Daily Excelsior

MENDHAR/JAMMU, Apr 18: An army soldier was injured in a landmine explosion, while a rusted shell was safely defused in a forward village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. The explosion occurred during an area domination patrol by an army column in the Balakot area, leaving an Agniveer injured, they said. The soldier was shifted to a hospital and his condition is stated to be stable, officials said. As [] The post Soldier Injured I

Leh, Apr 18: The Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, today chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for the Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Tathagata Buddha in Ladakh. In the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor directed all departments to expedite preparations, ensure the cleanliness of venues and surrounding areas, remove debris, and intensify drives to manage stray animals. He also reviewed infrastructure readiness, including sanitation, po

JAMMU, Apr 18: Police personnel in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district underwent specialised training in VIP security to enhance their professional capabilities and preparedness in handling sensitive security assignments, officials said. A felicitation ceremony was organised at the district police lines in Doda on Saturday to mark the successful completion of a two-day training programme on VIP security. The training was conducted as per modules devised by the Security Headquarters, J&K, with the o

MUMBAI, Apr 18: ICICI Banks consolidated net profit increased by 9.28 per cent to Rs 14,755 crore in the March quarter, according to an exchange filing on Saturday. It had reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 13,502 crore in the year-ago period. On a standalone basis, the second-largest private sector lenders net profit rose 8.5 per cent to Rs 13,702 crore compared to Rs 12,630 crore in the year-ago period. For the recently ended fiscal year 2025-26, its post-tax [] The post ICICI Bank Q4 ne

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Ola Electric on Saturday announced Ola Sona Weekend to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, offering customers benefits worth up to Rs 50,000 across its electric vehicle portfolio. As part of the celebration of one of Indias most auspicious festivals, customers will also stand a chance to win the Ola Sona, a limited-edition scooter with real 24-karat gold-plated elements, the company said in a statement. Additionally, it is offering its Gen 3 S1 X (2kWh) [] Th

Cabinet approves creation of Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore: I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw The post Cabinet approves creation of Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore: I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Delhi Police has arrested four radicalised men from Maharashtra, Odisha and Bihar who allegedly planned terror activities, carried out recce of sensitive locations to target them and attempted to recruit others through encrypted online platforms, officials said on Saturday. An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and related material were seized during the operation, police said. Two of the accused were in the process of assembling a remote-controlled toy car fitted with an IED t

ISLAMABAD, Apr 18: Pakistans Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has concluded his three-day visit to Iran as part of Islamabads efforts to resolve the conflict between the US and Iran. Munir, who was heading a high-level delegation to Iran, landed in Tehran on Wednesday, becoming the first foreign military leader to visit the country since a two-week ceasefire was agreed between Iran and the US on April 8. During the visit, Munir held discussions with Iran [] The post Pak Army

LONDON, Apr 18:Traditional tribal spirit Mahua and Goan Feni are making their debut in the UK market as part of a new range of Indian heritage spirits from this week. Maharaja Drinks, a retailer focussed on introducing craft Indian beverages to Britain, has launched three Feni offerings and a Mahua spirit in celebration of indigenous spirits with centuries of distilling history rooted in India. The specialist retailer is geared towards organic certification, sustainable production methods and en

COLOMBO, Apr 18: Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka fell significantly in March due to the war in West Asia, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) said on Saturday. January and February recorded 277,327 and 279,328 arrivals respectively, however this positive trend was disrupted in March as arrivals dropped significantly to 183,979, the SLTDA said. The sudden dip can be largely attributed to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf/Middle East regions, it added. The war had disrupted Sri Lankas

ISLAMABAD, Apr 18: Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt have discussed ways to enhance cooperation in key areas of mutual interest in a third consultative meeting held in Antalya. The meeting between Pakistans Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Turkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty was held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday, according to a statem

SRINAGAR, Apr 18: The first batch of 431 Haj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir left for Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saw them off at the airport here, officials said. The pilgrims, including 230 males and 201 females, left in three flights, they said. Officials said all required arrangements for transportation, baggage handling and documentation have been put in place at the Haj House in Bemina here to ensure a smooth departure process. Hundreds of family members [] The p

Srinagar, Apr 18: National Investigation Agency has arrested Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in connection with a 1996 case registered in Jammu and Kashmir. Sources said that Shah was produced before the Patiala House Court in the evening on Friday, which granted the agency three days of transit remand. Officials said he will be taken to Jammu and Kashmir and produced before a court on Monday for further proceedings. The case relates to an FIR lodged at Shergarhi Police [] The post

Srinagar, Apr 18: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday ordered the takeover of management committees of 58 schools linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its Falah-e-Aam Trust, officials said. Official sources said that the action follows adverse intelligence reports and the expiry of the schools management validity. The School Education Department invoked Ministry of Home Affairs notifications declaring JeI an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) A

BENGALURU, Apr 18: Cautioning that the adoption of technology in the judiciary must be accompanied by a clear and conscious understanding of its inherent limitations, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday urged judicial officers not to be afraid of AI. Asserting that technology must remain an aid, not a substitute, he said the integration of Artificial Intelligence into the judicial process must be guided by a principle of balanceleveraging its benefits to enhance efficiency while steadf

JAMMU, Apr 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday continued his campaign for a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir by leading a padyatra in Rajouri. He said that 63 smugglers have been arrested with 45 FIRs registered during the past five days of a relentless crackdown. Sinha launched a 100-day intensive campaign under the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan on April 11 from Jammu, followed by programmes on April 13 in Kathua and on April 15 in Ramban district. Sinha, who [] The post LG Sinha Leads

Ranipet (Tamil Nadu), Apr 18: Congress top leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah lied to the nation claiming they were attempting to pass a bill for womens quota. However, hidden behind such a claim was a diabolic idea of bid to change the nations electoral map and weaken states. What was attempted was an anti-national act and it was against the union of states, he alleged. The BJP-led government [] The post PM, Shah Lied To N

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation tonight at 8.30 PM, a day after a bill to implement womens reservation in legislatures was defeated in the Lok Sabha. The Prime Minister will address the nation at 8.30 PM (April 18, Saturday), an official said. Modi is expected to delve into the issue of implementation of womens quota and the happenings in Parliament, where opposition parties on Friday voted against the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. Under [] The post

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: The Centre has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) by two per cent for all government employees. This has been effective as of January 1. The government announces the DA hike twice a year for January and July. The notification usually comes later, often around festivals like Holi or Diwali. This time, however, there was discontent among the central government employees as the DA announcement was delayed. The post Govt Approves 2% Dearness Allowance Hike For Central Govt Emp

SRINAGAR, Apr 18: A fire broke out in a five-storey commercial building near the Lal Chowk city centre here on Saturday, but was doused before it could spread in the congested business hub, officials said. They said firefighters recovered 19 gas cylinders during the operation and there were no casualties in the incident. Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Aqib Mir, said, The fire originated from the attic portion of the building, which houses the kitchen of a restaurant. The [] The

Jammu, Apr 18: The local administration has demolished the residential property of a drug peddler in Jammu amid heavy security arrangements as part of its ongoing crackdown on narcotics, officials said on Saturday. A large contingent of officials and police, armed with heavy-duty bulldozers, demolished the property owned by Shamsdin alias Pappi in Belicharana for his involvement in drug peddling, they said. The authorities demolished Shamsdins house, removed grass huts and seized some two-wheele

Rajouri, Apr 18: The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today joined Padyatra and addressed a public rally in Rajouri under Drug-Free J&K campaign. The Lieutenant Governor observed that border district Rajouri is sensitive and prone to cross-border drug smuggling. But we are determined to crush these challenges, dismantle the drug trade and liberate society from addiction. From April 11, J&K Police had launched a relentless crackdown in Jammu Division. More than 45 FIRs were filed, 63 smugglers nab

Chennai, Apr 18: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the opposition parties defeated the delimitation bill in the Parliament on Friday to defend the idea of India. Addressing a poll rally at Ponneri here, he said the BJP-led government at the Centre brought a new bill on April 16, and said they were trying to pass the womens bill, which he said was passed in 2023. In the so-called Womens Bill, delimitation was hidden. The idea was to reduce [] The post Defeated delimitation bill in Par

CHANDIGARH, Apr 18: Punjab Police on Saturday claimed to have busted a cross-border drug smuggling module in Amritsar with the arrest of two persons and recovery of 64.62 kg of heroin from their possession. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the Punjab governments anti-drug drive Yudh Nashian Virudh achieved major success with the recovery of 64.62 kg of heroin. The Counter-Intelligence wing of the Punjab Police and the State Special Operations Cell in Amritsar were involved in the ope

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday accused the Centre of conspiring to change the federal structure of the country in the garb of womens reservation, asserting that the defeat of its bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the womens quota law was a victory for the Constitution as well as opposition unity. She also demanded that the government implement the Womens Reservation Act of 2023 on the current strength of the Lok Sabha. What [] The post Centres Conspiracy To Cha

MELBOURNE, Apr 18: Australia and Japan signed contracts on Saturday to deliver the first three of a 10 billion Australian dollar (USD 6.5 billion) fleet of Japanese-designed warships, with the first due for delivery in three years. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three Mogami-class frigates in Japan. Australia plans to build another eight in a shipyard in Western Australia. Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles attended a signin

BEIRUT, Apr 18: Iran said it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but questions lingered Saturday about how much freedom ships actually had to transit the waterway as Tehran maintained its grip on who got through and threatened to close it again if the US kept in place its blockade of Iranian ships and ports. Irans Friday announcement about the opening of the crucial body of water, through which 20 per cent of the worlds oil is [] The post Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz, but

Lalit Gargg The sky of Indian music feels unusually silent todaysomewhat emptier, somewhat more still. The playful bird of melody, the enchanting voice that sowed seeds of sweetness in millions of hearts for decades, may no longer be physically among us, yet her resonance has dissolved into eternity, becoming immortal. Asha Bhosle was not merely a singer; she was a stream of sound that embodied the very soul of Indiaflowing through every culture, every emotion, and every era. A legendary [] The

Syed Yunis Bukhari In the evolving landscape of modern healthcare, much attention is given to advanced treatments, cutting-edge surgeries, and specialist consultations. However, one crucial component continues to remain largely unnoticed laboratory medicine. Working silently behind the scenes, diagnostic laboratories form the backbone of clinical decision-making, influencing nearly 7080 per cent of medical judgments. Yet, despite their indispensable role, they often remain under-recognized and u

Baby Sharma We live in a time where reality is faster and louder than before. Social media has turned life into something that has to be constantly shared and watched. We live more in a digital reality than in physical one. It has become necessary to present a perfect moment online than to live it in real life. In this fast paced and stimulated version of reality, we are witnessing a generation that is growing online. Their childhood is recorded [] The post Growing up online: The Generation That

Parents healthcare planning is a retirement decision as much as a medical one. As health needs rise with age, a hospital stay can unsettle budgets and long-term savings. The right parents health insurance helps your family pay for treatment without forcing hurried withdrawals from retirement funds. It also lets your parents focus on recovery, knowing financial support is in place when care is genuinely needed. In this article, you will explore why seniors need dedicated cover, the key features t

Anvi Jain Everybody knows the well-recognised GI tagged products from Pashmina to saffron, but who made them globally recognised? In the quiet and narrow lanes of the region, there are artisans working days and nights to preserve the heritage and culture of the region, alongside the small organisations are working to help them seek global recognition. Together they have achieved a global recognition of total 16 GI tagged products of J&K. What is GI Tag? A Geographical Indication (GI) [] The pos

At a time when high-octane spectacle films like Dhurandhar are dominating at the box office, actors Avinash Tiwary and Medha Shankr are betting high on their upcoming film, Ginny Weds Sunny 2, which they hope will strike a chord with family audiences. The upcoming feature is a sequel to the 2020 romantic-comedy of the same name, which starred Yami Gautam and Vikrant Massey. The new film is written and directed by Prasshant Jha. Having played a violent and quirky bull [] The post Avinash, Medha h

NEW DELHI, Apr 18: The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Saturday, drawing curtains on the Budget session that began in January. As soon as the House met at 11 am, Speaker Om Birla read out his concluding remarks, following which he adjourned the House sine die (for an indefinite period). The session concluded a day after a Constitution amendment bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 2029 by [] The post Lok Sabha Adjourned Sine Die, Budget

Applying for a Personal Loan traditionally involved visiting a branch, filling out forms, and submitting physical documents. While this process still exists, many borrowers now prefer digital options that simplify the application journey. Mobile lending platforms allow applicants to begin the process directly from their smartphones. The Instant Personal Loan App, such as the Hero Digital Lending App, provides a digital application experience that enables eligible applicants to submit details onl

Rajouri, Apr 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha dedicated a Memorial, Museum, and Library in Rajouri to honor the lasting legacy of martyr ADDC Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa. Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa attained martyrdom in unprovoked shelling by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Lieutenant Governor paid tribute to Dr. Thapa, recalling his selfless service and steadfast dedication to public welfare. This memorial will inspire generations to come, he said. The event also featured a documentary on Dr. Thapas lif

JAMMU, Apr 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has directed all departments to ensure that only official Government domain email IDs are used in bank records of Government accounts to prevent fraud and financial irregularities. See Circular Click Here.. The post Use Official e-mail IDs In Bank Records, Govt Directs Officers appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

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SRINAGAR, Apr 18: Potable drinking water supply will remain disrupted in several areas of Ganderbal district and rural parts of Srinagar district from April 21 to April 23 due to scheduled repair and maintenance works on the Sindh Power Canal, officials said. The disruption has been necessitated due to Phase-II of urgent maintenance being undertaken by the Canal Maintenance Division (CMD), Ganderbal, which will temporarily affect raw water supply to treatment plants dependent on the canal system

JAMMU, Apr 18: An earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter Scale struck Afghanistan on Saturday morning at 8:24 am, jolting parts of Jammu and Kashmir. However, there have been no immediate reports of any kind of damage. According to European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the quake occurred at a depth of 190 kilometres in the Zaybak area of the Badakhshan region of Afghanistan. An EMSC spokesperson said the epicentre of the quake was recorded at 36.5536N / 70.9259E. The spokesperson sa

Proposal sent to Lok Bhawan, SC Neeraj Rohmetra Jammu, Apr 17: The collegium of High Court of J&K and Ladakh headed by Chief Justice Arun Palli has recommended 11 names to fill vacant posts of High Court Judges. Reliable sources told Excelsior, the list included names of 10 advocates from the Bar quota and one name from the Bench quota. It is for the first time that names of such a large number of appointments have been processed in a [] The post J&K High Court Collegium Recommends 11 Names For

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 17: A delegation of Members of Parliament from National Conference (NC)-Chowdry Mohd Ramzan, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and Shammi Oberoi-along with MLAs Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi and Qaisar Jamsheed Lone, met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Parliament House and raised a range of public concerns and developmental demands related to Jammu and Kashmir. During the meeting, the NC delegation referred to the approval of the Machil-Keran and Gurez Tunnel projects and calle

Anil Paba pabaanil@gmail.com In the quiet shadow of the Himalayas, the historic monuments of Jammu and Kashmir stand as enduring witnesses to centuries of faith, art, resilience, and cultural dialogue. From the ancient temple complex of Sudh Mahadev Temple to the towering remains of Bahu Fort, from remote Himalayan shrines to forgotten baolis scattered across rural landscapes, the region preserves a layered civilizational history. Yet today, these silent sentinels face a slow and deeply troublin

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 17: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday flagged off a grand Shobha Yatra from Chanakya Chowk Parade, Jammu, to commemorate Bhagwan Parshuram Ji Jayanti. The procession was organized by the Dogra Brahman Pratinidhi Sabha, celebrating the life and teachings of Bhagwan Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Click here to watch video Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor paid obeisance to Bhagwan Parshuram and prayed for peace, progress, and prosperity f

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 17: A deputation of Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu along with Bahu Plaza shopkeepers led by its president, Arun Gupta met with Commissioner/ Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), Mandeep Kaur to discuss several pressing issues affecting the local business community and the residents. President strongly urged the Commissioner/Secretary to direct the JDA to put the current cancellation notices for 34 shops at Bahu Plaza on hold.

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 17: Several legislators, delegations and individuals today called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, raising several issues concerning them for redressal. Former minister and legislator Abdul Majid Wani, and former legislator Chaman Lal from Ramban, highlighted key concerns pertaining to their respective areas. A delegation from the Indian Institute of Architects, J&K Chapter, led by its Chairman Vikas Dubey, apprised the Chief Minister of issues arising from rec

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 17: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo convened a high-level meeting of the Finance Department, attended by the Administrative Secretaries, to review the progress of departmental work plans and the status of reforms under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI). During the meeting, the Chief Secretary assessed expenditure trends and underscored the importance of timely and efficient utilization of allocated resources. He emphasized

Ram Rattan Sharma internetzonejammu@gmail.com Jammu, the winter capital of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, holds immense historical cultural and strategic importance. Known as the City of Temples and home to the revered shrine of Vaishno Devi Jammu is not merely a pilgrimage destination but a region of immense strategic, cultural and economic significance. Bordering Pakistan and serving as the gateway to the Kashmir Valley, Jammu carries both opportunity and responsibility. Yet despite

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Apr 17: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Friday questioned the rationale behind bringing the Constitution amendment bill, saying the NDA Government did not have the two-thirds majority needed to pass it. First, they withdrew the bill. Why did they do it? Because there were apprehensions among the people. They (the Government) were sure that a two-thirds majority would not come. Then what did they do? They thought one more night and then brou

CCUs to monitor online platforms, violators to face FIRs Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Apr 17: The District administrations in Jammu and Ramban districts have imposed a ban on posting or sharing communally sensitive and inflammatory content on social media platforms for a period of 60 days, citing concerns over public order and communal harmony. The orders were issued by District Magistrates (DMs) of Jammu and Samba, Dr Rakesh Minhas and Mohammad Alyas Khan, under section 163 of the Bharatiya N