Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Mar 28: Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Saturday presented 93 awards, including 52 individual honours and 41 unit citations, to Army personnel in recognition of exceptional courage and distinguished service at the Northern Command Investiture Ceremony 2026 held here. The awards acknowledged acts of extraordinary valour in counter-insurgency operations, high-altitude deployments and sensitive border missions across Jammu and Kashmir, L

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 28: Galgotias University has steadily evolved over the years as a growing contributor to technology-focused education in India and its recent recognition in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026 by subject (Computer Science and Information Systems) reflects this ongoing journey. The ranking is not just a milestone, but a result of decades of consistent effort toward building a strong academic and research ecosystem. In the 2026 rankings,

Excelsior Correspondent RAMGARH, Mar 28: Reaffirming its commitment to delivering quality healthcare to the people of the Jammu region, a free urology screening camp organized by the Fortis Escorts Hospital, Amritsar, in association with SIBA Foundation, was held at Dera Swami Shingara Giri Ji Maharaj, Palouta Sahib, Ramgarh. The camp was led by renowned urologist Dr Manbir Singh, who, along with his team, provided consultations and screenings to a large number of patients. Around 300 patients b

K.Kumar, Akshat Dogra Situated in the Jammu division of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Udhampur District is a land where history and mythology blend with breathtaking landscapes and ancient culture. While the district is known for its scenic beauty and pilgrim trails, it is equally rich in historic and heritage sites that reflect centuries of architectural craftsmanship, religious devotion, and strategic importance. From ancient temple complexes predating the medieval era to majestic

Lt Gen Narendra Kotwal (R ), Dr Sumedha Kotwal narendrakotwal@gmail.com Humanity today stands at a profound and uncomfortable crossroads. Never before has science achieved such extraordinary heights-unlocking the secrets of the atom, decoding the genome, mapping distant galaxies, and engineering molecules that can alter the very fabric of biology. Yet, paradoxically, never before has the Earth appeared so fragile, so wounded, and so burdened by the very intelligence it nurtured. What we proudly

Prakash Premi Folk literature is the living expression of a communitys collective mind and memory, shaped and preserved not in books but in voices, gestures, and shared experiences. It includes folk songs, folktales, ballads, proverbs, riddles, and devotional compositions, passed from one generation to the next through oral tradition. It is spontaneous, fluid, and deeply rooted in everyday life. In regions like Duggar, folk literature finds its most natural expression in fairs, festivals, season

Excelsior Correspondent LEH, Mar 28: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant today inaugurated the newly constructed District Court Complex at Melong Thang in Leh, marking a major boost to judicial infrastructure in the Union Territory of Ladakh. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO The function was attended by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Justice Arun Palli, along with Justice Sindhu Sharma and other senior judicial office

Excelsior Correspondent REASI, Mar 28: District Police Reasi today carried out attachment proceedings against the property of a LeT terrorist in the Mahore Sub-division. The property belonging to LeT terrorist Mohd Qasim, son of Late Mohd Shafi, linked with the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, was formally attached under Section 25 of the UAPA. The action was carried out in the presence of local residents and family members to ensure transparency and adherence to due legal procedure. The

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 28: Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs today appointed six Advocates as Law Officers in the Jammu and Srinagar Wings of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. As per the order, Advocate Meharban Singh has been appointed as Additional Advocate General, Advocate Meenakshi Slathia as Deputy Advocate General and Anishwar Chatterji Koul as Government Advocate in the Jammu Wing of the High Court. Similarly, Advocate Shabaz Sikandar Mir has be

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 28: A policeman was injured when the gun of his colleague accidentally went off at district police office in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian on Friday, officials said here. Constable Ashiq Hussain, working as canteen boy, sustained bullet injury in his lower abdomen due to accidental discharge from another policemans rifle in the canteen, the officials said. They said Hussain was admitted to 92 Base Hospital of the Army here. The post Cop injured in accidental fi

MUMBAI, Mar 28: A robust Mumbai Indians outfit will begin their bid to end a five-year title drought in the Indian Premier League when they take on a depleted Kolkata Knight Riders in their tournament opener here on Sunday. It has been a while since Mumbai Indians, the joint most successful team in the IPL, laid their hands on a trophy which they claimed five times between 2013-2020. Last year, the Hardik Pandya-led side finished third after losing to runners-up [] The post All-round Mumbai Indi

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 28: The Hockey J&K UT Men Championship entered its decisive stage on Day 5 at the KK Hakku Hockey Stadium, Jammu, with Jammu North and J&K Police storming into the finals after commanding semifinal victories. The championship has drawn participation from 17 teams across the Union Territory. In the first semifinal, Jammu North dominated Poonch with a convincing 6-0 win. Jotveer Singh (No. 2) netted two field goals in the 16th and 31st minutes. Captain []

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 28: Ishmeet Singh and Kumaresh A were leading the field with five points each after five rounds in the ongoing International Rating Chess Fiesta at International Delhi Public School (IDPS), Junior Wing Extension, C Sainik Colony. Close on their heels were Akshat Negi and Maxim Singh with 4.5 points, while nine other players remained in contention with four points each. With four rounds still to be played, the tournament has entered an exciting phase, esp

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 28: The Annual Sports Meet 2026 of the J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu commenced today at a positive note in which the spirit of sportsmanship was showcased by the advocates from all the 10 district of Jammu province. The sports meet was inaugurated by president of Bar Association Nirmal K Kotwal (Senior Advocate) along with general secretary Pardeep Manjotra, joint secretary Anshu Mahajan and treasurer Rahul Aggarwal. On day one of the tournament,

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 28: Sopore Police today organized the grand finale of sports activities under the Civic Action Programme (CAP) 2025-26, marking the successful culmination of a series of youth-centric sporting events conducted across Police District Sopore. DIG North Kashmir Range, Maqsood-ul-Zaman, was the chief guest on the occasion. The event was attended by SSP Sopore Iftkhar Talib, other senior officers of police and civil administration, members of civil society

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SAMBA, Mar 28: Samba Police organized a volleyball tournament under the Civic Action Programme (CAP) 2025-2026 at Government Higher Secondary School Kharra Madana, falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Samba. The tournament witnessed enthusiastic participation from five teams from across the district and drew a large number of local spectators, reflecting strong community engagement and sporting spirit. In the final match, village Madana team clinched th

Excelsior Sports Correspondent RAMBAN, Mar 28: District Ramban Taekwondo Championship 2025-26 concluded today at Government Model Higher Secondary School, Gool. The championship witnessed enthusiastic participation of around 80 players from various schools and clubs across district Ramban. The event was organized by the Taekwondo Association of district Ramban under the aegis of the J&K Taekwondo Association and the J&K Sports Council. In the overall medal tally, Khelo India Taekwondo Centre Goo

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 28: District Anantnag Taekwondo Championships 2025-26 concluded successfully at the Indoor Sports Hall, Bijbehara, after a two-day event held from March 27 to 28 under the My Youth My Pride initiative. Organized by the Taekwondo Association of district Anantnag under the aegis of the J&K Taekwondo Association and the J&K Sports Council, the championship witnessed participation from around 70 players representing various schools and clubs across the di

JUPITER ISLAND (USA), Mar 28: Tiger Woods was released on bail late Friday, hours after his Land Rover clipped a truck, rolled onto its side and the golfer was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, officials said. Woods had been traveling at high speeds on a residential road and after the crash showed signs of impairment, Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said, adding that investigators believe he had taken some kind of medication or drug. He described Woods [] The post Tiger

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 28: The Taekwondo Association of District Pulwama is set to organize the District Pulwama Taekwondo Championships 2025-26 under the aegis of the J&K Taekwondo Association and the J&K Sports Council. The two-day championship will be held at the JKSC Indoor Stadium, Rajpora, Pulwama from March 29 to 30 under the My Youth My Pride initiative. The event will feature competitions in Sub-Junior, Cadet, Junior and Senior categories, offering a platform to yo

The busting of a major terror-linked arms trafficking module by Delhi Police in the NCR is a stark reminder that the threat landscape in India remains both active and evolving. The recovery of sophisticated foreign-made weapons-including a submachine gun and high-end pistols-points not merely to criminal enterprise but to the possible prevention of large-scale, high-impact terror incidents. What makes this case particularly alarming is the clear cross-border dimension. The supply chain, traced b

Dr. Pallavi Sharma, Dr. Vishal Sharma pallavisharmajmu@gmail.com Bowlis are natural water reservoir. In hindi, these reservoirs are known as Bowlis, in dogri called as Baan and in English, these are step-well. The word Baan, symbolizes clean mountain water sources that were once integral to community life, ecology and spirituality. This water is not just an element, it too, has spiritual and health significance. As the English name suggests, it has a series of steps which lead down to the ground

Whole of Govt approach required to dismantle ecosystem Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday reviewed the progress of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in the UT of Jammu Kashmir, at a high-level meeting at Lok Bhavan Jammu. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Sinha directed for a massive crackdown on smuggling networks that target the youth of Jammu & Kashmir. Deliberate and sinister efforts are being made to push the youth of Jammu Kashmir into

Ashok Sharma Food has always been an essential element of human culture. It reflects the environment, traditions and social life of a community and often tells stories about the people who prepare and share it. In the hilly district of Udhampur in the Duggar region of Jammu, traditional food represents a rich cultural heritage shaped by rural life, agriculture and close-knit social relationships. For the Dogra community of this region, food has always been closely associated with celebration, ho

Joint operation by JKP, PP Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 28: In a joint operation, Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) and Punjab Police (PP) have apprehended two suspected foreign terrorists and their local supporter from village Sherwani Kote in Malerkota area of Punjab. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp This has averted what could have been a major tragedy in future as some persons have already been arrested in Malerkotla for radicalisation of local youth. Plan of the terrorists

Maj Gen SK Sharma shiv_k_sharma@yahoo.co.in In Kashirah village of Udhampur district, the temple of Raja Mandleek is very popular. On every Sunday, one can see hundreds of Hindus and Muslims gathering there to pay obeisance and get blessings of the lord, depicting a pleasant scene of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. This temple serves as a center of social and religious unity. History of Raja Mandleek Raja Mandleek, the family deity (kul devta) of many communities in northern states of India is known [

Cable Cars alone cant drive tourism growth *Adequate stock of essential items in UT Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Mar 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the Government will soon float a fresh Expression of Interest (EOI) slightly relaxing terms and conditions for attractive potential operators to outsource International Yoga and Wellness Centre at Mantalai in Udhampur district. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO Omar, who holds charge of the Tourism Department, gave this information in the Assembly duri

Legislation vetted by Law Deptt, FD gave concurrence Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 28: Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo today said that a bill on drug de-addiction is likely to be brought in the Assembly during ongoing budget session of the Legislature. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Replying to supplementaries of Congress MLA Iftikhar Ahmed in the Assembly during Question Hour, she said the bill is ready and the Government will try to int

Speaker, Members for time bound & fair investigation ] Nishikant Khajuria JAMMU, Mar 28: Cutting across party lines, the ruling as well as opposition members in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today demanded a high level judicial probe into recent assassination attempt on National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah, who had a miraculous escape on March 11 when a 63-year old man opened fire on him during a marriage function in Jammu. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO Terming the [] The po

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 28: J&K National Health Mission Employees Association (NHMEA) has expressed serious concern over long-pending demands related to salary revision and job security of National Health Mission (NHM) employees across the Union Territory, warning of peaceful protests if the issues remain unresolved. The concerns were raised during a meeting attended by the Associations leadership, including members of its reformation committee, president, senior vice president, co

JAMMU, Mar 28: Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather today chaired the High Level Apex Committee (HLAC) meeting at Assembly Complex here to review and accelerate the implementation of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) project in J&K Legislative Assembly. The meeting was attended by MLAs Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, Nizamuddin Bhat, Tanvir Sadiq, Arjun Singh Raju, Dr Sunil Bhardwaj, Waheed ur Rehman Para and Dr Bharat Bhushan; Secretary J&K Legislative Assembly, Manoj K

JAMMU, Mar 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today passed three important Bills through voice vote, marking a significant step towards governance reforms, social equity and strengthening of the judicial framework in Jammu and Kashmir. The Bills were moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and were subsequently put to vote by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, who presented bills before the House for passage. The House passed L.A. Bill No. 01 of 2026, which seeks to amend certain enactments t

JAMMU: March 28 The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said that as many as 3,192 schools across the Union territory have reported less than 10 or zero enrolment since 2022, with 2,518 teachers posted in them. In a written reply to a question by BJP MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania in the Assembly, Education Minister Sakina Itoo shared details of such schools and the staff strength compiled division-wise. According to the data, 1,494 schools with 1,934 teachers reported less than [] The post 3,19

JAMMU, Mar 28: Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday attached the immovable property of a terrorist associate linked with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit in Reasi district, an official said. The attachment proceedings under Section 25 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against the accused, Mohd Qasim, were part of the drive to dismantle the terror eco-system, a police spokesman said. He added that Qasim has been named in an FIR registered under the UAPA, Arms Act and Exp

NEW DELHI, Mar 28: A Delhi court on Saturday granted bail to Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah in a money laundering case linked to terror funding. Special Judge Prashant Sharma granted Shah the relief. A reasoned order is awaited. On March 12, the Supreme Court granted bail to Shah in a terror funding case, in which he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on June 4, 2019. On September 4 last year, the apex court refused to grant [] The post Delhi Court Grants Bail To Sep

SRINAGAR, Mar 28: Police in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday attached a residential property under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as part of an ongoing crackdown on drug-related activities, an officer said. The house belonged to Mushtaq Ahmad Khanday, a resident of Barbugh Imamsahib, and was allegedly acquired using proceeds from the illegal sale of narcotics, he said. As part of its ongoing drive against narcotics-related activities, police in Shopian

Jammu, Mar 28: Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Saturday inaugurated the newly constructed district court complex in Leh, marking a significant step towards strengthening judicial infrastructure in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, and the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Arun Palli, according to an official spokesperson. Upon arrival, the Chief Justic

Jammu, March 28 : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said it has retrieved and restored encroached land belonging to Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. Replying to a question by BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi in the Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, Land measuring 3,729 kanals and 4 marlas belonging to Kashmiri migrants has been retrieved and restored in the Kashmir Valley. Since November 2024, 844 kanals and 4 marlas of land belonging to Kashmiri Pandits have been retrieved [] The post

NEW DELHI, Mar 28: India on Saturday rejected a media report that said billionaire Elon Musk joined a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump earlier this week. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Tuesdays conversation was between the two leaders only. The New York Times, quoting unnamed US officials, reported that Musk participated in the call between Trump and Modi, adding it was an unusual appearance by a private citizen on

NEW DELHI, Mar 28: 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 said that over the last 11 years, the Modi Government has enabled the mainstreaming of youth from Jammu & Kashmir, which has in turn raised their level of self-confidence and aspiration. Interacting with participants of the 6th Kashmir Youth Exchange Programme, Watan Ko Jaano, organised by

Srinagar, Mar 28: The J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau on Saturday said they have arrested Executive Engineer of Jal Shakti (PHE) Mechanical Division South Awantipora after catching him red-handed while accepting a Rs 12,000 bribe for clearing AMC bills. They said, the arrest followed a complaint alleging he had demanded Rs 20,000, of which Rs 8,000 had already been paid earlier. A spokesperson said the J&K Anti Corrupting Bureau received a written complaint to the effect that Executive Engineer Jal S

NEW DELHI, Mar 28: The Delhi High Court on Saturday closed the proceedings on a plea by Congress MP Karti Chidambaram seeking directions to defer the hearing on framing of charges in the trial court in a money laundering case arising from the alleged Chinese visa scam. The Lok Sabha MP from Sivaganga had sought the deferring of the hearing until charges were framed in the linked scheduled offence, i.e. in the visa scam case, which the CBI investigated. The [] The post Chinese visa scam: Delhi HC

GUWAHATI, Mar 28: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will on Sunday release the partys manifesto for the April 9 Assam assembly elections, AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh said. The manifesto is based on several months of work, during which our leaders and members reached out to people across the state, Singh, who is the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Assam, said at a press conference here. The manifesto will be released by Kharge ji in Lakhimpur, he added. (Agencies) T

SRINAGAR, Mar 28: Authorities in Kashmir on Saturday issued an avalanche warning for two districts in the valley and asked people to remain highly vigilant, officials said. An avalanche with a medium danger level is expected to occur above 2,400 metres in Bandipora and Ganderbal within the next 24 hours, officials added. People are strictly advised to avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas, including slopes, hilly terrain, and higher reaches, until further orders are issued by the authoritie

JAMMU, Mar 28: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday directed a massive crackdown on drug smuggling networks targeting youth in the Union Territory. Reviewing the progress of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan at a high-level meeting at Lok Bhavan here, he said deliberate and sinister efforts are being made to push the JK youth into the abyss of drug addiction. A comprehensive, whole-of-government approach, combining stringent enforcement, robust preventive measures, and a carefully cal

NEW DELHI, Mar 28: The Supreme Court has deprecated in strongest terms the disclosure of identity of a girl in a rape case and directed all high courts to ensure that names of survivors and their family members are not mentioned in court orders. In its 2018 judgement in the Nipun Saxena case, the top court had said, No person can print or publish in print, electronic, social media, etc. the name of the victim or even in a remote [] The post SC deprecates disclosure of identity of minor girl in r

Malerkotla, Mar 28: Punjab Police, in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police, have arrested two suspected terrorists linked to Pakistan. The two suspects, identified as Abbu Gaba and Usman, were arrested in Malerkotla, where they had been living as tenants for a long time. The Malerkotla police learnt about the duo during an inquiry of a local drug peddler detained as part of the ongoing Yudh Nashian Virudh anti-drug campaign. Their identities reportedly matched those of two wanted terrorist

JAMMU, Mar 28: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said cable cars alone cannot drive tourism growth in the Union Territorys potential destinations, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach focusing on infrastructure, connectivity and sustainable development. Abdullah also said the government has not yet found a suitable party to take over and operate the international yoga and wellness centre at Mantalai in Udhampur district, and fresh efforts will be made to outso

JAMMU, Mar 28: Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo today informed the House that the government Medical College (GMC) and Associated Hospital Udhampur is functioning in conformity with the prescribed norms and standards and continues to provide efficient healthcare services to the public. The Minister said this in reply to the Calling Attention motion moved by Pawan Kumar Gupta in the Legislative Assembly today. He added that all essential departments, including Out-Patient De

JAMMU, Mar 28: Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Javed Ahmad Rana, today informed that the Department of Wildlife Protection has taken several measures to effectively and promptly mitigate humanwild boar conflict in and around Dachigam National Park, including New Theed village. The Minister was replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by Salman Ali Sagar on behalf of Ali Mohammad Sagar in the Legislative Assembly. The Minister stated that, as part of mitigation efforts, a cement