Daily Excelsior

Jammu, Apr 2: In a major breakthrough in the investigation of the Thanamandi terror attack, the State Investigation Agency Jammu and Kashmir has filed a chargesheet against an accused for allegedly harbouring terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front involved in the killing of a civilian. In a statement, SIA J&K has filed a charge sheet before the designated court against Sabar Hussain for harbouring terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/The Resistance Front (TRF),

JAMMU, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sanctioned the relieving of four police officers for temporary deputation to the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for Haj2026 duties. See Order Copy Click Here The post Four J&K Police Officers Deputed For Haj Duties In Saudi Arabia appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, Apr 2: Amid an anticipated surge in pilgrim traffic during the summer vacation period, the Northern Railways Jammu Division on Thursday announced 40 additional runs of the special train between New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station, an official said. Jammu Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said the extension from April 15 to July 16 has been approved in view of the trains immense popularity and the 100 per cent occupancy recorded during its earlier []

Srinagar, Apr 2: The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir has designated district-wise nodal officers to address public grievances related to essential commodities and to supervise the functioning of District Control Rooms across Kashmir division. According to an official order, issued by the office of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir , the move aims to ensure timely redressal of complaints and streamline monitoring mechanisms at the district level. As per the order, Mr. Aadil Fareed (ADC Srinagar) h

Jammu, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday introduced two bills in the legislative assembly aimed at decriminalising certain offences to ease doing business and establishing private universities in the Union Territory. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah introduced a Bill to amend certain enactments, decriminalising and rationalising offences for ease of living and ease of doing business and also to repeal certain enactments in the assembly. Education Minister Sakeena Itoo introduced a

JAMMU, Apr 2: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday rejected a Private Members resolution seeking establishment of Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Jammu region. The resolution was moved by Legislator Narinder Singh Raina which reads, this House urges for the proposal of establishment of a Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in the Jammu region: a strategic imperative for Viksit Bharat @2047. Legislators Mir Saifullah of National Conference and Nizam-ud-Din Bhat of

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: The Government has announced measures to help exporters tackle the impact of the West Asia crisis and some more decisions are on the anvil, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. An US-Israel attack launched on Iran in February has disrupted movement of ships in the international waters. It has also pushed air freight and insurance cost for traders. To help exporters, the government has announced certain decisions through a relief package and some [] The

MUMBAI, Apr 2: Staging a spirited recovery, stock markets pared early losses to close higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Sensex rising by 185 points and the broader Nifty settling above 22,700 on strong value buying in IT and banking shares and a sharp rebound in the rupee. Rebounding more than 2,000 points from the days low, the 30-share BSE Sensex finally settled higher by 185.23 points, or 0.25 per cent, at 73,319.55. The index opened lower and tanked further [] The post Stock markets sta

MUMBAI, Apr 2: The rupee logged one of its steepest single-day gains in many years and settled 156 paise higher at 93.14 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday after the Reserve Bank stepped in with a slew of measures to restrict banks from onshore forward markets. The domestic unit, however, remained under pressure due to the unabated withdrawal of foreign capital, a strengthening dollar, and rising crude oil prices amid a volatile geopolitical situation, forex analysts said. At the []

GUWAHATI, Apr 2: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday asserted that the BJP was not against any caste, religion or language, and that unity in diversity is our essence. Addressing a poll rally in Assams Palasbari constituency, he said that the relaxation on granting voting rights to people of specific religion was as per the margdarshan (guidance) of the Constitution. The BJP is not against any caste, region, religion or language. Unity in diversity is our essence. But the foreign [] The pos

JAMMU, Apr 2: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (JK&L) has officially released the sitting roster for its judges, effective from April 6 to June 6, 2026. See Order Copy Click Here.. The post J&K | High Court Issues New Judge Roster For Jammu And Srinagar Wings appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

SRINAGAR, Apr 2: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday said they have filed a charge-sheet against five officials of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and a private beneficiary for allegedly facilitating illegal construction of a commercial complex in Rajbagh by misusing official permissions. In a statement, a spokesperson said the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau produced Charge sheet in case FIR No. 11/2020 for the commission of offences U/S 5(1)(d) r/w5(2) of J&K Prevent

By T N Ashok There is a particular irony embedded in the story of film festivals and Indias capital. For decades, Delhi was the centre-piece of the nations most prestigious cinematic gathering. The Vigyan Bhavan echoed with the chatter of international directors. The Siri Fort Auditorium complex, built in the 1980s and still one of the subcontinents finest multi-auditorium cultural venues, was purpose-designed with film festivals in mind. Foreign luminaries walked the corridors of South Block an

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: The Delhi High Court on Thursday gave a final opportunity to former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and others to respond to a plea by the Enforcement Directorate to expunge unwarranted remarks made against it by the trial court while discharging them in the liquor policy case. Observing that none of the respondents, except one, filed their responses even after seeking time on the last date of hearing, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said [] The post Exci

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Apr 2: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that there is no dearth of fuel or gas in the country and India was ready to deal with any energy crisis resulting out of the ongoing West Asia conflict. Singh, speaking at a Sainik Samman Sammelan in poll-bound Kerala, said that Indian Navy ships were safely escorting the countrys tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for maritime trade and an Iranian territory. The defence minister further [] The post N

NEW DELHI, Apr 2:Padma Viswanathan, a Canadian-American writer of Indian-origin, has made it to the 2026 International Booker Prize shortlist as the English translator of a Portuguese language novella. On Earth As It Is Beneath by Brazilian author Ana Paula Maia, described by judges as a brutal, haunting and hypnotic novella set in a remote Brazilian penal colony, where the boundaries between justice and cruelty collapse, is among the six worldwide contenders for the coveted literary honour. The

SRINAGAR, Apr 2: Police on Thursday attached a residential house worth Rs 30 lakhs in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. As part of intensified campaign against narcotics trafficking and with an aim to dismantle the financial network of the drug trade, police in Pulwama district has attached a double-storied residential house valued at approximately Rs 30 lakhs, situated at Waghama, a police spokesperson said. The spokesperson s

JAMMU, Apr 2: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the developments at the international level remain beyond the control of both the Union government and the people, asserting that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir will largely mirror the broader national scenario. He said the Union territory is currently not facing any shortage of essential supplies, including fuel, and that stocks are sufficient for the next 10 to 15 days. Abdullah was speaking to mediapersons on the West Asia [] The

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Raymond Realty Ltd on Thursday reported a more than two-fold jump in its sales bookings to Rs 1,519 crore for the quarter ended March, on better demand for its residential properties. Its sales bookings stood at Rs 636 crore in the year-ago period. In a regulatory filing, Raymond Realty said its sales bookings or pre-sales rose 31 per cent to Rs 3,023 crore during the full 2025-26, from Rs 2,314 crore in the preceding financial year. [] The post Raymond Realty Q4 pre-sales jump

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday issued a one-week deadline to the Department of Posts for integrating its pension services with the telecom departments SAMPANN portal. Speaking at an event in the national capital, Scindia directed top officials from both departments to end ongoing discussions and finalise the integration immediately. Why is it that the postal department is not using the Sampann portal? I want (officials) to meet straight after this f

JAMMU, Apr 2: Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo, today introduced a Bill in the Legislative Assembly for the establishment and incorporation of private universities in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bill, titled A Bill for the Establishment and Incorporation of Private Universities in Jammu and Kashmir and for Ensuring Academic Standards to Safeguard Quality Education and Protect the Interests of Students (L.A. Bill No. 08 of 2026), has already been published in an extraordinary issue of the Official

JAMMU, Apr 2: Secretary, Legislative Assembly, Manoj Kumar Pandit today informed the House that the Lieutenant Governor has assented to three Bills passed by Legislative Assembly (LA). Informing the House, the Secretary read, The Jammu and Kashmir Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 1 of 2026); The Jammu and Kashmir Eliminating Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 2 of 2026) and Jammu and Kashmir State Civil Courts (Amendment) B

New Delhi, Apr 2: All central government employees have been mandated to complete competency-linked courses relevant to their role or level on a dedicated online platform annually, which will reflect in their annual performance appraisal reports, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. The government has adopted a competency-based capacity building approach, focusing on role-based learning, continuous skill development, and alignment of training with role requirements, Union Minister of State

DUBAI, Apr 2: Iran responded to US President Donald Trumps address to Americans on the war with new missile attacks targeting Israel and the Gulf Arab states Thursday, underlining Tehrans insistence that it rejected Washingtons outreach for a ceasefire while maintaining its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. Britain planned to hold a call Thursday with nearly three dozen countries about how to reopen the strait, through which 20 per cent of all oil and natural gas traded passes in [] The post Iran fi

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday demanded the Government should clarify in the Rajya Sabha whether the House would be adjourned to a later date or sine die, amid what he called unhealthy media speculation. Rising after papers were laid in the Upper House, Ramesh sought an explanation from Leader of the House J P Nadda and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. Today, is the House going to be adjourned till a later date or [] The post Sine die or later? Cong see

CHANDIGARH, Apr 2: Punjab police on Thursday said it has unearthed an inter-state illegal arms supply module with the arrest of four persons. Patiala police also recovered 10 sophisticated self-loading firearms, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were sourcing country-made weapons from Bihar and supplying them in Punjab for criminal activities, he said. Further probe indicates gang rivalry, with plans to target a rival criminal linke

KOLKATA, Apr 2: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday turned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikaris nomination filing from Bhabanipur into a high-voltage political spectacle, claiming he had a shortcut to bring about paribartan (change) in West Bengal: defeating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her own constituency. Shah said while the BJP would otherwise have to win 170 seats to form the government with a comfortable majority, a victory for Adhikari in Bhabanipur alone would automatically bring chan

JAMMU, Apr 2: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he will address the issue of pending commitments related to the Ranjit Sagar Dam with his Punjab counterpart. Abdullahs statement comes after the BJP raised concerns about alleged violations of the intergovernmental agreement overseeing the project. The Ranjit Sagar Dam, also known as the Thein Dam, is a major 600 MW hydroelectric project on the Ravi river near Basohli in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir and Pathankot, Punjab

JAMMU, Apr 2: Police on Thursday arrested a hardcore criminal in the RS Pura area of Jammu district and recovered a sharp-edged weapon from his possession, officials said. Acting on inputs, a police team arrested Davinder Kumar alias Rahul, a resident of Chak Mohd Yar in Jammu, they said. On seeing the police, the accused attempted to flee, but the officers overpowered him, they added. The police recovered a sharp-edged weapon (toka) from his possession. The accused has more than [] The post Har

JAMMU, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday said that a total of 233 illegal commercial and residential structures have been identified in Jammu city in the last 13 months. In reply to a question of BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa in the assembly, the government said the violations pertain to 122 residential structures, 107 commercial establishments, and four falling under mixed residential-commercial use. Providing further details, the authorities said 64 commercial structures operating

Srinagar, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has transferred and posted Mr. Vipan Chandran, Addl. SP Katra, to the Anti-Corruption Bureau on deputation, with immediate effect. As per Government Order No. 199-Home of 2026, the posting has been made in the interest of administration under the standard terms and conditions of deputation specified in Schedule XVIII of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations, 1956. The order has been issued by Principal Secretary Hom

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday cautioned Union ministers and MPs against having long conversations in the House when proceedings were underway and warned that he will name them in future. As soon as the Zero Hour began at 12 noon, Birla said he has seen members and ministers talking for half-an-hour with each other during House proceedings. He said short and important conversations were allowed but not long chats. I will name you in [] The post Speaker Birla cautions mi

JAMMU, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has relieved IPS officer Nikhil Borkar from the Union Territory to take up a new assignment with the Government of India. As per Government Order No. 198-Home of 2026 dated April 2, the officer has been relieved in pursuance of a communication received from the Ministry of Home Affairs and with the approval of the competent authority. According to the order, Nikhil Borkar (IPS, AGMUT:2017) stands relieved from J&K with effect from [] The post IPS Of

JAMMU, Apr 2: In a major reshuffle, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today ordered the transfer and posting of 82 police officers, including 34 IPS and 48 KPS officers. Among those transferred include DIG Jammu-Samba-Kathua Range Shiv Kumar Sharma, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range Sarah Rizvi, and DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range Tejinder Singh. See Order Copy Click Here.. The post J&K | Major Reshuffle In Police Admin; 34 IPS, 48 JKPS Officers Transferred appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday handed over an appointment letter to Smt. Alka Sharma, wife of martyred Sub-Inspector Deepak Sharma, under the Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme, 2022. The Lieutenant Governor also assured all possible assistance and support to the bereaved family. The Lieutenant Governor assured all possible assistance and support to the bereaved family. The J&K Police Braveheart made the supreme sacrifice in the li

MOSCOW, Apr 2: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed the Middle East conflict, the UK Prime Ministers office said in a statement. The Prime Minister spoke to the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, this afternoon to discuss the conflict in the Middle East It was crucial partners stepped up to ensure safe shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the leaders agreed, the statement said. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said that he was seriously [] The pos

MANADO (Indonesia), Apr 2: An undersea earthquake of 7.4 magnitude toppled buildings in parts of northern Indonesia, sent people fleeing from their homes, killed at least one person and generated a small tsunami Thursday. Waves up to 75 cm (30 inches) above normal tides were recorded at several monitoring stations about a half-hour after the earthquake, which was centred in the Molucca Sea. Indonesias meteorological agency lifted its tsunami warning hours after the quake, and the Philippine Inst

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: The government has extended the SIM-binding deadline for mobile messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc., to December 31 following requests from the industry, according to sources. The SIM-binding rule mandates messaging platforms to provide their service on a mobile device only if there is an active SIM available in it. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has also removed the mandatory six-hour log-out rule for the web version of apps to a risk analysis-based log-ou

JAMMU, Apr 2: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that outstanding electricity dues across government departments, public sector units and security establishments in the Union Territory have surged to over Rs 3,747 crore, with major liabilities concentrated in key infrastructure and utility departments. These details of outstanding power dues were shared by the chief minister, who is incharge of the Power Development Department (PDD), in response to a question raised

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: A wave of optimism is sweeping through Indias real estate sector as the Income Tax Act 2025 comes into effect from April 1, with industry leaders confident that the new regime will put more money in buyers pockets and bring homeownership closer to reality for millions. For years, aspiring homeowners especially renters, first-time buyers, and Gen Z -have grappled with tight finances, high upfront costs, and cumbersome compliance processes. The latest tax overhaul, however, is [

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Less-than-optimal diets, such as one being low on whole grains or high on sodium, may have caused over four million deaths worldwide from ischaemic heart disease in 2023, according to an analysis. Ischaemic heart disease, or coronary artery disease, is a condition in which flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is reduced because plaque build-up narrows coronary arteries. Researchers, including those from the US Massachusetts General Hospital and Kyung Hee University in

Accessing financial support no longer always requires branch visits or paperwork. .Today, many borrowers today prefer applying for loans through secure mobile apps that simplify the process. The Tata Capital Loan App offers a structured digital journey where users can apply, upload documents, and track their application from one place. For people exploring the best loan app in India, the ability to complete most steps online with minimal documentation is a key advantage, especially when seeking

JAMMU: April 2 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Thursday that over 16,000 kanals of land under the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) are currently being encroached upon, and that eviction drives are being carried out in a phased and time-bound manner. In response to a question from BJP MLA Dr Narinder Singh Raina in the assembly, the chief minister stated that the total land managed by the JDA amounts to 80,976 kanals and 10 marlas, of which [] The post Over 16,000 Kanals O

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Indias annual defence exports touched an all time high of Rs 38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26, marking an over 62 per cent growth over the previous fiscal, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday. The big jump in the defence exports reflected the growing global trust in Indias indigenous defence capabilities, Singh said in a social media post, adding the country is scripting an impressive defence exports success story. India defence exports have touched [] The

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday stressed the need for continuously updating civil services with the changing times to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat. In a video message at the launch of Sadhana Saptah, he said that the governance of the country should improve the ease of living and the quality of life for citizens on a daily basis. Modi stated that the principle of governance in the country is based on the mantra Nagrik [] The post Need To Continuously Update Public

Jammu, Apr 2: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that he will remind his counterpart from the neighbouring state of Punjab to fulfill the commitments made with the Jammu & Kashmir Government regarding the Shahpur Kandi dam project. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said that the 1979 pact signed between the Governments of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab regarding the Shahpur Kandi dam project is a sovereign commitment between two governments. I will take up the [] Th

Srinagar, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday informed the Assembly that more than 200 unauthorised constructions have been identified across key tourist destinations, with the highest number reported from Doodhpathri. Replying to a query by PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, the government said that Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs) have initiated action in these cases, including sealing, demolition, imposition of penalties and issuance of notices. Doodhpathri alone ac

Jammu, Apr 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Thursday said that necessary clearances and infrastructure upgrades are essential to address rising traffic challenges and ensure smooth road connectivity in key industrial areas of the Union Territory. Dy CM Choudhary, informed the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly that a significant portion of the proposed road alignment falls within forest land, making prior forest clearance mandatory before execution of the project. The

NEW DELHI, Apr 2: A new analysis has found that heat risk in Indian cities is increasingly being shaped not only by daytime heatwaves but also by night-time heatwaves and compound heatwaves, which occur when a daytime heatwave is followed by a night-time heatwave. This is significant because current Heat Action Plans (HAPs) and urban climate policies mainly focus on daytime heatwaves, according to the study. A HAP serves as an early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat [] The po

There is something especially frustrating about finding a photo you still love, only to realize it has been covered with a giant emoji. Maybe it was saved from social media, maybe someone added a sticker before sending it to you, or maybe you edited it years ago and now want the clean version back. Whatever the case, this is exactly where AI photo cleanup tools have become incredibly useful. The best ones can remove emojis, stickers, and other overlays while [] The post 5 Best Tools to Remove Em