Daily Excelsior News

Jammu, Dec 31: Intensive security and crime-control measures remained in force in Jammu, with police conducting 541 cordon-and-search operations and 1,093 long-range patrols in 2025, while reporting no active terrorist presence in the district, a senior police officer said. Presenting the annual crime and security review, Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Joginder Singh said 4,134 FIRs were registered during the year the lowest figure in the last five years reflecting effective preve

J&K Bank to provide homestay loans up to 30 Lakh at 8.20% interest JAMMU, Dec 31: In a major push towards strengthening tourism-led livelihoods and expanding access to institutional credit in rural areas, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today favoured the creation of a comprehensive framework aimed at promoting homestays and facilitating loans against SVAMITVA cards across the Union Territory. The meeting, besides the Principal Secretary, Finance and Managing Director, J&K Bank, was attended by Sec

JAMMU, Dec 31: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday assigned additional charge of the Higher Education Department to IAS officer Ram Niwas Sharma. According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, Sh. Ram Niwas Sharma, IAS (AGMUT:2010) , presently serving as Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, has been entrusted with the additional charge of the post of Administrative Secretary, Higher Education Department. The order states that the addition

JAMMU, Dec 31 : The General Administration Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government has issued fresh instructions directing all All India Services (AIS) officers working in the Union Territory to mandatorily file their annual Immovable Property Return online by January 31 each year. The department said the return must be submitted electronically through the designated online module, as there is no provision for manual submission. It warned that failure to file the property return within th

Leh, Dec 31: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, emphasised the critical need for uninterrupted network and internet connectivity in the modern world, underscoring the Digital India initiative led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He pointed out that the success of various online portals launched by the UT Administration to enhance governance accessibility depends on effective connectivity, particularly in remote and far-flung areas of Ladakh, to ensure access to essential services

JAMMU, Dec 30: In a major relief for the UT of J&K, the Central Government, on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has approved a comprehensive allocation of over Rs1,430 Cr for reconstruction of damaged public infrastructure and implementation of disaster mitigation measures across affected districts of the UT. This significant development came to light during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, which was attended by all Administrative Sec

NEW DELHI, Dec 31: Outsmarting all asset classes globally in 2025, gold and silver with massive returns and repeated record-breaking rallies redefined the precious metal market dynamics amid intensifying global political challenges, unstable tariff policies and persistent supply-chain disruptions. Marking one of the strongest performances for bullion in decades, silver prices surged more than 169 per cent during the year, while gold rallied over 76 per cent, reaffirming the role of precious meta

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: For the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), 2025 began with a space handshake and ended with a thunderous roar from the ground. From a delicate autonomous space docking experiment to the soaring launch of Bahubali, which placed the heaviest satellite ever lifted from Indian soil into Earths orbit, 2025 marked a quantum leap for Indias space programme. These missions laid the groundwork for more ambitious goals, including the construction of the Bharatiya Antariksh Stati

NEW DELHI, Dec 31: India and the Russia-led EAEU group are likely to hold the next round of talks for the proposed trade agreement in February, an official said on Wednesday. India and the five-nation Russia-led grouping, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), on August 20, inked the terms of reference for the agreement. The first round of talks was held here in November. The second round is expected in February in Russia, the official said. The terms of reference [] The post Next round of talks o

MUMBAI, Dec 31: The Indian economy is likely to maintain strong growth, underpinned by robust domestic demand, benign inflation, and prudent macroeconomic policies despite an uncertain and challenging global economic backdrop, the Reserve Bank said in a report on Wednesday. The health of commercial banks (SCBs) remains sound with strong capital and liquidity buffers, improved asset quality and robust profitability, the Reserve Bank said in its Financial Stability Report (FSR). The report reflec

RAIPUR, Dec 31: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said people should not be judged by caste, wealth or language, adding that the country belongs to everyone. The first step towards harmony is removing feelings of separation and discrimination from ones mind and treating everyone as ones own, Bhagwat said, addressing the Hindu Sammelan at Sonpairi village in Chhattisgarhs Raipur district. The entire country belongs to everyone and this spirit is true social harmony, Bhagwat said. Bhagwat stres

KOLKATA, Dec 31: Despite challenges like uncertainty over weather conditions, rain fury, pest attacks, stagnant prices for a major part of 2025 and row over imports of inferior variety, the Indian tea sector fared relatively well this year with increased output and higher exports, stakeholders said. Compared to 2024 when the crop was down by 100 million kgs, this year has been better for the overall industry, Tea Association of India president Sandeep Singhania said. Till October, we are [] The

Col ParmJit Singh Hello ALL FRIENDS and relatives wish you all good luck , peace , prosperity best of health and happiness in the ensuing year 2026 . ALL THE VERY BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR. Let the year be a year full of happiness and usher in peace and prosperity for all worldwide , VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBHAKAM. World is one family, so far as humanity is concerned . Previous year 2025 had gone past . For some happenings happened as [] The post HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Jammu, Dec 31: Nearly 3.75 lakh passengers have travelled on the Vande Bharat Express across Jammu and Kashmir over the last six months, marking a significant milestone for the Jammu Railway Division in its first year of operations, officials said. The premium train service between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar was flagged off on June 6 after the inauguration of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, giving the Valley all-weather rail connectivity with the rest of

New Delhi, Dec 31: The Supreme Court has held vacation courts for the first time with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant himself sitting twice during the winter break to hear urgent matters involving life and liberty as well as those requiring immediate judicial intervention. The top court holds vacation benches during longer summer break, which has now been rechristened as partial court working days, but this year was the first instance when the apex court held vacation benches even [] The post

Mumbai, Dec 31: Sadanand Vasant Date, a soft-spoken yet tough taskmaster and a decorated officer of the 26/11 terror attacks, was on Wednesday appointed as the new Director General of Maharashtra Police (DGP). A 1990 batch IPS officer, the 59-year-old Date will succeed Rashmi Shukla, who retires on January 3. He will have a fixed tenure of two years as the head of the over two lakh strong Maharashtra Police force. Dates appointment follows his recent premature repatriation from central [] The po

New Delhi, Dec 31: Operation Sindoor, the Indian militarys most expansive and multi-domain combat mission in half a century to punish Pakistan for its relentless support to cross-border terrorism, redefined Indias overarching security and strategic goals in 2025, making it a watershed year for the defence establishment. India launched a series of precision missile strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7 eliminating at least 100 terrorist

CANBERRA, Dec 31: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised Australians for their response to the Bondi Beach terror attack in his New Years address. In the annual video message marking the end of 2025, Albanese said that the usual joy that Australians feel at the start of a New Year is tempered by the sadness of the fatal shooting of 15 people at a Jewish festival at Sydneys Bondi Beach earlier in December. The PM said that the nations hearts [] The post PM Albanese praises Australian spirit

NEW DELHI, Dec 31: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a habeas corpus plea alleging illegal arrest of a businessman from Haldwani in Uttarakhand by Uttar Pradesh Police but granted him the liberty to approach the high court for appropriate relief. A vacation bench of justices MM Sundresh and Prashant Kumar Mishra asked advocates Anand Kumar and Aditya Giri, appearing for petitioner Umang Rastogi, to approach the Allahabad High Court for relief after noting that a similar [] The

DHAKA, Dec 31: Bangladeshs former prime minister Khaleda Zias funeral prayers were held on Wednesday amid tight security. The funeral prayer (namaz-e-janaza) was held at the Manik Mia Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Khatib Mufti Mohammad Abdul Malek conducted the funeral prayers while Bangladesh Nationalist Partys Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan read out a brief biography of Zia. Zia, who dominated Bangladeshs politics for decades, died on Tuesday in D

New Delhi, Dec 31: The government on Wednesday approved a major relief package for Vodafone Idea, freezing its outstanding dues and approving a five-year moratorium on payments, providing a critical lifeline to the debt-laden telecom operator. The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, agreed to freeze AGR dues of Vodafone-Idea Ltd (VIL) at Rs 87,695 crore, which the struggling company has to start paying from 2031-32 fiscal and clear by 2040-41, sources aware of the decision sai

PARIS, Dec 31: The Channel Tunnels operator said trains through the undersea link between continental Europe and the United Kingdom were running again Wednesday in both directions after a day of travel chaos caused by a power malfunction. Eurostar, which runs passenger trains through the tunnel, said its services were operating again but warned that knock on impacts following the disruptions on Tuesday could still cause delays and cancellations. The power supply problem in the 50-kilometer (32-

NEW YORK, Dec 31: Isiah Whitlock Jr., an actor who made frequent memorable appearances on the HBO series The Wire and Veep and in five films with director Spike Lee, died Tuesday. He was 71. Whitlocks manager Brian Liebman told The Associated Press in an email that the actor died in New York after a short illness. Whitlock played openly corrupt state Sen. Clay Davis on 25 episodes across the five seasons of The Wire. Davis, a fan-favorite character, [] The post Isiah Whitlock Jr., actor from Th

OUAGADOUGOU, Dec 31: Burkina Faso has decided to impose total visa restrictions on U.S. nationals in response to Washingtons move to tighten entry rules for Burkinabe citizens, the government said Tuesday. The decision was taken in line with the principle of reciprocity, according to a statement signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabe Abroad of Burkina Faso, Karamoko Jean Marie Traore. The United States announced on December 16 that it would fully suspend t

COLOMBO, Dec 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Sri Lanka in 2025 marked an upswing in bilateral ties, as the island nation showed signs of recovery from the economic stress. During the April visit, military cooperation between India and Sri Lanka was also institutionalised, with PM Modi asserting that the security of both nations is interlinked and dependent on each other. Modi visited Sri Lanka at a time when the island nation was showing signs of recovery from [] The post 2025: PM Mo

Kathua/Jammu, Dec 31: Police identified 39 overground workers (OGWs) and booked 18 of them under the Public Safety Act in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district during 2025, marking a major crackdown on terror networks in the region, a senior officer said on Wednesday. Presenting the annual crime report for 2025, Kathua Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohita Sharma said four militancy-related cases were registered during the year, leading to the arrest of seven persons, while two terrorists we

NEW DELHI, Dec 31: Indian Railways has achieved a significant milestone in its journey towards self-reliant rail technology with the successful completion of the final high-speed trial of the indigenously designed Vande Bharat sleeper train, ministry officials said on Wednesday. The trial, conducted under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), took place on the Kota-Nagda section, where the train achieved a maximum speed of 180 kmph, it added, without specifying a new date

Srinagar, Dec 31: Security has been beefed up across the Valley, particularly at tourist spots, in view of New Year celebrations, officials said on Wednesday. To ensure peaceful festivities, a multi-layered security is being maintained at key tourist destinations, they said, adding, there has been a significant deployment of security forces at such locations. Checking and surveillance has been intensified across the Kashmir valley, especially at venues where New Year celebrations are scheduled t

New Delhi, Dec 31: The Union Health Ministry has banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of all oral formulations containing the popular painkiller nimesulide above 100 mg, citing serious risks to health, an official notification said. The decision was taken following a recommendation by ICMR, the apex health research body of India, it said. The Central government is satisfied that the use of all oral formulations containing Nimesulide above 100 mg in immediate release dosage form is likel

New Delhi, Dec 31: The Enforcement Directorate has attached an immovable property worth Rs 150 crore near the Buckingham Palace in London in a case of alleged bank loan fraud linked to money laundering involving textile major S Kumars Nationwide Ltd and its ex CMD Nitin Kasliwal. The federal probe agency said in a statement on Wednesday that a provisional order was issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Tuesday to attach the asset. The high-value property [] The post Bank

DE Web Desk Jammu, Dec 31: The Jammu Crime Branch registered 67 FIRs involving serious and complex economic offences and arrested 22 accused in 2025, the agency said on Wednesday, describing the performance as a landmark achievement. During the year, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Jammu Crime Branch successfully disposed of a record number of cases involving serious and intricate economic offences, resolved 1,186 complaints and registered 67 new cases, the highest in the last 25 years, an a

Kolkata, Dec 31: Continuing on his agenda to take stock of the BJP West Bengal units preparedness for the assembly polls scheduled early next year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday held a meeting with the partys public representatives, past and present, at a hotel in Salt Lake here. The partys former state president, Dilip Ghosh, who has largely stayed away from the forefront of BJPs activities in the state over the past several months, was also invited to [] The post Shah meets BJP pu

Katra/Jammu, Dec 31: The Vaishno Devi shrine board is continuously working to enhance facilities and arrangements for pilgrims visiting the shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district, Chief Executive Officer Sachin Kumar Vaishya said on Wednesday. He expressed satisfaction over the heavy influx of devotees coinciding with New Year celebrations, and said adequate arrangements, including accommodation, security, and smooth darshan, have been ensured so that pilgrims do not face

An explosives-laden car with 150 kg of illegal ammonium nitrate concealed in bags of urea fertilizer was found in Rajasthans Tonk on New Years Eve today. The post Security Scare On New Years Eve, Explosives-Laden Car Seized In Rajasthan appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

NEW DELHI, Dec 31: Food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy are offering more incentives to their delivery partners, a standard practice they follow on festive periods, to ensure minimal disruptions in services on New Years Eve amid strike call by gig workers unions. Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) have claimed that lakhs of workers are set to join the nationwide strike to demand better payouts and improved working con

Srinagar, Dec 31: Fresh snowfall blanketed several areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir with the Meteorological department forecasting light to moderate precipitation at most places over the next 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday. Owing to a cloud cover, the night temperatures remained higher than the seasonal average and settled above the freezing point at most places, the officials said. Despite the fresh snow, the valley continues to experience an unusually warm winter, with temperature

BANGKOK, Dec 31: Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement on Wednesday, saying that Thailand has repatriated 18 detained Cambodian soldiers to Cambodia. In the statement, the MFA stated that the repatriation is in line with paragraph 11 of the Joint Statement between Thailand and Cambodia signed at the 3rd Special General Border Committee Meeting on Dec. 27, 2025, which states that the 18 Cambodian soldiers will be returned to Cambodia after the ceasefire has been fully mai

Gopeshwar/Dehradun, Dec 31: Eighty-eight people were injured in a loco train collision inside the Pipalkoti tunnel of the under-construction Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydropower project in Chamoli district, an official said. One of the trains had workers and officials on board, while the other carried material. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered proper treatment for the injured. Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said that the accident occurred around 8.30 pm on Tuesday at th

Bhaderwah/Jammu, Dec 31: Braving sub-zero temperatures, the Army and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police have intensified their vigil in the high altitude areas of Chenab valley district to counter any attempt by terrorists to disrupt New Year celebrations, officials said on Wednesday. A massive counter-terrorist operation has been underway since last week in the upper reaches of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts of Chenab valley, including the snow-bound areas and a

ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: As Pakistan enters 2026 as the worlds fifth most populous country, with a population exceeding 225 million, the UNFPA has highlighted the need for a strategic, rights-based approach to population management. Calling for an urgency to address its high population growth and fertility rates, persistent gender inequality, and rising climate vulnerability, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said these realities underscore the need to view population not as a burden but as a

ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: The year 2025 witnessed the most significant military escalation between India and Pakistan in decades. This conflict challenged both the internal and external foundations of cash-strapped Pakistan, leaving the state at a critical crossroads. In the summer of 2025, India launched coordinated missile strikes, codenamed Operation Sindoor, to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and its occupied part of Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 peopl

NEW DELHI, Dec 31: The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) framework in 2025 was marked by mounting stress on timelines and capacity, with resolution processes stretching far beyond the statutory limits, despite efforts by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to cope with its limited capacity. Senior advocates and legal industry experts have voiced concerns over systemic delays, pointing to nearly 10,000 cases stuck at the admission stage, with recovery worth more than Rs 10 lakh crore lock

NEW DELHI, Dec 31: The year 2025 stood out as a major milestone in Indias economic journey. Instead of creating more rules, the government focused on making existing systems simpler and more effective. The aim was clear-make daily economic life easier for citizens, workers, farmers, and businesses. Across taxation, labour laws, GST, rural employment, MSMEs, and exports, the focus shifted to delivery, clarity, and trust. These reforms were designed to reduce confusion, cut delays, and improve con

Ayodhya, Dec 31: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday hoisted a flag at the Annapurna Temple in the Ram Temple complex and joined prayers on the occasion of the second anniversary of Pran Pratishtha. The veteran BJP leader was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Annapurna Temple is one of the seven temples in the Ram Temple complex. The Wednesday event followed a programme on November 25, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted a saffron flag atop the [] The pos

SRINAGAR, Dec 31: A sessions court in Jammu and Kashmir has acquitted three people accused of involvement in terror activities for lack of evidence. The court of the additional sessions judge, a special judge designated under the NIA Act, ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Wajid Ahmad Bhat, Masrat Bilal Bhuru and Rameez Ahmad Dar, all residents of Kulgam district, were acquitted on Monday. Judge Manjeet Rai directed that the accused be [] The po

Srinagar, Dec 31: A total of six arrivals and departure flights at Srinagar Airport in Jammu and Kashmir were cancelled on Wednesday due to adverse weather conditions and operational issues, airport authorities said. This comes amid dense fog prevailing in Jammu and other parts of Northern India. According to an X post by Srinagar Airport authorities, one Indigo, three Air India, and one Air India Express flight were cancelled due to weather-related reasons, while a SpiceJet flight was cancelled

Srinagar, Dec 31: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said they recovered a Chinese-made pistol, two hand grenades, ammunition and cash worth 8.40 lakh from two persons in Ganderbal district. A senior police officer confirmed that the recovery was made during a late-evening operation by Police Station Ganderbal along with the Special Operations Group (SOG) near Gundrehman Bridge, the officer said. The accused, identified as Ghulam Nabi Mir of Hajin in Bandipora district and Shabnum Nazir of Sha

Srinagar, Dec 31: A team of the State Investigation Agency, along with Jammu Kashmir Police, conducted a raid at Bonpora in the Nowgam area of Srinagar on Wednesday, sources said. The raid was carried out at the residential house of an accused who is presently under custody in connection with a poster-related case registered at Police Station Nowgam. Sources said that the search operation was conducted as part of an ongoing investigation linked to a case registered by the State [] The post SIA C

JAMMU, Dec 31: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has promoted Chaturbhuj Behera, Indian Forest Service officer of the AGMUT cadre, to the grade of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Level 16 of the pay matrix. Behera is presently serving as PCCF in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. See Order Copy Click Here. The post Chaturbhuj Behera Promoted To PCCF Grade appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, Dec 31: The Department of Personnel and Training has approved the re-designation of the post of Private Secretary to the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare from Deputy Secretary level to Director level as a personal measure. The post is presently held by Ravinder Kumar, a 2012 batch IAS officer of the joint AGMUT cadre, who has earlier served in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre and later in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh [] The post Ravinder Kum