Daily Excelsior News

Law Deptt gives opinion to RDD Date of constitution, not oath taken into account Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Dec 27: Twenty District Development Councils (DDCs) in Jammu and Kashmirone in the each 20 districts-have got fresh lease of life for about two months with opinion from Law Department of the Government suggesting that their term will expire on February 24, 2026 and not December 27, 2025. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Piquant situation had earlier emerged over counting of [] The

Govt committed to address long standing issues Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 27 : Expressing concern over continuing dilution of the communitys cultural and linguistic ethos, Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh has stressed the need for sustained efforts to preserve the Kashmiri Pandit legacy and emphasised that preserving the communitys cultural, linguistic and civilisational ethos is essential for sustaining Kashmirs composite culture, which remains incomplete without the Kashmiri Pandits.

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 27: The Government today elevated/placed 39 In-charge Assistant Engineers (AEs), Electrical, as In-charge Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) and shifted / posted 77 I/C AEEs and I/C AEs in the Power Development Department (PDD). Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Those elevated as I/C AEEs (25 Degree holders) are: Vishal Sharma, Vinod Mathur, Sayed Ahmed Farooqi, Mohd Ashraf, Rippen Kumar, Masood-ul-Sharief Zargar, Talib Hussain Geelani, Sunil Kum

Warns Shri Amarnath land row type agitation Avtar Bhat JAMMU, Dec 27: Former Vishva Hindu Parishad leader and president of Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP), Praveen Togadia today demanded that all 50 seats at the Vaishno Devi Medical College in Jammu and Kashmir should be reserved for Hindus, and warned of an intensified agitation if it was not done. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Togadia, said India will not tolerate the use of donations made by Hindus for the [] The post All

Abhiyan to start from Jan 5: Kharge NEW DELHI, Dec 27:The Congress on Saturday announced a nationwide campaign against the repeal of the MGNREGA from January 5, with Rahul Gandhi accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of single-handedly destroying the UPA-era legislation and claimed it was an attack on the democratic structure that will ruin the rural economy. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Announcing the plan at a press conference, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along wit

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 27: The night temperatures plunged below the freezing point in Kashmir as the mercury dropped at most places owing to clear skies. The Valley is bracing up for another spell of rains and snow around the New Years Eve, weather officials said today. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius on Friday night, nearly three degrees down from 0.2 degrees Celsius on the previous night, they []

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR Dec 27: Police today detained three Over Ground Workers (OGWs) in Shopian district of South Kashmir and booked them under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp A police spokesman said here that the trio were arrested and booked under the PSA as part of the sustained efforts of police to maintain peace and security. Click here to watch video The detained OGWs have been identified as Owais Ahmad Lone, resident of [] The post 3

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 27: The Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK) today filed a charge sheet in a high-value livestock fraud case, in which a cattle trader was allegedly cheated of lakhs of rupees by falsely invoking a Government welfare scheme. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp According to a statement issued here, the charge sheet was presented before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar, in FIR No. 17/2023 registered under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of

Mithun Manhas becomes BCCI President Former Delhi and J&K captain, son of the soil Mithun Manhas was elected as the new president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at its Annual General Meeting (AGM). His nomination was backed strongly by the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), marking a rare moment of recognition for a region traditionally on the margins of Indian cricket. The former middle-order batter brings with him a formidable playing record. between 1997-98 [] Th

Samba, Dec 27:All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jammu has established itself as a national benchmark in healthcare delivery, medical education and research, treating over 3.68 lakh OPD patients in just over a year, officials said. AIIMS Jammu has taken the lead in introducing several patient-centric initiatives, including the Indoor navigation app, patient care manager and rogi sahayak mitra system, parikrama seva e-carts and the swasthya app for appointments and diagnostics, they said. AI

Jammu, Dec 27: A traffic police sub-inspector has been placed under suspension pending an inquiry for allegedly misusing his official vehicle to shoot a reel on the snow-laden Mughal Road in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district, officials said. In a viral video, sub-inspector Gul Sheraz, posted as sector officer (traffic) on Mughal Road, was purportedly seen protruding out of the open front door of the moving vehicle near the snow-covered Peer Ki Gali, triggering safety concerns amid hazardous roa

Srinagar, Dec 27: Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, V K Birdi, on Saturday conducted an annual review of the crime situation in the valley, and directed officers to ensure convictions in the NDPS Act and UAPA cases to break the narco-criminal and terror ecosystem. Birdi chaired the annual crime review meeting at PCR Kashmir here, a police spokesperson said. The meeting was attended by all range deputy inspectors general (DIGs), all district SSPs of Kashmir Zone, and other senior [] The

Jammu, Dec 27: The construction of helipads at Katra and Shiv Khori in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district is in its final phase, and devotees are likely to avail heli-services between the two religious centres during the Maha Shivratri next year, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Saturday. Sinha also expressed hope that the proposed heli-connectivity from Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hills, to the Shiv Khori shrine would ease travel for the [] The post H

Doda, Dec 27: Doda Police have booked two persons in separate incidents for allegedly using VPN applications in violation of prohibitory orders issued by the District Magistrate, police said on Saturday. A police team from Police Post Bhagla Bharth, under Police Station Doda, was on routine patrol duty when it noticed a person using a VPN application on his mobile phone at Bagla Main Market around 1530 hours. During questioning, the individual failed to give a satisfactory explanation and was []

Srinagar, Dec 27 : PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday opposed any free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union and the US, saying a similar deal with New Zealand had hurt the apple growers of Kashmir by exposing them to unfair imports. Expressing concern that apple import duties may be diluted, she said flooding markets with imported apples risks destroying Jammu and Kashmirs horticulture backbone. She called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up the issue with the [] The post

JAMMU, Dec 26: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has notified the terms and conditions of service for the Chairperson and Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). As per the notification issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department, the Chairperson and Members will draw salary equal to the last pay drawn at the time of their retirement from previous service, after deducting pension, including commuted value, along with applicable dearness allowance. T

Jammu, Dec 27: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday laid the foundation stone to build 320 houses completely damaged during flash-floods and land-slides in Reasi District. Funded entirely by High-range Rural Development Society (HRDS India) at an estimated cost of Rs 32 crore, the initiative will provide 320 affected families in Reasi with modern, prefabricated Smart Houses without any burden on the government exchequer. Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor had laid the foundation stones for

Srinagar, Dec 27: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday deferred the hearing of the Public Safety Act (PSA) case pertaining to MLA Mehraj Malik from Doda, officials said. The matter was listed for hearing today; however, due to court holidays, the High Court adjourned the case and fixed the next date of hearing for January 29, 2026. The case will now be taken up by the High Court on the scheduled date for further proceedings. The High [] The post High Court Defers Hearing In MLA Mehraj

Jammu, Dec 27: Former Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia on Saturday demanded that all 50 seats at the Vaishno Devi medical college in Jammu and Kashmir should be reserved for Hindus, and warned of an intensified agitation if it was not done. Togadia, who is the Jammu-based Rashtriya Bajrang Dals national president, said India will not tolerate the use of donations made by Hindus for the education of Muslim doctors. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a Rashtriya [] The post Togad

London, Dec 27: Britains senior royals are to be deployed as part of a charm offensive with President Donald Trump to get a coveted trade deal with the US over the line in the New Year, according to a report on Saturday. King Charles III is expected to make a trip to Washington in the first half of next year, making it a historic visit by a reigning British monarch in almost 20 years, The Times referenced sources close to [] The post King Charles, Prince William to be deployed on Trump trade cha

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Appellate tribunal NCLAT has rejected Equitas Small Finance Banks appeal to initiate insolvency proceedings against Jumbo Finvest, upholding a National Company Law Tribunal order in the matter. Earlier, the Jaipur Bench of NCLT had rejected an insolvency plea against Jumbo Finvest, observing that it is a Financial Service Provider within the meaning of 3(17) of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code and is not a corporate person against whom a Section 7 application can be initiated

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Indias top seven cities have nearly 1,400 coworking centres, with 10 big operators holding two-thirds of the total 82 million square feet of flexible managed workspaces, according to Vestian. Real estate consultant Vestians latest report also highlighted that more than 475 coworking centres currently host Global Capability Centres (GCCs) bases. As Indias GCC landscape continues to evolve, flexible space operators will remain indispensable partners, offering flexibility, faste

KOLKATA, Dec 27: Proactive government interventions and supportive monetary policies in 2025 emerged as a powerful catalyst for Indias real estate sector, reviving momentum, improving affordability, and driving sustained growth across segments. From the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) calibrated repo rate cuts to the landmark GST 2.0 reforms, policy measures delivered tangible financial relief, simplified taxation, and restored buyer confidence. As a result, the sector not only weathered global unc

JAMMU, Dec 27 : Expressing concern over the continuing dilution of the communitys cultural and linguistic ethos, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has stressed the need for sustained efforts to preserve the Kashmiri Pandit legacy and emphasised that preserving the communitys cultural, linguistic and civilisational ethos is essential for sustaining Kashmirs composite culture, which remains incomplete without the Kashmiri Pandits. The Minister said that the Modi government has taken decisive and su

Srinagar, Dec 27: Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar has issued a public health advisory warning of a significant rise in heart-related emergencies during the winter season, urging people especially high-risk groups to take preventive measures and remain vigilant about warning signs. According to the advisory issued by the Department of Cardiology, individuals with a history of heart disease, previous heart attack or stroke, hypertension, diabetes, kidney ailments, elderly persons, smoker

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Mothers using minoxidil, a common hair loss drug, could pose a risk of infantile hypertrichosis abnormal hair growth over the body, including in areas not typically hairy, a global analysis suggests. Researchers from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, analysed 2,664 cases of minoxidil-suspected infantile hypertrichosis from around the world, 45 of which involved children aged up to 23 months. Twenty two p

New Delhi, Dec 27: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Saturday lauded the organisational power of RSS-BJP as he shared Narendra Modis old picture and said how a grassroots worker went on to become the chief minister and prime minister by sitting at the feet of their leaders. The remarks that created a flutter came ahead of the crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting that decided on its agitational plan against the scrapping of MGNREGA from January 5. Sources said [] The post Powe

Jammu, Dec 27: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, graced the 11th Convocation Ceremony of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, today. In his convocation address, the Lieutenant Governor spoke about the imperative of shifting from outdated, rote learning system to more modern and skill-based learning approaches to meet the demands of an evolving world. Our endeavour should be reduction in curriculum load and development of adaptable skills for future jobs. Even if a single student of any higher

Sopore, Dec 27: A suspicious object was detected and destroyed in North Kashmirs Sopore area on Saturday. An official said the object was found near Hygam along Srinagar-Baramulla National Highway. A joint team of Army, CRPF, and Police reached the spot and cordoned off the area. A Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was called in to examine the object. Traffic movement and civilian access were restricted as a precautionary measure, the official said, adding, The BDS after examining the object destroyed [

JAMMU, Dec 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) has issued a major administrative order sanctioning the placement of 40 In-charge Assistant Engineers (Electrical) as In-charge Assistant Executive Engineers on an officiating basis. This group of promotees consists of 25 degree holders and 15 diploma holders. Consequent to these promotions, the Government also ordered the immediate transfer and posting of 77 engineers across various wings, including JPDCL, KPDCL, JKPTCL, an

Srinagar, Dec 27: Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone on Saturday said harassment of Kashmiris in some parts of the country should be treated as a matter of national security, and urged the lieutenant governor and chief minister to intervene in the matter. This behaviour against Kashmiris in the rest of the country should not to be taken lightly. This is a matter of national security, Lone, the MLA from Handwara, said at a press conference here. His remarks came in [] The post Harassment Of Kash

Hyderabad, Dec 27: The city police have filed a charge sheet in a court here against 23 persons, including top Telugu actor Allu Arjun, in connection with the death of a woman in a stampede during the premiere of Pushpa-2 film. The theatre management has been named as the prime accused in the charge sheet filed recently, while Arjun has been named as accused no 11. Earlier, Allu Arjun was arrested after the 35-year-old woman died and her eight-year-old son [] The post Theatre Stampede Case: Char

New Delhi, Dec 27: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi trained his guns at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre over the VB-G RAM G Act, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi single-handedly carried out a devastating attack on states and the poor, much like demonetisation. Addressing a press conference here, he said the Congress would would resist the governments action and expressed confidence that the entire opposition would be aligned with it. The Leader of Opposition [] T

New Delhi, Dec 27: Battle of Galwan, headlined by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, is set to release in theatres on April 17, 2026, the makers said on Saturday on the occasion of the actors 60th birthday. The film is based on the 2020 Galwan Valley conflict between India and China and helmed by Apoorva Lakhia of Shootout at Lokhandwala fame. The makers shared the news by unveiling the teaser of the film, which features the actor embracing the role of [] The post Salman Khan-Starrer Battle Of Gal

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Days after Australia issued an advisory against counterfeit rabies vaccine in India, a public sector manufacturer of the vaccine Abhayrab clarified that the concern revolves around a specific batch identified in January 2025, and did not merit a blanket warning against it. The vaccine manufacturer, the Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), said the advisory in its present form has the potential to create anxiety and mistrust among the public and healthcare practitioners. It as

KARACHI, Dec 27: Pakistani security forces have killed at least 13 terrorists belonging to outlawed insurgent groups in different intelligence-based operations in the troubled Balochistan province, the ISPR said Saturday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the militarys media wing, these terrorists were killed in two operations conducted on December 24 and 25 in the Kohlu and Kalat areas of the province. In two statements, the ISPR said the intelligence-based operations (IB

JAMMU, Dec 27: Dozens of protesters on Saturday gathered outside Lok Bhavan here and set ablaze an effigy of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, demanding revocation of the MBBS admission list of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi. Raising slogans such as LG go back, the protest was organised by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, a recently-formed conglomeration of various right-wing organizations. JK BJPs women activists and several trade leaders inclu

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: A dense fog enveloped the national capital on Saturday morning, even as the air quality stayed in the very poor category. The citys overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 355 at 9 am, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor, and 401-500 severe. Meanwhile, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 7.8 [] The post Delhi record

KYIV, Dec 27: Russia attacked Ukraines capital with missiles and drones early Saturday morning, wounding at least eight people, a day before talks between Ukraine and the US, local authorities said. Explosions boomed across the capital for hours as ballistic missiles and drones hit the city. The attack began in the early morning hours Saturday and was continuing as day broke. The attack came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet with US President Donald Trump on Sunday for

Katra, Dec 27: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti members held a protest on Saturday outside Lok Bhawan in Jammu against admission in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College. The protesters burned an effigy of the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha. They carried Vaishno Devi flags and chanted Go back, LG, Go back slogans to affirm their demand to cancel admissions to the medical college. A protester exclaimed that the authorities are testing [] The po

KATHMANDU, Dec 27: Nepal witnessed a political turmoil in 2025 as massive street protests led by Gen Z against corruption, nepotism, and a social media ban escalated into violence, ultimately leading to the ouster of Prime Minister K P Sharma Olis coalition government. The political turbulence in September led to former Chief Justice Sushila Karki taking the oath as Nepals first woman prime minister, albeit for an interim government. She promptly announced that fresh elections would be held on M

Shopian, Dec 27: In a major preventive action aimed at safeguarding peace and security, Shopian Police have detained three Over Ground Workers (OGWs) under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) for their repeated involvement in activities detrimental to the security of the Union Territory. Following due legal process, the detenues have been shifted to Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, Jammu, underscoring the polices zero-tolerance approach towards elements threatening public order and stability. In a st

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Landmark verdicts on the powers of governors and the president on bills, staying few provisions of the Waqf law and a series of path-breaking judgements defined 2025 for the Supreme Court, a year which saw an unprecedented shoe attack on CJI B R Gavai and the discovery of huge cash at high court judge Yashwant Varmas bungalow here. The apex judiciary saw a rare transition through three Chief Justices of India (CJIs) within a single year [] The post SC delivered key verdicts on

New Delhi, Dec 27: A nationwide campaign was needed against the repeal of the rural employment scheme MGNREGA, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Saturday, pointing to the three farm laws that the government was eventually forced to repeal following strong opposition against it. Speaking at the Congress Working Committee meeting here, Kharge also said that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was a well-planned conspiracy to limit democratic rights. He said the meet

BANGKOK, Dec 27: Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday announced they have signed an agreement to implement a ceasefire to end weeks of armed combat along their border over competing claims to territory. It took effect at noon local time. In addition to ending fighting, the agreement calls for no further military movements by either side and no violations of either sides airspace for military purposes. Only Thailand had employed airstrikes in the fighting, as recently as Saturday morning, according

DAMASCUS, Dec 27: The Syrian army shot down hostile drones launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) toward military positions near the Tishreen Dam in eastern Aleppo on Friday, calling it a violation of the March 10 agreement between Damascus and the SDF, state media reported. The drones were intercepted before reaching their targets, the state-run SANA news agency said. Separately, SDF forces targeted a checkpoint of Syrias Internal Security near al-Shihan roundabout in Aleppo, injuring o

MOSCOW, Dec 27: The potential crisis resolution plan that Kiev is reportedly proposing differs significantly from the one that Moscow and Washington are working on, said a Russian official on Friday. The settlement was approaching, but the negotiation process was being hindered by the setting of deadlines and attempts to torpedo it, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on the 60 Minutes program. I believe Dec. 25, 2025, will remain in our memory as a milestone when we truly [] The

LONDON, Dec 27: A marathon pushes the human body close to its limits. Legs tire, lungs burn and the heart works hard for hours on end. For years, that strain has raised an uncomfortable question: does running 26 miles actually damage the heart? The strongest reassurance comes from a new ten-year study of 152 recreational marathon runners, published in the journal Jama Cardiology. Researchers checked the runners hearts before and after races, then tracked their heart health over the next [] The p

DHAKA, Dec 27: At least 20 students were injured in a mob attack in Bangladesh that forced the cancellation of a concert by popular rock singer James, who has also sung several hit Hindi film songs, officials and organisers have said. The incident occurred on Friday night in Faridpur, amid a recent spate of attacks on cultural institutions in the country. In recent weeks, organisations such as Chhayanaut and Udichi Shilpi Goshthi in Dhaka have been vandalised. James concert was [] The post 20 in

NEW DELHI, Dec 27: FDI inflows into India are expected to register robust growth in 2026, supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, big-ticket investment announcements, sustained efforts to improve the ease of doing business, and a new generation of investment-linked trade pacts. To ensure that India remains an attractive and investor-friendly destination, the government reviews the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policy on an ongoing basis and makes changes from time to time after holding