Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 12: The 11th District Srinagar Pencak Silat Championship 2026-27 commenced today at the historic Polo Ground, Srinagar, amid great enthusiasm among athletes, coaches and sports lovers.
The championship is being organised by District Srinagar Pencak Silat Association under the aegis of the Pencak Silat Association of J&K and J&K Sports Council. Over 450 athletes from various schools, clubs and academies across Srinagar district are participating in Sub-Junior, Junior and Senior categories for both boys and girls.
The event was inaugurated with demonstrations by female athletes. The Polo Ground Manager, who was the chief guest on the occasion, lauded the role of Pencak Silat in promoting discipline, self-defence and fitness among youth and assured full support from the administration for the development of combat sports in J&K.
The three-day championship will feature Tanding (Match), Tunggal (Single), Ganda (Double) and Regu (Team) events. Medal winners from this district meet will represent Srinagar in the upcoming UT-level Championship. The event commenced with colourful demonstrations by national-level Pencak Silat athletes, drawing huge applause from the audience.
11th District Srinagar Pencak Silat C’ship commences
PMIS: Govt official says ‘if top cos unable to attract youth, then that is something questionable’
NEW DELHI, May 12: A senior government official on Tuesday said if the top companies are not able to attract youth, then that is “something really questionable”, comments that come amid sluggish response for the ambitious PM Internship Scheme.
Under the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS), implemented by the corporate affairs ministry, those in the age group of 18-25 years are eligible, and the interns will receive a minimum financial assistance of Rs 9,000 per month. Currently, the third round of the pilot phase of the scheme is underway.
At the CII Annual Business Summit 2026 in the national capital, Corporate Affairs Secretary Deepti Gaur Mukerjee highlighted that PMIS is not merely a government scheme but a transformative industry-led initiative.
She said the ministry is open to all recommendations and suggestions regarding PMIS.
“If there is a challenge to the top 2,000 companies and if you are not able to sell your company to the youth of the country, that is something really questionable.
“I think there is something with the way we are selling the companies. If we are not able to give the selling proposition to the smart youth of the country, then we really need to rethink… then we need to think about the quality of work which we are doing and the quality of internship which we are doing,” the corporate affairs secretary said.
She was speaking in a session on ‘PM Internship Scheme: Strengthening India’s Talent Pipeline’ at the industry body’s annual business summit.
Asking industries to move beyond a numbers-driven approach, she said, “Please do not look at it from a point of view of just numbers, it is about the people behind those numbers”.
According to the corporate affairs secretary, the scheme is not something that can be done in a tick-the-box manner and requires commitment and a belief that industry has the power to make that change in somebody’s life.
In March, the ministry informed the Lok Sabha that 7,292 candidates left without completing their internships under the PMIS in the first two rounds of the pilot phase.
The first round of the project started on October 3, 2024, wherein about 6.21 lakh applications were received from more than 1.81 lakh candidates. Partner companies made over 82,000 internship offers to over 60,000 candidates, and 8,760 interns joined the internships.
In the second round that commenced from January 9, 2025, approximately 4.55 lakh applications were received from over 2.14 lakh candidates. Partner companies made 83,000 internship offers to over 71,000 candidates, and more than 7,300 interns joined the internships, the ministry had told the Lok Sabha. (PTI)
NEET-UG cancelled after leak, fresh exam dates soon; CBI lodges FIR
Paper leakage in J&K also under investigation
Excelsior Correspondent/ PTI
NEW DELHI/JAMMU, May 12: The NEET (UG) 2026 exam held on May 3 was cancelled on Tuesday amid allegations of paper leak with the CBI registering an FIR after the Government asked it to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the “irregularities”.
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The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the exam for admission to undergraduate courses in medical colleges, said fresh dates will be notified in the “next seven to 10 days”.
Investigators believed that the NEET-UG paper might have been leaked directly from the printing press in Nashik.
“A person associated with the printing press is likely to have passed the paper into a `chain network’ through which it reached a doctor in Gurugram, Haryana. A man named Khatik from Jaipur’s Jamwa Ramgarh then allegedly purchased the paper from the doctor,” sources said, adding the CBI has already detained the person linked to the Nashik printing press.
From Jamwa Ramgarh, the paper allegedly reached a person named Rakesh Kumar Mandawaria in Sikar. Rakesh works as an MBBS counselling agent outside major coaching institutes in Sikar.
Sources said that the NEET paper got distributed through a one-to-one network across the country, reaching coaching centres in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Kerala and Uttarakhand.
When approached for comments on whether the paper was leaked in Jammu, SSP Jammu Joginder Singh said they haven’t been approached by the investigating agency so far.
“We have no information on paper leakage,” Singh told the Excelsior.
In a statement on X, the National Testing Agency (NTA) said the decision to cancel the exam was taken in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system.
“On the basis of inputs subsequently examined by NTA in coordination with central agencies, and the investigative findings shared by the law enforcement agencies, the National Testing Agency, with the approval of the Government of India, has decided to cancel the NEET (UG) 2026 examination conducted on 3 May 2026, and to re-conduct the examination on dates that will be notified separately,” the agency said.
The NEET-UG 2026 examination was held on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. The examination was organised by the NTA for nearly 23 lakh registered candidates at centres across the country.
The agency said the inputs received, taken together with findings shared by law enforcement agencies, established that the “present examination process could not be allowed to stand.”
“The re-conducted examination dates, along with the re-issued admit-card schedule, will be communicated through the official channels of the Agency in the coming days,” it added.
The NTA further said the Government has decided to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations linked to the examination.
“NTA will extend full cooperation to the Bureau and will provide all materials, records, and assistance the inquiry requires,” it added.
“This decision has been taken in the interest of students and in recognition of the trust on which the national examination system rests,” NTA said.
The agency acknowledged that the re-conduct of the examination would cause “real and significant inconvenience” to candidates and their families, but said the decision was necessary to prevent “greater and more lasting damage” to trust in the examination system.
According to the NTA, the registration data, candidature and examination centres opted for in the May 2026 cycle will be carried forward for the re-conducted examination.
“No fresh registration will be required, and no additional examination fee will be levied,” the statement said, adding that fees already paid by students will be refunded and the examination will be re-conducted using the NTA’s internal resources.
The agency said fresh examination dates and the revised admit-card schedule will be communicated through official channels in the coming days and advised candidates and parents to rely only on verified information released by the agency.
In a post on X on Sunday, the NTA had said question papers were transported in GPS-tracked vehicles carrying unique, traceable watermark identifiers, while examination centres were monitored through AI-assisted CCTV surveillance from a central control room.
“The National Testing Agency is aware of reports concerning the action initiated by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group in connection with alleged irregularities around NEET (UG) 2026. The examination on May 3, 2026 was conducted as scheduled and under a full security protocol,” the NTA had said.
Nine children die from measles or related symptoms in past 24hrs; death tally surges to 424
DHAKA, May 12 : As Bangladesh’s measles outbreak continues to worsen, nine more children died in the country due to the disease or its related symptoms in the past 24 hrs, bringing the total death tally of known and suspected measles deaths to 424.
Of the nine fatalities, three were confirmed to have fallen prey to measles, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data, bringing the number of children confirmed to have died directly from the disease to 68. The deaths were reported from Dhaka, where the disease has played havoc, reports The Daily Star.
With six more suspected measles deaths reported during the same period, the total number of suspected deaths is now 356.
Of the latest deaths, two were reported from Sylhet division, while one each was reported from Dhaka, Chattogram, Mymensingh, and Khulna divisions.
During the same period, 87 new confirmed cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases reported from March 15 and May 12 to over 7,024, with the DGHS recording 1,105 new suspected cases in 24 hours, bringing the total to 51, 567 across the country.
Of these 32,877 patients have already been discharged after receiving treatment.
(UNI)
260 AEEs shifted, posted in R&B
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 12: The Government today issued orders of transfers and postings of the Assistant Executive Engineers(AEEs) in the Public Works (R&B) Department.
According to an order issued by the Administrative Department of the PW(R&B) today, a total 260 in-charge Executive Engineers (Civil) have been transferred and posted/adjusted vide Govt Order No. 165-PW(R&B) of 2026, dated 12-05-2026. Majority of them included the Assistant Engineers, who were promoted recently and awaiting their adjustments/postings.
J&K wins overall trophy in Golden Bharat Karate Cup
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, May 12: Jammu and Kashmir clinched the overall trophy in the two-day 4th Golden Bharat Karate Cup organised by the All India Karate Federation (AIKF) and International Karate Federation India at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
J&K secured an impressive haul of 13 medals, including two gold and six silver medals in various weight and age categories of Kata and Kumite events. Kartik Verma won a gold medal in Kumite and a bronze medal in Kata in the 24 kg category.
Other medal winners included Sejal (Silver, Bronze) in the 48 kg category, Vaishnavi (Bronze) in 28 kg, Maqsood Hussain of J&K Police (Silver, Bronze) in the 84 kg category, Trisha Malgotra (Two Silver, One Bronze) in 32 kg, Arnav Yadav (Silver, Bronze) and Pranav (Silver, Bronze).
J&K also won gold in the newly introduced 55-plus Masters Kata category. Sanjeev Dewan from Jammu became the first-ever gold medallist in this category at the Golden Bharat Cup.
The team was accompanied by Ram Lal of Dilkhush Knight Club Institute, Nagrota. J&K Police player Maqsood Hussain received a special award. A total of 18 States, Union Territories and affiliated clubs from across the country participated in the Championship.
Postponing foreign travel will boost domestic tourism, shore up forex: HAI
NEW DELHI, May 12: The Hotel Association of India (HAI) on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to the citizens to postpone unnecessary foreign travel, saying the sentiment will help boost domestic tourism, thus building foreign exchange reserves.
KB Kachru, President, HAI said in the current volatile geopolitical environment, a stronger domestic tourism will contribute towards conserving foreign exchange while building a more resilient and self-reliant travel ecosystem.
“At the same time, there is also the need for the government to encourage and support inbound travel, which will in turn help build foreign exchange reserves for the country,” he stated.
According to Kachru, increased domestic travel is expected to boost demand for hotels, resorts, local destinations, and regional tourism experiences across the country.
It can further strengthen employment generation by supporting small tourism businesses, and accelerate growth in tier II and tier III destinations.
“India’s domestic travel market has emerged as one of the strongest demand engines globally, driving hospitality growth, employment generation and infrastructure utilisation across metros as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 destinations,” the HAI President said. (PTI)
Pak parked Iranian planes on its airbases
Washington, May 12:
Pakistan, which is playing mediator to end the US-Iran war, allowed Iranian military aircraft to park on its airfields to shield them from American airstrikes, CBS News reported here quoting US officials. The report also claimed that Iran had also parked its civilian aircraft in neighbouring Afghanistan to protect it from US airstrikes.
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Reacting to the report, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called for a complete re-evaluation of Pakistan’s role as a mediator to end the US-Iran war that broke out on February 28 and has been put on pause since April 8.
“If this reporting is accurate, it would require a complete re-evaluation of the role Pakistan is playing as mediator between Iran, the United States and other parties,” Graham, the Senator from South Carolina, said in a post on X.
“Given some of the prior statements by Pakistani defense officials towards Israel, I would not be shocked if this were true,” Graham said.
The CBS report, quoting unnamed US officials, said that Iran has sent “multiple aircraft”, including a reconnaissance and intelligence plane, to Pakistan’s Nur Khan airbase soon after US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire in April.
A senior Pakistan official rejected the claims involving Nur Khan Air Base, and told CBS News, that “Nur Khan base is right in the heart of the city, a large fleet of aircraft parked there can’t be hidden from the public eye”.
An Afghan civil aviation officer told CBS News that an Iranian civilian aircraft belonging to Mahan Air landed in Kabul shortly before the war started and remained parked after the closure of the Iranian airspace. The same aircraft was moved to an airport in Herat near the Iranian border after Pakistan launched attacks on Afghanistan, the Afghan officials said, adding that the Mahan Air plane was the only Iranian aircraft in the country.
Pakistan’s reliance on China for military assistance has risen dramatically over the past decade. A Stockholm International Peace Research Institute study showed China supplied about 80 per cent of Pakistan’s major arms between 2020 and 2024, and Islamabad also has close economic ties with Beijing, the CBS News report said.
Islamabad has attempted to navigate both sides of the crisis – presenting itself to Washington as a stabilizing intermediary while avoiding steps that could alienate Tehran or China, Iran’s most powerful international backer, the CBS News report said. (Agencies)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to skip meeting of BRICS FMs
BEIJING, May 12: China on Tuesday said its Foreign Minister Wang Yi will not attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi due to scheduling reasons.
Instead, Chinese Ambassador to India Xi Feihong will attend the meeting on his behalf, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in response to media queries here on Tuesday.
At the same time, the ministry said China supports India’s Presidency of the BRICS.
China is willing to work with all BRICS members to support the successful hosting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting by the Indian presidency, and to promote high-quality development of the “Greater BRICS” cooperation, the statement said.
BRICS is an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries.
China attaches great importance to and actively participates in BRICS cooperation, and has consistently been committed to deepening the BRICS strategic partnership and consolidating the positive momentum of solidarity and cooperation within BRICS, it said.
The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of BRICS countries is due to be held in New Delhi on May 14-15.
India holds the rotating presidency of the 10-member BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc on May 14-15.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are due to attend the meeting.
The schedule of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting coincides with the visit of US President Donald Trump to China. (PTI)
AI Systems introduced to provide hyper-local weather forecasts: Dr Jitendra
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 12 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today launched two advanced weather forecast products developed under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), aimed at delivering hyper-local, impact-based and AI-driven weather services across the country.
The two products launched today include, introduction of the first ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven system by India Meteorological Department (IMD) in the form of AI-enabled “Forecast of Monsoon Advance over Different Parts of the Country” and a “High Spatial Resolution Rainfall Forecast for Uttar Pradesh” as a pilot service. The systems have been developed jointly by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
Dr. Jitendra Singh said India’s weather forecasting capabilities have witnessed a major transformation during the last decade, with technology, data integration and advanced modelling significantly improving forecast accuracy and public trust in IMD services. He said IMD has today become an integral component of governance, disaster preparedness, agriculture planning and everyday public decision-making.
The Minister said the newly launched systems mark a major shift from conventional weather forecasting towards impact-based and decision-support forecasting, capable of providing precise, location-specific and actionable information to farmers, administrators, disaster managers and citizens.
The launch event was held at Mahika Hall, Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi, in the presence of Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. M. Ravichandran; Director General of Meteorology, IMD, Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra; Director, IITM Pune, Dr. Suryachandra Rao; senior scientists and officials from IMD, IITM and NCMRWF, along with representatives from print and electronic media.
Referring to the rapid modernization of India’s weather infrastructure, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the country had barely 16 to 17 Doppler Weather Radars nearly a decade ago, while the number has now increased to around 50, with another 50 planned under Mission Mausam. He said this expansion of observational networks, automatic weather stations, high-performance computing systems and digital dissemination platforms has substantially improved forecasting capability and early warning systems across the country.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the AI-enabled monsoon advance forecasting system will provide probabilistic forecasts of monsoon progression every Wednesday up to four weeks in advance. The product has been designed to support farmers across 16 States and more than 3,000 sub-districts through the dissemination framework of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. He said the system combines AI-based forecasting models, extended range prediction systems and statistical techniques to provide operationally useful forecasts for agricultural planning and preparedness.
The Minister said the second product, High Spatial Resolution Rainfall Forecast for Uttar Pradesh, has been developed as a pilot service to generate rainfall forecasts at 1-km spatial resolution up to 10 days in advance. The system uses advanced AI-driven downscaling techniques and integrates data from Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs), Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs), Doppler Weather Radars and satellite-based rainfall datasets.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the initiative would be particularly useful for agriculture, water resources, renewable energy, urban planning, disaster management and infrastructure sectors. He said farmers would now be able to take more informed decisions relating to sowing, irrigation, crop protection and harvest planning with far greater local precision.
Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. M. Ravichandran said the newly launched products are stakeholder-driven forecasting systems developed using a combination of numerical weather prediction models and AI-based data-driven approaches. He said the systems have been developed in response to increasing demand from agriculture and other sectors for highly localized and high-resolution weather forecasts.