Daily Excelsior

RAIPUR, May 1: Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Friday said his party will launch a door-to-door campaign and organise a protest in Chhattisgarh to expose the BJPs attempt to mislead women on the reservation issue. Speaking to reporters at the state Congress office here after chairing meetings with party MLAs and newly appointed district and block unit presidents, Pilot, AICC in-charge for Chhattisgarh, alleged that Thursdays special session of the state assembly was aimed at giving effect to hyp

Jammu, May 1: Several persons are feared dead after a bridge collapsed near a petrol pump in the Bantalab area of Jammu on Friday, officials said. Initial reports indicated that four to five persons may have lost their lives in the incident, though there was no official confirmation of casualties at the time of filing this report. Eyewitnesses said the structure suddenly gave way, trapping people under debris and triggering panic in the area. Rescue teams, assisted by machinery, were [] The post

Indian festivals bring structure and meaning to the calendar. Each celebration follows its own pace, shaped by customs, family gatherings, and shared rituals. From morning prayers to evening get-togethers, every moment carries significance. Clothing becomes part of this rhythm, helping set the tone for the day. Choosing the right mens ethnic attire comes down to dressing in a way that suits the occasion and feels respectful to its setting. What you wear often influences how comfortable you feel

SRINAGAR, May 1: Lieutenant General Balbir Singh on Friday assumed the command of the Armys Srinagar-based strategic XV Corps from Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, who has been appointed as Quarter Master General at the Army headquarters. Lt Gen Singh had earlier commanded the Victor Force, which looks after counter-insurgency operations in south and central Kashmir. A statement from the XV Corps, often referred to as Chinar Corps, said Lt Gen Singh is a highly decorated and battle-hardened officer w

LEH, May 1: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday said that a plan to develop two locations in the Union Territory as Valley of Flowers is in pipeline to boost tourism and enhance the regions natural appeal. The initiative aims to plant a wide variety of flowers that can withstand Ladakhs harsh climatic conditions, including extreme cold and low oxygen levels. Experts have been consulted to identify resilient species suitable for high-altitude terrain. Choglamsar and Wari La in

JAMMU, May 1: NHPC Executive Director Anish Gouraha on Friday assumed charge as the regional head of the PSUs operations in the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh region. Gouraha took over as regional head of NHPC Limiteds regional office in Jammu and will oversee the companys power stations and projects across the two Union Territories, an official spokesperson said. Soon after assuming office in Jammu, Gouraha interacted with officials of Salal Power Station and the Sawalkote project. He stressed th

Few labourers feared trapped after a small bridge collapsed on Bantalab Road near Thathar area of Jammu district The post Few labourers feared trapped after a small bridge collapsed on Bantalab Road near Thathar area of Jammu district appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, May 1: The Eighth Central Pay Commission is scheduled to visit Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, from June 1 to June 4, 2026, to engage with various stakeholders regarding pay structures and allowances. According to an official notice issued today, Central and UT Government organizations, institutions, and unions wishing to meet with the Commission must first submit a memorandum through the official website at 8cpc.gov.in. Following this, representatives must request an appointment via the desig

LEH/JAMMU, May 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Ladakh was a model of rapid transformation since the 2019 bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and listed sweeping political, social and economic changes in the Union territory. The region has remained at the centre of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led governments development agenda, he said. Shah said Ladakh had long demanded Union territory status due to lack of development and asserted that the decision had brou

SRINAGAR, May 1: Launching a scathing attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the party of peddling lies regarding the status of Urdu to distract public attention from their political alliance with the BJP. Addressing recent allegations that the government intended to drop Urdu as a subject, Abdullah made it clear that the administration had merely sought public feedback on a departmental proposal which has been lying on his

LUCKNOW, May 1: An IndiGo flight bound for Raipur aborted its take-off at Lucknow airport after a group of monkeys was spotted crossing the runway, airport sources said on Friday. According to airport sources, flight 6E 6521 with around 150 passengers on board had begun its take-off roll and was about 20-30 per cent down the runway at around 9 am on Thursday when the pilots noticed monkeys moving across. The pilots immediately aborted the take-off and informed air traffic [] The post IndiGo Flig

SHIMLA, May 1: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday exhorted the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) to continue to work with fervour to enhance the operational preparedness of the Indian Army. President Murmu, who visited the ARTRAC headquarters here before winding up her five-day visit to Himachal Pradesh, said in a statement. The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, who was briefed about the evolution of ARTRAC by Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma, GOC-in-C, ARTRAC, complimented all ranks of ARTR

NEW DELHI, May 1: An increase in petrol and diesel prices in the near future is not ruled out, government sources said on Friday, as losses mount from a four-year-old freeze in retail rates despite the sharp rise in global crude oil prices. International crude oil prices this week climbed to a four-year high of USD 126 per barrel before cooling down slightly, but remained above USD 110 a barrel as ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz remained restricted [] The post Petrol, Diesel Price Hik

JOHANNESBURG, May 1: A leading Hindu organisation in South Africa has urged authorities not to airbrush the history of Indians in the country, calling for greater representation of the communitys contributions in school textbooks currently under revision. In an open letter, South African Hindu Dharma Sabha (SAHDS) president Ram Maharaj said the history of Indians, despite the community being a minority, must be adequately reflected in curricula. As far back as 1981, the SAHDS had adopted a unani

Jammu, May 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday announced plans for a major expansion of the dairy sector in Ladakh and Kargil, including the setting up of a 50,000 litre-per-day milk processing plant in Leh. The government is committed to strengthening dairy infrastructure in Ladakh and Kargil to ensure sustainable livelihood and enhance the income of dairy farmers, Shah said. Extending Buddha Purnima greetings to the locals, the minister said that the teachings of Lord Buddha, especially

Jammu, May 1: The Foundation Day of Gujarat and Maharashtra was celebrated with great enthusiasm at J&K Lok Bhavan, Jammu, in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. Addressing a gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said that Gujarat and Maharashtra are growth engines of the nation and besides massive contribution to countrys GDP and exports, their social, cultural, and spiritual legacies stand unparalleled. Gujarats soil is renowned for nurturing entrepreneurial spirit, zeal, simpli

Srinagar, May 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Friday arrested a head constable in srinagar for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe, sources said The accused, identified as Parvaiz Ahmad, was caught during a trap operation laid by the ACB following a complaint from a local resident. The complaint had alleged that the policeman was seeking illegal gratification in connection with an official matter. Acting on the complaint, the ACB team set up a trap in Batamaloo area [] T

Srinagar, May 1: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said if the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls affects the outcome of the West Bengal assembly elections, it would set a dangerous precedent, against which the political parties need to safeguard themselves. Responding to a question about the high drama outside a strong room at Bhabanipur in Kolkata on Thursday night, he said it is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees right to deploy people to guard [] Th

LONDON, May 1: The UKs terror threat level has been raised from substantial to severe, which means an attack is highly likely, after the antisemitic stabbings in north-west London. The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), an intelligence body linked to the UKs security service that assesses the countrys terrorist threats, said the upgrade on Thursday was not solely based on terror attack in Golders Green a day earlier. It said the threat had been rising for some time, driven by [] The post UK

WASHINGTON, May 1: Indias former Chief Economic Adviser K V Subramanian was conferred with the prestigious Alumni Award for Professional Achievement by the University of Chicago. Subramanian becomes the first Indian economist to receive the honour since its inception in 1941. The award was conferred at the universitys Alumni Weekend gathering, which got underway on Thursday. As chief economic adviser to the Government of India, Subramanian served as the principal economic voice during the COVID-

PESHAWAR, May 1: At least 13 terrorists have been killed by Pakistani security forces along the Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the militarys media wing said on Friday. The terrorists, belonging to Fitna-al-Khwarij, were killed in Mohmand and North Waziristan districts on April 28 and 29, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Fitna al-Khawarij is a term the state uses to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In Mohmand district, movement of a group o

NEW DELHI, May 1: Above-normal heatwave days are likely in some parts of the foothills of the Himalayas, east coast states, Gujarat and Maharashtra in May, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday in its monthly forecast. In a statement, Director General of Meteorology, IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said, During May 2026, minimum temperatures are expected to be above normal across many parts of the country. However, many areas of northwest India, along with some parts of central Ind

LEH/JAMMU, May 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday laid the foundation stone of a 10,000 litres per day dairy plant in Kargil and launched a series of dairy development initiatives for Ladakh through virtual mode, officials said. The initiatives, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, include mobile milk testing laboratories, modern milk cooling systems and strengthening of dairy infrastructure aimed at boosting self-reliance in the Union Territory, they said. Offi

NEW DELHI, May 1: Hyundai Motor India Ltd on Friday reported a 17 per cent year-on-year growth in domestic sales at 51,902 units in April 2026. Domestic sales in April this year were the highest ever for the month since inception, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) said in a statement. Exports were at 13,708 units in April 2026, it added. We have opened the new financial year on a strong note, carrying forward the momentum built in recent months into [] The post Hyundai Motor India domestic sales up

NEW DELHI, May 1: JSW MG Motor India on Friday reported a 3 per cent year-on-year growth in dispatches to dealers at 6,018 units in April 2026 compared to the same month last year. The company sustained steady momentum across both its internal combustion engine (ICE) and new energy vehicle (NEV) portfolios, JSW MG Motor India said in a statement. This growth comes despite the ongoing West Asia crisis, which has disrupted global supply chains and dampened consumer sentiment, leading [] The post J

NEW DELHI, May 1: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd on Friday reported a 14 per cent year-on-year growth in total vehicle sales at 94,627 units in April. Domestic passenger vehicle sales last month stood at 56,331 units as against 52,330 units in April 2025, up 8 per cent, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) said in a regulatory filing. Commercial vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 23,427 units last month, it added. M&M CEO, Automotive Division, Nalinikanth Gollagunta said the company [] The post M&M tot

NEW DELHI, May 1: The major business growth drivers for data analytics and artificial intelligence player Qlik are the government sector, Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), and pharma, according to the US-based firms Managing Director (India), Varun Babbar. We see a lot of initiatives by various state governments as well as central governments where they are revamping their whole data ecosystem and building the right data foundations to build AI-driven projects, Babbar told PTI.

NEW DELHI, Apr 30: The Supreme Court has granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case registered against him for making allegations that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas wife possessed multiple passports and undisclosed properties abroad. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar granted the pre-arrest bail to Khera subject to certain conditions, an order uploaded on Friday said. The court had earlier on Thursday reserved its order on the matter. The appe

LEH/JAMMU, May 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday described the return of sacred relics of Lord Buddha to Ladakh after 75 years as a historic reunion and said that the Union Territory has remained a living land of dharma, preserving and nurturing Buddhist knowledge for centuries. Stressing the relevance of Buddhas teachings in modern times, Shah said the message of peace, compassion and the middle path was even more important today than it was 2,500 years ago. Ladakh [] The post Ladakh A

NEW DELHI, May 1: West Bengal recorded a strong turnout among third gender electors in the second phase of the assembly polls, with 91.28 per cent of them exercising their franchise, according to the Election Commission. A total of 1,257 third gender electors turned up in two phases of West Bengal elections 465 in phase I and 792 in phase II. The turnout stood at 56.79 per cent in phase I, while it rose sharply to 91.28 per cent [] The post WB phase-II polls see 91.28 pc turnout among third gen

NEW DELHI, May 1: The Supreme Court has said that no cognisable offence was made out against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma for their alleged hate speeches over the anti-CAA protest in Delhi in 2020. While BJP MP Thakur is a former union minister, Verma is a minister in the Delhi government. In its April 29 verdict on a batch of pleas concerning hate speeches, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta also dealt with the [] The post Hate speech: No cognisable offence made ou

Leh, May 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that Ladakh is not just a geographical region but a living laboratory of Buddhist culture and compassion. He highlighted that Indias civilisation has long promoted the message of peace and that knowledge and cultural traditions have been preserved in the region for centuries. While addressing the Holy Relics Exposition and Cultural Ceremony on Buddha Purnima in Leh, Shah said, When the Dalai Lama comes here, he says that this [] The post T

SRINAGAR, May 1: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday clarified that no decision has been taken to drop Urdu, asserting that the government has merely sought public feedback and accused political opponents of spreading misinformation. Speaking to reporters on sidelines of the integration of two new blocks of estate department in Pampore, Chief Minister Omar said, There is no droppage of Urdu. God save us from such people who cannot differentiate between truth and falsehood. U

SRINAGAR, May 1: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has expressed deep disappointment over the INDIA bloc, especially the Congress, not supporting the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs statehood with the expected vigour. In a candid assessment of the opposition bloc, Abdullah said that while his party remains a committed member of the alliance, it has fallen short of its potential. He also flagged the lack of a robust, unified approach to Jammu and Kashmirs issues as a primary point o

LEH/JAMMU, May 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated the sacred holy relics exposition of Tathagata Buddha and the 2569th Buddha Purnima celebrations in Leh during his two-day visit to Ladakh. The function was held at Jivetsal in the Photang-Choglamsar area of Leh town, officials said. The revered Piprahwa relics of Tathagata Buddha, ancient sacred remains and associated objects linked to Gautama Buddha discovered at Piprahwa in the present-day Uttar Pradesh near the Nepal borde

SRINAGAR, May 1: Lieutenant General Balbir Singh on Friday assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the strategically crucial XV Corps (Chinar Corps), reinforcing leadership at a time when security dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir remain under close watch. Headquartered in Srinagar, the Chinar Corps is responsible for guarding the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and overseeing internal security operations across the Valley. Lt Gen Singhs appointment comes amid sustained counter-in

NEW DELHI, May 1: Gross GST collection rose 8.7 per cent in April to a record of about Rs 2.43 lakh crore in April, government data showed on Friday. The previous all-time high collection was recorded in April last year at over Rs 2.23 lakh crore. Gross revenues from domestic transactions were up 4.3 per cent to over Rs 1.85 lakh crore, while GST mop-up from imports rose by a massive 25.8 per cent to Rs 57,580 crore in April [] The post GST Collections Rise To Record High Of Rs 2.43 Lakh Cr In A

NEW DELHI, May 1: High-income countries are on track to eliminate cervical cancer preventable through vaccination and screening by 2048, while low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will see only slight reductions over the next century, according to a study published in The Lancet journal. As a result, the gap between regions will widen dramatically, with women in LMICs facing much higher rates of this preventable disease, researchers, including those from CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval Rese

SRINAGAR, May 1: Body of a minor boy, who had gone missing after slipping into a stream earlier this week in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district, was recovered on Friday, officials said. Mohammad Hanzala (4), a resident of Tiken village, had accidentally slipped into the fast-flowing Rambiara stream and was swept away by strong currents near Dubjan Bridge on Sunday, they said. A rescue operation was launched but the boy could not be traced. The body was recovered on the [] The post Minor Boys Bo

NEW DELHI, May 1: Crypto currency frauds, terror financing, cyber-enabled crimes and narcotics trafficking are the new focus areas for the Enforcement Directorate, agencys Director Rahul Navin said on Friday. Speaking during the 70th ED Day event held here, he noted that bank and real estate frauds have declined due to the implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Act and Real Estate (Regulation and Development Act (RERA). During 2025-26, the ED filed 812 chargesheets and 155 suppleme

New Delhi, May 1: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2026, updating the Citizenship Rules, 2009, and introducing revised provisions related to Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) services and application procedures. According to the Ministry, OCI applications will now be required to be filed online, with provisions for both physical OCI cards and e-OCI documentation. The revised framework also states that a minor cannot hold both Indian and foreign pas

NEW DELHI, May 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Narcotics Control Bureau has busted a major international narcotics ring, seizing 349 kilograms of high-grade cocaine worth Rs 1,745 crore in Mumbai. Announcing the seizure on microblogging platform X, Shah said, We are resolved to ruthlessly crush the narcotics cartel. The @narcoticsbureau has cracked down on a major international narcotics ring, seizing 349 kg of high-grade cocaine worth Rs 1,745 crore in Mumbai. This is a trai

By T N Ashok From Amrish Puris terrifying villain in Temple of Doom to Irrfan Khans Oscar-adjacent brilliance, Indian actors have long graced Hollywood sets. Now, with 1.4 billion potential ticket buyers and a homegrown film industry that routinely out-muscles foreign competition, Hollywoods courtship of India has become less a creative choice and more an existential calculation. In the summer of 1984, audiences around the world watched a silver-haired Indian actor named Amrish Puri tear a beat

JAMMU, May 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has assigned additional charge to Er Irfan Ahmad Banday in the Public Works (R&B) Department. As per an order, Banday, who is presently posted as In-charge Executive Engineer (Civil) in the J&K Sports Council Division Kashmir, will also hold the charge of Executive Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Project Division-III, Srinagar, in addition to his own duties till further orders. He will take over the new charge with effect from May 1, 2026, [] The post

The Public Works (Road and Buildings) Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government has assigned the look-after charge of Assistant Engineers (Civil) to 29 Junior Engineers of the Civil Wing. Consequently, 71 Diploma Holder JEs have been placed as Incharge AEs. See Order Copy Click Here.. The post 29 PWD JEs Assigned Look-After Charge, 71 Placed As Incharge AEs appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

New Delhi, May 1: The Congress on Friday took a swipe at Home Minister Amit Shah over his Ladakh visit, saying he is basking in the glory of the Piprahwa relics, while remaining silent on the demands of the people there for statehood, Sixth Schedule status, and protection of land and employment. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh recalled Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus July 1949 visit to Ladakh. The HM is in Ladakh today basking in the [] The post Si

REGIONAL AYURVEDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH IN AYURVEDIC SCIENCES, MINISTRY OF AYUSH, GOVT OF INDIA) RAJINDER NAGAR, BANTALAB, JAMMU-181123 PH & FAX-0191-2958524, 2596475, EMAIL: RARIUD-JMU-AYUSH@GOV.IN, RARIUD.JAMMU@GMAIL.COM ADVERTISEMENT NO. 05/2026 WALK-IN-INTERVIEW REGIONAL AYURVEDA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, BANTALAB, JAMMU INTENDS TO ENGAGE A PART TIME CONSULTANT RADIOLOGIST/ SONOLOGIST ON CONTRACTUAL BASIS. THE INTERVIEW WILL BE CONDUCT ON 15-05-2026 AT 1.00 AM IN INSTITU

Srinagar, May 1: The Special Crime Wing Kashmir of the Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar in connection with a multi-lakh government job fraud case, officials said. The chargesheet has been filed in FIR No. 09/2019 under Sections 201, 419, 420, 468, 471, and 120-B of the RPC against three accused Fayaz Ahmad Khan of Maloora Shalteng Srinagar, Showkat Ahmad Shah of Shanzipora Handwara, and Owais Ahmad Rather of Shalteng [] The post Spe

New Delhi, May 1: The price of commercial LPG was hiked by the steepest ever Rs 993 per 19-kg cylinder on Friday, marking the third straight monthly increase due to rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict. A 19-kg commercial LPG used by establishments such as hotels and restaurtants now costs a record Rs 3,071.5 in Delhi as against Rs 2,078.50 previously. Rates were last increased by 195.50 per cylinder on April 1. Prior to [] The post Commercial LPG Price Hiked By Rs 993

New Delhi, May 1: The government has cut the windfall gains tax on the export of diesel to Rs 23 per litre and aviation turbine fuel to Rs 33/litre, effective Friday. The finance ministry, in a statement, said there will be no change in existing excise duty rates on petrol and diesel for domestic consumption. The special additional excise duty on export of diesel was reduced to Rs 23 per litre from Rs 55.5 per litre, and aviation turbine fuel [] The post Excise Duty On Diesel Exports Cut To Rs 2