KD News Desk

Srinagar: Authorities in Kashmir on Tuesday urged residents not to panic amid rumours circulating on social media about a possible lockdown, saying no such decision has been taken so far.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg said the administration has not announced any lockdown and asked the public to rely only on official communication.

“There is no decision regarding a lockdown at this point. If any such step is taken, it will be officially communicated by the government,” Garg said, dismissing speculation that had triggered concern among residents in several parts of the Valley.

The clarification comes after reports and online messages sparked anxiety among people, leading to discussions about possible restrictions and fears of disruption to daily life.

Officials said the situation is being closely monitored by the authorities at multiple levels. According to the administration, necessary assessments are underway and relevant agencies remain alert to any developments.

Garg said the public should avoid spreading or believing unverified information, stressing that misinformation can create unnecessary panic and confusion.

He also appealed to residents not to engage in panic buying, assuring that the supply of essential commodities is stable and there is no immediate cause for concern.

“The administration is maintaining adequate stocks of essential items and there is no need for people to rush to markets,” he said.

Authorities reiterated that people should depend only on official government updates and verified sources for information related to any potential restrictions or administrative decisions.

The administration warned that rumours and misleading information circulating on social media could create unnecessary alarm and disrupt normal public life, urging citizens to remain calm and cooperate with authorities.

New Delhi: In continuation of regular inter-ministerial interactions on the situation in West Asia, senior officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and External Affairs engaged with the media at the National Media Centre. The briefing provided an updated overview of the evolving developments, covering key aspects such as fuel supply and availability, maritime operations in the region, and ongoing support measures for Indian nationals. Officials also outlined the steps being taken to maintain stability and ensure uninterrupted functioning across these sectors.

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

An update on the fuel supply situation, along with measures being undertaken to maintain uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG in light of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, was provided during the briefing by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The Ministry noted:

Crude and Refineries

· All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, and sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained.

· Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption.

Retail Outlets

· All retail outlets are operating normally across the country.

· Panic buying was reported in some areas due to rumours, resulting in unusually high sales and heavy crowding at retail outlets. However, adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available at all petrol pumps.

· The Government has reiterated its advice to the public not to believe rumours.

Natural Gas

· Priority allocation continues with 100% supply to Domestic PNG and CNG transport, while supply to industrial and commercial consumers connected to the grid is being maintained at around 80% of average consumption.

· City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities have been advised to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels and canteens.

· CGD companies including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL are offering incentives for domestic and commercial PNG connections.

· The Government of India has requested States/UTs and Central Ministries to expedite approvals required for expansion of CGD networks.

· The Government of India vide letter dated 18.03.2026 has offered additional 10 % allocation of commercial LPG to States/UTs linked to transition from LPG to PNG.

· Some States have come up with policies for faster Right of User/Right of Way (RoU/RoW) permission, longer working hours and also rationalization of RoU/RoW charges. E.g., DDA in Delhi has waived off road restoration charges and also permitted work for laying new PNG pipelines on 24×7 basis.

· Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) has advised its offices to dispose of CGD applications on priority within 10 days of receipt.

· Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) vide its order dated 23.03.2026 has directed CGD entities to prioritise PNG connections for residential schools, colleges, hostels, community kitchens and anganwadi kitchens within five days, wherever feasible.

· The Government of India vide Gazette dated 24.03.2026 has notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The Order provides a streamlined and time-bound framework for laying and expanding pipelines across the country, addressing delays in approvals and access to land, and enabling faster development of natural gas infrastructure, including in residential areas. It is expected to accelerate PNG network growth, enhance last-mile connectivity, and support the transition to cleaner fuels, thereby strengthening energy security and advancing India’s gas-based economy.

· CGD entities reported 9,046 PNG connections (new and gas-in) across 110 geographical areas yesterday.

LPG

· Supply of LPG continues to be affected due to the prevailing geopolitical situation.

· No dry-outs have been reported at LPG distributorships.

· Delivery of domestic LPG cylinders continues as normal.

· The Government had already restored partial commercial LPG supply (20%) to consumers. Further, Government of India vide letter dated 18.03.2026 proposed an additional 10% allocation linked to PNG expansion reforms.

· Govt. of India vide letter dated 21.03.2026 has allowed another 20% allocation of commercial LPG to States, which would take overall allocation to 50% (incl. 10% allocation based on ease of doing reforms for PNG expansion). This additional 20% allocation shall be given on priority to sectors like restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing/dairy, subsidised canteens/outlets run by State Govt. or local bodies for food, community kitchens, 5 Kg FTL for migrant labourers.

· 26 States/UTs have issued allocation orders for non-domestic LPG, while PSU Oil Marketing Companies are supplying in the remaining areas. Around 22,268 MT of commercial LPG has been uplifted since 14 March 2026.

Kerosene

· An additional allocation of 48,000 KL of kerosene has been made to all States/UTs over and above the regular allocation. States/UTs have been requested to identify district-level distribution points.

· 16 States/UTs have issued SKO allocation orders, while Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have indicated no requirement. 16 States/UTs are yet to issue allocation orders.

Role of State Governments / UTs

· Under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and LPG Control Order, 2000, State Governments are empowered to act against hoarding and black marketing and play a primary role in regulating supply of petrol, diesel and LPG.

· The Government of India vide letters dated 13.03.2026 and 18.03.2026 has requested all States/UTs:

Ø To maintain strict vigilance to curb hoarding, black marketing and diversion of domestic LPG.

Ø To take stringent action under relevant legal provisions.

Ø To evolve appropriate distribution mechanisms for commercial LPG.

Ø To issue public advisories to prevent panic buying and promote judicious usage.

· District Collectors and Food and Civil Supplies officials are conducting regular enforcement actions on a daily basis.

· Most States/UTs have set up control rooms and District Monitoring Committees, while the remaining have been requested to operationalise these mechanisms at the earliest.

· States/UTs have also been advised to conduct daily press briefings to ensure dissemination of accurate information.

Enforcement action

· Enforcement drives are being carried out across States/UTs to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. More than 2,700 raids have been conducted and about 2,000 cylinders seized in States including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Chhattisgarh etc. yesterday.

· PSU Oil Marketing Companies conducted over 1,700 surprise inspections at retail outlets and LPG distributorships across the country.

· Till now more than 650 FIRs have been registered and 155 people have been arrested so far.

Other Government Measures

· The Government continues to accord highest priority to Domestic LPG and PNG supply, along with essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.

· Measures include enhanced refinery production, revision of booking intervals from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas, and prioritised allocation of supplies.

· Alternate fuels such as kerosene and coal are being promoted to ease LPG demand.

· Ministry of Coal has already issued order to Coal India and Singareni Coallieries to allot higher quantities to States for distributing coal to small, medium and other consumers.

· States have been advised to facilitate new PNG connections for domestic and commercial consumers.

Public Advisory

· The Government is making all efforts to ensure availability of petrol, diesel and LPG, and citizens are advised to avoid panic purchases.

· Citizens are advised to rely only on official sources and not believe rumours.

· For LPG, citizens are requested to Use Digital Mode for bookings and avoid visiting LPG distributors

· Citizens are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooktops.

· All citizens are requested to conserve energy in their daily usage.

Maritime Safety and Shipping Operations

An update on the prevailing maritime situation in the Persian Gulf and the measures being taken to ensure the safety and security of Indian vessels and crew was shared by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The Ministry stated that:

· All Indian seafarers currently present in the region are safe and no shipping incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours.

· 20 Indian-flagged vessels with around 540 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region. The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) continues close monitoring in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions.

· The DG Shipping Control Room remains operational 24×7 and has handled 4,108 phone calls and 7,909 emails since activation from seafarers, their families and maritime stakeholders, including 187 calls and 462 emails in the past 24 hours.

· DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of more than 635 Indian seafarers so far, including 50 in the past 24 hours, from airports and various regional locations.

· India’s maritime sector continues to operate smoothly with no congestion reported across ports, as confirmed by State Maritime Boards including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Keralam, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.

· Ports are closely monitoring vessel movements and cargo operations, with additional space already created at key ports such as Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), Visakhapatnam Port, Mundra, Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), Cochin Port Authority (CoPA), Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) and Kamarajar Port Limited (KPL) to ensure smooth cargo handling.

· Further, Mundra Port has provided additional facilitation measures including 15 days of free storage for Middle East-bound export containers, 80% waiver on reefer plug-in charges, waiver of lift-on/lift-off charges, shutout charges and transportation charges, along with 15 days of free storage for back-to-town containers.

· The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways continues to closely monitor shipping movements, port operations, safety of Indian seafarers and continuity of maritime trade in view of the evolving situation in West Asia.

Safety of Indian Nationals in the Region

Updates on recent developments in the region, including ongoing assistance and outreach being extended through Indian Missions, were shared during the briefing. It was informed that:

· The Prime Minister received a call from the President of the United States of America, H.E. Mr. Donald Trump, during which both leaders exchanged views on the evolving situation in West Asia. The Prime Minister reiterated that India supports de-escalation and early restoration of peace.

· The Prime Minister underlined the importance of ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible, noting its critical importance for global peace, stability and economic well-being. Both leaders agreed to remain in touch regarding ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.

· The Prime Minister also received a call from the President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during which both leaders discussed the evolving situation in West Asia, particularly disruptions impacting global energy security.

· Both leaders reiterated the importance of keeping shipping lines open and secure in the interest of global trade and stability, and reviewed progress on initiatives aimed at strengthening India-Sri Lanka energy cooperation and regional security.

· The Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to work closely with Sri Lanka in addressing shared challenges in line with the Neighbourhood First policy and MAHASAGAR Vision.

· The External Affairs Minister met the Ambassador of Iran to India and discussed the ongoing situation in West Asia. The Minister conveyed appreciation for the support extended by Iran to Indian nationals in the country during the current situation.

· The Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Gulf and West Asia region, with the safety, security and well-being of the Indian community remaining the highest priority.

· The Ministry’s dedicated control room remains operational to address queries and provide support to Indian nationals and their families, with regular coordination being maintained with State Governments and Union Territories.

· Indian Missions and Posts in the region are functioning round the clock with 24×7 helplines, responding on a real-time basis and maintaining close engagement with Indian community organisations and local authorities.

· Missions are issuing regular advisories and are proactively assisting students, seafarers, stranded Indian nationals and short-term visitors with visa facilitation, consular services and logistical support.

· The overall flight situation continues to improve with additional flights operating from the region. Since Feb 28, around 4,26,000 passengers have returned from the region to India. During this period, a total of 2,149 flights, including scheduled and non-scheduled flights of Indian as well as foreign carriers, have operated from the region to India.

· In the UAE, airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled flights based on operational considerations, with around 80 flights expected to operate today from various airports to India.

· Flights continue to operate from Saudi Arabia and Oman to India.

· With Qatar airspace partially open, Qatar Airways is expected to operate around 9 non-scheduled commercial flights to India today.

· Kuwait and Bahrain airspaces remain closed. Special non-scheduled flights are being operated from Saudi Arabia by carriers such as Jazeera Airways and Gulf Air, facilitating travel of Indian nationals to India.

· Indian nationals in Iran continue to be assisted for travel to India via Armenia and Azerbaijan, with 1,043 individuals, including 717 students and and 326 Indian citizens have crossed out of Iran with our Mission’s assistance.

· Indian nationals in Israel are being facilitated to travel to India via Jordan.

· In view of restrictions in Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq, transit through Saudi Arabia continues to be facilitated for Indian nationals.

· The Ministry is also providing support for repatriation of mortal remains of Indian nationals. The mortal remains of an Indian national who passed away in Riyadh on 18th March have been brought back to India, and the Government remains in close contact with the family.

· Indian Missions in Oman, Iraq and the UAE are in touch with local authorities regarding missing and deceased Indian nationals and are facilitating early repatriation of mortal remains.

New Delhi : It has been a tradition for Akashvani stations to open their morning broadcast with its iconic signature tune followed by the two-stanza version of the National Song “Vande Mataram” (duration 65 seconds), since Independence.

In view of the Ministry of Home Affairs guideline dated 28^th January, 2026 on the National Song containing six stanzas, all stations of Akashvani will start broadcasting the new version of the Song with effect from 26^th March, 2026.  The new version has a duration of 3 minutes 10 seconds.

The initial version to be broadcast is sung by renowned Hindi Classical Vocalist Pt. Chandrashekhar Vaze in Raag Des.

Several other versions of the National Song are also being recorded to accommodate regional variety of musical instruments.  These versions will be adopted by Akashvani stations located in respective states.

Tauseef Ahmad

Srinagar, Mar 25: In view of the emerging situation in the Gulf region, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir has announced flexible measures for registration and academic continuity for the Spring Semester 2026, including the possibility of temporary online classes.

According to a notice issued by the university administration avilable with Kashmir Despatch, the decision has been taken as a precautionary step amid concerns that developments in the Gulf could affect certain essential support systems linked to academic functioning.

The university said that registration for the Spring Semester 2026, originally scheduled for March 23–24, will be conducted in a flexible mode. Students will have the option to complete their registration either physically at their respective faculties and colleges or through an online process. The last date for registration has been extended to March 27, 2026.

Authorities have directed the deans and associate deans of subject matter faculties and colleges to make necessary arrangements for facilitating online registration for students who choose the digital mode. They have also been asked to communicate relevant details to students, including the fee structure, account information for online fee submission, and the list of courses being offered during the semester.

The notice further stated that if the situation requires, teaching activities may be temporarily conducted in online mode to ensure academic continuity.

The schedule for online classes, if implemented, will be notified by the respective deans or associate deans at the faculty or college level.

Students have been advised to remain in regular contact with their faculties and to follow instructions issued by their respective colleges.

Vinod Bhat

New Delhi; As per Directorate of Enforcement (ED), till 28.02.2026, the Directorate has taken up around 257 cases related to cybercrime for investigation under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), resulting in identification of Proceeds of Crime (PoC) worth 35,925.58 crore rupees. The data regarding scale of cybercrime proceeds, State-wise is not maintained by ED.

There is an established mechanism for sharing/ dissemination of information between the Directorate of Enforcement and other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) through respective Nodal Officers. Under this mechanism, ED and LEAs share information including matters related to cybercrime. In addition, the Directorate shares information with other agencies under section 66(2) of PMLA, whenever, a contravention pertaining to the relevant agency is noticed during investigation under PMLA.

ED is also using SAHYOG, Samanvaya and Cyber Police Portal maintained by Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Further, the Directorate also use the Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) portal accessing the FIRs registered by various State Police related to Cybercrimes.

‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The States/UTs are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation, complaint reporting, recovery actions,victim support systems, prosecution of crimes including cyber fraudthrough their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). The Central Government supplements the initiatives of the States/UTs through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for capacity building of their LEAs.

To strengthen the mechanism to deal with cyber crimes including    detection and recovery of funds siphoned through digital and online fraud networksin a comprehensive and coordinated manner, the Central Government has taken steps which, inter-alia, include the following:

The Ministry of Home Affairs has set up the ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ (I4C)as an attached office to deal with all types of cyber crimes in the country, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

The ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ (NCRP) (https://cybercrime.gov.in)has been launched, as a part of the I4C, to enable public to report incidents pertaining to all types of cyber crimes, with special focus on cyber crimes against women and children. Cyber crime incidents reported on National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, their conversion into FIRs and subsequent action i.e. filing of chargesheets, arrest and resolution of complaints, thereon are handled by the State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies concerned as per the provisions of the law.

The ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System’ (CFCFRMS), under I4C, has been launched in year 2021 for immediate reporting of financial frauds and to stop siphoning off funds by the fraudsters. As per CFCFRMS operated by I4C, till 31.01.2026, financial amount of more than Rs. 8,690 Crore has been saved in more than 24.65 lakh complaints.  A toll-free Helpline number ‘1930’ has been operationalized to get assistance in lodging online cyber complaints.

A State of the Art, Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) has been established at I4C where representatives of major banks, Financial Intermediaries, Payment Aggregators, Telecom Service Providers, IT Intermediaries and representatives of States/UTs Law Enforcement Agency are working together for immediate action and seamless cooperation to tackle cybercrime.

A Suspect Registry of identifiers of cyber criminals has been launched by I4C on 10.09.2024 in collaboration with Banks/Financial Institutions. Till 31.01.2026, more than 23.05 lakh suspect identifier data received from Banks and 27.37 lakh Layer 1 mule accounts have been shared with the participating entities of Suspect Registry and declined transactions worth Rs. 9518.91 crores.

Samanvaya Platform has been made operational to serve as an Management Information System (MIS) platform, data repository and a coordination platform for LEAs for cybercrime data sharing and analytics. It provides analytics based interstate linkages of crimes and criminals, involved in cybercrime complaints in various States/UTs. The module ‘Pratibimb’ maps locations of criminals and crime infrastructure on a map to give visibility to jurisdictional officers. The module also facilitates seeking and receiving of techno-legal assistance by Law Enforcement Agencies from I4C and other SMEs. It has lead to arrest of more than 21,857 accused and more than 1,49,636 Cyber Investigation assistance request.

A comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued by the Central Government on 2nd January 2026. It provides a uniform, victim-centric framework for handling complaints through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS). The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for NCRP-CFCFRMS outlines a dedicated Coordination Mechanism to enhance collaboration, particularly with States and Union Territories, whose police agencies are integral stakeholders in the system.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways has approved two important rail infrastructure projects in Western Railway and Eastern Railway aimed at enhancing connectivity, easing congestion and improving operational efficiency. The projects include construction of a Rail Over Rail (RoR) flyover at Kosamba for connectivity to the Kosamba–Umrapada Gauge Conversion section in Gujarat and development of a new rail bypass at Bhagalpur in Bihar. The total sanctioned cost of the two projects is ₹647.58 crore.

Sanction of Rail-over-Rail Flyover at Kosamba – Umrapada GC Section (9.20 km), Western Railway

Indian Railways has approved the construction of a Rail-over-Rail (RoR) Flyover to provide seamless connectivity to the Kosamba – Umrapada Gauge Conversion (GC) section (9.20 km) at a total estimated completion cost of ₹344.38 crore. The Kosamba–Umrapada section lies on the eastern side of the Mumbai–Vadodara main line and its gauge conversion is currently underway.

Due to the presence of the Dedicated Freight Corridor alignment, direct connectivity of the gauge converted line with the main line is not feasible through a surface crossing. The approved Rail Over Rail flyover will eliminate surface crossings and enable seamless integration of the Gauge Conversion section with the Mumbai–Vadodara main line. This will ensure uninterrupted and safe movement of trains on these critical routes and help fully realize the benefits of the gauge conversion project.

Sanction of Bhagalpur Bypass (13.38 km), Eastern Railway

The Ministry has also approved the construction of the Bhagalpur Bypass (13.38 km) in Eastern Railway at an estimated cost of ₹303.20 crore. The bypass will connect Gonudham Halt on the Barahat-Bhagalpur section with Sabour on the Bhagalpur-Sahibganj section, thereby easing congestion at Bhagalpur junction.

At present, the Barahat–Bhagalpur section is operating at more than 125 percent capacity utilisation, leading to severe congestion. Trains moving between the Barahat–Bhagalpur and Bhagalpur–Sahibganj sections require engine reversal at Bhagalpur, resulting in detention and operational inefficiencies. The approved bypass will significantly improve operational fluidity and punctuality.

These infrastructure works will strengthen rail connectivity in Gujarat and Bihar, enhance safety, reduce congestion, and improve overall efficiency of train operations. The Ministry of Railways continues to prioritise capacity augmentation and network decongestion to meet the growing passenger and freight transportation demands of the country.

Srinagar, Mar 24: Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Elections Javid Ahmad Dar on Tuesday said the government is prepared to conduct panchayat elections in the Union Territory, adding that procedural requirements are being completed.

Speaking to the media, Dar said necessary arrangements are being put in place for the polls.

“We are ready for the panchayat elections. Some formalities are needed and certain things have to be kept in place. We are doing that,” he said.

He said the elections would be held once these processes are completed. “After that, the local government elections will be held,” he added.

In a separate response, the minister said the issue of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is under examination by the government.

“That reservation has an issue. The government is evaluating it. There are discussions on it,” he said. Dar said a decision would be taken after the process is completed.

“When it is completely compiled and presented, then it will be implemented,” he added.(KNS).