Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: Padma Shri Dr Milind P Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Management Jammu, will be leading the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) delegation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, Switzerland. Highlighting the significance of this global engagement, Prof B S Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, stated that Dr Kambles leadership at the WEF reflects Indias commitment to building a strong, inclusive and innovation-dr

Excelsior Correspondent DODA, Jan 18: The second day of the Winter Carnival 2026 was celebrated with great enthusiasm and splendor at New Bus Stand, Bhaderwah, today drawing a massive gathering of locals and tourists alike. The mega event was organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, in collaboration with the District Administration Doda and Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA). The carnival featured a colourful blend of celebrity performances, local cultural progra

SINGUR (WB), Jan 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the TMC government of playing with national security by aiding infiltrators for vote-bank politics, and said it was necessary to end its maha jungle raj in West Bengal to pave the way for development and good governance. Addressing a rally in Singur in Hooghly district, he alleged that the state government had failed to cooperate with the Centre on critical security measures, including border fencing. The TMC is playing [] The p

Bharti Sharma bhartisharma705139@gmail.com January arrives with a silence that is felt more than heard. The mornings are wrapped in dense fog, the air is icy and the sun appears late, often hidden behind a thick white curtain. There is no rain, only intense cold and heavy fog that lasts for hours. This winter season affects everyone in different ways. For some, it becomes a daily struggle, while for others, it quietly brings benefits and hope. Thus, January tells two parallel [] The post Cold, F

INDORE, Jan 18: Virat Kohlis magnificent, combative century, forged with trademark resolve under mounting pressure, proved heartbreakingly insufficient as India slumped to their first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand, losing the decider by 41 runs at the Holkar Stadium here on Sunday. Kohlis 124 off 108 balls was a study in controlled aggression and steely temperament. The chase master shouldered the responsibility almost single-handedly, counter-punching a discipline

Grenade attacks lead to heavy exchange of firing, cordon on *Troops launch Operation Trashi-I, reinforcement rushed Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Jan 18: Yet another gunfight broke out between security forces and terrorists at village Sonnar in Chatroo area of Kishtwar district this afternoon resulting into injuries to eight soldiers while reinforcement of Army, paramilitary personnel and police have reached the spot to cordon off the area. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Reports said a t

Excelsior Correspondent SRI VIJAYA PURAM (PORT BLAIR), Jan 18 : 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 launched Indias first-ever open-sea Marine Fish Farming project from the Andaman Sea. The Minister described this as one of the first major steps in the direction of realizing the Blue Economy through Indias vast ocean resources, as envisaged an

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU Jan 18: The BJP State SC Morcha under the leadership of its president, Dharminder Kumar, convened a crucial preparatory meeting to finalize the week-long celebrations of Sri Guru Ravidass Jayanti here, today. The meeting brought together State office bearers, district presidents, and key members of the State and district teams to ensure seamless planning and execution of the upcoming events, scheduled from January 31 to February 7 across the Union Territory. The mee

KOLKATA, Jan 18 : Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Sunday said that prudence is different from knowledge, maintaining that it is knowing when to insist on the letter of the law and when to understand the purpose it seeks to serve. Addressing the convocation of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) Kolkata, of which he is the Chancellor, the CJI said that knowledge can be acquired quickly from books, maybe classroom and training, but [] The post Prudence is

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 18: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah lauded the efforts of Omar Abdullah-led Government in revitalizing Jammu and Kashmir tourism sector, a critical pillar of the regions economy. He said this in a press release issued from the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha. Dr. Farooq highlighted that the revival of tourism has been instrumental in the regions economic recovery. He credited the Omar Abdullah administration for his vis

NAGPUR, Jan 18 : Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the private sector has moved ahead of the public sector in research and development, marking a significant shift in Indias defence ecosystem. Speaking at the inauguration of a medium-calibre ammunition manufacturing facility at Solar Industries in Nagpur, Singh recalled that defence production was once confined to the public sector, with little scope imagined for private participation. Although the private sector always had the

Calls for ending Maha Jungle Raj SINGUR (WB), Jan 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday charged the TMC Government with playing with national security by protecting infiltrators for vote-bank politics, and said ending the ruling partys maha jungle raj was vital to restore law and order, development and investor confidence in the State. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp With the state assembly polls a few months away, Modi framed the electoral contest as one between maha- [] Th

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday reviewed the ongoing development works of Pachokhar Digital Library dedicated to Nari Shakti at Zamania, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh through virtual mode. The Lieutenant Governor commended the Pachokhar Digital Library initiative aimed at strengthening the resolve of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao by actively promoting girls education in society and empowering rural communities. Education expands the horizon of opportunities

Appointment process yet to be completed *Explicit provisions of Rules blatantly violated Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Jan 18: Several months after inviting applications for the crucial post of Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has failed to make the appointment, leaving the statutory mechanism for protection, monitoring and enforcement of disability rights in the Union Territory virtually paralysed. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The delay has

VARANASI (UP), Jan 18: Police here have registered eight FIRs against as many people, including AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Congress leader Pappu Yadav, for allegedly circulating AI-generated images, videos and misleading information on social media about the redevelopment work at the Manikarnika Ghat. The ghat is among the oldest and most sacred cremation grounds in Hinduism. It is believed that getting cremated at the site helps one achieve moksha liberation from the cycle of birth and death []

Zulfkar, others call on Sinha Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: A delegation led by social activist Dr Dev Raj Sharma today met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and raised the long-pending demand for the upgradation of Government High School (GHS) Nomain to the level of 10+2. During the meeting, the delegation comprised Pt Suraj Prakash, former chairman of Panchayat Kotli Bajala, Om Prakash, Hans Raj, Somraj and Vishal Sharma, apprised the LG about the difficulties being faced by students of

Rly bridges to be restored in 3 months Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today asked the youth to dream big, aim high and pursue it with full courage and unshakable resolve. Your future is waiting for you. Take a pledge to build brighter J&K and work with dedication. The history remembers those who dared to challenge limits, conquered fear, and turned the impossible into reality, Sinha said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp He was [] The post LG

LATEHAR, Jan 18: At least seven people, including five women, were killed and over 80 others injured after a bus carrying wedding guests overturned in Jharkhands Latehar district on Sunday, police said. The accident occurred at Orsa Bangladara valley under Mahuadanr police station limits. A bus carrying a marriage party was coming from Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh for a wedding at Mahuadanr in Latehar. The bus overturned, and five people died on the spot. Among them, four were women. The [

Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Jan 18: During an extensive tour of Talmara, Jaganoo, Thanoa, Dhanori, Sattani, Channi Morh and other adjoining habitations, R S Pathania, MLA Udhampur East, laid out a time-bound roadmap for infrastructure-led development of the region. Addressing public gatherings at various locations, Pathania stated that Dhar Road is set to emerge as a major new lifeline of the Jammu province. He informed that, following sustained follow-up and consistent support from fellow

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, today met Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat here and discussed strengthening tourism infrastructure, promotion of cultural and spiritual tourism, development of monasteries, and forthcoming major tourism and cultural events in the Union Territory of Ladakh. During the meeting, the Lt Governor highlighted Ladakhs unique cultural, spiritual and geographical identity and emphasis

Excelsior Correspondent KISHTWAR, Jan 18: Deputy Commissioner, Pankaj Kumar Sharma today reviewed the progress of digitisation and freezing of Jamabandis in district Kishtwar in the presence of Special Secretary (Revenue), Ghulam Rasool. The officers at the meeting evaluated the on-ground implementation of Revenue Department reforms. The department was asked to carry out the process strictly in accordance to the prescribed guidelines. Tehsildar Nirbhay Sharma, while giving a Power Point presenta

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: Rashtriya Pahari Aandolan (RPA) has lambasted J&K Pahari Advisory Board for defying binding Government orders and constitutional mandates by continuing to use the abolished and illegal nomenclature Pahari Speaking People in official publications, including a recently issued calendar. This act constitutes a blatant contempt of law and a calculated attempt to undermine the constitutional identity of the Pahari Ethnic Group, said Dr Suresh Kumar, President of

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: A delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir General Line Teachers Forum (JKGLTF) today met the Education Minister Sakeena Itoo at her official residence in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu and submitted a memorandum. The delegation, led by senior Forum leaders Guhar Bhat, Tasneem Beig, Farooq Ahmed Daing, and Sunil Singh, along with other prominent members, expressed grave concern over the continued delay, opacity, and inconsistency in promotions from Teacher to Master Grade.

NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Expressing grave concern, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has warned that the increasing influx of smuggled foreign cigarettes is severely affecting both government revenues and public health. High taxes on sin goods have historically led to expansion of the black market, with smuggled products often benefiting foreign producers filling the gap created by unaffordable legal prices, Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) national Co-Conv

JOHENNESBURG, Jan 18 : The over 150-year-old first Hindu temple and a national monument in South Africas Durban has said it runs a risk of discontinued civic services owing to a pending bill of over half a million rands amid allegations of fraud. After the temple authorities announced to initiate a forensic audit, the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMS) called on the community to save the 151-year-old Umbilo Shree Ambalavaanar Alayam that was established by indentured labourers who arrived []

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 18: A weekly programme Sanskrit pathshala (Gyan-Yagy Pataskala) organized by Pawan Kumar Shastri, president Jammu Yatri Bhawan Trust (JYBT), was held here today. On the occasion, Karunesh Jamwal, was the chief guest. The thirty seventh session of Vedic Pathshala commenced 60 students, mostly under 15, actively participated in the Vedic Pathshala. They received comprehensive instructions on reciting Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Shree Hanuman Chalisa, Sunderkand pat

NEW DELHI, Jan 18 : Gold price is expected to maintain its upward momentum in the coming week, driven by safe-haven demand and expectations of policy easing by the US Federal Reserve, while silver may witness consolidation after a stellar rally, according to analysts. Investors attention will turn to a string of key global macroeconomic data, including inflation figures from major economies, as well as the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, GDP growth, PMI readings and jobless claims

DAVOS, Jan 18: With India making a power-packed presence here for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, consultancy major BCGs India Head Rahul Jain has said the Davos takeaway for the Indian business leaders is very clear that the competitiveness now comes from combining cost, scale and resilience. Jain also said that India is very likely to become the worlds third-largest economy by around 2030, which is a key India-related topic of discussion here during the summit. The key question [] The

Jammu, Jan 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today asked the youth to dream big, aim high and pursue it with full courage and unshakable resolve. Your future is waiting for you. Take a pledge to build brighter J&K and work with dedication. The history remembers those who dared to challenge limits, conquered fear, and turned the impossible into reality, the Lieutenant Governor said. He was addressing the youth at the 7th Annual Day Celebration of Guidance & Career Counselling Cell [] The post Y

New Delhi, Jan 18 : The combined market valuation of three of the top-10 most valued firms jumped Rs 75,855.43 crore in a holiday-shortened last week, with State Bank of India and Infosys emerging as the biggest gainers, in an otherwise sluggish trend in equities. Last week, the BSE benchmark Sensex dipped 5.89 points, and the NSE Nifty went up by 11.05 points. While ICICI Bank, State Bank of India and Infosys were the gainers, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, [] The post Mcap of 3 of top-10 mos

New Delhi, Jan 18 : Nasdaq-listed Exlservice Holdings plans to set up two new centres in tier-2 or tier-3 Indian cities this year, as the data and artificial intelligence (AI) company looks to tap infrastructure and talent advantages beyond the metros, according to CEO Rohit Kapoor. Kapoor told PTI in an interview that overall, the global IT spends are rising, with a catch the allocations are skewed towards AI, infrastructure, and cybersecurity, areas that are creating opportunities for strong

New Delhi, Jan 18 : Tata Motors has sought targeted incentives for entry-level electric vehicles and support to the electric cars used in the fleet segment under the PM E-DRIVE scheme in the upcoming Union Budget. In an interaction with PTI, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles MD & CEO Shailesh Chandra said that while government interventions such as GST 2.0, repo rate reduction and tax regime changes have revived demand in the passenger vehicle industry, entry-level EVs continue to face [] The post

New Delhi, Jan 18 : Automobile exports from India rose 24 per cent in 2025 driven by robust demand for cars, two wheelers and commercial vehicles in the overseas markets, as per the latest SIAM data. Overall exports last year raced to 63,25,211 units as against 50,98,474 units in the 2024 calendar year, up 24.1 per cent. Passenger vehicle exports rose to 8,63,233 units, up 16 per cent as compared with 7,43,979 units in 2024. Utility vehicle dispatches witnessed a [] The post Automobile exports f

New Delhi, Jan 18 : Foreign portfolio investors withdrew over Rs 22,530 crore (USD 2.5 billion) from Indian equities so far this month amid rising US bond yields and a stronger dollar, continuing their selling streak from last year. This came following an outflow of Rs 1.66 lakh crore (USD 18.9 billion) recorded in 2025, triggered by volatile currency movements, global trade tensions and concerns over potential US tariffs and stretched market valuations. This sustained selling pressure by foreig

NEW DELHI, Jan 18: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has ruled that advocates cannot use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to seek details regarding cases they are handling for clients, observing that using the transparency law in this manner fails to advance its core objectives. Dismissing a second appeal filed by an advocate in a dispute related to the termination of a fruits-and-vegetables supply contract at a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Haryana, Information Commissioner Sudha Rani

New Delhi, Jan 18 : Amway Indias total loss widened to Rs 74.25 crore in FY25, and its revenue from operations declined 10.56 per cent to Rs 1,148.16 crore, according to a filing by the leading direct seller. Its total income, which includes other income, was also down 9.2 per cent to Rs 1,174.85 crore for the financial year ended on March 31, 2025, according to financial data accessed through the business intelligence platform Tofler. Amway India Enterprise had [] The post Amway India loss wid

Colombo, Jan 18 : Sri Lanka received a total of 2.3 million tourists in 2025, with Indian travellers accounting for the largest share, according to figures released by the tourism authority. India remains the undisputed leading source market, contributing 531,511 arrivals, more than double the next highest country. This reflects a remarkable year-on-year increase of over 114,000 visitors, an official statement said. It was a year-on-year growth of over 15 per cent, it added. The UK solidifies it

Cairo, Jan 18 : A dividing line, at times invisible, can mean life or death for Palestinians in Gaza. Those sheltering near the territorys yellow line that the Israeli military withdrew to as part of the October ceasefire say they live in fear as Israeli soldiers direct near-daily fire at anyone who crosses or even lingers near it. Of the 447 Palestinians killed between the ceasefire taking effect and Tuesday, at least 77 were killed by Israeli gunfire near the [] The post Israeli troops kill Pa

Jakarta, Jan 18 : Indonesian rescuers on Sunday recovered wreckage from a missing plane that is believed to have crashed the previous day with 11 people on board while approaching a mountainous region on Sulawesi island during cloudy weather. The turboprop ATR 42-500 was on its way from Yogyakarta on Indonesias main island of Java to Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi province, when it vanished from radar on Saturday shortly after being instructed by air traffic control [] The post In

Dhaka, Jan 18 : A Hindu businessman was beaten to death in Bangladeshs Gazipur by three members of a family following a dispute over bananas, local media reported. It has not been confirmed whether the incident that occurred on Saturday in the Kaliganj area of Gazipur district is related to the recent spate of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The deceased, Liton Chandra Ghosh, 55, was the owner of Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel, The Daily Star reported. According to Zakir [] The post Hindu

Kathmandu, Jan 18 : The 19th session of Nepals National Assembly commenced on Sunday at the Federal Parliament building in Singhdurbar secretariat, Kathmandu. The winter session of the Upper House was headed by Narayan Prasad Dahal, Chairman of the House. The Upper House was meeting for the first time after the Gen Z movement ousted the K P Oli government from power last year. The National Assembly (NA), with 59 members, is the permanent house of the Parliament. President Ramchandra [] The post

New Delhi, Jan 18: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday said the BJPs political strategy in states where it is not in power or in majority is to ally with other political parties, come to power and then marginalise them. He said this strategy was successful in Bihar and was being played out in Maharashtra. In an X post, Sibal said, BJPs political strategy: In states where they are not in power or are not in majority ally [] The post BJP strategy is to marginalise allies in states its not in maj

Srinagar, Jan 18: Security forces have intensified sanitisation and area domination exercises across Kashmir ahead of Republic Day to ensure smooth and peaceful celebrations in the valley, officials said here on Sunday. Random frisking of vehicles is being carried out at all major intersections in Srinagar city and elsewhere in the valley to keep a check on any suspicious movement, the officials said. Search operations and area domination exercises have also been started around the venues where

Srinagar, Jan 18: Cold conditions tightened grip over Kashmir as the minimum temperatures plunged across the valley, with Sonamarg the coldest recorded place in the valley, officials said on Sunday. The meteorological department has forecast spells of wet weather, especially in the higher reaches of the valley over the next few days. Officials said Srinagar recorded a low of minus 4.7 degrees Celsius while Sonamarg in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district, which received moderate snowfall on Frida

New Delhi, Jan 18: Cut off from the world in his solitary confinement in the Jodhpur jail, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has turned his attention to a group of usually unremarkable visitors ants. Perhaps, he is drawn to the sense of solidarity and team spirit they display, his wife and HIAL co-founder Gitanjali Angmo says. The activist and educator has been lodged in the jail for over 110 days. He was arrested on September 26 and taken to jail [] The post In Solitary Jail Cell, Wangchuk Sleep

Encounter breaks out between security forces, terrorists in the Singhpora area of Kishtwar district. More details awaited. The post Encounter Underway Between Terrorists, Security Forces In J&Ks Kishtwar appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Kaliabor, Jan 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress of handing over Assams land to infiltrators for votes during its rule in the northeastern state. Modi, while addressing a rally here, alleged that infiltration kept increasing during the Congress rule in Assam for decades, with illegal immigrants encroaching upon forests, animal corridors and traditional institutions. The BJP government is protecting Assams identity and culture by evicting infiltrators who encroached l

New Delhi/Srinagar, Jan 18: Investigations into the white collar terror module busted after the recent car bombing near Red Fort showed that the mastermind Dr Umar-un Nabi had attempted to recruit a second suicide bomber but could not succeed as he backed out of the terror plot citing the need to help his family during the apple harvest, officials said on Sunday. The Srinagar Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have uncovered a parallel terror module orchestrated by Nabi, [] The p

Mumbai, Jan 18: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that as long as dharma continues to guide Bharat, the country will remain a Vishwaguru, asserting that such spiritual knowledge is not found elsewhere in the world. Dharma is the driver of the entire universe and everything runs on that principle, he said at an event here. Bhagwat said that India had inherited a rich spiritual legacy from its ancestors and continued to receive guidance from saints and seers. As [] The post India Will Remain

SRINAGAR, Jan 18: As part of its sustained campaign against drug trafficking, the Srinagar Police scored a significant breakthrough today with the arrest of a notorious drug peddler and the recovery of 1.6 kilograms of heroin. Acting on routine surveillance, a team from Police Station Khanyar intercepted a suspicious individual near the Sewage Treatment Plant in Munwarabad. A search of his belongings yielded two packets containing approximately 1.6 kilograms of heroin. The arrested individual ha