Daily Excelsior

The ongoing expansion of the Jammu Airport marks a transformative phase in the regions aviation infrastructure and economic landscape. For decades, despite its strategic location and immense tourism potential, the airport remained constrained by outdated facilities and operational limitations. Historically, Jammu Airport faced multiple infrastructural challenges that restricted its operational capacity. The runway length was a persistent limitation, preventing the landing and take-off of larger

Vishal Sharma By far the greatest and most admirable form of wisdom is that needed to plan and beautify cities and human communities. Socrates A city is livable when its roads are straight, level and not bumpy; and most importantly, do not deform either under load or when exposed to rains; when its drains-small and big-crisscrossing within its neighborhoods and between them are clean, covered and soak up every water drop that falls from the sky and take it to [] The post Bumpy rides, cuss words

K N Pandita knp627@gmail.com The ongoing war has brought ruin to Iran. The slogans, which the Ayatollahs deemed their jugular vein, were like to hell with Zionists (seyhun ha be jahannam) and Death to America (marg bar America). These petrifying slogans became frequent that many mullahs, instead of beginning the sermon to the congregations with bismillah (in the name of Allah) began with one or the other abusive slogans against Israel and America. Why is the Iranian theocracy lethally hostile []

The announcement of a Rs 100-crore Integrated Aqua Park in Anantnag marks a significant policy push towards harnessing Kashmirs immense but still underutilised fisheries potential. In a region where large-scale industrialisation faces structural constraints due to geography, ecology and security considerations, strengthening sectors rooted in natural advantages offers a more sustainable and inclusive growth path. Fisheries and aquaculture represent one such sector. With abundant water resources,

Anoop Khajuria anoopkhajuria@gmail.com The latter half of February and the beginning of March this year have brought an unusual and worrying spike in temperatures across North India. The Himalayan regions-particularly the Kashmir Valley-have witnessed conditions more reminiscent of early spring than the tail end of winter. According to observations by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), several parts of the Kashmir Valley have recorded temperatures significantly above the seasonal average

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 17: In a significant step towards bridging the gap between academia and industry, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), J&K Council, and the Central University of Jammu (CUJ) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing student employability and fostering industry-oriented skills. The MoU was signed by Prof Yashwant Singh, Registrar, Central University of Jammu, and Khurshid Maqbool Dar, Director, CII J&K Council, in the presence of Prof

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 17: An exclusive interaction session featuring its proud alumnus, Absyu Sharma, who secured Rank 1 in the JKAS 2024 examination, organized by the SR College of Competitions was held here today. Being a student of SR College himself, Absyu Sharmas achievement added special significance to the event, inspiring current aspirants to follow in his footsteps. The session saw enthusiastic participation from JKAS candidates eager to learn directly from the topper. Duri

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 17: Federation of Industries Jammu (FOIJ), representing more than 3,000 industrial members and over 5,000 MSMEs across the Jammu region, has submitted a detailed memorandum to the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in a meeting attended by the Chairman Virendra Jain and Co-Chairman Lalit Mahajan of FOIJ, highlighting critical issues affecting the survival and growth of local Micro/Small Industrial sector. FOIJ emphasized that industries i

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday hosted Iftaar at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Center here, bringing together people from different walks of life in the spirit of harmony and togetherness during the holy month of Ramadan. The Iftaar was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakeena Itoo and Javid Ahmad Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, legislators, senior civil and police officers, reli

NEW DELHI, Mar 17 : President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday attended an event at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre to commemorate the milestone of five billion meals served by the Akshaya Patra Foundation to schoolchildren across the country. Addressing the gathering, the President described the achievement as remarkable and said the foundations work contributes significantly to advancing educational objectives. Referring to the theme of the event From a Well-Nourished and Well-Educated India t

NEW DELHI, Mar 17 : Health insurance is a priority for this government and it is expected that the country will have insurance for all by 2033, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Replying to supplementary queries during Question Hour, she said the insurance sector is expanding and during 2024-25 it covered 58 crore lives in the country. Health insurance is a priority for this government. In fact, we are hoping that by 2033 we [] The post Health insurance prio

DUBAI, Mar 17: India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur moved up to seventh even as her deputy Smriti Mandhana continued to hold on to the top spot in the latest womens ODI rankings released today. Kaur moved up a spot to seventh after New Zealand legend Sophie Devine dropped two rungs to climb down to ninth. Jemimah Rodrigues remained static on 12th. New Zealand batter Maddy Greens fine knock of 94 in the final match of their ICC Womens Championship series against [] The post Harmanpreet moves to 7th, Ma

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Mar 17: Senior BJP leader and MP Rajya Sabha (Nominated ), Gulam Ali Khatana, today lauded the proactive and decisive leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, stating that the Governments preparedness in protecting both Indian citizens and national energy security has been unimaginable and exemplary. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Parliament, Khatana drew attention to the evolving situation in Wes

KATHMANDU, Mar 17 : Multiple copies of a book by Chinese President Xi Jinping were burnt at a college in Nepal, leading to the Chinese mission here issuing a diplomatic note to the Home Ministry, officials said on Tuesday. According to media reports, old books were burnt at the Manmohan Technical Institute in Koshi provinces Morang district on Saturday to make space in the college library. These included several copies of The Governance of China written by Xi, the reports [] The post Xis books b

Excelsior Sports Correspondent KISHTWAR, Mar 17: District Police Kishtwar organized a Martyrs Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Sports Stadium in Gulabgarh, Paddar under the Civic Action Programme. The event was conducted in tribute to police personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. The tournament was inaugurated by Additional Superintendent of Police Kishtwar, Pardeep Singh Gouria, who emphasized the importance of such initiatives in strengthening police-public relations and e

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 17: A major fraud involving lakhs of rupees has surfaced in Jammu, where several parents were allegedly cheated on the pretext of securing admissions for their children in professional courses such as MBBS and B.Tech. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Police sources said the Cyber Police Station Jammu has registered a case against Vidya 360 Educational Services, a Mohali-based consultancy, and started an investigation. They said the accused consult

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 17: The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), City Branch Jammu organized the PACE Pneumonia Assessment; Care Education Module under the IAP Presidential Action Plan 2026. The programme aimed to strengthen the knowledge and clinical skills of pediatricians in the early diagnosis, management and prevention of pneumonia in children. Dr Sanjeev Kumar Digra, Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, SMGS Hospital Jammu and President IAP City Branch Jammu, highli

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 17: Reiterating further restructuring of the region, including the division of Kashmir into two Union Territories and the creation of a separate Homeland for Kashmiri Hindus to the East and North of River Jehlum in the Kashmir Valley, Panun Kashmir today said such a framework alone can ensure security, dignity and political empowerment of the genocide community. Talking to reporters here, today, PK chairman, Dr Ajay Chrungoo said recognition of genocide and rev

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 17: Escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran in West Asia have begun to cast a shadow on Indias energy security, with potential ripple effects on both LPG availability and the power sector, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. According to a former officer of Powergrid, the ongoing conflict has disrupted shipping routes through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that handles nearly two-thirds of Indias LPG imports

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: In his first public remarks after being released from jail, activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday said he wanted to see the development in a positive light and hoped it would lead to a meaningful dialogue on the demands of agitating bodies in Ladakh. Addressing a press conference here along with his wife and HIAL co-founder Gitanjali J Angmo, Wangchuk said the protests in Ladakh have been aimed solely at initiating a constructive dialogue process. Follow the [] The post Wangchuk

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 17: The monthly meeting of All J&K +2 Lecturers Forum was held under the chairmanship of R S Salathia, Chairman, to deliberate upon the long-pending issue of regularisation of Incharge Lecturers and other service matters. Addressing the meeting, R S Salathia strongly criticized the inordinate delay in regularisation despite repeated assurances from the Government. He expressed serious concern over the issue of Assured Career Progression (ACP) and alleged that a

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: Allegations of horse trading of MLAs erupted as Rajya Sabha elections saw cross-voting in Bihar, Odisha and Haryana, with the opposition Congress suspending three of its legislators in Odisha and warning some of its MLAs of strict action in Haryana. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The ruling NDA won all five Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar, three of the four in Odisha and one of the two seats that went to polls in Haryana. [] The post Cross-voting: Cong initiates act

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 17: Only two out of eleven drinking water schemes taken up under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Kupwara constituency have been completed so far, while the remaining projects are still at different stages of execution. Official data also shows that all four schemes taken up under the UT Capex programme in the constituency are still in progress. According to the official data on the status of schemes under JJM and UT Capex in the jurisdiction [] The post Most

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 17: The J&K Students Association (JKSA) today urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to intervene urgently to facilitate the evacuation of around 200 Indian students stranded near the Azerbaijan-Iran border amid tensions in the region. In a statement issued here, the Association said the students, many of them from Kashmir, had travelled from different parts of Iran to the Azerbaijan border in hopes of crossing over for their onward journey to India.

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: The Department of Posts on Tuesday rolled out three premium services, with 24-hour and 48-hour delivery guarantees for urgent and time-sensitive consignments, as it seeks to reinvent itself against a growing field of courier services that promise delivery within hours. Launching the services 24 Speed Post, 24 Speed Post Parcel, and 48 Speed Post Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India Posts revenue growth is encouraging, with a 20 per cent growth in the 11 []

Jammu, March 17 : Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday issued a stern warning to separatist elements, asserting that any attempt to divide people or obstruct development in the Union territory will be dealt with firmly. Sinha said any individual or group seeking to threaten peace, law and order, or the safety of civilians in Jammu and Kashmir will have to pay a very heavy price. We must uproot separatist elements who are trying to divide people [] The post LG Manoj Sinha Warns Se

BHUBANESWAR, Mar 17: Founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani, was conferred the KISS Humanitarian Award 2025 at a function here. The award was presented by Nobel laureate from Sri Lanka Prof Mohan Munasinghe in the presence of KIIT & KISS founder Achyuta Samanta here on Monday, a KIIT statement said. The ceremony was attended by 40,000 tribal students, who warmly welcomed Ambani with their traditional dances and presentations. The award recognises Ambanis outstanding humanita

Srinagar, Mar 17: With just three days left for Eid-ul-Fitr, markets in Srinagar and other Valley towns are buzzing with activity, with people thronging shopping districts to buy new apparel and delectables for the festive occasion. Readymade garment shops, bakeries, fruit stalls, and meat and diary product vends are witnessing a surge of shoppers. Shop owners, however, rue that e-commerce platforms have dented their sale during the festive month. The ever-growing popularity of e-commerce platfo

Jammu, March 17: Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi range, Sarah Rizvi on Tuesday reviewed security arrangements at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi and along the pilgrimage route ahead of the Navratri festival, set to begin March 19, officials said. Chairing a joint security review meeting at Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, Rizvi assessed the measures in place to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the festival, which witnesses a large influx of pilgr

Healthcare costs are no longer minor expenses which are on the rise every year. Still, many people buy health insurance plans without thinking about the amount of coverage they need. As a result, a few people are underinsured and many pay for coverage they never use. So, how much health insurance do you need? The right cover depends on several factors that need careful consideration. In this blog, lets explore how to calculate the right health insurance cover amount effectively. [] The post Sele

For trips to India and the UAE, planning often starts with visas and bookings. Many travellers focus on flight fares and hotel confirmations first, and UAE travel insurance is pushed to the end, which can be a problem if your visa route requires proof or you face an unexpected bill abroad. That delay can create stress if your visa route requires proof or you face an unexpected bill abroad. This article explains where insurance fits and when you should arrange [] The post UAE Visa Rules: When to

JAMMU, Mar 17: Secretary of the Hospitality and Protocol (H&P) Department, Avny Lavasa, inspected the ongoing construction of staff quarters adjacent to the Circuit House at Canal Road, Jammu, on Monday. The project, valued at Rs. 3.43 crore, is being executed under the SASCI scheme and is slated for completion by the end of the current financial year. The project, which is 95 percent complete, includes 12 two bedroom flats for the employees of H&P department. The Secretary expressed satisfactio

JAMMU, Mar 17: General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps Lieutenant General P K Mishra on Tuesday visited forward areas of Akhnoor to review operational readiness along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu. The GOC interacted with troops deployed on the LoC and was briefed on measures undertaken to strengthen defences and enhance operational effectiveness. He commended all ranks for their high morale, professionalism and steadfast commitment to duty. The post GOC White Knight Corps Revie

SINGAPORE, Mar 17: A Singapore court on Tuesday charged an Indian national for allegedly molesting and harassing an air stewardess on a flight from Bangkok to Singapore last month, a local media reported. Akash Tiwari, 35, was charged with using criminal force to outrage the modesty of the victim on a Singapore Airlines flight after he allegedly initiated non-consensual physical contact with her. The accused was also charged with causing distress by using threatening behaviour on the air steward

Srinagar, Mar 17: The J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday said they have arrested, a meter reader posted in PDD Rajouri, after catching him red-handed while accepting a bribe of rupees 30,000 from a complainant in exchange for reducing an inflated electricity bill. A spokesperson said the J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a case against Arif Iqbal, presently posted as Meter Reader in PDD Rajouri vide FIR no. 03/2026 at PS ACB Rajouri u/s 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as [] The p

MUMBAI, Mar 17: Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty rallied for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, closing higher by nearly 1 per cent following a rally in metal and auto shares and a positive trend in global markets. The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 567.99 points or 0.75 per cent to settle at 76,070.84. During the day, it surged 801.41 points or 1.06 per cent to 76,304.26. The 50-share NSE Nifty climbed 172.35 points or 0.74 per cent to end [] The post Stock markets rally for 2nd day; Se

KATHMANDU, Mar 17: A 4-magnitude earthquake hit northwestern Nepals Sudurpaschim province on Tuesday, authorities said. There were no immediate reports of any damage caused by it. The earthquake struck at 10:12 am in the Sitaula area of the Darchula district, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre. There were no immediate reports about any damage to life or property caused by the tremor. Nepal, which experiences multiple earthquakes in any given year, lies in one of

New Delhi, Mar 17: In his first public remarks after being released from jail, activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday termed the revocation of his detention under NSA a win-win development and said the Centre has extended its hand to build trust for a meaningful dialogue with the people of Ladakh. Addressing a press conference here along with his wife and HIAL co-founder Gitanjali J Angmo, Wangchuk said the protests in Ladakh have been aimed solely at initiating a constructive dialogue [] The post I

Jammu, Mar 17: The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said that any individual or group that seeks to threaten the peace, law and order, or the safety of innocent civilians in Jammu Kashmir will have to pay a very heavy price. Addressing the Passing Out Parade of the Constables at the STC Talwara, in Reasi today, he said any attempt to disrupt public peace, undermine commercial activity, or incite violence shall be met with the full force of the law [] The post LG Sinha Attends The Passing Out

Srinagar, Mar 17: A marine commando (MARCOS) of the navy was critically injured during a rescue operation in the Jhelum River in J&Ks Baramulla district on Tuesday and was shifted to an army hospital for treatment, officials said. Officials said that a joint rescue operation was launched in the Uri area of Baramulla district after a woman jumped into the Jhelum River. The middle-aged woman, identified as a resident of Lagama Uri, is reported to have jumped into the river [] The post MARCOS Perso

New Delhi, Mar 17: Senior JD(U) leader K C Tyagi on Tuesday said that he has left the party and will decide his further course of action soon. Tyagi was associated with the JD(U) since it came into existence in October 2003 with the merger of the Samata Party and the Janata Dal. He served the JD(U) in various capacities including its chief general secretary, chief spokesperson and political adviser. Yes, I have left the party, Tyagi told PTI, when [] The post KC Tyagi quits JD(U), says will deci

New Delhi, Mar 17: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued summons to Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on a defamation case by the Congress, which alleged that he had falsely claimed that the Istanbul Congress Centre in Turkiye is the office of the political party. Justice Mini Pushkarna, however, refused to order an interim injunction against the content in the matter at this stage, observing that the broadcast was published in May 2025. The partys counsel alleged that the [] The post D

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: Indias stainless steel industry has raised concerns over rising global energy costs amid the West Asia crisis, saying the situation is impacting the overall operating expenses of their units. Supplies of critical industrial gases such as propane/LPG and LNG have been impacted due to ongoing military tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran in the Gulf of Persia, Rajamani Krishnamurti, President of Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA), said. Geopolitical unc

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: Sunkonnect, a renewable energy management consulting firm, on Tuesday said it aims to eliminate up to 200 million tonnes of CO emissions in India by 2030. The initiative aligns with and contributes to 20 per cent of the governments target, making Sunkonnect a significant private sector partner in the countrys national mission for a low-carbon future, the Singapore-based company said in a statement. As the Government of India charts a bold course to reduce the nations [] The po

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: French carmaker Renault on Tuesday expanded its product range in India, with the introduction of the all-new version of mid-sized SUV Duster, as it plans to enhance its market share in the overall passenger vehicle segment. With Duster, the company now has four products in its portfolio. The other three brands are Kwid, Triber and Kiger. Overall, we want to come back as soon as possible to where we were (in terms of market share and [] The post Renault re-launches Duster brand

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: A Parliamentary panel has asked the Statistics Ministry to ensure optimum utilisation of allocated funds and advised it to request supplementary demands, if needed. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, in its Thirty-Fifth Report Demands for Grants (2026-27) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, noted the submission of the ministry that the budgetary allocations are not sufficient to meet the requirements of various schemes like the Support fo

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: India is working with global regulatory bodies, like Codex Alimentarius Commission, to formulate regulations for the nutraceutical industry, which has huge growth potential, Food Processing Industries Minister Chirag Paswan said on Tuesday. Nutraceuticals are again one of the fastest-growing industries. When it comes to this particular sector, we need to have regulations in place, Paswan told reporters on the sidelines of an Assocham event. We are working closely with internat

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: Indias chemicals industry is set to outpace economic growth and expand to USD 230-255 billion by 2030, driven by emerging high-growth segments, according to a report by McKinsey & Company. The sector, currently valued at USD 155-165 billion, is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 8-9 per cent despite global headwinds. The report identified eight high-growth arenas including semiconductors, electric vehicles and batteries, renewables, construction, aerospace and def

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: India has made substantial progress in expanding access to higher education for youth in the last four decades, helping them move from agriculture to industry and services, and reduced gender and caste-based disparities, a report said. However, the State of Working India 2026 report stated that the challenges remain and the extent to which the large, increasingly educated, and aspirational cohort is absorbed into the labour market will determine whether Indias demographic divi

NEW DELHI, Mar 17: Global cybersecurity major Kaspersky is set to double down on its investments in India, citing stronger-than-expected financial performance and plans to use the country as a hub for regional services, according to a senior company official. In an interview with PTI, Adrian Hia, Managing Director, Kaspersky (APAC), said the company is considering basing its marketing, business development, and cloud operations in India to serve both local and regional customers. Following a str