Srinagar, Oct 27: The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) to abolish the Common Pool Quota and Rule 17 from its admission policy, terming these provisions discriminatory and inconsistent with national standards.

AIMSA Vice President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan appealed to JKBOPEE to take immediate corrective measures to align its admission process with the rest of the country. “We request the Jammu and Kashmir BOPEE to abolish the Common Pool Quota and Rule 17 provisions that exist nowhere else in India, only in J&K. Do it for fairness, merit, and better opportunities for students,” Dr Khan said.

Khan said that the continued existence of these provisions undermines the principle of equal opportunity for all aspirants, particularly medical students seeking admission to undergraduate and postgraduate professional courses. “These rules restrict merit-based selection and deprive deserving candidates of their rightful chances,” he added.

Dr Khan emphasized that medical admissions must be guided strictly by national merit lists and standard eligibility criteria prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the National Testing Agency (NTA). He said the association has received multiple representations from aggrieved students across Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the negative impact of the current quota structure.

“The goal should be a transparent and merit-based system that treats every candidate equally,” Dr Khan said.
Rule 17 and the Common Pool Quota are specific provisions under the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) regulations that govern admissions to professional courses such as MBBS, BDS, Engineering, and other allied programs.

Rule 17 allows for the allocation of certain seats based on administrative discretion, rather than strictly on open merit. Critics say this rule creates ambiguity and limits the number of seats available to general merit candidates, which they argue goes against the spirit of fair competition.

The Common Pool Quota, meanwhile, is a special category introduced to pool seats across different institutions or regions. However, this quota system does not exist elsewhere in India, and several student bodies claim it dilutes the merit list by accommodating candidates through non-standardized parameters.

According to AIMSA, both provisions place Jammu and Kashmir’s admission policy out of sync with the rest of the country’s National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) framework. Student associations argue that the system should be fully merit-driven, transparent, and aligned with the guidelines of the National Medical Commission (NMC) and Ministry of Education. [KNT]

Srinagar, Oct 27: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said that apple, saffron, mango, and litchi crops have been notified under the Re-structured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme, assuring that a formal crop insurance cover for apple growers is in the pipeline.

The tendering process for selecting an insurance company to implement the scheme is currently underway.

The assurance came in response to a question raised by PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra in the Assembly, who sought details about government measures to safeguard the interests of apple growers and address infrastructure gaps in the horticulture sector.

According to the written reply, the government said that the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), first introduced in 2019 through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) had provided timely market support to apple farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration is now working to revive the scheme to ensure long-term benefits for growers.

The reply further said that the government is expanding cold storage infrastructure to meet growing post-harvest demands. Jammu and Kashmir currently has a Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage capacity of 2.92 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), against an estimated requirement of 6 LMT, which accounts for nearly 30% of the annual fruit production.

“The department is contemplating to increase CA storage capacity over the next five years. Apart from funds under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), the J&K government is providing top-up subsidies through the UT Capex budget,” the reply read.

Officials said that the administration is holding awareness seminars in each district to inform youth about incentives available for establishing CA infrastructure and other post-harvest facilities. The government is also collaborating with the Industries and Commerce Department to develop new sector-specific industrial estates for horticulture in districts beyond existing hubs at Lassipora (Pulwama) and Aglar (Shopian).

In response to Parra’s question about fruit mandi upgradation, the government informed that two markets at Prichoo Pulwama and Pachhar Rajpora are functional and equipped with basic infrastructure. “Upgradation and improvement of these mandis is a continuous process. Funds to the tune of Rs 1.28 crore and Rs 3.68 crore have been earmarked respectively under NABARD for the year 2025–26,” the reply added.

The government said these measures including the upcoming crop insurance scheme, revival of MIS, and expansion of cold storage and mandi facilities — aim to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture ecosystem and secure the livelihoods of thousands of fruit growers across the Union Territory. (KNS)

Srinagar, Oct 27: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday clarified that helicopter services currently operating in remote regions like Gurez are exclusively meant to serve local residents who remain cut off during the harsh winter months, and not for tourists.

The clarification came in response to a query raised by MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly regarding the possibility of introducing helicopter services for tourists in border areas such as Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, told the House that the existing helicopter services were designed to ensure essential connectivity for locals during winter isolation.

“The helicopter services in Gurez are only meant for locals as the area remains cut off during winters. So far, the government has no plan to start helicopter services for tourists in far-flung areas, including Gurez,” the Chief Minister said.

However, Omar Abdullah emphasized that the government was open to the idea of private sector participation in tourism-linked air connectivity. “If any private player intends to start helicopter services for tourists in Gurez, we won’t create hurdles; instead, we will support them,” he said. [KNT]