Page 4 - Ladakh

Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta meets PM Modi, Home Minister Shah

Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta on Saturday separately met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah here and apprised them of the overall situation in the Union Territory, an official spokesman said. Gupta, who took over as the Lt Governor of Ladakh on July 18, first met the prime minister and briefed him about the ground realities, challenges and aspirations of the people of Ladakh, the spokesman said. He highlighted the expectations of the people concerning development, connectivity, healthcare and livelihood opportunities. He also drew attention to the immense potential of Ladakh in the tourism sector, particularly in eco-tourism, adventure sports and cultural heritage-based experiences, the spokesman said. The spokesman said the prime minister reiterated the Government of India's commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Ladakh and stressed the importance of ensuring that the benefits of governance and welfare schemes reach the last person in the

BRO plans tunnels to ensure all-weather connectivity in eastern Ladakh

In a move to bolster strategic infrastructure, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is in the advanced planning stages of constructing numerous tunnels and high-altitude passes to ensure all-weather road connectivity in eastern Ladakh, a senior officer said on Saturday. The BRO is also aggressively adopting new technologies to accelerate project execution in this high-altitude region, where the working season is restricted to just a few months due to harsh winter conditions. "Primarily, Ladakh is linked by two national highways NH 1 and NH 3. We are responsible for NH 3. The Rohtang tunnel has already come up and we are planning on a few tunnels along passes like Baralacha and Tanglang," Col. Deepak Palande, director, works and resources, Project Himank, told PTI here. BRO's Project Himank was raised for the development of road communication in Ladakh region. It ensures the maintenance of communication and access to strategic areas close to the Line of Actual Control with China. Co

India successfully conducts tests of Prithvi-II and Agni-I missiles

India successfully test fires Prithvi-II and Agni-I ballistic missiles from ITR off Odisha coast

Indian Army tests Akash Prime missile in Ladakh, scores 2 direct hits

The trial was carried out by the Army Air Defence along with senior officials of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which has developed the system

Rahul, Kharge, write to PM Modi, urge legislation for statehood to J&K

Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge also urged the Centre to put forth a legislation that will bring the Union Territory of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution

NBWL clears over 30 defence projects in protected areas across states

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), headed by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, has recommended 32 defence infrastructure proposals involving diversion of land from protected areas and eco-sensitive zones across Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Ladakh and Sikkim. These include construction of strategic roads, helipads, training areas, ammunition depots, housing for troops and artillery regiments, with the bulk of the projects located in Ladakh's ecologically fragile Karakoram and Changthang sanctuaries. In Arunachal Pradesh, the committee cleared two major projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) inside Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary: the 56-km Malinye-Balua-Kapuda road (involving 111.29 hectares of forest land and 9.73 ha from the Eco-Sensitive Zone) and the 20.88-km Kapuda-Phuphu road (involving 44.13 ha of forest land). "The animal passage plan for the present proposal should address the wildlife movement for the animals found in the sanctuary

Govt targets ₹1 trillion farm economy in J&K by 2030, says LG Manoj Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the government's goal is to make every farmer in the Union Territory a proud stakeholder in India's journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Addressing the closing Ceremony of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at SKUAST Kashmir's Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops at Khudwani-Kulgam in south Kashmir, Sinha said it is a comprehensive strategy, designed to make J&K UT a robust Rs 1 trillion agricultural economy by 2030. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor lauded the valuable contribution of those associated with the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan for marking a transformative step, through this initiative, toward building a resilient, modern, and prosperous agricultural landscape in the Union Territory. "Let us walk together towards a future where every field blooms with prosperity, every farmer thrives with dignity and every village becomes a symbol of development. With Sankalp (resolve) comes Shakti ...

Tourist spots shut after Pahalgam attack to reopen in phases: LG Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the parks at tourist places, which were closed in view of security considerations after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, are being reopened in a phased manner to allow tourists to visit the destinations. "Some places were closed after April 22 (attack) in view of security considerations. The divisional commissioners and IGPs of Kashmir and Jammu have taken reports from every district and it has been decided to reopen some destinations in a phased manner," Sinha said. The lieutenant governor was speaking to reporters after visiting the Nunwan Base Camp of the annual Amarnath Yatra in Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Sinha said the destinations that have been decided to be reopened for tourists in the first phase include Beetab Valley and parks near Pahalgam market in the famous tourist destination of Pahalgam, Verinag, Kokernag and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district. In Srinagar, Badamwari Park, Duck Par

Ladakh reservation, Manipur floods, Microsoft layoffs, Israel kills 27 in Gaza #newsin1min

The government has introduced new reservation and domicile rules for Ladakh, reserving 85% of jobs for locals and one-third of seats in the Hill Development Councils for women.

Ladakh announces new domicile, job reservation and language policies

The government on Tuesday announced new reservation and domicile polices for the Union Territory of Ladakh, reserving 85 per cent jobs for locals and one-third of the total number of seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for women. English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti and Purgi languages have been made the official languages in Ladakh. The move is aimed at safeguarding local interests as people in Ladakh have been protesting for constitutional safeguards to protect their language, culture and land after the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 was abrogated in 2019. The changes in the policies for reservation in jobs, autonomous councils, domicile and languages will come into effect from Tuesday, according to multiple notifications issued by the government. Under the new rules, those who have resided for a period of 15 years in the UT or studied for a period of seven years and appeared in class 10 or 12 examination in an educational

Ladakh Reservation Act amended: Reservation cap set at 85%, EWS excluded

The Ministry of Law and Justice amended the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act for Ladakh, capping total reservation at 85 per cent, excluding the Economically Weaker Sections quota

Flying of drones, UAVs banned in Leh district amid India-Pak tensions

Authorities in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Thursday prohibited flying of drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Leh district, citing credible inputs and security concerns about their potential misuse by anti-national elements. District Magistrate of Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve, ordered the prohibition on flying of drones and UAVs by locals, tourists, or private persons and said any violation of the order shall attract strict legal action under relevant laws. "This order is issued ex-parte in the interest of public safety and security and shall remain in force until further notice," he said. The order was issued a day after Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In view of the likelihood of threats to public safety, security installations, and the general public, the order said the Superintendent of Police, Leh has requested for issuing orders prohibiting flying of drones and UAVs by the gener

Ladakh safe; stakeholders demand removal of 'misleading' travel advisories

Concerned over the cancellations of bookings in the aftermath of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the tourism stakeholders in the neighbouring Ladakh on Wednesday assured the foreign and domestic tourists of safe travel in the Union Territory (UT). They also demanded the removal of "misleading" travel advisories. Terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. Ladakh observed a shutdown against the terror attack. The UT is also holding a candlelight vigil, jointly being organised by all religious groups representing Buddhist, Muslim and Christian communities besides trade and tourism associations here later in the day to express solidarity with the bereaved families. The "terrorism-free" region of Ladakh was separated from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370. The two were made separate UTs. All Ladakh Ho

China's PLA ready to work with India for fair border solution, stable ties

The Chinese military on Thursday said it is willing to work with its Indian counterpart to implement a fair and just solution to the border issue besides sound and stable defence ties. A spokesman for China's National Defence, Sr. Col Wu Qian, made the remarks at a media briefing here while replying to a question about the disengagement and the follow-up process at the eastern Ladakh part of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "The Chinese military is willing to work together with our Indian counterparts to implement a fair and just solution on the border issue, Wu told reporters. Wu said the Chinese military would also like to "contribute our wisdom and strength to the beautiful vision of a shared dance between the dragon and elephant and a sound and stable military-to-military relationship." The dragon elephant dance has become a constant theme of China of late as the two countries ended the over four-year freeze of relations after reaching agreement over the disengagement process

Implementing resolutions to end Ladakh conflict with India: China

Chinese Defence Ministry on Thursday said the militaries of India and China are implementing the resolutions to end the standoff in eastern Ladakh in a comprehensive and effective manner. At present, the Chinese and Indian militaries are implementing the resolutions related to the border areas in a compressive and effective manner, Chinese Defence Ministry Spokesman Sr Col Wu Qian told a media briefing here, replying to a question on the status of the normalisation of the situation in eastern Ladakh sector. We are ready to work with the Indian side to jointly preserve the peace and tranquility in the border areas, he said. India and China completed the disengagement process late last year after firming up a pact for withdrawal of troops from Depsang and Demchok, the last two friction points in eastern Ladakh ending over four years of freeze in ties. After finalisation of the pact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Kazan in Russia on October

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India and China discuss Ladakh border during foreign secretary visit

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was on a two-day visit to Beijing to improve India-China bilateral ties

Still a degree of standoff; broader understanding needed: Army chief on LAC

The situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is sensitive but stable, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Monday. Addressing a press conference ahead of the Army Day, Gen Dwivedi said there is still a degree of standoff in the region and efforts are needed to restore trust between the Indian and the Chinese militiaries. The Army chief said patrolling and grazing in traditional areas have started in Depsang and Demchok, the two friction points from where the two sides have disengaged in October. Our deployment is balanced and robust and we are capable of handling any situation, he said. We are focusing on boosting border infrastructure and capability development, the Army chief said on the overall LAC situation. On the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said it is overall under control and the ceasefire pact with Pakistani side is holding up along the Line of Control. At the same time, the Army chief said infiltration attempts are continuing and the terror infrastructur

No troop cuts at LAC this winter, summer review likely, says Army chief

The LAC in Ladakh remains 'sensitive but stable', says Army Chief Dwivedi, ruling out winter troop cuts while emphasising summer reviews contingent on trust and talks

India protests China's new counties in Hotan, cites Ladakh overlap: MEA

MEA also stated it will closely monitor the situation and take necessary steps to protect India's interests in response to China's plan to build a mega dam on the Brahmaputra river