Daily Excelsior

NEW DELHI, May 2: The Centre on Saturday appointed academician Joram Aniya and scholar-author R Balasubramaniam as full-time members of the Niti Aayog, taking the total number of such members in the government think tank to seven, along with a vice-chairman. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the chairman of the Niti Aayog. In continuation of the Cabinet Secretariats notification dated 24.04.2026, the prime minister has approved the appointment of the following persons as full-time members of the N

JAMMU, May 2: Amid much fanfare, the commercial operation of the first direct Vande Bharat Express between Jammu and Srinagar commenced on Saturday, two days after its inauguration by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The train with 20 coaches will operate six days a week barring Tuesdays, and reduce the travel time between the two destinations to less than five hours, officials said. The train previously operated from Srinagar to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, and now it will go up [] The post

Srinagar, May 2: The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) has ordered the transfer and posting of several doctors across healthcare institutions in Anantnag district in the interest of administration and patient care. As per Order No. 476/Gaz of 2026 dated May 2, Dr. Mohammad Akhter Naikoo, Consultant Paediatrics at SDH Bijbehara, has been transferred to SDH Achabal, while Dr. Imtiyaz Hussain has been shifted from Achabal to SDH Bijbehara. Dr. Nisar Ahmad Khanday, In-charge Consultant S

New Delhi, May 2: The Government of India has approved the extension of central deputation tenure of two senior officers serving as Directors in the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), according to an official memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training. As per the order, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has granted a one-year extension to Shri Parthiban P., IAS (AGMUT:2011), extending his tenure beyond June 25, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Similarly,

KULGAM, May 2: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today inaugurated a newly constructed primary school building at Zambalnard in DH Pora area of Kulgam district. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister emphasized that education remains a top priority for the government and efforts are being intensified to upgrade infrastructure, ensure quality teaching and improve overall learning outcomes in educational institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. Acc

LEH/JAMMU, May 2: The Department of Posts in Jammu and Kashmir Postal Circle on Saturday released a special cover to commemorate the grand exposition of the holy relics of the Tathagata Buddha at Leh in the Union Territory of Ladakh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated the exposition of the holy relics of Tathagata Buddha and the 2569th Buddha Purnima celebrations in Leh during his two-day visit to Ladakh. Officials said the special cover was unveiled at a [] The post DoP Release

NEW DELHI, May 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the inauguration of the Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of the Tathagata in Leh, and said it offers a valuable opportunity for people from across Ladakh to pay their respects. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated a sacred holy relics exposition of Tathagata Buddha and the 2569th Buddha Purnima celebrations in Leh during his two-day visit to Ladakh. It is a matter of immense delight that [] The post Inauguration

DHAKA, May 2: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday initiated a riverfront development project along the Surma River in Bangladeshs Sylhet district, according to a media report. The project focuses on constructing flood protection infrastructure and improving the river banks through beautification measures, state-owned news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangsthan (BSS) reported. The project is part of wider efforts by the government to strengthen urban infrastructure in riverine areas, and it ai

NEW DELHI, May 2: The US Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady through 2026, as persistent inflationary pressures and internal divisions among policymakers reduce the likelihood of any near-term rate cuts. At its latest meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept the benchmark rate unchanged at 3.5-3.75pc for the third consecutive time. The decision, however, was not unanimous, reflecting a split within the central bank. While some members favoured maintaining or e

NEW DELHI, May 2: TVS Motor Company on Saturday reported a 7 per cent growth in total sales at 4,73,970 units in April 2026 as against 4,43,716 units in the same month last year. Total two-wheeler sales grew 6 per cent at 4,55,333 units last month as against 4,30,150 units in April 2025, TVS Motor Company said in a statement. Domestic two-wheeler sales were at 3,48,545 units in April 2026 as against 3,23,647 units a year ago, up 8 per [] The post TVS Motor Co total sales up 7 pc at 4,73,970 unit

MUMBAI, May 2: Kotak Mahindra Bank on Saturday reported 10 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 5,423 for the fourth quarter of financial year 2025-26. In the year-ago period, the profit stood at Rs 4,933 crore. On a standalone basis, it reported a 13 per cent year-on-year rise in net profit at Rs 4,027 crore. Core net interest income of the bank increased 8 per cent to Rs 7,876 crore from Rs 7,284 crore a year ago. [] The post Kotak Mahindra Bank Q4 profit up 10 pc at Rs 5,423 cr appe

NEW DELHI, May 2: Lyricist Prasoon Joshi has been appointed chairman of Prasar Bharati, Indias public service broadcaster. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw congratulated Joshi on his appointment, calling him is a rare creative spirit. My heartfelt congratulations to Shri Prasoon Joshi ji on his appointment as Chairman of the Prasar Bharati Board. Prasoon ji is a rare creative spirit celebrated across the world in advertising, literature, art and cinema, yet his heart beats unmistakably for India,

AGARTALA, May 2: Tripura Gramin Bank Chairman Satyendra Singh on Saturday said lack of industrialisation in the state was the reason behind its low credit deposit ratio (CDR). The northeastern state has shown a declining trend in CDR during the past three years from 52 per cent in the 2023-24 fiscal, 51 per cent in 2024-25 and 50 per cent in 2025-26, according to a report by the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC). In Tripura, we dont have many [] The post Tripuras low credit deposit ratio due

KOCHI, May 2: ESAF Small Finance Bank has reported a sharp turnaround in its financial performance for the fourth quarter of FY26, registering a 166.1 per cent year-on-year growth in pre-provisioning operating profit, driven by strong expansion in its MARG portfolio and improved asset quality. The bank posted a net profit of Rs 24 crore during Q4 FY26, compared to a loss of Rs 183 crore in the corresponding quarter last year and a profit of Rs 7 crore in [] The post ESAF Small Finance Bank posts

SRINAGAR, May 2: Mobile phone users in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday received an emergency alert on their cellphones with a loud beep as India tested its nationwide emergency alert system, officials said. Mobile phone users in the Union territory were surprised on Saturday morning as their phones buzzed loudly and received a flash message, the officials said. They said the alert, sent out at 11.42 am, was a part of the emergency alert system testing. This is part of [] The post J&K | Test Alert

KANKER, May 2: Three personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), including an inspector, were killed and another jawan was injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) went off while they were trying to neutralise it in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, police said. This was the first blast incident linked to Naxalite activity in the state since the country was declared free from armed Maoists on March 31. The explosion occurred in a forest area under Chhotebethiya police []

SURAT, May 2: Union Minister JP Nadda on Saturday said India must convert prevailing global uncertainties into opportunities to build domestic strength, calling for higher manufacturing capacity, resilience and self-reliance to achieve the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Addressing the valedictory function of the two-day Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for south Gujarat, Nadda said recent global developments underline the need to reduce strategic dependencies and strengthen supply chains. T

LEH/JAMMU, May 2: Union Home Minister Amit Shah stressed the need for a focused approach on sustainable development in Ladakh, with plantation and water security identified as key pillars for the regions overall progress, Ladakh LG VK Saxena said on Saturday. The LG apprised him of the ongoing work to create 50 water bodies in different villages under Project Him Sarovar and a recent plantation drive. While emphasising the spiritual nature of his visit to Leh on the pious occasion [] The post Ho

SRINAGAR, May 2: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of three workers in a bridge collapse incident at Bantalab on the outskirts of Jammu city. In a message of condolence, the Chief Minister extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls. He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident. The Chief Minister has directed that a thorough inquiry be conducted to ascertain [] The post C

JAMMU, May 2: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today conducted inspections of New Assembly Complex and other important ongoing infrastructure works in Jammu. During inspection the Deputy Chief Minister called for speedy and quality work completion of New Assembly Complex and timely execution of development projects and strengthening public infrastructure in Jammu. Taking stock of the pace and quality of construction, he directed the concerned officials to ensure adherence to set deadlin

NEW DELHI, May 2: What began as a family trip to attend a housewarming ceremony in Madhya Pradesh turned into a devastating tragedy for a Delhi family after three of its six members died when a cruise boat capsized in the Bargi reservoir on the Narmada river, relatives said on Saturday. After attending the ceremony at a relatives home in Jabalpur on Tuesday, the Massey family from the Delhi Cantonment area decided to spend a day sightseeing before returning to [] The post Save me: Delhi womans l

Kulgam, May 2: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Kulgam Police have dismantled an inter-state drug network and attached illegally acquired property worth 92.73 lakh at Beli Charana in Jammu, officials said. The action stems from a case registered on March 20, 2026, when a police team from Qazigund Police Station apprehended a suspicious individual during routine patrolling at Kurigam near the Railway Station Qazigund. The accused, identified as Mohammad Rafiq Mir of Panzinara, Srina

LOS ANGELES, May 2: Hollywood star Tom Holland says leaving alcohol made him more confident as a person, noting how drinking was ultimately getting in the way of his professional life. Holland decided to go sober in January 2022 following a Dry January challenge, which made him realise how alcohol was affecting him. He has even launched a non-alcoholic beer brand named BERO. Ive been so lucky in the last four years that my career has really blossomed in a [] The post I feel so much more confiden

BEIRUT, May 2: Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed at least seven people and wounded others on Saturday as hostilities continued between Israel and Hezbollah despite a ceasefire. The Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon Saturday came as Israels military issued a new warning for residents of nine southern villages to evacuate. Israels military and Lebanons Hezbollah have kept up their attacks despite a ceasefire in place since April 17. Lebanons state-run National News Agency reported

KATHMANDU, May 2: Continuing its demolition drive, the Nepal government on Saturday razed hundreds of illegal structures along riverbanks in parts of Kathmandu Valley, while the opposition urged the authorities to be sensitive to the affected people. So far, 2,000 squatter settlements, including concrete buildings, built on riverbanks, public and government land have been demolished. The demolition of illegal structures was carried out in Swoyambhu, Balaju and Dhovikhola areas of Kathmandu. Thou

LAHORE, May 2: Twenty-one terrorists, mostly affiliated with the banned TTP outfit, were arrested in Pakistans Punjab province during the past week, police said on Saturday. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab Police, in a statement, said it conducted more than 200 intelligence-based operations across the province and apprehended 21 terrorists. Most of the apprehended terrorists were linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), it said. The rest were from the Balochistan Liberati

NEW DELHI, May 2: The Government has appointed Rohit Jain as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for a three-year term. Jain is replacing T Rabi Sankar, whose extended tenure ended on Saturday. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment for a period of three years from the date of joining the post on or after May 3, sources said on Monday. Jain is currently Executive Director at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). According [] The post Govt appoints Rohit Jain a

SRINAGAR, May 2: The Jammu and Kashmir administration is working on a three-year monitoring programme for rehabilitation of drug abuse victims, while mulling stringent measures, including the cancellation of driving licenses and recommending revocation of passports of the peddlers, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said here on Saturday. The LG also said that he believes that the drug trafficking in J-K has a direct link with terrorism. Some drug traffickers might be building narco palaces, becomi

JAMMU, May 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has promoted 8 Police Inspectors as Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs) with immediate effect under separate orders issued by the Home Department. Of them, 4 Inspectors of the General Cadre promoted as DySPs are Yog Raj, Yasir Arfat, Hargopal Singh and Latief Ahmad, while 4 Inspectors (Ministerial) elevated as DySPs (Ministerial) are Kuldeep Raj, Ashok Kumar, Riyaz Ahmad Khan and Bashir Ahmad. The post J&K Govt Promotes 8 Police Inspectors As

Rajouri, May 2: The District Panchayat Election Officer (Deputy Commissioner) Rajouri has revoked the suspension of Assistant Electoral Registration Officer/Block Development Officer (BDO) Plangher, Mohd Hashim Hanief, with immediate effect. According to an official order issued on May 2, 2026, the officer had earlier been placed under suspension vide Order No. 01 of 2026 dated April 27, 2026, over alleged unsatisfactory performance during the revision process of the Panchayat Electoral Roll 202

NEW DELHI, May 2 : 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 today reassured the common public that there is no cause for panic regarding the heat conditions predicted or expected during the month of May, and any unwarranted reaction can be avoided by understanding the forecast correctly and by following simple day-to-day precautions. Briefing the media in

NEW DELHI, May 3: Arrests effected by the ED in money laundering cases have reduced by about 27 per cent during the last financial year, but the value of attached assets recorded an all-time high at over 81,000 crore for the period, official data stated. Searches or raids conducted by the central agency under the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) almost doubled to 2,892 during the 2025-26 fiscal that ended on March 31. The Enforcement [] The post EDs Arrests D

NEW DELHI, May 2: Residents across Municipal Corporation of Delhi wards, including tenants and migrants, have been urged by authorities to participate in the ongoing self-enumeration exercise for Census 2027, even as they cautioned the public against potential frauds linked to the process. The voluntary self-enumeration exercise began in the national capital on Friday, with several residents, including Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, completing the process on the first day, offi

NEW DELHI, May 2: Police have arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly duping a Delhi resident of Rs 2 lakh on the pretext of selling a second-hand car online, an official said on Saturday. The accused, identified as Aman Sethi, a resident of Shiv Puri Extension in east Delhi, allegedly impersonated an employee of a reputed online car sale platform to gain the victims trust, the police said. The case came to light after a complaint was lodged by Harish, [] The post Man arrested for duping Delhi

JAMMU, May 2: A comprehensive review of the security arrangements for the Shiv Khori Yatra was conducted in Reasi district as Jammu and Kashmir Police stressed the need to balance strict security measures with a pilgrim-friendly environment. Deputy Inspector General (Udhampur-Reasi range) Shiv Kumar Sharma on Saturday assessed operational preparedness of Police, Special Operations Group (SOG), and CRPF units deployed at key locations including Ransoo, Shiv Khori, and Pouni to ensure the smooth a

NEW DELHI, May 2: Mobile phones across the country went abuzz after Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the cell broadcast alert system on Saturday that will warn citizens about emergency and natural disasters in their area. The Department of Telecom had already alerted citizens about the trial run of the service on April 29 to avoid panic, with an appeal to ignore any alerts they receive. The test message read: Extremely Severe Alert. India launched Cell Broadcast using indigen

HYDERABAD, May 2: Telangana Rakshana Sena founder K Kavitha on Saturday proposed that the Rajya Sabha be re-envisioned along the lines of the United States Senate, with enhanced powers to determine the fate of legislation impacting states. She also said the Centre should take a fixed population as the benchmark for deciding the number of seats under delimitation, even if some states lose representation in the process. However, such losses could be compensated by giving every state an equal numbe

SRINAGAR, May 2: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said the narcotics trade in Jammu and Kashmir has a direct link with terrorism, asserting that the administration is stepping up efforts to dismantle drug networks and curb rising addiction among youth. Speaking with reporters in Lok Bawan LG Sinha, said that despite sustained efforts since 2021 under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, the scale of drug abuse particularly among young men and women remains a serious concern. We have achieve

Dubai, May 2: The United States is warning shipping companies that they could face sanctions for making payments to Iran to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The alert posted Friday by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control adds another layer of pressure in the standoff between the US and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz. About a fifth of the worlds trade in oil and natural gas typically passes through the strait at the mouth [] The post US Warns Shipping Firms They Could Face

CHANDIGARH, May 2: Punjab Police registered a first case under the new anti-sacrilege law after torn pages of a religious scripture were found in a slum area in Sri Muktsar Sahib district. The case was registered on Thursday night following a compliant of torn pages of Sukhmani Sahib Gutka were found in Kuchian Mohalla in Malout in Sri Muktsar Sahib, a police official said. The FIR has been registered against unknown persons, Deputy Superintendent of Police Harjeet Singh said on [] The post Punj

KOLKATA, May 2: Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya on Saturday said the Supreme Courts refusal to intervene into the ECs order on deployment of central government personnel for vote counting in West Bengal is a clear message against attempts to cast doubt on the electoral process. The apex court on Saturday said no further order was necessary on the TMCs plea challenging the Calcutta High Courts dismissal of its petition against an Election Commission circular on the deployment of central [] The pos

JAMMU, May 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the promotion of two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs) to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) in the Jammu and Kashmir Police. According to Government Order No. 265-Home of 2026 dated May 2, 2026, issued by the Home Department, sanction has been accorded for the elevation of the following officers from DySP (General Cadre) to SP (Level-11) in the Pay Matrix (67,7002,08,700) with immediate effect:Mudasser Ahmed Tramboo (KPS12

WASHINGTON, May 2: The US State Department has approved the possible sale of 10,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) and related equipment to Israel for a total of $992.4 million. The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Israel for its purchase of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $992.4 million, the State Department said in a statement. The US

ATLANTA (US), May 2: Federal judges around the country have raised alarms in recent months about the Trump administrations failure to follow their orders in individual immigration cases. An Associated Press review of court records shows Trump officials have also racked up an extraordinary record of defiance in a much broader set of lawsuits dating back to the first days of President Donald Trumps second term. Since February 2025, district court judges have ruled the Republican administration was

JAMMU, May 2: Two Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers have been posted as Commissioners in Jammu & Kashmir. As per an order, Mahesh Chand Bhardwaj has been appointed as Commissioner, Audit, Jammu, GST and Central Excise, while Samaya Murali has been posted as Commissioner (Appeals), Jammu, GST and Central Excise. The post Two IRS Officers Posted As Commissioners In Jammu And Kashmir appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Srinagar, May 2: The Meteorological Department on Saturday said that changing weather patterns will persist across Jammu and Kashmir over the next few days, bringing rain, thunderstorms and strong winds to several areas of the Union Territory. Director MeT Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said that on May 2, scattered places are likely to receive intermittent light rain and thundershowers, mainly during the afternoon, accompanied by gusty winds. He said that during May 3 and 4, the weather is expected to remai

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CHANDIGARH, May 2: Punjab Police is learnt to have booked Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who recently defected to the BJP, sources said on Saturday. Two FIRs have been lodged against Pathak under non-bailable sections, they said. No further details about the FIRs have been disclosed yet. Pathak was among the seven Rajya Sabha MPs who had quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joined the BJP. On April 24, the AAP suffered a jolt when seven of its 10 [] The post Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak Booked In

A gold loan is a short-term loan. You pledge your gold to the lender and receive funds based on the golds value. You get your gold back once you repay the loan. But while the gold stays with the lender, you pay interest, which is decided based on the rate you agree to. If you are planning to take a gold loan for the first time and wondering how exactly does the gold loan rates work, this guide is for [] The post Gold Loan Rates Explained for First-Time Borrowers appeared first on Daily Excelsior

Srinagar, May 2: Traffic movement on the DodaKishtwar road has been suspended following a major landslide at Gatsoo near Pul Doda, officials said on Saturday. A traffic police official said, the landslide occurred early morning, leading to complete blockage of the road and halting vehicular movement on the vital stretch. Official said that men and machinery have been pressed into service and efforts are underway to clear the debris. However, restoration of traffic is likely to take some time due