Daily Excelsior

Chandigarh, Mar 14: A democracy does not invest in higher education so that its graduates may simply prosper, it does so to ensure that they govern themselves well, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said on Saturday. Every institution of public life the courts, the civil services, the schools, the hospitals, the local governance bodies all depend for their quality on the calibre of the people who choose to serve within them, the CJI said while addressing [] The post Democracy Invests In

Islamabad, Mar 14: Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday approved salary deductions ranging from 5 to 30 per cent for employees of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and autonomous institutions as part of a broader austerity drive. The new measures were cleared during a review meeting convened to evaluate a slew of austerity and savings plans announced on Monday to tackle the economic fallout of the fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. According to a statement

Leh, Mar 14: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday directed the administration to prepare a plan for creating at least 50 small water bodies across the Union Territory. The L-G, during a meeting with Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, also directed that the locations be identified and a detailed action plan be prepared within a period of 15 days. Ladakh, being a high-altitude cold desert region, is increasingly experiencing the adverse impacts of climate change. The region is wit

New Delhi, Mar 14: RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Saturday said that several divisive forces are trying to fracture the social psyche based on class and caste, and gave a call for unity in society and the country. Paying tributes to Sant Ravidas on his 650th birth anniversary year, Hosabale said he holds a distinct position in Indias illustrious tradition of sants. While rejecting birth-based discrimination, he considered deeds as the only testimony of greatness, the RSS second-in-

SRINAGAR, Mar 14: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today called upon the people to introspect and contribute in social progress. Ask yourself: What am I doing for my community? What legacy am I building for the people? What inheritance do I wish to leave for future generations? The answers within you will reshape our tomorrow, the Lieutenant Governor said. The Lieutenant Governor was speaking at the release event of the book Mehsoos-Stories of social transformation at DIPR Auditorium, Media Compl

CM also launches online garden ticketing portal for J&K gardens SRINAGAR, Mar 14: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inaugurated the Almond Blossom Festival-2026 at Badamwari (Almond Alcove), titled Badam Vaer Blooms, in Srinagars historic old city, heralding the arrival of spring in Kashmir. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Almond Blossom Festival symbolizes Kashmirs timeless connection with nature and its vibrant cultural traditions. Badamwari has always been a cheris

JAMMU, Mar 14: Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, today conducted a detailed inspection of the irrigation canal network from Belicharana to Suchetgarh to review the progress on ongoing desilting works and assess preparedness of the irrigation infrastructure ahead of the ensuing agricultural season. During the visit, the Minister inspected various stretches of the canal system, including the distribution network and key syphons to evaluate the pace and quality of desilting operations. The

SRINAGAR, Mar 14: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the unjust war imposed on the people of Iran should end and peace should prevail, asserting that the US and Israel do not get to decide the leadership of the country. He said it is for the people of Iran to decide about their leadership. At the end of the day, what we want is peace. We want this unjust war that has been imposed on the [] The post Unjust War Imposed On Iran Should End: CM Omar Abdullah appeared firs

Leh, Mar 14: Ladakh Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday welcomed the central governments decision to revoke the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act, terming it a positive step for the region. However, Saxena said there is no space for agitation and violence in the Union territory, and all issues pertaining to the aspirations and concerns of people would be addressed through dialogue with stakeholders. The Centre on Saturday said it has revoked with

New Delhi, Mar 14: The average young adult could be experiencing up to 50 hours a year of severe heat-related limitations in livability and the average older adult up to 900 hours a year of the same, an analysis of data from the European climate agency Copernicus Climate Change Service has estimated. The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Health, defines livability as ones ability to perform everyday physical activities requiring an elevated heat production in the body withou

JAMMU, Mar 14: More than two lakh blooming tulips are ready to attract tourists at picturesque Sanasar, nestled in the lush green meadows in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Tulip garden at Sanasar is, however, expected to be thrown open for the public soon marking the beginning of new tourist season. Jammus first Tulip Garden at Sanasar in district Ramban, has become a vibrant floral destination. With more than two lakh tulips in 25 distinct varieties, it is [] The post Over 2 Lakh Blo

Moga (Punjab), Mar 14: Union Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a broadside against the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab over issues of law and order, drug menace, religious conversion and corruption and alleged that it has become an ATM for AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, as he appealed to voters to give one chance to the BJP to form a government in 2027 polls to bring about a change in the state. Sounding the poll bugle at a badlav (change) [] The post Mann Govt Is Kejriwals ATM: Shah Alle

SRINAGAR, Mar 14: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said Jammu and Kashmir has the potential to emerge as a national model for integrated fisheries development, as India consolidates its position as the second-largest fish-producing country in the world. Addressing the National Coldwater Fisheries Conference at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, the LG Manoj Sinha as per the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO), said it is a matter of great pride and happiness to hos

New Delhi, Mar 14: Leaders from Ladakh on Saturday welcomed climate activist Sonam Wangchuks release from Jodhpur jail and demanded the release of remaining detainees. Wangchuk was released from prison on Saturday after the Union government revoked his detention with immediate effect. Ladakh MP Mohamad Hanifa hailed his release and urged the government to accept their demands for statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. We welcome the release of Sonam Wangchuk. But

JAMMU, Mar 14: Six IAS probationers of the 2025 batch have been posted in the AGMUT Cadre segment of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday. According to details, the officers include Alfred Thomas, Ruchika Jha, Nidhi, Mohd Haris Mir, Shagun Singh and Jitendra Kumar. Among them, Mohd Haris Mir is the only officer belonging to Jammu and Kashmir, while the remaining officers have been allotted postings in the Union Territory as part of their cadre training. The posting of [] The post Six IA

JAMMU, Mar 14: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has assigned additional charge of Assistant Controller Drugs, District Jammu, to Sanjeev Kumar Gupta. According to an order issued by the Office of the Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, Gupta, who is currently serving as Assistant Controller Drugs for Udhampur and Ramban districts, will look after the charge of Assistant Controller Drugs, Jammu district as well. See Order Copy Click Here.. The post Sanjeev Gupta Given Addl Charge Of A

New Delhi, Mar 14: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Saturday that the BJP-led government has not honoured its promises made to farmers and is prepared to sacrifice Indias agriculture for its own interest. In a Facebook post, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha shared a question he asked in the House recently regarding announcing a minimum support price for crops and whether the trade agreement with the United States would change the Narendra Modi governments existing MSP [] The post

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: The Centre has begun identifying locations in Jammu and Kashmir for new hydropower plants and is reviewing ways to channel water to northern states, Union Power Minister said in an interview with TOI. The minister said some hydropower stations in the region are already operational, while work is under way to restore reservoir capacity through desilting. In addition, construction has resumed on three to four projects that had earlier stalled. Some plants are already operating,

Jodhpur, Mar 14: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur central jail on Saturday after the Union government decided to revoke his detention with immediate effect. Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year under the National Security Act (NSA) pursuant to an order issued by the Leh district magistrate. He has already undergone nearly half of the detention period stipulated under the Act. He was released from jail at about 1.30 pm today following an order from the [] The p

Leh, Mar 14: Ladakh Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday welcomed the central governments decision to revoke the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act, terming it a positive step for the region. However, Saxena said there is no space for agitation and violence in the Union territory, and all issues pertaining to the aspirations and concerns of people would be addressed through dialogue with stakeholders. The Centre on Saturday said it has revoked with

LONDON, Mar 14: British Indian historian, author and art collector Peter Bance has loaned a major chunk of his extensive Maharaja Duleep Singh collection for a new royal exhibition, set to shine the spotlight on the Sikh rulers daughters when it opens in London later this month. The Last Princesses of Punjab at Kensington Palace will revolve around Princess Sophia Duleep Singh and her extraordinary life as an activist for womens voting rights as a suffragette in 20th century England. [] The post

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: Ola Electric on Saturday launched #EndICEAge, a nationwide campaign aimed at accelerating Indias transition away from petrol-powered or internal combustion engine (ICE) two-wheelers toward electric mobility. The campaign highlights the rising cost and inconvenience of petrol dependency while encouraging riders across the country to make the shift to electric vehicles. Through #EndICEAge, the company aims to turn this growing inconvenience into a catalyst for change by encourag

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: Indias shipbuilding and ship recycling sectors are poised for significant expansion, supported by policy reforms, large financial commitments and new industrial projects aimed at strengthening the countrys maritime ecosystem and reducing dependence on foreign shipping lines. Addressing industry stakeholders, Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairperson of the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority at a PHDCCI summit, outlined a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen Indias maritime capabilities

LUCKNOW, Mar 14: As online scams like digital arrests, impersonation fraud and AI voice cloning evolve into direct threats against the security of households, Truecaller, the leading global communications platform, is shifting the narrative from simple identification to proactive family immunity with the launch of Family Protection in India. This follows its successful rollout in several global markets, including Sweden, Chile, Malaysia, and Kenya. Truecallers Family Protection is a sophisticate

SRINAGAR, Mar 14: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday stressed the need to adopt scientific research, modern technology and sustainable practices to strengthen cold-water fisheries in Jammu and Kashmir while safeguarding natural resources. Addressing the National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar, CM Omar said universities and research institutions must play a key role in developing new techniques that can help revive and ex

Srinagar, Mar 14: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday welcomed the Centres decision to revoke the detention of Ladakhi activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), saying the stringent law should never have been invoked against the environmentalist. The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir also welcomed the Supreme Courts decision to grant bail to separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah. The NSA should not have been invoked against Sonam Wangchuk i

Hyderabad, Mar 14: Used intelligently, AI may save time and make some aspects of legal work more manageable, but it cannot replace the trained mind of a lawyer, the ethical responsibility of an officer of the court or the disciplined judgment required of a judge, Supreme Court Judge, Justice Vikram Nath said on Saturday. Addressing a conference here, Justice Nath further said technology may help draft a note, but it cannot be permitted to invent the law; at the same [] The post AI cannot replace

LUCKNOW, Mar 14: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday questioned the Congress over its proposal to confer the Bharat Ratna on BSP founder Kanshi Ram if it comes to power at the Centre. In a post in Hindi on X, Mayawati urged party workers across the country to remain vigilant against what she termed attempts by other political parties, particularly the Congress, to weaken the BSP. She said that despite being in power at the Centre for several years, [] The post Mayawati questions Congr

Jaipur, Mar 12: A new technique called growing implant is emerging as an important option in the treatment of bone cancer among children, allowing doctors to adjust the length of an affected limb as the child grows, experts say. The technology is particularly useful in cases where a portion of a bone has to be removed due to cancer, helping maintain normal limb growth and function. Orthopaedic oncologist at Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital Dr Praveen Gupta said that childrens bones [] The post G

Silchar, Mar 14: Asserting that the Centre was working to minimise the impacts of global conflicts on the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday alleged that the opposition Congress was acting irresponsibly by trying to create panic in the country. Addressing a public meeting in Assams Silchar, Modi alleged that the Congress had ignored the Northeast and allowed such drawing of a border during Independence that cut off Barak Valleys access to the sea. As the world is facing [] The post

SILCHAR, Mar 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled projects worth Rs 23,550 crore in Assams Silchar town on Saturday, ahead of the assembly elections. The PM took part in the bhoomi poojan for the Rs 22,864-crore access-controlled expressway between Silchar in Cachar district and Shillong in Meghalaya, the first of its kind in the Northeast. The 166-km four-lane greenfield high-speed corridor will reduce the distance between Guwahati and Silchar from 295 km to 252 km, cutting travel time fro

NEW DELHI, Mar 14: With more than 45 Malayalam and some 25 Hindi films, many of them comedies, under his belt, Priyadarshan says he is almost exhausted because nothing more is left. And given his unique perspective on the two major film industries, the Hera Pheri director can also see the fundamental differences between the two. While Bollywood films can suffer from sameness with directors and writers forced to stick to whatever format that has proved successful, Malayalam cinema is [] The post

ISLAMABAD, Mar 14: At least four persons, including two children, were injured when hit by the debris of the Afghan Taliban drones which were destroyed before reaching their targets, the Army said on Saturday. The drones were intercepted and destroyed on Friday in Quetta, Kohat and Rawalpindi, adjacent to the capital Islamabad. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the armys media wing, these attacks were aimed at inducing fear in the public and remind us of the terrorist mindset

COLOMBO, Mar 14: Sri Lanka has repatriated the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who were killed when their frigate was sunk by a US submarine, an official said. Last week on Wednesday, Sri Lanka said it had recovered 84 bodies of Iranian sailors after the US submarine attack sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off Galle on the islands southern coast. The ship was returning to Iran from Visakhapatnam, India, where it had participated in a naval fleet review exercise. [] The post Sri Lanka repatriates

Chandigarh, Mar 14: Ahead of his rally in Punjabs Moga, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday hit out at the AAP government, accusing it of drowning the state in corruption, drugs, and crime. He said Punjab wants badlav (change). Every person in Punjab wants change. Because the sacred land of Punjab, known for its soldiers, farmers and hardworking people, has been drowned in corruption, drugs, and crime by the Aap-da government, Shah said in a post on X. Taking [] The post AAP Govt Drowned P

New Delhi, Mar 14: A nine-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court is slated to commence on March 17 the hearing on the contentious issue of defining the word industry under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. According to the apex courts cause list of March 17, the matter would be heard by a nine-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices B V Nagarathna, P S Narasimha, Dipankar Datta, Ujjal Bhuyan, Satish Chandra Sharma, Joymalya Bagchi, [] The post Nine-Jud

DUBAI, Mar 14: President Donald Trump said U.S. forces on Friday obliterated targets on Irans Kharg Island, which is home to the primary terminal that handles the countrys oil exports. The speaker of the Iranian Parliament had warned that such strikes would provoke a new level of retaliation. Meanwhile, an American official said 2,500 more Marines and an amphibious assault ship are being sent to the Middle East nearly two weeks into the war with the Islamic Republic. Iran has [] The post The Lat

New Delhi, Mar 14: The Centre has decided to revoke the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk with immediate effect by exercising the powers available under the National Security Act, an official statement said on Saturday. Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025, two days after violent protests over demands for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution rocked Leh. He was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on the orders of the [] T

Jammu, Mar 14: Panun Kashmir, an organisation representing Kashmiri Pandits, has expelled its former chairman Ajay Chrungoo with immediate effect and ordered an enquiry into his alleged foreign links, including a reported interaction with US-based Pakistani ISI agent Ghulam Nabi Fai, a circular said on Saturday. Chrungoo has been replaced by Tito Ganju, the circular issued by Panun Kashmir said. Chrungoo was not immediately available for comment. The circular was issued by Panun Kashmir convenor

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Jammu, Mar 13: The Directorate of Geology and Mining, Jammu and Kashmir, has suspended several Mineral Dealer Licences (MDLs) across the Union Territory over alleged violations of licence conditions under the Minor Mineral Concession Rules. According to an order issued by Director Geology and Mining S.P. Rukwal, KAS, the action has been taken following reports of non-compliance submitted by the committee constituted to monitor and regulate Mineral Dealer Licences in the Jammu division. The order

Baghdad, Mar 14: A missile struck a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, two security officials said. The projectile landed within the embassys boundaries after the Green Zone, the heavily fortified district in central Baghdad that houses Iraqi government institutions and foreign embassies, added the security officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to speak with the press. Video obtained by The Associated Press showed smoke billowing from inside the c

Dubai, Mar 14: President Donald Trump said US forces on Friday obliterated targets on Irans Kharg Island, which is home to the primary terminal that handles the countrys oil exports. The speaker of the Iranian Parliament had warned that such strikes would provoke a new level of retaliation. Meanwhile, an American official said 2,500 more Marines and an amphibious assault ship are being sent to the Middle East nearly two weeks into the war with the Islamic Republic. Iran has [] The post Trump Thr

JAMMU, Mar 14: A massive search operation was launched by security forces on Saturday in several forward villages of Jammu and Kashmirs Samba district after a Pakistani drone crossed the International Border and entered the Indian territory, officials said. The enemy drone movement was noticed for a few minutes over the villages of Kandral, Abtal and Bahadurpur in Ramgarh sector late Friday night, officials said. They said the area was kept under strict surveillance and a massive search operatio

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 13: In order to support the welfare of Army personnel and their families, Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BSF (Border Security Force) and Indian Army, here today. In accordance with the MoU, Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) will provide linked scholarships, based on terms of service to its eligible personnel and dependents enrolling in an AESL centre in India. For BSF Personnel and familes

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 13: NHPC, a Navratna enterprise was today conferred with CII HR Excellence Award for 2025-26 in acknowledgement to its Significant Achievement in HR Excellence. The Award was received by a team of NHPC officers lead by R T Nathan, ED (HR) and Anish Gouraha, ED-Salal Power Station during the 16th CII National HR Excellence Award Confluence 2025-26 held at Mumbai. CII HR Excellence Award is Industrys most coveted and prestigious HR Award which attaches great Valu

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 13: A delegation of the Managing Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Branch of the Northern India Regional Council (NIRC) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India today called on Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions) Jaishree Sharma at her office in Chandigarh during a courtesy visit. The delegation was led by Chairman Amit Gupta and included Vice Chairman Jatin Malhotra, Treasurer Ayush Mahajan, Immediate Past Chairman Sourav Pargal and Executive Me

Excelsior Correspondent HARIDWAR, Mar 13: A state-of-the-art Zebrafish and Drosophila Research Laboratory was inaugurated here today at Patanjali Research Foundation by renowned scientist Acharya Balkrishna. Senior scientists, researchers and representatives from various departments of the organisation were also present on this occasion. Owing to their genetic resemblance to humans, Zebrafish and Drosophila have become prominent model organisms in biomedical investigations. Speaking on this occa

Vijay Hashia iamvhashia@gmail.com Among the most aspirational careers for young Indians today, the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) continues to command an exceptional prestige. For many decades, and even now, career choices have been largely confined to two traditional and socially respected professions- medicine and engineering. Becoming a doctor or an engineer is widely regarded as the most secure route to success. In contrast, Civil Service Examination conducted by UPSC, was often percei

Excelsior Correspondent Operation Epic Fury has had an impact of epic proportions on world energy prices, sending crude oil prices skyrocketing to $120 per barrel just a few days ago. Since then, prices have remained volatile, keeping the entire energy market on edge. At the centre of global concern lies the Strait of Hormuz, the worlds most critical chokepoint, through which nearly one-fifth of global crude oil passes. The Strait of Hormuz matters significantly for Indias energy supplies, but t