Daily Excelsior

Chanakya Charan Dass Tikri Sham Lal Sharma, the BJP Legislator from Jammu North, has set a cat among the pigeons by seeking the creation of Jammu state, de-hyphenated from Kashmir. This is not the first time that he has spoken about it. Even as a minister in the Omar Abdullah Government in 2010 he had bravely and unequivocally raised this demand as he was miffed by the semi secessionist attitude of the then Government that was regularly, though obliquely pandering [] The post Jammu State is a ne

Asad Mirza asad.mirza.nd@gmail.com In todays fractured world, fissures caused mostly by the ongoing Trumpomania, every nation is working post haste to forge new alliances particularly focussed on trade. The best example of this is the India-EU partnership FTA, formalised on Tuesday (January 27). The enhanced partnership is going to eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of traded goods, besides imparting a thrust to services and facilitate investments between the two sides. For every nation today, g

Making Social-Emotional Learning the Spine of Indian Schooling Dr. Dushyant Pradeep dushyant3186@gmail.com For decades, the image of a good student in India has been framed by high marks, perfect report cards, and a place on the merit list. In recent years, however, classrooms across the country have begun quietly revealing another reality: scores alone do not capture whether a child is confident, resilient, empathetic or ready to navigate an increasingly complex world. This shift in understandi

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Republic Day Tableau has secured an impressive second position at the National Level at the Republic Day Parade 2026, marking a significant milestone and a proud moment for the Union Territory. The recognition underscores Jammu and Kashmirs rich cultural heritage, artistic excellence, and its vibrant traditions showcased on one of the countrys most prestigious platforms. The Jammu and Kashmir tableau, themed as a living canvas, present

India proved power can be used with responsibility, wisdom *Urges MPs to take united stand on national interest issues NEW DELHI, Jan 28: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged Parliamentarians to stand united on the resolve for Viksit Bharat, campaign for swadeshi as well as national security, asserting that these were matters beyond all differences. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Addressing a joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament, which marked the start of the Bud

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 28: Member of Parliament and additional general secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan, today attended a meeting of floor leaders of the INDIA Alliance, where he reiterated his partys firm, principled and unwavering support to the opposition bloc. During the deliberations, Ramzan said the JKNC has consistently stood shoulder to shoulder with the INDIA Alliance, guided by a shared commitment to the Constitution, se

VISAKHAPATNAM, Jan 28: Shivam Dube flickered brightly with a fifty of exceptional quality but it was insufficient to prevent Indias 50-run defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20I here on Wednesday. The clean-hitting Dube 65 (23 balls, 34, 76) batted all but his own in Indias steep chase of 216, but the hosts eventually finished at 165 all out as the Kiwis reduced the margin to 3-1 in the five-match series. With Ishan Kishan sitting out with an unspecified [] The post Dubes marauding fifty

NC, BJP, Cong, PDP Legislature Parties to meet ahead of session Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Jan 28: The Opposition BJP is bracing up to corner Omar Abdullah Government on a host of issues even as the Congress has decided to stick to alliance dharma but will not hesitate from taking up people-centric issues in upcoming budget session of the Legislature starting February 2 with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhas address. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The Legislature Party meetings of [] T

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Jan 28: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, today said that India is ready to play a larger global role in Artificial Intelligence (AI) -led climate action. However, the Minister hastened to add, Artificial Intelligence must be deployed alongside human judgement, institutional cooperation and global partnerships if it is to effectively address climate change and build resilience against

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 28: Education Minister Sakina Itoo inaugurated the J&K UT Open Chess Championship at IDPS School, Sunjwan, Jammu. The event was also attended by Secretary Sports Council J&K Nuzhat Gul and Director School Education Dr Naseem Javed Choudhary as special guests. Organized by the All J&K Chess Association in collaboration with IDPS School, the championship features 160 players across various categories competing for a total cash prize of Rs 1 lakh along with

*Assesses roadmap to strengthen disaster preparedness Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 28: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired the 15th High-Level Committee (HLC) meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) and impressed upon all line departments and stakeholders to ensure that comprehensive arrangements for the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY)-2026 are put in place well ahead of its commencement. Besides the DG Police the meeting was attended by the Administrative Secretar

*NH-44 restored fully, flights resume at Sgr Irfan Tramboo/Govind Sharma SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Jan 28: Normalcy began returning across Jammu and Kashmir today as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was fully restored for traffic and flight operations resumed at Srinagar Airport after weather-related disruptions. This came even as an avalanche struck the Sarbal area of Sonamarg in Ganderbal district and a tragic landslide in Kishtwar claimed the lives of around seven dozen sheep and goats. Follow the D

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 28: Karatekas of Jammu and Kashmir Renmei Goju Ryu Karate-Do Federation brought laurels by delivering an impressive performance at the 3rd President Cup National Karate Championship, held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi. The championship was conducted under the aegis of National Karate Bodies and witnessed participation from across the country. The team competed under the supervision of Shihan Sanjeev Dewan, Chief Instructor (India) and Founder Member of

Pilot, co-pilot, 2 others also dead BARAMATI, Jan 28: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons on board a chartered aircraft were killed after it crashed barely 200 metres from the edge of a tabletop runway at Baramati airport in Pune district today. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The death of the 66-year-old leader, fondly known as Dada (elder brother) in the State, has not only left a vacuum in the BJP-led State coalition Government, [] The post Maha

Poonch, Budha Amarnath Ji road Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Jan 28: Reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the Narendra Modiled Government to swiftly address public concerns and deliver results on the ground, BJP Jammu & Kashmir president and Rajya Sabha (RS) Member, Sat Sharma, CA, has stated that every genuine issue raised in Parliament is not only heard with seriousness but is also followed by time-bound, accountable action. In a statement issued here, today he said that the prompt wr

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 28: Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, today reviewed the performance of Project Implementation Agencies (PIAs) under the Himayat 2.0 programme and emphasized expediting skill training and employment opportunities for the youth. Chairing a review meeting at Panchayat Bhawan, here, the Secretary directed PIAs to enhance their performance and ensure timely achievement of targets. While appreciating agencies that

Excelsior Correspondent MENDHAR, Jan 28: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today undertook an extensive tour of various border villages of Mendhar Sub Division and Mankote area, where he interacted with the local residents and reviewed the status of development works being executed under different sectors. During the visit, the Minister held on-the-spot interactions with the public. He listened to their grievances, particularly regarding

KATHMANDU, Jan 28 : Various parts of northwestern Nepal witnessed heavy snowfall with snow piled up as high as two feet and roads blocked in some areas. The snowfall on Tuesday night left hills and mountains blanketed with snow, while most places also witnessed rainfall, an official said on Wednesday. The Kagbeni-Korala road section has been blocked due to heavy snowfall. The snow has piled up as high as two feet, according to the Chief of Agriculture Section at Ghorapjhong [] The post Northern

NEW DELHI, Jan 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said Operation Sindoor reaffirmed Indias strength and the valour of its armed forces, and demonstrated the advancement of indigenous weapons. Addressing a gathering at the annual National Cadet Corps PM Rally at Delhi Cantonment here, he said in modern warfare, battles are not just restricted or limited to borders or use of tanks or guns, but they are also being fought also in codes and clouds, referring to cyber [] The post Modern wa

NEW DELHI, Jan 28 : Canada has expressed its desire to expedite the process to formally begin negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), an official said on Wednesday. The official said that Canadas Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, Maninder Sidhu, has invited his Indian counterpart Piysuh Goyal to visit the country in the third week of next month. The two countries were earlier negotiating a trade pact, but it was paused by Canada in 2023. [] The po

LONDON, Jan 28 : A 57-year-old Indian-origin man appeared in a UK court on Wednesday charged with the murder of a woman at a home in Ilford, east London. Dalip Chadha was arrested at the scene at Applegarth Drive in Ilford in the early hours of Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said. The victim, believed to be his wife, is yet to be formally identified. At around 04:00hrs on Tuesday, 27 January, officers were called to an address in Applegarth Drive. [] The post Indian-origin man charged with wom

CHANDIGARH, Jan 28: Two gram panchayats in Sangrur and Bathinda districts in Punjab have decided to ban kite flying in their villages in the wake of recent deaths and injuries caused by the use of banned Chinese manjha, glass-coated synthetic strings used for flying kites. Two villages Jhaloor in Lehragaga block in Sangrur and Bhaini Chuhar in Bathinda passed resolutions in their respective panchayats to ban kite flying and the sale of kites. Jhaloor village Sarpanch Gurwinder Singh said [] The

MOSCOW, Jan 28 : Russias United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of the Rostec state corporation) and Indian state corporation Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed an agreement on Wednesday on joint activities to license the production of SJ-100 aircraft, a Sputnik reported. The signing of the agreement took place on the sidelines of the Wings India 2026 exhibition, which saw the world premiere of the Il-114 and SJ-100 aircraft earlier in the day. The Russian corporation said that the agree

DHAKA, Jan 28 : Bangladeshs Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Wednesday said that there was no reason for India to recall family members of its diplomats from the country, stressing that there is no security situation endangering foreign officials or their families. India last week decided to withdraw the families of Indian officials posted in Bangladesh in view of safety concerns following increasing activities of extremist elements in that country. The development came weeks before

MOGA (Punjab), Jan 28 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced that Lala Lajpat Rais birthplace in Dhudike will be transformed into a full-fledged model village, with time-bound delivery of sewerage, ponds, playgrounds and all basic infrastructure. Speaking at the Lala Lajpat Rai Janam Diwas Khed Mela on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the veteran freedom fighter, the chief minister said that previous governments had confined themselves to drawing up plans, while his

Jammu, Jan 28: Jammu witnessed a festive atmosphere on Wednesday evening as a two-day boat festival began at the newly developed Tawi Riverfront, drawing large crowds to the much-awaited artificial lake. Organised to showcase the riverfront as a new urban and tourism space, the event offered free boating rides and scintillating performances by music bands, bringing joy to visitors, mostly locals including women and children. A flagship initiative of Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL), the Tawi rive

JAMMU, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Finance Department has assigned additional charge to four officers in the interest of administration with immediate effect. The post J&K Finance Department Assigns Additional Charge To Four Officers appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Directs early completion of works for smooth conduct of SANJY-2026 JAMMU, Jan 28: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired the 15th High-Level Committee (HLC) meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) and impressed upon all line departments and stakeholders to ensure that comprehensive arrangements for the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY)-2026 are put in place well ahead of its commencement. Besides the DG Police the meeting was attended by the Administrative Secretaries of all

JAMMU, Jan 28: Ahead of the 5th session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the Government has issued an advisory regulating the entry and parking of vehicles in and around the Civil Secretariat, Jammu. As per a circular issued by the General Administration Department, no private vehicles of employees, including police personnel on security duty, will be allowed inside the Civil Secretariat premises. Private vehicles of Civil Secretariat employees will be parked at the designated spac

JAMMU, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted a Technical Appraisal Committee (TAC) to vet the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mid-Term Augmentation of J&K SDC project. See Order Copy Click Here The post Govt Forms Technical Committee To Vet DPR For J&K SDC Project appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Srinagar, Jan 28: A high-level avalanche warning has been issued for several vulnerable areas of Jammu and Kashmirs Ganderbal district, including the Sonamarg tourist resort, officials said on Wednesday. The advisory comes in the wake of a recent avalanche that struck near the New Truck Yard in Sonamarg at around 10.15 pm on Tuesday. While no loss of life or property was reported, police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were deployed immediately to assess the site, the officials []

Jammu, Jan 28: Army troops successfully provided emergency medical assistance to a 24-year-old woman suffering from post-labour issues in a remote, snow-bound village in Jammu and Kashmirs Udhampur district, a defence spokesman said on Wednesday. Due to heavy snowfall in Didi Beggar, all roads leading to the nearest hospital, Ayushman Arogya Mandir Primary Health Centre in Latti, were blocked, preventing immediate evacuation and putting the life of Ashu, the patient, at serious risk, the spokesm

Rajouri, Jan 28 : At least eleven people, including an eight-day-old infant, were injured after a passenger mini bus met with an accident at Muradpur Bathuni area of Rajouri district on Wednesday. Officials said that the mini bus was on its way from Rajouri to Doongi Keri when it met with the accident under unknown circumstances. Soon after the incident, locals and rescue teams rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri for treatment, [] The post 11 In

JAMMU, Jan 28: A rusted mortar shell was recovered from a village near the Line of Control (LoC) and was diffused in a controlled explosion in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said. The mortar shell from Pakistan had landed in the village during operation Sindoor in May last year, they said. Some villagers noticed the shell and informed the local Army unit and police, the officials said, adding a bomb disposal squad was rushed in, and [] The post Rusted Mortar Shell D

JAMMU, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Home Department has ordered the repatriation and deputation of police officers between the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with immediate effect. As per a Government order, Farhan Jehanzeb Naqash, SP, and Reyaz Ahmad Bhat, Dy.SP (Telecom), have been repatriated from Ladakh to Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, Ajaz Ahmad Malik, Dy. Commandant, IR-13th Battalion, and Muzaffar Ahmad Mir, Dy.SP Telecom, Udhampur, have been deputed to the Union Terri

New Delhi, Jan 28: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday rejected a plea by jailed Lok Sabha MP from Jammu and Kashmirs Baramulla, Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid, challenging the framing of charges against him in a terror funding case. A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain said the appeal by Rashid against the trial court order was not maintainable. The present appeal would not be maintainable and is dismissed, said the bench. Rashid has been [] The post Delhi HC Dismisses E

New Delhi, Jan 28: A new study suggests obesitys impact on brain function depends not only on how much fat the body carries, but also on where it is stored, linking pancreatic fat and skinny fat body types to accelerated brain aging, cognitive decline, and higher neurological disease risk. While previous studies have linked obesity particularly those with a higher ratio of visceral fat with a decline in brain or cognitive health, the new study highlights the specific [] The post Obesity impact

New Delhi, Jan 28 : The India-EU free trade pact will be credit positive for India as lower tariffs and better market access will help attract foreign investment, boost manufacturing and boost export competitiveness of the labour intensive sector, Moodys Ratings has said. India and the European Union on Wednesday had announced the conclusion of negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), described as mother of all deals, under which 93 per cent of Indian shipments will enjoy duty-free acces

New Delhi, Jan 28 : Silver prices extended their record-breaking run on Wednesday, soaring more than 7 per cent, to hit a lifetime high of Rs 3.83 lakh per kg in the futures trade, while gold jumped to a new peak of Rs 1.62 lakh per 10 grams, buoyed by a sharp fall in US dollar and strong safe-haven demand. Rallying for the fourth consecutive day, silver futures for March delivery climbed Rs 26,821, or 7.53 per cent, to hit [] The post Silver futures hit record Rs 3.83 lakh/kg; gold at fresh pea

New Delhi, Jan 28 : At a time when founder ownership across Indias consumer internet sector is steadily declining, Paytm stands out as a rare exception among large, scaled technology companies. Comparative ownership disclosures across listed companies and recent draft filings indicate that Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma continues to hold one of the highest equity stakes among founders of major Indian tech platforms. With a promoter stake of approximately 19.3 per cent (including stake throug

Betul (Goa), Jan 26 : In a strategic move to boost offshore energy exploration and operational efficiency, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) and Reliance Industries Ltd have signed an agreement to share resources such as supply vessels used in finding and producing oil and gas. The two firms signed an MoU for resource-sharing collaboration on the sidelines of India Energy Week (IEW), ONGC Director (Production) Pankaj Kumar said. The pact aims to enhance operational efficiency, enable fa

New Delhi, Jan 28 : Shares of logistics services provider Shadowfax Technologies Ltd listed on Wednesday at a discount of over 9 per cent against the issue price of Rs 124. The stock started trading at Rs 113, down 8.87 per cent from the issue price on the BSE. At the NSE, the stock made its market debut at Rs 112.60, down 9.19 per cent. The companys market valuation stood at Rs 6,706.35 crore. The initial public offering (IPO) of [] The post Shadowfax Tech shares drop over 9 pc in market debut

New Delhi, Jan 28 : Shares of Asian Paints tumbled nearly 7 per cent on Wednesday morning trade after the firm reported a decline of 4.83 per cent in consolidated net profit in the December quarter of FY26. The stock declined 6.62 per cent to Rs 2,451 on the BSE. At the NSE, it tanked 6.55 per cent to Rs 2,451. The stock was the biggest laggard among the Sensex and Nifty firms. Asian Paints on Tuesday reported a decline [] The post Asian Paints shares tumble nearly 7 pc post Q3 earnings appeared

Betul (Goa), Jan 28 : Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) will for the first time start processing imported crude oil after its capacity expansion to 9 million tonnes per annum from current 3 million tonnes is commercially completed by end of the year, Oil India chairman and managing director Ranjit Rath said. NRL, a subsidiary of Oil India, currently uses mainly domestic crude as feedstock for making fuels like petrol and diesel. First crude-in happened on December 31 and is on [] The post Numaligarh

Seoul, Jan 28 : A South Korean court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison for corruption on Wednesday ahead of the verdict for disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law imposition a year ago. The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim for receiving bribes from the Unification Church in return for business favours. The ruling comes about three weeks before the court delivers its verdict on the rebellion charge against Yoon. [] The post South Kore

Washington, Jan 28 : Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans on Wednesday to warn that the Trump administration is ready to take new military action against Venezuela if the countrys interim leadership strays from US expectations. In prepared testimony for a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio says the US is not at war with Venezuela and that its interim leaders are cooperating, but he notes that the Trump administration would not rule out using additional force if [] The p

Bara(Pakistan), Jan 28 : More than 70,000 people, mostly women and children, have fled a remote region in northwestern Pakistan bordering Afghanistan over uncertainty of a military operation against the Pakistani Taliban, residents and officials said Tuesday. Pakistans Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif has denied the claim by residents and provincial authorities. He said no military operation was underway or planned in Tirah, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Speaking at a news confere

JAMMU, Jan 28: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday and said he was an able administrator and a consummate political organiser whose loss will be greatly felt. Abdullah recalled his close association with the deceased Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)leader during his college days in Mumbai, when he stayed with Sharad Pawar and his family. Shocked to hear about the untimely demis

JAMMU, Jan 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted District Level Monitoring Committees in all districts to oversee mental health protection and prevention of suicides among students. As per a Government order issued by the General Administration Department, the committees will be headed by the Deputy Commissioner, with the Chief Education Officer, Chief Medical Officer, District Social Welfare Officer and a civil society representative as members. See Order Copy Click Here. The pos

New Delhi, Jan 28: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said that under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, over 11 crore free medical treatments have been provided in hospitals till last year, with 2.5 crore patients having received free treatment last year alone. Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament, signalling the start of the Budget session, she said that during the past almost one-and-a-half years, Vay Vandana cards have been issued to approximately one crore senior citizens.