Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: The University of Jammu is going to launch 100-day Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA), which will be formally inaugurated tomorrow by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Umesh Rai, through a pledge ceremony at the University campus. The programme is being organised in alignment with the vision of the Lieutenant Governor and Chancellor, Manoj Sinha, under whose leadership the 100-day campaign was launched across Jammu & Kashmir on April 11, 2026. The announcement in thi

MUMBAI, Apr 16 : The rupee strengthened by 19 paise to settle at 93.14 against the US dollar on Thursday, following a decline in global crude oil prices amid hopes of a truce in West Asia. However, sustained outflow of foreign capital amid increased dollar demand from importers capped the gain in the local currency, forex traders said, adding that the domestic unit rose after crude oil prices hovered around USD 95-a-barrel. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee [] The post Rupee ri

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: In the recently declared CBSE Class 10 Board Examination results 2026, a student from Padhoji has secured the top position in the Union Territory, marking a remarkable academic achievement. Ananya Suri, daughter of Ashish Suri, topped the UT with an outstanding score of 499 out of 500 marks (99.8%), bringing pride to the institution and the region. Other notable performers from the institute also secured excellent marks. Panache Gupta scored 97.8%, followed

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: Several J&K Bank officials today visited the Apna Bhojanalya canteen at the Government Medical College Jammu and served meals to the attendants of the patients. The facility was recently upgraded in the presence of LG Manoj Sinha under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Bank, thereby benefiting the patients and their attendants. During the upgradation ceremony on April 14, LG Sinha also partook in a meal at the facility. Under the u

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: To make festive buying smarter and more accessible, Reliance Jewels, one of Indias most trusted jewellery brands today introduced new gold and diamond collections. This Akshaya Tritiya, customers can choose from a wide range of jewellery including earrings, rings, bangles and chains in gold and diamond. The collection includes everyday favourites like studs, hoops and sleek finger rings, as well as festive styles such as jhumkis, chandbalis, statement neckl

Excelsior Correspondent LEH, Apr 16: The unique Ladakhi Apricots, famous for their exceptionally rich sweetness and flavour, are all set to make a grand foray in the global markets this season. Consequent to a major push by the Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, for promoting the branding and export of Ladakhs GI-tagged Raktsey Karpo apricot variety, as well as the region-specific Halman variety, the UT Administration today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global conglomerat

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: To kickstart preparations for the upcoming Lavender Festival 2026, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), organized a day-long stakeholders meeting here today. The meeting focused on shaping the next phase of the Aroma Mission with emphasis on value addition and market expansion. Participants from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi engaged in detailed discussions on improving product qu

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: A delegation of Chamber of Commerce & Industry led by its president, Arun Gupta called on Chief Secretary of UT of J&K, Atal Dullo to apprise him of the critical challenges and pending issues currently faced by trade and industry sector in Jammu region. Arun Gupta brought to the Chief Secretarys notice, the plight of the Industrial plot holders who have recently received cancellation and eviction notices despite being unabale to commence production due to [

MUMBAI, Apr 16: Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer struck fluent fifties as Punjab Kings winning run continued with a seven-wicket hammering of Mumbai Indians, who suffered a fourth consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League here on Thursday. Even as Quinton de Kock, with a brilliant 112 not out, and Naman Dhir (50) bailed Mumbai Indians out in the first half with a robust 132-run third-wicket stand, the hosts 195/6 was never challenging enough on a docile track against the [] The post Prab

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Apr 16: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said here today that India is steadily positioning itself as a global player in the Clean Energy landscape through a calibrated mix of policy support, technological innovation, and industry participation. On clean energy transition, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, India launched

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: Ace fencer Shreya Gupta has been selected to represent India at the Senior Fencing World Cup scheduled to be held in Athens, Greece from April 17 to 19, 2026. The prestigious international competition will witness participation from top fencers across the globe. Shreya is among four elite Indian athletes chosen for this high-level event, marking another significant milestone in her sporting career. A senior gold medallist this year, she has consisten

Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Apr 16: Lieutenant General PK Mishra, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, along with GOC CIF (R), visited the general area of Kalakote to review the prevailing security environment and assess the operational preparedness of troops. During the visit, the GOC was briefed by General Officer Commanding, Romeo Force, Major General Vijay Mahadevan, on the prevailing security scenario and operational dynamics in the region. He also held detailed

DHAKA, Apr 16: A court in Bangladesh on Friday will hear arguments on framing of charges in a sedition case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others. Dhaka Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Moin Uddin Chowdhury fixed the June 17 date, allowing a plea by the defence seeking more time, according to the state-run BSS news agency on Wednesday. The case relates to allegations that the accused were involved in anti-state activities and conspired to overthrow the then [] Th

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: In an impressive display of endurance and strength, Kapil Arora from Trikuta Nagar brought pride to Jammu with his stellar performance at the HYROX Pro race held in Bengaluru. Competing against elite international athletes, Arora completed the gruelling race in 2 hours and 18 minutes, securing an impressive 6th position in his age category. HYROX is a globally recognized indoor fitness competition that blends endurance running with functional strengt

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), attended by senior officers from the Civil Administration and Police Department to review the comprehensive arrangements being made for the smooth, safe, and successful conduct of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra (SANJY), scheduled to commence on July 3. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary undertook a detailed review of the preparedness across all sector

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today said that the Baisakhi Mela on the banks of River Tawi will be promoted as one of the biggest festivals of Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at attracting the tourists from across the country and beyond. Addressing a large gathering during the concluding day of Tawi Mohatsav celebrations, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the vibrant mela has fulfilled a long-cherished dream of the people of Jammu to celebrate such

TEHRAN, April 16 : Concerned over misrepresentation of Irans stance in US media, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said that Tehran prioritizes the terms of a conclusive and lasting end to the illegal war imposed on us. Irans position is being misrepresented by the US media. We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting end to the [] The post Tehran prioritizes terms of

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: The chairman of the International Cricket Council, Jay Shah, has been named to the Young Global Leaders Class of 2026 by the World Economic Forum, which recognised his role in shaping the future of global cricket. Shah who previously served as the youngest secretary of the BCCI and played key roles in IPL operations, the growth of womens cricket, and major media rights deals has also been instrumental in crickets inclusion in the 2028 [] The post Jay Shah named to World Econ

NEW YORK, Apr 16 : Chinese authorities are increasing pressure on underground Catholic communities to join the state-controlled official church while tightening surveillance and travel restrictions on all of Chinas estimated 12 million Catholics, a rights group said Wednesday. The detailed report from Human Rights Watch said the heightened pressure was part of a decade-old campaign to ensure that religious denominations and independent churches are loyal to the officially atheist Communist Party

By Dr. Gyan Pathak Global waste generation is faster than we are able to handle. It reached 2.56 billion tonnes in 2022, according to the new World Bank report What a Waste 3.0 as against projected 2.59 billion tonnes by 2030 by What a Waste 2.0 of 2018. Under business as usual scenario, global wage generation is expected to grow to 3.86 billion tonnes by 2050. The increase in low income countries is expected to more than double by [] The post Global Waste Generation is Faster Than We Are Able

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed an FIR registered at Women Police Station, Udhampur, along with the chargesheet and the trial courts order framing charges, holding that vague and omnibus allegations of dowry demand, cruelty and intimidation cannot be used to drag the husbands entire family into criminal prosecution. Justice Shahzad Azeem passed the judgment in petition titled Mela Ram and others Versus State of J&K and Another and A

Modi empowered women in every sector Suhail Bhat SRINAGAR, Apr 16: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said the long-promised move to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies is close to becoming a reality, describing it as a moment the country has waited for a long time. Speaking at the women farmers conference at SKICC in Srinagar, Sinha credited the development to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The [] The post 33% wom

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, today chaired a review meeting to assess progress under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investments (SASCI) scheme and to finalise the Annual Action Plan for FY 2026-27 under UT Capex (Community Development). The meeting was attended by Director Rural Development Kashmir, Shabir Hussain Bhat; Director Rural Development Jammu, Shahnaz Akhter; Director Finance,

Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Apr 16: The thirteen member House Committee, constituted for Jal Jeevan Mission in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, today commenced on-ground inspections of various JJM schemes in Rajouri district. The Committee is being headed by legislator and former High Court judge Hasnain Masoodi with M. Y. Tarigami, Ali Mohammad Dar, Altaf Ahmad Wani, Ajaz Ahmad Jan, Rajiv Jasrotia, Ranbir Singh Pathania, Tanvir Sadiq, Javaid Riyaz Bedar, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Rafiq

Assembly seats may also rise significantly Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Apr 16: New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, which are among the eight UTs in the country, are going to get lions share of 16 Lok Sabha seats proposed to be increased for the UTs if the Womens Reservation and Delimitation bills are passed by the Parliament. The bills, moved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, are currently under discussion in Lok Sabha and will be taken up for voting tomorrow. [] The post J&K, Delhi set to be major benef

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: The Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board officially begun the construction of Jamia Masjid, Talab Khatikan in Jammu. Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, Chairperson of the Board today visited the site and gave instructions for the completion of this project within the stipulated time frame. This is the grand mosque of Jammu and its construction remained incomplete due to the mismanagement for years. Waqf Board took the responsibility of completion of the project and today the wor

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 16: MLA, Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi held a public Darbar at the BJP Office Kachi Chawni here on Thursday, providing a platform for citizens to voice their concerns and seek redressal of their grievances. The public Darbar witnessed a significant turnout, with people from different parts of Jammu arriving to present issues related to civic amenities, infrastructure development, water supply, electricity, and employment. Individuals, delegations, and local represe

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: In a stinging attack, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said the Government began finishing off democracy by putting pressure on institutions, such as the Election Commission (EC) and the judiciary, but now, an open attack has been launched on democracy with the Constitution amendment bill. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on three bills introduced for amendments in the womens-quota law and setting up a [

NEW DELHI, Apr 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and discussed the situation in West Asia, with both leaders emphasising the need to urgently restore safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X about his telephonic conversation with Macron, Prime Minister Modi said on Thursday, We will continue our close cooperation to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond. On March 5, Modi and Macron [] The post Modi, Macron

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: In friendly banter, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday told Home Minister Amit Shah that had Chankaya been alive today, he would have been startled by the BJP leaders political shrewdness. Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on three bills introduced for amendments to the womens quota law and setting up a delimitation commission, Priyanka Gandhi accused the government of once again wanting to dupe people and launching a big attack on the [] The post If Ch

JAMMU, Apr 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has extended the tenure of retired Justice Sunil Hali as Chairperson of the Committee for Fixation, Determination and Regulation of Fee of Private Schools. According to a notification issued by the School Education Department, his term, which ended on March 31, 2026, has been extended by one month or till a new successor is appointed, whichever is earlier. The post Justice Halis Tenure Extended By One Month In J&K School Fee Panel appeared first on

JAMMU, Apr 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Finance Department has set up a high-level committee to track and respond to findings in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports for the last three financial years. The post J&K Government Forms Special Committee To Review Audit Reports appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, Apr 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has extended the deadline for filing appeals before the GST Appellate Tribunal to make the process easier for taxpayers. As per a notification issued by the Finance Department, taxpayers who received appealable orders before April 1, 2026, can now file their appeals till June 30, 2026. For orders issued on or after April 1, 2026, a standard time limit of three months has been fixed from the date of receiving the order [] The post GST Tribunal Appea

LEH, Apr 16: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Thursday handed over appointment letters to 313 newly recruited district-cadre employees at a Rozgar Mela here, an official said. It was the second such fair organised within three days. On April 14, the lieutenant governor (L-G) had handed over job letters to around 200 fresh recruits in Kargil. The Leh Autonomous Hill Development Subordinate Services Recruitment Board (LAHD-SSRB) had conducted exams to fill district cadre posts for matricul

SRINAGAR, Apr 16: Three persons were arrested in Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla district for allegedly spreading rumours through various social media with the intent of disturbing peace, police said on Thursday. Police in Sopore area of the north Kashmir district arrested three persons for spreading misinformation and sharing old videos by portraying them as recent incidents, with the intent to disturb public peace and order, a police spokesman said. He said a case was registered at Sopore police

JAMMU, Apr 16: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), attended by senior officers from the Civil Administration and Police department to review the comprehensive arrangements being made for the smooth, safe, and successful conduct of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra (SANJY)-2026, scheduled to commence on July 3, 2026. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary undertook a detailed review of the preparedness across all sectors, with a par

SRINAGAR, Apr 16: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said if the Centre wants real peace in Jammu and Kashmir, it will have to focus on winning the hearts of the people. If you want real peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, it is not possible until the Centre attempts to win the hearts of the people and talks about dialogue, Mehbooba told reporters in north Kashmirs Baramulla district. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president also expressed hope that [] The post Centre Must Win Peopl

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: Drugs designed to treat Alzheimers disease by targeting amyloid proteins seen in high amounts in patients brains have no clinically meaningful positive effects and increase risks of bleeding and swelling in the brain, a new review of previously published studies has found. While studies of brain scans have shown that patients of the neurodegenerative disease have clumps of amyloid beta proteins, the role of the proteins in advancing the condition is not clearly known [] The

KYIV, Apr 16: Russia hammered civilian areas of Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an attack that stretched for hours from daytime into the night, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 80 others in its biggest aerial barrage in almost two weeks, officials said on Thursday. Russia launched nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, primarily targeting civilians, authorities said. Moscows forces have hit civilian areas almost daily since its [

LAHORE, Apr 16: Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terror groups co-founder Amir Hamza suffered bullet injuries in an attack by motorcycle-borne unidentified gunmen in Lahore on Thursday, police said. Hamza is regarded as LeTs second most important leader after its chief Hafiz Saeed, who has been in Lahores Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2019 after getting convicted for several years in terror financing cases. According to police, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the vehicle of the private TV channel 24Ne

New Delhi, Apr 16: A SpiceJet plane was taxxing at Delhi airport when it hit a stationary Akasa aircraft, resulting in a minor collision that resulted in damage to the two planes. No personw as injured in the incident. The right winglet of SpiceJet was damaged and the left-hand horizontal stabilizer of Akasa was hit. FlightRadar24 playback indicates that the incident took place when the Spicejet aircraft from Leh was pulling into the gate, and Akasa Airs aircraft was pushing [] The post Akasa, S

JAMMU, Apr 16: The CAG has expressed serious concerns about the large-scale encroachment of over 2,500 kanals and ecological degradation of Hokersar Lake, warning that the wetland is facing rapid deterioration, and its pristine glory is at risk of extinction. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pulled up authorities for the failure of conservation and management of Hokersar lake, warning that the ecologically significant wetland is facing degradation due to pollution, encroachment and lack

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: Polaris Smart Metering on Thursday said it has secured Rs 710 crore in financing for its arm Hooghly Smart Metering from British International Investment(BII), UKs development finance institution and impact investor. The financing will support the deployment of over 2.2 million smart meters in West Bengal, further strengthening Polaris Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) footprint and contributing to Indias broader energy transition agenda, a company statement said. Polaris

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: Realty firm Signature Global on Thursday said it has tied up with Italian lifestyle brand Tonino Lamborghini to develop a luxury housing project in Gurugram. In a regulatory filing, the company said the upcoming branded housing project, named as Tonino Lamborghini Residences Gurugram, will be spread across 12.40 acres comprising 812 luxury flats. The partnership marks Tonino Lamborghinis entry into Indias residential real estate market, the filing said. Signature Global did no

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: A day after the Enforcement Directorate arrested Anil Ambani-led Reliance Groups former senior executive Amitabh Jhunjhunwala in a money laundering case, Reliance Power on Thursday said Jhunjhunwala has had no association with the Group after 2019. The probe pertains to an alleged bank loan fraud perpetrated through Anil Ambani group companies like Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) and Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd (RHFL) using shell or dummy companies. The money launderi

MUMBAI, Apr 16: The rupee strengthened by 10 paise to settle at 93.23 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, following a decline in global crude oil prices amid hopes of a truce in West Asia. However, sustained outflow of foreign capital amid increased dollar demand from importers capped the gain in the local currency, forex traders said, adding that the domestic unit rose after crude oil prices hovered around USD 95-a-barrel. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee [] The

MUMBAI, Apr 16: Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed down in a volatile session on Thursday due to profit-taking in banking and financial shares after a recent sharp rally. Erasing its early gains, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined 122.56 points or 0.16 per cent to settle at 77,988.68. The index opened higher and hit a high of 78,730.32 in late-morning trading. However, profit-taking emerged at higher levels, dragging the index down to a low of 77,674.93. The index gyrated 1,055.39 [] The po

MUMBAI, Apr 16: Swedish luxury car maker Volvo Car on Thursday said it will recalibrate its vehicle prices in India by up to Rs 1 lakh from May 1. Persistent global supply-chain disruptions and foreign exchange fluctuations have necessitated this marginal adjustment, the car maker said in a statement. Volvo Car India added that it does not rule out a further price hike in its car prices soon if this global geo-political /economic climate continues. The company currently markets its [] The post V

NEW DELHI, Apr 16: International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday said Indias growth rate is more than twice the average global growth. Look at India today. Indias growth rate is more than twice the average global growth. That is happening because the country has strong fundamentals, said IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. Georgieva attributed Indias resilience to factors such as macroeconomic stability and robust domestic demand, which continue to support momentum. IMF ch

Srinagar, Apr 16: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday underscored the pivotal role of women farmers in sustaining the global food system, stating that without their contribution every plate would be empty, while calling for greater recognition, resources and policy focus on women-led development during IFFCOs Women Farmers Conference in Srinagar. LG Sinha said, Without women farmers, every plate would be empty, leaving humanity starved. They sustain the world, work harder than their male