Daily Excelsior

New Delhi, Jan 29: Action has been taken against more than 4,000 people across India following complaints of irregularities in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday. Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, while responding to a supplementary question, said that based on complaints, teams were formed to investigate issues. The reports of the teams were also shared with states. Primarily, the complaints were lodged for poor quality of work, financial irregulariti

New Delhi, Jan 28: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said that under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, over 11 crore free medical treatments have been provided in hospitals till last year, with 2.5 crore patients having received free treatment last year alone. Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament, signalling the start of the Budget session, she said that during the past almost one-and-a-half years, Vay Vandana cards have been issued to approximately one crore senior citizens.

Dubai, Jan 27 : Activists said Tuesday that at least 6,126 people were killed in Irans crackdown on nationwide protests and many more are still feared dead. The new figures came from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in multiple rounds of unrest in Iran. The group verifies each death with a network of activists on the ground in Iran. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll given authorities cutting [] The post Activists s

New Delhi, Jan 25: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that people are paying a heavy price for air pollution with their health and the countrys economy, and that children and the elderly are bearing the brunt the most. In a post on his X account, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha urged people to speak up against air pollution. He also asked them to write to him, sharing their views on how it has affected crores [] The post People paying a heavy price for air pollution with their

Jakarta (Indonesia), Jan 24 : A predawn landslide triggered by torrential rains on Indonesias main island of Java killed at least eight people on Saturday and left 82 missing as rescuers struggled through deep mud, searching for survivors. Days of torrential rains had caused rivers to burst their banks, tearing through Pasir Langu village in the West Bandung district of West Java province. Mud, rocks and trees tumbled down the mountainside, burying some 34 houses. Rescuers were searching for the

Srinagar, Jan 23: Ruling National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday urged the administration to remain alert and responsive, seeking relief and compensation for those who have suffered losses due to inclement weather. In a statement issued here, Abdullah also called upon party legislators and office bearers to step out and stand firmly with the people during the prevailing spell of inclement weather. The much-awaited precipitation has brought relief to the land and its people, offer

Srinagar, Jan 23: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah on Friday held a pre-Budget consultation with a wide spectrum of stakeholders from the Kashmir Division as part of efforts to frame a people-centric Budget. According to a post on X by the Office of the Chief Minister, the consultation involved representatives from industry, trade, tourism, hospitality, horticulture, agriculture and academia. The meeting focused on gathering sector-wise suggestions, concerns and priorities to en

Kolkata, Jan 23: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday claimed that three to four people are dying by suicide everyday in the state due to anxiety over the ongoing SIR exercise. Banerjee, addressing a programme at Red Road here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose, asserted that the Election Commission and the central government must take responsibility for the deaths. More than 110 people have already died; everyday three to four people are [] The post

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 23: Hailing the BJPs victory in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, which ended over four decades of the Left rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed confidence that there will be changes in Kerala in the upcoming Assembly polls as well. Addressing a massive party-organised rally here, Modi recalled that the BJPs rise to power in Gujarat started with winning a single city nearly four decades ago, and said the same would happen in Kerala. He said that prior

LUCKNOW, Jan 21: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said that people repose deep faith in the electoral process with the expectation that their elected representatives will take their problems, difficulties and challenges to the legislature and work towards resolving them. Addressing the concluding session of the 86th All India Presiding Officers Conference and the 62nd Conference of Secretaries of Legislative Bodies here, Birla said the legislature is the forum through which the voice of t

Jammu, Jan 20: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and people of the Valley are eagerly awaiting their return. The former chief minister also suggested that reservation of two Assembly seats for Kashmiri Pandits would be preferable. Kashmiri Pandits must take their own decision. We are eagerly waiting for their return as the Valley is incomplete without them, Mehbooba told reporters at PDP headquarters in Gandhi Nagar h

Srinagar, Jan 16: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday called upon the people of Iran to stand united to defeat the ploys of the US and Israel, and also appealed to the leadership in the Islamic Republic to address the grievances of the protesters there. Speaking to reporters here, Mufti, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, said the US has a habit of intervening in other countries with an eye on their resources. The [] The post People Of Iran Must Stand United Agai

NEW DELHI, Jan 16: The BJP on Friday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with a khandani chor barb, accusing him of misleading people by discrediting the Maharashtra civic poll process while the counting of votes was underway. This came in response to Gandhi asserting that vote chori is an anti-national act and accused the Election Commission of gaslighting citizens amid a row over the quality of indelible ink used in marker pens in Maharashtra civic polls. Reacting sharply to Gandhis [] The p

PRAYAGRAJ (UP), Jan 15: More than one crore devotees took a holy dip in the Ganga and the Sangam at the ongoing Magh Mela here on Thursday on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, officials said. According to the Mela administration, people thronged the Ganga ghats from 12 in the night. Till evening, 1.03 crore devotees took a holy dip in the river. On Wednesday, on the occasion of Ekadashi, over 85 lakh people had taken a dip in the river. [] The post Magh Mela: Over one crore people take dip on Mak

New Delhi, Jan 15: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership is giving decisive resolutions to global challenges at a time when the world is looking at him for leadership. Addressing the 28th conference of speakers and presiding officers of Commonwealth in the historic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan (the old Parliament building), the speaker said in Indias over seven-decade-long parliamentary journey, democracy has been strengthened through people-cent

VB-G RAM G Act a landmark step Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Jan 14: MLA Jasrota, Rajiv Jasrotia, today held a public darbar at Logate Morh near here, to listen to the grievances and issues raised by people from different Panchayats of the constituency. The initiative aimed at ensuring direct public outreach and providing a platform for residents to place their concerns before their elected representative. During the interaction, Rajiv Jasrotia heard issues related to basic amenities, developm

NAKHON RATCHASIMA (Thailand), Jan 14: A construction crane fell onto a moving passenger train, causing a fiery derailment Wednesday that killed at least 30 people and injured scores in northeastern Thailand. The derailment occurred on part of a planned high-speed rail project that will eventually connect China with much of Southeast Asia. Anuphong Suksomnit, the governor of Nakhon Ratchasima province, where the accident took place, said four passengers among the 171 believed to have been on boar

BANGKOK, Jan 14: A construction crane fell on a passenger train in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people, officials said. The crane, which was being used to construct an elevated high-speed railway, fell onto the moving train as it was travelling from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani province, causing the train to derail and catch fire, according to Nakhon Ratchasimas Public Relations Department. The department said in a Facebook post that the fire was under control and that

NEW YORK, Jan 13: Indian-American TV personality and food expert Padma Lakshmi voiced concern over the current dark period in the US and hoped her new book will encourage people from diverse communities to reach out and connect with each other in these times. She also said that this period will probably get darker before the light finally comes back. Lakshmis latest cookbook Padmas All American: Tales, Travels, and Recipes from Taste the Nation and Beyond is a commemoration of [] The post Very d

New Delhi, Jan 13: Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah, an accused in a terror funding case, on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that he had met five prime ministers of India on the Jammu and Kashmir issue and his speeches mostly represented the aspirations of the people in the erstwhile state. A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, which was hearing Shahs bail plea, asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to produce a couple of his speeches [] The post Represented Peopl

Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Jan 12: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has greeted the people on the occasion of the festivals of Lohri, which fall on January 13th and Makar Sankranti, which falls on January 14th. In his message, the Lieutenant Governor has said: On the auspicious occasion of Lohri and Makar Sankranti, I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to all and wish them health, bliss and prosperity. I pray that this festive season and the year that lies [] The post LG, CM greet

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: Senior leaders of the National Conference from Jammu province today addressed a meeting of the District Jammu Urban, organised by District President Jammu Urban, Chandar Mohan Sharma, in coordination with State Vice President, Womens Wing, Bimla Luthra and party functionaries. Addressing the gathering, National Conference Additional General Secretary, Ajay Sadhotra, highlighted the people-centric approach of the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference Governme

New Delhi, Jan 8: Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, on Thursday praised NCC cadets for their contributions during Operation Sindoor, and said the military action reinforced the message that life is not just about earning money or personal pursuits, but also doing something for the country. Addressing cadets at the ongoing National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp at Delhi Cantonment, the IAF chief urged them to continue giving their best for [] The post Operation Si

New Delhi, Jan 7: Flagging non-compliances of rules and directions by civic bodies, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that people were dying not only due to dog bites alone in the country but also because of accidents caused by stray animals on roads. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria, which was hearing pleas for modification of its earlier orders of the apex court filed by dog lovers and those seeking stringent compliance of [] The post People Dying Not Only Due T

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 6: Reinforcing its commitment to the welfare of the displaced community, a delegation of the BJP Kashmir Displacement District (KDD), led by district president, Rajiv Pandita, conducted an extensive tour of Ganga Nagar and Bharat Nagar in the Bantalab area today. The visit was aimed at assessing the ground-level challenges faced by residents and ensuring that the party remains a steadfast advocate for their developmental needs. The delegation, which included se

NEW DELHI, Jan 6: Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday asked Bureau of India Standards (BIS) to develop new standards expeditiously and also modernise testing labs for ensuring quality products and services to people. He said that the BIS has been regulating the quality standards eco-system in an efficient manner, but now it should also focus on creating an enabling environment where the manufacturing industry itself do not make products below certain standards. Add

DUBAI, Jan 6: The death toll in violence surrounding protests in Iran has risen to at least 35 people, activists said Tuesday. The figure came from the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which said more than 1,200 people have been detained in the protests, which have been ongoing for more than a week. It said 29 protesters, four children and two members of Irans security forces have been killed. The group, which relies on an activist network inside [] The post At least 35 people kille

BJP holds review meet of Kathua distt Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 5: Sat Sharma CA, president, J&K BJP and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), along with BJP general secretary (Organization), Ashok Koul, presided over an organizational meeting of the Kathua district at the party Headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, here, today. The meeting was attended by J&K BJP vice-president and Prabhari district Kathua, Priya Sethi, BJP general secretary, Baldev Singh Billawaria, general secretary, Gopal Maha

New Delhi, Jan 5: A study found that nearly half of the underweight and obese individuals among the 1,000 young adults surveyed for body weight issues experienced moderate to severe concerns, including feeling self-consciousness and lacking confidence. Over a third of the participants (37.5 per cent) felt judged by others, while around a fourth (24.5 per cent) often experienced anxiety related to their weight, researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, said.

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today extended warm greetings to the Sikh community and all those celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In his message, the Chief Minister paid rich tribute to the life and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, describing him as a beacon of truth, courage, integrity and unwavering devotion to humanity. He said that the Gurus timeless ideals of sacrifice, righteousness and service continue to inspire millions acr

MINNA (Nigeria), Jan 4: At least 30 villagers have been killed while several others were abducted by gunmen who raided a village in northern Nigerias Niger state, police said Sunday, the latest in a cycle of deadly violence in the conflict-hit region. The gunmen stormed the Kasuwan-Daji village in Niger states Borgu local government area on Saturday evening and opened fire on residents. They also razed down the local market and several houses, Niger state police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun [] The p

Many families realise the value of insurance only when a parent falls ill, and hospital bills start rising. That is when quick decisions lead to wrong choices. Senior health needs can be frequent, and costs can increase faster than expected. When people buy health insurance for parents, missing a small detail can later cause extra payments, delays in approval, or confusion during a hospital visit. This blog explains the most common mistakes and what to check so the policy works [] The post Top M

Shiban Khaibri shibankhaibri@gmail.com Ingratitude is monstrous , and for the multitude to be ungrateful, were to make a monster of the multitude (Shakespeare) What we are watching happening in our neighbourhood, Bangladesh, which was a part of this country until only a few decades ago, reminds us of the truth and relevance of the above quote of the greatest English dramatist and poet. The role of India in 1971 liberation war of the oppressed and suppressed Bangla people [] The post Ungrateful

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Crowds thronged illuminated malls, recreational centres and tourist spots and devotees visited places of worship and took a dip in holy rivers as people across the country welcomed the New Year with joy and enthusiasm on Thursday. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and chief ministers of several states greeted people on the occasion and wished for peace and prosperity. In the national capital, roads near the India Gate and

Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, Dec 31: The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has greeted the people on the eve of the New Year 2026. In a message, the Lieutenant Governor said, On the occasion of the New Year, I extend my greetings and best wishes to all the citizens. The New Year festivity brings new hopes and opportunities in our life. Let us commit ourselves towards building a happier and healthier society and to take J&K to new heights of development and [] The post LG, CM greet people on New

RAIPUR, Dec 31: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said people should not be judged by caste, wealth or language, adding that the country belongs to everyone. The first step towards harmony is removing feelings of separation and discrimination from ones mind and treating everyone as ones own, Bhagwat said, addressing the Hindu Sammelan at Sonpairi village in Chhattisgarhs Raipur district. The entire country belongs to everyone and this spirit is true social harmony, Bhagwat said. Bhagwat stres

Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Dec 29: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday urged people to never forget their respective mother tongues, and called for collective efforts towards the betterment of society. She was addressing the 22nd Santali Parsi Maha (language day) and centenary celebrations of the Ol Chiki script of the Santali language at Dishom Jaherthan courtyard in Karandih on the outskirts of Jamshedpur city in East Singhbhum district. The President started her speech by singing a prayer to Jahe

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Dec 25: Christmas was celebrated across J&K UT with much fervor and fanfare today with all churches fully decorated and illuminated on the occasion. In Jammu and other towns of the region churches were decorated from yesterday and mass prayers were held in the morning followed by visit of a large number of people to the Churches to participate in celebrations. Click here to watch video In Jammu main function was held at Gandhi Nagar Church where [] The pos

SRINAGAR, Dec 25: Churches across Kashmir were decked up as Christians in the valley celebrated Christmas on Thursday with religious fervour, and held special prayers for peace and prosperity for the people. The biggest mass gathered at the Holy Family Catholic Church at Maulana Azad Road here, where the members of the Christian community held special prayers and celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. The priest of the Church, Father John Paul, said the devotees prayed for peace and calm [] The p

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 24: The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has extended his heartiest greetings to the people on the joyous occasion of Christmas. In a message, the Lieutenant Governor said, On the joyous occasion of Christmas, I convey my warm greetings to the people. I hope that this occasion of festivity ushers in love and harmony amongst the people. The festival, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, serves as a reminder to embrace Lord Christs teachings of love, compassio

NAHARKATIA (Assam), Dec 24 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the demand by the Karbi people to evict alleged Hindi-speaking encroachers from grazing lands cannot be accepted immediately, because of a stay by the Gauhati High Court. He said that the situation in the violence-affected Kheroni area in West Karbi Anglong district in central Assam has improved, and no report of any untoward incident came from any part of district during the day. The Karbi and [] The post De

New Delhi, Dec 23: The Delhi Police has busted a fake call centre and arrested 10 people for allegedly duping people across the country on the pretext of settling lapsed insurance policies, an officer said on Tuesday. The accused allegedly used forged logos and documents of the Reserve Bank of India, the Delhi High Court, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), NPCI, and the Insurance Ombudsman to gain the trust of their targets. More than Rs 20 [] The post Fake Call

KYIV, Dec 23: Russia fired more than 650 drones and three dozen missiles at Ukraine in a large-scale attack that began during the night and stretched into daylight hours Tuesday, officials said. At least three people were killed, including a 4-year-old child. The barrage struck homes and the power grid in 13 regions of Ukraine, causing widespread outages in bitter temperatures, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, a day after he described recent progress on finding a peace deal quite [

NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Asserting that community participation strengthens national security, President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said people need not be passive observers of what happens around them and termed jan bhagidari as the cornerstone of people-centric security. Addressing an event organised by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) here, she also said that social media has transformed the world of information and communication, and it has the potential for both creation and destruction. Protecting pe

Proposal of VLWs pay, DPOs designation as BDOs cleared *Funds to be infused in two Coop banks Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Dec 22: The Cabinet today cleared the proposal for allotment of 5 marlas land to the people affected by Monsoon rains and floods in Jammu and Kashmir, infusing Government funds in two Cooperative banks to revive them and increasing pay of Village Level Workers (VLWs), now designated as Panchayat Secretaries, from Level-2 to Level-4. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired the [] The p

KOLKATA, Dec 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lashed out at the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, calling the states prevailing situation maha jungle raj and alleging that corruption, nepotism and appeasement of the ruling dispensation have prevented development in the state. Addressing a massive gathering at Taherpur in Nadia district over the phone from Kolkata, Modi urged the people to provide a chance to the BJP in the upcoming assembly polls to form a double engine government i

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Fortis Healthcare on Saturday said it has inked a pact to acquire Bengaluru-based People Tree Hospital for Rs 430 crore. The company has signed definitive agreements for the acquisition of the 125-bedded hospital in Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru, by way of a 100 per cent acquisition of TMI Healthcare Pvt Ltd, the entity under which the People Tree Hospital business operates. The said acquisition would be undertaken by Fortis wholly-owned subsidiary International Hospital Limited (I

Leh, Dec 20: Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta on Saturday extended his best wishes to the people on the occasion of Losar, a significant festival in the region that marks the beginning of the Tibetan New Year. The L-G conveyed his hopes for peace and harmony for everyone on this auspicious occasion. In a post on X, he said: On the auspicious occasion of Losar, the traditional New Year celebrated with devotion & joy across Ladakh, I extend my warmest [] The post May Losar Usher In Peace, Prosper

Aditya Dhars Dhurandhar has drawn praise for presenting both established and lesser-known actors in strikingly different avatars, a creative decision that casting director Mukesh Chhabra says was aimed at surprising the audience. The movie, which follows covert intelligence operations set against a backdrop of geopolitical and terror events like Kandahar plane hijack, 2001 Parliament Attack and 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was released on December 5 and has amassed over Rs 250 crore at the domestic box

United Nations, Dec 16: In a sharp retort, India ripped through Pakistans divisive agenda at the UN Security Council, calling out Islamabads unique way of respecting the will of its people by jailing a prime minister and giving lifetime immunity to its army chief. Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, delivered a strong response in the Security Council on Monday after Pakistans Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad raised the issues of Jammu and Kashmir and the Indu