Daily Excelsior

NEW DELHI, May 31: Admiral Krishna Swaminathan on Sunday assumed charge as Indias new chief of the Naval Staff amid a fast evolving regional maritime security scenario. He succeeds Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, who retired from service. Admiral Swaminathan was serving as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. The Indian Navy stands vigilant to protect national interests wherever they are and is very actively deployed in a regional security environment that continues

REQUIRED REQUIRED CHEF (NORTH INDIAN/ CONTINENTAL/ CHINEESE)-3 SERVICE BOYS/GIRLS FOR RESTAURANT-6 HOUSEKEEPING/ CLEANERS-3 INTERESTED CANDIDATES CONTACT AT 6005888670/ 8899397499 (CHANNI HIMMAT, JAMMU) SALARY-NEGOTIABLE JOBS IN VIEW OF THE UPCOMING TATA STEEL REBAR /TMT PLANT AT LUDHIANA, HSCFORTUNE PVT. LTD. (AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR OF TATA TISCON) IS HIRING FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITION. CUSTOMER SERVICE ENGINEER (CSE) JAMMU (1 POST) ELIGIBILITY: CIVIL ENGINEERING GRADUATE / DIPLOMA 3-5 YEARS EXP

NEW DELHI, May 31: The government has halved windfall gains tax on export of petrol to Rs 1.5 litre, while reducing the levy on diesel to Rs 13.5/litre and aviation turbine fuel to Rs 9.5/litre effective June 1. The finance ministry in a notification said road and infrastructure cess will be nil on export of petrol and diesel. Also, there is no change in the existing duty rates on petrol and diesel cleared for domestic consumption. The special additional excise [] The post Govt Cuts Windfall Tax

JAMMU, May 31: Touted as the biggest crackdown on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, the first 50 days of the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan have seen the arrest of over 1,000 peddlers, confiscation of 341 kg of narcotics, and attachment and demolition of properties worth more than Rs 200 crore, officials said. Launched by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on April 11, the initiative has targeted the entire narcotics ecosystem in the Union territory, dismantling trafficking and narco-terror networks

NEW DELHI, May 31: Gen NS Raja Subramani, widely known as an expert on Pakistan and China, on Sunday took charge as Indias new Chief of Defence Staff with a primary mandate to implement the ambitious military theaterisation plan and bolster tri-services synergy. He succeeded Gen Anil Chauhan, who signed off after completing his tenure as the countrys senior-most military commander on Saturday. Gen Subramani was serving as the Military Advisor at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).

Srinagar, May 31: In a major administrative development, the Central Government has relaxed the mandatory cooling-off period for Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V.K. Birdi, paving the way for his fresh deputation to a Central Government assignment ahead of schedule. According to an official order approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking exemption from the cooling-off requirement for the 2003-batch AGMUT

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 30: The National Wushu Coaching Camp (NCC), sanctioned by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on the recommendation of the Wushu Association of India (WAI), is currently in progress at the Sher-i-Kashmir Indoor Sports Complex (SKISC), Srinagar, from May 20 to June 8, 2026. The Wushu Association of India is also conducting the final selection trials from June 5 to 8 at SKISC, Srinagar, for shortlisting the Indian Wushu team for the 20th Asian Games, [] Th

Excelsior Correspondent KATRA, May 30: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Technology Business Incubation Centre (SMVDU TBIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute Incubation and Innovation Council (I3C), IIT Jammu to strengthen collaboration in startup incubation, innovation and entrepreneurship. The MoU was signed by Dr Sanjay Mohan, CEO, SMVDU TBIC and Dr Nalin Kumar Sharma, Faculty Incharge Startup & Investment, I3C IIT Jammu in the presence of Dr Rashi Taggar, Deputy C

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 30: Filmmaker Tariq Khan from Jammu and Kashmir has earned international recognition with the world premiere of his latest feature film Bombay Story at the Cannes Film Festival. The film, featuring actor Mouni Roy in a lead role, received an enthusiastic response from audiences and was screened before a packed theatre at the prestigious event. Inspired by the works of renowned Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto, Bombay Story explores human emotions, social realitie

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 30: The Divisional Office Jammu of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), J&K, organized the Divisional Level 53rd Rajya Stariya Bal Vaigyanik Pradarshani (RSBVP) 202526 at Kisan Bhawan, Jammu under the theme STEM for Viksit and Atamnirbhar Bharat. The exhibition aimed at fostering scientific temperament, creativity, innovation, and experiential learning among students through diverse thematic areas. A total of 1,350 innovative models f

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 30: POWERGRID Northern Region-II is observing Swachhata Pakhwada from May 16 to 31 with a series of awareness programmes aimed at promoting cleanliness, hygiene and environmental sustainability. As part of the fortnight-long campaign, the organisation conducted Swachhata pledges, cleanliness drives, signature campaigns, medical camps, awareness sessions and radio campaigns across the region to encourage public participation in maintaining a clean environment. A

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 30: Educatus Expo 2026 concluded on a successful note in Jammu with a large number of students and parents visiting the two-day higher education exhibition held at Hotel Vivanta, Jammu City Centre near Exhibition Ground. The event brought together over 50 universities, colleges, career experts and admission counsellors from across the country, providing students with information on professional courses and career opportunities. Students seeking admission to cou

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 30: The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS), Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), in collaboration with Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar, launched the inaugural batch of the Executive Development Programme (EDP) on Labour Laws and Social Security Compliance (EPFO at Core) during an online session held last evening. The session was graced by Ramesh Krishnamurthi, Central Provident Fund Commissioner

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, May 30 : The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, today launched the CPGRAMS AI-enabled Voice Chatbot Samadhan Didi, developed by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in collaboration with Bhasini, at Kartavya Bhawan, here. Deliv

Dr Sushil Kumar Sharma kumarsushildm@yahoo.co.in World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on 31st May across the globe under the leadership of the World Health Organization (WHO). The day was established in 1987 to spread awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and to encourage governments, institutions, and individuals to take collective action against tobacco addiction. Tobacco consumption continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable disease and death worldwide. Despi

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 30: J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, accompanied by district president, Rajeev Pandita, addressed the district-Level Training Camp organized by BJP district Kashmir Displaced under the ongoing Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Prashikshan Mahabhiyan-2026. Former MLC spokesperson, BJP Girdhari Lal Raina, Prabhari KDD Chand Ji, Seh Prabhari KDD, Hira Lal Bhat, district office bearers, Mandal presidents and general Secretaries, Morcha representatives, and

NEW DELHI, May 30: Frameworks such as the EUs carbon tax and the proposed Carbon Credit Trading Scheme by India are rapidly transforming environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices from a voluntary disclosure exercise into a key business and compliance priority for industries, say experts. Without credible carbon data systems and traceable reporting mechanisms, companies could face increasing compliance risks and competitive disadvantages in global markets, they said. The next phase of

NEW DELHI, May 30: The Congress today strongly condemned the attack on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in West Bengals Sonarpur and said the deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent opposition leader speaks volumes about the BJPs politics of vendetta and persecution. TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee was roughed up on Saturday allegedly by locals when he visited Sonarpur to meet families of post-poll violence victims, police said. Stones, shoes and eggs were hurled a

NEW DELHI, May 30: The Centres move to exempt all customs duties on cotton imports for five months till October 30 will ensure adequate availability of cotton for the textile industry, lower input costs and boost the competitiveness of Indian textiles, the Textile Ministry said today. Industry bodies welcomed the decision, terming it a much-needed relief for the apparel sector. The measure is expected to augment the availability of cotton for the Indian textile and apparel sector and provide muc

ADLOUN, May 30: Israels air force and artillery struck areas close to a strategic mountain housing a Crusader-built castle in southern Lebanon Saturday as fighting raged in villages close to the southern city of Nabatieh. Israels military issued evacuation warnings for more than a dozen villages in southern Lebanon, a day after Lebanese and Israeli military officials held their first direct talks in decades at the Pentagon. The situation in southern Lebanon was discussed during a meeting Saturda

NEW DELHI, May 30: The Civil Aviation Ministry today said DigiYatra facility, which has reduced the average airport entry time for passengers, will be available at 27 more airports by next year. Digi Yatra enables contactless, seamless movement of passengers at airports using Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) and is now available at 38 airports. In a release, the ministry said the DigiYatra app has enabled over 10 crore seamless journeys with over 2.4 crore downloads. By replacing manual docum

KARACHI, May 30: A new record high temperature of 51.5 degrees Celsius was recorded today in Dadu as a searing heat wave continued to grip large parts of Sindh province of Pakistan. Data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) showed that Dadus previously recorded highest temperature was 51.4 degrees Celsius on May 18, 2016. By late afternoon on Saturday, 51 degrees Celsius temperature was also recorded in Jacobabad while in three other places Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawabshah), Larkana

AHMEDABAD, May 30: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the District Magistrates to strictly monitor and regularly report on demographic changes occurring in border districts. Shah, who chaired a security review meeting at Bhuj in Gujarats Kutch district located along the India-Pakistan border on Friday, also stated that administrations of border districts should formulate SOPs to ensure identification of existing infiltrators and the tracking of threats related to drones and narcotics, sa

NEW DELHI, May 30: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 7 lakh on Vajiram and Ravi IAS Study Centre for publishing misleading advertisements, which claimed credit for candidates who cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023, most of whom had enrolled only in its free interview guidance programme. The regulator found that a majority of candidates cited in the institutes advertisements had enrolled only in its free interview guidance programme (IGP),

WASHINGTON, May 30: The US military has stopped another merchant vessel trying to break through the American blockade of Iranian ports, a US official with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press today. The Gambia-flagged bulk carrier Lian Star ignored multiple warnings from US forces overnight as it tried to enter an Iranian port, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The ship was disabled by US aircraft in the Gulf of Oman [] The pos

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 30: Shaurya International School organised an Excellence Award Ceremony to honour students who excelled in the CBSE Class X and XII board examinations. Dr Narinder Singh Raina, MLA, RS Pura, was the chief guest on the occasion. Chairman of the School Management Committee Harinder Mahajan, Vice Chairman Sahil Mahajan, and Directors Pooja Mahajan and Miho Mahajan were also present. The programme commenced with the lighting of the traditional lamp, followed by a w

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, May 30: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called a meeting of NC legislators on Wednesday to deliberate on matters of collective importance and issues concerning public welfare. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Sources said that the Chief Minister has personally invited all party MLAs to attend the meeting. Omar has written to the legislators that the meeting will deliberate on matters of collective importance and public welfare. The meeting is sche

Asif Khora asifkhorasmailbox@rediffmail.com The mountains of the Chenab Valley once stood as symbols of resilience and natural grandeur. Their snow-capped peaks, thick forests, and winding rivers shaped the identity of Doda district for generations. Today, however, those majestic horizons are slowly vanishing beneath an ever-expanding curtain of grey dust. The hills are no longer breathing freely. They are choking. Across Doda district, an environmental crisis is unfolding with alarming speed. A

*Excess luggage will reach pilgrims within days: HCJK Nawshaba Iqbal SRINAGAR, May 30: The Haj Committee J&K (HCJK) today said the reduction in baggage allowance for returning Haj pilgrims was necessitated by operational restrictions at Srinagar International Airport due to ongoing runway maintenance. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The Committee assured pilgrims that the remaining luggage would be transported separately and delivered within a few days of their arrival, as return

Sadaket Ali Malik sadaketjammu@gmail.com The Chenab Valley region, comprising the districts of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, represents one of the most intricate and historically layered linguistic landscapes in the Indian subcontinent. This mountainous region, marked by geographical isolation and cultural continuity, has preserved a distinct ethnolinguistic identity that is deeply rooted in the Western Pahari linguistic tradition. Despite this, the offi

India ready to work with partners across region SINGAPORE, May 30: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Saturday that a BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam had already been signed, while a similar pact involving Indonesia was in the final stages. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Singh is in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, and his comments were in response to a question on potential buyers of the missile system. My understanding is that with both Indonesia [] The

Preetam Rana Shri Machail Mata Temple is a famous Hindu shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga, located at an altitude of around 9,500 feet above sea level in the remote Machail village of the Paddar Valley in Kishtwar. The temple is revered in Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and several other northern states of India. Over time, it has evolved from a strenuous local mountain trek into a pilgrimage with smoother pathways and better facilities. Initially, the temple was mainly a local sacred [] The post Shri

NEW DELHI, May 30: The Delhi Police today said that they busted a Pakistan-backed ISI-underworld terror module and arrested eight suspected operatives, including a Nepali national, allegedly planning attacks on vital installations, security establishments and police personnel in Delhi and other cities. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The arrests were made in a coordinated multi-state operation that exposed a conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), u

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 30: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has initiated preparations for the visit of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC), which is scheduled to visit the Union Territory from May 31 to June 5, 2026, to interact with various stakeholders, including Government employees, unions and associations. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp According to an official communication, issued by the Finance Department (Codes Division), Civil Secretariat Jammu/Srina

SRINAGAR, May 30: International water sports star and high-profile sports administrator Bilquis Mir has filed a contempt case against the Jammu and Kashmir sports department at the Central Administrative Tribunal for withholding her salary for over two-and-a-half years despite a clear order by the tribunal in February to release it. The contempt petition, filed against the Commissioner Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Youth Services and Sports Department, and the Director General of the department,

Dr Daisy Parihar daisy.parihar@gmail.com Hidden within the majestic Himalayas of Kishtwar lies a region where spirituality survives not merely in temples or shrines, but in forests, rivers, sacred springs, mountain caves, oral traditions, and the collective memory of generations. Kishtwar is not simply a district known for scenic beauty; it is one of the oldest spiritual landscapes of the Chenab region where faith, mysticism, folklore, and history continue to coexist with remarkable depth. For c

Shyam Bijyal A group of people or a community that speaks the same dialect/language, professes the same faith/religion, and demonstrates cultural cohesiveness by following the same traditions, festivals, customs, rituals, and practices constitutes a distinct ethnic group or ethnicity. Saraz or Siraj, and Siraji or Sarazi, are interchangeable terms. While Siraj/Saraz refers to an area, Siraji/Sarazi represents both the dialect and the people who speak it as their first language. The vast area of

Srinagar, May 30: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said it will file a review petition in the Supreme Court regarding the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) issue, assuring the protection of teachers interests. Education Minister Sakina Itoo said that the review petition has been prepared and will be filed before the apex court in the coming week. Taking to microblogging site X, Itoo said, On the TET issue concerning J&K teachers, the Government has always acted responsibly and proactive

NEW DELHI, May 30: Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Saturday strongly pitched for a dedicated naval theatre command integrating capabilities of all three services and the Coast Guard, driving home the lessons of the West Asia conflict regarding maritime securitys direct link to energy security, economic growth and national resilience. In an exclusive interview to news agency, Admiral Tripathi said theaterisation must remain strictly guided by operational effectiveness and enhancement of n

NEW DELHI, May 30: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, chaired a security review meeting in Bhuj, Gujarat, focusing on security-related issues concerning the border and coastal districts of Gujarat situated along the India-Pakistan Border (IPB). Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Chief Secretary, DGP, Gujarat, along with other senior state government officials, as well as the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of Kutch, Vav-Tharad, and Pa

NEW DELHI, May 30: A massive dust storm barrelled through several parts of Rajasthan on Saturday, even as an active western disturbance triggered rain at most parts of north India, bringing much-needed relief from the sweltering heat that baked the region for the past few days. In Rajasthan, the storm triggered by a western disturbance affected Churu, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Nagaur, Didwana-Kuchaman, Alwar and Sikar districts, while Jaipur witnessed strong winds followed by rain. C

JAMMU, May 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the placement of 12 officers and officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Architects Organisation against higher posts on an in-charge basis. According to an order issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, the placements have been made against available vacancies in the categories of Senior Architect, Divisional Architect and Assistant Architect. Consequent upon the placements, the Government has also ordered the postings and ad

SRINAGAR, May 30: A fresh batch of 540 Agniveers was on Saturday inducted into the Army after completing months of rigorous training here in Jammu and Kashmir. An Attestation and Passing Out Parade was held at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) Regimental Centre in the outskirts of the city here, a defence spokesman said. In a splendid display of military precision, discipline and patriotism, 540 Agniveers of the seventh batch successfully passed out from the Jammu and Kashmir [] The p

NEW DELHI, May 30: The cheers were loud, the emotions raw and the expectations of a fairytale comeback unmistakable, but Vinesh Phogats return to competitive wrestling ended in heartbreak on Saturday following a 4-6 loss against Meenakshi Goyat in the 53kg semifinals of the Asian Games selection trials. Vinesh thus fell short in her bid to re-enter the national team after the trauma of the 2024 Paris Olympics. I do not feel I have failed. I was fighting a whole [] The post Vineshs comeback dream

BENGALURU, May 30: Karnataka state Congress President D K Shivakumar was elected leader of the legislature party on Saturday, paving the way for him to take over as the next chief minister of the state. Senior leader Siddaramaiah, the outgoing chief minister, proposed Shivakumars name as the new leader of the legislature party at the meeting held at Vidhan Soudha. The meeting was overseen by AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala. However, the CLP meeting to [] The po

SRINAGAR, May 30: International water sports star and high-profile sports administrator Bilquis Mir has filed a contempt case against the Jammu and Kashmir sports department at the Central Administrative Tribunal for withholding her salary for over two-and-a-half years despite a clear order by the tribunal in February to release it. The contempt petition, filed against the commissioner secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Youth Services and Sports Department, and the director general of the department,

JAMMU, May 30: Minister for Education, Higher Education, Health and Medical Education, and Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo, today announced summer vacations for all Government and Private Colleges in the Summer Zone of Jammu Division from June 1 to July 15, 2026. Sharing the information on X, the Minister said the decision has been taken in view of the onset of the summer season and in the interest of the well-being of students and staff. She also wished students, teachers and [] The post Summer Va

LEH/JAMMU, May 30: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday directed departments to promote austerity, adopt sustainable practices and ensure the judicious use of natural resources, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modis austerity call. The directions aim to reduce government expenditure, cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions, promote renewable energy, encourage the use of sustainable products, strengthen local livelihoods and enhance environmental sustainability, of

AHMEDABAD, May 30: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has termed the demographic changes in border districts as the most serious challenge before the country, and called for strict monitoring and reporting of these developments. Shah, who chaired a security review meeting at Bhuj in Gujarats Kutch district located along the India-Pakistan border on Friday, also stated that administrations of border districts should formulate SOPs to ensure identification of existing infiltrators and the tracking of t

SRINAGAR, May 30: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called for erasing every trace of colonial mindset, and urged writers on shaping positive discourse on India through fiction, non-fiction and other creative forms. The LG inaugurated the third edition of Kashmir Literature Festival here, an official spokesperson said. Addressing the gathering, the LG urged writers on shaping positive discourse through fiction, non-fiction and other creative forms and inspire people b