Director School Education Jammu, Naseem Javaid Choudhary; ACR Udhampur, Joint Director School Education Udhampur/Reasi, DSWO Udhampur, CMO Udhampur, CEO Udhampur, other senior officers of Education department and large number of teachers were also present on the occasion.

Speaking to a large gathering of educators, the Minister lauded teachers as the true architects of building progressive society, stating that their contribution goes far beyond classrooms and textbooks. “Teachers play a decisive role in nurturing responsible citizens and strengthening moral and intellectual fabric of society”, she stated.

The Education Minister called upon teachers to adapt to evolving educational challenges and adopt innovative teaching methods to meet the aspirations of the younger generation. She stressed that continuous professional development and value-based education are essential to keep pace with changing times.

Lauding teachers for their contribution to education sector, Minister Sakeena said that under the visionary leadership of then Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the revolutionary step of introducing Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) scheme was initiated which changed the dynamics of school education sector in J&K. She added that due to ReT scheme, students of far-flung areas, who couldn’t afford to move to cities for educational purposes, received education in their respective areas.

She highlighted that the teachers need to be acknowledged for their contribution to the society, adding that the large number of IAS, IPS and JKAS officers have studied from government schools for which their teachers need to acknowledged.

Emphasising the need to reform and strengthen the teacher–student relationship, Sakeena Itoo said that mutual respect, trust and understanding must form the foundation of all educational institutions. She highlighted that some positive reforms need to be initiated for improving student-teacher relationship in educational institutions.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to improving the education sector, Sakeena Itoo assured that sustained efforts are being made by the Government under the leadership of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah to upgrade infrastructure, enhance teaching standards and promote holistic learning across educational institutions of J&K.

Addressing the gathering, Director School Education Jammu said the Government has worked tirelessly from last one year for the development of education sector, particularly the change of Academic session, timely updation of seniority lists, conduct of DPCs and other related issues have been solved and some are under active consideration of the Government.

He highlighted that various reformative steps for the betterment of education sector are under process of the government, which will significantly improve the educational standards across Jammu and Kashmir.

On the occasion, various teachers spoke and lauded the efforts of Government, especially Education Minister for various pathbreaking initiatives in education sector. They expressed gratitude to Minister for various decisions like change in academic session, regularisation of CPWs, posting of Principals and other teachers in various schools which was long pending issue, availability of textbooks in schools, timely updation of seniority lists as well as regular conduct of DPCs at all levels.

The Teachers, on the occasion, also put forth some demands before the Minister like provision of leave salary to teachers at the time of retirement, restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), withdrawal of teachers from non teaching assignments in other departments like Census, Surveys and others as well as timely disbursement of dues for Mid Day Meal scheme.

On the sidelines of the Convention, the Minister distributed sewing machines among women beneficiaries of Social Welfare department. She also distributed bicycles among school children for their outstanding performance in various National sports championships and academic activities.

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A top official told Greater Kashmir that the result cannot be declared without holding a meeting of Result Declaration Committee which is headed by the Chairman JKBOSE.

“Before declaring the result, a meeting of result declaration committee is convened to finalise the result and resolve any issues pertaining to it. But JKBOSE is without a chairman, due to which there is no clarity about declaration of the result,” the official said.

As already reported by this newspaper, the J&K government on December 13 of 2024 reconstituted a search committee for recommending the panel of the candidates for the appointment as Chairman JKBOSE and the Director Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).

The Search Committee on April 4, 2025 held interaction with the shortlisted candidates for the post of Chairman JKBOSE and Director SCERT.

Following the interactions, a panel of three candidates each for the post of Chairman JKBOSE and Director SCERT, was submitted to the government to finalise the selection of the candidates.

Surprisingly, there was no headway in the process till the validity of the panel expired in six months.

Amid the delay in appointment of permanent chairman of JKBOSE, the charge was managed by the former Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Higher Education Department (HED) Shantmanu, who attained superannuation on December 31 of 2025.

Following this, JKBOSE was rendered headless leading to uncertainty about the declaration of the result.

“The result is in its final stage and at this crucial time, government should have not left the institution headless. The government should have given the charge of Chairman JKBOSE to some equivalent rank officer till the appointment of the permanent chairman of JKBOSE,” the official said.

The official said that JKBOSE was ready to declare the result of class 10^th on January 6 or 7 of 2026 but the delay in holding meeting of result declaration committee led to uncertainty.

This newspaper earlier reported that the JKBOSE was all set to declare the result of annual regular-2025 class 10th examination by the first week of January this year followed by the declaration of the result of class 12th and 11th class students by 3rd and last week of the January month.

“But we are now clueless without chairman. The declaration of the result has to be time bound process otherwise it has its own implications,” the official told Greater Kashmir.

This year, the annual regular-2025 examination of class 10th to 12th students commenced on November month of 2025.

As already reported by this newspaper, JKBOSE had announced 15 percent relaxation for students in class 10th, 11th and 12th annual examinations, in view of the disruptions faced by the students during the academic session.

As per the official figures, 94783 students- 68804 from Kashmir and 25,224 students from winter zone areas of Jammu division besides 660 students from Kargil and 95 from Leh district registered for the class 10th JKBOSE examination this year.

Also, the examination for class 11th and 12th students was scheduled from November 19 and November 8 of 2025 respectively.

Approximately, 81622 students – 64001 from Jammu and 17621 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 11th examination while 70117 students—56423 from Kashmir and 13694 from winter zone areas of Jammu have registered for class 12th examination.

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In line with the Board regulations, the syllabus has already outlived its validity and thus no further chances will be given to failure/ re- appear students to take up examinations under the old scheme of studies.

According to a notification issued by the Board, the concerned candidates have been advised to prepare as per the new syllabus for the annual private/ bi-annual examinations slated later this year after the conclusion of the summer zone examinations and the declaration of the annual results.

The notification has been issued well in advance to advise the students of the old course to timely switch over to the new syllabus for appearing in annual private/ bi-annual examinations in 2026 and thereafter.

It has been observed that the number of students who still have not cleared the examinations under the old scheme of studies is insignificant.

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Highly placed sources in Jammu & Kashmir government told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the cabinet in its last meeting recommended the appointment of Makhdoomi as Chairman of BOSE.

The Lok Bhavan has cleared the proposal. A formal order regarding the appointment is set to be made within the next few days. They said the General Administration Department or School Education Department would issue a formal order regarding the appointment.

It is worth to mention here that search committee constituted by the J&K government had prepared a panel of three names for the post of chairman BOSE.

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Talking to media, he said the Social Welfare Department is implementing key projects in the district, including Palash and Parisha special schools. He said recent upgrades addressed needs related to education, sports, and health camps. He described the Abhinandan School as a major and special project for Srinagar.

Labroo said all line departments are working in coordination to ensure timely completion. These include R and B, power, water, revenue, police, planning, and social welfare departments. He said the project deadline is 2027, but efforts are on to complete it before time with full focus on quality.

Talking about priorities for 2026, the Deputy Commissioner said focus will remain on completing all sanctioned projects in Srinagar. He said projects with approved funds should not stop midway. He stressed last mile connectivity, completion of infrastructure works, traffic decongestion, and optimal use of land without encroachments.

Labroo also expressed concern over rising fire incidents in Srinagar city. He urged people to follow safety advisories issued by the administration. He asked residents to get electrical appliances audited and ensure that electrical load matches usage.

He cautioned against careless use of electrical equipment and warned that keeping dry grass near homes increases fire risk. He appealed to the public to immediately inform authorities in case of any incident so that fire and emergency teams can respond quickly.(KNS)

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The Lieutenant Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the University, emphasised that higher education institutions must focus on innovation, employability and entrepreneurship, while ensuring that academic initiatives are aligned with the regional and national developmental needs. He advised the University to strengthen integrated and professional programmes to meet the emerging academic and industry demands.

The University Council, which met under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, accorded in-principle approval to several significant academic and administrative proposals. It reviewed and confirmed key reforms in line with the National Education Policy (NEP)–2020, including adoption of the new undergraduate curriculum framework, introduction of new academic programmes and revision of course structures to enhance flexibility and employability.

The Council approved the introduction of new programmes such as the Four-Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), M.A. Education, Masters in Performing Arts, PG Geography and Cyber Security at the PG level, along with new minor, skill and value-added courses across constituent colleges. Student-centric measures such as award of additional credits for sports and cultural activities, revised credit norms for MOOCs and inclusive examination and admission policies were also confirmed.

The Lieutenant Governor appreciated the University’s reform initiatives and emphasized the need to strengthen academic quality, student welfare and institutional governance. He instructed the University to ensure implementation of the e-office system before the end of June, 2026 and to conduct the University Council meetings after every six months.

The Lieutenant Governor called for increased students’ participation in the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect programme. He also issued directions for encouraging active engagement of students in Nasha Mukt Bharat and Nasha Mukt J&K campaigns.

Prof. K. S. Chandrasekar, Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu, made a detailed presentation on the University’s administrative, academic, financial, examination and evaluation reforms, student enrolment status and various academic collaborations in research and education.

The meeting was attended by Vice Chancellor University of Kashmir, Prof Nilofer Khan; Vice-Chancellor, Cluster University Srinagar, Prof. Mohammad Mobin; Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shantmanu; Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Provost, SGT University, Prof. Madan Mohan Chaturvedi; Registrar, Cluster University of Jammu, Ankur Mahajan, other Council members and senior officials.

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In his convocation address, the Lieutenant Governor spoke about the imperative of shifting from outdated, rote learning system to more modern and skill-based learning approaches to meet the demands of an evolving world.

“Our endeavour should be reduction in curriculum load and development of adaptable skills for future jobs.

Even if a single student of any higher education institution is unemployed or not setting up his or her enterprise, then it clearly means that the educational institution and its teachers have not done their work honestly,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor called upon the students to create new paths in life, give new direction to life, explore new aspects and suggest new ways for the prosperity of the nation.

“To achieve the goal of a developed India by 2047, every student, every educational institution will have to fulfil its responsibility because the future and its development will be based on the knowledge economy,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor gave five solutions to keep pace with technological change and the demands of the 21st-century workforces.

“Integrate artificial intelligence into teaching, learning and university operations and adopt new technological tools on a priority basis. Shift from rote learning to a lifelong, flexible and skill-focused learning model. Develop strong partnerships with industry and other institutions. The focus must be on experiential learning. Humanities students, in particular, need to understand that in a world dominated by artificial intelligence, the importance of things that machines cannot provide will increase. Focus should be on innovation, research, and social service, cutting-edge research and to offer solutions to local problems,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the responsibility of the teaching community to study and analyse the impact of rapid advancements in science, humanities, and technology on human civilization. He stressed that classroom methodologies must evolve to synchronize with these shifts, ensuring they drive both economic development and social progress.

“Classroom and our teachings must equip students to build better lives, foster inclusive development and create more enlightened society,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor lauded Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University for its distinguished contributions to India’s educational landscape and its steadfast commitment to public welfare.

He also extended his felicitations to the women students for their exceptional academic achievements and for setting new benchmarks of excellence.

The Lieutenant Governor entrusted upon Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University to provide scientific solutions for the challenges being faced by the UT of Jammu Kashmir.

In light of recent devastating natural calamities, the Lieutenant Governor urged the university to prioritize research into advanced early-warning systems for cloudbursts, landslides, and floods. He further emphasized the importance of sustainable infrastructure, and called for dedicated research on the recycling and reuse of road and construction materials.

The Lieutenant Governor asked the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University to redesign the courses for Dogri and Vedic studies to make these subjects more engaging and contemporary to attract more students. He also directed for formulating a comprehensive strategy for the swift completion of the languishing indoor stadium.

The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the pivotal role of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in the relief and rehabilitation of families affected by recent natural calamities. He praised the Board’s ongoing commitment to cultural preservation through its support to institutions dedicated to Sanskrit and Vedic education.

He informed that the Shrine Board has procured products worth Rs 22 crore from local Self-Help Groups in Reasi and adjoining areas. The Lieutenant Governor stated that he has directed the CEO of the Shrine Board to maximize procurement from local residents to support their livelihoods.

The Lieutenant Governor further informed that the Shrine Board has undertaken the construction of the Shankaracharya Temple along with five other temples in the district, while an International Museum of the Goddess is set to be established in Katra.

“The construction of helipads at Katra and Shiv Khori is entering its final phase. I am hopeful that the devotees will be able to avail heli-services from Katra to the Shiv Khori Shrine during the upcoming Maha Shivratri”, the Lieutenant Governor said.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated ‘High-End Computing AI and Deep Learning Lab’ and ‘Accommodation for Married Scholars’.

During the convocation, 821 degrees were awarded including 228 Masters, 26 Doctorates, and 567 Undergraduate degrees. Medals were also conferred to 25 (07 Male and 18 Female) meritorious students. A total of 10 students (04 Male and 06 Female) received Infosys Foundation Prize for Excellence, while Certificate of Distinction were awarded to 11 students.

Prof. (Dr.) Pragati Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University presented the University report on the occasion.

Prof. T.G Sitharam, former Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE); Dr. Ashok Bhan and Gunjan Rana, Members, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Shantmanu, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Vice Chancellors of various universities, Heads of Departments, faculty and students attended the convocation ceremony.

Saraf Singh Nag, Chairman, District Development Council Reasi; Baldev Raj Sharma, Member of Legislative Assembly, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Sachin Kumar Vaishya, CEO Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Nidhi Malik, Deputy Commissioner Reasi and senior officials were also present.

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The move is aimed at curbing impersonation and other malpractices by ensuring real-time identity verification of candidates at multiple stages of the examination process, officials said.

“They will be implementing a facial recognition system during the examination and live photography during the filing of the application,” Secretary of Higher Education Vineet Joshi said during a media interaction.

“This will be implemented from January, from JEE (Mains),” he added.

Facial biometric verification confirms a person’s identity by analysing unique facial features, such as the distance between the eyes or the shape of the nose, to create a digital template for comparison with stored data, often using AI for analysis.

Meanwhile, a real-time photo capture via webcam or phone is used during online application or exam processes to prevent impersonation.

Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2026, conducted by NTA, is scheduled from January 21 to 30, 2026.

Established in 2017, NTA conducts major entrance examinations, including the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main for engineering; the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) for medicine; and the CUET for general Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes in central universities.

These measures are part of the recommendation by the Radhakrishnan Committee, which was constituted following widespread reports of malpractices in the NEET-UG exam, 2024.

The government-appointed committee has proposed a significant overhaul of India’s entrance exam system, with a focus on digitalisation, security, and streamlining processes.

The seven-member panel, led by former ISRO Chief R. Radhakrishnan, outlined a two-phase plan for reform: Immediate/Short-Term, like restructuring of NTA and Multi-level biometric verification (registration, centre, counselling) and Phase 2 (Long-Term), including”Digi-Exam” Platform: Implement biometric-based digital exams, similar to DigiYatra.

To further prevent exam breaches, the committee proposes multi-level biometric verification across registration, test centres, counselling, and admissions. This comprehensive approach aims to create a more secure and tamper-proof testing environment.

The post NTA to introduce facial biometric checks, live photography across entrance exams from 2026 appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

As per an order issued by the Higher Education Department as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, Government Degree Colleges falling under the Winter Zone in both Kashmir Division and Jammu Division will observe winter vacations from December 24, 2025, to February 14, 2026.

Meanwhile, Government Degree Colleges of the Jammu Division falling under the Summer Zone will remain closed for winter vacations from January 1, 2026, to January 10, 2026.

The order has been issued in the interest of administration and will be applicable to all Government Degree Colleges in the respective zones. The directions have been issued with the approval of the competent authority.

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In a notice issued by FFRC Chairperson Justice Sunil Hali, the committee said it had received complaints that several schools were imposing late fees in violation of its earlier circular issued in 2023. The circular clearly states that no late fee can be charged for a period of three months from the date the fee becomes due.

The FFRC clarified that schools cannot impose any late fee if students fail to deposit their monthly fee by the 15th of the following month. However, if the fee remains unpaid even after the expiry of three months from the due date, a late fee of ₹30 per month may be charged from the date the fee became due.

The committee also advised parents to deposit school fees on time to avoid inconvenience to educational institutions.

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