Daily Excelsior

Jammu, Feb 7: Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Saturday rubbished the demand for restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that Article 370 is a historical provision that now stands buried. Addressing mediapersons outside the assembly here, Sharma said the Constitution does not mention special status in connection with Jammu and Kashmirs accession or merger with India. He criticised National Conference (NC) legislators for raising the demand, alleging that it amounted to

JAMMU, Feb 7: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu welcomed its newest MBBS batch with a grand Freshers Day ceremony, marking the commencement of a significant academic and professional journey for aspiring medical professionals. Presiding over the event, Prof. (Dr.) D.N. Sharma, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Jammu, delivered an inspiring and comprehensive address, warmly welcoming the new students and congratulating them on securing admission to one of the nations premier

SRINAGAR, Feb 7:- The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, on Saturday along with SSP Traffic Police, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat visited the Shankaracharya Temple to review and finalize arrangements for the upcoming festival of Mahashivratri, scheduled to be celebrated on February 14th & 15th, 2026. The festival holds immense religious and cultural significance and is observed with great devotion, particularly by the Kashmiri Pandit community. Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mir Imti

Jammu, Feb 7 : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said there is no proposal under consideration to relax the norms related to change of land use (CLU) in the Union Territory. The information was provided by minister Javed Ahmed Rana in the Assembly in reply to a question raised by MLA Surjit Singh Salathia. The minister was replying on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Rana said, The government does not intend to grant any relaxation in CLU [] The post No Proposal To Relax Change

MENDHAR/JAMMU, Feb 7: An army porter was injured in a landmine explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. Zulufqar Ahmad (24), a resident of Slotri-Patiya village, was injured when he accidentally stepped on a landmine in a forward area in Mankote sector at around 2.10 pm, the officials said. As part of an anti-infiltration obstacle system, the forward areas are dotted with landmines, which sometimes get washed away by [] The pos

Indore, Feb 7: Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi made a blazing impact by scalding former champions Madhya Pradesh with a seven-wicket haul as his team took a first-innings lead on day two of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal here on Saturday. The 29-year-old quick from remote Kreeri in Jammu & Kashmir returned superb figures of 7 for 40 as he single-handedly decimated Madhya Pradesh for 152, helping J&K take a 42-run first-innings lead against the former Ranji champions. However, despite [] The po

Jammu, Feb 7 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the progress of development projects in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, highlighting the need to utilise the full potential of hydropower projects in the Union Territory. Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Lok Bhawan here, Shah said under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, the Centre is firmly committed to the vision of building a developed and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting continued for nearly two hours and was []

Srinagar, Feb 7: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against then Tehsildar South Srinagar, for allegedly abusing his official position and demanding illegal gratification. The case arose following a verification based on a complaint regarding illegal encroachment and alleged bribery linked to restoration and demarcation of land in 2021. In a statement, ACB Registered Case against Maeen Azhar Kakroo, the then Tehsildar South Srinagar for abusing official position, Searches con

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: In a first-of-its-kind approach towards patient care, a doctor-led AI healthcare ecosystem is providing real-time medical supervision beyond hospitals to people with chronic conditions, preventing their escalation into serious illness, officials said. At the core of the ecosystem iLive Connect is a small wireless biosensor patch paired with a wearable wristband, which continuously captures vital physiological parameters. These include two-lead ECG, heart rate, respiratory rat

JAMMU, Feb 7: Ashok Samyal, has been elevated to the rank of Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). As per the handout issued on Saturday, hailing from village Gho Brahamana, Vijaypur, District Samba, Jammu and Kashmir, IG Samyal, son of Mani Ram Samyal, with 35 years of exemplary service, joined the force February 4, 1991 and served in some of the challenging internal security environments of the country, including Punjab during the militancy period, Jammu and Kashmir []

Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], Feb 7: Showcasing a warm and personal rapport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday shared a car ride with his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim, following the formers arrival in Malaysia as part of his two-day visit in the Southeast Asian nation, as both leaders head towards a community event in Kuala Lumpur. Sharing glimpses from the car ride on the social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi said, Celebrating the India-Malaysia people-to-people connect! PM Anw

Jammu, Feb 7: Amid a setback to the tourism industry due to last years Pahalgam terror attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that the enthusiasm of tourists from across the country to visit Jammu and Kashmir has not diminished. Shah was addressing a review meeting in Jammu to assess the progress of development projects in the Union Territory. The enthusiasm of tourists from across the country to visit Jammu and Kashmir has not diminished. There is a [] The post Enthusiasm Of Tou

KYIV, Feb 7:The US has given Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach an agreement to end the nearly four-year war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters. If the June deadline is not met, the Trump administration will likely put pressure on both sides to meet it, he added. The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule, Zelenskyy said, [] The post Zelenskyy

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7:Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim received a rousing welcome at the Indian diaspora event here on Saturday to dance performances by over 800 participants. Over 800 dancers showcased a tapestry of Indian classical and folk dances, including Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Yakshagana, Lavani and Odisi. Modi and Ibrahim, who travelled to the venue in the same car, arrived on the stage amid slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and chant

KARACHI, Feb 7:The supply of cost-effective vaccines from India that stopped after the May 2025 conflict has put a strain on Pakistans economy, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said on Saturday. Pakistan earlier procured the cheap vaccines through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), a global public-private health partnership working to provide vaccines for children from the worlds poorest countries. Right now, Pakistan imports vaccines at an annual cost of around USD 400 milli

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the Government objective is to achieve bilateral trade of USD 500 billion between India and the United States annually. Addressing a presser on India-US joint statement on Saturday, he said , India-US joint statement will significantly widen access for Indian exporters to the US market under the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) framework, opening up major new trade opportunities. The US market will open wider for Indian exporters with MFN status, w

BENGALURU, Feb 7:India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 will prioritise indigenous chip design, their productisation, attracting ecosystem partners and development of talents, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday. The minister said the Government will continue to work on setting up semiconductor manufacturing plants and target to produce chips as small as 2 nanometer node size. In Semicon 2.0, the topmost priority will be design companies. Design companies, design startups who can design a

Kargil, Feb 7 : The AN-32 Kargil Courier Service commenced today for the winter season, ensuring continued air connectivity for the people of Kargil during the harsh winter months. On the occasion, the Indian Air Force crew was warmly welcomed at Kargil by Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Kacho Mohd Feroz, along with Deputy Commissioner, Kargil Rakesh Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kargil Imteeaz Kacho, and Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Kargil Shafiq Ahmed. The Executive Cou

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), the FMCG arm of Reliance Industries, on Saturday announced acquisition of a majority stake in Australia-based Goodness Group Global Pty Ltd. The deal, which includes acquiring Better-For-You beverage business, will help RCPL enter the Australian market and help expand its overseas presence. Under the strategic partnership, RCPL will help promote Goodness Groups flagship healthy beverages brands like Nexba and PACE a hydration brand co

SRINAGAR, Feb 7: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Kashmir on Saturday conducted raids at the residences of a serving Tehsildar in connection with an ongoing investigation of a case, sources said. An ACB team headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), along with personnel from concerned Police Stations, carried out searches at the residence of one serving Tehsildar identified as Maeen Azhar Kakroo, a resident Baramulla at present Rose Avenue Colony, HMT Zainakote Kakroo is presently poste

CHENNAI, Feb 7:Private sector Karur Vysya Bank, strengthening its presence across the country, inaugurated its 900th branch here, a top official said on Saturday. The banks Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Babu, formally inaugurated the branch at Tondiarpet in the city. Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department Additional Secretary S Uma, along with senior officials of the bank, was present on the occasion, a statement said. For over a century, Karur Vysya Bank has gro

JAMMU, Feb 7: During his visit to forward areas in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir today, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the operational preparedness of troops deployed in the area and interacted with personnel at forward locations. He commended the troops for their high morale and operational readiness. During the visit, the Army Chief also stopped at Kamsar village in Poonch, where he met Subedar (Honorary Captain) Parvez Ahmed (Retired) of 18 Jammu and Kashmir [

Patna, Feb 7: Maintaining that debate and discussion are part of the democratic process, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday said the decorum of the House must be maintained at any cost. Birla was addressing a function on the foundation day of the Bihar assembly, where he unveiled the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), aimed at creating paperless legislative processes. Elected representatives must maintain the decorum of the House. Members of the assemblies and Parliament have the privileg

CAIRO, Feb 7: A drone attack by a notorious paramilitary group hit a vehicle carrying displaced families in central Sudan Saturday, killing at least 24 people, including eight children, a doctors group said, a day after a World Food Program aid convoy was targeted. Saturdays attack by the Rapid Support Forces occurred close to the city of Rahad in North Kordofan province, said the Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks the countrys ongoing war. The vehicle was transporting displaced people who [] T

New Delhi, Feb 7: The Delhi Police has arrested seven suspects linked with an alleged drug trafficking network spanning across five states and recovered around 48 kg of psychotropic substances valued at over Rs 50 crore in the black market, an officer said on Saturday. Police said the syndicate allegedly procured raw materials used for manufacturing psychotropic medicines and supplied the banned drugs for repackaging and illegal sale without prescriptions across multiple states. A series of oper

NEW DELHI, Feb 7:The Union Budget provides the direction for a sustained, fast and inclusive growth with increased focus on continuity in economic approach and skilling, according to Niti Aayog Member Arvind Virmani. Virmani emphasised that going forward, skilling and services would transform the country as they can generate jobs. On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced measures to boost manufacturing, offered long-term tax incentives for global data centres, and support for

NEW DELHI, Feb 7:Bonfiglioli Transmissions, which is set to file its initial public offering (IPO) with markets regulator Sebi this month, has appointed Ravindra Pisharody as chairperson, people familiar with the matter said. In addition, the company has named Sundaresan Ananthanarayanan and Rossella Schiavini as Independent Directors. Bonfiglioli Transmissions, the Indian subsidiary of Italy-based Bonfiglioli Group, is a technology-driven provider of mechanical and electro-mechanical power tran

TOKYO, Feb 7: The number of people who have died amid record snowfalls in Japan has reached 45, while the number of injured is approaching 600, Sputnik has learned by analyzing data from the countrys main fire service. Starting from January 20, a total of 585 people have received injuries of varying severity; 187 of them were seriously wounded. At least 45 people have died. Last week, northern Japan saw a second wave of record snowfalls. In the Aomori Prefecture, [] The post 45 dead in Japan ami

Jammu, Feb 7: President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee and MLA Tariq Hamid Karra, on Saturday expressed concern over shortcomings in the implementation and execution of the previous budget, saying delays in fund allocation had caused widespread public dissatisfaction. Speaking to reporters outside assembly complex in Jammu, Karra said, I want to place on record that when the last budget was presented, there were serious shortcomings in its implementation and execution. Becau

CHANDIGARH, Feb 7: Two persons, including a foreign-based gangster, have been booked in connection with the daylight murder of AAP leader Lucky Oberoi in Jalandhar on Friday, with police suspecting personal enmity as the reason behind the killing, officials said on Saturday. Police have booked gangster Jograj Singh alias Joga Pholriwal, who claimed responsibility for the murder in an unverified social media post, and Dalbira under the relevant sections of the BNS and Arms Act at the Division 6 p

JAGDALPUR (CHHATTISGARH), Feb 7: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said that decisive action by the government against Maoists has ended the atmosphere of fear and distrust in the Bastar region, and a new dawn of development is setting in. Speaking after inaugurating the three-day divisional-level Bastar Pandum festival in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district, the President appealed to those who have renounced violence and joined the mainstream to trust the Constitution and democrac

Jammu, Feb 7: Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Sharma, on Saturday said there is no mention of any special status for Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian Constitution and accused the National Conference (NC) of misleading people by repeatedly raising the issue. Speaking in the Assembly, Sharma said that constitutional demands must be backed by explicit constitutional provisions. As far as I know and have studied, there is no word [] The post Art

Women of Jammu & Kashmir Emerging as Strong Partners in Nation Building: Chugh JAMMU, Feb 7: BJP National General Secretary and Prabhari J&K Tarun Chugh, today addressed the Mahila Samvad Programme organised by BJP Mahila Morcha at Karan Palace, Mishriwala Road, Jammu. Chugh said that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women empowerment has become the central pillar of governance and development in the country. He said the Modi Government has transformed women empowerm

Jammu, Feb 7: Nagrota Member of the Legislative Assembly Devyani Rana, on Saturday, paid tribute to her late father and senior leader Devender Singh Rana, while raising serious concerns over sharp cuts in disaster management allocations and other pressing civic issues affecting the Union Territory. Addressing the House in her maiden speech during the Budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, while speaking on the Budget presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Rana said the

KARACHI, Feb 7:A spate of fire incidents in Pakistans largest city of Karachi, following last months deadly Gul Plaza shopping mall blaze, has raised alarm among authorities, who are also examining the possibility of foul play, officials said on Saturday. At least five fire outbreaks were reported from different parts of the city on Friday, while an explosion damaged a pipeline of a main water pumping station in Dhabeji, disrupting water supply to millions of residents. Senior Superintendent of

NEW DELHI, Feb 7:Walmart-owned fashion e-commerce platform Myntra on Saturday announced the appointment of Pramod Adiddam as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective immediately. Adiddam takes over the technology leadership role following the departure of Raghu Krishnananda, who served as the Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) for over five years before leaving the organisation in April 2025. In his new role, Adiddam will oversee Myntras overall technology strategy, focusing on inn

NEW DELHI, Feb 7:Under the interim trade agreement with the US, India has fully protected sensitive agricultural and dairy products such as maize, wheat, rice, soya, poultry, milk, cheese, ethanol (fuel), tobacco, certain vegetables and meat as no duty concessions will be granted to America on these goods. India and the US on Saturday announced that they have reached a framework for an interim trade agreement. Under this, the US will reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent [] The post No d

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Realty firm Embassy Office Parks REIT has declared distribution of Rs 613 crore to unitholders for the quarter ended December on better income. Revenue from operations rose 17 per cent annually to Rs 1,193 crore during October-December period of this fiscal while the net operating income (NOI) increased 19 per cent to Rs 985 crore, according to a regulatory filing on Friday. The company delivered quarterly distribution of Rs 613 crore or Rs 6.47 per unit, [] The post Embassy RE

New Delhi, Feb 7: A reply has been filed on behalf of Sonia Gandhi before the Rouse Avenue Court opposing the revision petition that alleges her name was fraudulently included in the voter list before she acquired Indian citizenship. In her response, she has contested the plea, stating that it is based on incorrect and misleading facts. The matter is now scheduled to be heard on February 21. The revision petition has been filed by advocate Vikas Tripathi, challenging the [] The post Sonia Gandhi

Srinagar, Feb 7: The minimum temperature across Kashmir rose by 2 to 7 degrees Celsius, but snowfall in higher reaches significantly brought down the day temperature, officials said on Saturday. The minimum temperature in Srinagar city increased by 5.5 degrees, from minus 2.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday night to 3.0 degrees on Friday night, the officials added. Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmirs Baramulla district recorded a low of minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest place in the

JAMMU, Feb 7: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of development projects in Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on infrastructure development and the implementation of key schemes in the Union territory, officials said. The meeting, which is currently underway at the Lok Bhawan here, is being attended by J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, J-K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and D

Mumbai, Feb 7: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday nominated corporator Ritu Tawade for the Mumbai mayor election, while its ally Shiv Sena declared Sanjay Ghadi as its candidate for the deputy mayors post. BJP leader Amit Satam declared Tawades name, while Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale announced Ghadis candidature at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters. Tawade is a corporator from Ward 132, while Ghadi was elected from Ward 5 in the January 15 civic election. Gha

PATNA, Feb 7: The Bihar Government has decided to form milk producers committees in all 39,073 villages to boost dairy production, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Saturday. Kumar said such committees have already been formed in 25,593 villages, and those will be set up in the remaining 13,480 villages in the next two years. The Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resource Department has been given instructions in this regard, he said. Kumar said directions have also been given to open [] The post Bi

NEW DELHI, Feb 7: In the 2024 Bollywood thriller Jigra, Alia Bhatt plays a woman who risks everything to save her brother from a death sentence abroad. For actor Celina Jaitly, fighting to secure the release of her brother from the United Arab Emirates, that story has spilled on from reel to very real. Major (Retd) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly has been under arbitrary detention in the United Arab Emirates for the last 17 months, said Jaitly. The retired Special Forces [] The post Beyond Jigra: Celina Ja

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Jammu, Feb 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday informed the Legislative Assembly that there is no proposal to open new wine shops in the Union Territory. In a written reply by the Finance Department, given by the Minister In-Charge, Finance Department, to a question raised by MLA Arjun Singh Raju, the government said that As of now, no new liquor licences are proposed to be issued in Jammu and Kashmir during the next financial year. The government furnished [] The post No Proposal To

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Feb 6: The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) today said it has sought the governments intervention for mitigation of issues of wood-based industrial units and early issuance of formal orders on matters already discussed with the Forest Department. In a representation to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force (HoFF), FCIK welcomed the reconstitution of the State Level Committee (SLC) but said it has concern regarding

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 6: Venura unveiled its much-awaited initiative Soothe Me, a wellness-focused offering designed especially for women across different life stages. The launch marks a significant step toward bringing comfort, care and luxury together in womens personal wellness. The brand was founded by Sarika Chopra, whose vision is to create personalised, caring and premium products that truly understand womens evolving needs. With Soothe Me, Venura aims to support women with p

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 6: Celebrating love through timeless tradition and refined style on the occasion of Valentines Day, Mohanlal Sons, Indias oldest and most respected retailer announced its exclusive Valentines Day Collection, here today. Built on a legacy of trust, craftsmanship, and enduring values, the iconic house presents an elegant new range featuring Club Wear Shirts, Cargo Coats, Tuxedos and Double Breast Suits, thoughtfully curated for modern celebrations. Staying true t

Ashok Ogra ashokogra@gmail.com Rahul Gandhi being disallowed by the Honble Speaker to refer to a reputed magazine article carrying excerpts from a yet-to-be-published book by former Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane should be viewed in a democratic and institutional light, not merely as a matter of parliamentary propriety. Members of Parliament have the right to speak freely inside the House. This protection, known as parliamentary privilege, exists so that matters of public concern can be rais