Srinagar, Nov 28: J&K Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) carried out a cordon and search operation (CASO) in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on Friday.

“The search operation was carried out as part of heightened security measures in the busy commercial centre,” an official said.

“Multiple teams conducted surprise inspections in several hotels and guest houses to verify records of visitors and ensure overall security compliance,” the official said, adding: “The operation continued for several hours; however, no suspicious activity was reported.”

J&K Police and other security forces have been carrying out aggressive anti-terrorist operations across the UT. These operations are focused on terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs), sympathisers, drug smugglers, and those involved in hawala money rackets and other unlawful financial activities.

This is part of the revised strategy by the security forces to dismantle the support system of terror rather than just focusing on the gun-wielding terrorists.

J&K has a 740-km-long line of control (LoC) and a 240-km-long international border (IB).

The army guards the LoC situated in Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts of the Kashmir Valley and Poonch, Rajouri, and parts of the Jammu district of the Jammu division.

The Border Security Force (BSF) guards the IB situated in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts of Jammu division.

The army and the BSF guard against infiltration, cross-border smuggling, and terrorist drone activity on the LoC and the IB, while the J&K Police and other security forces carry out anti-terrorist operations in the hinterland.

In the recent security review meeting, which was attended by senior officers of the army, paramilitary forces, J&K police, intelligence and senior civil administration officers, Lt Governore Manoj Sinha gave clear instructions to the security forces to target the support system of terrorism in the UT.

New Delhi, Nov 28: As Delhi-NCR’s air quality continues to deteriorate, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday said that India’s children are choking due to toxic air and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue.

LoP Gandhi took to ‘X’ and posted, “Every mother I meet tells me the same thing: Her child is growing up breathing toxic air. They are exhausted, scared and angry.”

“Modi ji, India’s children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability?” he wrote.

He further added, “India needs an immediate, detailed Parliament debate on air pollution and a strict, enforceable action plan to tackle this health emergency. Our children deserve clean air – not excuses and distractions.”

LoP Gandhi also shared a video in which he is seen interacting with women who express deep concern about rising pollution levels in Delhi-NCR. In the video, the women speak about the harmful impact of polluted air on their children, saying that their health is worsening day by day.

They also warn that if this issue is ignored now, it will create long-term health and economic damage for the country. The women can be heard questioning why the government is not issuing proper health advisories or taking urgent preventive measures.

In the video, Rahul Gandhi responds by saying that pollution persists because several stakeholders benefit from the current system and resist meaningful corrective action.

Meanwhile, Delhi woke up to yet another day of toxic air on Friday, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 385, firmly in the “very poor” category. Air pollution across Delhi-NCR continues to remain hazardous, offering little respite to residents already struggling with a cold wave.

The spike in pollution comes barely a day after authorities lifted the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-III restrictions, which are enforced to curb severe pollution levels. However, the relief was short-lived, as air quality deteriorated rapidly once again. On Thursday, the city’s overall AQI rose sharply to 377, up from 327 the previous day, marking a significant decline in air quality within 24 hours.

Despite the worsening conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has clarified that Stage-III curbs will only be reinstated if the AQI crosses 400, which falls under the “severe” category. Until then, authorities plan to continue monitoring the situation without reimposing stricter curbs.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), pollution levels surged steadily throughout the day on Thursday due to persistently low wind speeds. The AQI, recorded at 351 at 8 am, escalated to 381 by 7 pm, indicating continuous accumulation of pollutants over the region.

New Delhi, Nov 28: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday that India is currently engaged in discussions on fair and balanced trade deals with 14 countries or groups representing nearly 50 nations, including the United States, the European Union, GCC countries, New Zealand, Israel, Eurasia, Canada, South Africa and the Mercosur group.

Addressing the annual general meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here, the minister underlined that balanced and equitable trade agreements have already been concluded with Australia, the UAE, Mauritius, the United Kingdom and the four-nation EFTA bloc.

Highlighting broader global developments, the minister said that recent geopolitical and economic challenges have underscored the need for trusted partners and resilient supply chains. He stated that India’s expanding network of free trade agreements (FTAs) and economic partnerships is aimed at building long-term cooperation anchored in fairness, transparency and mutual benefit.

Goyal said that the idea of self-reliance is central in India’s civilisational ethos, recalling references from the Bhagavad Gita and Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on Swadeshi. He said that self-reliance has historically guided India’s progress and continues to remain central to the country’s economic strategy. He added that this vision has been strengthened through the focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Referring to the recent EFTA agreement, the minister noted that the bloc has committed to invest $100 billion in India across innovation and precision manufacturing. He underscored India’s cost competitiveness in research and innovation, stating that high-quality innovation undertaken in India can be achieved at a fraction of the cost compared to Europe or the United States.

The Minister highlighted India’s strengths in innovation and technology, supported by a young demographic, increasing digital adoption and a growing talent pool. He said that India’s large number of STEM graduates and widespread internet access create strong potential in emerging areas such as applied artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and deep-tech innovation.

He noted that the recently announced $12 billion Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) fund, along with ongoing support to startups and deep-tech industries, will further accelerate India’s innovation ecosystem.

Goyal emphasised the importance of strengthening skilling to prepare India’s youth for future opportunities. He said that unlike many developed economies facing ageing populations, India’s youthful demographic is quick to adapt to emerging technologies and has already demonstrated high engagement with digital platforms. He added that this readiness positions India to play a major role in the global technology landscape.

The minister outlined India’s strengths through the ‘PESTLE’ framework, noting that Prime Minister Modi has consistently advanced the vision of self-reliance across sectors. He said that politically, a stable and predictable government committed to “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” has enhanced investor confidence. In the economic domain, initiatives such as the National Manufacturing Mission and the Rs 25,000 crore Export Promotion Mission are supporting India’s rise towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

On the social front, he highlighted that the four Labour Codes ensure better wages and protections, while the Antyodaya approach has supported the fulfilment of basic needs.

In the technology sector, Goyal pointed to initiatives aimed at reducing external dependence, including the Semiconductor Mission (Rs 76,000 crore) and the Rs 7,000 crore programme for permanent magnet production, which strengthen domestic manufacturing and supply chain security. In the legal domain, he referred to ongoing reforms, including progress toward Jan Vishwas 3.0, designed to enhance ease of doing business.

He further noted that the ‘Atomic Energy Bill 2025’ marks a historic shift by opening up the nuclear sector to strengthen energy sovereignty.

The Minister urged FICCI to adopt a mission-driven approach to promoting innovation, deepening research and development, strengthening industry-academia linkages and supporting India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.