Srinagar, Mar 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has reappointed Dr. Minu Mahajan as Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination for a further period of two years.

According to a notification issued by the General Administration Department Jammu and Kashmir, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Despatch, reads that the reappointment has been made under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination Act, 2002.

Notification reads, In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 4 read with Section 6 of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination Act, 2002, the Government hereby re-appoint Dr. Minu Mahajan (Rtd. Principal), as Chairperson, Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination for a further period of two years w.e.f. earlier.

Srinagar, Mar 16: Inspector General of Police Vidhi Kumar Birdi Kashmir on Monday extended greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Qadr, wishing peace and harmony for all.

In a post on X, Kashmir Zone Police, as per news agency JKNS, said “IGP Kashmir extends greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Qadr.”

IGP hoped that the blessed occasion would usher in peace, unity and brotherhood among people across the region.

Srinagar, Mar 16: Senior BJP leader and State Co-Media Incharge for Jammu & Kashmir, Advocate Sajid Yousuf Shah, extended heartfelt greetings to the people of Jammu & Kashmir on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e-Qadr.

In his message, Sajid Yousuf Shah conveyed warm wishes for peace, prosperity, and spiritual fulfillment for all, emphasizing the significance of this blessed night in fostering unity, compassion, and devotion. He urged people to use⁷ this sacred occasion as an opportunity for reflection, prayer, and strengthening communal harmony.

KD NEWS SERVICE

AWANTIPORA, March 16: The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) today organised a health seminar titled “Prerna: For Her Health Challenges” at the campus. The programme was organised by the Centre for Career Counselling and Placements under the aegis of the Office of the Dean Outreach in collaboration with Ujala Cygnus Hospitals to raise awareness about key health issues affecting young women.

Ms. Tanushree (IPS), SSP Pulwama, who was the chief guest on the occasion, encouraged female students to pursue their goals with determination while also prioritising their health and wellbeing. She urged students to remain mindful of both their physical and mental health, noting that personal wellbeing is essential for sustaining success in demanding careers.

The seminar brought together medical experts and students to discuss preventive healthcare, nutrition, and mental wellbeing. The health talks were delivered by Dr. Nazeefa Manzoor, Dr. Munaza, and Dr. Zahida Rasool, Medical Officer at IUST, who spoke about common health concerns among young women, including anaemia and the importance of early diagnosis and timely care.

Welcoming the guests and participants, Dean Outreach, Dr. Ruheela Hassan, said that IUST is committed to promoting a holistic environment for its students and initiatives like this seminar reflect that commitment. Dr. Parvez Ahmed Sofi, MD Ujala Cygnus Hospitals, appreciated the university’s proactive approach towards student wellbeing and expressed hope for stronger collaborations in promoting health awareness and preventive care among young people. The event concluded with an open dialogue and interaction session, allowing students to engage with the speakers and seek guidance on various health-related concerns, followed by a vote of thanks by Dr. Asifa Baba, Dean of Students, IUST.

KD NEWS SERVICE

AWANTIPORA, March 16: The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED), Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), today concluded the week-long Advanced Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme (AESDP) on “Innovative Approaches to Fruit Preservation and its Value Addition.” The programme, held from March 9 – 16, 2026, was organised in collaboration with the Department of Food Technology, IUST.

The valedictory session was chaired by Dr. Kaiser Javed Giri, Dean, School of Engineering who emphasised the importance of integrating scientific knowledge with entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector. He noted that programmes of this nature provide students and young entrepreneurs with practical skills and innovative perspectives needed to create value-added products and contribute to local economic development.

In his remarks, Prof. Parvez A. Mir, Director, CIED IUST, highlighted the university’s commitment to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship through structured training initiatives. He said that such skill development programmes enable youth to explore viable entrepreneurial opportunities in sectors like food processing while also addressing challenges related to food preservation and value addition.

Over the week, the programme featured expert sessions and hands-on training on modern techniques of fruit preservation, value addition, and entrepreneurship opportunities in the food processing sector. Experts from MSME Srinagar, IUST, and SKUAST, industry representatives served as resource persons and interacted with trainees during the week-long training.

The programme was coordinated by Dr. Basharat Nabi Dar, Coordinator, EDC/CPMSB, who highlighted various government initiatives supporting youth entrepreneurship and encouraged participants to translate their learning into sustainable entrepreneurial ventures in the agri-food sector. About 30 students participated in the training and Technology. The valedictory session attended by Dr. Tehmeed Aijaz, Head, Department of Food Technology; and Coordinators of different CIED verticals was moderated by Dr. Sajjad Ahmed Lone and Dr. Ruheela Hassan presented a vote of thanks.

New Delhi: Grid-readiness and stability for integrating large shares of renewable energy are continuously assessed through system studies, including load flow studies, dynamic stability studies, and contingency analysis. These studies evaluate the impact of renewable energy variability, intermittency and peak-load requirements on the grid.

The following measures are in place to ensure the smooth integration of RE into the national grid, maintain grid stability, manage intermittency, variability and peak-load balancing without risk of outages: –

1. Transmission system has been planned for integration of over 500 GW RE capacity by the year 2030. The transmission schemes associated with RE generation projects are being taken up for implementation in a phased manner commensurate with the RE Capacity addition.
2. Development of intra-state transmission network is being planned to keep pace with RE capacity addition. Strong inter connection of ISTS RE schemes with the intra-state network to ensure better reliability in terms of anchoring voltage stability, angular stability, losses reduction etc. is being done.
3. Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is being provided to the States for setting up Transmission infrastructure for RE integration within their State under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme. Intra State Green Energy Corridor (GEC) scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 10 States. The intra state transmission system for evacuation of 24 GW RE under Green Energy Corridor Phase-I (GEC-I) is already commissioned. The transmission system under GEC-II for evacuation of around 20 GW RE is under implementation.
4. Setting up of Regional Energy Management Centers (REMCs) for better forecasting of renewable power and to assist grid operators to manage variability and intermittency of renewable power.
5. Innovative products like Solar-Wind Hybrid Projects, RE projects with energy storage systems and supply of RE power balanced with power from non-RE sources launched to reduce intermittency.
6. Implementation of Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) and Green Day Ahead Market (GDAM) for sale of renewable energy.
7. Flexibility in generation and Scheduling of Thermal/Hydro Power Stations to address the variability of RE generation.
8. CEA (Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid) Regulations lay down the minimum technical requirements for the RE generating plants to ensure the safe, secure and reliable operation of the grid. The compliances to the said regulations by RE plants are verified jointly by Central Transmission Utility (CTUIL) and Grid-India / Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs) before granting connectivity/interconnection to the national grid. Robust compliances verification is done before interconnection of any new plant to the grid.
9. Indian Electricity Grid Code mandates that RE plants participate in the primary and secondary frequency control in case of contingencies. Hybrid RE power plants, Energy Storage Systems such as BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) and PSP (Pump Storage Project) are being promoted for mitigating variability in RE generation and provide adequate frequency support to the grid. Considering the requirement of ‘Energy Storage’ to facilitate integration of renewable energy in the country, Ministry of Power (MOP) is providing Viability Gap funding (VGF) for installation of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Through this scheme, development of 43 GWh BESS is envisaged.
10. Static Synchronous Compensators (STATCOM) and Static VAR Compensator (SVC) are being deployed to dynamically adjust the reactive power flow in the grid for maintaining stable voltage levels. Further, Several Dynamic Compensation devices such as Static Var Compensators (SVCs) Static Compensators (STATCOMs) and Synchronous Condensers (Syn Cons) in ISTS system are under various stages of Planning and implementation.
11. Automatic Generation Control (AGC) is being utilized to maintain frequency stability by sending Secondary Reserve Ancillary Services (SRAS) Up or Down signals every four (04) seconds to AGC-enabled power plants.
12.  Market-based Tertiary Reserve Ancillary Services (TRAS) for addressing real-time demand–supply imbalances.
13. The generators with high ramp rate (e.g. hydro or gas) are also scheduled optimally to maintain load generation balance.
14. Switching of Reactors is effected to maintain voltage in RE complex within the desired range for secure & reliable grid operation.
15. Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), has a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, ‘National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage’ for implementation of giga-scale ACC manufacturing facilities in India, with an aim to establish a competitive domestic manufacturing ecosystem for 50 GWh with a total budgetary outlay of ₹18,100 crore. Out of 50 GWh capacity, 10 GWh has been earmarked for grid scale stationary storage applications to MNRE.
16. CEA has issued guidelines dated 07.07.2025 for installation of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) for Solar and Wind Power Plants to measure critical meteorological parameters for accurate, real-time measurement of weather to enable optimization of RE generation. This would improve overall generation predictability, efficiency, enhance grid reliability and ensure regulatory compliance.

To strengthen the transmission infrastructure in line with the growing electricity demand, the Government of India notified the National Electricity Plan (Volume-II Transmission) in 2024. The plan outlines the transmission system requirements for the period 2023 to 2032, commensurate with projected generation capacity additions to meet the projected electricity demand.

The peak electricity demand and electrical energy requirement are expected to reach 446 GW and 3215 BU respectively in 2034-35. To meet the projected electricity demand, adequate generation capacity has been planned in the country. In this regard, the Government of India has initiated the following capacity addition programme:

(A) The projected thermal (coal and lignite) capacity requirement by the year 2034–35 is estimated at approximately 3,07,000 MW as against the 2,11,855 MW installed capacity as on 31.03.2023. To meet this requirement, Ministry of Power has envisaged to set up an additional minimum 97,000 MW coal and lignite based thermal capacity.

To meet this requirement, several initiatives have already been undertaken. Thermal capacities of around 18,160 MW have already been commissioned since April 2023 till 31.01.2026. In addition, 38,745 MW of thermal capacity (including 4,845 MW of stressed thermal power projects) is currently under construction. The contracts of 22,920 MW have been awarded and are due for construction. Further, 24,020 MW of coal and lignite-based candidate capacity has been identified which is at various stages of planning in the country.

(B) 12,723.50 MW of Hydro Electric Projects are under construction. Further, 4,274 MW of Hydro Electric Projects are under various stage of planning and targeted to be completed by 2031-32.

(C) 6,600 MW of Nuclear Capacity is under construction and targeted to be completed by 2029-30. 7,000 MW of Nuclear Capacity is under various stages of planning and approval.

(D) 1,57,800 MW Renewable Capacity including 67,280 MW of Solar, 6,500 MW of Wind and 60,040 MW Hybrid power is under construction while 48,720 MW of Renewable Capacity including 35,440 MW of Solar and 11,480 MW Hybrid Power is at various stages of planning and targeted to be completed by 2029-30.

(E) In energy storage systems, 11,620 MW/69,720 MWh Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) are under construction. Further, a total of 6,580 MW/39,480 MWh capacity of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) are concurred and yet to be taken up for construction. Currently, 9,653.94 MW/ 26,729.32 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity are under construction and 19,797.65 MW/ 61,013.40 MWh BESS capacity are under tendering stage.

Garden set to welcome thousands as valley officially enters tourism season

Srinagar, Mar 16: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday inaugurated the annual tulip season at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia’s largest, overlooking the Dal Lake.

Chief Minister, accompanied by senior officials and horticulture experts, walked through the sprawling terraced lawns. He inspected the blooming varieties and interacted with the gardeners who have nurtured the landscape over the past months.

Addressing visitors at the garden, CM Omar Abdullah, as per KNS, described the bloom as a “symbol of resilience” for Kashmir. “This garden is not just about flowers; it is about the spirit of Kashmir. As the tulips bloom, they bring with them a message of peace, prosperity, and a warm welcome to every guest who visits our valley,” he said.

The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to boosting the tourism sector, which he termed the “backbone” of the local economy. “My presence here today is to send a clear message that tourism is our priority. We are ready for the season, and we want the world to know that Kashmir is open and ready to host everyone with open arms,” he added.

Meanwhile, tourism officials briefed the Chief Minister on the arrangements made for the season, stating that over 1.5 lakh tulip bulbs, comprising more than 70 varieties, have been planted. They also showcased the addition of other spring florals like hyacinths and daffodils, a move that CM Omar praised as a welcome step to increase the garden’s aesthetic appeal.

Notably, the garden is now open to the public, heralding the start of the Kashmir Tulip Festival, which is expected to draw lakhs of visitors over the next month. (KNS)