recoveriesand 22 deaths; Reasi has 1575 positive cases with 117 active positive, 1446recoveries and 12 deaths while Kishtwar has 2690 positive cases (including 08 cases reported today) with 125 active positive cases and 2544 recoveries (including 17 cases recovered today) and 21 deaths.

According to the bulletin, among the total 116932 positive cases, 11041 have been reported as travelers while 105891 as others. The Bulletin said that the breakup represents districts from which the patients have been traced or are ordinarily residing. The Central Government is continuously monitoring the evolving situation of Covid-19 in the Union Territory and is providing all necessary support towards effective containment of the spread of Covid-19 and better clinical management of positive cases. (KNO)

New Delhi, Dec 16: With reduction witnessed in the spike of daily new cases of COVID for the past several days , India on Wednesday clocked 26,382 fresh infections in the past 24 hours, Union Health Ministry update said.

Country’s active COVID case load has further reduced by 7,818 since Tuesday , and at present there are 3,32,002 such cases across the nation , the government data added.

Talking of recoveries , there were 33,813 patients who defeated COVID during the past 24 hours , and now the total cured cases in India have reached 94,56,449.

Meanwhile, 387 more lives were claimed by the virus spread since Tuesday, pushing the country’s pandemic death toll to 1,44,096 till date.

According to the ICMR , 15,66,46,280 cumulative samples have been tested for the infection so far.

In percentage , active cases are now 3.34 per cent , cured/discharged 95.21 per cent and the deaths 1.45 per cent of the total COVID case count of the country so far.

Srinagar, Dec 16: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has granted bail to former Chairman J&K Cooperative Bank Muhammad Shafi Dar who was arrested earlier this year in connection with a case regarding sanctioning fraudulently a loan of Rs 250 crore in favour of a “non-existent Cooperative Society”, River Jhelum Cooperative House Colony.
He was granted bail against personal as well as surety bond to the tune of Rs. 50,000 each to the satisfaction of the Registrar Judicial of the Court.
“The prosecution has produced the charge-sheet/challan after investigation, even supplementary charge sheet has also been produced, therefore, his presence in custody may not be necessary for further investigation,” a bench of Justice Sindhu Sharma said as per GNS and allowed plea for bail by Muhammad Shafi Dar who has been already sacked as Chairman of the Bank.
The prosecution has also stated that much of the amount has been paid to the owners of the land, the court observed. “It is also admitted that the owners have executed Power of Attorney on the basis of which lease has been granted in favour of Secretary of the Society.”
While granting the bail, the court has imposed certain conditions also. He has been asked to cooperate with the investigation as and when required, not hamper or tamper with the prosecution witnesses or evidence and that he will appear before the Trial Court on each and every date of hearing unless exempted by the Court concerned and that he shall not leave the territorial jurisdiction of this Court without prior permission. (GNS)

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Dec 16: The Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba today chaired a high level meeting to review 11 Key Infrastructure Projects being implemented by various ministries across India.
Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam along with Chief Secretaries of various States including Delhi, Gujarat, Uttrakhand, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Chattisgarh participated in the meeting.
The Cabinet Secretary laid emphasis on the timely completion of infrastructural projects to prevent associated cost escalations. He said regular review of such projects is essential to monitor the scheduled progress and timely resolution of various bottlenecks to prevent avoidable delays in the project completion.
Progress on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project was also reviewed in the meeting. The Chief Secretary, J&K, apprised the Cabinet Secretary that the project is progressing as per its schedule and the issues regarding availability of raw material and land acquisition are being assiduously resolved. It was informed that 3 phases of the project have been completed so far and the remaining 111 km of the 4th phase, which includes the world’s highest bridge on river Chenab, will be completed within the stipulated timeline.

Regarding the progress of work on Udhampur-Chenani and Nashri-Ramban sections of National Highway 44, it was informed that the issues with regard to the executing agency have been resolved and the work is progressing smoothly.
Other projects including Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project, Mumbai Refinery Expansion Project, Navi Mumbai International Airport Project, Vadodra-Mumbai Expressway, Dwaraka Expressway NHAI Project, among others were also reviewed.

First attempt from Feb23-26

New Delhi, Dec 16: Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has announced the dates of JEE Main 2021 today, December 16, 2020. The Engineering entrance will be conducted from February 23 to 26. Also, in a first, JEE Mains will be held four times from the next academic year- February, March, April and May.
In the new paper pattern introduced, candidates have to attempt 75 questions out of 90 – or 25 out of questions 30 in each section of Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. There will be no negative marking in the 15 optional questions and best of four scores will be considered.
This year, JEE Main 2021 will be different in many ways. The agency has decided to conduct the exam in 13 languages — English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. While exams in Hindi, English, and Urdu will be held across the country, other regional language papers will be held in the respective states.
In the light of rationalization of the syllabus by various Boards, the NTA has decided to provide for choice in the question papers and thus there will be two sections in each paper.
The decision is aimed at giving students multiple opportunities to improve their scores in the examination if they fail to give their best in the first attempt without wasting a whole academic year.
“In the first attempt, the students will get a first-hand experience of taking an examination and will know their mistakes which they can improve in the next attempt. Additionally, this will reduce the chances of dropping a year and droppers would not have to waste a full year,” Pokhriyal said.
These changes, the Education Minister said, has been introduced by NTA after reviewing suggestions made by the Education stakeholders.
Pokhriyal, in his webinar on December 10, hinted at a change in the exam pattern.
He said that the pattern will be kept in such a way that students across the boards, irrespective of their syllabus reduced or not, will be able to attempt the entrance exam.
Pokhriyal also said that his ministry will positively review the suggestion to hold JEE Main 2021 in multiple shifts. In previous years, the exam was held twice a year — in January and April.

Ramban, Dec 16:  Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Wednesday said Congress and National Conference (NC) candidates are discreetly keeping their party leaders away from the election campaign for District Development Councils (DDCs).

Addressing a public meeting in remote area of Rajgarh where BJP is facing a contest both from Congress as well as National Conference, Singh said, the most interesting feature is that Congress candidates are not inclined to invite their Central leaders like Rahul Gandhi or PCC President to campaign for them because of apprehension that this might antagonise the voters. Similarly, the National Conference candidates do not want to invite their top leaders like Farooq Abdullah or Omar Abudullah to campaign for them because of the fear that by doing so they may rather lose some votes instead of adding.

While District Development Council elections happening for the first time in Jammu & Kashmir, said Singh, have heralded a new chapter in the history of democracy, these elections have also, for the first time, exposed the unique inner contradictions afflicting the opposition parties. Most of these candidates, he said, are avoiding using pictures of their leaders on posters and are also displaying their party symbol very discreetly and selectively.

Singh said, this turn of events is a testimony to the fact that the opposition parties have also, in heart of hearts, accepted that Narendra Modi is the tallest leader among all, who enjoys following across the party lines. “Interestingly some of the opposition candidates have also been found secretly whispering into the voter’s ear that they too are Modi followers.”

Referring to development in Jammu and Kashmir in the last six years, he said before 2014 there was no proper road connectivity to Rajgarh and many a times he had to go back because of a sudden landslide midway.

“However, in the last four years there has been an upgradation of road along with blacktopping and Rajgarh is not only connected with Ramban but also connected with Kastigarh by road,” Singh said.