Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Mar 9 :Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh said today that showcasing of Indias space, nuclear and other scientific achievements helps ignite students aptitude and discover their intrinsic talent. The Minister was on a visit to an exhibition at Dr. Ambedkar Internationa

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 9: Managing Director and CEO of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Amitava Chatterjee, today reiterated the Banks commitment to women empowerment and financial independence while chairing a special function at the Banks Jammu Divisional Office. Addressing the gathering, Chatterjee said that women have always played leadership roles within families and society, but it took many generations for them to receive similar opportunities in the professional domain. He said that t

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 9: Nityanand Shastri Kashmir Research Institute (NSKRI), New Delhi, released the book Don Quixote a Spanish Novel in Kashmiri at Faridabad. The programme was anchored by Ramesh Manwati. Archana Sopory recited the invocation prayer. This was followed by the traditional Kashmiri Vanavun by Archana Sopory, Pammi Dhar and Kiran Premi. The book was a tribute to the first Kashmiri spiritual saint Laleshwari, popularly known as Lal Ded. C L Kaul, a distinguished auth

Many party leaders detained in Kashmir * Cong demands roll back on US-India trade deal Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Mar 9: A massive protest was led by JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra and working president Raman Bhalla in Jammu, seeking resignation of Prime Minister Narender Modi for scumbing to US pressures, roll back on US trade deal besides seeking restoration of statehood, whereas several leaders were reportedly detained in some districts when similar protests were held in all dis

Brig Anil Gupta anil5457@gmail.com This article outlines the remarkable transformation of cricket in Jammu & Kashmir in the last five years culminating in the team securing its first-ever Ranji Trophy title. It is a landmark achievement reflecting governance reform, institutional support, infrastructure modernisation, resilience in adversity, and strategic cricketing planning. It is a misnomer to state that the coveted trophy has been won after 67 years. To put it in correct perspective J&K has

Excelsior Correspondent SHIMLA, Mar 9: Governor (designate) Kavinder Gupta and his wife Bindu Gupta were accorded a warm and enthusiastic reception on their arrival in Shimla this evening. Gupta is scheduled to take oath as the 30th Governor of Himachal Pradesh on tomorrow at 11:45 a.m. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, H

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 9: Several Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) today called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and discussed issues concerning development works and public welfare in their respective constituencies. MLA Samba Surjeet Singh Slathia, MLA Banihal Sajad Shaheen, MLA Ramban Arjun Singh Raju, MLA Bhaderwah Daleep Singh Parihar, MLA Gulabgarh Er Khursheed Ahmed, and MLA Anantnag West Abdul Majeed Bhat Laram met the Chief Minister and apprised him of various issue

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 9: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today emphasized on stricter quality checks and greater accountability in the procurement and supply of medicines and medical equipments for Health facilities across Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that patient safety remains Governments top priority. The Minister made these remarks while chairing a high-level review meeting at Civil Secretariat here to assess the performance

Sat Sharma raises issue in RS Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Mar 9: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu informed the Rajya Sabha that under the flagship Smart Cities Mission launched by the Government led by Narendra Modi, Jammu has witnessed significant transformation in urban infrastructure and civic amenities. He was responding to the question of J&K BJP president and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Sat Sharma in the House today. Sat Sharma

Tribute to H. K. Dua Ashok Bhan The passing of H. K. Dua marks the end of an era in Indian public life-an era when journalism carried moral weight, diplomacy spoke in measured tones, and Parliament resonated with reasoned debate. He belonged to a rare generation that moved seamlessly between the newsroom, the diplomatic corps, and the legislature, carrying with him integrity, intellectual depth, and an unwavering commitment to Indias democratic ethos. As a journalist, H. K. Dua stood tall [] The

Indias emphatic triumph in the 2026 ICC Mens T20 World Cup is a defining moment in the evolution of modern Indian cricket. By clinching their third T20 World Cup title and, remarkably, becoming the first team in history to win back-to-back championships, the Indian cricket team has reaffirmed its position as the undisputed powerhouse of the shortest format. The comprehensive 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final at Ahmedabad was a statement of dominance, depth, and belief. For a [] The po

Excelsior Sports Correspondent LEH, Mar 9: In a proud moment for Ladakh, young ice hockey player Aamir Ali Nordakh, son of Mohd Abass Nordakh, has brought international recognition to the region after winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award as his team clinched the California State Ice Hockey Championship in Los Angeles. Aamir delivered an outstanding performance in the championship match against the Mighty Ducks, displaying impressive speed, skill and game awareness on the ice. His decisiv

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 9: The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) achieved another milestone as three of its women cricketers-Chitra Singh Jamwal, Bismah Hassan and Ananaya Sharma-earned selection in the North Zone squad for the Senior Womens Multi-Day Tournament to be held from March 20 to April 3, 2026. Bawandeep Kaur has also been named among the standby players. The selection meeting was convened by Member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of JKCA, Meenu Singh Slat

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today hosted a dinner in honour of the Jammu & Kashmir Ranji Trophy champion team, celebrating their remarkable achievement. The team was warmly received by the Chief Minister in the presence of his Cabinet colleagues and senior officers. On the occasion, the players were also presented with an award money of Rs 2 crore in recognition of their outstanding performance. President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India,

Jaishankar makes suo-motu statement in Parliament NEW DELHI, Mar 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting with senior members of the Government and security establishment to assess the rapidly evolving conflict in West Asia and its possible implications for Indias strategic and economic interests. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The review meeting, held in New Delhi, was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaish

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 9: The Amateur Handball Association of Jammu and Kashmir will conduct two-day selection trials on March 11 and 12 to select the J&K team for the 54th Senior Mens National Handball Championship organised by the Handball Federation of India. The trials will be held at S D Sabha School grounds, Old Rehari, here. The selected team will represent the Union Territory of J&K in the national championship to be hosted by the Haryana Handball Association [] The po

SEC reviews preparations at high-level meet * Purchase of ballot boxes, printing of material discussed Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Mar 9: The State Election Commission (SEC) today set in motion the process for preparation of electoral rolls for the Panchayat elections devising a detailed schedule in which final electoral rolls for the elections will be published on May 10. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp State Election Commissioner, Shantmanu told the Excelsior after the meeting that a

Huge renewable potential in Ladakh largely untapped *Solar & small hydro contribution still limited Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Mar 9: Electricity generation in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has shown a declining trend during the last five years with the total domestic production falling steadily from over 17,441.97 Million Units (MUs) in 2020-21 to 14,659.92 MUs in 2025-26 (up to January 2026). Similarly, no significant improvement in the electricity production in the Union Territory of Lada

DUBAI, Mar 9: Iran named the hard-line Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as supreme leader on Monday, signalling no letup in the war launched by the United States and Israel. Oil prices surged as Iran attacked regional energy infrastructure and the US and Israel bombed targets across Iran. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp With Irans theocracy under assault for more than a week, the countrys Assembly of Experts chose the secretive, 56-year-old cleric with close [

*Govt lists relief measures Govind Sharma JAMMU, Mar 9: Tourist arrivals in Ladakh witnessed a sharp decline in 2025, particularly in Kargil, where domestic tourism dropped by more than 70 per cent. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Responding to a question raised by Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa in the lok Sabha, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the Ministry was aware of the downturn in the tourism sector in the Union Territory and outlined measures being taken [] Th

NEW DELHI, Mar 9: If Barbados was about breaking a curse, Ahmedabad was about building a kingdom. Simply put, Indias current stranglehold on the shortest format is without precedent in cricketing history. The home teams 96-run thrashing of New Zealand in Sundays final didnt just secure a historic first-ever title defence, it also signalled a ruthless new era of Indian supremacy in the T20 format. More importantly, the on-field brilliance also moved the spotlight away from the diplomatic tensions

Excelsior Correspondent REASI, Mar 9: PM SHRI Higher Secondary School Aghar Jitto organised a Science Exhibition at the school premises to promote scientific thinking, creativity and innovation among students of cluster schools. Karan Gupta, Principal HSS Kotli Bhaga, attended the programme as chief guest, while Dara Singh, Principal HSS Agharjitto, also graced the occasion. Students from various cluster schools presented models including Water Purifier by GMS Garn, Process of Photosynthesis by

Sahar Khad bridge to be ready by April Avtar Bhat KATHUA, Mar 9: The slow pace of work on the construction of second bridge on river Ravi at Lakhanpur has become a cause of concern for the people especially commuters as movement of traffic on this stretch of Jammu -Pathankot National Highway remains at snails pace since the collapse of the bridge during flash floods in August last year. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp According to sources, though [] The post Snails pace of work on

KATRA/JAMMU, Mar 9: Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government of continuing to pursue false cases against opposition leaders, despite court decisions in their favour. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the stand of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia and 21 others regarding a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging their disc

NEW DELHI, Mar 9: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Monday released a new comprehensive document outlining security guidelines to address the changing security scenario, and emphasised the need for strict adherence to security discipline amid emerging threats and evolving challenges. He released the Manual of Security Instructions 2026 of the Ministry of Defence at a function held at the South Block here. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The manual is a comprehensive document

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 9: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today urged the Union Home Minister to take a compassionate and humanitarian view regarding the youth who were detained and booked during protests over the situation unfolding in Iran. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp In a statement issued here, Dr Farooq said that the protests reflected the deep emotional anguish felt by many people in Jammu and Kashmir over the developments in Iran, a countr

NEW DELHI, Mar 9: The Lok Sabha on Monday could not take up a resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla amid repeated adjournments, as opposition members demanded a debate on the West Asia situation. The Government and the Chair accused the opposition of holding the House proceedings hostage to its demands. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The House was adjourned for the day shortly after it reassembled at 3 pm, following an earlier adjournment due to [] The post LS fails

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 9: Police have registered a case after a woman alleged that a group of people forcefully entered her house in the RS Pura area here, assaulted her and her son, and attempted to outrage her modesty while also damaging household property. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The incident reportedly occurred on March 4 when the accused Rakesh Kumar of Kotli Gala Bana, RS Pura, along with his mother, and 5-6 unidentified persons, allegedly broke [] The po

NEW DELHI, Mar 9: In a first, opposition parties are set to bring a notice to move a motion seeking removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, sources said on Monday. The draft of the notice is ready and likely to be submitted this week, according to the sources. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp A senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) Parliamentarian, who has been involved with the process of drafting the notice for moving the impeachment motion, said it [] The post Opposition

New Delhi, Mar 9: Well-designed physical activity initiatives that support walking, cycling and public transport can simultaneously contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation and promote health and equity, according to a study. Researchers, including those from the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, have developed a physical activity and climate change model, a conceptual framework offering a practical basis for integrated, equitable and sustainable solutions. Aligning physic

Over 30,000 enumerators, supervisors to cover 6,462 villages, 78 towns in two-phases JAMMU, Mar 9: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, in presence of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, today chaired a high-level sensitisation session to review and strengthen preparations for the upcoming Census, 2027 which will be conducted digitally for the first time across the country. The session was attended by Administrative Secretaries of various departments, senior

New Delhi, Mar 9: Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday strongly supported the proposal of simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies and said such a move will be in the interest of the country, will save time, improve governance and expedite development. Appearing before the Joint Committee of Parliament examining the bills seeking to introduce simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, Azad also said that he has been a supporter of simultaneous [] The p

New Delhi, Mar 9: Petrol and diesel prices will not be increased for now despite international crude oil rates crossing USD 100 per barrel, government sources said on Monday, even as authorities stepped up efforts to maintain uninterrupted fuel supply lines across the country. As the conflict in West Asia entered the tenth day, world markets plummeted, and Brent crude oil, the international standard, surged to nearly USD 120 a barrel, about 65 per cent higher than when the war [] The post No Imm

Jammu, Mar 9: An Army soldier went missing on Monday during a river crossing training in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. The White Knight Corps posted on X, During a river crossing training exercise conducted in the general area of Sundarbani, Sepoy Akshit Sharma was reported missing at around 12 pm today. Extensive search operations are underway with all available resources of the Indian Army and civil agencies being employed to locate the soldier, he [] The post

New Delhi, Mar 9: To prevent hoarding and black marketing, the booking period for LPG gas cylinders has been increased from 21 to 25 days, as per government sources. There were instances that people who were earlier booking LPG cylinders in 55 Days have started booking cylinders in 15 days, they said on Monday. The government has ordered refineries to boost LPG output and also ordered to prioritise domestic LPG over commercial connections. Domestic consumers will always be a priority, [] The pos

Srinagar, Mar 9: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to consider withdrawing cases against youth detained and booked during protests over the killing of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Abdullah said that while maintaining law and order is important, it is equally necessary to understand the sentiments that led to the demonstrations. Abdullah, in a statement, appealed to Shah and security agencies to review the cases

LEH, Mar 9: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has assigned additional charge of the post of Assistant Chief Electoral Officer (ACEO) to JKAS officer Delex Namgil. According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, Namgil, who is presently serving as Assistant Commissioner Revenue in Leh, will hold the additional responsibility in addition to his own duties until further orders. See Order Copy Click Here The post Delex Namgil Gets Addl Charge Of ACEO Ladakh a

CS engages key stakeholders to chart future roadmap JAMMU, Mar 9: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today held detailed deliberations with stakeholders on the adoption and expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in governance and delivery of public services across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting besides the concerned Administrative Secretaries was attended by the Director, Indian Institute of Technology Jammu, CEO, India AI Mission; Special Director General, Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Spac

JAMMU, Mar 9: Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau traps and arrests HC Parvaiz Ahmed Bhati, Investigating Officer of Police Post Talwara, District Reasi for demanding and accepting bribe of 5000. Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau, registered a case FIR No. 05/2026 U/S 07 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against public servant namely Head Constable Parvaiz Ahmed Bhati S/O Late Mohd Din R/O Village Mandhar Tehsil Haveli District Poonch presently posted at Police Post Talwara, Reas

New Delhi, Mar 9: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday postponed the class 12 board exams till March 16 in the Middle East amid the Iran-Israel conflict, officials said. The fresh dates were not immediately announced. After a critical review of the current situation in parts of the Middle East Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE mental agony of the students and the prevailing uncertainties, the board has decided to postpone [] The post Iran-Israel

Jammu, Mar 9: Several legislators on Monday called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here and discussed development works and public welfare in their respective constituencies, an official spokesman said. The legislators who met Abdullah include BJPs Surjeet Singh Slathia (Samba), Daleep Singh Parihar (Bhaderwah), National Conferences Sajad Shaheen (Banihal), Arjun Singh Raju (Ramban), Khursheed Ahmed (Gulabgarh), and Abdul Majeed Bhat Laram (Anantnag West), the spokesman said. H

Jammu, Mar 9: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued directions to registry officials to ensure proper numbering of main case files, interlocutory applications (IAs), caveats and other related documents on judicial files to avoid inconvenience during court proceedings. According to a circular issued by the Registrar General M.K. Sharma,, it has been observed that in several cases listed before the court, the Main Case Numbers, IA Numbers and Caveat Numbers were not being filled

NEW DELHI, Mar 9: Global warming has accelerated significantly since 2015, according to a study that accounts for natural fluctuations in warming rate and influences of El Nino events, volcanic eruptions and solar cycle variation on temperature data. Researchers, including those from Germanys Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said short-term natural fluctuations in global temperature caused by El Nino, volcanic eruptions, and solar cycles can mask changes in the long-term rate of wa

NEW DELHI, Mar 9: A court here on Monday granted 10-day interim bail to activist Sharjeel Imam, an accused in the 2020 Delhi riots case, for attending his brothers wedding. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai was hearing the interim bail application filed by Imam, seeking relief for six weeks to attend the marriage scheduled this month. In an order, the court granted interim bail from March 20 to 30. Imam is an accused in the case pertaining to the February [] The post 2020 Delhi riots: Cour

Jammu, Mar 9: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education Sakeena Itoo on Monday directed officials to enforce stricter quality checks and constant monitoring of drug supplies in government hospitals while reviewing the performance and functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL). Itoo emphasized on stricter quality checks and greater accountability in the procurement and supply of medicines and medical equipments for Health facil

New Delhi, Mar 9: A Manchester-bound IndiGo flight, operated with a leased Boeing 787 aircraft, returned to the national capital on Monday due to certain restrictions when the plane was to enter the Eritrea airspace, according to sources. Our flight 6E 033 operating from Delhi to Manchester had to return to its origin due to last-minute airspace restrictions, owing to the ongoing situation in West Asia. We are working with the relevant authorities to explore the possibilities of resuming the []

New Delhi, Mar 9: Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that the AAIB probe into the fatal crash of the Air India aircraft in June last year is progressing at a very good pace, and the investigation report will be out very soon. Replying to a supplementary query during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Naidu said the ministry is doing its best to ensure flight operations and to bring back Indians stranded [] The post Govt Says Air India Plane Crash Probe

Srinagar/Jammu Mar 9: Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress on Monday staged protests against the BJP-led central government and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the trade deal with the US. The party also demanded restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. In Srinagar, scores of Congress workers and leaders assembled at the J-K Pradesh Congress Committee office at M A Road and shouted slogans against the Modi government. The protesters, led by MLA Bandipora Nizamudd

Jammu, Mar 9: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has transferred and posted Mohd Tariq Malik as Chief Accounts Officer in the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), J&K. According to a Government order issued by the General Administration Department (Vigilance), Malik, who was serving as Chief Accounts Officer in the Codes Division of the Finance Department, has been shifted to the ACB against an available vacancy with immediate effect. The post Tariq Malik Posted As Chief Accounts Officer In ACB appear

NEW DELHI, Mar 9: Namibian cheetah Jwala on Monday gave birth to five cubs at Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park, taking the countrys total cheetah population to 53, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has announced. The development comes days after cheetah Gamini gave birth to four cubs at the same park. A moment of great pride for Project Cheetah as Jwala, the Namibian Cheetah and a successful third-time mother, gave birth to five cubs today at the Kuno National Park. [] The post 5 chee