Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: Bank of India, one of Indias largest PSU banks, bagged four awards in the Digital and Technology domain today at 21st Annual Banking Technology Conference, Expo & Citations, organised by Indian Banks Association (IBA). The awards were conferred by T. Rabi Shankar, Deputy Governor, RBI, under the Public & Private Banks Large Bank category. The Bank won the Runner-up Award for Fintech Collaboration and received Special Mentions under Best AI/ML, Best Tech Ta

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: Federation of Industries, Jammu (FOIJ) today proposes suggestions to the Government to be included in the Industrial Policy 2021-30. Ina meeting of the FOIJ held here today under the leadership of its Chairman Virendra Jain and attended by its Co-Chairmen Jatinder Aul, Lalit Mahajan, SC Dutta, among others, the members deliberated on the suggestions/amendments on new incentive proposed to be included in the J&K Industrial Policy 2021-30. FOIJ said that adeq

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: Astro India Automobile, the authorized dealer of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, today unveiled two landmark SUVs the all-new Mahindra XEV 9S and Mahindra XUV 7XO at its dealership located on National Highway, Bari Brahmana. The unveiling ceremony was held amidst a gathering of customers and patrons and was attended by Chairman Mohinder Gupta, Managing Director Vikram Mahajan, Director Satyam Gupta, Dr C D Gupta, along with executive members of the Amar Sing

NAVI MUMBAI, Jan 10: Mumbai Indians Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur smashed unbeaten half-centuries, while pacer Nicola Carey ran through the middle order as the defending champions returned to winning ways, defeating Delhi Capitals by 50 runs in their Womens Premier League match here on Saturday. Sciver-Brunt hammered a 46-ball 70, while Harmanpreet smarting from a last-ball defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday slammed an unbeaten 74 off 42 balls as Mumbai Indians posted a fi

LUCKNOW, Jan 10: Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav today claimed that Uttar Pradesh BJP leaders knew how many voters would be removed from the SIR draft electoral roll even before it was published, and questioned the poll panels credibility. The draft electoral roll for Uttar Pradesh after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was published on January 6. In it, 2.89 crore voters were excluded and 12.55 crore retained out of 15.44 crore listed earlier. He also alleged that about [] T

Sudershan Kumar sudershan.sk12@gmail.com As the turmoil in Bangladesh escalates, the minority population there, is constantly under threat. The story of Hindus in Bangladesh is intertwined with the subcontinents tumultuous history, demographic shifts, nationalist projects, and competing political ideologies. Since the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, the Hindu, minority, once a substantial portion of the population has seen its numbers dwindle due to displacement, violence, discrimination, and em

Lt Gen Narendra Kotwal narendrakotwal@gmail.com When you ask, What am I?, you are asking a question that is deeper than every biography, every title, every relationship, and every achievement, because all of these are context-dependent. In one moment you are a son, in another a sibling, friend, uncle, teacher, student, doctor, patient, helper, being helped, director, financer, landlord, tenant-each identity valid, each necessary, yet none final. They arise when time, place, and relationship call

Shweta Sharma shwetasharma1253@gmail.com The first time I visited Chishoti, I was eight years old, when I joined my father and his friends on my maiden yatra to the holy Machail Mata shrine. The picturesque landscape of terraced maize and millets, dotted with sparse walnut trees, remains fresh in my memory. We stopped at a local wooden house that doubled as a small shop and ate a pot of instant noodles, cooked with homegrown vegetables. Nearby was a temple courtyard where [] The post My Chishoti

Mrinalini Atrey atreymrinalini@gmail.com Name of Book : Ramban: Folklore-History-Ophiolatry Author: Robin Koul Publisher: Apna Book Publisher, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir Pages: 172 ISBN: 978-93-6303-568-3 Having devoted over a decade to the study of local deities in the Jammu region, I find it deeply encouraging to see another substantial work emerge to enrich this field. Building on earlier contributions-including my own work (Deity, Cult, Rituals and Oral Tradition in Jammu Region and Shiv Nirm

Expectations of the Youth The Indian youth of 2026-represented by students across disciplines from Sanskrit to journalism have high expectations from the AI revolution. They are no longer satisfied with mere digital versions of textbooks; they seek a comprehensive ecosystem that offer Accessibility and Equity. Students in rural areas emphasize that while technology opens new worlds, it must be accompanied by reliable internet and affordable devices to prevent the digital divide from widening. 11

Dr Vikas Sharma drvikassharma20202020@gmail.com The Daily Excelsior is bringing out a weekly column titled YouthSpeak, aimed at giving voice to the issues, challenges, expectations and aspirations of the youth. The column will serve as a platform where young people can articulate their views and opinions on a wide range of topics concerning youth and contemporary society. Those interested in contributing may send their articles (between 800-900 words) to editor@dailyexcelsior.com for considerat

O P Sharma opsharmajournalist@gmail.com Name of Book: 1947 Pakistan Assault on Kashmir & Brig. Rajinder Singh Author : Narsingh Dev Jamwal Publisher: Self Publication Year : 2025 Pages : 33 Price : Rs 100 In 1947, Brig Rajinder Singh led a team of gallant soliders to fight against Pakistani-backed tribal raiders to get time for the Indian Armys assistance in Jammu and Kashmir and to ensure that Maharaja Hari Singh signs the Instrument of Accession. His immortal stand with a [] The post Story of

NEW DELHI/RAJKOT, Jan 10: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who arrives on Monday on a two-day official visit, will be welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad. The two leaders will visit Sabarmati Ashram and participate in the International Kite Festival, before sitting down for bilateral talks. On January 12, at around 9:30 am, Prime Minister Modi and the German Chancellor will visit the Sabarmati Ashram. Thereafter, at 10 am, both leaders will participate in the International Kit

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Sub-Junior Taekwondo Team was screened and flagged off by J&K Sports Council at Taekwondo Training Centre, MA Stadium, here today, ahead of their participation in the 39th National Sub-Junior Kyorugi and 14th National Sub-Junior Poomsae Taekwondo Championships 202526. The Championships will be held from January 13 to 15, 2026, at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. The screening and flag-off ceremony was conducted in the presen

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: Promising national-level Chess player Rajyawardhan Singh clinched title of the VCA Under-11 Open Khelo Jammu Chess Tournament, organized by Vivek Chess Academy under the aegis of the All J&K Chess Association (AJKCA), here today. Rated 1440 FIDE, Rajyawardhan displayed outstanding form by winning all five rounds to secure a perfect five points in the two-day tournament. He was awarded the Championship trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 1,000. Rajya

NEW DELHI, Jan 10: Cold conditions intensified in parts of north India today, with many parts blanketed by thick fog that led to several vehicle collisions, leaving four dead and about 30 injured. The mercury in the Kashmir Valley, which has been experiencing sub-zero temperatures for some days now, dipped further and Delhi recorded the coldest morning of the ongoing winter season. It was biting cold in many parts of Punjab, with the temperature dipping to a bone-chilling 1.1 degrees [] The post

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a review meeting to take stock of the progress achieved under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), with emphasis on service delivery, infrastructure creation and outreach initiatives aimed at strengthening Ayush-based healthcare across the districts of J&K. Those who attended includes Secretary, H&ME; Principal, GMC Srinagar; Commissioner, FDA; Director, Health Kashmir/ Jammu; Director, Ayush and other concerned offi

MATHURA (UP), Jan 10: Urging people to end discrimination to promote unity in society, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today said that in the next 20-30 years, India will emerge as a Vishwaguru and ensure peace and prosperity to the world, asserting the Hindu nation will remain a righteous nation. He said Hindu society has never lost to the bravery of others but only due to internal rifts, and called for efforts to promote unity by greater social interaction among various [] The post End discrimination

Excelsior Correspondent REASI, Jan 10: In observance of National Road Safety Month 2026, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) Reasi, in collaboration with Kul Devi Bua Jamas Trust, Kote Galli Thuroo, organized a District-Level Road Safety quiz competition at Conference Hall, Dharmari. The programme was conducted under the national theme Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha, in line with the mission of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to reduce road accidents and promote safe road behaviour. Th

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: Baldev Raj Sharma, Member of Legislative Assembly, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi today called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and discussed the rehabilitation of families affected due to recent natural calamities in his constituency. He was accompanied by Saraf Singh Nag, Chairman, District Development Council Reasi. The post MLA Baldev, DCC Chairman call on LG appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 10: Shahid Hilal of Silat Macan Kumbang, Ellahi Bagh Stadium, Srinagar, won the gold medal in the 60-65 kg weight category at the 2nd Edition of the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2026, held in Diu. The games are organized by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the respective National Sports Federations. Expressing gratitude, Shahid acknowledged the [

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: The office of Assistant Labour Commissioner, Jammu under the leadership of the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Jammu, organized an awareness session on new labour codes with the members of the Jammu & Kashmir Petroleum Dealer Association. J&K Petroleum Dealer Association led by president Rahul Gupta, Ajay Gupta (vice president), Ramnik Singh (vice president), Avatar Singh (general secretary) and around 20 members attended the meeting with Deputy Labour Commissi

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Jan 10: Police in Budgam today arrested an accused involved in an ATM fraud case. The accused has been identified as Abdul Nayeem Khan, son of Jalal-ud-Din Khan, a resident of Drangbal, Baramulla. According to authorities, Police Station Magam received a written complaint from Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, son of Ali Mohammad Bhat, a resident of Parraypora, Magam, alleging that an unknown person fraudulently obtained his ATM card on the pretext of helping him withdraw cash

Excelsior Correspondent New Delhi, Jan 10: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, today attended the World Hindi Day Conference and Felicitation Ceremony organised by the Vishwa Hindi Parishad in collaboration with the Embassy of Nepal, in New Delhi. On the occasion, Murli Manohar Joshi, former Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Government of India; Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh; Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State fo

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi and BJP J&K UT vice president and former Minister, Priya Sethi today inaugurated the two-day Sankalp Naya Avtar High-Life Expo at Trikuta Nagar, here. The Expo which will conclude tomorrow attracted a large number of visitors and offered a vibrant platform for business, lifestyle, and public service engagement. The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of prominent citizens including Dr. A.K. Kapoor, P.B. Kapoor, Dr. R

Indar Krishan Raina indarkraina@gmail.com The Bhagavad Gita occupies a unique place in Indias spiritual consciousness. Recited in homes, discussed in gatherings, and reflected upon by seekers across generations, it has been revered as a timeless guide through moral conflict and inner turmoil. Yet the Gita is often approached through limited doctrinal frames. The ancient spiritual tradition of Kashmir Shaivism offers a deeper and more inclusive vision-one in which Sri Krishna is understood as Shi

Excelsior Correspondent DODA, Jan 10: Principal Secretary Home Department, Chandraker Bharti, today visited Doda and inspected the ongoing construction of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) building. During the visit, Chandraker Bharti reviewed the progress of the work and took stock of the facilities being developed for strengthening the disaster response and preparedness in the district. He also interacted with the officers and staff of the SDRF unit, appreciating their dedication and ro

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: Security agencies today recovered three mobile phones without SIM cards from an inmate lodged in the high-security Central Jail Kot Bhalwal. Officials said the phones were seized from the belongings of one Rohit Kumar alias Makhan, a resident of R S Pura, who was arrested last year in a drug peddling case and is presently on remand of the Gandhi Nagar police station. The recovery was made after the inmate, during questioning, disclosed that mobile [] The po

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: In a moment of pride for Jammu and Kashmir and Indian Railways alike, senior Indian Railway Services Officer and son of the soil, Ramesh Kumar Koul has been conferred with the prestigious Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar 2025, one of the highest individual service honours in Indian Railways. The coveted national award was presented to Koul by Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw at a glittering ceremony held in the Union Capital late last [] The po

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10; The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) Jammu & Kashmir, Sh. Sarvesh Rai, today released The Himalayan Avians New Year Calendar 2026, titled The Avian Serenity, at Kala Kendra Jammu. The programme was organised by The Himalayan Avian in collaboration with Kala Kendra Jammu. The calendar features photographs of various bird species, including a flock of Northern Pintails at Surinsar Lake, Ruddy Shelducks with other m

Submits memorandum to PM Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 10: Kuldeep Raina, general secretary of Panun Kashmir, has formally taken the organisations long-standing demand for recognition of the Kashmiri Pandit genocide and establishment of a separate, secured homeland to the Prime Minister of India. In a detailed memorandum addressed to Narendra Modi, PK has described the forced displacement of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in 1989 90 as one of the gravest crimes in independent Ind

JAMMU, Jan 10: In a minor reshuffle, the Finance Department today ordered transfers and postings of 10 officers. As per an order, Romesh Singh, Director Finance, under orders of transfer to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra is posted as Director Finance, Transport Department relieving Satnam Singh of additional charge of the post and Kajal Jasrotia, Financial Advisor/CAO, under orders of transfer as Joint Director (Central) Local Fund, Audit & Pensions, J&K has been posted as Financial Ad

GANDERBAL, Jan 10: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress and operational status of various power projects in the District. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the functioning of existing power projects, including actual power generation vis--vis installed capacity, daily and monthly generation trends, frequency and causes of breakdowns, Operation and Maintenance Status, availability of operational

REASI, Jan 10: The District Development Commissioner Reasi, Nidhi Malik today chaired a review meeting to assess the status of identification of projects and submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) under SASCI for mitigation and reconstruction of disaster-affected infrastructure. The DDC directed all concerned departments, including PHE (Jal Shakti), MID, Flood Control, Irrigation, R&B, RDD, PMGSY, JPDCL and Education to submit DPRs specifying the type of projects covering mitigation, rest

KATHUA, Jan 10: Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rajesh Sharma today chaired a meeting to review the progress of construction of bunkers being taken up in border areas of the district. The meeting focused on assessing the status of ongoing works, identifying bottlenecks and ensuring timely completion of the remaining bunkers. The DC was informed that against 802 bunkers taken up in Kathua district, including 717 individual and 85 community bunkers, as many as 796 bunkers have been completed so far. A

JAMMU, Jan 10: A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Arvind Karwani, Commissioner Relief and Rehabilitation (M), J&K to review the ongoing development works in the migrant camps at Jammu, requirement of works/projects in the migrant camps, including the migrant schools, dispensaries, community halls etc and to take appraisal of the budgetary provisions made by the different Government departments for the financial year 2026-27. The progress of integration of migrant ration cards into

Jagmohann Sharma YoonHee jagmohannsharma@gmail.com As we step into 2026, lets take a moment to reflect on what we want to achieve in the coming year. For many, New Year resolutions are about personal growth, but what if we expand that to making our surroundings, our acquaintances, and the whole world a happier place to live in ? Perhaps it might not be possible for me alone to catapult this idea into a reality, but many of us working in unison [] The post New Year, New Vibe Lets Make the World a

Srinagar, Jan 10 : Northern Army commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma on Saturday reviewed the security measures, and counter infiltration grid along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir. Lt Gen Pratik Sharma was briefed on the counter infiltration grid and security measures undertaken in hinterland to dominate the operational space, the Northern Command said in a post on X. It said the Army Commander emphasised on importance of a strong intelligence grid and close coordination with sister agenc

Ayodhya (UP), Jan 10: A 55-year-old man from Kashmir, said to be mentally ill, was detained here on Saturday after he allegedly attempted to offer namaz inside the Ram Mandir complex and raised slogans when stopped, officials said. According to Superintendent of Police (Security) Balramchari Dubey, the man has been identified as Ahmed Sheikh, a resident of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir. Police said Sheikhs family has claimed that he is mentally ill and has shared medical records from []

NEW DELHI, Jann 10:The Jammu and Kashmir Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (JKMSME) Health Clinic, a flagship initiative of the Industries and Commerce Department, J&K, has been conferred with the prestigious SKOCH Gold Award in recognition of its impactful implementation and transformative contribution to the MSME sector at 104th SKOCH Summit held in New Delhi. The JKMSME Health Clinic initiative was conceptualised under the guidance of the Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, and is being implement

SRINAGAR, Jan 10: Chief Engineer, Distribution, KPDCL has informed that the Shutdown of 33 kV Nihalpora-Gulmarg line will be observed due to which power supply to Tangmarg, Gulmarg, Khyber, Base Station, Cable Car and adjoining areas will be affected from 10 AM to 03 PM on 11 & 14 January 2026. Similarly, shutdown of 33 kV Ganapora Tap line will be observed due to which power supply to Safalpora, Ganapora, Renin, Langae and adjoining areas will be affected from 10 [] The post Power Shutdown By K

Jammu, Jan 10: Three alleged drug peddlers were arrested along with heroin in Udhampur and Jammu districts on Saturday, police said. Manik Oberoi and Sachin Kumar were arrested after 4.23 grams of heroin were recovered from their car during checking at Udhampurs Rehambal, a police spokesperson said. He said Oberoi was driving the car when police stopped and subjected the vehicle to checking. Sunil Choudhary, a resident of Suchetgarh, was arrested after 3.30 grams of heroin was recovered from his

NEW DELHI, Jan 10 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh today hosted an informal luncheon get -together for journalists and media persons at his residence here today. The Minister has been, over the last one decade, hosting such periodic informal luncheon get-togethers for the media at his residence, fro

Budgam, Jan 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Saturday trapped and arrested a revenue official for demanding and accepting a bribe in Budgam district, officials said. According to officials, ACB received a written complaint alleging that the complainant had applied before the concerned revenue authorities for issuance of a revenue extract and bank lien certificate for a property situated at Rakh Soothu BK Pora for bank guarantee purposes. The complainant alleged that the concer

UDHAMPUR, Jan 10: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today conducted an extensive tour of far-flung areas of Tehsil Panchari of District Udhampur and felicitated the winners of 6th ISKOI India Karate Championship2025 during an impressive medal ceremony held at Government Higher Secondary School, Panchari here. Mission Director, POSHAN, Sajad Ahmad Ganai; Director Social Welfare Jammu, Ranjeet Singh; Director Health Services Jammu, Director Colleges

JAMMU, Jan 10: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a review meeting to take stock of the progress achieved under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), with emphasis on service delivery, infrastructure creation and outreach initiatives aimed at strengthening Ayush-based healthcare across the districts of J&K. Those who attended includes Secretary, H&ME; Principal, GMC Srinagar; Commissioner, FDA; Director, Health Kashmir/Jammu; Director, Ayush and other concerned officers. During the meeting,

JAMMU, Jan 10: In a minor reshuffle, the Finance Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the transfers and postings of 10 officers. See Order Copy Click Here. The post J&K Finance Dept Transfers 10 Officers appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Jan 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly believes that societal challenges can be addressed through technology, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery has said. The PM has emphasised the need to align research outcomes with national priorities and public welfare, he said. Bery was speaking at the two day national workshop Sustaining Innovation: Embedding Research and Development in State Institutions, convened by NITI Aayog and organised in collaboration with Amrita Vi

In the march of time, some people have gone far ahead, while some other people have lagged behind. Why so? Guns, Germs, and Steel is an attempt to answer this question. The author, Jared Diamond, suggests that it is primarily because of the environments that the societies inhabit. The subject of the book is History, yet Diamonds approach is scientific. His marked storytelling ability makes it easy even for the uninitiated to grasp the complex issues that the book sets [] The post Guns, Germs and

Jodhpur, Jan 10: Emphasising the need to encourage Swadeshi and Swabhasha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday urged people to make and use local products and converse in their mother tongue at home. Shah said that language is key to preserving any society, culture and religion. While any language can be learnt or spoken as required to progress in the world, only Hindi and local languages must be used for conversation with children at home, as it will help [] The post Swadeshi, Swabhasha S