Daily Excelsior

Jammu, Jan 21: A delegation of Congress leaders led by the partys Jammu and Kashmir unit working president Raman Bhalla met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here and discussed with him broader issues of public concern. According to a party spokesperson, the delegation, also comprising chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, former minister Yogesh Sawhney and former MLCs Ved Mahajan and Balbir Singh, raised various issues which needed immediate attention. He said the delegation highlighted issues such as

NEW DELHI, Jan 21 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh today directed that Kaladi, the GI-tagged traditional dairy product of Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir, be upscaled for wider food applications and recipes, while strictly preserving its original flavour, texture, and nutritional identity. The Minister said that the focus should be on value addition and enhancement of shelf life, enabling Kaladi to reach national an

Shopian, Jan 21: Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat (IPS), on Wednesday chaired a high-level security review meeting at the District Police Office (DPO) Shopian to assess the prevailing security situation and review ongoing anti-terror operations, with a special focus on arrangements for Republic Day2026. Prabhat, chaired a comprehensive Security Review Meeting at the Conference Hall, District Police Office (DPO), Shopian, to assess the prevailing security scenario and

Jammu, Jan 21: Jammu Kashmir Lok Bhavan today celebrated the Statehood Day of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya, at Jammu. The cultural evening, celebrating the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, brought together students, security personnel, and the people of Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur living in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha extended his heartiest greetings to be the people of Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur on the occasion. He paid tribu

SRINAGAR, Jan 21: Security forces on Wednesday diffused an improvised explosive device (IED) that they recovered from an orchard in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district, police said. According to officials, the IED weighing about 6 kg was recovered from an orchard in Awneera village of the south Kashmir district during a search operation ahead of the Republic Day. The IED was later destroyed in a controlled explosion, they added. The post Security Forces Diffuse IED Recovered From Orchard In J&Ks

Jammu, Jan 21: As Republic Day is nearing, safety protocols are being significantly tightened across Jammu, with security forces on Wednesday conducting house to house searches in a locality with a large concentration of Rohingya Muslims, officials said. They said additional Army troops were inducted in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district on day four of the ongoing search operation to flush out terrorists, who have escaped into deep forest after an encounter on Sunday. Police, assisted by th

DAVOS, Jan 21: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday asserted that India will definitely become the worlds third-largest economy over the next few years, with economist Gita Gopinath saying it can happen by 2028 or even earlier. Speaking in a World Economic Forum Annual Meeting session here, Vaishnaw said the only matter of concern is what will happen with the mountains of debt in the rich world and what could be the impact on India. Gopinath said the challenge for [] The post Vaishnaw sa

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Rajya Sabha member, author and philanthropist Sudha Murty on Wednesday cautioned against fake videos circulating online that falsely use her image and voice to promote financial schemes and investments. She said, these are deepfakes created without her knowledge or consent. I want to alert you to fake videos circulating online that falsely use my image and voice to promote financial schemes and investments. These are deepfakes created without my knowledge or consent, Murty sai

DAVOS, Jan 21: India will keep growing by 6-8 per cent in real terms and 10-13 per cent in nominal terms over the next five years, supported by moderate inflation and strong growth, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. Speaking here in a session on Bet on India Bank on the Future organised by CII in association with EY on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, Vaishnaw highlighted the importance of simplification of permissions [] The post India to keep gr

New Delhi, Jan 21: Eternal on Wednesday said Deepinder Goyal will step down as Group CEO and Managing Director with Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa set to succeed him as Group CEO from February 1. In a letter to shareholders, Goyal said he is stepping down from his current position to pursue new ideas and transition to the role of Vice Chairman. Eternal informed exchanges that the appointment of Goyal as Vice Chairman & Director on the board will be effective [] The post Deepinder Goyal to step dow

Karachi, Jan 21: Humayun Khan, Chief Fire officer in Pakistans Karachi, has seen several emergencies in his more than three decades long career but said on Wednesday the Gul Plaza tragedy that claimed 30 lives affected him deeply. This incident has shaken me deeply, Khan from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporations fire brigade, said as he monitored the rescue operations three days after the inferno almost brought down the multi-storey building. The fire broke out in the basement of the Gul [] The

New Delhi, Jan 21: Internal security and AI-based frauds are among the issues chosen by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs for examination in the coming year. The department-related Standing Committee has selected as many as eight subjects for detailed examination during the year 2025-26, a Lok Sabha bulletin said. The panel, headed by BJPs Rajya Sabha member Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, has also chosen to study matters related disaster management, challenges to internal security a

Jammu, Jan 21: Emphasising fiscal discipline, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday directed all departments to submit well-structured, need-based proposals consistent with the governments development roadmap. For the second consecutive day, Abdullah held consultations with several key departments to assess priorities, sectoral needs and development imperatives for the upcoming budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, scheduled to begin on February 2. The chief minis

Srinagar, Jan 21: Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone on Wednesday seconded the BJPs demand for a separate Jammu state and said that he prayed for it. In a statement, the MLA from Handwara in the Valley, said, I pray to God that separation becomes possible. It would be true liberation. But beware, the big crocodiles will invent new stories tomorrow. Still, despite everything, we hope this comes to pass. Lone was commenting on the demand from some BJP leaders, including [] The post I Pray For

JAMMU, Jan 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a committee to examine the issues related to fees charged by private schools, including the cost of books, uniforms, shoes and other items provided to students. See Order Copy Click Here. The post Govt Forms Committee To Examine Fee Structure Of Private Schools In J&K appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, Jan 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has accorded sanction for the delegation of Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) powers for 46 headless educational institutions and offices in both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions. See Order Copy Click Here. See Order Copy Click Here. The post J&K Govt Delegates DDO Powers for 46 Headless Education Offices appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Srinagar, Jan 21: Police have intensified security measures in Srinagar ahead of Republic Day to ensure smooth and incident-free celebrations, officials said on Wednesday. In preparation for the upcoming Republic Day festivities, the Srinagar police has heightened security and inspection protocols throughout the city to guarantee a peaceful and safe observance of this national event, police officials said. As part of the enhanced security framework, police personnel have been deployed at strateg

London, Jan 21 (AP) Prince Harry is set to begin giving evidence Wednesday in a London court in his privacy invasion case against the Daily Mail and its sister Sunday newspaper. Tens of millions of dollars are on the line in the case in which Harry, who is also known as the Duke of Sussex, is joined by Elton John, actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, and others who claim the publisher of the Mail hired private investigators to bug [] The post Prince Harry set to give evidence at Londons High

Jammu, Jan 21: For months, Rajesh Kumar and Bindiya from Punjabs Jalandhar are living between despair and acceptance, searching in Jammu for answers about their 22-year-old daughter and her friend, who went missing after a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district in August last year. Another family from Jammu has lost eight members to the tragedy. The families say they are not asking for compensation but acknowledgement death certificates that would allow them to perform the rituals f

AYODHYA (UP), Jan 21: Ram Temple Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das was referred to a private hospital in Lucknow after his health deteriorated on Wednesday, his associates said. The 87-year-old seer has not taken any food for the past 36 hours and is suffering from continuous vomiting and diarrhoea, said his personal physician Dr S K Pathak. A close associate of the priest, Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, said the seers condition worsened, prompting doctors to refer him to Medanta [] The post Ram

Seoul, Jan 21: A South Korean court ruled Wednesday that the 2024 imposition of martial law by then President Yoon Suk Yeol constituted an act of rebellion as it sentenced his prime minister to 23 years in prison for his involvement. Ex-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became the first Yoon administration official convicted of rebellion charges related to Yoons martial law imposition in December 2024. The verdict is expected to set the stage for upcoming rulings involving Yoon and his other [] The po

Jerusalem, Jan 21: Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he had agreed to join US President Donald Trumps Board of Peace, after his office earlier criticized the makeup of the boards committee tasked with overseeing Gaza. The board, chaired by Trump, was originally envisaged as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan. The Trump administrations ambitions have broadened into a more sprawling concept, with Trump extending invitations to dozens of nations

Copenhagen (Denmark), Jan 21: More than 15 years ago, Danish platoon commander Martin Tamm Andersen was leading his countrymen and US Marines through the heat and sand of southern Afghanistan after a Taliban attack. As Andersens vehicle moved at the rear of the column, everything was normal until in one instant the world turned sand-colored. His body shook violently. I had no idea what was going on, he recalled. He ran his hands over his arms and legs to [] The post Danish veterans of US wars f

Dhaka, Jan 21: A Bangladesh court on Wednesday set February 9 as the date for holding another hearing on charge framing in a sedition case filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 285 others. The case relates to allegations that Hasina and several hundred Awami League members took part in a virtual meeting of a group called the Joy Bangla Brigade in December 2024, during which they allegedly plotted to overthrow the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. Judge Md Abdus [] The post B

New Delhi, Jan 21: Aur kitna sukhaoge Sukhna lake ko, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked on Wednesday while expressing concern over the drying up of Chandigarhs iconic lake as a result of collusion between builder mafias and bureaucrats. A bench of the CJI and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi was hearing interim applications filed in the pending 1995 PIL titled In Re: TN Godavarman Thirumulpad. Aur kitna sukhaoge Sukhna lake ko? There are illegal constructions in [] The post

New Delhi, Jan 21: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said setting up of additional trial courts will make the judicial system robust as the accused will not be needed to come to the apex court for reliefs like bail or expeditious hearing in criminal cases. The top court on January 6 had asked the Centre and the Delhi government to consider setting up a special court to conduct a day-to-day trial in a 2021 case probed by the National Investigation [] The post Additional Special Trial Courts Will Mak

Prayagraj, Jan 21: An Indian Air Force training aircraft crashed into a pond near the KP College ground in the George Town area here on Wednesday, officials said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Manish Shandilya told PTI that the pilot managed to eject safely and there were no reports of any casualties or damage to civilian property. He said the training aircraft crashed after its engine developed a sudden technical snag. Authorities cordoned off the area, and further investigation into []

LUCKNOW, Jan 21: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday said that people repose deep faith in the electoral process with the expectation that their elected representatives will take their problems, difficulties and challenges to the legislature and work towards resolving them. Addressing the concluding session of the 86th All India Presiding Officers Conference and the 62nd Conference of Secretaries of Legislative Bodies here, Birla said the legislature is the forum through which the voice of t

NEW DELHI, Jan 21: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved continuation of governments flagship Atal Pension Yojana (APY) up to financial year 2030-31 along with extension of funding support for promotional and developmental activities and gap funding. APY was launched on May 9, 2015 with the objective of providing old-age income security to workers in the unorganised sector. As of January 19, 2026, over 8.66 crore subscribers have been enrolled under APY. The scheme will continue up to 2030-31

New Delhi : (Jan 21) India continues to stand out as a key growth market, Mahindra Group managing director and chief executive officer Anish Shah told Moneycontrol at the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos. Perception on India is continuously very positive because India is a bright spot from a growth standpoint, Shah said, adding the country is likely to remain a major growth destination for companies worldwide. Shah said global trade conditions will play a critical role in [] The post India co

Srinagar, Jan 21: The minimum temperature improved at most places across Kashmir, even as the prolonged dry spell in the plains of the Valley is likely to end with the Meteorological Department forecasting spells of wet weather, including widespread snowfall for the upcoming week, officials said on Wednesday. Two strong western disturbances are likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir this week, with the first one making its impact on Thursday, and another on January 26, the officials said. Under the

CHENNAI, Jan 21: Months after walking out of the NDA, TTV Dhinakaran-led AMMK on Wednesday returned to the AIADMK-led bloc in Tamil Nadu. Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) founder-leader Dhinakaran met senior BJP leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal and was formally re-inducted into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, whose party leads the NDA in the state, welcomed Dhinakaran. The Dr Anbumani Ramadoss-led faction of PMK on January 7 joined the NDA i

New Delhi, Jan 21: Against the backdrop of opposition parties questioning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday asserted that a pure voters list is the key to strengthening democracy. Addressing the inaugural session of an international conference of election management bodies here, he also highlighted that not one complaint was filed challenging inclusion or exclusion of electors during the roll revision exercise in Bihar last

New Dehi, Jan 21: Union Minister Manohar Lal on Wednesday said cost-reflective tariff concept to reduce discoms losses is introduced in Electricity Amendment Bill, which is likely to come up for discussion and passage in the forthcoming Budget Session. The cost-reflective tariff assumes significance in view of the long history of debt-ridden and loss-making power distribution companies (discoms) in the country. Addressing the first annual conference of All India Discoms Association (AIDA), EDICO

Jammu, Jan 21: House Listing Operations (HLO) will be conducted across Jammu and Kashmir from June 1 to 30 as part of the upcoming census exercise, with self-enumeration commencing 15 days prior, officials said on Wednesday. The schedule was decided by the Union Territory Level Census Coordination Committee, which met here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, they said, adding that the government will issue the requisite notification by January 31. To facilitate smoo

New Delhi : (Jan 21) With India refusing to budge on the Indus Waters Treaty suspension, concern is mounting in Pakistan. Islamabad has now said that Indias move has triggered an unprecedented crisis for its water security and poses risks to regional stability. Usman Jadoon, Pakistans United Nations representative, described Indias decision as weaponisation of water and claimed that New Delhis actions breach the landmark 1960 treaty brokered by the global body. India held the treaty in abeyance

JAMMU, Jan 21: Following her promotion to the Super Time Scale (Level-14) by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Rehana Batul, IAS (AGMUT:2010), has been designated as Director General, Jammu and Kashmir Institute for Management, Public Administration and Rural Development. See Order Copy Click Here. The post Rehana Batul Promoted, Designated Director General JKIMPARD appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

New Delhi, Jan 21: Gold futures soared by Rs 7,774 to scale an all-time high of Rs 1,58,339 per 10 grams on Wednesday, as global prices breached the USD 4,800 per ounce-level amid sustained demand for the safe-haven assets. Rallying for the third straight day, the yellow metal futures for February delivery climbed by Rs 7,774, or 5.16 per cent, to touch a record of Rs 1,58,339 per 10 grams on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX). On Tuesday, the yellow [] The post Gold Futures Hit Record Rs 1.58 L

KURUKSHETRA, Jan 21: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived here on Wednesday to address a training camp for the partys district unit presidents from Haryana and Uttarakhand. The camp for the District Congress Committee (DCC) chiefs is being held here from January 13 to 22. After landing in Ambala, Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, headed to Kurukshetra by road. Senior leaders, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Haryana Congress chie

NEW DELHI (Jan 21) : The government is likely to commit around Rs 12,511 crore to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for developing a regional transport aircraft, with the bulk of the money earmarked for certification, testing and infrastructure rather than just design, government. The cost structure shows that regulatory approvals and technical validation will take a major share of the total spending, reflecting the complexity of building a civil aircraft, they said. Moneycontrol has review

DAVOS: (Jan 21) The Adani Group on Wednesday outlined a USD 66 billion investment blueprint for Maharashtra, spanning aviation, clean energy, urban infrastructure, digital platforms and advanced manufacturing, as it positioned itself as a long-term partner in the states infrastructure-led growth agenda. Presenting its plans at the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, the conglomerate said the portfolio reflects a shift towards building integrated, future-ready platforms align

NEW DELHI: (Jan 21) KPI Green Energy on Wednesday posted nearly 48 per cent growth in net profit at Rs 125.80 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, on account of revenues. a net profit of Rs 85.15 crore in the October-December period of the preceding 2024- ar, the company said in a regulatory filing. s total income rose to Rs 676.05 crore, from Rs 466.09 crore in the same quarter a surged to Rs 508.66 crore in the [] The post KPI Green Energy Q3 net profit grows 48 pc to Rs 126 cr appea

BHUBANESWAR (ODISHA) [INDIA]: January 21: AcreRise, one of Odishas most future-focused real estate developers, has been conferred the Real Estate Developer of the Year at the Times Business Awards-2026, reaffirming the brands leadership in transparency-driven, design-led, and compliant urban development. The recognition comes at a pivotal moment as Bhubaneswar enters its next phase of infrastructure-led growth. Founded by Sashikant Barik and Sheikh Mairajul Haque, AcreRise has positioned itself

MUMBAI: January 21, 2026 Stories of philosophy, artistry, and engineering converged as Titan Watches opened the doors to the Titan Chambers of Time at the India Watch Weekend (IWW) 2026. Across two days, the India Watch Weekend convened global and Indian watchmaking voices from established maisons to industry institutions and collectors fostering discovery, dialogue and shared experiences. Within this setting, Chambers of Time was conceived as a declaration of intent, articulated through a muse

NEW DELHI: (Jan 21) Drug maker Lupin on Wednesday said its subsidiary, Lupin Atlantis Holdings SA (LAHSA), has inked a licence and supply agreement with Galenicum Health for diabetes and weight management medication. Lupin Atlantis Holdings SA (LAHSA) has entered into a partnership with Galenicum for finished formulations of injectable Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. As per the agreement, Galenicum will oversee development, manufacturing, and supply, while Lupin will handle regulatory sub

JAMMU, Jan 21: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has reconstituted the Establishment-cum-Selection Committee with effect from January 20, 2026. As per an order issued by the General Administration Department, the committee will be chaired by the Chief Secretary, J&K, with Financial Commissioners of Jal Shakti and Tourism departments, Principal Secretary Finance, Commissioner/Secretary General Administration Department, and Secretary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs as members. See Order

Chandigarh, Jan 21: Punjab Police on Wednesday said it has unearthed a cross-border illegal arms module linked to Pakistan-based smugglers with the arrest of two persons. The Amritsar Commissionerate Police also recovered six sophisticated pistols (two Glock, four .30 bore) along with two cartridges, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said. The arrested accused were involved in illegal arms trafficking and supplying weapons to gangsters under directions of foreign handlers, Yadav said in a

Thane, Jan 21: Police have registered a case against the director of an educational consultancy and his three associates for allegedly cheating a Thane resident of Rs 15.39 lakh under the pretext of facilitating his sons medical education in Russia, an official said on Wednesday. The victim, a resident of Dombivli in Maharashtras Thane district, had sought the consultancys help to secure admission for his son at a university in Russia for a six-year medical degree course. The accused contacted [

New Delhi, Jan 21: The famed Amrit Udyan of the Rashtrapati Bhavan will open for public viewing from February 3 to March 31, 2026, the presidents secretariat announced on Wednesday. People can visit the garden six days a week between 10 am and 6 pm (last entry 5.15 pm). The garden will remain closed on Mondays, which are maintenance days and on March 4 on account of Holi. The Amrit Udyan of Rashtrapati Bhavan will open for public viewing from [] The post Rashtrapati Bhavans Amrit Udyan Open For

JAMMU, Jan 21: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has ordered a time-bound inquiry into allegations against three officials of the Designs, Inspections and Control Department, Jammu. As per an order issued by the Public Works (R&B) Department, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Engineer-in-Chief, has been appointed as the Inquiry Officer to conduct a comprehensive probe into the allegations against Pankaj Gupta, Junior Assistant, and Kewal Krishan and Ashok Raina, both Senior Assistants. The inquiry officer h