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Rupee falls 16 paise to 90.11 against US dollar in early trade

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Rupee falls 16 paise to 90.11 against US dollar in early trade

Mumbai, Dec 08: The rupee depreciated 16 paise to 90.11 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by elevated crude oil prices and persistent foreign fund outflows.

Forex traders said strong dollar demand from corporates, importers and foreign portfolio investors pressurised the rupee.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.07 against the US dollar then dropped to 90.11, down 16 paise from its previous close.

On Friday, the rupee settled at 89.95 against the US dollar, after the Reserve Bank of India cut the key policy interest rate for the first time in six months.

Forex traders said investors’ focus has now shifted to the Fed’s policy outcome on December 9–10. Markets are placing nearly a 90 per cent probability on a rate cut next week.

Meanwhile, India and the United States will commence three-day talks on the first phase of their proposed bilateral trade agreement here from December 10.

“The US team is in India on 10th December and simultaneously the EU team is also in India to meet the Commerce Minister on trade negotiations and finalising an FTA. We await for positive outcomes on both counts. ” said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.

Bhansali further noted that, FPIs continue to remain sellers despite the India equities going up. The dollar Index is range bound, Asian currencies are range bound, so there are no specific cues from any front.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.11 per cent lower at 98.88. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.17 cent at USD 63.85 per barrel in futures trade.

On the domestic equity market front, the benchmark sensitive index Sensex declined 215.73 points to 85,741.24 in early trade, while the Nifty was down 64.85 points to 26,121.60.

Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 438.90 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.

Greater Kashmir

PDD worker electrocuted to death in Budgam

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PDD worker electrocuted to death in Budgam

Srinagar, Dec 08: A Power Development Department (PDD) employee who suffered severe electrocution in Budgam on Saturday has succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital Srinagar on Monday morning, officials said.

An official said the victim, identified as Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Rather (55), son of Ghulam Hassan, a resident of Mahawara Budgam, was working as a PDL (Permanent Daily Labourer) with the department.

The incident occurred at Lakhripora, Budgam, where the worker was repairing an electric wire when he came in direct contact with a live current.

He was initially rushed to District Hospital Budgam in critical condition and subsequently referred to SMHS Hospital Srinagar for advanced treatment. However, doctors said that he succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning.

Cognizance of the incident has been taken and further investigation initiated. (KNC)

Greater Kashmir

Hyderabad airport receives three bomb threats for incoming flights

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Hyderabad airport receives three bomb threats for incoming flights

Hyderabad, Dec 08: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has received three bomb threats to flights coming from different cities, including two international, sources said.

The airport received emails on late Sunday night targeting British Airways’ (BA 277) from Heathrow, Lufthansa’s (LH 752) from Frankfurt and IndiGo’s 6E 7178 from Kannur.

Airport sources said all the flights landed safely. The two international flights landed here during the early hours of Monday.

“Standard safety protocols were initiated for all three aircraft,” sources said.

Standard safety protocols include isolation of the aircraft, screening of baggage and passengers, keeping fire engines ready and pressing sniffer dogs into services, among others, sources added.

Last week, the RGIA received bomb threat emails for the Dubai-Hyderabad Emirates flight and IndiGo’s Madina–Hyderabad and Sharjah-Hyderabad flights separately.

Madina–Hyderabad was diverted to Ahmedabad airport.

Greater Kashmir

Cold wave grips Kashmir Valley; Shopian coldest at minus 4.2°C

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Cold wave grips Kashmir Valley; Shopian coldest at minus 4.2°C

Srinagar, Dec 08: Large parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh reeled under a cold wave on Monday as night temperatures dipped below the freezing point at most places in the Valley, officials said.

In Kashmir, Shopian recorded the lowest minimum temperature at minus 4.2°C, followed by Budgam, Pulwama and Baramulla, which registered minus 3.1°C each, they said.

Srinagar city settled at minus 2.4°C, while the airport area recorded a sharper chill at minus 3.2°C, the officials added.

Gulmarg, a major skiing destination, recorded minus 2.5°C, while Sonamarg touched minus 2.8°C. Qazigund and Kupwara recorded minus 1.2°C each, Pampore minus 2.0°C, Bandipora minus 2.2°C, Awantipora and Anantnag minus 1.4°C each.
Kokernag remained the only major station in south Kashmir with temperatures above freezing at 0.1°C, while Kulgam was comparatively milder at 0.8°C.

In the Jammu region, Udhampur was the coldest at 2.0°C, followed by Rajouri at 1.8°C and Samba at 2.7°C, the officials said.

Jammu city recorded 7.9°C, while the airport area settled at 9.0°C. Katra registered 9.6°C, Kathua 7.8°C, Bhaderwah 2.6°C, Banihal 4.5°C, Batote 5.8°C, Ramban 5.6°C, Reasi 6.5°C, Doda and Kishtwar 5.0°C each.

In the Union Territory of Ladakh, Leh recorded minus 6.2°C, while Kargil and Nubra Valley settled at minus 5.0°C and minus 3.7°C, respectively.

The weather office has forecast mainly dry conditions across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh over the next 24 hours. (KNS).

Greater Kashmir

16 Indigo flights cancelled at Srinagar Airport, operations partially affected

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16 Indigo flights cancelled at Srinagar Airport, operations partially affected

Srinagar, Dec 08: Air traffic at Srinagar International Airport witnessed continues disruptions on Monday early morning after multiple Indigo flights were cancelled, officials said.

An airport official said that out of the total 64 scheduled flight movements (32 arrivals and 32 departures), Indigo had 36 movements planned for the day.

However, 16 Indigo flights (8 arrivals and 8 departures) were cancelled due to operational reasons until 8am on Monday, the official said.

No cancellations were reported from any other airline, and no Indigo flight delays were recorded till the filing of this report.

Flight operations for the remaining scheduled services are continuing normally, the official added. (KNC)

Greater Kashmir

5.17 lakh Waqf properties initiated, 2.16 lakh approved

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5.17 lakh Waqf properties initiated, 2.16 lakh approved

New Delhi, Dec 08: A total of 5.17 lakh Waqf properties were initiated on the UMEED portal while 2,16,905 properties were approved by the designated approvers during the six-month window provided, according to the data provided by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

The UMEED Central Portal for management of Waqf Properties in India, launched by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on June 6, 2025, officially closed for uploads on December 6, 2025, completing its six-month window, as per the UMEED Act, 1995 and the clear directions of the Supreme Court.

In the final count, the momentum significantly accelerated as the deadline approached, the ministry said in a statement.

Many review meetings, training workshops, and high-level interventions even at the secretary-level injected renewed pace into the process, making the upload surge in the last hours, it said.

According to the data provided by the ministry, 5,17,040 Waqf properties were initiated on the portal with 2,16,905 properties approved by the designated approvers.

A total of 2,13,941 properties have been submitted by makers and remain in the pipeline as of the deadline, the ministry said, adding that 10,869 properties stood rejected during verification

“To support this massive national exercise, the Ministry of Minority Affairs conducted continuous workshops and training sessions with State/UT Waqf Boards and Minority Departments,” the statement said.

A two-day master trainer workshop was also conducted in Delhi to equip Waqf Boards and State/UT officials with hands-on training for the uploading process, the ministry said.

Senior technical and administrative teams were deputed across states, and seven zonal meetings were held nationwide.

A dedicated helpline was also set up at the Ministry office for technical support and quick resolution of issues arising during the uploads.

Since the launch of the portal, secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Chandra Shekhar Kumar took 20 plus review meetings, consistently guiding, motivating, and monitoring States/UTs to ensure timely and accurate uploading of existing Waqf property details, the statement said.

The conclusion of this phase marks a significant milestone in bringing transparency, efficiency, and unified digital management to Waqf properties across India under the UMEED framework, it said.

The highest number of Waqf properties initiated on the portal were from Uttar Pradesh (92,830 – 86,345 Sunni and 6,485 Shia), followed by Maharashtra (62,939) and Karnataka (58,328), while 23,086 properties were initiated from West Bengal.

Rijiju on Friday had ruled out extending the deadline for registering Waqf properties on the UMEED portal but said his ministry, recognising the concerns of ‘mutawallis’ or caretakers, will not impose any penalty or take strict action for the next three months as a humanitarian and facilitative measure.

The Centre launched The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Act central portal on June 6 to create a digital inventory.

According to the provisions of the portal, details of all registered Waqf properties across the country must be uploaded within six months. The six-month deadline for registration ended at 11:59:59 pm on December 6.

The six-month deadline mandated under the Waqf Amendment Act cannot be extended due to the provisions of the Act, and clear directions of the Supreme Court, the minister had said.

The government, through the Ministry of Minority Affairs, has said it is committed to modernising Waqf administration and unlocking the full developmental potential of Waqf properties for the benefit of minority communities.

Greater Kashmir

PM Modi to kick off discussion on ‘Vande Mataram’ in Lok Sabha today

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PM Modi to kick off discussion on ‘Vande Mataram’ in Lok Sabha today

New Delhi, Dec 08: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kick off a special discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday to mark 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ as part of an exercise that promises to highlight many lesser-known facets related to the patriotic song.

PM Modi is also likely to highlight the contribution of the song, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and first published in the literary journal Bangadarshan on November 7, 1875, to the freedom struggle, its historical significance and current relevance.

PM Modi’s thoughts about Vande Mataram are keenly awaited by the Opposition members, as well as last month, during an event to commemorate the song’s anniversary, he accused the Congress of “removing important stanzas” from the original song in the 1937 session of the party in Faizabad.

PM Modi had said that the Congress’s decision sowed the seeds of Partition and dissected the national song into pieces. The Congress, however, claimed the decision was based on the advice of Rabindranath Tagore and amounted to the accommodation of feelings of members from other communities and faiths.

The discussion on Vande Mataram in the Rajya Sabha is likely to be initiated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday.

As per the schedule related to the Vande Mataram debate, the ruling NDA members have been allotted three hours out of the total 10 hours earmarked in Lok Sabha for it.

Earlier, a political confrontation erupted just before the start of the Winter Session as the Rajya Sabha Secretariat reiterated that MPs must refrain from using expressions such as ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jai Hind’ inside Parliament to maintain decorum.

The Opposition accused the BJP-led NDA of being uncomfortable with symbols of India’s Independence and unity.

The Winter Session of Parliament is scheduled to continue till December 19, and the discussion on ‘Vande Mataram’ is likely to be a noisy one in the coming days due to differences in opinion about the song between the treasury and opposition benches.

Greater Kashmir

Income Tax officials issue fact-check against fake e-mails offering to download e-PAN card

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Income Tax officials issue fact-check against fake e-mails offering to download e-PAN card

New Delhi, Dec 7: The Income Tax Department has issued a fact-check to alert citizens against fake e-mails asking people to download e-PAN card, an official said on Sunday.

The fact-check, issued with the help of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), said, “Beware of Fake Emails asking to download e-PAN cards.” The PIB also circulated a screenshot of showing the phishing e-mail which offered “A step-by-step guide” to download e-PAN card online. The Income Tax Department clarified that it does not request detailed personal information through e-mail.

“Do no respond to any emails, links, calls and SMS asking you to share financial and sensitive information,” the department said.

The Income Tax Department added it does not send e-mail requesting your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts, a statement said. The Department, in an advisory, said that if people receive an e-mail from someone claiming to be the authorised by Income Tax Department or directing you to an Income Tax website then do not reply and do not open any attachments.

“Attachments may contain malicious code that will infect your computer,” it added.

The advisory said, “Do not click on any links. If you click on links in a suspicious e-mail or phishing website then do not enter confidential information like bank account, credit card details.” It also cautioned citizens against cutting and pasting the link from the message into their browsers as the phishers can make the link look like real, but it may actually send you to different websites.

 

Greater Kashmir

J&K to announce final squad on December 12

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J&K to announce final squad on December 12

Srinagar, Dec 7: The Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council will announce the final 22-member squad for the upcoming senior men’s Santosh Trophy on December 12, a day before the team departs for Punjab for the qualifying round, officials said.

The council officer told Greater Kashmir that currently 32 players were shortlisted after an extensive multi-stage selection process and were undergoing the final coaching camp.

The official confirmed that the squad will be formally announced on Friday this week, while the top sports authorities are likely to flag off the team on December 13.

The qualifiers for Group A will be held in Mahilpur, Hoshiarpur (Punjab), where J&K has been clubbed with Punjab, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh. The team will play three matches on December 15, 17, and 19 to earn qualification for the final round.

The official said that the selection process began with a massive response from athletes across J&K. He said in the Kashmir division, around 245 senior players attended the open trials spread over three days.

“Separate trials were held in Jammu, where players from Poonch, Udhampur, Kathua, and other districts participated. Coaches also scouted players from the Kashmir Super League (KSL) and Premier League, widening the talent pool beyond conventional trials,” the official said.

The official added that following divisional trials, the Sports Council conducted the final selection round from November 21 to 23, from which the top 32 players were shortlisted for the ongoing camp.

The official added that the senior team is being prepared under the supervision of former India international and pro-licensed coach Ishfaq Ahmed, who is heading the coaching staff.

Greater Kashmir

Nearly 61% candidates appear for CCE amid age relaxation row, flight cancellations

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Nearly 61% candidates appear for CCE amid age relaxation row, flight cancellations

Jammu/Srinagar, Dec 7: Around 61 per cent of candidates appeared for the Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) on Sunday as the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) went ahead with the test despite calls for postponement amid widespread flight cancellations and a row over upper age limit.

The examination was conducted in two sessions — from 10 am to 12 pm, and from 2 pm to 4 pm — as scheduled, ending last-minute uncertainty amid tension between Lok Bhavan and the Omar Abdullah government over demands to relax the upper age limit.

The elected government, several political parties, and many aspirants had urged the JKPSC to postpone the exam.

“The examination was successfully conducted at 53 centres across Jammu and Kashmir. Of the total 22,573 registered candidates, 13,732 appeared for the tests — a turnout of 60.83 per cent — in two sessions,” JKPSC Additional Secretary and Controller of Examination, Sachin Jamwal, told PTI.

He said the examination was conducted under strict guidelines and supervised by observers and a magistrate stationed at each centre.

Asked about the reasons for the low turnout, he said such attendance was usual, noting that in previous examinations too, the turnout had consistently remained around 60 to 61 per cent.

Referring to the situation as extraordinary, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote to the JKPSC chairman on Saturday, saying the ongoing disruption in flight services has caused widespread chaos, and it has been “further compounded by the prevailing uncertainty” over the Lok Bhavan’s “delay” in approving age relaxation for aspirants.

However, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha refuted the claim that the Lok Bhavan had caused a delay.

Sinha wrote on social media that he had returned the file the same day, December 2, with a query about the possibility of holding the examination on the scheduled date if the upper age limit was relaxed, but received no follow-up from the government.

The post said the JKPSC had published an advertisement for the examination on August 22, with the exam scheduled for December 7.

The commission had fixed a maximum age limit of 32 years for open merit candidates, 34 years for reserved or in-service candidates, and 35 years for physically-challenged persons.

However, the government sought relaxation of the upper age limit to 35 years for open merit candidates, 37 years for reserved or in-service candidates, and 38 years for physically-challenged candidates.

“This exam is a dream for a lot of us. We were hopeful that the relaxation would come through,” said Abhinandani Gupta, a student, while waiting outside her designated centre in Jammu.

She said a postponement would have benefited those who missed the exam, but it would have been a setback for candidates who had been preparing for it.

Another aspirant, Sahil Mathur, said many students were expecting the paper to be deferred, but the JKPSC’s midnight notification announcing that the exam would be conducted as per schedule ended the uncertainty.

He expressed “heart-felt sympathy” for those who were unable to appear for the test.

“The chief minister had sought age relaxation. What happened then, we don’t know. The students were protesting till the last day. The uncertainty caused real hardship,” he said.

Many aspirants said they were unsure until the last moment whether the exam would take place or not, amid friction between the lieutenant governor’s office and the elected government.

 

Greater Kashmir

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