Daily Excelsior

CHANDIGARH, Feb 15: Two persons, allegedly involved in the shooting at migrant labourers in Punjabs Moga district, were arrested following an exchange of gunfire with the police there on Sunday. Jobanpreet sustained a bullet injury in his leg following an encounter near Ghalkalan village, while his accomplice, Akashdeep, was also nabbed, said police. Two migrant labourers were injured after three unidentified assailants on a motorcycle allegedly opened fire at a group of workers in the district

New Delhi, Feb 15: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladeshs next prime minister, Tarique Rahman, on February 17. It is learnt that Bangladesh had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the ceremony to be held in Dhaka. Om Birla, the Lok Sabha Speaker, will represent the Government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected government of Bangladesh led by Tarique Rahman, the external affairs ministry said on Sunday. Rahman [] The p

Jaipur, Feb 15: On International Childhood Cancer Day, a group of doctors here on Sunday emphasised that timely diagnosis and proper treatment can save over 80 per cent of children affected by cancer. Paediatric oncologist Dr Shivani Mathur of Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital said that cases of childhood cancer differ from those of adult cancer and often progress rapidly, requiring specialised treatment. However, recovery rates among children are higher. The most common types of cancer in childr

Srinagar, Feb 15: Mahashivratri or Herath as it is known here in Kashmir was celebrated with religious fervour across the valley on Sunday as Kashmiri Pandits visited temples to offer prayers. The largest gathering took place at Shankaracharya Temple, which overlooks the Dal Lake. Multi-coloured lights illuminated the temple, and the air resonated with chants from the devotees. A large number of people, including tourists, paid their respects, offering flowers and fruits to the deity and seeking

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: Macroeconomic data, global geopolitical developments and rising concerns over AI-related disruptions are likely to dictate sentiment in the stock market next week, even as investors may remain cautious amid ongoing volatility, according to analysts. Besides, the trading activity of foreign investors and domestic currency movements will also guide market movement during the week. In the near term, with tariffrelated concerns easing and the domestic earnings season drawing to a

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: Realty firm Signature Global plans to develop a branded luxury housing project in Gurgram with an estimated revenue of around Rs 5,000 crore, a top company official said. Signature Global Chairman Pradeep Aggarwal expressed confidence that the company will achieve the revised sales bookings target of Rs 10,300 crore for the current fiscal. He also highlighted that construction activities, which were affected in the December quarter due to a ban in view of high pollution levels

Jammu, Feb 15: In a swift and coordinated operation amid extreme weather conditions, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Sunday reopened the strategic BhaderwahBaniBasohli national highway, restoring connectivity between Doda and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said. The recent spell of intense snowfall at Chattergala Pass had disrupted vehicular movement along the 65-kilometre stretch, temporarily snapping the crucial link between the mountainous regions, the spoke

Gandhinagar, Feb 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi of spreading lies and misleading farmers over Indias trade pacts with the US, UK and the EU, asserting the government has fully safeguarded the countrys agriculture and dairy sectors. He termed as laughable the Opposition partys allegations that trade agreements would harm Indian farmers. I feel like laughing when Congresss Shahzada Rahul Gandhi stands in Parliament and talks about prote

New Delhi, Feb 15: A group of over 500 CISF inspectors has petitioned the paramilitary force seeking a fair cadre review to ensure time-bound promotions, as they are experiencing unprecedented stagnation, given they receive only one post upgrade over a span of 30 to 34 years in their careers. PTI has seen multiple communications sent by these officials to their headquarters, citing a favourable order of the Supreme Court issued on February 2, which disposed of their special leave petition [] The

New Delhi, Feb 15: Upping the ante against the government over the India-US interim trade deal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday posed a string of questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that we are witnessing a betrayal of Indian farmers. Gandhi, who has been attacking the government and accusing it of a sell-out through the deal, said this issue concerns the future and asked whether India is allowing another country to gain a long-term hold over Indias [] The post Witnessin

Rudraprayag, Feb 15: The portals of the revered Kedarnath Temple in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand will reopen for devotees on April 22 after remaining closed for nearly six months during winter, a temple committee official said on Sunday. Harish Gaur, Public Relations Officer of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, said the auspicious date and time for reopening the shrine were decided on the occasion of Mahashivratri on Sunday at the winter seat of Lord Kedarnath the Omkareshw

New Delhi, Feb 15: Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehrus message to Congress MPs during the debate in 1954 on the Oppositions resolution to remove then Speaker G V Mavalankar was that they are not bound by any whip or direction, as he urged all legislators to consider the matter regardless of party affiliations. He had urged Lok Sabha MPs to look at the issue not through the lens of the party but as a matter concerning the dignity of [] The post Nehrus message to Cong MPs during 1954 LS

New Delhi/Srinagar, Feb 15: Security agencies have busted an ever-growing ecosystem of mule accounts in Jammu and Kashmir that serves as the financial backbone of global scam networks, with officials fearing that the funds routed through these accounts could be used for separatist and anti-national activities. The officials said more than 8,000 mule accounts operating in the region have been identified and frozen over a period of three years, exposing a sophisticated network of money laundering.

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: Recent changes to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework simplified tax structure, removal of tax on drugs and medical equipment and increased taxation on tobacco products mark an important policy shift towards making cancer care more affordable and accessible, AIIMS researchers have said. In a commentary published in Frontier, Oncologist Dr Abhishek Shankar and Scientist Dr Vaibhav Sahni from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer H

NEW YORK, Feb 15: A 22-year-old Indian postgraduate student who went missing in the US less than a week ago has been found dead, the Indian mission here has said. Saketh Sreenivasaiah, a student at the University of California, Berkeley, hailing from Karnataka, had been missing since Monday. In an X post , the Indian Consulate in San Francisco confirmed the recovery of his body. The Consulate deeply regrets to inform that local police have confirmed the recovery of the [] The post Indian student

JAMMU, Feb 15: In a major administrative reshuffle, the Delhi Government has ordered the transfer and posting of 72 IAS officers across departments. Among them are six IAS officers of the AGMUT cadre who have served in Jammu and Kashmir or are transitioning from the J&K segment to take up important assignments in the national capital. As per an order, Bipul Pathak, the 1992 batch AGMUT Cadre IAS officer, presently serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Social Welfare) holding additional charge [

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: AI in India will drive productivity, quality, and role redesign in the near term rather than mass unemployment, but the country must pursue a sovereign by design approach, maintaining control over its data and capabilities while staying globally integrated to ensure AI benefits everyone, according to BCGX. Indias talent base is a real advantage, with 13 per cent of the global AI talent pool as new centres of influence emerge beyond AI superpowers US and China, [] The post Indi

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: Lenovo India has reported a 7 per cent rise in revenue to Rs 8,145 crore for the third quarter of FY26, driven by a broad-based digitisation momentum in India, rapid AI adoption, and strong performance across the mobile, PC, and infrastructure business segments. Shailendra Katyal, Vice President and Managing Director of Lenovo India, stated that the performance reflected sustained demand rather than a one-off spike. We are very encouraged by the broader digitisation momentum i

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: French cosmetics major LOreal is not satisfied with its performance in the Indian market, where it has not gained any market share in 2025 despite recording high single-digit growth, said its global CEO Nicolas Hieronimus. India, which currently contributes roughly one per cent of LOreals turnover, is very small and needs a lot of effort, both financial and human, to change gears in India, Hieronimus said while responding to a query on the fourth-quarter earnings call [] The p

Prayagraj (UP), Feb 15: On the occasion of Mahashivratri, the last bathing day of the ongoing Magh Mela, 21 lakh devotees have taken a holy dip in the Ganga and Sangam by 10 am, an official said on Sunday. A mela authority official said that devotees have been arriving at the fair area and bathing since late Saturday night. By 10 am on Sunday, 21 lakh devotees have bathed in the Ganga and Sangam, the official said. District Magistrate Manish [] The post 21 Lakh Devotees Take Holy Dip In Ganga, S

New Delhi/Srinagar, Feb 15: The white-collar terror module recently busted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police indicates that the doctors arrested in the case had been radicalised since 2016 and formed a new terror organisation named Ansar Interim to carry out subversive activities in the Union Territory as well as in the hinterland, officials said on Sunday. The case, which is now being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), also brings to light that Dr Umer-un Nabi the [] The post Whi

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: Magicpin aims to grow its active user base to 20 million in 2026 with food delivery as a key growth driver, the hyperlocal platforms CEO and Founder Anshoo Sharma said on Sunday. The company crossed 15 million active users last year across various categories including e-commerce, ticketing and food delivery, is focusing on the value conscious segment for further expansion of its food delivery vertical, Sharma told PTI in an interview. Our focus is on building [] The post Magic

NEW DELHI, Feb 15:British multinational consumer goods maker said fundamentals of its business in India, its second largest market after the US, are improving. In the fourth quarter, Unilever, in the home care segment, reported a 4.7 per cent underlying sales growth along with a volume growth of 4 per cent, which, according to the company, was supported by continued strong volume in India. India was a key contributor to this momentum, with Home Care delivering mid-single-digit volume growth, led

NEW DELHI, Feb 15: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended their greetings to the nation on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said he prays that Adidev Mahadev continues to shower his blessings on everyone. May his blessings bring prosperity to all, and may our India attain the pinnacle of prosperity, he said. In his social media post, Vice President Radhakrishnan said that from Kashi to [] The post Vice Pre

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United Nations, Feb 15: India is a very successful emerging economy with a bigger influence in global affairs, and is the right place to host the AI summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said. In an exclusive interview with news agency at the UN Headquarters ahead of the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026, Guterres underscored that Artificial Intelligence should benefit the entire world and not just be a privilege reserved for developed nations or two superpowers. I strongly congratulate Ind

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: Finding ways to democratise high-technologies and making artificial intelligence accessible and affordable for the Global South are set to be the main focus of the five-day AI Impact Summit beginning here Sunday, officials said today. The summit will be anchored in three key threads people, planet and progress which defined Indias approach to cooperation on artificial intelligence. The summit will bring together global leaders, policymakers, innovators, and experts from acros

AHMEDABAD, Feb 14: South Africa rode on skipper Aiden Markram and Marco Jansens batting and bowling exploits to beat New Zealand by seven wickets and all but qualify for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup here on Saturday. Jansen recorded career-best figures of 4/40 as South Africa restricted New Zealand to 175 for 7 after opting to bowl in the crucial match. Mark Chapman missed his personal milestone by a narrow margin when he fell for 48 [] The post South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wicke

Excelsior Correspondent CHENNAI, Feb 14: Emphasising that Government employment alone cannot be the sole avenue of aspiration for Indias youth, 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 strongly advocated an Industry driven StartUp model and a decisive shift in mindset towards innovation-led entrepreneurship and job creation. The Minister said, Indias

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SRINAGAR, Feb 14: A local court here today refused to grant anticipatory bail to two persons involved in cheating and misappropriation of property in organizing an Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL) domestic cricket scheduled to be held in Bakshi Stadium and other venues of country. Additional Sessions Judge presided by Farooq Ahmad Bhat has declined to grant anticipatory bail to two persons, Surender Khanna, South West New Delhi and Nirmal Sidhu of Chandigarh in

Modi inaugurates 4.2 km ELF at Moran MORAN, Feb 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday witnessed an aerial show featuring IAFs fighter jets and transport helicopters, engaged for urgent security situations and disaster responses, at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in Assams Dibrugarh district. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The 4.2-km ELF in Moran the first-of-its-kind in the northeast region was earlier in the day inaugurated by Modi, who arrived in Assam on a day-lon

DEHRADUN, Feb 14: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said the border dispute with China followed Indias recognition of Tibet as part of the that country in 1954 with the signing of Panchsheel Agreement. The chief of defence staff (CDS) was delivering a lecture on Frontiers, Borders and LAC: The Middle Sector under the India Himalayan International Strategic Forum think tank at Lok Bhavan here on Friday. Chauhan said, In 1954, India officially recognised Tibet as part of China, [] The po

KOLKATA, Feb 14: Veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid returned with figures of 3/36 before Tom Banton smashed an unbeaten fifty in the middle overs to guide England to a comfortable five-wicket win over Scotland in a T20 World Cup Group C match here on Saturday. Opting to bowl first, England rode on Rashids exploits to bowl out Scotland for 152. Pacer Jofra Archer and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson also chipped in with two wickets apiece. Captain Richie Berrington top-scored for Scotland [] The post Ra

Most of State/UT Govts have implemented this *No adequate study, data to justify reduction Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Feb 14: With Cabinet report on reservation now lying with the Union Home Ministry, a seven percent cut in Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota to raise Open Merit jobs is reportedly being studied and examined minutely by the Centre as most of the State/UT Governments have implemented this provision with same percentage. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Official sourc

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today alleged that former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar was forced to quit as the Modi government did not approve of his voice in support of farmers. Ramesh also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of betraying the interests of lakhs of farmers by agreeing to the India-US trade deal. In a post on X, he said no farewell has been given to Dhankhar, the son of a farmer, till date. Son of a [] The post Dhankhar was forced to quit as VP as govt didn

Police foils INCs march to LG house, 300 detained *Send all party MLAs team to KP migrants camps: Karra Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 14: The police detained over 300 Congress leaders and workers and foiled the protest march of Indian National Congress (INC) to Lt Governors house in the winter capital Jammu here today. A massive protest march was organised by the Congress Party to the Lok Bhawan (LG house) over the slogan of MGNREGA Bachao and restoration of statehood [] The post Cong fully

CM hopes improvement in India-Bangladesh relations Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Feb 14: Stating that the Government wants better and high-value products to find markets, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said the IndiaUS trade deal could result in losses for J&K, particularly in the horticulture sector. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Speaking to reporters after attending SKUAST-Ks 11th AgriTech Mela, Gongul-20205, Omar said growers in J&K have made significant investments t

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 14: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has extended his heartiest greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, which will be celebrated tomorrow on February 15. In a message, the Lieutenant Governor said: On the sacred occasion of Mahashivratri, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all. I pray for the health, happiness, and prosperity of every citizen. The sacred festival, celebrated as Herath by Kashmiri Pandit community, is

Akhnoor Mini Sectt, Bhaderwah Complex reveal planning lapses *Completion still hanging without clear schedule Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Feb 14: Due to persistent administrative inefficiency and poor monitoring, multiple Government projects across Jammu and Kashmir continue to remain incomplete or non-functional years after their launch reflecting gaps in planning, execution and accountability. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Official replies to the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: The Ministry of Women and Child Development today convened a national conference on Safety of Women at Workplace, reaffirming the governments commitment to strengthening institutional mechanisms that ensure dignity and protection of women across professional spaces. The conference, held at Vigyan Bhawan in the national Capital, marked a significant push to promote awareness, accountability and compliance under workplace safety frameworks nationwide. Union Minister Annapurna De

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 14: The seventh anniversary of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack was observed across Jammu region today with solemn ceremonies, Tiranga marches and prayer meetings, as police officers, political leaders, social organizations and students paid heartfelt tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel who were martyred in the IED blast at Lethpora. At the Police Martyrs Memorial opposite Railway Station Jammu, Rotary Club Jammu Tawi in collaboration with Rotary Club of Jubilee Hil

Prof D Mukherjee mukhopadhyay.dinabandhu@gmail.com The Union Budget for the financial year 2026-27 was presented in the Lok Sabha on 1 February 2026 by the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. Prepared in accordance with Article 112 of the Constitution of India, the budget constitutes the Union Governments principal financial statement, detailing projected revenues, planned expenditures, taxation measures, and the overarching fiscal policy framework for the ensuing year. Notably, this occasion

Dr Banarsi Lal kvkreasi@gmail.com Reasi district in J&K is considered as the hub of religious places. Every year thousands of devotees across the nation visit this district at Vaishno Devi Shrine, Shiv Khori, Baba Dhansar, Nau Devian,Dera Baba Banda Bahadur, Siad Baba etc. These places are of great religious importance. There are various other religious places also in this district which are not frequently visited by the pilgrims but they can also attract more and more of devotees from far [] Th

Vijay Hashia iamvhashia@gmail.com Books are intellectual treasures. They challenge assumptions, broaden understanding and expand the boundaries of our world. Yet some books written by political leaders, senior bureaucrats or military commanders have become an eye of storm because of authors personal experience, inside stories of governance as they reveal institutional tensions or challenge official narratives. When such memoirs touch upon sensitive national security, historical memory, or party

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 14: Ranjit College of Education Jammu, in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages (JKAACL) and Punjabi Likhari Sabha Tral, organized a book release function at the seminar hall of Ranjit College of Education, Jammu today, where a Punjabi book Itihaas De Kujh Saakshi Panne, authored by eminent educationist Principal Niranjan Singh was released. Senior journalist & Consulting Editor, NDTV, Pradeep Dutta, graced the occasion as t

Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Feb 14: Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma chaired a follow-up meeting today to review the progress achieved in the formulation of Village Action Plans (VAPs) under the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) for identified border villages of the district. The meeting was held in continuation of earlier deliberations on modalities for the preparation of the plans. Officers of line departments apprised the chair regarding the status of data validation, identif

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 14: Dr Ranjit Singh, Senior Joint Replacement Surgeon at IVY Hospital, Amritsar, has successfully performed bilateral knee replacement surgery on 83-year-old Janak Sharma, a resident of Jammu. The patient, who was bedridden and suffering from multiple health issues, has been given a new lease on life by Dr Singhs with his exceptional surgical skills and innovative approach. Janak Sharmas condition was critical, and her age and underlying health issues made the

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 14: Students of the Integrated B.Sc, M.Sc Biotechnology programme (Session 2025-26) from Centre for Molecular Biology, Central University of Jammu, actively participated in the JK Science Congress 2025 held at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, in collaboration with the J&K Science, Technology and Innovation Council. Two groups of first-semester students presented their research topics before judges and participants. Gro

Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Feb 14: A residential house was completely gutted in fire at village Passar Lower Meer in Panchari, Udhampur District. Even as there was no loss of life, the house was completely gutted in the fire that broke out today. The house belongs to Tara Chand, who has retired from Forest Deptt of Passar Lower Meer, Block Panchari. All the family members managed to come out safely with the help of locals when fire broke out. The exact [] The post Residential house gutted

NEW DELHI, Feb 14: As India prepares for the upcoming AI Impact Summit, a quiet revolution is unfolding across its 64-lakh-kilometre road network. While global conversations often centre on AIs role in automation and productivity, in India, the technology is finding its most profound application in a life-saving mission: curbing the countrys staggering rate of road accidents. With 1,77,177 road fatalities recorded in 2024-averaging roughly 485 lives lost every day-the limitations of traditional