Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent VADODARA (GUJARAT), May 8 :Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today inaugurated Lakshya 2047 Centre for Future Skills, Cadaveric Centre and Advanced Medical Simulation facilities at Parul University here. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said India is moving at a very fast pace in emerging technologies including Qua

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: SMVDUs School of Business organized an insightful session by Neetu Dhar, Chairperson of Jammu Pariyatan Vikas Cooperative Ltd and Director of Unati Agri and Allied Multistate Cooperative Ltd. Prof. Ashutosh Vashishtha and Prof. Suparn Kumar Sharma welcomed the resource person. Addressing the participants, Neetu Dhar explained how SHGs functions as a strong grassroots mechanism for poverty alleviation by encouraging savings, credit access, collective decision

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: NHPC Limited, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Power today announced the commercial operation of the fourth unit (Unit # 4 of 250 MW) of its 2000 MW (8250 MW) Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (LHP), located in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The unit commenced commercial operation adding 250 MW of clean energy to the national grid. On this occasion, Bhupender Gupta, CMD, NHPC expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Power, Government of India [] The

Ashok Ogra ashokogra@gmail.com For a long time, the Bengali voter has been associated with a strong cultural orientation-often identifying more with culture,debate and political engagement than being defined primarily through a religious lens. Material ambition and overt displays of wealth were also often viewed with some restraint. Politics in Bengal has not been confined to formal institutions; it has also found expression in literature, theatre, music and everyday conversation. This helps exp

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8 : To discuss organizational strengthening, expansion of grassroots outreach and enhancement of public connectivity through local body units across the Union Territory, J&K BJP Urban Local Body Cell organized an important meeting, here today. J&K BJP president and Member Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Sat Sharma accompanied by General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Koul, General Secretary Baldev Singh Billawaria, All Cells Incharge Ved Sharma, All Cells Co-Incharge

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today met several public representatives, various deputations and individuals at his Public Services & Outreach Office Raabita here and discussed a range of public welfare and developmental issues concerning Jammu & Kashmir. MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, called on the Chief Minister and discussed issues related to parks and gardens in his constituency. MLA Banihal, Sajad Shaheen, also raised several issues of public importance co

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appreciated the prompt and coordinated efforts of the Army and Civil Administration in safely rescuing tourists stranded in the higher reaches of Gulmarg following a technical snag in a private helicopter. The Chief Minister commended the swift response and close coordination among all agencies involved in the rescue operation, which ensured the safety and well-being of the stranded tourists. He further directed the admini

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, May 8: A joint delegation of Nirbhay Bharat Foundation and Sarhad NGO headed by Tarun Uppal called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, today. The post Delegation calls on LG appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah today called out forces stoking controversy over the Urdu language, saying the party remains steadfast in defending Urdus cultural, administrative, and religious centrality in Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement issued from the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, he said the forces attempting to manufacture outrage over the issue are doing so to camouflage their own historic blunders and political failures,

J&K to roll out rehabilitation plan for drug abuse victims Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired a meeting of the concerned Administrative Secretaries to deliberate upon the comprehensive rehabilitation plan for victims of drug abuse prepared by the Social Welfare Department in consultation with various Government departments and stakeholders. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Principal Secretary, Home; Commissioner Sec

PARAMARIBO, May 8: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stressed the critical role of partnerships in achieving progress in a tough world, and underlined Indias role as a trusted partner in the global context. Jaishankar made the remarks while addressing representatives from sections of Surinamese society on the theme Partnership for Progress in Paramaribo on Thursday. The minister is here on the second leg of his three-nation Caribbean visit. Made the case that a tough world nevertheless requ

BEIJING, May 8 : China, for the first time, has confirmed that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during the four-day conflict with India last year, official media reports here said. Chinas state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday aired an interview with Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of Chinas (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, a key developer of Chinas advanced fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle design. Zhang had provided t

SINGAPORE, May 8 : India and Singapore have vowed to jointly work to combat the challenge of terrorism including cross-border movement of terrorists, radicalisation, and financing of terrorism. Both sides deliberated on bolstering their anti-terror cooperation at the fifth meeting of their Joint Working Group (JWG) on combating terrorism and transnational crime, held in New Delhi on Thursday. According to a joint press release, the JWG unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism in all its fo

KOLKATA, May 8 : West Bengal chief minister-elect Suvendu Adhikari on Friday evening met Governor RN Ravi and staked a claim to form the first BJP-led government in the state. Adhikari reached Lok Bhavan barely two hours after being elected leader of the BJP legislature party at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The CM-elect was accompanied by several top leaders of the BJP, including Union ministers Bhupendra Yadav, Sukanta Majumdar and Santanu Thakur, Odisha Chief Minister []

BANGKOK, May 8: Miners in Myanmar have discovered a rare ruby of enormous size, considered to be the second-largest by weight ever found in the conflict-battered Southeast Asian nation, state media reported Friday. The ruby, measuring 11,000 carats (2.2 kilograms, or 4.8 pounds), was unearthed near the town of Mogok, in the upper Mandalay region, the heartland of the lucrative gem-mining industry that has recently experienced intense fighting in the countrys wide-ranging civil war. According to

BEIJING, May 8 : Indias new envoy to China Vikram Doraiswami presented a copy of his credentials to Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei, the Indian embassy said on Friday. Doraiswamis appointment comes amid efforts by India and China to rebuild relations that came under severe strain following the military standoff in eastern Ladakh in April 2020, which stretched on for four years. Ambassador Doraiswami on Thursday presented a copy of his credentials to Assistant Foreign Minister and Director-Ge

JAIPUR, May 8 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday directed the top military commanders of the three services to integrate an element of surprise into modern warfare to outmaneuver Indias adversaries and bolster strategic posture. In his address at the joint commanders conference in Jaipur, Singh also described the Operation Sindoor as a testament to the swift, precise, and joint response of the Indian armed forces to safeguard national interests and called upon the military to remain read

A new analysis tracking nearly 7,000 scientific abstracts submitted to the prestigious journal Organisation Science has confirmed what many quietly suspected: since ChatGPT arrived uninvited to the scholarly table in November 2022, AI-assisted writing has surged by 42 per cent, whilst the quality of research submissions has measurably declined. The numbers are damning, but the deeper malaise they point to is far more troubling than any statistic. Let us be precise about what a Large Language Mod

LG, CM express grief Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 8: At least three young men drowned in River Jhelum in Bandipora district today after slipping into the water while washing tent equipment near the Check Chandergeer area of Hajin town. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO The deceased were identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, 18, son of Bashir Ahmad Dar; Sameer Ahmad Dar, 22, son of Mohammad Jamal Dar; and Sohail Ahmad Dar, 22, son of Ghulam Nabi Dar, all residents of [] The post 3 drown in Jhelum while

Shivaji Sarkar None, not even US analysers, expected that a non-descript war with a small country like Iran could change the global energy scenario, that America is keen on monopolising. The US plans a conflict decades before as it had envisioned the 1969 Camp David accord with Egypt in a 1951 US congressional study. In 2026, its battle for supremacy is deeply hurt by Iranian strategies and devastation of the US assets in 13 the Gulf countries. Now the OPEC [] The post UAEs Opec Exit, Higher Oil

BJP obstructing governance in J&K Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, May 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that his party legislators are firmly with the National Conference (NC) and accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of hoping for Eknath Shindes type of split in his party. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO Omars remarks came after comments by the senior BJP leader and leader of opposition in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma, that the saffron partys next target is J&K and suggested []

KOLKATA, May 8 : West Bengal Chief Minister-elect Suvendu Adhikari on Friday evening met Governor RN Ravi and staked a claim to form the first BJP-led Government in the state. Adhikari reached Lok Bhavan barely two hours after being elected leader of the BJP legislature party at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO The CM-elect was accompanied by several top leaders of the BJP, including Union Ministers Bhupendra Yadav, Sukanta Majumdar and [] The post Su

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: The Outreach Department of Indian Institute of Technology Jammu organized an educational visit for 92 students of Classes XI and XII from Aryan Public School along with their escorts, offering them firsthand exposure to advanced scientific and research facilities on campus. The initiative aimed to nurture scientific curiosity among young learners and familiarize them with academic and research environments at an early stage. The programme was conducted under

JAIPUR, May 8: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday directed the top military commanders of the three services to integrate an element of surprise into modern warfare to outmaneuver Indias adversaries and bolster strategic posture. In his address at the joint commanders conference in Jaipur, Singh also described the Operation Sindoor as a testament to the swift, precise, and joint response of the Indian armed forces to safeguard national interests and called upon the military to remain ready

NEW DELHI, May 8: Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday directed cooperatives NAFED and NCCF to accelerate procurement at minimum support price (MSP) levels, as wholesale mandi prices of pulses and other rabi crops continue to slide below support levels. Reviewing procurement operations, Chouhan told officials to treat the exercise as a mission-mode responsibility rather than a bureaucratic formality, stressing that depressed market prices without commensurate procurement action w

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 8: The Jammu & Kashmir Swimming Association has announced selection trials for the 79th Senior National Aquatic (Men & Women) Championships 2026, which will be held on May 16, 2026 at Jodhamal Public School Jammu swimming pool. The national championship is scheduled to be conducted from June 16 to 21, 2026 at Aquatic Complex, Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, under the aegis of the Swimming Federation of India and organised by the Gujarat

Srinagar, May 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has deputed 37 Junior Secretariat Assistants of the J&K Secretariat (Subordinate) Service for undergoing the J&K Secretariat Assistants Training Course at the Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD) campuses in Jammu and Srinagar. According to Government Order No. 874-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated May 7, the training programme will be conducted for a period of two months from May 11 to July 9, 2026. The order issued

Srinagar, May 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday ordered transfers and postings of two JKAS officers with immediate effect in the interest of administration. According to Government Order No. 889-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated May 8, Mr. Khalid Jehangir, JKAS, who was serving as Secretary in the Industries and Commerce Department, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, J&K, against an available vacancy. The order further stated that Mr. Soheel Noor Shah,

NEW DELHI, May 8: A CBI court here has allowed Lt Col Deepak Kumar Sharma accused of taking a bribe of Rs 3 lakh from a Dubai-based company to operate his four savings bank accounts in Jammu, saying the seizure cannot be an act in perpetuity to authorise the probe agency to bypass the law. Special Judge Gagandeep Singh was hearing Sharmas application for defreezing his bank accounts and a locker. The plea said that he had been granted bail [] The post Delhi CBI Court Allows Army Officer Accused

SRINAGAR, May 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appreciated the prompt and coordinated efforts of the Army and Civil Administration in safely rescuing tourists stranded in the higher reaches of Gulmarg following a technical snag in a private helicopter. The Chief Minister commended the swift response and close coordination among all agencies involved in the rescue operation, which ensured the safety and well-being of the stranded tourists. He further directed the administration to take all nec

New Delhi, May 8: In a first, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has included cases of crime and cruelty against animals in its annual database Crime in India 2024, recording a total of 9,039 cases under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act across the country. The data comes amid persistent demands from animal rights activists, who have long argued that while attacks by animals on humans are documented, there has been no official nationwide database tracking cruelty against [] The post

NEW DELHI, May 8: Repeated setbacks faced by US President Donald Trump in American courts have further heightened uncertainty over the US tariff regime, and India should wait for the United States to evolve a more stable and legally predictable trade framework before moving ahead with the proposed bilateral trade agreement, experts said. They said that this ruling is a crucial reminder that Trumps global tariffs violated WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules, and their striking down by US courts

JAIPUR/NEW DELHI, May 8: Operation Sindoor is a testament to the swift, precise, and joint response of the Indian armed forces to safeguard national interests, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday even as he called upon the military to remain ready to deal with any security challenges. Singh made the remarks in his address at the ongoing joint military commanders conference in Jaipur that carried out a comprehensive review of the combat preparedness of the three services in the [] The p

VADODARA (GUJARAT), May 8 :Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today inaugurated Lakshya 2047 Centre for Future Skills, Cadaveric Centre and Advanced Medical Simulation facilities at Parul University here. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said India is moving at a very fast pace in emerging technologies including Quantum, Artificial Intelli

NEW DELHI, May 8: The Supreme Court on Friday directed that at least one special court be established to deal with 10 to 15 pending trials in cases probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Passing a slew of directions to expedite trials in cases where the Centre, through the NIA, is the prosecutor, the apex court said the special courts should be set up within a month. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed [] The post SC Orders Establishment Of Specia

NEW DELHI, May 8: The Supreme Court on Friday said the matter concerning alleged large-scale banking fraud involving Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and its firms required a thorough investigation after the CBI said the total loss estimated in seven cases was around Rs 27,337 crore. The CBI told the apex court nine FIRs had been lodged, including the two in which charge sheets have been filed, and investigations were on in seven cases. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant [] The post Large-Scale Bank

KOLKATA, May 8: Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was on Friday elected the leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal, paving the way for him to become the first BJP chief minister of the state. BJP sources said Adhikaris name was proposed at the legislature party meeting here and formally announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the presence of newly elected BJP MLAs and senior party leaders. The swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government will [] The post Suvendu Adhikari Ele

Kathua, May 8: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua, Mohit Sharma, on Thursday said that Nakul Singh was allegedly murdered following a scuffle with his friend, Parthav Verma (19), reportedly over a love-related issue. Addressing the media, SSP Sharma said that during the altercation, the accused allegedly struck Nakul repeatedly on the head with a cricket bat until he collapsed. The officer further stated that when Nakuls younger brother entered the house, the accused allegedly attacked

MUMBAI, May 8: The rupee depreciated 25 paise to close at 94.47 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, after rising in the past two sessions, on renewed tensions between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. Forex traders said investor sentiments were affected after Iran accused the US of violating the ceasefire as the US carried out fresh attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and civilian areas, while President Donald Trump said the ceasefire was still in [] The post Rupee falls 25 paise

NEW DELHI, May 8: Indias state-run oil marketing companies have bled an estimated Rs 30,000 crore in losses since mid-March as they kept fuel and LPG supplies flowing without raising retail prices despite facing an energy disruption that is bigger than all previous crises combined. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) have maintained uninterrupted supplies of petrol, diesel, LPG, aviation turbine fuel and other p

NEW DELHI, May 8: India is seeking a larger role in shaping international norms for the fast-growing space industry, a senior government official said on Friday, as global space standards experts gathered in New Delhi for a key ISO meeting. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) organised the 35th Plenary and Working Groups meetings of ISOs Technical Committee 20/Subcommittee 14 on Space Systems and Operations, drawing 131 international delegates from 13 countries, including representatives from n

SRINAGAR, May 8: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress of various ongoing developmental projects being executed by the Education, Health and Social Welfare departments across Jammu and Kashmir. During the meeting, the Minister conducted a detailed department-wise review and assessed project monitoring mechanisms, fund utilization and inter-departmental coordination to ensure effect

SRINAGAR, May 8: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today met several public representatives, various deputations and individuals at his Public Services & Outreach Office Raabita here and discussed a range of public welfare and developmental issues concerning Jammu & Kashmir. MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, called on the Chief Minister and discussed issues related to parks and gardens in his constituency. MLA Banihal, Sajad Shaheen, also raised several issues of public importance concerning his constituenc

Bandipora, May 8: Three youths tragically lost their lives after drowning in the River Jhelum in the Hajin area of north Kashmirs Bandipora district on Friday, officials said. Officials said that the incident took place in the Check Chandergeer area when the trio was reportedly washing tent material along the riverbank and accidentally slipped into the river. Soon after the incident, locals and volunteers launched a rescue operation. Two bodies were recovered during the initial search, while the

NEW DELHI, May 8: Enough is enough, an anguished Supreme Court observed Friday as it asked the Madhya Pradesh government to decide on granting sanction to prosecute its minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his objectionable remarks targeting Army officer Col Sofiya Qureshi made in aftermath of Operation Sindoor. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi termed the objectionable statement of Shah as the most unfortunate after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state

NEW DELHI, May 8: The Delhi High Court on Friday deferred hearing till May 11 on the CBIs petition challenging the trial courts discharge order in the liquor policy case, saying that it was awaiting consent of certain senior lawyers to represent AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said she would pass the necessary order on the appointment on Monday and begin hearing the matter on Tuesday. There are three persons who are [] The post Excise

Anantnag, May 8: In one of the biggest actions against narcotics networks in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Anantnag Police on Thursday attached and seized properties worth approximately 6.5 crore under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act in south Kashmirs Sangam area. Police said the action was carried out against Bashir Ahmad Mir son of Gul Mohammad Mir and his family members, residents of Doonipora Sangam, following an enquiry conducted under Chapter VA of the NDPS Act. According [] The p

Jammu, May 8: Special Investigation Team (SIT) Friday produced the chargesheet in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jammu in a high-profile case related to assassination attempt on National Conference president and the former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah at Royal Park Greater Kailash on March 11, 2026. On March 14, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu zone Bhim Sen Tuti had constituted a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), under the supervision of DIG, Jammu-Samba-Ka

NEW DELHI, May 8: The BJP on Friday called Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut the joker of Indian politics over his post addressed to US President Donald Trump on the West Bengal Assembly election results, and accused the Opposition of besmirching Indias image internationally. In a post on X addressed to Trump, Raut on Friday questioned reports of the US president congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the BJPs victory in West Bengal and said the polls are an [] The post BJP calls Sanjay

SRINAGAR, May 8: Minister for Higher Education, Sakina Itoo, has ordered the suspension of the Principal and an Assistant Professor of Amar Singh College following a reported harassment incident at the institution. Official sources said the minister took serious note of the matter and directed the concerned authorities to initiate immediate action. An inquiry has also been ordered into the incident, which has been asked to be completed within a week. Sources added that strict action will be take