The Press Council of India observes National #PressDay on 16 November every year. This day is celebrated to honour the formation of the Press Council of India in 1966.

#UTTRAKHAND: The portals of #Kedarnath and #Yamunotri temples in the Garhwal Himalayas were closed for the winter season on Wednesday.

The doors of Kedarnath, dedicated to Lord Shiva, were closed at 8:30 am and those of Yamunotri at 11:57 am.

#JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha interacted with the Para Archers Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar at Raj Bhawan today. He also honored the Para Archers and Coach, Abhilasha Choudhary with Certificate of Excellence. Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor, Sh Anshul Garg, CEO, SMVDSB also graced the occasion.

While Interacting with the prodigious Para Archers, the Lt Governor said their outstanding performance at 4th Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China have inspired the youth and the entire Union Territory is proud of them for bringing glory to the nation.

The Lt Governor said the strong winner’s instinct of Sheetal and Rakesh will popularize robust sports culture in J&K.

The Lt Governor also appreciated efforts of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, coaches, support staff of Academy for remarkable contribution to promotion of sports in the Union Territory.

#JAMMU: Army Public School Akhnoor secured a resounding victory in the Northern Command Inter-Army Public School Volleyball Championship 2023-24, an event that brought together champions from Cluster A and B of Army Public Schools within the Northern Command. The intense final match took place on November 3, 2023, at Army Public School Mathura and witnessed a thrilling competition between the two powerhouse teams. In the end, the champions from Akhnoor dominated the game with an impressive two straight-set win against their opponents from Army Public School, Mathura.

Brig Rakesh Pachora, SM, VSM, the Chairman of Army Public School Akhnoor, expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the victorious team for their stupendous performance. He urged the students to continue striving for excellence, highlighting the significance of determination, dedication and hard work in all fields.

Geeta Devi, the Principal of Army Public School Akhnoor, credited the team’s outstanding performance to the unwavering dedication of the coaching staff led by Ms Sangita Bhat, PGT PHE and the relentless hard work of the players. She added that their collective efforts and commitment were key to this extraordinary achievement.

The win not only demonstrates the remarkable sportsmanship and prowess of Army Public School Akhnoor but also highlights the school’s commitment to fostering holistic development in its students. This achievement stands as a proud moment for the school, its students, and the entire region.

Karva Chauth / Karwa Chauth, one of many Hindu festivals, is a fasting ritual observed by all married Hindu women who seek the longevity, prosperity and well-being of their husbands. This festival is very popular amongst married Hindu women in the western and northern parts of India, primarily in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. During the Karwa Chauth festival, married Hindu women dedicate the day to their husbands. Normally, women who observe this festival are called “Saubhagyavati” meaning “joyous and happy status of wifehood.

The festival was emerged also as a day for celebrating autumn. Hindu married women enjoy the company and companionship of relatives and friends. As of recently, the celebration has been given a more religious touch.

Karwa Chauth is glorified and also widely solemnized by Hindus and Sikh living in the northwestern part of India. Karva means clay pot while chauth means fourth. Karwa chauth commemorates the fourth day that follows the full moon in the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. This festival is typically celebrated immediately after the autumn harvest. This is the best time to meet friends and relatives and exchange gifts. During this festival parents send various gifts to their married daughters.

Karwa chauth is known for its extraordinary observance rate among married women in certain parts of India. Karwa chauth is celebrated in different ways depending on the region where a person lives. During this festival, jewelry, clothes and gifts are received from both the woman’s mother-in-law and mother. All married women wear wedding day outfits once again and apply mehndi.

There are many similar stories that are associated with karwa chauth from one part of India to another. During this particular day various items such as karwa, which is an earthen pot that has spout are actually collected and worshiped, is offered to the Goddess Parvati and Lord Siva. Usually the festival does not end until the moon is fully seen at night. During this festival an elderly woman is supposed to narrate a karwa chauth story before this fast is over.

Karwa chauth is a very important as well as a difficult fast that all married Hindu women observe. The festival begins just before sunrise and ends after worshiping the moon and doing prayers at night. No water or food can be consumed once the sun rises. The fast is only broken after seeing the moon and after all rituals of that particular day have been performed. When the moon has appeared, women break the fast after they have offered water to the moon.

Women dress in special clothes during this festival. A pink or red sari with a gold woven pattern is worn by many women as part their custom and is worn only in the evening. New brides will wear their wedding costumes. The karwa chauth fast sets a merry tone of frolic and fun, feasting and festivity and is amongst the biggest festivals celebrated by Hindus.

#JAMMU: Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly arrived here today on a private visit along with his wife, paid obeisance at the heritage Raghunath Mandir.

At Jammu Airport, Thakur, was warmly received by the senior BJP leaders, including Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member Parliament, Rajinder Sharma, Mayor JMC, Baldev Billawaria, Dy Mayor, Dr Devender Manyal, Priya Sethi, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Ashok Singh Manhas, Surinder Singh Bunty, S. Sucha Singh, Ajay Gupta, Sanjay Gupta and others.

Thakur drove to the ancient Raghunath Mandir temple and prayed for peace and prosperity in the region and well-being of the people.

Accompanied by the senior leaders, Mr Jai Ram Thakur later visited the most thronged Balaji Tirupati Temple in the city outskirts and offered Puja.

#JAMMU: Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta today released first ever school ranking and grading of teachers across Jammu & Kashmir which has been published by collecting the feedback from the students of class 6th to 12^th through digital mode of SAMIKSHA App & portal, developed by School Education Department, for assessing performance of teachers & School infrastructure.

Principal Secretary School Education Alok Kumar, along with the Project Director Samagra Shiksha Deep Raj, Director School Education Kashmir Tassaduq Hussain, Special Secretary School Education, Naseer Wani, among others were present on the occasion.

Chief Secretary said that, it is a revolutionary step taken by School Education Department and will go a long way in evaluating schools and teachers on real time basis, thus, giving Parents and administrators a real picture of the education system and will certainly enable in improving the required infrastructure in schools and also design the need specific training of teachers to enhance the learning outcomes of the students.

Dr. Mehta said Teachers in the Government sector are the best in terms of qualification and lot of impetus is being laid on training but pragmatic approach and focused attention of teachers to innovative and pedagogical method of teaching will ensure improved results, he added

Chief Secretary said that SAMIKSHA will reflect the true performance of teachers with respect to their classroom inputs/transactions and leave no space for subjectivity.

Dr. Mehta advised the School Education department to make the feedback a benchmark while analysing the teachers’ annual performance and advised that all the officers shall analyse the reports at their level and shall work on making education system more vibrant and aligned with NEP 2020.

Chief Secretary reiterated that, J&K UT is moving towards 100 % Digital & Transparent system, by introducing various online services to provide access to these services in the most effective manner, to each & every citizen, at all the locations. With these initiatives, J&K has become the first in the country, to make ranking of schools through digital platform of SAMIKSHA App. Quarterly review shall be taken and Plan will be prepared for the implementation in phased manner as per availability of resources.

He hoped that the UT should be seen as a model to be replicated by other States/UTs in the country. He underscored that J&K has the requisite capacity, capability, drive and desire to be best in the nation which has been done through various digital initiatives.

Principal Secretary Alok Kumar, informed that Samiksha provides System generated reports about the performance of Teachers and the status of schools on the basis of the Students’ inputs. Students have the facility to provide feedback in Hindi, English and Urdu languages to about 25questions based on different facilities/ schemes run for the benefit of students in schools and teaching techniques and behaviour of teacher in the classroom while teaching.

The response of the students of class 6th to 12th have been obtained through this mobile app on these parameters and depending on the score obtained in process,  ranking of the schools have been determined and grading of teachers have been made. This feedback will be obtained on a monthly basis, he informed.

Project Director, Samagra Shiksha made a brief presentation and informed that system has been developed in-house and first feedback for the month of September, 2023 was obtained as per direction of the Government to evaluate the schools and identify performers and low achievers amongst teachers.

He apprised that 642231 students from class 6th onwards have been registered in the portal and mapped with 74790 teachers imparting education to them in 9757 such schools. During the month of September ,2023,10.97 Lakh feedbacks have been received from 2.49 Lakh students for 55772 teachers of 8163 schools. Ranking of schools and grading of teachers have been defined on the basis of scores obtained by the schools and teachers on 100 point basis. During this evaluation process, 3696 schools ranked as Daksh (Efficient), 4441 as Uttkarsh (Flourishing), 1134 as AttiUttam (Very Good), 154 as Uttam (Good) and 29 as Parchestha (Striving).

Similarly, among the teachers, 1857 have been graded as excellent, 31340 as Very Good, 20836 as Good, 863 as average and 216 as below average.

#JAMMU: The J&K Sports Council held preliminary discussion with the visiting organizing committee team of Legends Cricket League headed by former international cricketer, Nikhil Chopra along with the Delhi Cricket Association’s (BCCI) pitch curator, Ankit Dutta.

Briefing about the venture, Secretary Youth Services and Sports (YSS ), Sarmad Hafeez, said that a meeting of the organizing committee and Sports Council team was held in Jammu to work out modalities for conduct of some of the matches of renowned Legends Cricket League in November at Moulana Azad Cricket Stadium, Jammu.

Secretary said that the matches are expected to feature former renowned cricketers like Chris Gayle, Virender Sehwag, Aron Finch, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh besides others.

Divulging further on the details, Sarmad Hafeez informed that following the preliminary discussion the Legends Cricket league team had a tour of the stadium. They assessed the existing facilities at the venue and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements put in place with a suggestion to make certain minor amends, wherever required.

Earlier, the visiting team was received by J&K Sports Council including Ranjit Kalra, Member Sports Council; Mohammad Hanief, Chief Sports Officer Sports Council; Baljinder Pal Singh, in charge of Divisional Sports Officer (J), and Manager M. A Stadium, Naveen Sharma along with other officials.

During the preliminary interaction, Ranjeet Kalra briefed the organizing committee about the history of sports in J&K. He elaborated how the administration has gone the extra yard in successful conduct of National and International events during past few years.

The team inspected the turf wicket and requested that the venue may be handed over to them as early as possible enabling them to prepare the wicket properly as many former international players are participating in the event.

The floodlights were also switched on to check the intensity and the LUX power for any possible gradation, if required, for proper focusing of light during the hours of play.

The team also visited the player’s dressing rooms, VIP lounge, third umpire rooms and commentator’s box and took stock of the minor changes and repairs required for the mega event including shower area, steam bath and ice bath chambers.

Nikhil Chopra, while speaking on the occasion, said that the chief curator shall visit the venue again at the end of this week to estimate the exact time required for preparation of the wickets and outfield. He also requested that during the preparatory time, the premises may not be allotted for any other activity keeping in view the magnitude of the event and the associated works required to make ground fully fit for the international event.

Secretary Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull, said the checklist for smooth conduct of the event is being prepared and if all goes well, the M A Stadium may become a regular feature for international and national cricket events in future, she added.