Daily Excelsior News

JAMMU, Jan 1: The Centre has released the first installment of Rs 944 crore for reconstruction and rehabilitation works in flood-affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday. The amount has been released against a total sanctioned package of Rs 1,430 crore, approved for rebuilding infrastructure damaged due to floods and cloudburst incidents, including the devastating Kishtwar cloudburst. Officials said that the sanction for the reconstruction package has been approved by the

Srinagar, Jan 1: Police have initiated legal proceedings against 15 people in Sopore for not complying with orders prohibiting the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) in Jammu and Kashmir, on security grounds. A spokesperson said police in Sopore have identified 23 people using VPN services in violation of the prohibitory orders issued by the Baramulla district magistrate. Proceedings have been initiated against 15 people, he said. The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have suspended the use of

JAMMU, Jan 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Police today ordered the transfer of seven Inspectors to Jammu Zone in the interest of the administration. The post Seven Inspectors Transferred To Jammu Zone appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Srinagar, Jan 1: Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Thursday said the tenure of the National Conference-led Jammu and Kashmir government has been a saga of betrayal and claimed that 2025 was a year of lies. The Handwara MLA accused the government of perpetrating the most cruel and useless rule in the history of the state. Lone said the election promises of the ruling party were a calculated deception and alleged that instead of the promised free 200 units [] The post J&K Govts Term

JAMMU, Jan 1: Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education has discarded the old syllabus which was in vogue for the Failure students. The failure/ re-appear candidates of classes 10, 11 and 12 under the old syllabus were accordingly given multiple chances to pass the examination. In line with the Board regulations, the syllabus has already outlived its validity and thus no further chances will be given to failure/ re- appear students to take up examinations under the old scheme [] The post JKBOS

JAMMU, Jan 1: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today emphasized on the urgent need for a complete revamp of sanitation and cleanliness measures in all Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs) and other healthcare facilities across the J&K, underscoring that hygiene and sanitation is central to quality patient care and public trust. Chairing a high-level review meeting on cleanliness and sanitation m

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Infrastructure major KEC International on Thursday said it has secured new orders worth Rs 1,050 crore across various businesses. In a regulatory filing, the flagship company of the RPG Group said its renewable business has secured a breakthrough order for a 100+ MW Wind Project Balance of Plant (BoP) package in Southern India from a renowned private developer. The Civil business secured an order in the Buildings & Factories (B&F) segment from an existing client [] The post KE

Srinagar, Jan 1: Police on Thursday arrested a woman for allegedly pickpocketing at a hospital in Jammu and Kashmirs Kulgam district, officials said. A police spokesman said the case was cracked with the arrest of the accused and recovery of the stolen cash. Kulgam Police had received a complaint from a woman stating that Rs 20,200 was stolen from her pocket while she was attending to a patient at the District Hospital. During investigation, police identified a suspect named Roomi [] The post Wo

JAMMU, Jan 1: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has ordered the transfer and posting of four officials of the J&K Secretariat (Subordinate) Service in the interest of administration, with immediate effect. According to Government Order No. 1978-JK(GAD) of 2025, Mr. Nazir Ahmad Pampori, In-charge Section Officer, has been transferred from the Directorate of Prosecution, J&K, and posted in the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. Mr. Nishant Dev, Head Ass

New Delhi, Jan 1: The Indian Army on Thursday declared 2026 as the Year of Networking & Data Centricity and said this initiative will enhance connectivity, real-time decision-making and combat effectiveness, thereby strengthening resilience and agility for a future-ready force. Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, in his New Years message, said his force is undergoing a decade of transformation, and jointness, self-reliance, and innovation are the core pillars of our military power. Through the effec

JAMMU, Jan 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has modified an earlier order related to the constitution of Divisional Level Committees formed in connection with a suo moto writ petition on the issue of stray dogs. As per a Government order issued today, the Director, Urban Local Bodies, Jammu/Kashmir has been designated as the Member Secretary of the respective Divisional Level Committees in place of the Commissioners of Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations. The Municipal Commissioners wil

JAMMU, Jan 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a Technical Appraisal Committee (TAC) for vetting technical specifications related to ICT Lab approvals under the Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI schemes. See Order Copy Click Here. The post TAC Formed For ICT Lab Approvals Under Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, Jan 1: The Romeo Force of the Indian Army has intensified search and surveillance operations in the Pir Panjal ranges of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir amid heavy snowfall in the region. Operations are being conducted at altitudes above 13,000 feet despite heavy snowfall, extreme cold, and challenging terrain. Army personnel are conducting coordinated exercises, moving through snow-covered mountains as part of a safety measure along the border. From the visuals, troops are seen equi

New Delhi, Jan 1: Over three crore registrations have been received so far for participation in the ninth edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modis annual Pariksha pe Charcha, according to Ministry of Education (MoE) officials. An online competition with multiple-choice questions is being organised on the MyGov portal from December 1 to January 11 for the selection of participants. Students from Classes 6 to 12, teachers and parents are eligible to participate in the competition. Over three crore

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday visited the Bangladesh High Commission here and expressed his condolence on the demise of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia. Sharing a photo of his visit on X, Singh said, Went to the High Commission of Bangladesh in New Delhi. Signed the Condolence Book expressing our profound sorrow at the passing of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Our thoughts are with her family and the people [] The post Raj

Ganderbal, Jan 1: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday arrested two terror associates and recovered arms, ammunition and cash amounting to 8.40 lakh during a late-evening operation in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district. A senior police officer said that the recovery was made by Police Station Ganderbal in coordination with the Special Operations Group (SOG) near Gundrehman Bridge during a naka checking operation. He said acting on specific intelligence inputs, the police party intercepted a loa

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said Indias economy and financial system remain resilient despite heightened global uncertainties, elevated asset valuations, and rising geopolitical risks, according to the Financial Stability Report (FSR), December 2025. The report noted that global growth has shown greater resilience than anticipated, supported by fiscal measures, front-loaded trade, and strong investment in artificial intelligence (AI). However, it cautioned that risks to glo

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland on Thursday reported 27 per cent increase in total sales at 21,533 units last month as compared to 16,957 units in December 2024. Domestic sales were up 26 per cent at 19,855 units as against 15,713 units a year ago, Ashok Leyland said in a statement. Sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles in the domestic market were at 13,553 units as against 10,488 units in the year-ago month, a [] The post Ashok Leyland sales up 27 pc at 21,533

ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: At least 14 passengers were killed and 16 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a van in Pakistans eastern Punjab province on Wednesday, officials said. The bus was carrying players of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences to Lahore to participate in a sports event when it collided with the van in Jhang district, the districts Deputy Commissioner, Ali Akbar, told the media. The accident occurred due to overspeeding by both vehicles [] The post 14 ki

GENEVA, Jan 1: At least 10 people were killed and 10 others injured after an explosion at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort in Valais Canton of southwestern Switzerland on Thursday, a Swiss public broadcaster reported. The blast occurred at around 1:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) and triggered a fire at the bar, Radio Television Suisse (RTS) reported, citing Valais cantonal police. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the cause of the blast remains unclear. A press [] The post 10 kil

New Delhi, Jan 1: Gross GST collections rose 6.1 per cent to over Rs 1.74 lakh crore in December 2025, on slow growth in revenues from domestic sales following the sweeping tax cuts, according to government data released on Thursday. Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue in December 2024 was over Rs 1.64 lakh crore. Gross revenue from domestic transactions rose 1.2 per cent to over Rs 1.22 lakh crore, while revenues from imported goods were up 19.7 per [] The post GST Collections Rise 6 Pc

Leh/Jammu, Jan 1: Senior IAS officer Ashish Kundra on Thursday took charge as the chief secretary of Ladakh and reaffirmed his commitment to effective governance, transparent administration and inclusive development across the Union territory, officials said. A 1996-batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre, Kundra took over from Pawan Kotwal, who retired from service on Wednesday, an official statement said. Upon assuming office, Kundra reiterated his commitment to effective governance, transparent admi

DUBAI, Jan 1: A volunteer member of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was killed in a western province during widening demonstrations sparked by the Islamic Republics ailing economy, authorities said on Thursday, marking the first fatality among security forces during the protests. The death Wednesday night of the 21-year-old volunteer in the Guards Basij force may mark the start of a heavier-handed response by Irans theocracy over the demonstrations, which have slowed in the capital, Tehr

BEIJING, Jan 1: An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 jolted Southeastern Alaska at 0646 GMT on Thursday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicenter, with a depth of 10 km, was initially determined to be at 60.64 degrees north latitude and 140.00 degrees west longitude. (UNI) The post Quake measuring 5.9 hits SE Alaska: GFZ appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

CRANS-MONTANA (Switzerland), Jan 1: Swiss police said several tens of people are presumed dead and about 100 injured, most of them seriously, following a fire at a Swiss Alps bar during a New Years celebration. Specific casualty figures were not immediately available from the fire at the bar called Le Constellation. Helicopters and ambulances rushed to the scene to assist victims, including some from different countries, officials said. We are devastated, Frederic Gisler, commander of the Valais

POONCH, Jan 1: In a major offensive against cross-border terrorism and its support networks, Jammu and Kashmir Police have attached an immovable property of a Pakistan-based terror handler and launch commander under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), signalling a firm resolve to dismantle the financial and logistical backbone of terror outfits operating in the Poonch-Rajouri belt. In a statement, In a decisive and resolute action against terror networks

Tirupati, Jan 1: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday offered prayers at the revered Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. During his visit to the hill shrine, the Lieutenant Governor paid obeisance at the temple and sought blessings. The Lord Venkateswara Temple, located at Tirumala near Tirupati, is one of the most prominent pilgrimage centres in the country and attracts millions of devotees every year. Officials said the visit was part of his personal

New Delhi, Jan 1: Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor on Thursday took charge as the IAFs Vice Chief of the Air Staff. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command (SWAC). He succeeds Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, who retired on Wednesday after four decades of illustrious service to the nation. Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor assumed the appointment of Vice Chief of the Air Staff, IAF on 01 Jan 26. Commissioned into the [] The post Air Marshal Na

Poonch, Jan 1: Following fresh snowfall on Thursday, authorities have temporarily closed the Mughal Road as a precautionary measure, officials said. The road, which connects Shopian district of south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch districts of the Jammu region, was closed after snowfall at Peer Ki Gali. Officials said that traffic movement on Mughal Road has been completely suspended due to fresh snowfall, which has made the stretch slippery and unsafe for vehicular movement. The closure has be

Bhopal, Jan 1: India, home to the worlds largest tiger population, has lost as many as 166 of these majestic animals in 2025, forty more than the previous year, due to various reasons, as per the latest data of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The data also shows that Madhya Pradesh, dubbed the countrys tiger state, recorded the highest number of deaths at 55. Among other states, Maharashtra, Kerala and Assam reported 38, 13 and 12 tiger deaths, respectively, [] The post India l

New Delhi, Jan 1: Older adults who are frail and have depression could be at a higher risk of dementia, with the factors combined contributing to 17 per cent of the overall risk, according to a study. The findings, published in the journal General Psychiatry, suggests that while frailty and depression each increase dementia risk on their own, having both the conditions could make one more than three times as likely to develop dementia, compared with those in good health. [] The post Frailty, Dep

MUMBAI, Dec 27: Actor Chitrangada Singh, who is set to feature alongside Salman Khan in Battle of Galwan, says the superstar is unapologetically himself, which is a rarity in an industry where many people wear masks. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia of Shootout at Lokhandwala fame, the much-anticipated war drama is based on the 2020 Galwan Valley conflict between India and China. He is very tuned into what his fans want him to be, and he is exactly what his [] The post Salman Khan Is Who He Is, Has Z

ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched economic-governance reforms to address the vulnerabilities identified in the International Monetary Funds (IMF) Governance and Corruption report. The 186-page Governance and Corruption Diagnostic report launched late last year highlighted massive economic leakages due to bad governance and corruption. Under the IMF conditions linked to its ongoing USD 7 billion bailout package, Pakistan was required to publish governance action plan ba

New Delhi, Jan 1: Describing Artificial Intelligence as a big opportunity for ushering in positive change, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said it is essential to ensure that its benefits reach all sections of the society, especially the underprivileged. Addressing a programme organised by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, she observed that AI is emerging as a critical growth driver for Indias economy and will contribute significantly towards the countrys GDP, employment a

New Delhi, Jan 1: Price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, was reduced by 7.3 per cent on Thursday, while commercial LPG rate was raised by Rs 111 per cylinder, as state-owned oil marketing companies implemented their monthly price revisions aligned with global fuel benchmarks. ATF price in Delhi was cut by Rs 7,353.75 per kilolitre, or 7.3 per cent, to Rs 92,323.02 per kl, according to state-owned fuel retailers. The reduction comes after three rounds of monthly [] The post ATF Price

SRINAGAR, Jan 1: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said those targeting Kashmiris in some parts of the country were treading the path of Hitler, expressing hope that these extremists will go away at some point in time. It is our destiny that there are some people whose aim is something else. They are treading Hitlers path and want to create a Hitler-type regime, he said. But Hitler vanished; he shot himself. Nazism ended there, and a time will [] The post Extremists Attac

NEW DELHI, Jan 1:Kia India on Thursday reported an over two-fold jump in sales to 18,659 units in December last year, compared to 8,957 units in December 2024. It was the companys best-ever December since inception, driven by strong customer focus and improved consumer sentiment, Kia India said in a statement. For the calendar year (CY) 2025, total wholesale volumes were at 2,80,286 units, as against 2,45,000 units sold in CY 2024, up 15 per cent, it added. Kia [] The post Kia India sales up ov

Geneva [Switzerland], Jan 1: A deadly explosion triggered a fire at a bar in Switzerland overnight, leaving several injured and dead and overwhelming nearby hospitals with burn victims, according to Swiss broadcaster Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF). The incident comes weeks ahead of the World Economic Forums 2026 Annual Meeting, which will take place from January 19 to 23 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The blast occurred around 1:30 am, Valais police spokesman Gaetan Lathion told the Keysto

Indore, Jan 1: Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya lost his temper while responding to media questions on the contaminated drinking water incident in Indores Bhagirathpura area and used an objectionable word on camera. As the controversy escalated, the MP cabinet minister expressed regret over his remark. The opposition Congress demanded his resignation, accusing BJP leaders in the state of arrogance. Bhagirathpura falls under Vijayvargiyas Indore-1 assembly constituency. Health departm

For actor Kritika Kamra, it was refreshing to see Muslims being portrayed as normal people in The Great Shamsuddin Family and without the conventional dramatisation thats often associated with minority narratives in cinema. Kamra plays the central character of Bani Ahmed in the comedy-drama, written and directed by Anusha Rizvi of Peepli Live fame. The film follows Bani, who faces her most important deadline while her house erupts in family chaos, forcing her to juggle a 12-hour writing sprint w

Actor Vipin Sharma says the most challenging aspect of his role in Maharani 4 was to convey authority as a politician up against Huma Qureshis main protagonist Rani Bharti. In the popular SonyLIV series, directed by Puneet Prakash, Sharma played the character of Prime Minister Sudhakar Sriniwas Joshi. Maharani is a fictional story set in Bihar politics with Qureshi playing a housewife, who is appointed the chief minister of the state by her politician husband after he is jailed. The [] The post

Srinagar, Jan 1: Kashmir rang in the New Year amid fresh snowfall at popular tourist resorts and higher reaches of the valley, with the meteorological department forecasting an improvement in weather later in the day, officials said on Thursday. Tourist resorts including Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg received fresh overnight snowfall that continued till Thursday morning, drawing large numbers of revellers, they said. Several higher reaches Tulail Valley in Gurez, Razdan Top in Bandipora, Macch

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd on Thursday reported a 25 per cent year-on-year growth in automobile sales at 86,090 units, including exports, in December 2025. Domestic passenger vehicle sales were up 23 per cent at 50,946 units in December 2025, as compared to 41,424 units in the same month of 2024, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) said in a regulatory filing. Sales of commercial vehicles in the domestic market stood at 24,786, a growth of 34 per [] The post M&M auto sales up 25 pc in Dec

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Hyundai Motor India Ltd on Thursday said Tarun Garg has officially assumed charge as its Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) from January 1, 2026. This is the first time an Indian national is heading Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), the Indian arm of South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Company, since its inception 29 years ago. He succeeds Unsoo Kim, who is returning to a strategic role at Hyundai Motor Company [] The post Tarun Garg takes over as MD & CEO

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) on Thursday posted 44 per cent growth in loan disbursements at Rs 24,903 crore for April-December 2025. The loan disbursement in the year-ago period was Rs 17,236 crore. Loan sanctions during the period stood at Rs 40,100 crore, reflecting a growth of 29 per cent over Rs 31,087 crore a year ago. The loan book stood at Rs 87,975 crore as on December 31, 2025, marking a growth [] The post IREDAs loan disbursements up 44 pc a

JAMMU, Jan 1: A Pakistani drone crossed into Indian territory along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district and dropped suspected explosive material, ammunition and narcotics, prompting massive search operations by security forces. According to official sources, the drone intruded into the Indian airspace in the Khadi Karmada area of Poonch and remained inside Indian territory for more than five minutes before returning across the LoC. During the incursion, the drone drop

New Delhi, Jan 1: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show-cause notice to an Air India pilot amid safety concerns on flights AI-358 and AI-357, pertaining to aircraft dispatch, Minimum Equipment List (MEL) compliance, and flight crew decision-making. DGCA, in its notice, said that the pilot accepted the aircraft despite repeated snags and system degradation. The civil aviation authority noted that there was a smell of smoke reported near a door in the AI-358 flight. DGCA i

Hyderabad, Jan 1: AIMIM president and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi has said Chinese claim of mediation between India and Pakistan is an affront to the country and that it must be strongly rebutted by the Union Government. Normalcy in ties with China cannot be at the cost of Indias honour or its sovereignty, he said. After US President (Donald Trump) announced a ceasefire before us and claims to have used trade sanctions to secure peace, we now have the [] The post Centre Must Rebut Chinese Clai

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JAMMU, Jan 1: The Border Security Force has handed over a Bangladeshi national to the Jammu and Kashmir Police after he was apprehended near the International Border in the Gajansoo area of Jammu district. The individual was taken into custody by BSF personnel during routine surveillance along the border and was later produced before the Border Police Post Gajansoo, falling under Police Station Kanachak. Police identified the apprehended person as Shariful Islam Bhuiyan, son of Mozibul Haque Bhu