DODA
A government assistant professor in Doda was suspended, and a high-level inquiry was ordered after a 19-year-old college student allegedly died by suicide following an examination-related incident. Saba Banoo, a student at Government Degree College, Doda, reportedly jumped into the Chenab River on January 16 after being reprimanded for possessing a mobile phone during a test, according to her family. Her body has not yet been recovered despite extensive search operations by police, SDRF and local volunteers. The government suspended Assistant Professor Manzoor Ahmad, who was serving as Deputy Superintendent of examinations, pending completion of the inquiry. A three-member committee headed by the Director of Colleges has been constituted to submit its report within seven days. The family alleges public humiliation and fear of disqualification pushed the student to take the extreme step, while the accused professor has denied wrongdoing, claiming his role was procedural.
As of December 31, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir has installed 17,998 rooftop solar systems, 16,284 of which have been commissioned, with subsidies of Rs 129.57 crore from the Centre and Rs 2.99 crore from the UT disbursed to beneficiaries.
DELHI
Once a regional necessity shaped by Kashmir’s harsh winters, the pheran has steadily entered Delhi’s mainstream winter wardrobe, moving from cinematic imagery in Rockstar to everyday urban wear. Historically rooted in Persian and Central Asian influences and refined over centuries, the loose woollen cloak was designed for warmth, often accommodating a kangri for heat. Its evolution, from ankle-length robes to contemporary, styled versions, has expanded its appeal beyond Kashmir. Growing visibility at markets and festivals reflects rising demand, driven by comfort, craft and cultural resonance rather than ethnicity alone. Brands and artisans note increased economic opportunities, but warn that mass popularity has also led to machine-made imitations that undermine authenticity and artisan livelihoods. While designers attempt to balance adaptation with preservation, debates around appropriation, credit and economic justice persist. The pheran’s urban success thus embodies both cultural appreciation and risk, raising questions about whether fashion can embrace heritage without erasing its origins.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee has ordered the closure of 17 hotels and banquet halls in Jammu and 26 hotels in Sonmarg for violating the Water Pollution Act, 1974 and the Air Pollution Act, 1981.
SRINAGAR
Paras Health Srinagar has achieved a milestone in cancer care by performing Kashmir’s first fluorescence-guided Reverse Axillary Mapping (RAM) using Indocyanine Green (ICG) dye during breast cancer surgery. Led by Dr Shabnam Bashir, the procedure enables precise differentiation between breast- and arm-draining lymphatics, significantly reducing the risk of post-surgical lymphedema while maintaining oncological safety. In Kashmir, one in every five cancers is a breast cancer, underscoring the importance of such advances.
The Traffic Police issued 12.36 lakh e-challans in 2023, 15.03 lakh in 2024 and 14.92 lakh in 2025, collecting fines of Rs 85.16 crore, Rs 120.09 crore and Rs 145.12 crore respectively, while seizing 15,947 vehicles in 2025 for Motor Vehicles Act violations.
KASHMIR
The Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Services examination has sparked major controversy following allegations of regional imbalance after a disproportionately high number of candidates from the Jammu division were shortlisted for interviews. Of the 1,016 aspirants who appeared in the mains exam, around 600 were from Kashmir, yet only 13–25 candidates from the Valley made it to the viva voce stage out of 124, while the majority hailed from Jammu. Protesting aspirants have demanded transparency, disclosure of evaluation methodology and centre-wise data, alleging “systemic elimination” of Kashmiri candidates and possible non-evaluation of papers from certain centres. Student activists and political leaders termed the outcome unjust and demoralising, calling for an independent probe and suspension of results. The controversy has also intersected with broader political tensions between the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
BHADERWAH
Ten Army soldiers were killed and 11 others injured after a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Casspir vehicle skidded off the Bhaderwah–Chamba interstate road and plunged nearly 200 feet into a gorge near Khani Top in Doda district around 11 am. The vehicle, carrying 21 soldiers to Padri Hill Top for routine high-altitude patrolling and area domination duties, lost control on a sharp curve due to slippery conditions caused by snow accumulation. Residents, police, and rescue teams launched immediate rescue operations, retrieving the bodies and evacuating the injured. Ten critically injured soldiers were airlifted to Command Hospital, Udhampur, where all were resuscitated and admitted to the ICU. Medical authorities said two sustained minor injuries, while eight suffered grievous trauma, including fractures and spinal injuries, and are undergoing surgery. An FIR has been registered and an investigation initiated.
SRINAGAR
A major controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after police summoned journalists over routine reporting and sought bonds under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, triggering strong reactions from media bodies and political parties. Journalists from The Indian Express and Hindustan Times were called to Srinagar’s Cyber Police Station over reports on the profiling of mosques and their management committees. The Indian Express’ assistant editor, Bashaarat Masood, spent multiple days at the police station but refused to sign a bond, while Hindustan Times sought a written summons with reasons. The Editors Guild of India and the Committee to Protect Journalists termed the actions coercive and part of a pattern of intimidation that undermines press freedom. Opposition leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah’s NC, PDP, Congress and others, condemned the summons as undemocratic and urged intervention. Critics warned that such practices threaten free speech and democratic accountability in Jammu and Kashmir.
KATRA
Two weeks after the cancellation of the MBBS course at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Reasi, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to accommodate all 50 affected students in seven newly established government medical colleges across the Union Territory. Following the National Medical Commission’s withdrawal of permission for the 2025–26 academic year, citing deficiencies, the Health and Medical Education Department created 50 supernumerary seats. The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE), after initially stating it lacked authority, issued a fresh notification scheduling a physical counselling round on January 24 in Srinagar and Jammu. Admissions will be strictly based on NEET-UG merit. Eight seats have been allotted to GMC Anantnag, while seven seats each will go to GMCs Baramulla, Handwara, Doda, Kathua, Rajouri and Udhampur. The move follows political and social tensions surrounding the institute’s admissions. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the decision, saying it allows students to resume their studies without disruption.
NOWSHERA
An elderly woman was brutally murdered inside her home in Srinagar’s Nowshera locality last week, allegedly by her domestic help, triggering widespread shock and grief in the neighbourhood. The victim, 65-year-old Rashida Begum, wife of Lateef Ahmad Gangoo, was found lying in a pool of blood with her throat slit. Police identified the prime suspect as Gorab Malakar, a domestic worker from Assam, who allegedly attacked the woman with a bat before slitting her throat and fleeing with her mobile phone. He was arrested while attempting to escape towards Jammu following a manhunt. The incident occurred while the victim was alone at home with the helper; her husband was at his shop, and her son was abroad performing Umrah. The body was shifted to SKIMS, Soura, where she was declared brought dead, and medico-legal formalities were completed. Investigations are underway, with residents demanding strict punishment for the accused.
DODA
A major political controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir following PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s demand for granting separate divisional status to the Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley regions, including Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar, citing long-standing administrative neglect. Mufti argued that the difficult terrain, fragile ecology, scattered population and frequent natural disasters in Chenab Valley warrant a dedicated divisional administration to ensure effective governance and faster disaster response, particularly in districts like Doda. She stressed that the demand is purely administrative and aimed at balanced development, not territorial reconfiguration. However, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah strongly opposed the proposal, linking it to the Dixon Plan and warning against further division of the region. The BJP also criticised the demand as divisive and politically motivated. While Mufti maintains the proposal would empower neglected areas such as Doda through better administrative reach, opponents fear it could deepen regional and political fault lines in the Union Territory.
ANANTNAG
A grassroots initiative in south Kashmir has transformed into a scientifically verified effort to map and preserve fossil-rich sites in Anantnag and Kulgam, placing the region on India’s geo-heritage map. Over the past five years, schoolteachers, students, and young researchers have identified multiple sites, some dating back 488 million years. Key discoveries include Halsidar and SaskhudanKapran in Verinag, Jurassic-period fossils; Maswati-Narsinghar in Kokernag, dating to the Permian period; and the Aharbal site in Kulgam spanning the Ordovician–Devonian periods. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has scientifically examined and mapped these sites, while the J&K Forest Department has implemented protective measures, including fencing, signboards, and visitor guidelines. Departments of Archives, Archaeology, and Museums have collected samples for radiometric dating at national laboratories like BARC. Officials highlight that community-led exploration coupled with scientific verification is central to preserving Kashmir’s prehistoric heritage, promoting research, education, and regulated geo-tourism, while safeguarding fossil resources for future generations.
RAJOURI
Simran Bala, a 26-year-old Assistant Commandant in the Central Reserve Police Force from Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir, is set to create history by becoming the first woman officer to lead an all-male CRPF contingent at the 76th Republic Day parade. Raised in a border village frequently hit by Pakistani shelling, Bala transformed adversity into determination. She will command over 140 male personnel during the ceremonial march, marking a significant milestone for India’s largest paramilitary force and for women in uniform. A first-generation officer from her district, she secured an 82nd All India Rank in her first UPSC CAPF attempt and was the only woman from Jammu and Kashmir to clear the exam in 2023. Her achievement has inspired young women across the border belt to aspire for service in uniform.
