Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: The 8th Board meeting of the National Trade and Wholesale Board (NTWB) was held here today. The meeting was chaired by Sunil Singhi, Chairman, NTWB and Dr Sanjay Bansal, National Board Member saw participation from Secretaries and Joint Secretaries of 9 Ministries. The meeting focused on discussing key issues and formulating strategies for the growth and development of trade and industry in India. Dr Bansal actively contributed to the discussions, providing

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: The All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP), the apex body representing the printing industry in India, held its 271st Governing Council (GC) meeting here today. The meeting was presided over by C Ravinder Reddy, president, AIFMP and hosted jointly by the Jammu Printers Co-operative Association Ltd. and the J&K Offset Printers Association. This was one of the most important national-level gatherings of the printing fraternity, focusing on policy matt

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: Jammu Motor Vehicles LLP today launched the XUV 7XO and XEV 9S, two game-changing vehicles that are set to redefine the automotive industry. The vehicle was unveiled by Anil Kapahi, Secretary of Amar Singh Club, in the presence of Swatantar Aggarwal, Chairman of Aggarwal Group, Vineet Aggarwal, Nitin Aggarwal, other Directors & Family members of Aggarwal Group. The XUV 7XO is a premium SUV that boasts a range of innovative features & is the companys [] The p

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: Member of Parliament, Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan attended a meeting with the representatives of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), and the Principal Secretary, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, on the subject Storage of Foodgrains: Existing Infrastructure and Future Strategy in the UT of A&N Islands. The discussion focused on the overall development and supply position of es

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 9: To bolster the transport and logistics sector in the Union Territory of J&K and UT of Ladakh, J&K Development Finance Corporation Ltd (JKDFC), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eicher Trucks & Buses, a business unit of VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd (VECV). JKDFC is Government of India Enterprise under the administrative control of DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry incorporated for providing financial assistance in the shape of term loa

Dr Chahukeshi Jamwal jamwalchahukeshi@gmail.com The nation recently commemorated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary, a man widely hailed for integrating the Princely states into a democratic India. As part of his duties towards the Home Ministry, Jammu and Kashmir became his most passionately integrated state. However, the historical relationship of Jammu with the rest of India cannot be ignored while discussing the formal unification. Political continuity of Jammu and Kashmir has

Col Ajay K Raina ajaykrraina@gmail.com When Omar Abdullah asserts that the Union Territory of Ladakh has been doomed since August 2019, and warns that Jammu would face a similar fate if granted separate statehood, the claim collapses under even the most cursory examination of facts on the ground. This is not a matter of political disagreement or ideological preference; it is a question of verifiable outcomes. Ladakhs post-2019 trajectory represents one of the most striking governance turnarounds

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: The Technical Committee of the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) conducted a meticulous pitch inspection today at Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) Hostel Ground ahead of the U-14 boys selection trials. The expert panel assessed the entire playing surface to ensure optimal conditions, including true bounce, consistent pace and fair wear, enabling young cricketers to showcase their skills effectively. The inspection reflects DY

Excelsior Correspondent Hyderabad, Jan 9: Emphasising that early detection and affordability are the two biggest challenges in addressing genetic and rare diseases, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, Dr. Jitendra Singh, today said that India is now scientifically and economically equipped to take on complex health challenges through genomics, biotechnology, and

LUCKNOW, Jan 9: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday heaped praise on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, calling him not just a capable politician but also an able economist. Addressing the inauguration function of Ashok Leylands electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant here in the presence of Union minister H D Kumaraswamy and Adityanath, Singh said, I earlier believed that you (Adityanath) are adept only in politics, but now I have reached the conclusion that you are equally pr

NAVI MUMBAI, Jan 9: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, riding on an all-round display by South African stalwart Nadine de Klerk, defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians by three wickets in a last-ball thriller in the opening match of the Womens Premier League Season 4 here on Friday. Thanks to de Klerk, who returned excellent bowling figures of 4/26, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 154 for 6 with Sajeevan Sajana (45) and Nicola Carey (40) sharing an 82-run stand for the fifth wicket. [] The post

DIU, Oct 9: Defending champions Kerala men and Odisha women registered contrasting victories to retain their soccer gold medals in the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 at the Ghoghla Beach here on Friday. On the penultimate day of the second edition of KIBG 2026, Madhya Pradesh jumped to the top spot on the medals tally with two gold medals in Pencak Silat. Sarun Sonwane (mens 70-75kg) and Mahendra Swami (mens 85-90kg) won the Tanding weight categories to take the states [] The post Kerala, Odisha r

HM launches national digital IED data mgmt platform * Will provide comprehensive data to police GURUGRAM, Jan 9: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a national digital IED data management platform that will act as next generation security shield against terror and a comprehensive deterrence against all forms of bombings that take place in the country. The national IED data management system (NIDMS) has been developed by the federal counter-terrorist commando force NSG with the help

Cong to launch 45-day MGNREGA campaign Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: Asserting that closing Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra is a wrong decision, AICC general secretary Incharge J&K affairs of the party, Dr Sayeed Naseer Hussain (MP) has said that Central Government should have rectified the mistake committed initially with regard to the minority status of the Institute. Addressing a press conference at party office here today, the AICC leader ter

KOLKATA, Jan 9 : Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday inaugurated medical facilities worth Rs 40 crore at AIIMS-Kalyani in West Bengals Nadia district. The facilities inaugurated include the departments of Radiation Oncology, Trauma and Emergency Medicine and a Pneumatic Tube System. Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar and Ranaghat MP Jagannath Sarkar were present on the occasion, a statement said. During his visit to the institute, Nadda held a review meeting with senior

NEW DELHI, Jan 9: The BCCI top brass on Friday took stock of the operations at its Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru besides touching on streamlining India U-19 and India A tours going forward, board secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI. Key technical posts are lying vacant in CoE which became fully operational in April last year. The positions include the head of education and head of sports science. The meeting in Mumbai was also attended by BCCI president Mithun Manhas, [] The post Need to strea

BJP holds workshop Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: J&K BJP president and MP (R S), Sat Sharma CA, said that the Viksit Bharat G RAM G (VB-G RAM G) Bill is a decisive reform aimed at ending long-standing irregularities in rural employment schemes and ensuring transparent, need-based benefits for the poor. He was addressing a workshop organized under the VB-G RAM G Janajagaran Abhiyan at the BJP Headquarters, here, today. Click here to watch video The workshop was attended by [] The post G R

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: Senior leaders of the National Conference from Jammu province today addressed a meeting of the District Jammu Urban, organised by District President Jammu Urban, Chandar Mohan Sharma, in coordination with State Vice President, Womens Wing, Bimla Luthra and party functionaries. Addressing the gathering, National Conference Additional General Secretary, Ajay Sadhotra, highlighted the people-centric approach of the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference Governme

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Jan 9: The bodies of two porters of the Indian Army, who had slipped into a gorge near the Upper Gulmarg area of Baramulla district, were recovered during an overnight search operation. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The deceased were identified as Layakat Ahmad Deedard, 27, son of Ghulam Mohammad Deedard of Masjid Aagan Chandoosa, and Ishfaq Ahmad Khatana, 33, son of Jamal-ud-Din Khatana of Pachar Chandoosa in Baramulla district. Click here to w

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: The monthly meeting of police veterans of Jammu district was held today under the chairmanship of Karanjit Singh (president, Retirees Police League, district Jammu), with the release of the book Breaking the Uniform authored by Mahadeep Singh Jamwal, SSP (Retired), marking the highlight of the event. SP South Jammu, Dr Ajay Kumar Sharma, who attended the programme as the chief guest, highlighted the contribution of police veterans and lauded the author for d

NEW DELHI, Jan 9: A Delhi court on Friday ordered framing of charges against RJD chief and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family members and others in the alleged land-for-job scam. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Special Judge Vishal Gogne said Yadav used the Railway Ministry as his personal fiefdom in order to carry out a criminal enterprise, where public employment was used as a bargaining chip to acquire land parcels by the Yadav family in [] The post Court ord

Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Jan 9: The five-day annual Urs of Sufi Saint Hazrat Sayed Rasool Shah (RA), popularly known as Nanga Baji Sahib, concluded today with immense religious fervour, devotion, and large public participation at village Bravhi in Kalakote area of Rajouri district. The Urs of Hazrat Nanga Baji Sahib (RA), observed annually, witnessed people gathering in large numbers from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining regions. The concluding day featured special reli

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 9: Bringing laurels to Jammu & Kashmir, Poonardeep Singh, a young and dynamic officer of the Indian Railways, has been conferred with the prestigious ATTI Vashisht Rail Seva Puraskar2025 for his exceptional contributions to indigenous manufacturing, innovation, and cost efficiency in rolling stock production. The award was presented at a ceremonial function held in New Delhi on January 9, 2025, recognising his outstanding professional excellence, leadership, an

COLOMBO, Jan 9 : Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi held talks with Sri Lankas Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera and high-level army officials during a two-day visit to the island nation, aiming to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. The Army Chief was on an official visit to Sri Lanka from January 7-8 in order to enhance military-to-military engagement. The interaction focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement, includin

Service conditions now at par with GLTs Irfan Tramboo Srinagar, Jan 9: In a major policy decision, the Union Territory of Ladakh has removed the long-standing non-transferable condition for Regularised Rehbar-e-Taleem (RReT) teachers working as Teacher Grade-II and Grade-III, bringing their service conditions at par with General Line Teachers (GLTs). The order, issued by the School and Higher Education Department, allows these teachers to be considered for transfers in the same manner as those i

LUCKNOW, Jan 9 : Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday said electric mobility lies at the core of Indias commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and is a key pillar of the countrys transition towards clean, sustainable and self-reliant transportation. Addressing the inauguration of Ashok Leylands electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Lucknow, Kumaraswamy said that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has adopted a clear, ambitious roa

Jammu, Jan 9: Security forces have recovered a suspected nano drone which was found lying in a border area of Jammu district, officials said. The recovery was made from the border area of Chakroi in R S Pura, on the information provided by a local resident, they said. An investigation has been launched in this regard, officials added. The post Suspected Nano Drone Recovered In Jammu Border Area appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, Jan 9: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today emphasized on the need for timely referral of vacant posts to address shortages of doctors, paramedics and other support staff in healthcare institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. The Health Minister made these remarks while chairing a meeting at Civil Secretariat here to review the status of vacancies of different categories of posts at various levels and progress on referral of posts in Go

New Delhi, Jan 9: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea relating to the upcoming elections of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and directed that the poll results should not be declared. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta on Thursday passed the order while hearing a petition seeking the appointment of an independent electoral officer to prepare the electoral rolls and conduct JKCA elections strictly in accordance with the associations constitution. The bench [

LONDON, Jan 9: Elon Musks AI chatbot Grok is preventing most users from generating or editing any images after a global backlash that erupted after it started spewing sexualised deepfakes of people. The chatbot, which is accessed through Musks social media platform X, has in the past few weeks been granting a wave of what researchers say are malicious user requests to modify images, including putting women in bikinis or in sexually explicit positions. Researchers have warned that in [] The post

JAMMU: (Jan 9) Jammu Police arrested another accused in a cross-border narcotics and arms syndicate, taking the total number of arrests in the case to seven, officials said on Friday. Police had earlier busted the racket on December 5 last year by arresting six persons and recovering nearly five kilograms of heroin, estimated to be worth around Rs 30 crore, along with three pistols. The latest arrest was made on Thursday under Operation Sanjeevani, a sustained crackdown against narco-terror netw

NEW DELHI: (Jan 9) Speaker Vijender Gupta on Friday suspended four AAP MLAs for the remaining period of the ongoing Winter Session of the Delhi Assembly for disrupting House proceedings. In a statement, Gupta said due to the continuous disruption of the proceedings of the House and violation of its decorum, Opposition members (AAP) Som Dutt, Jarnail Singh, Sanjeev Jha and Kuldeep Kumar are suspended from the House for the rest of the Winter Session. Jha, Singh and Kumar [] The post 4 AAP MLAs s

SINGAPORE, Jan 9: The 10th edition of Singapores art festival Light to Night opened on Friday, inviting the public to engage with art installations, large-scale light projections and art programs across the citys historic Civic District and selected locations. Organised by the National Gallery Singapore and running until Jan. 31, this years festival brings together artists from Singapore and the region, and marks the longest edition of Light to Night to date. Held under the theme The Power in Us

DUBAI, Jan 9: Iranian state media broke its silence Friday over the demonstrations that swept the country overnight, alleging terrorist agents of the US and Israel set fires and sparked violence. The brief report buried in state TVs 8 am broadcast represented the first official word about the demonstrations. It claimed the protests saw violence that caused casualties but did not elaborate. It also said the protests saw peoples private cars, motorcycles, public places such as the metro, fire []

COLOMBO, Jan 9: Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne on Friday ruled out a motion by the Opposition to appoint a parliamentary select committee on the conduct of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The Opposition in November had moved the motion to examine the conduct of the JSC on appointments, promotions, transfers, dismissal and disciplinary control of judicial officers. Wickramaratne in his ruling said the JSC embodied the exercise of the peoples judicial power and therefor

LOS ANGELES, Jan 9: Four Indian titles, including Kannada blockbuster Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 and the Hindi film Tanvi The Great, are among the 201 feature films eligible to compete for the Best Picture award at Oscars 2026, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced. The Academy on Thursday released the Reminder List of Productions Eligible for the 98th Academy Awards. The list of films that satisfy the eligibility criteria for consideration in the [] The post Kantara:

SINGAPORE, Jan 9: Singapore Parliament is set to debate next week whether Indian-origin Pritam Singh is suitable to continue as Leader of the Opposition (LoP) following his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee, according to an official statement on Friday. Singh, a Singaporean and the secretary-general of the Workers Party (WP), was convicted in February last year in connection with the case involving former party member Raeesah Khan, who had admitted to making untruthful statements

MOGADISHU (Somalia), Jan 9: Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Somalias capital to protest Israels recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, waving Somali flags and chanting patriotic songs in a show of national unity. The protest on Thursday night took place at Taleh Square in downtown Mogadishu, where the crowds condemned Israels move as a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity in the east African country. Demonstrators carried placards rejecting what they describ

MARTIGNY (Switzerland), Jan 9: Switzerland will hold a memorial service Friday, part of a national day of mourning to honour the 40 people who were killed in an Alpine bar fire earlier this month during a New Years celebration. An additional 116 people were injured, many of them seriously, when the fire broke out less than two hours after midnight at the Le Constellation bar on January 1. Investigators have said they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited [] The post Switzerla

NEW YORK, Jan 9: The US Department of State has highlighted a mission-defining challenge during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars visit here in November amid the US government shutdown, saying it put in a bold contingency plan to ensure his protection and security. An article dated December 30, 2025 by Supervisory Special Agent Gabriel Macias said that when thousands of commercial flights were grounded due to the US government shutdown last year, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) special a

NEW DELHI, Jan 9: Making a case for status quo on interest rate by the RBI, PwC Partner and Economic Advisory Services leader Ranen Banerjee said that any cut at this time would amount to wasting a bullet in an environment when growth is robust and inflation is benign. The Reserve Bank is unlikely to cut key policy rate in the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting next month, he said. The meeting of MPC headed by Reserve Bank [] The post No need to waste bullet when growth high, inflatio

LUCKNOW, Jan 9: Hinduja Group Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja on Friday said Ashok Leyland is aiming to be among the worlds top 10 commercial vehicle manufacturers, as the company inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking at the inauguration of Ashok Leylands state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant here, Hinduja said the new facility marked a significant milestone for both the company and the state. This is our first manufacturing facility in Uttar Prad

NEW DELHI: (Jan 9) Nearly 44 per cent Indian cities face chronic air pollution, indicating a structural problem driven by persistent emission sources rather than short-term episodes, an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has found. However, only 4 per cent of these cities are covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), the report said. Using satellite data, CREA assessed PM2.5 levels in 4,041 Indian cities. The post 44 pc Indian cities face chronic air

For people going through dialysis, diet is not secondary; it is actually one of the most crucial parts of their whole treatment plan, but many patients still face confusion about what foods are good or bad. Dialysis already puts so much load on the body, and if food choices are not proper, then it can make symptoms worse, cause more fatigue, or even mess up the treatment outcomes. In India, many patients also depend on family members for meal preparation, [] The post Essential Diet Guide for Dia

Machine learning is reshaping the way portfolios are built, monitored, and adjusted. Investors are no longer limited to static allocation tools or traditional forecasting techniques. With richer data, stronger computing power, and more refined models, machine learning gives professionals the ability to create dynamic portfolios that adjust as market conditions evolve. These tools form the foundation of portfolio management using machine learning, allowing risk and return to be managed with great

LUCKNOW: (Jan 9) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a major hub of defence manufacturing, with investments of over Rs 34,000 crore already made across six nodes of the states defence corridor, marking a decisive shift towards Indias self-reliance in weapons and ammunition production. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating Ashok Leylands state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant here, Singh said India is no longer dependent on other coun

PATNA: (Jan 9) The NDA in Bihar on Friday welcomed a Delhi courts order directing framing of charges against RJD chief and former railway minister Lalu Prasad, his family members and others in the alleged land-for-job scam. Special Judge Vishal Gogne said Prasad used the railway ministry as his personal fiefdom to carry out a criminal enterprise, where public employment was used as a bargaining chip to acquire land parcels by the Yadav family in connivance with railway officials and [] The post

SRINAGAR: (Jan 9) Parts of the Dal Lake in Srinagar were frozen on Friday as the city experienced the coldest night of the winter with the temperature settling several degrees below the freezing point across the Kashmir valley, officials said. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 6.0 degrees Celsius on Thursday night, down from the minus 5.1 degrees Celsius on the previous night, they said. Officials said it was the seasons coldest night in the city so far this season, [] The post Kashmir reels unde

For many Indians, gold has always carried emotional and financial significance. Yet, traditional gold buying has often felt time-consuming and inconvenient, involving visits to jewellers, concerns about purity, price negotiations, and the challenge of safe storage. These practical barriers have made gold investment feel more complicated than it needs to be, especially for younger savers and first-time investors who prefer speed and simplicity. Digital gold has changed this experience by enabling

Helping a young adult manage money becomes easier when their first credit tool has built-in guardrails. A secured card links the spending limit to a cash deposit, so any mistakes stay controlled while good habits develop. For many Indian families, this balance of safety and learning works well during college years, internships, and early careers. What Is a Secured Card and How It Works A secured card is a standard credit card backed by a fixed deposit or savings maintained [] The post Why a Secu