Srinagar, Nov 7: In J&K, shockingly, only 9 percent of women aged 25 and above have completed education beyond Grade 12, compared to 14 percent of men.

The figures place J&K in the mid-lower tier among states and union territories.

The data, part of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2022-23, shows serious regional and gender disparities in higher education attainment across India.

It highlights challenges in access to education after secondary school, including diplomas, graduate degrees, and postgraduate programmes.

States like Kerala with better development indices, lead with rates nearly three times higher than J&K.

Higher education is defined as any formal learning after Grade 12: nationally, just over one in 10 adults completes this level.

In Kerala, nearly one in four adults has higher education.

However, in some states like Assam, one in 20 people have higher education.

In J&K, there is a 5-percentage-point difference between the higher education attainment of women and men, with substantially fewer women completing the degrees and diplomas they register for.

For men, the attainment is at 14 percent, slightly above the national average.

The AISHE 2024 shows the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 27.2 percent for women in J&K.

However, this survey measures current enrolment in higher education institutions.

This shows that while many women do enroll, very few complete the education.

However, the low percentage of higher education attainment among women limits economic opportunities for them in a scenario where employment is already difficult to come by.

J&K outperforms Bihar (women 5 percent, men 12 percent) and Jharkhand (women 6 percent, men 13 percent), but falls short of Himachal Pradesh (estimated women 20 percent, men 21 percent) and Haryana (women 16 percent, men 17 percent).

The gender and regional gaps underline the need for targeted policies to expand access and support the completion of education for women in need of financial support.

According to many studies dissecting the reasons for women to drop out of higher education, the need for women to financially support their families, marriage, and lack of safe transport, boarding, and lodging have been found to be important variables.

J&K performs better on literacy parameters.

According to the Census 2011, the female literacy rate in J&K is nearly 57 percent, and the male literacy rate is 77 percent.

The percentage is likely to have increased over the decades.

Although J&K has invested heavily in education infrastructure, opening up many colleges across districts, the benefits do not seem to trickle down to the grassroots.

Stakeholders believe researching the causes behind the drop-out rates could help address the issue.

Kupwara, Nov 7: Three persons were injured after a vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in the Machil sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Thursday.

Officials said the Kupwara-bound load carrier (registration number JK01BE-1591) lost control and rolled into the gorge, leaving all three occupants injured.

Soon after the accident, locals, police, and Army personnel launched a rescue operation and shifted the injured to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kupwara for treatment.

The injured were identified as driver Bashir Ahmad Lone, son of Abdul Ahad Lone; Abass Aziz Shah, son of Abdul Aziz Shah; and Shoib Ahmad, son of Abdul Aziz Tantry — all residents of Ring Bala, Machil.

Police have taken cognisance of the incident and started an investigation to ascertain the cause of the mishap.

Locals said the accident spot is one of the most treacherous stretches in the Machil sector and has witnessed several such incidents in recent years due to narrow, slippery roads and poor visibility.

Srinagar, Nov 07: According to the Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL, power shutdown of 33 KV LJHP-Uri line will be observed due to which Noorkhah, Mohara, Bandi and Salamabad receiving stations shall remain off while power supply to Noorkhah, Bandi, Mohara, Chandwari, Uri Town, Salamabad, Razarwani and adjoining areas will be affected from 09:30 AM to 03:30 PM on 12 & 15 November, 2025.

Similarly, power shutdown of  33 KV Awantipora-Sangam 2nd line will be observed due to which K-koot, LIS Tral-I, II, III and Panzgam receiving stations shall remain off while power supply to LIS Tral, Hariparigam, Saimoh, K-koot, Chursoo, Rathsun, Gulzarpora, Chakoora, Panzgam, Railway and adjoining areas will be affected from 10.00 AM to 03:30 PM on 09 & 12 November, 2025.

Likewise, shutdown of 33 KV Kanipora-Pinjoora line will be observed due to which Pinjoora, Arhama, and Chowdrigund receiving stations shall remain off while power supply to Pinjoora, Phanoo, Trenz, Mohanpora, Imamsahib, Kilora, Arhama, Zawoora, Shirmal, Chowdrigund, Vehil, Nowgam, Reshinagri, Saidpora, Bemnipora, Town Bangam and adjoining areas will be affected from 10:00 AM to 03:00 PM on 08, 11 & 15 November, 2025.

Futhermore, shutdown of 33 KV Kulgam Devsar line will be observed due to which Ashmuji, Chambgund, and Kilam receiving stations shall remain off while power supply to Devsar, Pahloo, Sopat, Akhal, Hablish, Kilam and adjoining areas will be affected from 09.00 AM to 03:30 PM on 08 November, 2025.

Likewise, shutdown of 33 KV Kangan-Surfraw line will be observed due to which Surfraw and Gangangeer receiving stations shall remain off while power supply to Gund, Gadribal, Kullan, Gagangeer, Sonamarg, Fraw, Ganiwan and adjoining areas will be affected from 10.00 AM to 03.30 PM on 09 November, 2025.

Similarly, shutdown of 33 KV Khiram Tap line will be observed due to which Khiram receiving station shall remain off while power supply to Khiram, Mahind and adjoining areas will be affected from 10:00 AM to 03:30 PM on 11, 14 & 15 November, 2025.

Srinagar, Nov 07: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday held five drug peddlers in south Kashmir areas and recovered contraband substance from their possession.

A police spokesperson said that a police party from Police Station Pampore, headed by SHO PS Pampore under the close supervision of SDPO Pampore during routine patrolling at Chandhara Nambal, intercepted three suspicious persons. During their personal search, police party recovered 8 kilograms and 925 grams of charas powder from their possession. The accused persons have been identified as Raiees Ahmad Sheikh son of Gh. Mohammad Sheikh & Prince Ahmad Mir son of Ali Mohammad Mir both residents of Chandhara, Manzoor Khan son of Farooq Khan resident of Drangbal Pampore. They have been arrested and a case FIR No. 118/2025 under relevant sections of the NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Pampore, and investigation has been initiated, spokesperson said.

Similarly in Pulwama, a police party of Police Station Kakapora at a checkpoint established at Okhoo Kakapora, intercepted a suspicious person identified as Abdul Majeed Wani, son of Gh Ahmad Wani, a resident of Nihama. During search, 2.765 kilograms of bang boosa like substance was recovered from his possession. He has been arrested and a case vide FIR No. 71/2025 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Kakapora and investigation has been initiated.

Furthermore, in Shopian, a police party of Police Station Zainapora, at a checkpoint established at Maldera Zainapora, intercepted a vehicle (Wagnor) bearing registration number JK18-6181 driven by Umar Maqbool Parra resident of Humhona Nagbal Zainapora. During the search, search of the vehicle charas like substance weighing approximately 1.326 kgs were recovered from the vehicle. He has been arrested and a case vide FIR No. 108/2025 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Zainapora and investigation has been initiated. The vehicle used in the commission of the crime was also seized.

J&K Police remains committed to its zero-tolerance policy against drug abuse and trafficking and urges the general public to come forward with any information regarding drug peddling or other anti-social activities in their areas, spokesperson added.

Sopore, Nov 07: In a sustained effort to curb the misuse of SIM cards by terrorists, their associates, and criminal networks, Sopore Police today launched a coordinated crackdown across the Police District. Multiple teams conducted simultaneous inspections of SIM vendors at various locations to ensure strict compliance with Department of Telecommunications (DoT) guidelines.

The special drive focused on verifying customer documentation, KYC procedures, and vendor licensing compliance to prevent fraudulent SIM issuance. Vendors were counselled about their legal responsibilities and warned of stern action in case of negligence or violation of regulatory norms.*

This initiative is part of Sopore Police’s proactive measures to prevent the use of SIM cards in terror communication, cybercrime, online fraud, impersonation, and misinformation campaigns, ensuring that communication systems remain secure and transparent.

Sopore Police reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting national and public security, preventing misuse of digital infrastructure, and maintaining vigilance against any activity that threatens peace and stability in the region.