Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, June 4: The District Level Inter-Zonal Athletics tournament for Under-14 and Under-17 Boys, organized by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, Udhampur, concluded with great enthusiasm and active participation of young athletes from various zones of the district. In the Under-14 boys category, Aditya Singh of Zone Udhampur won the 100m race, while Mohd Shakeel of Zone Chenani secured first position in the 200m. Adil Ali of Zone Majalta and Akshay

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 4: The Inter-Zonal District Level Cricket Competition for Under-14 Boys, organized by Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS), Jammu, continued at Khel Gaon, Nagrota, with Bhalwal Zone registering a convincing nine-wicket victory over Miran Sahib Zone in the third quarterfinal. After winning the toss, Bhalwal Zone elected to field first. Batting first, Miran Sahib Zone scored 103 runs for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 15 overs. Aksha

Excelsior Sports Correspondent RAJOURI, June 4: Govt PG College Rajouri today organized a felicitation ceremony to honour Asian Gold Medalist boxer Mohd Yasser of Rajouri for bringing laurels to the nation at the Asian Championship. The ceremony was held in the office chamber of Principal Dr Anwer Shah, where the college fraternity gathered to celebrate his achievement. Mohd Yasser was felicitated with a shawl and a cash award of Rs 60,000, jointly contributed by the Principal and college staff.

Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, June 4: The three-day Volleyball Tournament organized under the 100-Day Action Plan of the Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan concluded today at Shaheed Inspector Kamal Singh (SIKS) Government Higher Secondary School (Boys), Udhampur. The tournament was organized by Range Police Headquarters Udhampur in collaboration with Ayan Humanity Foundation and in coordination with the District Youth Services and Sports Office and various volleyball clubs of the d

Excelsior Sports Correspondent UDHAMPUR, June 4: The two-day Table Tennis Championship organized by the J&K Sports Council in collaboration with the District Table Tennis Association Udhampur concluded today at Indoor Hall, Subash Stadium, Udhampur. The championship witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 120 players across various age groups, showcasing talent, sportsmanship and competitive spirit. The closing ceremony was graced by ADDC Udhampur Jugal Anand as the chief guest, who app

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 4: Renowned spiritual teacher MAAsterG who visited Jammu today as part of his mission 800 crore initiative shared details about Mission 800 crore and its vision during a press conference here. He highlighted some of the major social challenges that exist today particularly the rapidly increasing levels of mental stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, suicidal thoughts and substance abuse amongst the youth. He emphasised the urgent need for greater aware

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 4: Dogra Higher Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, today organized a leadership programme for the academic session 2026-27 with great enthusiasm and dignity. The programme began with a welcome address by Eisha Gupta and presentation of a bouquet to chief guest Dr Samar Dev Singh Charak, Secretary, Dogra Educational Trust, by Principal Major Bhawna Devi (Retd). Floral tribute were paid to the schools founder and former Dogra Sadar Sabha president, Thakur Gulchain

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 4: KC Public School brought laurels to the institution by securing the best school delegation trophy at the 5th KC International Youth Conclave (KCIYC) 2026. The three-day event witnessed participation from leading schools of the region, including Jodhamal Public School, GD Goenka Public School, Jammu Sanskriti School, DPS Kathua and KC International School. A contingent of 39 delegates from KC Public School participated in various committees, including the Un

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, June 4: Dewan Devi Public School (DDPS), Rajpura Mangotrian, celebrated its Annual Day with great enthusiasm and cultural fervour. The programme, dedicated to the theme of Mothers Day, witnessed the participation of students, parents, staff members and several distinguished guests. MLA Jammu West Arvind Gupta graced the occasion as the chief guest. Among those present were BJP leader Bawa Sharma and Team Jammu Chairman Zorawar Singh Jamwal as guests of honour. BJP

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, June 4: The University of Jammu Employees Cricket (Men) Tournament 2026 witnessed thrilling action on the third day as Team F and Team J registered impressive victories in their respective matches. The event aims to promote sportsmanship, physical fitness, teamwork and camaraderie among the teaching and non-teaching employees of the University. In the first match, Team F registered a massive 124-run victory over Team B. Batting first, Team F scored 198 for 7

A Reflection on Environmental Responsibility and Sustainable Communities Divya Sharma biotech.divyakhajuria@gmail.com Earth is my mother and I am her child. As the world prepares to observe World Environment Day, humanity is once again reminded of a truth that is both simple and profound: Earth is not merely a physical space where life existsit is our only home. It is the silent foundation of our survival, the source of every breath we take, every drop of water we drink, and every [] The post En

SRINAGAR, Jun 4: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today attended the Rang-e-Kashmir Cultural Festival in Srinagar today. This week-long event showcases J&Ks priceless handlooms and handicrafts and draws both art lovers and buyers. Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor said that Jammu Kashmir is a living canvas, painted with centuries of wisdom, innovation, artistry, and craft. A nations true strength lies not only in its wealth or might, but also in richness of its spirit, depth

SRINAGAR, Jun 4 : Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) has achieved a significant milestone in the implementation of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, securing 2nd position (First Runner-Up) in the country for the month of May 2026 for RTS Applications, Installations and Inspections. The award was conferred by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, during the national event 2 years of PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana held at New Delhi. [] The post

GANDERBAL, Jun 4: In a major crackdown ahead of the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, Ganderbal Police have foiled an alleged fraud racket and arrested a man accused of impersonating a government employee to deceive vendors and service providers associated with the pilgrimage. According to police, Police Station Sonamarg received credible information on May 27 that a person identified as Mohd Ayob Jara, son of Abdul Rehman Jara and a resident of Androola, Poonch, was operating in the Domail area []

JAMMU, Jun 4: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a UT-Level High Powered Steering Committee (UTHPSC) and a UT-Level Technical Committee (UTLTC) for implementation, monitoring and review of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) Scheme across the Union Territory. See Order Copy Click Here The post J&K Govt Constitutes UT-Level Panels For Urban Challenge Fund Scheme appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

SRINAGAR, June 4: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a Technical Committee to carry out a Third Party Inspection (TPI) of the Light and Sound Show System installed inside Hari Parbat Fort, Srinagar. See Order Copy Click Here The post Panel Framed For Inspection Of Hari Parbat Light And Sound Show Project appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

MUMBAI, Jun 3: Superstar Aamir Khan has confirmed that he will tie the knot with partner Gauri Spratt on July 5. Several reports on Wednesday claimed that Aamir and Spratt are planning an intimate wedding next month. However, the actor hadnt responded to the speculation. On Thursday, Aamir confirmed the news. (Agencies) The post Aamir Khan Confirms Marriage To Gauri Spratt, Couple Set To Tie The Knot On July 5 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

NEW DELHI, Jun 4: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Thursday said the reported exposure of JEE (Advanced) 2026 candidate data due to a cloud storage configuration issue in the results portal showed how incompetent people were running the countrys education system and digital infrastructure. The leaders of the campaign, which began on social media and went on to take a life of its own, also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately sack Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan,

SHILLONG, Jun 4: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired the 73rd plenary session of the North Eastern Council, where leaders from the eight northeastern states resolved to work towards a stronger and more prosperous region and deliberated on the North East Vision Plan 2047. The session brought together governors, chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and senior officials from across the Northeast. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister for DoNER Jyotiraditya M Scindia, govern

NEW DELHI, Jun 4: The BJP on Thursday announced candidates for upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in five states, fielding party national general secretary Tarun Chugh from Madhya Pradesh and Satish Poonia from Rajasthan. The names of Union ministers Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurian did not figure in the list of BJP candidates. Both ministers term in the Upper House ends on June 21. While Bittu is a Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan, Kurian represents Madhya Pradesh currently in the [] The post BJP

JAMMU, June 4: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has reconstituted the Tree Authorities for the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations under the provisions of the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000. As per a Government order, the Commissioner of the respective Municipal Corporation will head the authority as Chairman, while senior officials from the Municipal Corporation, Urban Forestry and Horticulture departments will serve as members. The authorities have been tasked with ensuring the pres

JAMMU, Jun 4: The Public Works (Road & Building) Department has ordered the promotion of 3 Junior Engineers (JEs) and 7 Assistant Engineers (AEs) to higher ranks in the interest of the administration. See Order Copy Click Here.. See Order Copy Click Here.. The post J&K PWD Promotes 3 JEs, 7 AE appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

SRINAGAR, Jun 4: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting of all the concerned Government stakeholders to review the progress of large-scale solarization initiatives being undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir and to resolve the bottlenecks identified by the Science & Technology Department in advancing these efforts across the Union Territory. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for sustained and result-oriented follow-up by the Science & Technology Depart

NEW DELHI, Jun 4 : In a major step towards strengthening Indias research ecosystem, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today announced an ANRF-supported digital portal aimed at facilitating training in patent filing and research paper writing for researchers, students and innovators across the country.

JAMMU, Jun 4: A heritage complex housing a cafeteria, a library, a 12D theatre and an entertainment hub for children is now open for visitors at the historic Mubarak Mandi Palace here, marking a significant step towards transforming the iconic Dogra-era site into a major cultural and tourism destination. Mubarak Mandi, a palace complex located in the heart of the old walled city of Jammu, served as the principal seat of the Dogra dynasty, which ruled the erstwhile princely state [] The post Heri

LONDON, June 4: A British lawmaker said Thursday she is suing Elon Musks company xAI for invasion of privacy, alleging that fake images of her were created using the Grok chatbot. Jess Asato, a legislator with the governing Labour Party, says someone used Grok to create fake images of her in a bikini without her consent in January after she criticised the spread of deepfake pornography online. She filed a claim Wednesday at the High Court in London, citing misuse [] The post CUK lawmaker says sh

MOGADISHU (Somalia), June 4: Supporters of opposition political figures and state security forces fought in armed clashes Thursday that erupted in Somalias capital Mogadishu on Wednesday evening ahead of a planned anti-government demonstration. No official casualty figures were immediately available from the violence that prompted calls for restraint from the United Nations and the United States as the government and opposition traded blame for the violence. Residents reported heavy gunfire and

SRINAGAR, Jun 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today handed over disbursal letters to 6 beneficiaries worth 1.12 crore under Mission YUVA here at the Civil Secretariat. Under Mission YUVA, 209 crore has been disbursed in 3,367 cases during April and May, reaffirming Governments focus on youth entrepreneurship and employment generation. During the event, it was informed that out of a total of 5,016 sanctioned cases amounting to 269 crore, 209 crore covering 3,367 cases have been disbursed between

Ganderbal, Jun 4: In preparation for the forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V.K. Birdi, on Thursday conducted a comprehensive review of security and logistical arrangements at the Baltal Base Camp in Ganderbal district. The IGP was accompanied by Rajiv Pandey and Sudhanshu Dhama during the visit. The officers inspected various facilities established for personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Armed Police Forces deployed for

YADGIR (Karnataka), June 4: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday inaugurated a NABARD-supported groundnut-processing facility entirely run by women in Yadgir district. The district produces around 22,500 metric tonne of groundnuts annually and has significant potential for value addition, she said. We have now established a unit that can roast groundnuts, extract oil, and manufacture products such as peanut butter, the union minister said. She lauded the Peddapalli Women Farmers

LONDON, June 4: American e-commerce giant Amazon on Thursday said it plans to double to one lakh its electric delivery van fleet across global operations, including India, by the end of 2030. Amazon, which started rolling out its electric delivery vans in the summer of 2022, has deployed more than 50,000 electric delivery vans globally by the end of 2025. Besides, Amazon plans to introduce over 1,000 electric light and medium-duty trucks into its operations in India over the next [] The post Ama

NEW DELHI, Jun 4: Observing that public employment must be made available to eligible candidates in accordance with the prescribed qualifications, the Supreme Court has held that allowing a person with higher qualifications to secure a job intended for those with lower qualifications deprives a genuinely eligible and deserving candidate. A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan made the observation while setting aside a Madras High Court order that had reinstated a temporary bank

NEW DELHI, Jun 4: The Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) has called for greater operational efficiency and technological innovation in ammonia production, given Indias heavy dependence on imported natural gas, which accounts for nearly 77 per cent of the sectors feedstock requirements. Speaking at a group discussion on Operation and Maintenance Problems of Ammonia Plants in Durgapur, West Bengal, FAI Director General Suresh Kumar Chaudhari said that while the industry had commissioned several

NEW DELHI, Jun 4: Members expressed concern at a parliamentary standing committee meeting on Thursday over the falling value of the rupee and sluggish private investment in the country even as the government said despite challenges Indias economy was emerging stronger. At a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on finance, headed by BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab, Economic Affairs Secretary Anuradha Thakur and Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran made a presentation about the eco

AHMEDABAD, Jun 4: Police have apprehended a total of 501 Bangladeshi nationals from parts of Gujarat in the last two days as part of Operation Delta Hunt for illegal stay in the country, officials said on Thursday. The crackdown began early Wednesday morning, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavis office confirmed on Thursday. A total of 501 illegal Bangladeshis have been detained from different parts of the state so far as under the operation, it said. The message from Gujarat Police [] The post

Leh, Jun 4: In a significant initiative aimed at strengthening employment opportunities across the Union Territory, Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, today launched the Integrated Job Portal Ladakh, a dedicated online employment platform designed to connect job seekers and employers through a seamless, transparent and technology-driven ecosystem. The portal (https://jobportal.ladakh.gov.in) has been developed following the proactive intervention and vision of the Lieutenant Governor to cr

SRINAGAR, Jun 4: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said India has consistently emphasised unity in diversity and shown respect to every faith that emerged thousands of years after Sanatan Dharma. Addressing the Rishiwar Inter-Faith Conference 2026 here, Sinha said the idea of respecting all faiths has been woven into the fabric of Indias philosophy for millennia. While many nations today struggle with the challenge of coexistence, diversity has been our natural rhythm of life. While ma

JAMMU, June 4: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has enhanced the financial powers of Administrative Departments for according technical sanction to projects by amending the delegation of financial powers under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. As per a notification issued by the Finance Department, the limit for according technical sanction has been increased from up to Rs 2 crore to up to Rs 5 crore, while projects exceeding Rs 5 crore will now fall under the higher approval category. See [] Th

NEW DELHI, June 4: India will implement at leat 2-3 free trade agreements (FTAs) over the next six months, while another 3-4 such pacts are expected to come into force in 2027, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. He said that in the last three-and-a-half years, India has finalised nine FTAs including with Mauritius, New Zealand, the UAE, Australia, Oman, EFTA bloc, the UK, European Union and the US. Trade deals with Mauritius, the UAE, Australia, Oman, [] The post India

Ganderbal, Jun 4: The Traffic Police Rural Kashmir on Thursday issued a comprehensive traffic advisory ahead of a Mega Rally (Padh Yatra) scheduled to be held in Ganderbal town on June 5 under the nationwide Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. According to the advisory, vehicular movement will remain completely suspended from 4:00 AM to 3:00 PM on several key roads in the district to facilitate the smooth conduct of the anti-drug awareness rally. The routes affected by the restrictions include Pandach [

NEW DELHI, June 4: Kuku Technologies Ltd, which operates vernacular audio platform Kuku FM and short-video streaming app Kuku TV, has filed confidential draft papers with Sebi for an IPO to raise up to Rs 3,000 crore, according to sources. The company is planning to raise between Rs 2,500-Rs 3,500 crore and is targeting a valuation of up to Rs 15,000 crore (about USD 1.8 billion) through the proposed public issue, people familiar with the development said on Thursday. The [] The post Audio book

NEW DELHI, June 4: Vedanta groups iron ore mining and steel business has reduced, avoided or sequestered nearly 2.5 million tonne of carbon emissions in the last five years through a range of sustainability initiatives across operations, the company said on Thursday. The moves, spanning ecosystem restoration, renewable energy adoption and cleaner industrial practices, form part of Vedantas broader push to decarbonise heavy industry and align with national and global climate goals. On World E

NEW DELHI, June 4: Flex fuel will help meet Indias two national objectives of cutting crude oil imports and reducing carbon emissions, but requires an entire ecosystem, from fuel availability to more model launches for large-scale adoption, Maruti Suzuki India MD & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said on Thursday. The benefits of flex-fuel go much beyond the automobile sector, supporting economy, society, environment, farmers, ethanol producers and the larger rural ecosystem, he said, while speaking at the

HONG KONG, June 4: Asian shares retreated on Thursday following declines on Wall Street that snapped a nine-day winning streak for the S&P 500. Oil prices fell back after surging Wednesday as renewed fighting threatened the US-Iran ceasefire. Early Thursday in Asia, Brent crude was USD 1.17 lower at USD 96.64 per barrel, while benchmark US crude oil shed USD 1.08 to USD 94.94 per barrel. Oil prices had climbed a day earlier after both the United States and Iran [] The post Asian shares retreat a

Ganderbal, Jun 4: In a major crackdown on the illegal hoarding and suspected black marketing of LPG cylinders, Ganderbal Police conducted a search operation in the Nunner Takia area and recovered a large quantity of domestic and commercial gas cylinders allegedly stored without valid authorization. According to officials, the operation was launched following specific inputs regarding the unlawful storage of LPG cylinders. During the search, police recovered cylinders belonging to various compani

JAMMU, Jun 4: The youth wing of the BJP on Thursday held a protest here against the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing it of failing to fulfil its promise of providing one lakh jobs to educated youth. Led by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president Arun Prabhat, scores of party activists gathered at Kachi Chawani and raised slogans against the government. The protesters also burnt an effigy of the chief minister. Talking to reporters, [] The

JAMMU, Jun 4: Deputy Inspector General of Rajouri-Poonch Range, Sandeep Wazir, on Thursday visited forward areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district to review the security scenario and assess operational preparedness, officials said. The DIG, who oversees the operational areas of the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, visited the forward areas of Sawjian and Anganpathri. During the visit, Wazir interacted with police personnel deployed in the forward areas and assessed

DURG, Jun 4: Three persons, who recently returned to Chhattisgarhs Durg district from Ebola virus-affected countries in Africa, have been placed under 21-day home isolation as a precautionary measure, officials said on Thursday. The three travellers, however, show no symptoms of the disease and have no history of contact with Ebola-infected persons, officials said. Durg Collector Abhijeet Singh said one woman arrived in Durg from the Democratic Republic of Congo on May 31, while two others reach

COLOMBO, June 4: Indian Naval Ship Airavat was accorded a traditional welcome at the port of Colombo, the Sri Lankan Navy said on Thursday. INS Airavat was bringing along critical spares for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard ship Suraksha from the Indian Coast Guard through a Government of India grant, said the Indian High Commission in Colombo. Visits by Indian Navy vessels to Sri Lanka aim to further strengthen the strong bonds between both friendly Navies, which is in line [] The post Sri Lanka Navy

WELLINGTON, June 4: Beijing banned four New Zealand lawmakers from travelling to China for a year and demanded they apologise because they visited Taiwan on a parliamentary trip, according to a message from the Chinese embassy conveyed via parliamentary officials and shown to The Associated Press on Thursday. China has hit lawmakers from other countries with sanctions related to contact with Taiwan before, but its the first time for New Zealand parliamentarians, the government in Wellington said