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The aim of the study was to determine the retention/retention rate of primary school pupils (I-V) who belong to the "scheduled tribes" (ST). It also aimed to compare these parameters by gender and educational sector. A descriptive survey method was adopted and Ganderbal district (J&K, India) forms the study area. The primary data on these parameters were collected from Chief and zonal education officers. The data was analysed with the help of percentage statistics and visualised with tables, pie charts and bar charts. The study revealed that the overall and GRR of tribal students at primary level was low at 80.49% and 75.87% respectively. In addition, the study revealed notable observations in terms of sex and zonal differences. The GRR of boys was low in contrast to that of girls (overall 75.52%, ST students 67.36%). It is noteworthy that Hariganwan zone had the lowest GRR for both tribal and all students as compared to Kangan, Ganderbal and Tullamulla zones.

The study aimed to analyze the educational participation of tribal students at the elementary stage of school education in district Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir. The study emphasized the enrolment of tribal students at various Grades (I, V, VI, VIII) at different points of time; compare the enrolment shares on a gender basis, and assess the change in patterns of enrolment shares from the initial Grade i.e., Grade I to terminal Grade i.e., Grade VIII of the elementary stage of school education. The study is descriptive. The official enrolment records and figures of tribal Gujjar and Bakarwal students were accessed through the concerned educational offices of the district. The investigators developed the information blank to seek Grade wise (I, V, VII, VIII) enrolment records of overall and tribal students. To analyze and visualize the collected enrolment data, tabulation, percentage statistics, and graphical representation was used. The study concluded that tribal share in overall enrolment comprises a significant portion at various Grades (Grade I 36.61%., Grade V 34.51%, Grade VI 31.57%, and Grade VIII 27.74%) of the elementary stage. The results indicate decline and gender disparity have been observed in tribal enrolment. At the elementary stage, i.e., from Grade I to Grade VIII, the tribal enrolment shares declined by -.8.87 percent (Boys -8.27 percent; Girls -9.25%).

Gojri speakers, i.e., Gujjars and Bakarwals, are the relatively deprived indigenous tribal communities and groups. The hegemony of dominant languages in significant fields such as polity, judiciary, and education accentuates the exclusion of tribal and minority languages. The study relied on secondary sources and mainly focused on Gojri speakers of Jammu and Kashmir, and India. We examined the indigenous Gojri language, its genesis, evolution, resemblance, geography, and diversity, and the plight of its neglect and exclusion from significant fields. We highlighted how Census operations, official languages of States/UTs, schedules of the constitution, parliament and judicial proceedings, pedagogical medium & school curriculum, language education policies, and initiatives contributed to such exclusion. The study expands our understanding of language landscape and diversity, hegemony and preference for dominant languages, and exclusion of minority and tribal languages. Considering the linguistic diversity of J&K and India, we believe this study can sensitize educational and language policy planners and practitioners about language bias, non-inclusive, discriminant, and unjust treatment, alienating Gojri speakers in different domains.

Disparities in educational access especially in tribal areas has been one of the grave issues in addressing tribal education. The study aimed to analyse educational access and disparities in school availability in tribal educational zones and stages of school education. The study adopted descriptive survey to understand the demographics and availability of schools; applied self-designed information blank to collect data from educational zones and analysed the data, using tabulation as well as percentage statistics. The study concluded that access to secondary education is limited in district Ganderbal, as the district possess low number of educational institutions (middle, high and higher secondary). Moreover, disparity has been found in educational institutions with respect to tribal dominated educational zones i.e., Hariganwan and Kangan. The tribal dominated educational zones lack access to schooling and possess low number of schools compared to other two educational zones i.e., Ganderbal and Tullamulla having dominant non tribal populations. This study has implications for policy planner to understand the dynamics of school access in tribal areas and increase schooling accessibility by establishing more upper primary and secondary schools especially in remote tribal zones, keeping in mind their topographical, seasonal movement, cultural underpinnings.

The study attempts to know the extent of enrolment, and retention rate of tribal students at upper primary stage and provide a comparative picture of tribal with respect to gender and educational zones of Ganderbal district. Descriptive survey has been used in present study. Using Information Blank, the primary information about student enrolment was gathered from the Chief and Zonal Educational offices of district Ganderbal. Percentage statistics was used to analyse the data. Statistical results were visualised through tables and bar graphs. The study revealed that tribals constitute 31.37% and 27.74% of aggregate Grade VI and Grade VIII enrolment respectively. The aggregate retention rate of district Ganderbal at Upper Primary stage of education was low (88.62%) while as that of tribal children also low (78.83%). The gaps/disparity between aggregate and tribal GRR were found. Gender disparity in GRR were observed in GRR of district Ganderbal. At upper primary stage, girls had low GRR (76.08%) than boys (81.48%), and tribal girls have lowest compared to boys (aggregate & tribal). Zonal disparity in GRR was observed in district Ganderbal. Zone Hariganwan had lowest GRR (Tribal and Overall) compared to zone, Kangan, Ganderbal and Tullamulla at upper primary stage.

The study aimed to explore the indigenous language of Gujjar and Bakerwal tribal communities of district Ganderbal of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The design of the study is qualitative in nature. The researcher employs purposive sampling in selecting the sample. The researcher surveyed 81 Gujjar and Bakerwal households and interviewed 22 (19 Male and 3 Female) members of both the communities chosen from villages of Hayan Palpora, Ganwan, Harignawan, Jara Pati, Thune, Syed Basti (Surfraw), Chount Waliwar, and Yechihama of Ganderbal district. The researcher employed semi-structured questionnaire, interview schedule, focused group discussion and observation methods to collect data pertaining to the study. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The study concluded that the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities are multi-lingual and, their mother tongue is gojri. Variation in mother tongue with respect to mannerism, tone and symbolic meaning of things has been observed between two communities. In intra community settings, mother tongue primarily used and in inter community settings, they mostly interact in Urdu language. Furthermore, in religious observances, both Arabic and Gojri is used. Gojri language has a close resemblance with Mewari and Urdu languages. The speakers of gojri language are declining as dominant languages like English and Urdu are much preferred in school and other settings. The school going children of both the communities learn and speak these dominant language instead of their own mother tongue that becomes a threat for the survival of the gojri language. The development of content in gojri language and financial support to the writers of gojri literature will be helpful in promoting gojri. The translation of school curriculum in gojri and the inclusion of gojri as a separate language subject besides, the usage of gojri as pedagogical method in educational settings will save the language form extinction.

Keeping in view the present scenario of Education in J&K, we are witnessing certain issues which are affecting our Educational Environment day in and day out. The teaching learning process is severely affected as classroom activities are out of order and the distance between teacher and student increases as no classroom activity takes place for weeks, months or years. It is because our educational system still depends on traditional classroom practices. Even in the absence of teacher, students can be engaged in teaching learning processes even if the existing conditions doesn't permit the normal functioning of educational institutions. For this reason, educational institutions should employ a variety of teaching strategies in an attempt to engage all of their students. One such type of classroom is "flipped classroom". The idea of the "flipped classroom" is a relatively new concept in education that has become increasingly popular. Instructors who flip their classrooms reverse the roles of school work and homework by recording video lectures for students to watch before coming to class. Students then work on their homework in the classroom while the instructor is present to help them. The primary objective of this paper is to make stakeholders aware about the use of the new methodological and technological tools for teaching different subjects in Educational Institutions and continuing educational process despite aversive conditions that affect classroom environment. This paper also acts as a policy implication for government or policymakers or teachers to use the flipped classroom as a contemporary model to be implemented in teaching-learning activities for higher education.

This study aimed to investigate the dissipation pattern, risk assessment, and waiting period of myclobutanil on apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh.) under temperate conditions in Kashmir, India. The study involved the application of myclobutanil 10 WP at a single recommended dosage (125 g a.i. ha−1) and double dosage (250 g a.i. ha−1) on Red Velox apple trees, 2 months before harvest. GC equipped with an electron capture detector was used to analyze myclobutanil residues in fruit samples. The study revealed that myclobutanil, at both recommended and double recommended doses, dissipated rapidly and became nondetectable after 55 and 60 days, respectively. The waiting period for myclobutanil application was determined to be 12.41 days for the single dose and 25.58 days for the double dose, respectively. These waiting periods were based on the maximum residue limit of 0.6 ppm as prescribed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and European Commission. The study concludes that myclobutanil 10 WP is safe for consumers at both recommended and double recommended doses when applied 2 months before harvest. Risk assessment, considering the average daily apple consumption in India and theoretical maximum residue contributions (TMRCs), indicates negligible health hazards even at double the recommended dosage. The calculated TMRC values at Day 0 were significantly below the maximum permissible intake. For average and maximum myclobutanil residues at single and double doses, the TMRC values were found to be 0.0069 and 0.0070 mg day−1 person−1 and 0.0105 and 0.0106 mg day−1 person−1, respectively. These results indicate that myclobutanil, when used according to recommended dosages and waiting periods, poses minimal health risks to consumers. The study emphasizes the importance of prudent fungicide use to minimize fungicide residues on fruits, thereby ensuring their safety for consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the key reasons for the poor performance of natural enemies of honeydew-producing insect pests is mutualism between ants and some aphid species. The findings demonstrated that red wood ant, Formica rufa Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) had a deleterious impact on different biological parameters of the lady beetle, Hippodamia variegata Goeze (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). H. variegata laid far fewer eggs in ant-tended aphid colonies, laying nearly 2.5 times more eggs in ant absence. Ants antennated and bit the lady beetle eggs, resulting in significantly low egg hatching of 66 per cent over 85 per cent in ant absent treatments. The presence of ants significantly reduced the development of all larval instars. The highest reduction was found in the fourth larval instar (31.33% reduction), and the lowest in the first larval instar (20% reduction). Later larval instars were more aggressively attacked by ants than earlier instars. The first and second larval instars stopped their feeding and movement in response to ant aggression. The third and fourth larval instars modified their mobility, resulting in increased ant aggression towards them. Adult lady beetles were shown to be more vulnerable to ant attacks than larvae. However, H. variegata adults demonstrated counterattacks in the form of diverse defensive reaction behaviours in response to F. rufa aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present investigation in Floriculture experimental block of Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology- Kashmir observed noticeable damage to carnation by thrips(Thrips florumand Thrips hawaiiensis), aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis), mite (Tetranychus urticae) and bud borer (Helicoverpa armigera). Among these,Thrips florum, Thrips hawaiiensis, Rhopalosiphum maidis andHelicoverpa armigeraare reported for the first time on carnation from Jammu and Kashmir, India. Thripspopulation on leaves (3.41 thrips/leaf) and flowers (20.41 thrips/flower) was at peak during the month of May and July. Maximum population of aphids was recorded as 4.59 and 5.12 aphids/leaf and flower respectively, during July. Mite population was maximum during June (38.71 and 57 mites/leaf and flower). Maximum incidence of Bud borer (10.06%) was recorded during the month of July. Incidence of thrips, aphids and mites was positively correlated with minimum and maximum temperature, whereas negatively correlated with minimum and maximum relative humidity. Regression analysis revealed weather parameters as important determinant for increased population of the sucking pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender determination in forensic investigation is of immense medico legal importance especially in mass disaster. Teeth are excellent tools for identification as they are resistant to physical and chemical agents. The aim of the present study was to investigate gender dimorphism by measuring the linear dimensions of mandibular canine width and inter canine width among Kashmiri population. The study consists of 125 subjects selected from outpatient clinic of oral medicine and radiology, 64 were males and 61 were females. The age groups selected were in range from 18-24 years. There was statistically significant difference in canine width on right and left sides and inter canine distance between males and females (p value less than 0.05). These parameters can be helpful in determining the gender of the unknown deceased person in forensic investigations among Kashmiri population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the effect of two aphid species; Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on the life table and reproductive parameters of ladybird beetle, Coccinella undecimpunctata (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). The results revealed that the total developmental period from egg to adult emergence was significantly shorter on Myzus persicae (18.6 ± 0.42 days) and longer on Brevicoryne brassicae (27.4±0.50 days). The adult longevity of males and females was noted significantly higher on M. persicae than B. brassicae. The reproductive parameters such as oviposition period (37±1.00 days), post-oviposition period (4.4±0.41 days), and fecundity (315.09±0.34 eggs) were found higher on M. persicae than B. brassicae (31.2±1.09 days, 3.3±0.35 days, 189.54±0.43 eggs, respectively). Among the life table parameters, net reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of increase were significantly higher on M. persicae (132.18 females/female and 0.19/day, respectively) and lower on B. brassicae (80.77 females/female and 0.12/day, respectively). Our results showed that C. undecimpunctata can be easily reared on M. persicae and is a more efficient biological control agent for M. persicae than B. brassicae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August 2020 chili (Capsicum annuum L.) showing wilt symptoms were collected from different districts of the Kashmir: Pulwama, Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag. From each district one location was selected for sample collection and a total of 23 chili isolates were isolated. The tissue bit technique was used to isolate fungus from the infected samples on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, purified using the single spore technique, maintained at 25⁰±1℃ and then stored at 4° C (Ferniah et al. 2014) . Initially cultural characteristics appeared as white colonies which gradually turned to pale white colored and attained a growth of 90 mm in 18 days of incubation at 25 ± 1°C. Microscopic observations revealed that mycelium was branched and cylindrical, 3.53-4.98 µm in width. Microconidia were ellipsoidal, hyaline, 0-1 septa werepresent, and 6-7 x 3-4 µm in size. Macroconidia were cylindrical, hyaline, 2-6 septa, measuring 20-60 x 40-45 µm in size. Molecular identification of the pathogens with ITS, TEF, and RPB2 was successfully carried out and the fungi was confirmed as Fusarium flocciferum infecting chili. Amplified PCR products were sequenced and were successfully submitted and accessioned in GenBank with accession number OM189458, OM441199, OR484037 for ITS, TEF, and RPB2 gene. To confirm Koch's postulates pathogenicity test was carried out using rhizosphere inoculation technique (Najar et al. 2011, Parihar et al. 2022). In total 7 replications for sand maize meal medium (potting mixture) was prepared by autoclaving 90 g of sand and 10 g of maize meal in 250 ml of erlenmeyer flask comprising 40 ml of distilled water. The spore suspension at 100 µl per pot was inoculated and was mixed with the sterilized potting mixture in a ratio of (2:1) and up to seven days pathogen was allowed to infect the soil (Davey and Papavizas 1962; Hami et al. 2021). Then chili seeds (cv. Kashmir long-1) were sown in infected potting mixture and grown for three weeks to allow the pathogen to infect the host plants. F. flocciferum took six weeks for appearance of symptoms in the infected potted plants. Control mock inoculation of the potting mixture was carried out using water droplets instead of spore suspension at 100 µl per pot. Seven replications were kept for both inoculated and un-inoculated / control mock pots. The plants developed initial symptoms from light green to yellowish discoloration of leaves followed by the drooping, shriveling, and ultimately leading to death. The collar region of the plant was cut vertically and observed that vascular bundles showed brownish spots and discoloration, indicating wilt as the cause of death. The pathogens were re-isolated and inoculated from all infected plants, then compared with their original pure culture inoculated first, which completely resembled based on morphological, cultural, and pathogenic characteristics. No symptoms were observed on control plants. A phylogenetic analysis was also carried out using ClustalW software that grouped the species identified by different genes into different clades. F. flocciferum has been reported earlier in pea, faba bean and bamboo (Kainthola et al. 2022; Šišić et al. 2020) . In solanaceous crops, this species have been explored as wilt pathogens for the first time from India, indicating diversifying nature of Fusarium flocciferum across various hosts including solanaceous crops.

In August 2020 powdery mildew was observed on pear cv. Fertility at the University research field in Shalimar, Srinagar (J&K), India (34° 08' 30.5'' N and 74° 51' 42.0'' E) with a disease incidence up to 30% (100 leaves observed from ten trees). White irregularly shaped fungal colonies were observed on the abaxial leaf surface which latter covered the whole leaf surface and developed black chasmothecia. The affected leaves appeared brittle, slightly curved upwards and dropped prematurely. Mycelium was hypophyllous, septate and measured 2.0 to 5.0 μm in width. Appressoria were nipple shaped, solitary or present in opposite pairs. Conidiophores were erect, up to 440.0 µm long (n=50), mostly centrally on upper surface of mother cells. Conidiophore foot-cells were filiform, followed by 1 to 3 shorter cells, producing single conidia at the tip. Conidia were hyaline, lanceolate, with a non-papillate rounded apex, measuring55.5 to 81.4 × 14.8 to 22.5 µm (n=50) and devoid of any conspicuous fibrosin bodies. Germ tube was, filiform, twisted, arose basally and measured 2.0 to 5.0 µm in width. Chasmothecia were hypophyllous, black, scattered, globose and measured 195.0 to 255.0 µm in diameter (n=50) having 8 to 12 equatorial, acicular, up to 270.0 µm length appendages with 25.9 to 44.4 µm diameter bulbous base (n=50) and obtuse or subacute apex. Asci in a chasmothecium were clavate to saccate, 62.9 to 81.4 × 18.5 to 22.2 µm (n=50), stalked, and two- spored. Ascospores were 33.3 to 40.7 × 12.9 to 18.5 µm (n=50), pale yellowish or golden brown in color. All morphological features were consistent with Phyllactinia pyri-serotinae (Braun and Cook 2012). To confirm the fungus identity at molecular level, DNA of two isolates was extracted from chasmothecia. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of ribosomal DNA was amplified with the primers ITS1 and ITS4 (White et al. 1990) and sequenced. The ITS sequences submitted to NCBI GenBank under Accession No. MZ505441 and MZ505442 have 97 (416/427) & 96 (424/440) per cent and 99 (424/430) & 98 (428/438) per cent base pair matching, with that of P. pyri-serotinae isolates from Japan (AB080521 and AB985507), respectively. Thus, the pathogen was identified as Phyllactinia pyri-serotinae Sawada based on morphological and molecular sequence analyses. The pathogenicity tests of both the isolates were carried out on one year old pear saplings (cv. Fertility) and repeated twice. The inoculum was prepared by collecting P. pyri-serotinae conidia in sterile distilled water from infected pear leaves. Three saplings were inoculated by spraying (15ml per sapling) the inoculum (3 x 105 spores ml-1) on leaf surfaces, while same number of saplings sprayed with sterile distilled water served as non-inoculated controls. After 15 days of incubation at 25oC in a green house, similar symptoms as observed on naturally infected plants were observed on inoculated plants and uninoculated plants remained symptomless. The pathogen of interest observed on inoculated plants was morphologically characterized and found to be similar to P. pyri-serotinae. The voucher specimen was deposited in the Herbarium Crytogamae Indiae Orientalis (HCIO), IARI, New Delhi under accession number 52213. Pear is the third most important temperate fruit grown in India (Chattopadhyay 2009) and our study reveal P. pyri-serotinae as the new causal agent of powdery mildew in addition to P. guttata (Dhar and Shah 1982) under Indian conditions.