Daily Excelsior News

Jammu, Jan 2: Five houses were gutted and two people sustained injuries after a fire, triggered by an LPG cylinder blast, broke out in a remote village of Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district, officials said on Friday. The fire erupted in a house in Thachna village late Thursday and spread rapidly to nearby homes, they said. Teams from the district administration, police, army, and fire services, assisted by local residents, launched a joint operation to douse the flames. Fire tenders [] The pos

*Sethi encourages youth to pursue sports with passion, commitment Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU,Jan 1: In an electrifying finale of the 19th Christmas Gold Cup Football Tournament 2025, J&K Police XI defeated J&K Bank XI to lift the coveted trophy. The tournament was organized by the All J&K Sports & Cultural Welfare Association at Mini Stadium, Parade Ground, here today. The final between J&K Bank XI and J&K Police XI ended in a 2-2 draw, showcasing intense competition and skill from []

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Crowds thronged illuminated malls, recreational centres and tourist spots and devotees visited places of worship and took a dip in holy rivers as people across the country welcomed the New Year with joy and enthusiasm on Thursday. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and chief ministers of several states greeted people on the occasion and wished for peace and prosperity. In the national capital, roads near the India Gate and

Animesh Rohmetra animesh.rohmetra1@gmail.com Walk through Jammu at any hour that matters to ordinary life office mornings in Gandhi Nagar, evening markets in Trikuta Nagar and Channi Himmat, the dense commercial lanes of the old city, or the expanding residential corridors of Janipur and the experience is strikingly uniform. Cars and two-wheelers occupy road edges, footpaths dissolve into improvised parking, junctions choke, and pedestrians are pushed into moving traffic. This condition is routi

Dr Arvind Kohli kohli_arvind@yahoo.com Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour. .Winter vibes suggest Cold Air, Slow mornings, Reading good books with warm cup of tea, quite mind and inherent immunity boost up. Winter brings with it a range of challenges for heart health, especially for those with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. The drop in temperature significantly impacts heart function, making it crit

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Samsung is all set to rollout its vision for the Device eXperience Division in 2026 and its new AI-driven customer experiences at CES, the worlds largest IT and home appliance exhibition. This was announced by J B Park, president and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia. He said, Samsung AI appliances are approaching another turning point, delivering differentiated experiences that more deeply understand users daily lives and significantly enhance the value of ever

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: A mushroom cultivation training program of 10 full days conducted by SBI Rural Self Employment Training Institute (SBI-RSETI) Jammu concluded in the RSETI premises at Roop Nagar, Jammu. Women trainees from different blocks of Jammu district participated in the program. Assessment of the batch was carried out by the EDP Assessor Rajeev Mahajan from National Academy of RUDSETI (NAR). All the candidates passed out in the assessment. On the occasion, a small but

Yashvi Bhat bhatjitender@gmail.com Travelling through the by-lanes of Kashmirs Safa Kadal, Fateh Kadal, and Noor Bagh, one comes across clusters of workshops where artisans sit with chisels and hammers, shaping walnut wood into intricate wooden carvings, furniture, jewellery boxes, and ornate panels. Situated in these lanes are karkhanas(workshops) of skilled craftsmen whose families have practiced walnut wood carving for generations. Yet, even as their craft travels the world, the names of thos

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: In continuation of the ongoing Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign aimed at creating awareness about the newly introduced Labour Codes, the Labour Department today held a detailed and interactive discussion with the president and members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI), Jammu. The meeting witnessed active participation from representatives of the trade and industrial community and was attended by a team of officers from th

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Jammu Club ushered in the New Year with grandeur, enthusiasm and a spirit of togetherness through a spectacular New Year night celebration held at the Club premises. The event witnessed overwhelming participation from members and guests, creating a vibrant, joyous and festive atmosphere to welcome the beginning of the year. The celebrations were graced by the presence of Monika Wali Dulloo, wife of the J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Ramesh Kumar, Divisi

Excelsior Correspondent 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 clea

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Karnataka BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar and lauded his feat of cycling from Bengaluru to Kanniyakumari. The 70-year-old Kumar achieved the feat of bicycling 702 km over five days after recovering from a rare neurological condition that had left him bedridden for months. Shri S. Suresh Kumar Jis feat of cycling from Bengaluru to Kanniyakumari is commendable and inspiring. The fact that it was done after he overcame [] The post PM Modi l

Vital installations to get air defence system *Indias indigenous capabilities bolstered Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Jan 1: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said the weapon systems developed by the Defence, Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) played a decisive role during Operation Sindoor, which serves as a testament to professionalism and commitment of the organisation towards safeguarding national interests. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Addressing on the occasion of 68

NEW DELHI, Jan 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics, titled The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One, on January 3, at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi, a government release said on Thursday. The exposition brings together, for the first time, the repatriated Piprahwa relics with authentic relics and archaeological materials from Piprahwa preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi, and the Indian Muse

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Rajasthan in the Boys section and Assam in the Girls section lifted the Champions trophies in the 17th Junior National Roll Ball Championship, which was held at MA Stadium, Jammu, from December 29 to January 1, 2026. Maharashtra mens and womens teams secured third position in their respective categories. The closing ceremony of the championship was held today at MA Stadium. Nuzhat Gul, Secretary, J&K Sports Council, was the chief guest and distributed

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Jan 1: Department of Science & Technology (DST) has established 15 Inclusive Technology Business Incubators (i-TBI) across universities and higher educational institutions in different parts of the country, aimed at democratising innovation and entrepreneurship beyond metropolitan centres. This was disclosed here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the PMO, Personnel, Public Gr

Housing Board officers unaware of future roadmap *PPP experiment draws blank response Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Jan 1: The Union Territory Governments ambitious plan to develop multiple new housing colonies across Jammu and Kashmir has quietly slipped into limbo, with the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board failing to attract any viable proposal under the much-touted Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. Most astonishingly, even after detailed deliberations in a recent high level meeting, senior offic

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Expressing gratitude to Modi Government for Rs 1,430 crore Special Central Assistance for the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, BJP MLAs have warned the National Conference Government against any misuse of disaster relief funds. While addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, here today, MLA Sham Lal Sharma, accompanied by MLAs Dr Narinder Singh, Surjit Singh Salathia, Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal, Ch. Vikram Randhawa and Arvind Gupta, expressed

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: The New Year began with high drama and thrilling cricket action in BIG Jammu Kashmir Premier League (BIG JKPL) 2025-26 at University of Jammu Ground. Two exciting matches delivered intense competition, including a nail-biting Super Over finish. In the first match, Royal Goodwill Cricket Club faced Tiles and Bath Cricket Club in a rain-curtailed 10-over contest. Royal Goodwill posted 138 for 2, powered by Aadil Reshis unbeaten 56 off 26 balls. Tiles an

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Patients and their attendants faced severe inconvenience at Government Hospital Sarwal today after a prolonged power outage disrupted essential healthcare services. The electricity failure not only plunged several wards into darkness but also brought routine hospital functioning to a near standstill for several hours, causing distress among patients. According to patients present at the hospital, the absence of electricity affected even basic services. Many

KOTA, (Rajasthan), Jan 1: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday inaugurated a town hall and road development projects worth Rs 29 crore in Bundi and outlined plans to develop the district as a hub of tourism, agriculture and industry. Addressing a programme organised by the Municipal Council, Birla, the MP from Kota-Bundi, said the new year would mark a fresh phase of development with visible outcomes of initiatives taken for Bundis overall progress. He said the government aims to [] The post O

Officers go on tour outside which isnt acceptable *Accessibility to public needs to be improved Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: On Day one in the office, Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kundra today advised all Administrative Secretaries to undertake field visits once a month, preferable with an overnight stay, in different parts of the Union Territory and observed seriously the movement of officers on tour to Delhi and other places outside the UT. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on Whats

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat today conducted a comprehensive security review of major religious and heritage sites in Jammu to assess the preparedness and existing security arrangements. Among the prominent sites reviewed included Raghunath Mandir, Bahu Fort, and Tirupati Balaji Mandir. The review was carried out jointly with Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, and Inspector General of Police, CRPF Jammu Se

HOBART, Jan 1: Australias Mitch Marsh crashed 102 off 58 balls to set up a comfortable 40-run win for Perth Scorchers over Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League. Marsh hit 11 fours and five sixes at the top of the order as he made his highest Big Bash score, according to BBC sports. He put on 164 with Aaron Hardie (94 not out off 43 balls) for the third wicket as Scorchers posted 229-3 the seventh-highest total in [] The post Mitch Marsh century sets up Perth Scorchers win over Hobart Hurric

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Amar Nath Thakur, Chairman, Public Welfare Forum, called on the Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo and submitted a memorandum highlighting several burning public-related issues. The main demands raised included that 4,200 posts of Lecturers and about 12,000 posts of Masters and Teachers are lying vacant in schools across the Union Territory. Educational institutions in remote areas, from primary to higher secondary level, are facing acute shortage of staff, which

NEW DELHI, Jan 1: The Enforcement Directorate (ED_ seized Rs 1.22 crore in cash and jewellery worth Rs 8.50 crore from a Delhi farmhouse today after a fresh round of searches in connection with a money laundering investigation against UAE-based absconding criminal Inderjit Singh Yadav, officials said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The federal probe agency on Wednesday recovered Rs 5.12 crore in cash, a suitcase containing gold and diamond jewellery worth Rs 8.80 crore and docume

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Commissioner Secretary Cooperative Department, Babila Rakwal, today inaugurated the Smart Classroom at the Centre for Cooperative Management besides launching the Coop Heroes magazine, releasing the calendar and unveiling the newsletter of CCM during an event organised by the Centre. The future vision of CCM aimed at strengthening the cooperative education and capacity building in the Union Territory was also presented. The programme was attended by Addition

Excelsior Correspondent LEH, Jan 1: The Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta today stated that the UT Administration is making sincere efforts to bring the sacred Buddha Relics to Ladakh for public Darshan, enabling devotees and people from across the region to receive spiritual inspiration and strengthen Ladakhs identity as a global centre of Buddhism and peace. This was stated by the LG while interacting with the people during his visit to the iconic Hemis Monastery. On the auspicious beginning

CRANS-MONTANA (SWITZERLAND), Jan 1: A fire ripped through a bars New Year celebration in a Swiss Alpine resort less than two hours after midnight today, with dozens of people feared dead and about 100 more injured, most seriously, police said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The Crans-Montana resort is best known as an international ski and golf venue, and overnight, its crowded Le Constellation bar morphed from a scene of revelry into the site of potentially one of [] The post Do

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 1: Aimed at facilitating the educational pursuits of tribal students across Jammu & Kashmir, Tribal Affairs Department, has commenced the electronic disbursal of Post-Matric Scholarships to eligible Scheduled Tribe (ST-I and ST-II) students, providing much-needed relief to thousands of beneficiaries. The release of scholarships had earlier encountered unavoidable delays due to technical complications arising out of the transition from the SNA system to the SNA-

NEW YORK, Jan 1: From Sydney to Paris to New York City, crowds rang in the new year with exuberant celebrations filled with thunderous fireworks or light shows, while others took a more subdued approach. As the clock struck midnight in Japan, temple bells rang, and some climbed mountains to see the years first sunrise, while a light show with somersaulting jet skis twinkled in Dubai. The countdown to 2026 was projected onto the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, while [] The post Cities around world welc

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 1: National Conference MLA from Zadibal and Partys Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq today said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was responsible for paving the way for the Bharatiya Janata Partys agenda in Jammu and Kashmir by forming an alliance after the 2014 elections. He said the PDPs decision caused lasting political and economic damage to the region. Addressing a gathering at Jogilanker, Rainawari, after laying the foundation stone of a long-pending Co

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