Daily Excelsior

Srinagar, Feb 13: A Pulwama-based businessman has been acquitted in a 13 lakh cheque bounce case after the Court of Sub Judge Srinagar ruled that the complainant failed to establish the existence of a legally enforceable debt, a mandatory requirement for conviction under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. The Court of Sub Judge Srinagar has acquitted Wasim Raja Khan of Pulwama in a cheque bounce case filed by Mohammad Ismail Qureshi of Sonwar, Srinagar, after determining that the []

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned on Friday till March 9, as Parliament went into a three-week-long recess to allow standing committees to scrutinise Budget proposals. The Upper House met for Zero Hour at 11 am and was adjourned at 1 pm after the scheduled Question Hour. Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha proceedings too were adjourned till March 9. The first part of the Budget Session began on January 28 with President Droupadi Murmus address to [] The post Rajya Sabha Procee

New Delhi, Feb 13: The tumultuous first leg of the Budget session, which saw heated exchanges over the India-US interim trade deal and unpublished memoir of former army chief M M Naravane, concluded Friday and the House will now reassemble on March 9. The three-week recess period will allow standing committees to examine allocations to various central ministries given in the Union Budget. Earlier in the day, the House was adjourned for one hour after Opposition members raised slogans demanding [

New Delhi, Feb 13: The Supreme Court on Friday extended from April 30 to May 31 the deadline fixed by the Himachal Pradesh High Court for holding the polls for local bodies in the state. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the plea filed by the principal secretary of the state government and also extended the HCs deadline of Feb 28 to March 31 for completing reconstruction work, delimitation and reservation. On [] The post SC extends deadline by m

Jammu, Feb 13: More than 32,000 cancer cases have been reported across Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, with nearly 79 per cent of the total cases recorded in the valley alone, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo said on Friday. Replying to an unstarred question by PDP legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Para in the Assembly, the minister said 25,621 cases were registered in Kashmir division (20222024), while 6,804 cases were reported from Jammu division (20232025). She said the most commonly detected [] The

New Delhi, Feb 13: National Conference member Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo on Friday raised concern in the Rajya Sabha over the plight of students from Jammu and Kashmir who have been left in limbo after a Rajasthan university allegedly failed to honour its admission commitments. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, the MP from J&K said several students from Jammu seeking admission to nursing courses at Mewar University in Rajasthan have been denied entry despite assurances from university authorities. T

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Core inflation in India declined sharply to 3.4 per cent under the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) 2024 base series, compared to around 4.15 per cent under the 2012 series, even as headline retail inflation edged up to 2.75 per cent in January 2026, according to the latest report released by the State Bank of India. The report noted that overall CPI inflation under the new 2024 base stood at 2.75 per cent in January 2026, [] The post Core inflation falls to 3.4pc under new CPI

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt in a cheating case. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered their forthwith release from Udaipur jail and asked the Chief Judicial Magistrate to pass the bail order delineating the terms and conditions. The top court also issued notices to complainant Ajay Murdia, the founder of Indira IVF and Fertility Centre and a resident of [] The post S

New Delhi, Feb 13: Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that the government has shelved a plan to bring a motion against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for using unparliamentary language against the prime minister, as a BJP MP has submitted a notice to initiate a substantive motion against the Congress leader on the same issue. Speaking to reporters here, the Union minister stated that the speaker would be consulted on whether [] The post Govt

Kulgam, Feb 13: In one of the biggest anti-drug actions in the district, Kulgam Police on Thursday attached immovable properties worth approximately 1.5 crore belonging to an alleged notorious drug peddler in Manigam area of Qazigund, officials said. Kulgam Police have attached immovable properties comprising 06 shops, 05 godowns, one tin shed, and one plinth located at Village Manigam, belonging to a notorious drug peddler Mohd Ashraf Khanday, S/o Gh. Ahmad Khanday, R/o Nipora, Kulgam, falling

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: The Indian automobile industry clocked its highest-ever January sales in 2026, with passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and three-wheelers posting double-digit growth, according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Friday here. Total vehicle production, including passenger vehicles, three-wheelers, two-wheelers and quadricycles, stood at 29,27,394 units in January 2026, reflecting strong momentum at the start of the calendar year. Domestic

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: iPhone maker Apple has unveiled the barricade for its upcoming Apple Borivali store, which will be its sixth store in India and second in Mumbai, the company said on Friday. The company opened its first store in Mumbai and second store in Delhi in April, 2023. It continued expansion with the opening of three stores in 2025Apple Hebbal in Bengaluru and Apple Koregaon Park in Pune, and more recently at Apple Noida. Apple Borivali opens Thursday, [] The post Apple to open 6th sto

NEW DELHI, Feb 13: Transrail Lighting on Friday said it has secured new Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) orders worth Rs 2,350 crore in domestic market. The orders were primarily in the domestic Transmission & Distribution (T&D) segment along with a civil order and select wins in poles & lighting. With these additions, the companys cumulative order inflows for FY26 have crossed Rs 7,980 crore, it said in a regulatory filing. The T&D order includes mainly construction of 765 kV []

JAMMU, Feb 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Town Planning Organisation (TPO) in Kashmir has just three town planners to cater to 40 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), indicating a severe shortage of technical staff in the department. In a written reply to legislator Sajad Gani Lone during the ongoing budget session, Chief Minister (who holds charge of the Housing and Urban Development Department) said the ratio of town planner to ULBs in [] The po

JAMMU, Feb 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government has confirmed that Qazigund, widely known as the Gateway of Kashmir, is being developed on modern and sustainable lines, with several infrastructure and urban planning initiatives underway. Responding to a question in the Assembly raised by MLA Abdul Majeed Bhat, the government said the towns strategic location at the southern entry point of the Kashmir Valley and its role as a major road and rail transit hub make it a priority for [] The post Govt

JAMMU, Feb 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday told the Legislative Assembly that reopening of the tourist destinations Doodhpathri and Yousmarg is subject to security considerations, which are beyond the Tourism Departments mandate. The matter has been referred to the Deputy Commissioner of Budgam for appropriate action, the government said in response to a question raised by Budgam MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi. The government also acknowledged that recent incidents in the tourism sec

New Delhi, Feb 13: Congress MPs on Friday held a protest in Parliament House complex demanding resignation of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri after his name figured in the Epstein Files released in the United States. Several Congress MPs lined up outside the Parliament building and raised slogans against Puri, while demanding answers from him. They also held a big banner with pictures of Puri and Jeffery Epstein. Puri had on Wednesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for passing innuendo [

Srinagar, Feb 13: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that Gojri and Pahari languages are being taught in schools only as mother tongue subjects under the Three-Language Formula. The reply, issued by the School Education Department in response to a question by MLA Choudhary Mohammad Akram, stated that these languages are included in the JK Board of School Education (JKBOSE) curriculum for classes 1 to 8. Textbooks for Gojri and Pahari have been developed

Jammu, Feb 13: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that it is not considering any proposal for waiver of loans availed under the Kisan Credit Card scheme. The clarification came in response to a query raised by MLA Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal, who sought to know whether the government planned to waive KCC loans in light of losses suffered by the agriculture and horticulture sectors due to recent floods and the prolonged National Highway [] The post No Pro

JAMMU, Feb 13: The issue of sale of rotten and unsafe meat triggered heated exchanges in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Friday, with several MLAs demanding strict enforcement, stronger preventive measures and even attachment of properties of those involved in the illegal trade. The matter was raised through Assembly Question Nos. 10, 94, 569 and 757 asked by MLAs Mubarak Gul, Mir Saifullah, Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah and Hasnain Masoodi regarding Food Adulteration and Sale of Rotte

Jammu, Feb 13: A total of 32,425 cancer cases have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir over the last three years, with lung, breast, oral, cervical, prostate and pancreatic cancers emerging as the most commonly detected types, the Government informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday. The data was shared by the Health & Medical Education Department in a written reply to a question tabled by Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para regarding treatment of terminal diseases. The reply stated that in Jammu

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Kargil, Feb 13: Former National Conference leader and ex-Food Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon, a prominent political face from Kargil, passed away on Friday, triggering widespread grief across political circles in Jammu and Kashmir. The demise of the senior leader was informed to the Legislative Assembly by National Conference legislator Tanveer Sadiq. Soon after the announcement, members of the House expressed profound sorrow over his passing and paid rich tributes to his political and public service

Dhaka, Feb 13: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday claimed victory in the crucial general elections, marred by sporadic incidents of violence, to elect a new government to replace the interim administration, which took charge after the fall of the Awami League regime in August 2024. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP is set to form the government after victory in the majority of seats, BNPs media cell posted on x. The Election Commission (EC) is yet to make a formal announcement. [] T

NEW DELHI, Feb 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Kerala is fed up with ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), and asserted that the state is now looking to the BJP-NDA with great hope. Modi made the remarks after he met newly-elected BJP councillors from the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation and representatives of other civic bodies from Kerala here. At 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, hosted Kerala BJP Panchayat members, Municipality memb

SEATTLE, Feb 12: The city of Seattle has reached a USD 29 million settlement with the family of a 23-year-old graduate student from India who was struck by a speeding police officer as she crossed a street in 2023. Jaahnavi Kandula was hit by Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving as fast as 119 kph in a 40-kph zone as he responded to a drug overdose call. He had his emergency lights on and had been using his siren at [] The post Seattle reaches USD 29M settlement with family of grad student from I

NEW DELHI, Feb 12: Sanju Samson disappointed again, Ishan Kishan dazzled and his mentor Hardik Pandya entertained but Indias 93-run victory over Namibia here on Thursday wasnt exactly the Box Office hit one expected ahead of a tense T20 World Cup face-off against Pakistan. The victory felt less like an assurance and more like the calm before the cricketing tempest with Pakistan lying in wait. The margin of victory, Indias highest in a T20 World Cup, wont depict the entire [] The post Match-winni

Uttam Prakash Bangladeshs election is not only a contest for power, but a measure of whether political legitimacy has been translated into durable institutions capable of managing competition without instability. With voting completed, Bangladesh enters a phase that is more consequential than polling day itself. Elections resolve representation; they do not automatically resolve institutional fragility. The period immediately following a vote is often the clearest indicator of whether political

Rachna Vinod rvbooks25@gmail.com On most days, if you notice long enough, you can see the future walking past you. It may be a young girl in a school uniform adjusting her backpack, a woman on a scooter navigating traffic with quiet confidence, or an elderly grandmother teaching a child a forgotten song. This seems like a routine passing unnoticed, yet it carries something remarkable i.e. confidence. The confidence that change is already happening acknowledging a simple yet profound realisation

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: Jammu Motor Vehicles (JMV), an Authorised Dealership of Mahindra unveiled the all-new e-auto, Mahindra UDO vehicle, in a function held here today. The event was held at the Bakshi Nagar Showroom in Jammu and the vehicle was unveiled by Rachit Chopra, auto union president, in the presence of Swatantar Aggarwal, Chairman of Aggarwal Group, Vineet Aggarwal, Nitin Aggarwal, other Directors and family members of Aggarwal. The Mahindra UDO draws inspiration from

O.P. Sharma opsharmajournalist@gmail.com Every year, World Radio Day is observed on February 13, and this year too it is being celebrated in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with solemnity and fervour. The theme for World Radio Day 2026 is Radio and Artificial Intelligence, with the guiding slogan AI is a tool, not a voice. The theme focuses on the ethical use of AI in broadcasting, enhancing creativity, and preserving human connection and trust in the evolving media landscape. [] The po

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: CSIR-IIIM hosted a two-day Industry-Academia Meet-2026 here. The inaugural session saw participation from senior researchers, pharmaceutical industry representatives and policymakers. The programme also included the release of the Institute Compendium and the signing of MoUs with industry partners. Padma Shri Prof. V.K Singh, Institute Chair Professor at IIT Kanpur and Mentor of CSIR-IIIM was the chief guest at the inaugural session, guest of honour was Dr.

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: To support meritorious and financially disadvantaged students, Chandigarh University (CU) today announced to provide scholarships worth Rs 250 crore through its admission-cum-scholarship entrance exam, Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test 2026 (CUCET 2026),CUCET 2025 is a gateway to world-class education and a lifeline for deserving students who lack the means to pursue their academic goal.This was informed by the Advisor to Chancellor of Chandigarh U

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: SMART Bazaar, Indias trusted value retail destination today launched its biggest-ever SMART Bazaar Exchange, Purana becho mehenga, aur naya kharido sasta, a nationwide initiative designed to help families save more and shop smarter, all under one roof. The Exchange offers a simple, practical solution, convert unused household items into real savings for todays needs. During the offer, customers can exchange old newspapers, used clothes and old utensils at S

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: A one-day workshop on Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Prashikshan Mahabhiyan2026 organized by the Jammu & Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was held here today. The workshop aimed at strengthening organizational capacity, ideological clarity and disciplined functioning of party cadres at all levels. The Mahabhiyan workshop was addressed by BJP national general secretary and prabhari J&K Tarun Chugh (National Co-convenor of the Abhiyan), MLA and Zonal Co-convenor

* Attends Dyar Daham celebrations Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today called upon the people to celebrate Indias grand renaissance. He said for thousands of years, the sacred land of India has journeyed toward spiritual excellence, with our saints and great souls reaching the pinnacle of consciousness. In near future, India alone will guide the world towards the right path. The society, especially the youth should also recognize and harness its spiritual

* DB disposes of PIL Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has cleared the way for completion of the long-pending Mendhar Mini Secretariat after the Union Territory Government informed the High Court that administrative approval has been granted for the Rs 15.31 crore project. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal was hearing CPPIL No. 1/2018 arising out of PIL No. 22/2016. During the proceedings, the responde

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Feb 12: Jammu & Kashmir BJP president and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Sat Sharma CA, sought reply on an important public-interest issue in the Rajya Sabha regarding the conservation and protection of monuments in Jammu & Kashmir, to which he received a written reply from the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Through an unstarred question, Sat Sharma sought to know whether the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is underta

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Feb 12: 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 asserted in the Rajya Sabha that Indias nuclear energy programme is in a decisive expansion phase, backed by policy reforms, private sector participation and clearly defined capacity targets extending up to 2047. The Minister said Indias installed nuclear capacity,

Fake videos being circulated from political handles too *BJP MLAs seek action against Harshdev, withdrawal of award Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Feb 12: Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather today assured discussion in the House on the issue of fake news after several MLAs including those from ruling National Conference voiced concern over the issue saying image of some persons is being tarnished daily. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The Speaker also assured agitated BJP MLAs

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra has said that Congress always empowered women in political field and every sphere of life and always stands for due share to women in all aspects of life. Addressing a gathering of Mahila Congress at PCC office here today PCC chief said that Congress empowered women in every sphere of life and encouraged them in the political and democratic system in the country . He said that Partygave first Woman [] The post Cong empower

Insurance cover for yatris, others to be doubled Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: During its 50th Board meeting, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) today approved setting up Laser and Sound Show dedicated to Baba Barfani, to be hosted in both Srinagar and Jammu. The show will also serve as a cultural beacon, highlighting the rich spiritual history of the Union Territory. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The Board also announced that the Pratham Pooja for the 2026 [] The pos

*Seeks Govt response on penalty, recovery notices Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has taken serious note of an inordinate four-year delay in deciding a statutory appeal related to penalties imposed under the Himayat Skill Development Scheme, terming the prolonged pendency very shocking and directing authorities to explain the reasons behind the delay. Hearing a writ petition filed by Eduspark International Pvt Ltd, Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal is

The debate in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly over frozen teacher posts has once again exposed a long-standing structural weakness in the regions education system. While the Governments indication that posts frozen in 2018 may be unfrozen is a welcome step, it also raises a serious question-why did such a critical sector remain constrained for so long? Education is not an optional public service; it is a fundamental right guaranteed to every child. Any policy or administrative decisio

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: The Wrestling Association of J&K will conduct selection trials for the U-15 Boys and Girls Wrestling Championship on February 16, 2026 at the Wrestling Hall, Gulshan Ground, Jammu. The trials are being organized in collaboration with J&K Police and the Directorate of Sports & Physical Education, University of Jammu, under the aegis of the Wrestling Federation of India, J&K Sports Council and J&K Olympic Association. The selected wrestlers in each wei

Officers be also made accountable for this malpractice Avtar Bhat / Nishikant Khajuria JAMMU, Feb 12: Members across the party lines today expressed their grave concern over allotment of works to contractors quoting rates below 60 percent to 80 percent of sanctioned scheduled. Terming it bizarre, they said this way it is totally impossible to maintain quality and standard of work. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The issue was raised by many MLAs during the debate on grants [] The

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: The Finance Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government has assigned additional responsibilities to four officers in the interest of the administration. As per an order, Rajesh Talwar, Director Finance/Principal Northern Zonal Accountancy Training Institute, Jammu shall hold the charge of the post of Director Accounts & Treasuries, Jammu in addition to his own duties, till Rajesh Chander Kotwal returns from leave, and Haroon Ahmad Bhat, Director Finance,

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 12: Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana today informed the Legislative Assembly that flood management and protection works on River Tawi are executed every year as per approved plan under UT CAPEX and NABARD for River Training works and strengthening of embankments. The Minister stated this while replying to a question raised by Legislator Surinder Kumar in the House. Javed Rana said several flood protection works under UT CAPEX are underway, with six comp

Suhail Bhat SRINAGAR, Feb 12: The Government today said that only eight of the 124 community borewells planned under the National Saffron Mission are currently functional, while 77 borewells have remained non-operational for a long time, exposing serious shortcomings in the missions irrigation component meant to support saffron cultivation in Kashmir. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Replying to a question by MLA Hasnain Masoodi in the Legislative Assembly, the Government said the