Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 16: Reinforcing its commitment to strengthening compliance systems and regulatory awareness, J&K Bank today hosted the 23rd awareness programme on the Central KYC Record Registry (CKYCRR) at its Corporate Headquarters in Srinagar. The programme was conducted by the Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India (CERSAI) and marked the first such awareness programme on CKYC held in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashm

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: The State Bank of India (SBI) today inaugurated its newly renovated full-service branch in Akhnoor town, aimed at strengthening banking services and expanding customer outreach in the region. The branch was formally inaugurated by Chief General Manager (CGM), Chandigarh Circle, Krishan Sharma in the presence of Deputy General Manager (B&O) Jammu Module Jayant Mani, Regional Manager RBO-2 Jammu Ajay Singh Kamdi, Chief Manager Akhnoor Branch Sunny Bhat, along

The prolonged uncertainty surrounding the regularisation of thousands of Consolidated Paid Workers in Urban Local Bodies is a stark reflection of systemic neglect. Nearly 2,700 workers, including sanitation staff and other casual staff, continue to serve municipal institutions despite having spent 15 to 20 years in service. Yet, the Government has not provided even a tentative timeline for addressing their long-pending demand for regularisation. Such a situation amounts to nothing less than blat

Anil Anand a.anil.anand@gmail.com On verge of completing two-years in existence and that too a smooth one with leading partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) far below the 272 simple majority- mark in Lok Sabha, if it is an ode to the managerial skills of the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo, equally it speaks volumes about the tattered I.N.D.I.A bloc of the opposition parties. More so, its pivot Congress groping in dark and unwilling to refurbish itself despite organizational failures all around. A []

Biju Dharmapalan bijudharmapalan@gmail.com In a landmark policy move, Karnataka, Indias tech hub, has proposed banning social media access for children under the age of 16. The announcement, made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the states 2026-27 budget presentation, aims to shield young minds from the growing harm caused by excessive smartphone and social media use. Though it may appear paradoxical, Indias most prominent tech hub is taking a lead role in the call to regulate social media.

The disclosure in Parliament that over 1.61 lakh drinking water samples were found contaminated out of nearly 64 lakh tested during 2025-26 should ring alarm bells across the country. While the figure may appear statistically small in proportion, in absolute terms, it represents a massive public health concern. Each contaminated sample potentially reflects a source of drinking water affecting thousands of people. In a country where millions depend on public water supply systems, such findings ca

Arssh Kumar For over twenty years, we have treated digital security as a game of cat-and-mouse played on keyboards. Governments and corporations have poured billions into firewalls, encryption, and anti-malware, operating under a comfortable assumption: as long as the code is secure, the information is safe. We worried about the invisible threat-the hacker in a dark room or the state-sponsored trojan. But recent explosions in the Middle East have shattered that illusion. Reports of drone strikes

Asad Mirza asad.mirza.nd@gmail.com During the last six months, there have been two political movements and subsequent elections in Indias immediate neighbourhood, which might have an impact on Indias regional aspirations and impact. These two movement and elections happened in Bangladesh and Nepal. Both were led by the young voters of the two countries, anxious for a change in the political leadership of their countries. But the results in both have been different. Lets analyse the reasons for t

Omar reviews availability, supply position Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a high-level meeting to review the stock position of essential commodities and petroleum products in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the upcoming festivals of Eid and Navratras and the prevailing geopolitical situation in West Asia. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The meeting was attended by Ministers Sakina Itoo and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minis

India remains committed to world peace Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said that the nation owes Maharaja Ranbir Singh a profound debt for his reforms, building vibrant culture and forging a robust and thriving Jammu Kashmir. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Maharaja Ranbir Singh saw Jammu Kashmir as a living entity-not mere land, but a vibrant structure where culture breathed life and reforms channeled energy. For him, its soul resi

Protesters reiterate demand for Statehood, 6th Schedule Will wait for Centre response before next course of action: Lakruk Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Mar 16: Leh and Kargil towns today observed massive rallies in response to calls given by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) to press the Centre for early resumption of talks on their demands for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh even as there was no response from the Union Ministry of [] The post Massive

CBI registers FIR in scholarship scam NEW DELHI, Mar 16: The CBI has registered a case into the alleged siphoning of more than Rs 11.4 crore from scholarship funds intended for students with disabilities by non-existent institutes and students, officials said Monday. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against unidentified public servants and nodal officers in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Jammu and Kashmir

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: The government will soon come out with a modified Stand-Up India scheme to provide better benefits to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs looking to set up new projects, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. Launched in 2016, the Stand-Up India scheme aimed to empower Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women entrepreneurs by facilitating bank loans for setting up new enterprises. The scheme expired on March 31, 2025. Replying to a supplementary question

MeT predicts rain, snow on Mar 24, 25 Gopal Sharma JAMMU, Mar 16: Two persons were killed and two others injured in a landslide near a hydro-power project, while over 235 people, including women and children, were evacuated from Sinthan top in Kishtwar district last night. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Reports said in view of the inclement weather, the authorities ordered the closure of all educational institutions outside the Municipal limits in Kishtwar and adjoining Doda []

Suhail Bhat Srinagar, Mar 16: A vibrant sea of colours greeted visitors on the banks of the iconic Dal lake today as Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, inaugurated Asias largest tulip garden, marking the beginning of the spring tourist season in Kashmir. Click here to wath video The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, located on the foothills of the Zabarwan range and overlooking Dal Lake, opened to visitors with a spectacular display of around 1.8 million tulips across 75 varieties. Spread [] The

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Mar 16: Under the National Quantum Mission, approval has been granted for establishing quantum teaching facilities/laboratories in 23 academic institutions across India in several states while 100 more are under consideration, to support advanced research and training in emerging quantum technologies. This was disclosed here today during the joint monthly meeting of Secretaries of Science Ministries and Departments, held under the chairmanship of Union Minister

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: International gymnast Shivangi, a trainee of the J&K Sports Councils Elite Gymnastics Academy, has been crowned All-Round Best Rhythmic Gymnast 2026 at the All-India Level Competition held from March 1416, representing Panjab University, Chandigarh. She also won a Gold Medal in the Individual Apparatus Final for the Ribbon event. Adding to the triumph, the Panjab University team clinched the Team Championship, securing another Gold Medal. Shivangis e

NEW DELHI, Mar 16 : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Belgium this afternoon, and said her highly successful State visit to India in January marks a turning point in India-EU ties. Dr Jaishankar said in a tweet that India is following up vigorously on her visit. He also appreciated her insights on contemporary global developments. The External Affairs Minister arrived in Brussels on a two-day official visit to Belgium at [] The

BEIJING, Mar 16 : Chinas Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) has added the Punjabi language to its list of foreign and Indian languages. BFSU has appointed Prof. Zameerpal Kaur Sandhu Bajwa, former dean and professor, School of Language, Literature and Culture, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, to teach the Punjabi language. Kaur told PTI here that besides teaching the language, she will conduct classes in Punjabi history and culture and train Chinese teachers to teach the Punjabi la

*Praises timely desilting; assures adequate irrigation facility Excelsior Correspondent AKHNOOR, Mar 16: Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, today inaugurated the release of water supply into the main Ranbir Canal at its intake structure near Steel Bridge in Akhnoor, ensuring the timely availability of irrigation water for agricultural purposes across the canals command areas. Among those present on the occasion were MLA Akhnoor Mohan Lal, MLA Nagrota Devyani Rana, Chief Engineer I&FC Jam

Fears of global energy crisis rise BEIRUT, Mar 16: Fears of a global energy crisis rose on Monday as the war in the Middle East raged on, with more US-Israeli strikes on the Iranian capital and Israels bombardment of Lebanon. An Iranian drone strike temporarily shut Dubais airport, a crucial global travel hub, underscoring the threats to the world economy. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Since the United States and Israel attacked Iran more than two weeks ago, [] The post Iran kee

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has urged the LG administration to consider release of all those innocent youth detained after protests over the killing of Supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a statement JKPCC president, Tariq Hameed Karra has urged the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene into matter and direct release of all those youth, who took part in protests in different parts of Valley over the assassination of supreme

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 16: Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board, Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi, today chaired a high-level meeting with officers from various Government departments at the Central Office of the Board in Srinagar to review and finalize arrangements for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr and the observance of Shab-e-Qadr across Kashmir. The meeting was attended by several senior officials representing different departments, including Assistant Commissioner Pulwama Shah

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 16: Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani today met several delegations and individuals at the Chief Ministers Public Outreach Office, Raabita and listened to the issues and demands raised by them. A delegation of the J&K Graduate Engineers Association called on the Advisor and apprised him of various issues concerning graduate engineers. The delegation sought consideration of their demands related to professional matters. Another delegation compris

Cong leaders join BJP in Ramban Excelsior Correspondent RAMBAN, Mar 16: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu & Kashmir general secretary (Organization), Ashok Koul chaired an organizational meeting of the partys district Ramban unit to review the ongoing and forthcoming party programmes and strengthen the organizational structure at the grassroot level. The meeting was attended by BJP district president, Neelam Langeh, senior leader, Rakesh Thakur, Mohd. Saleem Bhat and other prominent party leade

Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Mar 16: Reaffirming his commitment to strengthening grassroot infrastructure and expanding public welfare facilities in rural areas, BJP MLA from Jasrota, Rajiv Jasrotia today inaugurated the newly constructed Ayushman Arogya Mandir at Thakurpura in Panchayat Chandwan. The modern healthcare facility has been built at an estimated cost ofRs 1.3 crore and is expected to significantly improve access to primary healthcare services for the residents of Chandwan and adj

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: Senior BJP leader and MLA Jammu West, Arvind Gupta on Monday launches the construction work of an 800-meter-long drain in Ward No. 27, a project estimated to cost around Rs25 lakh. The project aims to improve drainage facilities in the locality and resolve a long-standing issue faced by residents. The construction work has been initiated by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) following repeated requests from the residents of the area who had been demandin

Dr. Gyan Pathak Though the government of India has assured that there are enough oil and gas resources in the country, and there is no reason for public to panic, hotels and eateries in several cities in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and elsewhere have shut down causing great difficulties to those who depend on them for food which included students, patients, travellers, and others. Some sort of panic has spread across the country after the Bengaluru Hotels Association [] The post LPG sho

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: Senior BJP leader and convenor of the Namami Gange Campaign and Tawi Andolan, Chander Mohan Sharma, has asked Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah to immediately release the funds allocated by the Government of India (GoI) for the reconstruction and repair of infrastructure severely damaged during the devastating floods of August last year. Addressing a press conference at the BJP Headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, here, today he expressed serious concern over the del

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 16: Provincial president of National Conference for Jammu province, Rattan Lal Gupta, today reiterated the partys demand for the immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir while addressing a meeting of Youth National Conference workers at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan. Addressing Youth National Conference (YNC) workers and local leaders, Gupta urged the Union Government to introduce and pass a bill in Parliament during the ongoing session to restore full s

Excelsior Correspondent LEH, March 16: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today chaired a comprehensive review meeting with the Administrative Secretaries to assess the progress of ongoing projects, schemes and departmental works across Ladakh. The meeting also focused on the key challenges being faced by different departments and strategies to address them effectively. During the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor urged the Administrative Secretaries to intensify their efforts and work with r

Excelsior Correspondent LEH, Mar 16: Thousands of people participated in a peaceful protest rally organized by the Leh Apex Body in Leh on Monday in support of Ladakhs long-standing demands, including Sixth Schedule and full statehood. People also welcomed the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk following the revocation of the NSA imposed on him. The rally began from Singge Namgyal Chowk in the morning and proceeded through the town to Leh Polo Ground, where a massive public gathering was

IndiGos loyalty program IndiGo BluChip to offer earnings on duty-free purchases at airports managed by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) The partnership will integrate IndiGo BluChip with the Adani platform, enabling travellers to pre-order duty-free products and collect them at the airport. The collaboration brings together Indias preferred airline and the countrys largest private airport operator to enhance passenger convenience and digital retail experiences. Ahmedabad, 16 March 2026: Indi

JAMMU, Mar 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the transfer and posting of four engineers in the Jal Shakti Department. The post Jal Shakti Department Orders Transfer, Posting Of Four Engineers appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, Mar 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has reappointed Dr. Minu Mahajan as Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination for a further period of two years. According to a notification issued by the General Administration Department Jammu and Kashmir, the reappointment has been made under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination Act, 2002. Notification reads, In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1)

JAMMU, Mar 16: A man accused of firing at former Farooq Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, was on Monday remanded to seven days police custody after being produced before a court, sources said. Sources said that the accused, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, was produced before the court and was granted seven days of police custody to the accused to facilitate further investigation into the matter. He was arrested following the firing incident on Farooq Abdullah []

Leh, Mar 16: Two days after the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, rallies were held in Leh and Kargil towns on Monday on a call given by agitating groups to press the Centre for early resumption of talks on their demands for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. Kargil and adjoining Drass also observed a complete shutdown, even as security was tightened across the Union Territory in view of the protest call given by Leh Apex Body [] The post Ladakh Agitation: Rallies Held In

New Delhi, Mar 16: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday warned Class 10 and 12 board exam evaluators of legal action for sharing confidential information on social media, officials said. It has come to the notice of the board that certain individuals engaged in the evaluation process of Class 10 and Class 12 examinations are posting comments, opinions and experiences on social media platforms. Many of these posts are misleading, factually incorrect and have the potential to

Jammu, Mar 16 : Two persons were killed and around 20 others injured after a speeding passenger bus traveling from Jourian to Akhnoor collided with a Scorpio vehicle and overturned near Kot Garhi village in Akhnoor area of Jammu division on Monday. Officals saud that the accident occurred when the bus, reportedly moving at high speed, hit the Scorpio near Kot Garhi and lost control before overturning on the road. Two people died in the accident, while around 20 passengers [] The post 2 Killed, A

New Delhi, Mar 16: A Delhi court on Monday sent two Red Fort blast conspiracy accused to 15 days of judicial custody. Special Judge Pitambar Dutt sent Zameer Ahmad Ahangar and Tufail Ahmad Bhat to jail after the completion of their five days in NIA custody. Ahangar and Bhat, both from Jammu and Kashmir, were formally arrested by the NIA in February for their active involvement in the conspiracy related to the Delhi blast. On February 25, they were sent [] The post Red Fort Blast: Court Sends 2 A

New Delhi, Mar 16: An Indian-flagged crude oil tanker that sailed safely from the UAEs Fujairah port despite an attack on the terminal is scheduled to reach India on Tuesday, a senior official said, emphasizing that New Delhi is working to ensure the safe passage of remaining Indian-flagged vessels in the region. The vessel, Jag Laadki, carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude from the UAE, and all 22 Indian seafarers onboard are reported safe, said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special [] The post In

MUMBAI, Mar 16: The rupee weakened by 10 paise to settle at a fresh record low of 92.40 (provisional) against the US dollar on Monday amid surging crude oil prices and incessant withdrawal of foreign funds triggered by geopolitical uncertainties. The local currency, however, resisted a sharp fall backed by a significant recovery in domestic equity markets amid hopes of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to forex traders. At the interbank foreign exchange, the local unit opened [] T

Srinagar, Mar 16: The Anti-Corruption Bureau Jammu and Kashmir on Monday said the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar convicted a revenue official in a bribery trap case, while a chargesheet has also been filed against another Patwari in a separate corruption case in Udhampur. In a statement ACB, the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar, Dr. Tasleem Arief Ganie, convicted Bashir Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Wahab Dar, resident of Arreh Mohanpora Kulgam, in a bribery case registered u

SRINAGAR, Mar 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a high-level meeting to review the stock position of essential commodities and petroleum products in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the upcoming festivals of Eid and Navratras and the prevailing geopolitical situation in West Asia. During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the availability and supply position of petroleum products, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other essential commodities across Jammu & Kashmir. Addressing the

LAHORE, Mar 16:At least eight women were killed and over 30 others injured after the roof of a government building collapsed on Monday in the Punjab province of Pakistan, an official said. The incident took place in Rahim Yar Khan (RYK) district, some 400 km from Lahore. A good number of women seeking financial assistance under the government-funded Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) had gathered at a BISP women centres rooftop hall at Tiba Mithiar Chak (village) 123 when it [] The post 8 w

NEW DELHI, Mar 16: The CBI has registered a case into the alleged siphoning of more than Rs 11.4 crore from scholarship funds intended for students with disabilities by non-existent institutes and students, officials said Monday. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against unidentified public servants and nodal officers in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly embezzling funds from the Umbrella Scholarship Scheme, launched in 2018

Jammu, Mar 16: The Jammu administration on Monday conducted inspections at LPG outlets amid panic buying and complaints of delivery failures of gas cylinders and took action against some dealers who were allegedly found violating norms. Long queues were reported at several LPG outlets in Jammu over the past few days in the wake of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Officials, however, insisted there was no shortage of fuel and urged people not to fall prey to rumours, while [] The post Inspectio

JAMMU, Mar 16: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday emphasised the need to build a society that is technologically potent yet humanely sensitive, and said that time has come for India to reclaim its place in guiding a challenge-ridden world. He called upon the youth to enrich not just India but also the global intellectual and moral consciousness. Speaking after unveiling a bust of Maharaja Ranbir Singh at the Central Sanskrit University here, Sinha said, India, driven []

JAMMU, Mar 16: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the performance of the Youth Services & Sports Department and the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council, with a special focus on expanding youth engagement in sports and creative activities across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services & Sports; Director General, Youth Services & Sports; Secretary, Sports Council and other senior officers of

SRINAGAR, Mar 16: Police on Monday attached assets worth crores belonging to an alleged drug peddler in Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district, officials said. Police attached four immovable properties belonging to notorious drug peddler Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Rakh e Lajoora, in connection with an FIR under sections 8/15 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act registered at Pulwama police station, officials said. They said the attached properties include a double-sto