Daily Excelsior

AMARAVATI, Feb 8 : 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 declared that this is not merely the foundation stone of a building, but the foundation stone of Indias quantum future, as he addressed the Foundation Ceremony of Amaravati Quantum Valley in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. Describing quantum technology as a strategic necessity rather than an opti

Lucknow, Feb 8: Former Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday took a jibe at the Congress, saying its support base is on a ventilator, yet its arrogance is on the accelerator. Speaking at programmes in Deoband and Saharanpur on Sunday, he said the brainless blabbering of the baseless clan has made once dominant parties inconsequential. A party like the Congress has shrunk from a large house to a small hut, and then to a nest. Its support base [] The post Congs support base on ventilator,

ISLAMABAD, Feb 8: The licence to Starlink to enter Pakistans satellite internet market is delayed over data security concerns, the ongoing Musk-Trump fallout and competition from Chinese firms, local media reported on Sunday. Starlink, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, is among several companies seeking approval to operate in Pakistan, but officials say unresolved security and geopolitical considerations have slowed the approval process. The government has come to know that Starlink could tra

KYIV, Feb 8: A Russian airstrike on a residential area in eastern Ukraine killed one person and wounded two, officials said on Sunday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the US has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach a peace deal. The attack on the city of Kramatorsk in Ukraines Donetsk region caused a fire in a nine-story apartment block, according to Ukraines State Emergency Service. Russia also struck energy infrastructure in Ukraines Poltava region overnight int

PARIS, Feb 8: Frances former Culture Minister Jack Lang has resigned as head of a Paris cultural centre over alleged past financial links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that prompted a tax investigation. Lang was summoned to appear at the French Foreign Ministry, which oversees the Arab World Institute, on Sunday, but he submitted his resignation. He is the highest-profile figure in France impacted by the release of Epstein files on Jan. 30 by the US Department of Justice, [] The post

DUBAI, Feb 8:Irans top diplomat insisted on Sunday that Tehrans strength came from its ability to say no to the great powers, striking a maximalist position just after negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program and in the wake of nationwide protests. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to diplomats at a summit in Tehran, signalled that Iran would stick to its position that it must be able to enrich uranium a major point of contention with President [] The post Irans top

MOSCOW, Feb 8: Russias Federal Security Service said on Sunday that the man suspected of shooting a deputy chief of Russias military intelligence agency in Moscow was detained in Dubai and handed over to Russia. Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev was hospitalised after being shot several times on Friday by an assailant at an apartment building in northwestern Moscow, Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said. The attack followed a series of assassinations of senior military officers t

Raipur, Feb 8: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that security-centric strategy, infrastructure development, and disruption of Maoist financial networks have yielded results in the fight against Left-Wing Extremism, asserting that the menace will be completely eradicated before March 31. Shah made the remarks after chairing a high-level security review meeting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in Chhattisgarhs capital Raipur, weeks ahead of the Centres March 31 deadline to eliminate Maoist

Guwahati, Feb 8: Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday dismissed CM Himanta Biswa Sarmas allegations about his Pakistani connections as most mindless and bogus. Gogoi called the press conference, where Sarma made the allegations, worse than C-grade cinema, which was super flop. I pity the journalists from Delhi and Assam who had to suffer the most flop press conference of the century. This was worse than a C grade cinema. Most mindless and bogus points offered by the so [] The post Wor

Chandigarh, Feb 8: The Punjab Police will launch Operation Prahar-2, a statewide drive against wanted criminals from Monday, said Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday. The 72-hour operation focuses on wanted criminals and will start from Monday, Yadav said. Our purpose is to make Punjab safe and secure by giving a sense of security to common people, the DGP said while speaking to reporters here. He said 12,000 officers, who will be part of 2,000 teams, will [] The post Operatio

Srinagar, Feb 8: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday claimed the India-US trade deal would spell doom for the economy of Jammu and Kashmir if no tariff is imposed on the import of agricultural and horticultural goods from the United States. They have not thought of the impact of the India-US trade deal on the horticulture sector of Jammu and Kashmir. There will be zero tariff on agriculture products imported from the US. What will happen to the apple [] The post PDP Expresses Concern Ov

Budgam, Feb 8: In a strong move against drug trafficking, Budgam Police have attached an immovable property valued at approximately 50 lakh in the Humhama area of Budgam district in connection with an NDPS case. Budgam Police have attached an immovable property worth approximately 50 lakh in Humhama area of Budgam district in connection with an NDPS case, police said in a statement. The attached property, a double-storey residential house, belongs to an alleged drug peddler, Irfan Ahmad Dar, son

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: The Delhi Police has arrested two men in connection with a digital arrest scam linked to at least 190 cyber fraud complaints and suspected proceeds of over Rs 100 crore, police said on Sunday. The accused, identified as Anish Singh and Mani Singh, were arrested after a woman filed a complaint that she was subjected to psychological intimidation for nearly two months and coerced into transferring Rs 40 lakh under the guise of a fake cybercrime [] The post 2 held in digital arres

SRINAGAR, Feb 8: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the blast inside a mosque in Pakistan has shown that people are treading a path that leads to hell fire. It is unfortunate that now blasts are taking place inside mosques as well. It shows that how far we have gone from Allah. We are treading the path which will lead to hell fire, Abdullah told reporters in Pampore town of Jammu and Kashmirs Pulwama district. The former [] The post Blast In Pakistan Mosque Unfortu

NEW YORK, Feb 8:An American lawmaker has voiced concern over the Islamisation of areas in certain constituencies in the US state of Texas, saying visiting local malls there feels like youre in Pakistan, not Dallas. I hear from constituents all the time who are deeply and desperately concerned about the Islamisation of the Dallas area. Congressman Brandon Gill said during an interview with Real Americas Voice on Friday. The Republican lawmaker said his constituents are hearing about mosques that

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: On August 15, 1854, a five-coach train pulled by a British-made locomotive left Howrah at 8:30 am for Hooghly without any fanfare signalling an engineering triumph and the beginning of eastern Indias first railway. However, this historic milestone achieved by the then-East Indian Railway (EIR), whose massive network would eventually reach Delhi by the 1860s, was preceded by a series of unfortunate events that delayed its arrival on the countrys landscape and in peoples conscio

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: The Supreme Court is likely to hear on Monday expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengars plea seeking bail in the custodial death case of the Unnao rape survivors father. On January 19, the Delhi High Court had refused to suspend Sengars 10-year jail term in the case on the grounds of delay in trial, saying it was partly caused by the multiple applications he had filed in the matter. On March 13, 2020, Sengar was sentenced [] The post Unnao rape: Sengar moves SC seeking bail in

LUCKNOW, Feb 8: A 70-year-old retired bank employee in Lucknow was held under a six-hour digital arrest by cyber fraudsters posing as CBI officers in January but was saved from losing his savings because of timely reporting and swift police action. Inderjeet Singh, a resident of Sindhunagar in Krishna Nagar area, was alone at home when he received a call around 2 pm from unknown persons claiming to be officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation, according to officials. The [] The post UP ri

Mumbai, Feb 8: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) should be framed by taking everyone into confidence and must not lead to divisions. Asked whether achche din (good days) for the RSS came after the BJP came to power, Bhagwat said it was the other way round, noting the Sangh had remained committed to the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and those who supported it benefitted. On the long-pending demand [] The post Uniform Civil Co

Guwahati, Feb 8: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday accused Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi of visiting Pakistan clandestinely in 2013 without informing the authorities, and it is suspected that he had undergone some kind of training there. At a press conference here ahead of the assembly elections in the state, Sarma also charged the Congress leaders British wife Elezabeth with collecting information about India while working at a firm in this country, and send those to Pakistan. She [

Mumbai, Feb 8: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the Sangh had asked him to continue working despite his age, while stressing that he would step down from the post whenever the organisation directs him to do so. He was responding to questions during an interactive session with attendees here at a programme to mark the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs (RSS) centenary. There is no election to the post of RSS chief. Regional and divisional heads appoint the chief. Generally, [] The post Ready To S

Dispur (Assam), Feb 8: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday slammed Congress MP Gaurav Gogois over his wife, Elizabeth Colburn Gogois, alleged links to Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, stating that the Congress leader attempted to legitimise the neighbouring country. Addressing a press conference here today, Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi worked in Pakistan from March 18, 2011, to March 17, 2012, and her family had close ties with Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: Domestic data centre companies are likely to benefit significantly from the Budget proposal offering a tax holiday of 20 years, as it will enable them to provide services to global clients without the risk of their foreign earnings being taxed in India, sources said. The Budget proposal, which offers a tax holiday of 20 years up to 2047 to any foreign company that procures data centre services in India, allays fears of their global income being [] The post Budget proposal on ta

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: Public procurement platform GeM is upgrading its portal to handle higher data load and roll out a future-ready platform this year, its CEO Mihir Kumar said. With the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform completing nine years, GeM is replatforming itself which will be a data lake for frictionless buyer-seller interface, Kumar told PTI. We are discussing how we can bring about ease of selling and buying on the GeM portal. How we can scale it up so [] The post Govt e-Marketplac

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: India is likely to begin scaling back its crude oil purchases from Russia under an agreement reached with the United States in exchange for lower trade tariffs, sources said, adding that these imports will continue for now, as refiners like Nayara Energy have limited alternatives. US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order rescinding a punitive 25 per cent duty on all imports from India, saying the move followed New Delhis commitment to stop [] The post India

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: A Delhi court has directed the police to conduct an investigation into allegations made by Delhi minister Ashish Sood against AAP candidate Parveen Kumar of circulating false, misleading and defamatory information on social media during the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. Judicial Magistrate First Class, Harjot Singh Aujla, who was hearing an application moved by the minister, said that the aspects cannot be effectively examined without police investigation. In an order dated Fe

NEW DELHI, Feb 8: Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd (TMPVL) will hike prices in the coming weeks in the wake of rising commodity cost putting pressure, according to its Managing Director & CEO, Shailesh Chandra. While Maruti Suzuki India is reviewing the situation for a possible price hike, Hyundai Motor India has already undertaken a price increase in January, mainly on the Venue model. Yes, we have been facing pressure on the commodity side for nearly a year now. Still [] The post Rising comm

New Delhi, Feb 8: The government will soon constitute a High-Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat to draw up a blueprint to create mega-lenders capable of meeting the financing needs of a developed India, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. We want the committee to tell us what kind of things we need to do so that banking is made available for funding Viksit Bharat, she told PTI Videos in an interview. Asked if it would suggest a merger of [] The post Govt To Constitute High-Level

REQUIRED PROOF READERS FOR A LEADING ENGLISH NEWSPAPER THE CANDIDATES SHOULD BE AT LEAST GRADUATE WITH GOOD COMMAND IN ENGLISH INTERESTED CANDIDATES CAN SEND THEIR RESUME TO EXCELSIOR65@GMAIL.COM JOBS IN VIEW OF THE UPCOMING TATA STEEL REBAR/TMT PLANT AT LUDHIANA, HSCFORTUNE PVT. LTD. (AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR OF TATA TISCON) IS EXPANDING ITS SALES & MARKETING TEAM ACROSS JAMMU PROVINCE. OPEN POSITIONS AREA SALES OFFICER (ASO) KATHUA DISTRICT (KATHUA CITY & ADJOINING AREAS)-1 POST SAMBA DISTRICT (

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8: India and Malaysia on Sunday unveiled several initiatives to further shore up cooperation in areas of defence and security, semiconductor and trade after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. Following the meeting, Modi said India and Malaysia share a special relationship and both sides are committed to expanding their ties in diverse sectors. The prime minister also reiterated Indias position on combating terroris

Ranbir Singh Pathania rspathaniamla@gmail.com In an era of global economic headwinds-tight monetary policies, fractured supply chains, and geopolitical storms-Union Budget 2026-27 emerges as a beacon of fiscal churn for India. Presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, it caps the fiscal deficit at a disciplined 4.3% of GDP while ramping up capital expenditure to a record Rs 12.2 lakh crore, a 9% jump from last year. This is no populist giveaway; its a structural pivot from short-term rel

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is seen as a trusted partner for growth and it was reflected in the recent trade deals it has agreed with various countries, including the UK, USA and the EU. Addressing a community programme here, Modi said the Indian diaspora served as a living bridge between India and Malaysia and announced a new consulate in the archipelago nation and the Thiruvalluvar Scholarship to enable students to study in [] The post Trust has bec

Maj Gen Ranjan Mahajan (Retd) I retired at 58 years of age after a thrilling 35+ years as an Indian Army Infantry officer, where every day tested the limits of body and mind. The life forged unbreakable fitness and resilience, but it exacted a steep price: summoning raw courage to cling to healthy routines amid brutal field postings, freezing high-altitude battles, and relentless counter-insurgency or anti-terror operations. Exercise and runs often fell by the wayside as operational duties consu

Historical Settlements of Jammu Lalit Gupta lalitguptajammu@gmail.com Known as the Land of Sapphire and Saffron, Kishtwar lies beyond the ramparts of the Pir Panjal, to the east-south-east of Kashmir, bounded by Ladakh to the north, Padar and Chamba to the east, and Bhadarwah to the south. Nearly 230 km north-east of Jammu, the ancient town rises upon a back-of-the-whale-like plateau, spread across about 20 square kilometres, poised between longitude 754330 and 754700 E and latitude 331730 and 3

Chethan Prabhakar chetanprabhakar@gmail.com Sporting excellence is never accidental. It is the outcome of sustained planning, professional coaching, functional infrastructure, and institutional accountability. Every medal earned at the national or international level reflects not just individual talent, but the strength of the system supporting that athlete. In Jammu & Kashmir, however, the trajectory of swimming has long reflected a different reality-one marked by prolonged neglect, missing fun

Dr Manuj Wadhwa manuj.wadhwa@gmail.com For decades, the story of knee replacement surgery has been written in bone cement-a dependable grout that has helped millions walk again. Cemented implants brought predictability and stability, and for many years, they served patients well. However, medicine does not stand still. As knee arthritis begins affecting younger and more active individuals, expectations from joint replacement have changed. Patients today are not just asking for pain relief-they w

The tableau of Jammu and Kashmir was one of main attractions of 77th Republic Day Excelsior Correspondent The tableau unfolded like a silken tapestry, presenting the region as a seamless cultural continuum where craftsmanship and performance merge into a single, luminous narrative. On one side, the tableau celebrated the splendour of traditional arts: the gleaming samavaar with intricate metal engraving; exquisitely woven Kani shawls rich with symbolic patterns; hand-knotted carpets rising from

Dr Anoop Singh dranoop8998@gmail.com As examination results are announced across India, the national conversation once again centres on percentages, ranks and success stories. What remains largely absent from public discourse is the emotional cost borne by students who struggle to meet these expectations. In an education system increasingly driven by performance metrics, mental well-being has been pushed to the sidelines with devastating consequences. According to the National Crime Records Bur

Adhiraj Verma anjalisanjay04@gmail.com A Time When Work Stayed at Work There was a time when office gates closed at 5 pm and, with them, work stayed behind. Parents returned home, loosened their ties, picked up their children, and stepped into playgrounds and living rooms without the shadow of tomorrows tasks hanging over their heads. Home was home. Office was office. When WhatsApp Became the Office That boundary has now vanished quietly, almost invisibly with the arrival of one [] The post Th

True joy for children begins with inner balance and awareness in parents MAAsterG Most parents often wonder- How to raise happy children in todays times. When the word happy arises, its opposite-sad-inevitably follows. Happiness and sadness are two sides of the same coin. If you experience happiness, sadness will also come, because happiness is not a permanent state. One is always followed by the other. When someone agrees with us, we feel happy; when they do not, we feel sad. [] The post How to

A Cure for Most Worries B L Razdan bl_razdan@yahoo.com If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, thank you, that would suffice. (Meister Eckhart) Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivation; you do not find it among gross people. (Samuel Johnson) If you practice gratitude daily, no matter how much or how little you have, you will be happy. Living in gratitude is a powerful, science-backed approach that can significantly reduce stress, improve mental and physical health, [] The post Livin

Enthusiasm of tourists to visit UT hasnt diminished *HM reviews development in key sectors Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 7: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today reviewed the progress of development projects in Jammu and Kashmir highlighting the need to utilise the full potential of hydropower projects in the Union Territory. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Lok Bhawan here on third day of his Jammu visit, Shah said under Prime Ministe

Excelsior Correspondent VIJAYAWADA, Feb 7: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singhtoday stated that Andhra Pradesh, along with other coastal states, will emerge as the torchbearer of Indias Blue Economy transformation. Referring to the Prime Ministers repeated emphasis from the Red Fort on making the Blue Economy a national priority mission, the Minister

MUMBAI, Feb 7: Skipper Suryakumar Yadav batting just like he does and Mohammed Sirajs incisive first spell headlined defending champions Indias scratchy 29-run win against the United States of America despite a stunning top-order collapse in the opening encounter of the T20 World Cup here on Saturday. A veteran of many-a-battle here at the Wankhede Stadium, Suryakumars 49-ball unbeaten 84 was a blend of fine rescue act and a defiant counter-attack against a USA attack that proved to be more [] T

Takes Govt to task for slashing budgetary allocations Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 7: Stunning every one with her maiden fierce speech in the Assembly today, the BJPs MLA from Nagrota constituency, Devyani Rana said I am making my maiden address with heavy heart but hope in this House today. Participating in the debate on annual budget for 2026-27 in UT Assembly which was presented by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah yesterday who is also holding the Finance portfolio, Devyani Rana said [] Th

Focus to operationalise existing ones Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 7: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that the Government has no intention of creating new administrative units at present and is focused on operationalising those already sanctioned. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Omar was replying to supplementary questions by members in the Assembly seeking new administrative units in Jammu and Kashmir. This issue should end here. The Government, as of now, has no in

POKHARA, Feb 7: Fielding an U-17 side, India thrashed Bangladesh 4-0 in the final to clinch the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-19 Womens Championship title here on Saturday. Captain Julan Nongmaithem (42nd minute) opened the scoring before Elizabed Lakra (63rd), Pearl Fernandes (68th) and substitute Anwita Raghuraman (83rd) completed a commanding triumph, as the Young Tigresses emphatically avenged their earlier round-robin defeat (0-2) against Bangladesh. India had sent their U-17 wom

Allege corruption, fraud; call for inquiry *Govt rules out relaxation in norms Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Feb 7: The BJP MLAs today made a sensational charge in the Legislative Assembly that a senior officer got title of over 500 kanals land converted at village Maksudpur in Kathua district and it was sold at very high rates. They demanded an inquiry into the issue. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The charge was initially made by BJP MLA from Jasrota (Kathua), [] The post BJP MLAs say

Home Stay Prog successful, being extended to other areas Bivek Mathur JAMMU, Feb 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Government today informed the Legislative Assembly that over 1.77 Crore tourists, including both domestic and international visitors, arrived in the Union Territory during the year 2025. The information was shared by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the charge of Tourism Minister, while replying to a starred question raised by National Conference MLA Hasnain Masoodi. Sharing the

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 7: The Cycling Association of Jammu & Kashmir (CAJK) has selected cyclists to represent Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in the 22nd National MTB Cycling Championship for Senior, Junior, Sub-Junior and Under-14 Boys and Girls categories. The championship will be held from February 12 to 15, 2026 at Roing, Arunachal Pradesh. The selected cyclists include Ulfat Mustaq and Mehak Mustaq in the Senior Women category; Mohammed Tahir Mir and Shahid Mushtaq in