Daily Excelsior News

NEW DELHI, Dec 10: Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Wednesday said the Indian Army is undergoing a major transformation driven by technology-enabled human resource empowerment, structured capability infusion and ongoing organisational reforms, positioning it as a future-ready force. He hailed the success of Operation Sindoor, calling it a defining example of Indias calibrated, precise and resolute response mechanism. The COAS was addressing the 38th Infantry Commanders Conferen

D K Pandita dpandita2011@gmail.com Mother Sri Sarada Devi the spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa remains one of the most revered figures in modern Indian spiritual history. As we remember her on her birth anniversary on 11 December (as per Vikram Samvat; she was born on 22 December 1853), it is worthwhile to revisit her life, her message, and her enduring relevance to our society. She is affectionately addressed as Holy Mother (Sri Sri Maa) by followers of [] The post Divine Teac

Beyond Waiting R S Reen rsinghreen@gmail.com A Zoom call, initiated by a group of Kashmiri Pandit (KP) thinkers in the USA, was meant to be a focused discussion on the Kashmir Problem. For them, the problem was a litany of painful, immediate concerns: the lack of prosecutions for past crimes, the haunting reality of migration, and the deep-seated fear that keeps the old and the new generations away. In their minds, the solution is singular and simple: wait. Wait for [] The post A Blueprint for K

B S Dara bsdara@gmail.com From Pakistans internal shifts to Afghanistans isolation and Chinas expanding footprint, New Delhi faces a complex regional landscape that demands sustained diplomatic engagement. India today stands at the centre of a region undergoing profound political, security, and economic transitions. The neighbourhood that surrounds South Asia,extending from the Himalayan belt to the Indian Ocean, and from West Asia to the Indo-Pacific,is marked by multiple crises that intersect

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 10: Two-day Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025 Software Edition, successfully concluded at IIT Jammu, one of the 60 nodal centres hosting the Grand Finale across the country. As a nodal centre, IIT Jammu hosted 20 teams from across India which worked on four problem statements provided by the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO). Over two days, student innovators developed and demonstrated high-impact software prototypes aimed at addressing critical n

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 10: Minister for Agriculture Production Department, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Javid Ahmad Dar, today inaugurated the Students Rural Exposure Programme (SREP) under HADP -20 Innovative Extension Approaches for Promoting Agriculture in J&K at the Convention Centre of SKUAST-K, Shalimar Campus. In his inaugural address, the Minister highlighted the importance of equipping the students with on-ground understanding of rural realities. He em

Excelsior Correspondent BISHNAH, Dec 10: MLA Bishnah, Dr. Rajeev Kumar Bhagat here today inaugurated a series of crucial development works in Panchayat Pasgal of Block Bishnah. A handout stated that these projects will incur an expenditure of about Rs.70 lakh and will significantly upgrade the local infrastructure and address long-standing needs of the residents. The inaugurated works include 12 construction projects valued at Rs. 50 lakh which will include the laying of essential lane and drain

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 10: With its legacy of excellence and an ever-expanding range of offerings, Jain Builders today inaugurated their new store in Jammu. The new store situated at Toph Sherkhania, Akhnoor Road, opposite pillar number 63 was inaugurated by Mayur Lalkiya, Lakhan Faldu (Directors) in the presence Utsav Jain and other family members. What began as a modest shop selling Indian marbles in 1990 has today transformed into one of the regions most trusted names in home impr

Excelsior Correspondent BANDIPORA, Dec 10: Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, today conducted an extensive inspection of major developmental works in Ajas, Nadihal and adjoining areas to assess progress on key infrastructure, public service delivery, and ongoing rehabilitation projects. The tour commenced with the review of the ongoing construction work of the Model School for the Educationally Backward Block at Boys Higher Secondary School Nadihal, Bandipora. The Deputy Commission

Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Dec 10: Senior BJP leader and former MLC, Vibodh Gupta today visited the Eklavya Model Residential School in Gurdan Rajouri and interacted with the children residing there, reaffirming BJPs commitment to tribal welfare and the partys roadmap for a Viksit Bharat by 2047. During the programme, Vibodh lauded the Prime Minister, Narendra Modis development vision including initiatives such as Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) Bharat and the emphasis on Swadeshi saying these

CHENNAI, Dec 10: India produced a brave-heart performance, nullifying a two-goal deficit to beat Argentina 4-2 and clinch the bronze medal in the FIH Mens Junior World Cup here on Wednesday. India, who won the title in 2016 in Lucknow, failed to finish on the podium on the last two occasions, ending fourth in 2021 in Bhubaneswar, and two years later in Kuala Lumpur. India produced a valiant fightback with Ankit Pal (49th minute), Manmeet Singh (52nd) and Anmol Ekka [] The post India beat Argenti

DHAKA, Dec 10 : Bangladeshs interim government on Wednesday said it will continue diplomatic efforts to bring back from India deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been convicted and sentenced in multiple cases. The 78-year-old Awami League leader has been living in India since she fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year in the face of the massive protests. We will try to convince India to send her back to Dhaka, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain was quoted as [] The post Bdesh to continue

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired the 52nd meeting of the Board of Directors of the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board (J&KHB) at the Civil Secretariat here, where detailed deliberations were held on key policy and administrative matters. The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary, Housing & Urban Develop

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 10: Majid Yousuf Sheikh, a 19-year-old all-rounder from Qazigund in South Kashmir, has been selected by Ahmedabad Lions for the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) Under-19 category for Rs 3 lakh, bringing pride to his village and the Valley. Majid, the son of a local tailor, honed his cricketing skills on a small, uneven ground in his hamlet of Panzath, displaying talent, patience and determination from an early age. His selection sparked celebration

MULLANPUR, Dec 10: Yet to stamp his authority in the shortest format, Shubman Gill would be eying major gains on home soil when a well-rounded India look to extend their dominance over South Africa in the second T20 International here on Thursday. With only a travel day separating the first two games of the five-match series, Gill wont mind getting straight into the middle in search of a substantial knock. India steamrolled South Africa in the series opener but the [] The post Pressure mounts on

Oppn wants to keep intruders in voters list *Shah, Rahul trade barbs in LS NEW DELHI, Dec 10: A combative Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at the opposition in the Lok Sabha for its campaign against SIR, saying the issue has been raked up as it can no longer win elections by corrupt practices, and asserted that the reason for Congress defeat in polls was its leadership, not EVMs or vote chori. Follow the Daily Excelsior [] The post Cong defeat in polls due to its leadership, no

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 10: Three individuals were arrested with sharp weapons from Narwal area here today, officials said. They said Rockey Singh, Shiva, and Sahil, all residents of Rajiv Nagar, Narwal, were arrested with a toka, swords, and a khokhri by a team of Police Post Narwal led by the incharge Police Post concerned under the supervision of SHO Bahu Fort, SDPO City East and SP City South, Ajay Sharma. Accordingly, the trio has been booked in case FIR [] The post Three held wi

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 10: A local court here today awarded 10 years jail and fine to a Pakistan national for his involvement in various offences and directed his repatriation to Pakistan after serving and completing the sentence. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The court of Principal District Judge Kupwara-Manjeet Singh Manhas sentenced Hanzullah Yaseen Raie alias Abu Ukasa of Bhawalpora, Punjab Pakistan for commission of offences under Section 307 RPC (attempt to

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 10: Human Rights Day was marked across Jammu and Kashmir with vibrant programmes, lectures, legal awareness activities, cultural performances and youth-centric engagements organized by educational institutions, civil society groups, legal services authorities and the Indian Army. National Human Rights Social Justice Council of India (Global), led by Advocate Zargar Patnavi, celebrated Human Rights Day in Jammu with an inspiring programme attended by dignitaries

Excelsior Correspondent POONCH. Dec 10: The long-pending demand of residents of the remote Morda Bachhai area in Surankote tehsil was finally fulfilled today as the construction work on the dilapidated road from Morda Bachhai to Dhundhak was formally kick-started. Surankote MLA Chaudhary Mohammad Akram cut the ribbon and launched the project, marking the beginning of concrete laying, blacktopping, and the construction of drains and culverts along the route. The road had been in poor condition fo

PANAJI/NEW DELHI, Dec 10: A Delhi court on Wednesday refused to give any interim protection from arrest to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the ill-fated Goa nightclub who fled to Thailand, as their partner was held in connection with the fire incident that killed 25 people last weekend. In the court, the Luthras lawyer refuted allegations that they had fled, claiming the trip was for a business meeting and argued that the brothers are only licensees, not the actual [] The post Jammus Ajay G

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 10: Jammu & Kashmir Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (JKIMPARD) in collaboration with Capacity Building Commission (CBC) New Delhi organized one day workshop on Development of Capacity Building Plans (DCBPs) for Government departments of Jammu and Kashmir at Convention Centre here. The workshop was e-inaugurated by Chairperson, CBC, Radha Chauhan. Commissioner Secretary, GAD and Information, M Raju; Director, J&K IMPARD, Reha

NEW DELHI, Dec 10: The Ministry of Labour & Employment on Wednesday inked an initial pact with Microsoft to strengthen job opportunities, artificial intelligence skilling, and workforce readiness in the country. This collaboration represents a major step in expanding employment linkages, scaling AI-led skilling, and preparing Indias workforce for global opportunities, according to a ministry statement. The ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft in the presence of

Excelsior Correspondent RAMBAN, Dec 10: In a remarkable step towards inclusive governance and last-mile service delivery, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Mohammad Alyas Khan, today conducted public outreach camp in the far-flung villages Bibrota and Chakka Kundi in Tehsil Rajgarh, bringing administration directly to the doorsteps of residents living in remote and hilly terrains. They projected issues related to road connectivity, school up-gradation, healthcare facilities, power supply, drinking wat

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 10: Police in Srinagar today attached a residential house belonging to the father of a notorious drug peddler under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Authorities said a three-storeyed residential house along with one kanal of land, valued at approximately Rs 2 crore, was attached under the provisions of the Act. The property is in the possession of Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohamma

Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Dec 10: A new goods shed at Chhan Arorian Station on Jammu-Kathua section of the Northern Railways Jammu Division, has been inaugurated to handle both inward & outward freight movement. Designed for seamless loading-unloading, the facility will operate 16 hours daily (6 AM-10 PM), enhancing convenience for traders and enabling full goods train operations significantly boosting the stations freight handling capacity. Information in this regard had been shared by U

Jammu, Dec 10: Savarkar, the valiant son of Mother India endured tremendous hardship but every moment of his life was dedicated to freedom and development of this soil. Today, people of India are working towards creating a Strong, Aatma-Nirbhar and Viksit Bharat, in line with Veer Savarkars vision, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday. He was speaking at the Veer Savarkar International Impact Award, organised by High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India), in New Delhi. In

LUCKNOW/DEORIA, Dec 10: Former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur was arrested on Wednesday in connection with an alleged fraud and forgery case related to the allotment of an industrial plot in Deoria district in 1999 and was later remanded to 14 days judicial custody by a court, officials said. Thakur was arrested in the early hours from the Maholi border in Sitapur district after being taken into custody by police in Shahjahanpur while he was travelling by train from Lucknow to [] The post Ex-IPS Off

Jammu, Dec 10: J&K Polices State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Wednesday attached a property of a Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist in Doda district following due orders of a competent court, officials said. The ancestral land of Hizbul terrorist Zahid Hussain in Mangota village was identified, physically verified, inspected and formally attached, the official said. The official said the attachment of the property is part of a major crackdown to dismantle the terror ecosystem in Jammu a

JAMMU, Dec 10: A 28-year-old man crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Jammu-Kashmir (PoJK) from Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Wednesday, officials said. Shahid Khan, a resident of Qasba village, has gone to attend a marriage function in the forward village of Kirni and is believed to have crossed the Line of Control (LoC) around 3:15 pm, they said. Preliminary information suggests that he arrived at the Bodiya post of the Pakistan Army using a stream route, the officials said. It [] The pos

SRINAGAR, Dec 10: In view of winter season, Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Wednesday chaired a meeting to review the regulation of vehicular movement on the SrinagarSonmargGumri (SSG) road and the opening and closure schedule of the Zojila Pass, which connects the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. During the meeting, the Divisional Commissioner urged District Administrations of Kargil and Ganderbal, SSP Rural Kashmir, and officers from BRO and BEACON to

JAMMU, Dec 10: Flight operations at Jammu Airport have remained stable and minimally affected during the recent IndiGo flight cancellations and delays reported across the country, a senior official said today. Jammu Airport director Devender Yadav said no security issues, medical emergencies, or left-behind baggage cases were reported during the IndiGo flight disruptions. Flight disruptions in Jammu began on December 3 with the cancellation of an IndiGo flight, followed by four cancellations and

NEW DELHI, Dec 10 : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today informed the Lok Sabha that significant and concrete measures have been undertaken over the past four years to encourage private participation in the Space sector, in line with the transformative Space Sector Reforms announced in 2020. The Minister stated that the Government has put in place a comprehensive policy, regulatory and promotional framework to unlock Indias space economy and empower Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) to particip

New Delhi, Dec 10: Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the opposition of spreading falsehoods on SIR and launched a strong defence of the exercise, asking whether democracy can be safe when the prime minister and the chief minister are decided by ghuspetiye (infiltrators). Intervening in the debate in the Lok Sabha on election reforms, Shah said the opposition gets angry when we talk of history, but how can any country or society move forward without history. The first [] The post Can D

Mumbai, Dec 10: Tightening the screw on Rahul Bhatia-controlled IndiGo, aviation safety regulator DGCA has set up an eight-member oversight team, following the airline cancelling flights in large numbers due to crew shortage. According to an order issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday, the oversight team will comprise a Deputy Chief Flight Operations Inspector, senior FOIs (Flight Operations Inspector), and two FOIs. Of them, two members will be deployed at the

NEW DELHI, Dec 10: A group of former judges on Wednesday hit out at a motivated campaign targeting Chief Justice of India Surya Kant for his recent comments on Rohingya refugees during a hearing. As many as 44 retired judges of the Supreme Court and high courts said attempts were being made to malign the judiciary or attribute political motives to the CJI, undermining public trust in constitutional institutions and the independence of the court. Judicial proceedings should only be [] The post Ex

Kolkata, Dec 10: Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to go to the International Space Station, on Wednesday said the country is harbouring big and bold dreams, foraying into human spaceflight after a hiatus of 41 years. Shukla was the first Indian to visit the International Space Station as part of the Axiom-4 mission. He returned to India from the US on August 17, 2025, after the 18-day mission. The space is a great place to [] The post India Harbouring Big And

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Jammu, Dec 10: A youth, wanted by the Punjab Police for his alleged involvement in a case registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), was arrested in the Kathua district on Wednesday, police said. In another case, police assisted the West Bengal Police in arresting a Haryana resident from the Doda district, who is accused of multiple ATM theft cases registered in the eastern state. Sajjad Malik, a resident of Lohai Malhar, was arrested from the Billawar area [] The post

Jammu, Dec 10: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday called upon the schools and educational institutions to have a single aim: Create unique individuals for future challenges. The world is experiencing transformative changes driven by cutting-edge technologies and schools must focus on using new tools to aid creativity, curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the Lieutenant Governor said. He was speaking at the 40th Anniversary celebration of Lawrence Public School at Ab

Jammu, Dec 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Real Estate Regulatory Authority (JKRERA) has proposed the establishment of a single window system for integrated approvals and registrations, and the constitution of district-level enforcement cells to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of violations across the Union Territory. RERA came into force in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, while its operations began in January 2024 to regulate and promote the real estate sector, ensure transparency in projects, prote

New Delhi, Dec 10: The CBI has filed a charge sheet against two Chinese nationals who were allegedly the masterminds of the HPZ Token Investment Fraud case in which over Rs 1000 crore were siphoned off through shell companies during Covid, officials said Wednesday. The CBI has alleged that Shigoo Technology Pvt. Ltd., owned and controlled by Chinese, allegedly cheated the public during the Covid lockdown using a fake mobile application titled HPZ Tokens, claiming that investments would be used [

NEW DELHI, Dec 10: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday upped Indias growth forecast for FY26 to 7.2 per cent from 6.5 per cent driven primarily by robust domestic consumption supported by recent tax cuts. The sharp upgrade of 0.7 percentage points of the Indian economy will help Asia to grow at a faster pace of 5.1 per cent as compared to earlier projection of 4.8 per cent for 2025. Indias 2025 growth projection is raised to 7.2 [] The post ADB sharply revises upward Indias GDP growth

JAIPUR, Dec 10: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said negotiations for free trade agreements with Oman and New Zealand are in their last phase, and both are expected to be concluded soon. He also indicated that negotiations for a trade pact with South American nation Chile will also be concluded soon. The talks for a pact with Oman are in the last leg, he said, adding that New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay is visiting New Delhi [] The post FTA talks with Oman, New Ze

HYDERABAD, Dec 10: Kia India on Wednesday unveiled the all-new Kia Seltos, marking the return of what it calls the benchmark-setter in the segment. The company said bookings will open nationwide from midnight on December 11, enabling customers to reserve the vehicle with an initial payment of Rs 25,000. Speaking at the unveiling, Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director & CEO of Kia India, said the new Seltos represents more than a generational upgrade. The all-new Kia Seltos is more than a [] The post Ki

NEW DELHI, Dec 10: Bengaluru-based Mother India Forming (MIF) is transforming its manufacturing operations by introducing advanced humanoid and quadruped robotic systems at its plant, an initiative driven by artificial intelligence. This strategic adoption of AI-enabled robotics marks a leap toward fully smart manufacturing, where intelligent machines deliver unprecedented precision, efficiency and safety, MIF, the manufacturer of precision cold-rolled formed components, said. The humanoid bring

NEW DELHI, Dec 10: FMCG Major Nestle India is amplifying focus on technology with a customer-centric approach and the company expects a healthy volume growth in locations where it is setting up new factories, Manish Tiwary, the companys new Chairman & Managing Director, said. Tiwary, who aspires to serve consumers more aggressively, has charted out three important priorities for Nestle, including a consumer-first thinking, whether its for manufacturing, sales, or marketing. Second, our growth m

MUMBAI, Dec 10: SBI managing director Ashwini Kumar Tewari on Wednesday expressed concerns over Account Aggregators mechanism of obtaining a single consent from customers for all financial services products. Speaking at an event here, Tiwari argued that most customers do not read the fine print and often sign up without understanding the details. An Account Aggregator (AA) is a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulated entity that acts as a consent-based data intermediary. The Account Aggregator fr

CANBERRA, Dec 10: An Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of a 24-year-old woman on a beach in Australias Queensland in 2018, local media reported. The Supreme Court in Cairns on Monday found former nurse Rajwinder Singh, 41, guilty of killing Toyah Cordingley, ABC News reported on Tuesday. Justice Lincoln Crowley said Singhs motive for murder was unknown, characterising it as an opportunistic killing, the report added. Singh killed Cordingley while she [] T

BANGKOK, Dec 10: Chinese gaming and social media giant Tencent Holdings has withdrawn from Paramount Skydance Corps bid to buy Warner Bros Discovery, according to a revised filing of its takeover bid by Paramount with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing seen Wednesday shows the Chinese company dropped its $1 billion financing commitment for the takeover bid. Paramount said the Chinese companys participation in the bid had raised concern, since it would be a non-US equity finan