Prices swung wildly after the “egg scare”, but deregulation now shields sellers, not buyers.

Over the past month, since egg-scare caught Kashmir following the ‘Eggoz’ brand egg controversy, prices have undergone a roller coaster of change.

Back on Kashmiri plates, eggs have become at least 20 percent costlier in just a month, and there is no way consumers can complain about it, thanks to the deregulation of commodity prices in 2023.

All poultry eggs, irrespective of variety and quantity, used to cost at least 30 percent cheaper just a month ago.

When an egg brand ‘Eggoz’ hit the headlines for alleged contaminations and health concerns, consumers in Kashmir went into a frenzy.

Egg trays were returned to local stores, while many discarded their egg trays in panic.

Prices dropped drastically, a tray selling for Rs 100 in some areas.

However, soon after, when it was reiterated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that eggs continue to remain safe, consumers turned to their eggs again as a source of affordable protein in their diets.

Soon, the cost of eggs surged dramatically.

Individual eggs are selling for Rs 8 to Rs 11 per piece.

There has been a 25 to 40 percent increase in some areas.

Kashmir consumers expect the government to intervene and control the prices of eggs.

Joint Controller, Legal Metrology, Kashmir, Tanveer Ahmad, when asked why the prices of eggs cannot be regulated by the administration, said that as per an SO issued in 2023, prices of essential commodities like meat, meat products, fish, fish products, milk, milk products, poultry, and eggs have been decontrolled.

“There is a clear-cut order that no authority will fix the price of any essential commodity. Therefore, the prices of eggs are not under our control,” he said.

He was referring to SO 300 issued by the J&K government on June 1, 2023.

Currently, a box of eggs with seven egg trays costs anywhere between Rs 1500 and Rs 1700.

An egg tray, with 30 eggs, the regular farm white egg variety, can cost Rs 200 to Rs 280.

The organic eggs cost Rs 200 to Rs 300 per dozen.

The egg prices also vary by the area in which they are sold.

Eggs cost cheaper in old parts of the city, in market hubs like Maharaj Bazaar, Safa Kadal, and Batamaloo, compared to Rawalpora, Nishat, and other areas.

In villages, prices vary by distance from town, customarily increasing as the distance increases. In Jammu, an egg tray costs anywhere between Rs 190 and Rs 250.

Over the past week, egg prices have seen a downward trend in Jammu, while the Kashmir division is recording a spike.

A consumer, Danish Ahmad, told Greater Kashmir that he buys eggs in bulk for the family, as his parents have been advised a high-protein diet, while he himself is also a gym trainer.

“Compared to last year, I have to pay Rs 200 extra per box now. Why is no one checking the market?” he said.

Many critics point to a lack of market regulation in winters in Kashmir, as well as disruption in the supply of eggs due to highway impediments.

Why Govt can’t fix egg, meat, poultry prices

In June 2023, the J&K government issued a notification (S O 300, dated June 1, 2023) that revoked the J&K Mutton (Licensing and Control) Order, 1973, that had been issued vide SRO-646 dated December 19, 1973.

This order was prompted by a clarification from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Government of India). The clarification declared that the foundational notification S O 145(E) dated February 15, 1990, which gave price regulation powers to J&K, was no longer valid.

It directed all relevant authorities, including the Directorates of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs J&K to refrain from issuing or enforcing any price notifications or controls on livestock products.

This effectively deregulated prices for key livestock essentials such as mutton, poultry, and eggs.

Without the legal authority, there is no framework to fix maximum retail prices or penalise overcharging.

It is impossible for the government or consumer protection bodies to cap escalating costs. The prices are determined solely by market forces of supply, demand, transportation costs, seasonal factors, and trader discretion.

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The PMDP, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 7, 2015, was conceived as a comprehensive reconstruction and development plan for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with an overall financial outlay of Rs 80,068 crore.

The package was structured around five pillars – humanitarian relief, crisis management, social infrastructure, development projects and economic infrastructure – aimed at addressing long-standing developmental gaps and post-crisis needs.

Originally comprising 63 projects, the PMDP was rationalised after the reorganisation of the erstwhile state into Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh in August 2019.

As a result, 53 projects remained applicable to J&K.

According to official data up to November 2025 accessed by Greater Kashmir, 29 projects have been fully completed, including nine implemented by the Government of India and 20 by the J&K government.

In addition, 14 projects – four central and 10 UT-level – have been declared substantially completed.

Together, this places 43 out of 53 projects, or 81.13 percent, in the completed or near-completion category.

“Financial progress under the PMDP has also been described as robust. Of the Rs 56,946.58 crore released so far for the 53 projects, an amount of Rs 54,986.17 crore has been spent, translating into a utilisation rate of 96.56 percent of the released funds. The overall expenditure stands at nearly 80 percent of the total sanctioned cost,” the data reveals.

A senior official from the Planning Department said that sustained monitoring and coordination had played a key role in maintaining momentum despite multiple challenges.

“Large infrastructure projects inevitably faced hurdles such as land acquisition, forest clearances, shifting of utilities and ongoing legal proceedings. These issues initially slowed execution, but focused intervention and inter-departmental coordination helped clear most bottlenecks,” the official said.

As per the Planning Department’s summary, central sector projects under the PMDP had an original outlay of Rs 26,971 crore, while state projects accounted for Rs 31,513.63 crore. Subsequent revisions, particularly in major road and infrastructure works, pushed the combined sanctioned cost to Rs 68,905.39 crore.

Expenditure against sanctioned cost has reached 83.73 percent for central projects and 73.70 percent for UT projects.

Officials said utilisation against funds released is close to full for central projects at 99.74 percent, while J&K projects have recorded over 91 percent utilisation, reflecting improved execution capacity and financial discipline.

With most projects either completed or nearing completion, the Planning Department said the focus has now shifted to expediting the remaining works and ensuring that the intended economic and social benefits of the PMDP are fully realised across J&K.

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The Union Power Minister, who was on a two-day visit to J&K for inspection of power projects in Reasi, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts, stated this while responding to media queries in Kishtwar about Pakistan’s objections to different hydro-electric projects in J&K.

“The Prime Minister has already given a clear message to Pakistan that the Indus Water Treaty has been kept in abeyance and now its objections will not be acknowledged. The Prime Minister has made it clear that the water of the Chenab and other rivers will be used to serve the interests of our country as much as possible. We don’t have any other concern (vis-à-vis Pakistan’s objections),” Khattar said.

In the same breath, he said, “Whether it is related to power generation or use of water for irrigation or other purposes, for us, the interests of our country, its people, and the farmers will reign supreme, and we will give precedence to that, as per our requirements.”

Regarding the Ratle power project controversy that “some anti-national people” were employed there, the Union Power Minister said that he had not received any complaint in writing so far on that account. “We will take cognisance if we get it (complaint in writing),” he stated.

With regard to power projects in J&K, Khattar asserted that the issues plaguing all the projects were resolved, and they (projects) were progressing smoothly.

Stating that it was the first visit by the Union Power Minister after putting the IWT in abeyance, he said that work on Ratle, Salal, and Sawalkote projects was being brought on track.

“Directions have been issued to complete them in time. Their completion will benefit J&K and the entire country with the addition to the power generation,” the Union Power Minister said.

Meanwhile, following inspection of three projects of Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPP) Limited, Khattar also issued directions to commission the Pakal Dul and Kiru projects by December 2026 and the Kwar project by March 2028.

Earlier today, he inspected three projects of Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPP) Limited, namely Pakal Dul (1000 MW), Kiru (624 MW), and Kwar (540 MW). He also held a review meeting with the project heads and contractors.

The CMD, NHPC, briefed Khattar in detail on various aspects of the three under-construction projects.

The Union Minister also interacted with local residents and workers at various work sites and patiently listened to their issues. After reviewing all the works, the Minister appreciated the personnel and workers for working under challenging conditions and wished them well.

Khattar, who concluded his two-day visit to J&K on Monday, January 5, 2026, had reviewed the Salal, Sawalkot, and Ratle projects on Sunday.

Late Sunday evening, the Minister also inspected NHPC’s Dulhasti Power Station at Kishtwar.

At Dulhasti Power Station, he was received by Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director (Projects), and Ramesh Mukhiya, Managing Director, CVPP, and other officials of NHPC and CVPP.

The post IWT in Abeyance: Pakistan already given message by PM: Union Power Minister Manohar Lal appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The ski resort, which received fresh snowfall on Sunday afternoon, continued to draw snow enthusiasts as conditions improved for skiing.

A brief spell of light snowfall was also witnessed at Sonamarg at around 9 pm, but it didn’t accumulate. Temperatures across the region remained below freezing, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing cold spell.

While night temperatures tumbled to minus 8.8 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg, followed by Shopian at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius and Pahalgam at minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius.

Budgam dipped to minus 3.5 degrees Celsius and Awantipora to minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.

Pulwama recorded a minimum of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, Anantnag minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, and Pampore minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, while north Kashmir areas Kupwara and Baramulla recorded minus 1.8 degrees Celsius and minus 0.7 degrees Celsius.

Stakeholders said snow-related activities in Gulmarg have resumed following recent snowfall.

Director of the Gulmarg Adventure Academy, Azhar Fayaz Lone, said snow biking, ATV rides and snow sledge rides had become functional after fresh snowfall in the resort.

“Basic ski and snowboard courses have also been launched,” he said.

Lone said that the Kangdoori area received about 1.5 feet of snow on Monday.

“The snowfall has led to a rise in tourist arrivals, with a steady rush of visitors since Christmas,” he said.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, conditions on Tuesday are expected to remain mostly cloudy, with chances of light snow at isolated higher elevations in north and central Kashmir.

From January 7 to January 15, the weather is likely to be partly cloudy, with no major weather system forecast during the period, allowing tourist and outdoor activities to continue, the officials said.

The prolonged cold has pushed up demand for heating and electricity across the Valley, while officials said the sub-zero temperatures were also helping sustain snow cover at tourist destinations and higher reaches.

M M Parvaiz reports from Ramban

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained open for two-way traffic on Monday.

Traffic authorities said that, subject to fair weather and satisfactory road conditions, Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles would continue to be allowed from both directions on Tuesday.

Officials said that LMVs and heavy vehicles were permitted to move throughout the day in both directions.

However, traffic movement remained slow at several locations due to single-lane stretches and vehicle breakdowns.

Traffic congestion was reported at Balinalla, Dewal, Nashri-Dalwas, and along the Marog-Kishtwari Pather stretch.

Engineers of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) said that road repair and construction work is underway at several locations between Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal sectors.

Authorities have advised travellers to check the latest traffic updates from Traffic Control Units (TCUs) at Srinagar, Ramban, and Jammu, and follow official advisories issued through the social media platforms of the J&K Traffic Police before commencing their journey.

Passengers were urged to prefer daytime travel and avoid night journeys, especially on vulnerable stretches of the highway.

Officials cautioned that the movement of heavy vehicles between the Nashri and Navyug tunnels during night hours could cause inconvenience and lead to further congestion.

Drivers were also advised to maintain lane discipline, as overtaking and wrong-lane driving could trigger traffic jams and pose serious safety risks.

Meanwhile, the Kishtwar-Sinthan Top-Anantnag National Highway remained closed due to the accumulation of snow along the route.

Authorities said that restoration work would begin once weather conditions improve in the area.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), National Highway, Ramban, Raja Adil Hamid told Greater Kashmir that Dense Bitumen Macadam (DBM) work and traffic regulation were being carried out simultaneously at Digdool.

Sumit Bhargav reports from Rajouri

The Mughal Road was once again closed for traffic just a day after it was restored for the movement of vehicles.

Earlier, the road connecting Rajouri and Poonch districts of Pir Panjal region with Shopian district of Kashmir got closed for traffic on Thursday and was restored on Sunday morning, with authorities notifying a time slot of 4 hours for the movement of vehicles.

However, on Monday afternoon, the road again got closed.

SSP Traffic, Jammu Rural, Farooq Qaiser said that in view of fresh snowfall at Pir Ki Gali, all kinds of traffic on the Mughal Road are hereby stopped with immediate effect.

“The restriction will remain in force till further notice,” he said.

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PIB said India’s approach to Braille is anchored in a rights-based ecosystem led by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and reinforced through education reforms, assistive schemes, and digital platforms. Government initiatives such as the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and Sugamya Pustakalaya align closely with the United Nations’ disability inclusion framework, reflecting India’s commitment to the principle of “leaving no one behind”.

Observed annually on January 4, World Braille Day highlights Braille not merely as a reading system, but as a gateway to education, dignity and social inclusion. PIB noted that while Braille was introduced in India in 1887, a major milestone came in 1951 with the adoption of Bharati Braille as a single national standard for Indian languages. According to the 2011 Census, India has over 50 lakh persons with visual impairment, many of whom face barriers in accessing education, healthcare and employment. In response, Braille has been embedded into India’s policy and institutional framework as both a literacy tool and a public accessibility norm.

Braille is a tactile reading and writing system based on a six-dot cell arranged in two columns. Different combinations of raised dots represent letters, numbers and symbols, enabling people who are blind or have low vision to read through touch. Named after its inventor Louis Braille, the system is not a language but a code that can be applied across multiple languages.

PIB highlighted that the RPwD Act, 2016 provides the legal backbone for Braille access in India. The Act mandates inclusive education, requires government-funded or recognised institutions to ensure accessible infrastructure, and emphasises education in appropriate modes of communication, including Braille. It also provides for free learning materials and assistive devices for students with benchmark disabilities up to the age of 18.

The National Education Policy 2020 further integrates Braille into mainstream education by calling for accessible teaching-learning materials, including Braille textbooks, and prioritising the participation of children with disabilities. NCERT, under NEP 2020, is responsible for enabling the production of Braille and other accessible-format textbooks.

The government recognises Bharati Braille as the unified Braille script for Indian languages. PIB said that on January 4, 2025, a Standard Bharati Braille Code with Unicode mapping was published under the aegis of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD). The standard, adopted after public consultation, enables digital compatibility, including use in screen readers, Braille displays and software applications.

Building on this, NIEPVD has validated revised Bharati Braille tables for technological integration and prepared Draft Bharati Braille 2.1, which is being placed in the public domain on World Braille Day 2026 for stakeholder feedback. The institute is also conducting regional-language Braille training programmes, including in Tamil, Malayalam and Odia.

PIB said the Accessible India Campaign, launched in 2015, has taken a holistic approach to accessibility by focusing on built environments, transport systems and information and communication technologies. This includes Braille signage at public buildings and railway stations, and national website accessibility guidelines.

In higher education, structured accessibility practices are being strengthened through initiatives such as Sugamya Pustakalaya, a digital library offering books in accessible and digital Braille formats. The platform, developed through collaboration between NIEPVD, Tata Consultancy Services and the Daisy Forum of India, embeds accessible formats into institutional workflows rather than limiting them to disability offices.

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Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra said one student was diagnosed with jaundice after returning to the residential school, located in Gurujang, from Christmas vacation.

Later, several other students tested positive, he said.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said the operatives at the GDNL terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos, recovered the drugs on Friday, according to Nigerian web portal Punch.  “Those detained in connection with the discovery of the 31.5 kg cocaine in hatch three of the ship, which originated from the Marshall Islands, include the master of the vessel, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and 21 other crew members,” the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday, the report said.

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The commissioning ceremony was held in Goa. With over 60 per cent indigenous content, Samudra Pratap is India’s first indigenously designed pollution control vessel and the largest ship in the Indian Coast Guard fleet so far.

The induction of the vessel is expected to significantly enhance the Coast Guard’s capabilities in pollution response, fire-fighting, maritime safety, environmental protection, and long-range surveillance across India’s maritime zones. Describing the ship as a symbol of India’s mature defence industrial ecosystem, Rajnath Singh said efforts are underway to raise indigenous content in warships to 90 per cent. He noted that although designed primarily for pollution control, the multi-role platform would also strengthen coastal patrols and maritime security due to its integrated capabilities.

The Defence Minister praised the Coast Guard’s multidimensional role, ranging from marine pollution response and search-and-rescue operations to maritime law enforcement. He said the force’s growing strength sends a clear message to adversaries against any misadventure along India’s maritime borders. Equipped with advanced pollution detection systems, dedicated response boats, modern fire-fighting equipment and a helicopter hangar, Samudra Pratap is designed to operate effectively even in rough sea conditions. Rajnath Singh said the vessel would help prevent damage to fragile marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves and fisheries, while supporting the sustainability of coastal communities and the blue economy. Calling marine environmental protection both a strategic necessity and a moral responsibility, the Defence Minister said the commissioning of Samudra Pratap aligns with India’s broader maritime vision of peace, stability and environmental responsibility in the Indo-Pacific region. He added that India has consistently demonstrated its role as a responsible maritime power amid global maritime uncertainty.mRajnath Singh reiterated the government’s commitment to modernising the Coast Guard, emphasising the need for it to evolve into a proactive, intelligence-driven and integration-centric force. He also highlighted the importance of developing specialised career streams in areas such as maritime law enforcement, environmental protection and maritime cyber security. In a first for the Coast Guard, Samudra Pratap will have two women officers on board. Applauding the move towards a more inclusive and gender-neutral force, the Defence Minister said women officers are increasingly serving in frontline operational roles across the ICG.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Director General Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani, and senior officials from the Centre and the state attended the ceremony. Samudra Pratap, meaning “Majesty of the Seas”, has a displacement of 4,170 tonnes, a length of 114.5 metres and a top speed exceeding 22 knots. The vessel will be based at Kochi under the operational control of the Coast Guard Region (West).

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The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi”, linking the cooperative movement with public welfare and social development. Several Union Ministers, Ministers of State, senior officials from the Ministries of Cooperation, Women and Child Development, and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, along with NDDB Chairman Dr Meenesh Shah and other dignitaries, will attend the conclave.

During the event, Amit Shah will launch the third phase of the Giftmilk Programme under the CSR initiative of SAIL’s Bhilai Steel Plant, benefiting around 4,000 government school children in mining areas of Chhattisgarh through the supply of vitamin A- and D-fortified flavoured milk via the Chhattisgarh Milk Federation. He will also launch the Shishu Sanjeevani Programme under IDBI Bank’s CSR initiative, providing fortified nutritional supplements to about 3,000 children at anganwadi centres in rural Nagpur, Maharashtra. The conclave will bring together representatives from government ministries, public and private sector companies, dairy cooperatives, research institutions and beneficiary organisations to explore collaborative and sustainable approaches to tackling child malnutrition. Technical sessions will focus on public health interventions and corporate–cooperative collaboration for nutrition security, with around 1200 participants expected to attend.

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China’s foreign ministry said Washington’s actions were a “clear violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations,” adding that Beijing is closely monitoring the security situation in Venezuela, BBC reported.

It urged the US to “cease efforts to subvert the Venezuelan government” and resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation, reiterating similar appeals made over the weekend. Iran described the detention as an abduction. “It’s nothing to be proud of; it’s an illegal act,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei was quoted by AFP as saying, adding that “as the Venezuelan people have emphasised, their president must be released.” The statements come amid heightened tensions, with Iran itself recently facing warnings from US President Donald Trump over possible American intervention if peaceful protesters are killed.

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