Daily Excelsior News

VARANASI, Jan 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that India is preparing with full strength to host the 2036 Olympic Games, and declared his government was committed to providing more and more players greater opportunities to compete by hosting mega sporting events in the country. Addressing the inaugural function of the 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship, being held here, via video conference, Modi said, the government was making every possible effort to provide exposure t

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Jan 4 : Marking the 41st Foundation Day of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) under the Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST), Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, Dr. Jitendra Singh, today announced a major relaxation of the mandatory three-year existence condition of eligibility for deep-tech StartUps to avail recognition and

Narendra Modi pibjammu@gmail.com Somnath Swabhiman Parv A 1000 Years of Unbroken Faith (1026-2026) Somnathhearing this word instils a sense of pride in our hearts and minds. It is the eternal proclamation of Indias soul. This majestic Temple is situated on the Western coast of India in Gujarat, at a place called Prabhas Patan. The Dwadasha Jyotirling Stotram mentions the 12 Jyotirlings across India. The Stotram begins with .., symbolising the civilisational and spiritual importance of Somnath a

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 4: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today flagged off a group of 25 youth from various districts of South Kashmir for a 10-day educational, cultural exchange, and communal harmony tour. The Lieutenant Governor interacted with the youth and extended his best wishes to them. During the 10-day long tour, the students and emerging youth leaders will visit various regions including Chandigarh, Haryana, and Shimla. Strengthening the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bhara

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

Suhail Bhat SRINAGAR, Jan 4: The University of Kashmir is making posting of its staff, not on academic or administrative requirements but allegedly for personal convenience affecting the functioning and academics especially at satellite campuses of North and South. Faculty members from the Universitys South and North campuses have raised concerns that key academic, technical, and administrative staff are routinely shifted to the main campus in Srinagar or given additional charges, often without

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 4: As part of its ongoing efforts to reinforce party organization at the grassroot level, the Jammu & Kashmir BJP convened an organizational review meeting of party functionaries from Akhnoor and Samba organizational districts. The meeting was addressed by J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha (RS) MP Sat Sharma CA, BJP general secretary (Organization), Ashok Koul, and Lok Sabha MP, Jugal Kishore Sharma. Senior leaders, elected representatives, and prominent party

Dr Harmeet Singh harmeetjnu@gmail.com Guru Gobind Singh was a strong moral force during the time when power was often used for fear and faith to justify tyranny. He was unshakeable, uncompromising, and revolutionary for a just society based on equality and mutual respect. His life and legacy are some of the strongest stories of the resistance in Indian history, not just against Mughal governmental power but against all forms of oppression. Guru Gobind Singh didnt fight against power just because

*Surinder, Itoo inaugurate blood donation camp Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 4: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Choudhary and Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo jointly inaugurated the blood donation camp for Thalassemia children and Full Body Profile Testing Facility at National Hospital, Karan Bagh here today. Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the health sector in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed significant improvement over the past y

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 4: Describing the surprise inspection of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence by National Medical Commission (NMC) as a positive step and victory, the Sangharsh Samiti, however, made it clear that the phased agitation will continue until justice is served. Click here to watch video While this inspection is a positive step, the Samitis phased agitation will proceed according to its strategy until all demands are fully accepted, said Colonel Suk

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 4: Ruhaan Raj Kalras scintillating 121-run innings propelled Cricket Academy of Pathans (CAP) to a comprehensive win over Crossway Academy in the intra-academy cricket series at CAP KC International School grounds. In the 35-overs-a-side contest, CAP won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Ruhaan Raj Kalra and Nirmit gave a blistering start, putting on 87 runs in just 8 overs. Nirmit contributed a quick 44 off 28 balls, including seven fours and a six,

Excelsior Correspondent PATHANKOT, Jan 4: Pratap World School, Pathankot has achieved another academic milestone as its students Mehak Sharma and Ravipal Singh successfully cleared the prestigious Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), securing notable ranks at both state and national levels. Their achievement highlights the schools strong academic culture, dedicated faculty support, and focused preparation for competitive examinations. Ravipal Singh delivered an impressive performance by securing a

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 4: Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Associations U-16 squad is on the verge of a historic milestone, poised to claim its maiden BCCI Vijay Merchant Trophy in the Boys U-16 Tournament at Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat. J&Ks bowlers delivered a spectacular performance in the Plate Group final, bundling out Mizoram for a mere 100 runs in their first innings. Skipper Lawma top-scored with a gritty 36, while Johan managed 14, with no other batsman reaching double [

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 4: The Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has officially released the list of nominated candidates for various posts under Annexure II through the Office of the Electoral Officer. The announcement was issued by Electoral Officer AK Joti. According to the list, Javed Ahmed Kitab has been nominated for the post of President, with Wajahat Majeed as proposer and Sumesh Damral as seconder. Desh Rattan Dubey is in the fray for Vice President, while Viv

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 4: Jammu and Kashmirs long-distance runner Muzamil Hussain Mir brought pride to India by securing third place at the 52nd Ciaspolada-2026 International Snowshoe Race in Italy. Competing against elite athletes in the toughest category, Muzamil battled sub-zero temperatures and challenging conditions to clinch the bronze medal. This achievement adds to Muzamils decorated career, which includes a bronze at the 2020 World Snowshoe Championship in Japan, m

Fog hits 8 flights at Jammu Airport Gopal Sharma/Fayaz Bukhari JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jan 4: After sunny weather during the day, Gulmarg, its adjoining areas and other higher reaches in the region received fresh snowfall this evening while Kashmir reels under cold weather conditions with minimum temperatures settling below freezing across the region. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Jammu and its plain areas including Samba and Kathua continued to be under the cover of dense fog, causing

All identified, properties to be attached Working to facilitate intrusion bids, radicalization Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Jan 4: Police and Intelligence agencies have identified 310 persons in the border district of Poonch who have been operating from Pakistan and PoJK with a view to create trouble including fanning terror activities like facilitating infiltration attempts from the Line of Control (LoC), narcotics smuggling, radicalization of youth and other illegal activities. Highly places sources

Deficiencies in infrastructure, bed strength, patient load Nishikant Khajuria JAMMU, Jan 4: The surprise inspection conducted by a team of the National Medical Commission (NMC) at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Institute of Medical Excellence has exposed serious deficiencies in hospital infrastructure, bed strength, patient load and faculty availability, raising serious concerns over the institutes adherence to mandatory norms prescribed for Medical Colleges. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on

Single Window system needed to streamline process Lack of layout approval mechanism derails compliance Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Jan 4: The implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act in rural areas of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir continues to face serious hurdles due to lack of institutional clarity, absence of designated layout approval authorities and poor inter-departmental coordination, resulting in unregulated colony development and mounting violations on the

BEIJING, Jan 4 : Teachers and students from several Beijing-based Chinese universities have participated in Vishwa Hindi Diwas 2026 celebrations organised by the Indian Embassy here. At the event on Friday, Indian Ambassador to China Pradeep Kumar Rawat highlighted the role of Hindi as an important bridge between India and China, and underscored its growing stature as a global language. Tsinghua Universitys Institute for International & Area Studies Professor and Dean Dr Jiang Jingkui, a noted H

BENGALURU, Jan 4 : Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Sunday highlighted Indias ambitious next-generation fighter programmes, Tejas Mark II and AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft), describing them as milestones set to surpass previous achievements while incorporating contemporary technologies. Speaking at the Tejas-25 national seminar hosted by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), he said the teams behind these projects are working diligently to ensure the aircraft are equipped with

Urges engineers to complete project in time bound manner Avtar Bhat JAMMU, Jan 4: Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar today laid the foundation stone for the dam concreting works of Rattle Hydel Project in Kishtwar and encouraged the project team to complete the works in an effective and time-bound manner. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the function, Manohar Lal Khattar said that project was [] The post

NEW DELHI, Jan 4: The commerce ministry on Sunday said Indias traditional medicine system AYUSH has received formal recognition in bilateral trade agreements with Oman and New Zealand. Both the agreements, which were finalised last year in December, have dedicated annexures on health-related services and traditional medicine. Indias traditional medicine systems (AYUSH) have also received formal recognition in bilateral trade agreements, including the India-Oman CEPA and the India- New Zealand

KATHMANDU, Jan 4 : Protests over a video with alleged religious content on social media turned violent as tension flared across two places in southern Nepal, near the Indian border, on Sunday. Police lobbed tear gas shells to contain the situation in Birgunj town of Parsa district, bordering Raxaul in India, where demonstrations were held to protest vandalisation of a mosque in Dhanusha district on Saturday. Three people were detained for allegedly posting the TikTok video and for their involvem

Jammu, Jan 4: Northern Railways Jammu division, which is completing its first year next week, achieved several historic milestones in infrastructure development, connectivity and operational expansion, officials said on Sunday. Indias 70th railway division, officially established and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 6 last year, connected Kashmir valley to rest of the country and instilled a sense of change and hope among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the railways said i

JAMMU, Jan 4: The Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered a major reshuffle of All India Services, transferring a total of 49 Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service officers across the country, including changes affecting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. As per the orders, 7 officers, including 5 IAS and 2 IPS have been transferred out of Jammu and Kashmir, while 9 officers, including 6 IAS and 3 IPS have been posted to the Union Territory in [] The post MHA Shuffles 49 IA

DHAKA, Jan 4: Three persons were arrested on Sunday in the case of hacking and burning to death a Hindu businessman in Shariatpur district of Bangladesh, local media reports said. Khokon Chandra Das, 50, was assaulted near Keurbhanga Bazar in Damudya in Shariatpur district, about 100 kilometres south of Dhaka, on Wednesday night. He died on Saturday. Prothom Alo newspaper said a team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the three accused on Sunday morning from Kishoreganj, about 100 [] The

JAMMU, Jan 4: Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today addressed the 217th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Louise Braille at Jammu, to honour the inventor of the tactile reading system that empowers visually impaired people across the world. Secretary in Social Welfare department, Bashir Ahmad Khan; Director Social Welfare Jammu, Ranjeet Singh; Programme Officer ICDS, district Social Welfare Officer Jammu, Superintendent Rehabilitation Centre for

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

PESHAWAR, Jan 4: At least four police personnel were killed by unknown gunmen in two separate firing incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, officials said on Sunday. The incidents occurred in Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts of the restive province on Saturday. According to a spokesperson for Lakki Marwat police, unknown motorcycle-riding terrorists opened fire in Sarai Naurang city, killing three on-duty traffic police officials. The assailants managed to flee the s

CRANS-MONTANA (Switzerland), Jan 4: A Mass was held Sunday for victims of the New Years Eve fire at a bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, which left 40 dead and many severely injured, as distressed parents waited for news of their children or began the long process of mourning. Grey-haired parents, teenagers and members of the police were seen comforting one another during the service, which took place at the Chapelle St-Christophe in Crans-Montana. Mass was set [] The post Mother

NEW DELHI, Jan 4: Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday charged that corruption was rampant under the MGNREGA, and accused the Congress of spreading misinformation on the VB-G RAM G scheme. Addressing a press conference here, Chouhan slammed the Congress for its upcoming campaign against the VB-G RAM G scheme, and asked why Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was not present in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the issue. Congress has announced a MGNREGA Bachao [] The post V

NEW DELHI, Jan 4: No ad-hoc judges have been appointed in high courts so far to tackle pending criminal cases, nearly a year after the Supreme Court cleared the decks for it, as the high courts have not evinced interest. According to people aware of the procedure to appoint Supreme Court and high court judges, none of the 25 high courts have recommended names for appointment as ad-hoc judges. Concerned over the pendency of over 18 lakh criminal cases, [] The post Year After SC Nod, No Ad-Hoc Ju

NEW DELHI, Jan 4: Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a two-day visit to explore ways to strengthen bilateral military cooperation. Gen Dwivedi is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with top military brass of the influential Gulf nation. The visit underscores a shared commitment to deepening mutual understanding, enhancing cooperation in areas of common interest and advancing bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations, the Indian Army

New Delhi, Jan 4: The Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) has expressed deep concern over the persistently high mental health treatment gap in India, noting that nearly 80-85 per cent of individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders do not receive timely or appropriate care. This stark reality, which is supported by national and global evidence, was highlighted during the curtain raiser event of the 77th Annual National Conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society, ANCIPS 2026, to be held from J

New Delhi, Jan 4: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against two main shooters allegedly involved in the 2024 Neemrana hotel firing case linked with Khalistani terrorist Arsh Dala, officials said on Sunday. The arrested accused, Puneet and Narinder Lalli, have been named in a charge sheet filed before a court in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on Saturday for various offences under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, they said. Th

Jammu, Jan 4: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today flagged off a group of 25 youth from various districts of South Kashmir for a 10-day educational, cultural exchange, and communal harmony tour. The Lieutenant Governor interacted with the youth and extended his best wishes to them. During the 10-day long tour, the students and emerging youth leaders will visit various regions including Chandigarh, Haryana, and Shimla. Strengthening the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, the tour aims to prom

Mumbai, Jan 4: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday demanded that civic elections where candidates, almost all from ruling parties, won unopposed should be cancelled and polls re-initiated in these wards. Speaking along side Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray, Uddhav claimed the atmosphere in the country is like democracy has been taken over by mobocracy. The two cousins also unveiled their alliance manifesto for Mumbai civic polls on the occasion. Raj Thackeray asser

JAMMU, Jan 4:The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Profession (NCAHP), Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is in the process of operationalizing online portals for seamless and efficient registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals and Institutions, as mandated under the NCAHP Act, 2021. In this regard, State Allied and Healthcare Council (SAHC), J&K informs that the NCAHP has communicated with all Allied and Healthcare State / UT Councils regarding N

Transforming Jammu & Kashmirs Employment Landscape JAMMU, Jan 4: Guided by the Honble Prime Ministers vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Jammu & Kashmir is today scripting a new chapter of self-reliance and entrepreneurship. At the heart of this transformation stands Mission YUVA, a historic initiative that is connecting the youth of the Union Territory with skills, opportunities and dignity, while fundamentally reshaping the idea of employment. Conceived by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir in colla

Begusarai (Bihar), Jan 4: Union minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday slammed the Congress for opposing the VB-G RAM G scheme, which replaced MGNREGA, alleging that the grand old party has a problem with the inclusion of Lord Rams name in the initiative. Speaking to reporters in his Lok Sabha constituency Begusarai, Singh said that Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, are opposing the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) simply becaus

SRINAGAR, Jan 4: The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir has ordered the posting of 50 doctors at various health institutions across the Valley in the interest of administration and better patient care. See Order Copy Click Here. The post DHS Kashmir Orders Posting Of 50 Doctors Across Health Institutions appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Baramulla, Jan 4: A hideout was detected during a search operation in the Suchliwaran forest area of North Kashmirs Baramulla, leading to the recovery of arms-related material and other items, officials said. During a thorough search of the hideout, Baramulla Police in coordination with Central Reserve Police Force 53 Battalion, 46 Rashtriya Rifles, Army Surveillance Team recovered 24 rounds of AK-47 ammunition of Pakistani origin in rusted condition, two hand grenades. Officials said the seized

JAMMU, Jan 4: Weather across Kashmir is expected to remain largely dry over the next two days, with a brief change likely around January 6, according to the latest forecast. A Weather official said that January 4 and 5 are expected to remain mostly dry across the region, providing relief from active winter conditions. On January 6, weather is likely to turn generally cloudy, with a possibility of light snowfall over isolated higher reaches of North and Central Kashmir. He [] The post Partly Clou

HONG KONG, Jan 4: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in China on Sunday as Beijing looks to deepen ties with the nearby country after heightened tensions between China and Japan over Taiwan, a self-ruled island it claims as its sovereign territory. Lees four-day trip is his first visit to China since taking office in June. It comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and Japan, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that her [] The post South Korean pr

MUMBAI, Jan 4: For celebrity chef-turned-filmmaker Vikas Khanna, directing the acclaimed actor Shabana Azmi in his upcoming film, Imaginary Rain, is more than just a career milestone. He describes it as the greatest highlight of his life. The movie, based on his 2023 novel of the same name, will see Azmi play the role of a MasterChef in Manhattan, rediscovering her roots in India after a personal tragedy. The film also features Prateik Patil. Khanna, who has also written the [] The post Directin

SEOUL, Jan 4: North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea Sunday, its neighbors said, just hours before South Koreas president leaves for China for talks expected to cover North Koreas nuclear programme. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement it detected several ballistic missile launches from North Koreas capital region around 7:50 am. It said the missiles flew about 900 kilometres (560 miles) and that South Korea and US authorities were analysing details of

NEW YORK, Jan 4: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the US operation Absolute Resolve, under which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured, an act of war and a violation of international and federal law. He said that this blatant pursuit of regime change doesnt just affect those abroad; it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call the city home. Concerned over the safety of Venezuelans and the safety of every New Yorker, Mamdani [] The post

BANGKOK, Jan 4: Myanmars military government granted amnesty to more than 6,100 prisoners and reduced other inmates sentences Sunday to mark the 78th anniversary of the countrys independence from Britain. It was not immediately clear whether those released include the thousands of political detainees imprisoned for opposing military rule. The amnesty comes as the military government proceeds with a monthlong, three-stage election process that critics say is designed to add a facade of legitimac

NEW DELHI, Jan 4: Indias coal imports, which jumped 28.1 per cent in November, is expected is see a decline in the coming months on account of increased availability of domestic resources, according to industry data. Imports in November rose to 25.07 million tonnes (MT) as against 19.57 MT imported in November 2024, according to data compiled by mjunction services ltd, a B2B e-commerce platform and joint venture of SAIL and Tata Steel. There was an uptick in volumes [] The post Indias coal impo