India Archives - Page 22 of 37 - The Singapore Post

Engineering testing lab ensures quality machinery for farmers in J&K

22Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Engineering testing lab ensures quality machinery for farmers in J&K

In order to boost agricultural production in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has set up an agriculture engineering testing lab for the testing of agriculture machinery at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) at Shalimar in Kashmir.“The Ministry of Agriculture inaugurated the centre last year. Here we check whatever machinery and equipment in the state or are being used in the neighbouring states, to see if they comply with specifications. We certify the machines regarding these norms,” said Prof. Nazir Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST.“Earlier, whatever machines used to come, they used to be provided to the farmers and its durability used to be less. With this testing centre, we are testing the q

Whatever you’re following, follow it by heart: Kashmiri youth who cracked UPSC 2019

22Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Whatever you’re following, follow it by heart: Kashmiri youth who cracked UPSC 2019

One of the 16 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) who qualified for India’s most prestigious civil services has encouraged the youth in Kashmir to follow their heart to attain success in whichever field they choose.Aftab Rasool, who cracked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Exam 2019 with 412-rank, is a former policeman's son who hails from Trehgam in Kupwara."My parents supported me throughout. For me, it is all about my parents, who were praying for my success day in and out. Their prayers have yielded results today. For me, cracking civil services was a dream come true. My message to Kashmiri youth is whatever you are following, follow it by heart. Work hard and be dedicated," Rasool said.Rasool also urged the "talented" youth in the Valley to explore their talent."I wo

‘Political absurdity’: India slams Imran Khan over new ‘political map’

21Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

‘Political absurdity’: India slams Imran Khan over new ‘political map’

Reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s new “political map of Pakistan” that counts Jammu and Kashmir and Junagadh in Gujarat as its territories, India has called out Pakistan PM’s obsession and termed the act as an “exercise in political absurdity.”“We have seen a so-called “political map” of Pakistan that has been released by PM Imran Khan. This is an exercise in political absurdity, laying untenable claims to territories in the Indian state of Gujarat and our union territories of Jammu Kashmir and of Ladakh,” the Government of India said in a statement.India’s foreign ministry also slammed Pakistan for their malafide intentions and said it confirms the reality of “Pakistan’s obsession with territorial aggrandizement supported by cross-border terrorism.”“These ridiculous asserti

Pakistan nerve center of terrorism: Indian envoy to UN

21Aug

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Pakistan nerve center of terrorism: Indian envoy to UN

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti, has lashed out at Pakistan for harboring terror groups, saying it is home to the largest number of listed terrorists internationally and designated terrorist entities.Ambassador Tirumurti said that it is a well-known fact that Pakistan is the “nerve center of terrorism”. “Pakistan is home to the largest number of listed terrorists internationally designated terrorist entities and individuals, including Jamat-ud Dawah, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen, they are continuing their operations from Pakistan,” he said.Referring to United Nations' 26th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS, Tirumurti said that there is a clear acknowledgement that the leadership

India set to highlight Pakistan’s inaction in upcoming FATF meet

21Aug

By Nectar GanNo Comments

India set to highlight Pakistan’s inaction in upcoming FATF meet

Pakistan, which was already troubled by Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) decision to keep the Islamic nation in the Grey list, is in a bit of a predicament because now, Indian agencies have planned to highlight its inaction in the Pulwama, 26/11 Mumbai attack and Daniel Pearl murder cases when the task force meets for its next plenary in October.“The Pakistani establishment has to prove that it is serious about dismantling the terror-funding infrastructure, which is possible only by ensuring that cases against the key figures and organizations involved in raising funds and masterminding terror attacks attain finality and such elements are punished. Given that no such concrete steps are being taken, we need to flag the issue,” said a government official.A deadline looms over Pakistan an

16 people from Jammu and Kashmir crack UPSC civil services exam 2019

21Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

16 people from Jammu and Kashmir crack UPSC civil services exam 2019

The year 2019 witnessed many positive changes in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and one of them is the result of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil service exam-2019 which includes 16 people from the valley.Abhiskhek Augustsya of Jammu, who is ranked at 38, is at the top of the list of the successful candidates from Jammu and Kashmir. According to the UPSC’s list, there are 829 successful candidates. IRS officer Pradeep Singh topped the list.Abhiskhek Augustsya is followed by two other Jammu residents - Sunny Gupta (148), Dev Ahuti (177).Other successful candidates include Parth Gupta (240), Asrar Ahmad Kitchloo (248), Asif Yousuf Tantray (328), Namgyal Angmo (323), and Nadia Beigh (350) from Kupwara.Aftab Rasool (412) from Trehgam Kupwara, Sabzar Ahmad Ganie (628) hailing from

Farooq Abdullah, Mir demand probe into Kashmiri Pandit exodus

21Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Farooq Abdullah, Mir demand probe into Kashmiri Pandit exodus

Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits, said former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah demanding a probe by retired Supreme Court judges into the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley in early 1990s.Replying to questions during a webinar, Abdullah said he was of the firm belief that Kashmir is incomplete without Pandits and that he would support any mechanism to bring them back honorably.Nearly 60,000 Kashmiri Pandit families are registered as migrants after the onset of militancy in the Kashmir Valley in early 1990s. Abdullah chose to blame the then former Governor Jagmohan for the exodus and said that he “took them away” on the false promise of ensuring their return within three months.Meanwhile, questioning the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits and establishment of I

China asks Maldives to repay loan, an eye-opener for all debtor-nations?

21Aug

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

China asks Maldives to repay loan, an eye-opener for all debtor-nations?

Even as the Government of President Ibrahim Solih is battling Covid-19 pandemic, facing heat from the opposition for the government’s India front, and deciphering when to reopen its tourism sector, other issues are beginning to dog the nation. Now, the Solih leadership should also be concerned about the short, medium and long-term fallouts of China asking the Maldivian state to repay at least an instalment of a massive loan granted to a local resort-owner.China’s Exim Bank has asked the Maldivian government to pay up $10 million (MVR 154 million), possibly an unpaid instalment from the total $127 million loan to former Yameen ally and parliamentarian, ‘Sun’ Ahmed Shyam against ‘sovereign guarantee.’Generally, ‘sovereign guarantee’ is extended only to government sector loans, and the guaran

Article 370 abrogation impact: Four lakh domicile certificates issued in J&K

21Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Article 370 abrogation impact: Four lakh domicile certificates issued in J&K

As a consequence of the abrogation of Article 370 and with it, Article 35A, over 4 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir have been issued domicile certificates, giving them the legal rights of a citizen of getting jobs and availing education.A total of 3, 68,500 domicile certificates were issued in Jammu and 79,300 in Kashmir Valley.Among the 4 lakh people, Bhola Ram (57) in Jammu, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for giving him "justice and dignity".The laws introduced eight months after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 have led to fear in the Valley among residents as they believe that it could trigger floodgates for outsiders to settle in Jammu and Kashmir and alter the Muslim majority character of the region.With domicile certifi...

Kashmiri girl wants to preserve traditional Urdu calligraphy art

19Aug

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Kashmiri girl wants to preserve traditional Urdu calligraphy art

At a time when everyone is busy typing on their smartphones, a young Saima Bhat from Kashmir wants to preserve the age-old traditional Kashmiri art of calligraphy.Originally from Anantnag district and currently residing in Srinagar’s Raj Bagh area, Bhat wanted to pursue the Urdu calligraphy art since childhood.She did her higher education from Kashmir University and then when her parents wanted her to study medicine, she took calligraphy.“My family wanted me to pursue medical studies while I wanted to learn calligraphy. After my higher education from Kashmir University, I took up the Urdu calligraphy course in the Art, Culture and Languages academy, which is a government institute in Srinagar,” said Bhat.“During my training period, I was offered various jobs including teaching opportunity