Daily Excelsior

JAMMU, Feb 11: JAMMU, February 10, 2026: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting of the Labour & Employment Department to review the implementation status of the four new Labour Codesone of the most significant labour reforms undertaken in the country to simplify compliance mechanisms and strengthen worker welfare. The meeting was attended by Secretary, Labour & Employment, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan; Labour Commissioner; and other senior officers of the department. Reviewing t

JAMMU, Feb 11: The Finance Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government has assigned additional responsibilities to 6 Assistant Accounts Officers (AAOs) in the interest of the administration. For additional details, read this order. See Order Copy Click Here The post J&K Finance Dept Assigns Addl Charge To 6 AAOs appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Jammu, Feb 11: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said the report prepared by a sub-committee on reservation has been approved by the Cabinet and forwarded to the Centre, and it will be made public once a final decision is received. On December 10, 2024, the government had constituted the cabinet sub-committee to look into grievances raised by various sections of aspirants against the existing reservation policy in the Union Territory and submitted the LG in October last year. [] The

Jammu, Feb 12: PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra on Wednesday raised concern over the delays in the completion of an AIIMS in the Kashmir Valley and flagged several issues related to healthcare infrastructure, private clinics registration and the reservation policy in Jammu and Kashmir. Participating in a discussion in the Assembly on grants for education, social welfare and health, Parra said these are sectors crucial for human development, which require urgent attention amid the growing demand an

Jammu, Feb 11: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday dismissed the misinformation being circulated about the recent Indo-US trade deal, asserting that the central government remains firmly committed to safeguard farmers interests. He highlighted that the Agriculture First policy will ensure developed India and Aatmanirbhar Jammu Kashmir. Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the India-US interim trade deal, saying it could adversely impact the Unio

Jammu, Feb 11: A 16-year-old boy was injured in an explosion believed to have been caused by a rusted landmine that had drifted into a stream in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district on Wednesday, officials said. Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Banpath village, was loading sand into a tractor at Battar Nallah when the blast occurred around 4.30 pm, they said. Preliminary investigation suggested that the blast was caused by a landmine that had washed into the water body and [] The post Teenager Injured I

Jammu, Feb 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed regret over remarks made by him during assembly proceedings, paving the way for restoration of order in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly which had witnessed repeated disruptions by BJP members. BJP legislators had trooped into the well of the Assembly and staged a sit-in to press for Abdullahs apology over his unparliamentary remarks against them. BJP members had also staged a walkout over the issue. While the BJP members were [] T

Srinagar, Feb 11: The fruit growers and dealers in Kashmir are worried about the adverse effects of the India-US trade deal on local economy but there are voices within the fraternity who claim the agreement will stabilize the prices and improve the quality of the local produce. Javaid Ahmad Lone, a walnut farmer and dealer from south Kashmir Shopian district, said the imported goods from the US will push the local farmers to improve their stock if they want to [] The post Indo-US Deal: Some J&K

Meta: Armistice Capital and other institutional investors hold positions in the growing refrigerated petfood company. Freshpets latest quarterly results suggest the refrigerated pet food category is transitioning from rapid expansion to a more mature phase characterized by improving profitability and operational discipline. Institutional investors, including Armistice Capital, appear to have maintained exposure to the company alongside others interested in companies in the sector navigating bot

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Wednesday called for introducing a Right to Recall mechanism, arguing that voters should have the power to remove elected representatives before the completion of their five-year term if they fail to perform. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, he said, while Indian citizens have the constitutional right to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), there is currently no direct mechanism for vot

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday claimed that 20 to 25 Congress MPs had abused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his chamber and they were not stopped by senior leaders K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who were present there. The parliamentary affairs minister said that Birla was very hurt. The Lok Sabha speaker is a very lenient, else he could have taken strong action, he said. Some members went to his chamber and [] The post 20-25 Congress MPs abused Speaker Om B

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday said a uniform civil code will strengthen the fundamental constitutional spirit and inclusive thinking of India. Naqvi said those who are involved in communal lynching of this constitutional reform, which, he claimed, is aimed at protecting religious freedom and improving the administrative system, are neither well-wishers of the country nor of any religion. It is also our constitutional duty to protect the power of the Constitution

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: The opposition notice for removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla could have been rejected due to flaws in drafting, but he directed officials to get it rectified so that it can be listed at the earliest, parliamentary sources said. As many as 118 opposition MPs had signed the notice submitted to Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh on Tuesday afternoon. Later in the day, the opposition withdrew the notice and replaced it with another [] The post LS Speaker Birla steps

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: Rafale, Su-30, MiG-29, Tejas, Jaguar, among other fighter aircraft, will be part of the upcoming Exercise Vayu Shakti, and will highlight the successful role of the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindoor, an IAF officer said on Wednesday. Exercise Vayu Shakti is scheduled to take place on February 27 at the Pokharan field firing range. Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, said long-distance targeting will not be showcased in this firepower demonstration [

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea moved by Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year jail term without remission for the murder of business executive Nitish Katara in 2002, seeking to be released from the prison on furlough. The order was pronounced by Justice Ravinder Dudeja. Yadav had challenged the jail authorities October 29, 2025 order rejecting his furlough application. Furlough is a temporary release from prison, not a suspension or remission of [] The post

CHANDIGARH, Feb 11: Sixteen private schools in Punjabs Mohali received bomb threat emails on Wednesday, triggering evacuation and prompting detailed anti-sabotage checks by police, an officer said. No suspicious or explosive material was discovered at any of the locations after thorough inspections, the officer said. School authorities sent messages to parents, declaring a holiday. Students on their way to school were sent back home, they said. Manav Mangal School, Shivalik Public School, and Le

MUMBAI: (Feb 11) A day after Raj Thackeray claimed that prominent personalities from various fields attended an RSS event here only out of fear of the Modi government, former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Wednesday said the MNS chief was too scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bollywood personalities including Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar, as well as some serving IAS officers were among those present at the interactive session of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chie

MELBOURNE, Feb 11: Australia is demanding criminal charges over a 2024 Israeli airstrike on an aid convoy in Gaza that killed seven people, including an Australian aid worker, the countrys prime minister said Wednesday in a case that has drawn sweeping condemnation and strained relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he conveyed the request to visiting Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a meeting earlier in the day. Australian Zomi Frankcom was one of four Wo

JAMMU: (Feb 11) The process of regularisation of residential colonies in Jammu was initiated earlier and the Jammu Development Authority has already regularised 31 colonies, but the process was later stayed by the high court, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma in the Assembly on regularisation of illegal colonies, Abdullah, who also holds charge of the Housing and Urban Development Department, said the regularisatio

KYIV, Feb 11: A Russian drone smashed into a home in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region overnight, killing a father and his three small children and seriously wounding their mother who is 35 weeks pregnant, officials said Wednesday. The strike completely destroyed the house and set it on fire, with the family trapped under the rubble, according to the Kharkiv regional prosecutors office. The 34-year-old father and his three children twin boys aged 2 and their 1-year-old sister were [] The po

NEW DELHI: (Feb 11) Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the government of selling Bharat Mata and dubbed the India-US interim trade agreement as one-sided which has hurt the interests of the farmers. Participating in the debate on the Union Budget, he said, You have sold India. Are you not ashamed of selling India? You have sold our mother, Bharat Mata, he said while referring to the trade agreement. He said the interests of the farmers have been compromised [] The post Interim trade a

NEW DELHI: (Feb 11) The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to consider listing another plea filed by four people seeking a direction against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over a series of alleged hate speeches targeting Muslims in the state. On Tuesday, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant had agreed to list for hearing a separate plea of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and CPI leader Annie Raja seeking action against the chief minister over a viral [] The post SC agrees to li

SINGAPORE, Feb 11: A Singapore court on Wednesday sentenced an Indian-origin man to 14 weeks in prison for hurting religious feelings and using abusive words against a public official, a local media reported. The 36-year-old, Vikneswaran V Moganaval, pleaded guilty to one count under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and another charge of using abusive words against a public servant, the Channel News Asia (CNA) reported. He was angry because his neighbours children often played along the

ANKARA, Feb 11: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan carried out a surprise mini Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, replacing the justice and interior ministers. The Official Gazette announced that Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek will serve as justice minister, replacing Yilmaz Tunc, while Mustafa Ciftci, governor of the eastern province of Erzurum, has been appointed interior Minister, succeeding Ali Yerlikaya. No official reason was given for the shake-up, though the Official Gazette said that Tu

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: The shares of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) fell over 6 per cent in trade on Wednesday, as the Governments Offer For Sale (OFS) opened for subscription. The issue got subscribed 5.11 per cent at 1150 hours. Institutional investors put in bids for over 48.08 lakh shares at an indicative price of Rs 254.53 a share, as against over 9.40 crore shares on offer. Through a 2 day OFS, the government is disinvesting 3 per cent [] The post Govts share sale in BHEL begins, scrip fa

Srinagar, Feb 11: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday nominated the Union Territory-Level Nodal Officer in connection with the 8th Pay Commission. The order has been issued vide Circular No. 01-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated January 7, 2026, and signed by Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, M. Raju, IAS, the Administrative Secretary, Finance Department, has been designated as the Union Territory-Level Nodal Officer for coordinating and liaising with the Department of Expenditure, Min

DUBAI, Feb 11: Iran marked the 47th anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution on Wednesday as the countrys theocracy remains under pressure, both from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting sending another aircraft carrier group to the Mideast and a public angrily denouncing their bloody crackdown on nationwide protests. Trump made the suggestion in an interview published Tuesday night as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, long an Iran hawk, visited Washington to push the U.S. toward th

Jammu, Feb 11 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed regret over his alleged remarks in the Legislative Assembly, saying he did not intend to hurt anyone, even as BJP legislators continued their protest inside the House. Speaking in the Assembly, the Chief Minister Omar, said, I regret my remarks if they have caused any hurt. My comments were directed at them and not at their family members. However, their field commander (referring to LoP Sunil Sharma) went to [] The post I Regre

Jammu, Feb 11 : The Jammu and Kashmir administration has installed more than 12.36 lakh smart electricity meters across the union territory under central schemes, the government informed the legislative assembly on Wednesday. The data was shared by the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) as in a written reply to a question from legislator Waheed-Ur-Rehman Para. The installation is being carried out under the Prime Ministers Development Package (PMDP) and the Revamped Distributi

Srinagar, Feb 11 : Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on Wednesday accused the Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly of favouring the ruling government and alleged that House proceedings were being conducted under the direction of the treasury benches, calling the situation unfortunate for the legislature. Sharmas remarks came in response to comments made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during a recent Assembly session. Speaking to reporters, Sharma said the language used by the Chief Mini

Srinagar, Feb 11 : BJP legislators on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, protesting against what they described as unparliamentary and indecent language used by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during House proceedings. Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma alleged that Abdullahs remarks, including phrases like joote maaro (hit with shoes), violated parliamentary decorum and brought disrepute to democratic traditions. BJP members raised slogans against the National Conf

NUREMBERG, Feb 11: Indias goods and services exports have registered positive growth so far this year and are estimated to remain positive in January as well, despite global economic uncertainties, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said He said that data for January will be officially released this month. Overall exports are doing well. We have been holding well on our merchandise exports. Services as usual have been doing very well. You can expect (January data) to be positive, he told reporter

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: Shares of Britannia Industries Ltd jumped 5 per cent on the bourses on Wednesday after the bakery food company reported a 17.14 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 682.14 crore for the December quarter of FY26. The scrip of the company climbed 4.81 per cent to Rs 6,156 apiece on the NSE. On the BSE, Britannia Industries stock rose 4.77 per cent to Rs 6,153.95 apiece. Meanwhile, the 30-share BSE Sensex increased 31.70 [] The post Britannia Industries stock jumps 5 pc

Jammu, Feb 11 : National Conference minister Sakina Itoo on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on BJP legislators in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, accusing them of unprecedented misbehaviour and relentless lying. The senior minister said the conduct of BJP members marked a new low in her two-decade legislative career. In my 20 years in this house, I have never seen the kind of misbehaviour that BJP members are displaying today. They are lying relentlessly. This is new to [] The post NC Ministe

MUMBAI, Feb 11: Tamilnad Mercantile Bank will repurpose more than half its staff towards sales as it shifts focus from maintaining its long-standing customer relationships to increasing revenues, a top official said. This will be done through the technology-led investments which lead to automation benefits in a lot of repeat jobs, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Salee S Nair told PTI, underlining that there will not be any layoffs. Overall employee count is expected to rise by over 200

SRINAGAR, Feb 11 : A late-night fire in Srinagars densely populated Habbakadal locality damaged at least six residential houses and left three persons, including a firefighter, injured, officials said on Wednesday. The Fire and Emergency Services control room received a distress call at 10.32 pm on Tuesday, following which fire tenders from Habbakadal, Babdem and Gowkadal stations were rushed to the spot. Officials said the narrow lanes and congested construction in the area hampered initial ef

New Delhi, Feb 11: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of inter-cadre deputation tenure of two Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers to the AGMUT Cadre (Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir), according to official orders issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. In two separate orders, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of inter-cadre deputation tenure of two IAS officers to the AGMUT C

NEW DELHI, Feb 10: Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said very ugly scenes could have taken place had the BJP MPs been allowed to confront the Congress members on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to reply to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents Address in the Lok Sabha. Releasing videos of the developments in the Lok Sabha that showed opposition women MPs coming to the treasury benches on February 4, Rijiju asked if anyone could [] The post Ugly scenes could have taken pl

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Feb 10: Eastern Coastal Region figures prominently in the current Budgets Nuclear and Marine roadmap, with the State of Odisha getting one of the four Rare Earth Corridors announced for the country, while the enabling provisions for deep sea fishing are also going to be a game-changer for the State. This observation was made by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS

Col Ajay K Raina ajaykrraina@gmail.com Delimitation is often presented as a technical exercise; it is supposed to be neutral, arithmetical, and immune from politics. In reality, it is one of the most consequential instruments in a democracy, because it translates population into power. In Jammu and Kashmir, where political authority has historically been concentrated in one region, the relationship between census data, population growth, and legislative representation demands closer scrutiny-esp

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 10: A delegation of Shri Amarnathji Yatra Bhandara Organisation (SAYBO) called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, today. The delegation led by Rajan Kapoor, President, SAYBO apprised the Lieutenant Governor of several key matters pertaining to the logistics and smooth operation of bhandaras along the Yatra route during the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026. The Lieutenant Governor assured the delegation that appropriate action will be taken to address the i

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 10: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today inaugurated ODOP Fest, Buyer Seller Meet, organised by the Jammu & Kashmir Trade Promotion Organisation (JKTPO) under the One District One Product (ODOP) and Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiatives at Convention Centre here. The event is being held under the theme and tagline Connecting District Treasures to National Markets. The event aims to promote the unique ODOP products of Jammu and Kashmir and provide

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 10: Astro India Automobile, the authorized dealer of Mahindra & Mahindra, launched the new Thar ROXX STAR EDN, an exclusive and aesthetically enhanced addition, here today. The unveiling ceremony was graced by the presence of dignitaries from Mahindra, Sanmukh Khaira, Zonal Manager- Sales, along with Rahul Vaidya, Regional Manager and Rahul Kalal, Area Sales Manager, Ankush Sharma, Channel Manager. The event was held amidst an enthusiastic gathering of valued p

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Feb 10: Higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall today as night temperatures rose due to overcast conditions across the region and day temperatures dipped. Gulmarg and other higher reaches of Kashmir received snowfall early today. Hundreds of tourists in Gulmarg were pleasantly surprised as they woke up to snowfall in the early hours. The plains had a drizzle in the morning and it was breezy during the day and chilly winds were blowing leading to drop [

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 10: Under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the J&K Bank today sponsored two 12-seater electric vehicles to the University of Jammu, in a function held here today. The e-vehicles were formally inaugurated by Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof Umesh Rai in presence of Prof Neelu Rohmetra, Dean Research Studies, Prof Sangita Gupta, Dean Planning and Development, Prof J P S Joorel, Dean Academic Affairs, Rectors, Directors, Deans, Heads

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 10 : Creating the countrys first British international girls school, Bedford School (UK) is launching its first international branch in Mohali, this year. Situated on a 14-acre campus near Chandigarh, the school will cater to girls aged 4 to 18 (some sources say 3-18), offering both day and boarding options, a dual curriculum and advanced facilities like a 1,000-seat auditorium and specialized, modern labs. Positioned in the heart of Mohalis growing education c

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that un-metered consumers are presently being billed on a flat-rate basis in accordance with the tariff approved by the Jammu & Kashmir Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC). The Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of the Power Department, said that electricity connections are issued strictly in line with the JERC Supply Code Regulations, 2023, after due field ve

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 10: Tiny Tots Hr Sec School celebrated its Annual cum Sports Day at the school grounds in Sainik Colony with great energy and excitement. The event was graced by J S Johar, Director Police Telecommunication cum CISO J&K Police, who was welcomed by students with a shower of petals. The chief guest toured the schools Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Laboratory, where students showcased innovative projects. Guests of honour included Pr

CHENNAI, Feb 10: The New Zealand opening pair of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen went on a rampage against the UAE bowling attack to make short work of the 174-run target, firing the Blacks Caps to a 10-wicket win in the T20 World Cup here on Tuesday. The UAE did well to post 173 for six, their highest total in tournament history following fine fifties captain Muhammad Waseem (66 not out off 45) and Alishan Sharafu (55 off 4) at [] The post New Zealand beat UAE by 10 wickets appeared first on Daily E

NEW DELHI, Feb 10 : French President Emmanuel Macron will undertake a three-day visit to India next week to attend the AI Impact Summit and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to boost ties in key sectors such as trade and defence. Macron will begin his visit from Mumbai on February 17 where he and Modi will inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation. The two leaders are expected to hold bilateral talks in Mumbai. Both leaders will hold discussions [] The post French President Macro