Daily Excelsior

NEW DELHI, May 16 : The Netherlands on Saturday handed back 11th-century Chola dynasty copper plates to India, in an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten, signifying the strengthening of ties between the two countries. PM Modi, who arrived in the Netherlands on Friday after a brief stopover in the UAE on the second leg of his five-nation tour, described the occasion as a joyous moment for every Indian. India has been pursuing [] The post Netherlands

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, May 16: In a significant initiative aimed at accelerating developmental works in his constituency and adjoining areas of Kathua district, BJP MLA from Jasrota constituency, Rajiv Jasrotia on Saturday met Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Dr Jitendra Singh here, today and projected several key demands related to irrigation infrastructure, education and public welfare for favourable consideration. During the meeting, Jasrotia submitted detailed repres

WASHINGTON, May 16: The sweet aroma of the Kesar variety of Indian mangoes is wafting through select stores in Seattle, tickling the taste buds of food connoisseurs. A year-long initiative by the Indian Consulate General in Seattle paved the way for several varieties of Indian mangoes to be available at retail chains such as Costco. The story of Indian mangoes in the US dates back to 2006, when then US President George W Bush cleared the way for shipping the [] The post Indian mango varieties no

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 16: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today attended 9th Maati Samman Samaroh, a Purvanchal festival of art, culture, food and tourism. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also felicitated distinguished personalities from Purvanchal. Addressing a gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said that historical, cultural and spiritual bonds between Purvanchal and Maharashtra run very deep. A glimpse of it seen in Lord Rams Vanvas, when he visited Panchvati and wor

Brig Dr Vijay Sagar Dheman iijsajammu@gmail.com Going through hell Keep going, read a piece of desk graffiti in one of the classrooms at the National Defence Academy. I am sure its still there, the etchings deepened by those who came later. Tired fingers seeking solace in tradition, in the words of a nameless cadet, and in the knowledge that those who came before sweated, bled, cried and triumphed the same way. In many ways, these five words bring out the [] The post Op Sindoor: Ek Medal Mila, M

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 16: Jammus fashion landscape gets a stylish new addition with the launch of the first-ever store of Chique at Gole Market in Jammu, here today. Known for its elegant Indo-western fashion and contemporary womens wear, Chique brings a premium collection of party wear, evening wear and occasion outfits for modern women of Jammu. Adding to the excitement of the launch, the showroom is currently offering up to 50% off on most articles, giving shoppers an opportunity

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 16: J&K Bank here today organised an interaction programme with leading automobile dealers of Jammu to strengthen its vehicle finance business and enhance coordination with dealership partners across the region. The interaction was attended by General Manager (Retail, Agriculture and MSME) Rakesh Magotra, General Manager and Divisional Head (Jammu) Ashok Gupta and senior officers of the Bank, while the delegation of dealers was led by Chairperson of the Federat

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved Used Water Management Projects for Baramulla and Rajouri at an estimated cost of Rs 37.96 crore and Rs 34.43 crore respectively, aimed at strengthening sanitation infrastructure and addressing wastewater management challenges in the two urban areas. The projects, cleared by Omar Abdullah led Government, are expected to ensure scientific treatment of sewage, prevent pollution of water bodies and significantly

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today congratulated Rajouris young boxer Mohammad Yasser on winning the gold medal at the Asian Boxing Championship held in Uzbekistan. In his congratulatory message, the Chief Minister said that the young athletes remarkable achievement has brought pride and honour to Jammu & Kashmir and the entire country. He lauded Mohammad Yassers dedication, hard work and determination, saying that his success on the international

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 16: Khalsa Club Gol Gujral and Bandu Rakh Hockey Club advanced to the final of the Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji 7-A-Side Night Hockey Tournament 2026 after registering impressive victories in their respective semi-final matches. In the second semi-final, Bandu Rakh Hockey Club defeated Sahil Hockey Club Gol Gujral by 3-1 in a thrilling contest played amid an enthusiastic atmosphere. Earlier, Khalsa Club Gol Gujral booked their berth in the final after defeating

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 16: J&K Swimming Association today conducted the selection trials for the 79th Senior National Probables (Men and Women) Open Category at Jodhamal Public School in accordance with the guidelines of the Swimming Federation of India and Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, as per handout issued. The trials were organized under the leadership of Association President Ramandeep Singh Soodan, General Secretary Bharat Kumar Sharma and other office bearers of the

Prof. Shyam Narayan Lal Satyarth Panditas Grammar of the Void, a profoundly evocative collection of stories, reads like a haunting cartography of contemporary human existence, mapping the silences, fractures, anxieties, and invisible wounds that quietly inhabit modern life. The title itself is charged with philosophical depth, where the void is not simply emptiness, but a dense landscape of memory, guilt, displacement, loneliness, emotional exhaustion, and suppressed despair. With remarkable emo

Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, May 16: The Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS), Udhampur, organized the District-Level Inter-School Competitions for Under-14 and Under-17 boys, witnessing enthusiastic participation from students across the district. The competitions recorded a total participation of 194 students, including 70 participants in the U-14 category and 124 in the U-17 category. The events were conducted in a disciplined and competitive atmosphere under the superv

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 16: The Inter Army Public Schools (Western Command) U-17 Girls Football Tournament concluded after three days of thrilling football action and spirited competition. The tournament, held from May 14 to 16, witnessed participation from five prominent Army Public Schools of Western Command including APS Kandrori, APS Ambala, APS Noida, APS Jammu Cantt and APS Tibri. Organized on a league basis, the tournament showcased remarkable teamwork, discipline and ou

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 16: A two-day Jammu Division Karate Championship was organized by the Traditional Karate Association of J&K on May 15 and 16 at Indoor Sports Complex Bhagwati Nagar. Around 400 students from different districts of Jammu division participated in the championship, showcasing their talent and competitive spirit in various karate events. Ritika, Manager Indoor Stadium Bhagwati Nagar, attended the event as the chief guest and distributed medals among the winn

Ashok Ogra ashokogra@gmail.com Neuroscience is a broad church and has long-drawn public interest. To treat the human brain requires exceptional patience, precision and judgment. Most doctors memoirs or autobiographies tend to be too technical for the average reader. However, Healer in Exile: The Untold Story of Dr. Sushil Razdan deals with themes of resilience, service, and displacement. Presented as Dr. Razdans life story as narrated to his engineer son, Sachin, the book traces his journey thro

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 16: A week-long Inter-School Zonal Level Sports competitions-cum-trials for under-14 and under-17 boys and girls concluded at Indoor Stadium Akhnoor. The event was organized by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Zone Akhnoor. The competitions were held in Volleyball, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Chess, Yoga, Table Tennis, Cricket, Badminton, Basketball, Football and Wrestling disciplines. Around 1,820 students from Government and private educational insti

There is a particular kind of injustice that wears the mask of bureaucratic delay. It does not arrive with fanfare or confrontation. It simply accumulates, year upon year, until the weight of it becomes unbearable for those condemned to carry it. This is precisely what approximately 3,000 non-gazetted employees across five Government Medical Colleges GMC Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, Anantnag, and Baramulla have been enduring since their appointment in 2019. No promotions. No Departmental Promotion C

Incriminating material seized Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 16: Police today conducted searches at more than 15 locations in Sopore in district Baramulla in connection with a case registered against banned outfit Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp An official said that the searches were carried out at Jamia Qadeem, Naseem Bagh, Krankshivan, Tarzoo, Amargarh, Warpora, Bomai, Boitingoo and other areas of Sopo

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 16: The High Court has held that the Government has powers to make an interim arrangement of Chairman J&K Cooperative Bank Ltd in absence of its Board of Directors (BoD) and dismissed the application seeking stay of such interim arrangement. Justice Sanjay Dhar refused to stay the Government order dated 15.4.2026 whereby an interim arrangement was made for appointment of Chairman of the Bank. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The petitioner-Moha

CHANDIGARH, May 16: A Sub-Divisional Magistrate posted in Punjabs Gurdaspur was on Saturday arrested in connection with the Rs 1.63 crore embezzlement of funds linked to the land acquisition for a national highway project in 2018-2019, police said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Anupreet Kaur, a 2012-batch Punjab Civil Services officer, was held from her from her official residence in Gurdaspur. She was currently posted as SDM, Gurdaspur. She was also holding the charge of the mu

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the transfers and postings of two police officers with immediate effect in the interest of administration. According to an order issued by the Home Department, Krishan Kumar, the 2019 batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, who was awaiting posting, has been appointed as SSP CTFD, replacing Deepika, the 2018 batch AGMUT cadre IPS officer, who has been directed to await further posting at the Police Headquarters, J&K. Foll

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, May 16: Two tourists from Gujarat were killed after a Tavera vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge on the Pahalgam-Aru route in south Kashmirs Anantnag district today. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Three others, including the driver, were injured in the accident and shifted to hospital for treatment. Click here to watch video An official said that the deceased were identified as Bawin Bhavsar, son of Mahesh Bhavsar, and Nain

GANGTOK, May 16 : Sikkim occupied the national spotlight on Saturday as two senior leaders of the union government Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan and union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia participated in engagements that underlined the Himalayan states rising strategic, cultural and ecological significance. The visit of Vice-President Radhakrishnan to attend the 51st State Day celebrations and union Minister Scindias focus on biodiversity and sustainable tourism, together reflected the Centres

Everybody speaks of love of stolen glances, whispered names, of hearts that race in moonlit silence. They tell tales of romance, of hands that meet and never part, of promises wrapped in forever. But there is a quieter love deeper than roses, stronger than time the love that arrives without warning. He comes not with poetry, nor with practiced charm, but with tiny fingers that curl around yours as if theyve always belonged there. A little boy, with laughter like [] The post AThe Little Thief of

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, May 16: An elderly villager died while nine others turned sick after consuming wild vegetable at Kandi Morha, in upper reaches of Kotranka Sub Division of district Rajouri last night. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Reports said two families hailing from Mohra Kandi consumed the wild vegetable, locally known as `Ban Ganeri (Saag) on Friday evening. At around 9 pm, at least ten members of these two families started feeling drowsiness and vomiting and

Ravinder Kaul ravinderkaul07@gmail.com The first Dogri feature film Gallan Hoiyaan Beetiyaan released in the year 1966, raising the hope that, like Punjabi cinema, Dogri films will also become the harbingers of showcasing Dogri language and Dogra culture across the globe. However, these hopes were never fulfilled. The next Dogri film Maa Neyi Mildi came after a gap of 44 years in the year 2010. 60 years after the release of the first feature film, the score of Dogri films is [] The post Shah Sha

Srinagar, May 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday ordered transfers, postings and assignment of additional charge to several Executive Engineers in the Jal Shakti Department with immediate effect. According to Government Order No. 92-JK(JSD) of 2026 dated May 16, 2026, Mr. Zahoor Ahmad Shah, presently posted as Executive Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Division, Doda, has been transferred and posted as Executive Engineer, Hydraulic Division, Ramban against an available vacancy.

SRINAGAR, May 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today congratulated Rajouris young boxer Mohammad Yasser on winning the gold medal at the Asian Boxing Championship held in Uzbekistan. In his congratulatory message, the Chief Minister said that the young athletes remarkable achievement has brought pride and honour to Jammu & Kashmir and the entire country. He lauded Mohammad Yassers dedication, hard work and determination, saying that his success on the international stage reflects the immense spo

NEW DELHI, May 16: The Centre on Saturday appointed two each joint secretaries and joint directors in the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is under the heat over the NEET-UG paper leak. Anuja Bapat, a 1998-batch officer of Indian Statistical Service, and Ruchita Vij, a 2004-batch officer of Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes), will be new joint secretaries in the NTA for five years, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said. Akash Jain, an Indian Revenue Service [] The p

NEW DELHI, May 16: India is implementing one of the worlds largest dam-rehabilitation programmes under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP), with rehabilitation proposals worth Rs 5,053 crore for 191 dams already approved and major physical-rehabilitation work completed at 43 dams till March 31, 2025, according to the Jal Shakti Ministry. The ministry said the second and third phases of the DRIP, operationalised in October 2021, together cover 736 dams across 19 states and thr

JAMMU, May 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the transfers and postings of two police officers with immediate effect in the interest of administration. According to an order issued by the Home Department, Krishan Kumar, IPS (AGMUT:2019), who was awaiting posting, has been appointed as SSP CTFD, replacing Deepika, IPS (AGMUT:2018), who has been directed to await further posting at the Police Headquarters, J&K. Meanwhile, Musadiq Majid Basu, SP Security VIP Tech, has been transferre

Srinagar, May 16: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has announced summer vacations for district courts functioning in the Jammu summer zone of the Union Territory. As per an official notification issued by the Registrar Generals office, the courts will observe a 15-day vacation from June 8 to June 22, 2026, including both dates. The order applies to district courts situated in the summer zone of Jammu province. However, courts operating in Districts Kishtwar and Doda, along [] The pos

Srinagar, May 16: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has revised the pecuniary limits of jurisdiction for Civil Judges (Junior Division) and Civil Judges (Senior Division) across the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. According to a notification issued by the Office of the Registrar General, Srinagar, under Section 21 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Courts Act, 1977, all Civil Judges (Senior Division) have been empowered to hear civil suits valued up to 20 lakh within [] The post High

Pahalgam, May 16: One tourist was killed while several others, including the driver, sustained injuries after a Tavera vehicle bearing registration number JK21A-0379 skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge on the Pahalgam-Aru route in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Saturday. Officials said the vehicle was being driven by Rayees Ahmad Bhat, son of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, a resident of Rangward Laripora. The accident occurred while the vehicle was travelling from Pahalgam towards Ar

JAMMU, May 16: Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Commissioner Dr Devansh Yadav on Friday termed Census 2027 a historic exercise being undertaken after a gap of fifteen years, and urged citizens to actively participate in the enumeration to enhance the coverage of government welfare schemes and strengthen service delivery. With more than 1,200 enumerators deployed for the exercise in Jammu city, and the self-enumeration window to open May 17, the commissioner clarified various aspects related to

COLOMBO, May 15: The Sri Lankan government has imposed a 50 per cent surcharge on vehicle imports excluding motorbikes and three-wheelers considering the continuing slide of the countrys currency. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also the finance minister, in a notification on Saturday said by this order levy on imported goods specified in the schedule here to a surcharge at the rate of 50 per cent on applicable customs duty effect from May 16 for a period [] The post Sri Lanka impos

New Delhi, May 16: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made the study of three languages compulsory for students from Class IX beginning July 1, while clarifying that there will be no Board examination for the third language (R3) in Class X. In a circular issued on May 15, the CBSE said that at least two of the three languages must be native Indian languages, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum [] The post CBSE Makes Three-Language St

NEW DELHI, May 16: Rupee breaching one level after another is more a reflection of sentiment-driven weakness than any serious deterioration in macro fundamentals, said N ArunaGiri, CEO of TrustLine Holdings. He warned that the real risk is that, if left unchecked, this loss of confidence can turn into a self-fulfilling vicious cycle, triggering further pressure on the rupee that is not warranted by underlying fundamentals. If one looks at Indias macro position today, the situation is far from al

NEW DELHI, May 16: The countrys largest IT firm TCS aims to become the worlds largest AI-led technology services company, with 130 of its top 139 clients already choosing it as their AI services partner, CEO and Managing Director K Krithivasan said. In his letter to shareholders in the companys Annual Report for 2025-26, Krithivasan noted that FY26 marked an inflection point for enterprise AI, as customers decisively moved from experimental pilots to scaled deployments. To realise the opportunit

NEW DELHI, May 16: Housing sales in January-March fell 2 per cent annually to nearly 96,000 units across eight major cities amid slowdown in demand and less fresh supply of low-cost homes, according to PropTiger. On Saturday, real estate consultant PropTiger, which has recently been acquired by listed entity Aurum PropTech Ltd, released Real INSIGHT Residential Q1 2026 report that tracks eight key cities Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Kolkata, MMR (Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and

NEW DELHI, May 16: Dr Reddys Laboratories on Saturday said it has launched its generic version of Semaglutide injection used in treatment of type 2 diabetes in Canada. The company is among the first firms to introduce a generic Semaglutide injection in the Canadian market, following the Notice of Compliance (NOC) received from Health Canada on April 28, 2026, Dr Reddys said in a statement. Canada is the first G7 country to grant market authorisation for Semaglutide injection, it added. [] The po

JERUSAlEM, May 16: Israel says it has killed the leader of Hamas military wing, one of the architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks that triggered the war in Gaza. Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed in a strike in Gaza City on Friday, Israels army said. He was one of the last senior commanders in Hamas military who had directed the planning and execution of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel. Haddad assumed the role after his predecessor, Mohammed [] The post Israel Says It Killed Leader Of

Srinagar, May 16: Jammu Kashmir Lok Bhavan celebrated the Statehood Day of Sikkim, at Srinagar. The event brought together students, security personnel and people of Sikkim living in the Union Territory. Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha extended his heartiest greetings to the people of Sikkim on the occasion. Sikkim, the sacred land of Guru Padmasambhava, shines like a radiant star among Himalayan states and UTs. It is recognised globally as a model of organic farmin

LEH/JAMMU, May 16: The Ladakh Union Territory administration on Saturday signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology Jammu for establishing its satellite campus in Leh, officials said. A historic chapter of fulfilling the youth aspirations scripted today in Ladakh, with signing of a landmark MoU between UT administration and IIT Jammu, for setting up a satellite campus of IIT Jammu, in Leh, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena said on X. The initiative is a transformational mo

THE HAGUE, May 16: Terming India a land of opportunities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that the country is undergoing an unprecedented transformation and its aspirations are no longer limited to its borders. Addressing the Indian community in The Hague, the Prime Minister also said that India is dreaming big and its youth aspires to reach the sky. Today India is saying we dont just want transformation, we want the best, we want the fastest. That is why [] The post Indias Aspirat

NEW DELHI, May 16: The southwest monsoon has advanced into parts of the southeast Arabian Sea, southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea, the entire Nicobar Islands and parts of the Andaman Islands, including Sri Vijaya Puram, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. It also stated that conditions are favourable for the monsoon to advance further into some more parts of the southeast Arabian Sea, southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal during the next three-four day

CHANDIGARH, May 16:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his appeal to people to postpone foreign travels when he has not stopped going abroad himself. Amid the crisis in West Asia, Modi has called for judicious use of fuel, postponing gold purchases and foreign travel. He also urged using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increased use of electric vehicles and working from home to conserve foreign exchange. Speaking to reporters here,

LUCKNOW, May 16: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday said the fuel price hike would severely impact the lives of millions and called on the government to take measures to curb inflation. In a post on X, the former chief minister also expressed concern over the massive loss of lives and property in recent storms in Uttar Pradesh and urged the state government to assist the affected families with utmost generosity. Amidst the relentless rise in the prices [] The post Poor, working

CANNES, May 16: John Travolta was surprised with an honorary Palme dOr at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of his directorial debut Friday. Thierry Fremaux, the festivals artistic director, brought out the award for Travolta just before the screening of his Propeller One-Way Night Coach. A visibly moved Travolta clutched his chest while Fremaux presented the trophy. You said this would be a special night, but I didnt know it would mean this, Travolta said to Fremaux. This is beyond [] The post