Daily Excelsior

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said opposition parties had mercilessly crushed the dreams of women by not allowing the womens reservation bill to pass in Parliament despite the governments best efforts. In an address to the nation, a day after a bill to implement womens reservation in legislatures was defeated in the Lok Sabha, Modi said the self-serving politics of parties like the Congress, the DMK, the TMC, and the Samajwadi Party has come at [] The post Oppositio

New Delhi, Apr 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed the opposition parties for defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha to tweak womens reservation and apologised to the mothers and sisters in the country saying Womens Power Bill could not pass in Parliament. In Address to the Nation, PM Modi said crores of women across the country had their eyes on Parliament yesterday and noted that while naitons interest in paramount for BJP-led NDA, for some [] The post Womens P

Every citizen of India is watching how dreams of our women have been crushed: PM Modi in address to nation The post Every citizen of India is watching how dreams of our women have been crushed: PM Modi in address to nation appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Opposition has committed a sin by opposing women reservation and they will be surely punished for this: PM Modi in address to nation The post Opposition has committed a sin by opposing women reservation and they will be surely punished for this: PM Modi in address to nation appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Opposition parties have insulted our Constitution by defeating bill for womens reservation in legislatures: PM Modi in address to nation The post Opposition parties have insulted our Constitution by defeating bill for womens reservation in legislatures: PM Modi in address to nation appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: India on Saturday summoned Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali after two Indian vessels had to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following an incident of firing by Irans Revolutionary Guards, authoritative sources said. A strong protest was lodged with the ambassador over the incident, they said. There is no official word yet on summoning Fathali to the external affairs ministry. Several commercial vessels tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz after Iran on Friday announced that

JAMMU, Apr 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has posted Ravi Kumar Sihag as Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Rajouri in the interest of administration. He replaces Chander Parkash, who has been asked to await further orders in the General Administration Department. In addition to his new role, Sihag will also hold the charge of Registrar at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU). Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, has been relieved of the additional charge of Re

Srinagar, Apr 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday assigned additional responsibilities to Dr Piyush Singla, IAS, Secretary to the Government, Information Technology Department, in the interest of administration. According to Government Order No. 806-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated April 18, Dr Singla, who is already holding additional charge of Administrative Secretary, Public Grievances Department, shall now also hold the charge of Administrative Secretary, Transport Department and Hospitali

BHADERWAH/JAMMU, Apr 18: After remaining closed to commuters for over three months owing to snowfall, the strategic 140-km BhaderwahChamba interstate road linking Jammu and Kashmir with Himachal Pradesh was reopened for vehicular traffic on Saturday, officials said. The road, a key link for interstate connectivity and the tourism sector, was closed after heavy snowfall in the Bhaderwah sector on December 31 last year. In recent weeks, the authorities began snow-clearing operations, which were ca

New Delhi, Apr 18: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused the Centre of conspiring to change the federal structure of the country in the garb of womens reservation and asserted that the defeat of the bill to amend the womens quota law in the Lok Sabha was a victory of democracy and opposition unity. Addressing a press conference here, the Congress general secretary underlined that the opposition was not against reservation for women and would support the Womens [] The post Cen

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Congress and other parties will have to pay a price for not supporting the bill for the early implementation of the womens reservation and asked Union ministers to expose the oppositions anti-women mindset before the people, according to sources. At a Cabinet meeting, the prime minister reaffirmed his governments support and commitment to get the womens reservation implemented in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The sources also s

DUBAI, Apr 18: Two Indian vessels have had to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following reports of gunfire from Irans Revolutionary Guard, a vessel-tracker said. TankerTrackers.com said the vessels include an Indian-flagged super tanker, carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil. Earlier, Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday (April 18, 2026), a British maritime security agency reported, after Irans military reversed a pledge to open the route to shipping. T

DE Web Desk JAMMU, Apr 18: The Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India, has ordered the transfer of 2023 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer Pallavi Mishra from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab Cadre on grounds of her marriage to the same batch Punjab Cadre IAS officer Dr Aditya Sharma. In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rules (2) of Rule 5 of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules 1954 and with the concurrence of the Ministry of Home [] The post IAS Pallavi Mishra Transfer

JAMMU, Apr 18: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has ordered the annual Darbar Move of its main wing from Jammu to Srinagar for the summer season of 2026. As per the order, several offices, including the main wing of the High Court, office of the Principal Secretary to the Chief Justice, Registrar Vigilance, Director of the J&K Judicial Academy, Registrar Rules, Registrar IT, and the Central Project Coordinator (e-Courts), will close in Jammu on April 30 [] The post Darbar Move: Hig

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Four Indian Forest Service officers of the AGMUT cadre in the rank of Deputy Conservator of Forests have been transferred to different segments. As per the order, Satyaprakash Singh and Atharva Tiwari have been posted to the Delhi segment, while Sandeep Divyajyoti Behera has been transferred to Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, the tenure of Amit Gemawat in the Delhi segment on an SDR post has been extended for a period of one year. The post Four AGMUT Cadre IFS Officers Transfer

LEH, Apr 18: In a landmark initiative to preserve Ladakhs ancient heritage, Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday laid the foundation stone for Indias first Petroglyph Conservation Park on the banks of the Indus River here on World Heritage Day. Petroglyphs are prehistoric images, symbols, or carvings etched, pecked, or engraved directly onto rock surfaces. The park aims to serve as a dedicated conservation space for centuries-old rock carvings (petroglyphs) that are increasingly under thre

JAMMU, Apr 18: Separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah was arrested by the NIA in connection with a three-decade-old terror case and remanded in the agencys custody for 10 days by a special court on Saturday, officials said. Shah was arrested by the Srinagar branch of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday in the 1996 case involving a terrorist attack on policemen during a militants funeral, and was produced before the Patiala House Court in Delhi which allowed a three-day [] The post Sep

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday termed the Congress anti-women for foiling the efforts to pass the womens reservation bill in Lok Sabha, and said the governments attempts to give women their rightful place in decision-making will continue. Addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the Budget session, the parliamentary affairs minister also said that while the government and the ruling alliance were sad that the womens reservation bill did not get the Lok Sabha

SRINAGAR, Apr 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inspected the ongoing construction of the Extension Block at Government Lalla Ded Hospital and conducted a comprehensive review of the projects progress, execution strategy and infrastructure development. The upcoming facility, being developed at the premier maternity care hospital, is designed as a dedicated Infertility and Gynaecological Oncology Centre and will significantly strengthen specialised maternal and neonatal healthcare services i

New Delhi, Apr 18: The government on Saturday approved a proposal to create a domestic insurance pool, Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI pool), with a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore to facilitate continuous maritime insurance coverage. The pool ensures that Indian trade continues to have access to affordable insurance for vessels carrying cargo from any international origin to Indian ports and vice versa, even when transiting volatile maritime corridors. This was informed by Informatio

MENDHAR/JAMMU, Apr 18: An army soldier was injured in a landmine explosion, while a rusted shell was safely defused in a forward village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. The explosion occurred during an area domination patrol by an army column in the Balakot area, leaving an Agniveer injured, they said. The soldier was shifted to a hospital and his condition is stated to be stable, officials said. As [] The post Soldier Injured I

Leh, Apr 18: The Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, today chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for the Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Tathagata Buddha in Ladakh. In the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor directed all departments to expedite preparations, ensure the cleanliness of venues and surrounding areas, remove debris, and intensify drives to manage stray animals. He also reviewed infrastructure readiness, including sanitation, po

JAMMU, Apr 18: Police personnel in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district underwent specialised training in VIP security to enhance their professional capabilities and preparedness in handling sensitive security assignments, officials said. A felicitation ceremony was organised at the district police lines in Doda on Saturday to mark the successful completion of a two-day training programme on VIP security. The training was conducted as per modules devised by the Security Headquarters, J&K, with the o

MUMBAI, Apr 18: ICICI Banks consolidated net profit increased by 9.28 per cent to Rs 14,755 crore in the March quarter, according to an exchange filing on Saturday. It had reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 13,502 crore in the year-ago period. On a standalone basis, the second-largest private sector lenders net profit rose 8.5 per cent to Rs 13,702 crore compared to Rs 12,630 crore in the year-ago period. For the recently ended fiscal year 2025-26, its post-tax [] The post ICICI Bank Q4 ne

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Ola Electric on Saturday announced Ola Sona Weekend to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, offering customers benefits worth up to Rs 50,000 across its electric vehicle portfolio. As part of the celebration of one of Indias most auspicious festivals, customers will also stand a chance to win the Ola Sona, a limited-edition scooter with real 24-karat gold-plated elements, the company said in a statement. Additionally, it is offering its Gen 3 S1 X (2kWh) [] Th

Cabinet approves creation of Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore: I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw The post Cabinet approves creation of Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore: I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Delhi Police has arrested four radicalised men from Maharashtra, Odisha and Bihar who allegedly planned terror activities, carried out recce of sensitive locations to target them and attempted to recruit others through encrypted online platforms, officials said on Saturday. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and related material were seized during the operation, police said. Two of the accused were in the process of assembling a remote-controlled toy car fitted with an IED t

ISLAMABAD, Apr 18: Pakistans Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has concluded his three-day visit to Iran as part of Islamabads efforts to resolve the conflict between the US and Iran. Munir, who was heading a high-level delegation to Iran, landed in Tehran on Wednesday, becoming the first foreign military leader to visit the country since a two-week ceasefire was agreed between Iran and the US on April 8. During the visit, Munir held discussions with Iran [] The post Pak Army

LONDON, Apr 18:Traditional tribal spirit Mahua and Goan Feni are making their debut in the UK market as part of a new range of Indian heritage spirits from this week. Maharaja Drinks, a retailer focussed on introducing craft Indian beverages to Britain, has launched three Feni offerings and a Mahua spirit in celebration of indigenous spirits with centuries of distilling history rooted in India. The specialist retailer is geared towards organic certification, sustainable production methods and en

COLOMBO, Apr 18: Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka fell significantly in March due to the war in West Asia, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said on Saturday. January and February recorded 277,327 and 279,328 arrivals respectively, however this positive trend was disrupted in March as arrivals dropped significantly to 183,979, the SLTDA said. The sudden dip can be largely attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf/Middle East regions, it added. The war had disrupted Sri Lankas

ISLAMABAD, Apr 18: Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt have discussed ways to enhance cooperation in key areas of mutual interest in a third consultative meeting held in Antalya. The meeting between Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty was held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday, according to a statem

SRINAGAR, Apr 18: The first batch of 431 Haj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir left for Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saw them off at the airport here, officials said. The pilgrims, including 230 males and 201 females, left in three flights, they said. Officials said all required arrangements for transportation, baggage handling and documentation have been put in place at the Haj House in Bemina here to ensure a smooth departure process. Hundreds of family members [] The p

Srinagar, Apr 18: National Investigation Agency has arrested Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in connection with a 1996 case registered in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources said that Shah was produced before the Patiala House Court in the evening on Friday, which granted the agency three days of transit remand. Officials said he will be taken to Jammu and Kashmir and produced before a court on Monday for further proceedings. The case relates to an FIR lodged at Shergarhi Police [] The post

Srinagar, Apr 18: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday ordered the takeover of management committees of 58 schools linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its Falah-e-Aam Trust, officials said. Official sources said that the action follows adverse intelligence reports and the expiry of the schools management validity. The School Education Department invoked Ministry of Home Affairs notifications declaring JeI an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) A

BENGALURU, Apr 18: Cautioning that the adoption of technology in the judiciary must be accompanied by a clear and conscious understanding of its inherent limitations, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday urged judicial officers not to be afraid of AI. Asserting that technology must remain an aid, not a substitute, he said the integration of Artificial Intelligence into the judicial process must be guided by a principle of balanceleveraging its benefits to enhance efficiency while steadf

JAMMU, Apr 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday continued his campaign for a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir by leading a padyatra in Rajouri. He said that 63 smugglers have been arrested with 45 FIRs registered during the past five days of a relentless crackdown. Sinha launched a 100-day intensive campaign under the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan on April 11 from Jammu, followed by programmes on April 13 in Kathua and on April 15 in Ramban district. Sinha, who [] The post LG Sinha Leads

Ranipet (Tamil Nadu), Apr 18: Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah lied to the nation claiming they were attempting to pass a bill for womens quota. However, hidden behind such a claim was a diabolic idea of bid to change the nations electoral map and weaken states. What was attempted was an anti-national act and it was against the union of states, he alleged. The BJP-led government [] The post PM, Shah Lied To N

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation tonight at 8.30 PM, a day after a bill to implement womens reservation in legislatures was defeated in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister will address the nation at 8.30 PM (April 18, Saturday), an official said. Modi is expected to delve into the issue of implementation of womens quota and the happenings in Parliament, where opposition parties on Friday voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. Under [] The post

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: The Centre has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) by two per cent for all government employees. This has been effective as of January 1. The government announces the DA hike twice a year for January and July. The notification usually comes later, often around festivals like Holi or Diwali. This time, however, there was discontent among the central government employees as the DA announcement was delayed. The post Govt Approves 2% Dearness Allowance Hike For Central Govt Emp

SRINAGAR, Apr 18: A fire broke out in a five-storey commercial building near the Lal Chowk city centre here on Saturday, but was doused before it could spread in the congested business hub, officials said. They said firefighters recovered 19 gas cylinders during the operation and there were no casualties in the incident. Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Aqib Mir, said, The fire originated from the attic portion of the building, which houses the kitchen of a restaurant. The [] The

Jammu, Apr 18: The local administration has demolished the residential property of a drug peddler in Jammu amid heavy security arrangements as part of its ongoing crackdown on narcotics, officials said on Saturday. A large contingent of officials and police, armed with heavy-duty bulldozers, demolished the property owned by Shamsdin alias Pappi in Belicharana for his involvement in drug peddling, they said. The authorities demolished Shamsdins house, removed grass huts and seized some two-wheele

Rajouri, Apr 18: The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today joined Padyatra and addressed a public rally in Rajouri under Drug-Free J&K campaign. The Lieutenant Governor observed that border district Rajouri is sensitive and prone to cross-border drug smuggling. But we are determined to crush these challenges, dismantle the drug trade and liberate society from addiction. From April 11, J&K Police had launched a relentless crackdown in Jammu Division. More than 45 FIRs were filed, 63 smugglers nab

Chennai, Apr 18: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the opposition parties defeated the delimitation bill in the Parliament on Friday to defend the idea of India. Addressing a poll rally at Ponneri here, he said the BJP-led government at the Centre brought a new bill on April 16, and said they were trying to pass the womens bill, which he said was passed in 2023. In the so-called Womens Bill, delimitation was hidden. The idea was to reduce [] The post Defeated delimitation bill in Par

CHANDIGARH, Apr 18: Punjab Police on Saturday claimed to have busted a cross-border drug smuggling module in Amritsar with the arrest of two persons and recovery of 64.62 kg of heroin from their possession. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the Punjab governments anti-drug drive Yudh Nashian Virudh achieved major success with the recovery of 64.62 kg of heroin. The Counter-Intelligence wing of the Punjab Police and the State Special Operations Cell in Amritsar were involved in the ope

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused the Centre of conspiring to change the federal structure of the country in the garb of womens reservation, asserting that the defeat of its bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the womens quota law was a victory for the Constitution as well as opposition unity. She also demanded that the government implement the Womens Reservation Act of 2023 on the current strength of the Lok Sabha. What [] The post Centres Conspiracy To Cha

MELBOURNE, Apr 18: Australia and Japan signed contracts on Saturday to deliver the first three of a 10 billion Australian dollar (USD 6.5 billion) fleet of Japanese-designed warships, with the first due for delivery in three years. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three Mogami-class frigates in Japan. Australia plans to build another eight in a shipyard in Western Australia. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles attended a signin

BEIRUT, Apr 18: Iran said it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but questions lingered Saturday about how much freedom ships actually had to transit the waterway as Tehran maintained its grip on who got through and threatened to close it again if the US kept in place its blockade of Iranian ships and ports. Irans Friday announcement about the opening of the crucial body of water, through which 20 per cent of the worlds oil is [] The post Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but

Lalit Gargg The sky of Indian music feels unusually silent todaysomewhat emptier, somewhat more still. The playful bird of melody, the enchanting voice that sowed seeds of sweetness in millions of hearts for decades, may no longer be physically among us, yet her resonance has dissolved into eternity, becoming immortal. Asha Bhosle was not merely a singer; she was a stream of sound that embodied the very soul of Indiaflowing through every culture, every emotion, and every era. A legendary [] The

Syed Yunis Bukhari In the evolving landscape of modern healthcare, much attention is given to advanced treatments, cutting-edge surgeries, and specialist consultations. However, one crucial component continues to remain largely unnoticed laboratory medicine. Working silently behind the scenes, diagnostic laboratories form the backbone of clinical decision-making, influencing nearly 7080 per cent of medical judgments. Yet, despite their indispensable role, they often remain under-recognized and u

Baby Sharma We live in a time where reality is faster and louder than before. Social media has turned life into something that has to be constantly shared and watched. We live more in a digital reality than in physical one. It has become necessary to present a perfect moment online than to live it in real life. In this fast paced and stimulated version of reality, we are witnessing a generation that is growing online. Their childhood is recorded [] The post Growing up online: The Generation That