Jammu, Feb 09: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today inaugurated the Financial Literacy Week (FLW) 2026 for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The week-long programme is being organised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from February 09 to February 13, 2026, with a focus on strengthening financial awareness and safe banking practices among citizens.

The event was also attended by Rachna Sharma, Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department; Sh. Vidhu Shekhar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu; Sh. Deepak Dubey, Joint Director Information, Jammu; Shri Vikas Mittal, GM/O-i-C, NABARD, Jammu; Shri Sunit Kumar, CGM, J&K Bank; controlling heads of banks; and officers and representatives from Government departments, RBI, banks, financial institutions and UTLBC J&K and Ladakh.

Addressing bankers and stakeholders on the occasion, the Chief Secretary observed that financial inclusion reflects the Gandhian principle of “Sarvodaya through Antyodaya”, both as a policy objective and as a shared responsibility of all institutions. He underlined that the importance of financial inclusion is evident from the fact that nearly seven of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are directly linked to financial access and empowerment of the masses.

Highlighting recent achievements, the Chief Secretary stated that during the three-month financial inclusion campaign conducted from July to October 2025, the Government, in collaboration with banking institutions, worked extensively at the Panchayat level to saturate benefits under various Government of India schemes including Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). These efforts resulted in KYC updation of nearly 5.9 lakh accounts, covering about 51 percent of the targeted accounts.

He further noted that institutions such as RBI, NABARD, SEBI, PFRDA and banks are collectively working towards creating financial awareness among citizens. He added that financial integration through governance is also gaining momentum with the introduction of financial literacy lessons in JKBOSE curriculum, alongside livelihood training and skill development programmes.

Speaking about this year’s theme, “KYC – Your First Step to Safe Banking”, the Chief Secretary emphasised the need for adopting Centralised KYC mechanism, which, like UPI, can simplify financial transactions and credit access while ensuring account hygiene and strengthening defence against financial fraud and cyber threats. He reiterated that the vision of Viksit Bharat and sustainable development is closely linked to comprehensive financial inclusion.

Stressing the importance of grassroots outreach, he called for greater use of Common Service Centres (CSCs) as effective last-mile delivery platforms. He also emphasised leveraging the network of Self Help Groups (SHGs), which have nearly 8 lakh members across J&K, to enhance financial awareness at the community level. Additionally, he suggested using ATM kiosks, social media platforms and railways as tools for mass financial awareness, stating that financial literacy directly translates into financial empowerment.

This year’s theme, “KYC – सुरक्षित बैंकिंग की ओर पहला कदम / KYC – Your First Step to Safe Banking”, focuses on sub-themes including Basics of Know Your Customer (KYC), Central KYC Registry (CKYC), and Account Hygiene and Financial Discipline. The theme aims to highlight the importance of KYC as the foundation of safe and secure banking.

In his opening remarks, Chandrashekhar Azad, Regional Director, RBI Jammu, highlighted that last year a nationwide campaign was undertaken at the Gram Panchayat level to saturate Financial Inclusion schemes, including re-KYC of bank accounts. RBI Jammu, along with banks and stakeholders in J&K and Ladakh, actively supported the campaign to ensure re-KYC enrolment for eligible account holders.

Building on the awareness created through the campaign, FLW 2026 focuses on educating the public on all aspects of KYC compliance. The campaign emphasises that while KYC is a regulatory requirement, it is simple to complete through multiple safe and convenient modes. It also aims to familiarise citizens with facilities like Central KYC (CKYC), which simplifies the KYC process.

Further, the campaign encourages citizens to remain alert against fraudulent calls, messages and links related to KYC updation, which can result in financial loss. It also sensitises the public about the serious consequences of becoming money mules due to inducements.

During the week, RBI, in collaboration with banks and stakeholders, will conduct awareness programmes and outreach activities across the country, including the Uts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. These initiatives will continue throughout the year to ensure sustained impact.

Through these collective efforts, RBI aims to reinforce the message that KYC is not merely a regulatory requirement, but a vital step towards building a secure, transparent and trustworthy financial ecosystem for all.

Jammu, Feb 09: Questioning of an accused arrested in a counterfeit currency case led to the seizure of cocaine worth over Rs 19 crore in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, police said on Monday.

On February 3, a written complaint was lodged at Bari Brahmana police station by a branch manager of Punjab National Bank, regarding depositing of fake currency notes.

The bank official had alleged that Dil Mohd, a resident of Digiana Ashram, had deposited fake currency notes having a face value of Rs 9,000, a police spokesman said.

He said a probe was launched after registering an FIR under relevant sections of BNS at Bari Brahmana police state. During the investigation, police obtained bank account statements of the accused who is presently residing at Jalalabad locality of Sunjwan in Jammu.

Scrutiny of the accounts revealed balances of about Rs 18 lakh in J&K Bank and Rs 2.40 lakh in PNB, the spokesman said, adding a special investigation team was set up by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Samba to ascertain the source of the bank balances, given that the accused was working as a driver by profession.

During questioning, he said the accused disclosed that he is selling cocaine since long and had earned the said amount through drug trafficking.

Police recovered two packets of cocaine, weighing approximately 1937.80 grams, in cardboards wrapped with cello tape hidden in the garage at his workplace in Bari Brahmana, the spokesman said, adding relevant sections of NDPS Act were added in the case.

More arrests and recoveries are expected at the disclosure of the arrested drug peddler, he said.

Meanwhile, two drug peddlers were arrested along with about 55 grams of heroin during vehicle checking at Chenani in Udhampur district this morning, the spokesman said.

He said the arrested accused were on way to Srinagar from Jammu in a car when they were intercepted by police, leading to the recovery of the narcotic substance.

Jammu, Feb 09: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the government is making necessary arrangements to hold elections to urban local bodies and panchayats in the Union territory at the earliest, but said the post of state election commissioner is presently vacant.

In a written reply to a question of Congress MLA Tariq Hameed Karra in the Legislative Assembly, Abdullah said the superintendence, direction and control of preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of elections under the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, J&K Municipal Act and J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, rests with the State Election Commission (SEC).

“The Commission (SEC) is making necessary arrangements for holding panchayat and urban local bodies elections at the earliest. However, the position of state election commissioner is lying vacant at present,” he said, adding that the report submitted by the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Dedicated Backward Classes Commission for determining the quota of reserved seats is under examination, and further steps will be taken accordingly.

CM Abdullah informed the House that the term of panchayats and block development councils (BDCs) expired on January 9, while the district development council (DDC) term will end on February 24. He said the tenure of the Srinagar municipal corporation ended on November 5, 2023, while the term of Jammu’s civic body also ended in the same month on November 14.

Terms of all municipal councils and committees expired between October and November 2023, the CM added.

Abdullah said that panchayat halqas were delimited prior to the 2018 Panchayat elections on the basis of the 2011 census. “As per the panchayati raj act, fresh delimitation of panchayat halqas can be undertaken only after publication of the population figures of the general census. Since no census has been conducted after 2011, there is no proposal for fresh delimitation at present,” he said.

He further said delimitation of 77 urban local bodies (ULBs) has been taken up as per instructions of the housing and urban development department, adding that the process has been completed for 72 ULBs and is underway for the remaining five.

On the reservation, the CM said rotation of sarpanch and panch wards will be carried out by the rural development department, while reservation of municipal wards will be undertaken by the SEC after approval and notification of the OBC commission report.

He said that electoral rolls for panchayat elections have already been revised with January 1, 2025, as the qualifying date, while revision of municipal electoral rolls will be taken up after completion of delimitation and directions from the government.

Abdullah also informed that the tender process for the procurement of election material for panchayat polls has been completed and is underway for DDC elections.

He said 30,000 ballot boxes have been purchased and distributed to districts, while an MoU has been signed with the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission for providing 7,000 multi-post electronic voting machines for ULB elections.

Highlighting reforms in the panchayati raj system, Abdullah said the Union territory has operationalised a three-tier structure with elections conducted for 4,291 sarpanches and 33,597 panchs, besides the constitution of BDCs and DDCs.

He said the government has undertaken construction of 600 panchayat bhawans with internet connectivity and trained over 7.25 lakh participants in governance, planning and financial management between 2022 and 2025. Amendments to the laws have ensured reservation for women, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes, he added.

Abdullah further said that digital platforms such as eGramSwaraj and initiatives like the SVAMITVA scheme have been introduced to enhance transparency, accountability and provide a record of rights to rural households.

Srinagar, Feb 09: Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather on Monday said he will investigate allegations made by National Conference MLAs that PDP legislator Waheed‑ur‑Rehman Para was using a microphone in the House.

Speaking in the Assembly, Rather, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said the Assembly Secretariat should examine the matter and that appropriate action would be taken under the Rules. “I will investigate the matter,” the Speaker said after NC MLA Altaf Wani raised the issue. Wani alleged that after they pointed out Para’s use of a microphone in the House, he handed it over to his party colleague Muntazir Mehdi.

The Speaker described such acts as childish, saying they undermine the dignity of the House. “It is very sad. Do you want me to have members of the House frisked?” the Speaker asked.

However, PDP MLA Mir Muhammad Fayaz termed the allegations as baseless. “Don’t defend the indefensible,” the Speaker told Mir. Kaloo further urged the Speaker to examine speeches made by Para and other MLAs to find the difference.