Daily Excelsior

Jammu, Feb 24: Police on Tuesday attached a plot of land belonging to Pakistan-based terror handler Swar Din alias Swaru in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said. Din, a resident of Bhatodi village of Lohai Malhar, exfiltrated across the border a long time back and has since been actively involved in activities inimical to the security and sovereignty of the nation, a police spokesperson said. He said the land in Lohoi Malhar tehsil measuring 7.5 marla (1 [] The post Police Atta

New Delhi, Feb 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday termed the approval for civil enclave at the Srinagar Airport by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) as a major boost to Jammu and Kashmir. Soon after the Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the approval for the project at a briefing post the Cabinet meeting in the national capital, PM Modi, wrote on X: Todays Cabinet decision on expanding the Srinagar airport will boost the economy of [] The pos

Jammu, Feb 24: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has ordered closure of regular departmental action initiated against Er. Jasvinder Singh, the then Junior Engineer (Civil) in the Public Works (R&B) Department, after recovery of the outstanding amount in question. As per Government Order No. 65-PW(R&B) of 2026 dated February 24, 2026, the disciplinary proceedings were initiated in connection with alleged irregularities during his tenure in the Estates Division, Jammu, including payments without

New Delhi, Feb 24: The Union Cabinet has approved a major expansion of the Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday, describing the decision as a landmark step for Jammu and Kashmir. In a post on X, Singh credited the move to Prime Minister Narendra Modis continued emphasis on infrastructure-led growth. He said the Cabinets approval would significantly enhance passenger handling capacity, modernise aviation infrastructure, and strengthen con

Jammu, Feb 24: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded the sale of over 5.63 crore bottles of liquor during the current financial year up to January 2026, with Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer accounting for the major share. According to official data, a total of over 5.63 crore bottles were sold across civil and canteen services department (CSD) off-shops and paramilitary forces (PMF) outlets during the 2025-26 fiscal. The figures include over 1.90 crore bottles of IMFL sold in [] The post Ove

Srinagar, Feb 24: Two Punjab-based drug peddlers were arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Polices Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) on Tuesday in separate incidents in Srinagar and Budgam districts of the valley. The arrested were identified as Ajay Kumar and Johon Masih, both residents of Mustafabad Jattan village in Gurdaspur, police said. Kumar was held from the Gangbugh area of the city here and 42 grams of heroin was allegedly recovered from his possession, a police spokesman said. Preliminary

JAMMU, Feb 24: The Public Works (R&B) Department of the Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the placement of 25 In-charge Assistant Executive Engineerscomprising 18 degree holders and 7 diploma holdersas In-charge Executive Engineers (Civil) in their own pay and grade. Consequently, the department has ordered the adjustment and transfer of several senior engineers besides assigning additional charges to others to streamline operations in departments such as PMGSY, DIQC, and Rural Developmen

Jammu, Feb 24: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has placed 13 In-charge Executive Engineers (Civil) as In-charge Superintending Engineers (Civil) in the Public Works (R&B) Department. Consequent upon their placement, 15 In-charge Superintending Engineers were also adjusted, transferred and posted in different wings of the department to ensure smooth administrative functioning and effective execution of works across the Union Territory. See Order Copy Click Here The post 13 Engineers Placed As

Result of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Judicial) Examination 2025 Deployment of candidates for Medical Examination thereof See Notification Click Here.. The post Result of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Judicial) Examination 2025 Deployment of candidates for Medical Examination thereof appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

LEH, Feb 24: The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has relieved 2015 batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer Michael M DSouza from his duties as Administrative Secretary, Ladakh. According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, the officer will be relieved with effect from the afternoon of February 28, 2026. The decision has been taken in pursuance of the Ministry of Home Affairs order dated January 4, 2026. He has been directed to report to the Government [] The post M

Srinagar, Feb 24: Director General of Police (DGP) J&K, Nalin Prabhat, on Tuesday called for consequent relentless operations against Pakistani terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed these remarks during a high-level security review meeting in north Kashmirs Bandipora. The DGP was accompanied by Special Director General (Coordination) Syed Javed Mujtaba Geelani and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone V K Birdi. Senior officers briefed him on the prevailing security situation, c

Jammu, Feb 24: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for approving the development of the Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport proposed at an estimated cost of Rs.1,677 crore. In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor has said: J&K Skies Soar: dawn of a bold aviation era. I am grateful to Honble PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji for major expansion of Civil Enclave at Srinagar International Airport. I vividly [] The post LG S

CAIRO, Feb 24: An attack by the Sudanese paramilitary forces on a stronghold of a Darfur tribal leader left at least 28 people dead, a doctors group said on Tuesday. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Monday rampaged through the town of Misteriha in North Darfur province, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, which tracks the countrys ongoing war. The town is a stronghold of Arab tribal leader Musa Hilal who also hails from the Rizeigat Arab tribe as the [] The post Sudanese paramilitary

PESHAWAR, Feb 24: At least six policemen were killed and one other was injured in a militant attack on a police van in Kohat district of Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, local police said. District Police Officer Kohat said the attack occurred on Shakardara Road, where assailants ambushed the police vehicle, resulting in multiple casualties. Deputy Superintendent of Police Wahid Mehmood and two gunners were initially reported killed, while four personnel sustained injuries and w

GANDERBAL, Feb 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of major development projects worth 84.41 crore in Ganderbal Constituency, marking a significant stride towards strengthening infrastructure, healthcare, water supply, sanitation, education and road connectivity across the district. The projects, spanning multiple departments, were inaugurated and e-launched at different locations, underscoring the Governments commitment to balanced and inclusive dev

Leh, Feb 24: The Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, has approved the grant of Notional Annual Increments for the probation period to employees appointed under the Jammu & Kashmir Special Recruitment Rules, 2015 (SRO-202). This significant decision marks a progressive step towards ensuring fairness and service parity among government employees in the Union Territory. By recognizing notional increments for the probation period, the Administration has addressed a

JAMMU, Feb 24: In compliance with the directions of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the government has constituted a committee to determine the transport fee structure for private schools across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. According to an order issued by the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC), the panel has been formed in pursuance of directions passed in writ petition (C No. 10702). The High Court had directed constitution of a committee comprising [] The pos

New Delhi, Feb 24: Northern Railway has announced extension of the Vande Bharat Express service to provide direct connectivity between Srinagar and Jammu from March 1, 2026. As per an official communication issued by Northern Railway, SVDK-SINA-SVDK Vande Bharat Express will be extended up to Jammu Tawi with effect from March 1. The service, which was earlier operating between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, will now run directly between Srinagar and Jammu. Railway authorities have al

Srinagar, Feb 24: The state unit of the BJP on Tuesday slammed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his artificial snow pitch for Gulmarg, saying the government has failed to protect the environment. Addressing a press conference here, BJP spokesperson Abhijeet Jasrotia attacked the government over what he termed complete inaction on environmental protection, and said Kashmir is witnessing warming at an alarming pace. At a time when we need extensive greenery and forest protection

Jammu, Feb 24: The rain fury in Jammu and Kashmir last year claimed 152 lives, injured 179 people, damaged nearly 21,000 structures mostly residential houses while 1515 livestock perished, official data revealed. Of the total fatalities, 151 were reported from the worst-hit Jammu division and one from Kashmir valley, the data compiled by the Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Department (DMRRRD) said. Official sources said the dead included about 100 pilgrims who lo

Srinagar, Feb 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday urged students from Jammu and Kashmir studying in Iran to follow the Union governments advisory and return home while commercial travel remains operational. In its latest advisory, the Embassy of India asked its citizens to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights. The advisory comes in the wake of Saturdays protests in Iran following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during anti-government rall

New Delhi, Feb 24: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to increase the equity investment threshold of public sector enterprise Powergrid from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 7,500 crore per subsidiary to enable it to bid for capital-intensive transmission projects. The decision was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at its first meeting at the Prime Ministers new office, Seva Teerth. The CCEA has approved enhanced delegation to P

Within digital infrastructure landscapes, race conditions emerge around control of machine learning frameworks. As corporate-grade algorithms grow from billion- to trillion-parameter scales, conventional processors fail under computational load. Parallel computation engines, purpose-built silicon designed for massive concurrency, now cluster in coordinated formations to handle throughput requirements. These connected setups now define organisational capacity more than mere software choice does.

JAMMU, Feb 24: Subordinate courts across Jammu and Kashmir are grappling with a pendency of 3,89,210 cases till January-end, with criminal matters accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total backlog and over 58,000 cases lingering between five to 30 years, official data shows. The government is actively pursuing multiple measures to tackle the persistent pendency of cases in the high court and subordinate courts of Jammu and Kashmir, alongside efforts to fill judicial vacancies, as highlighted

NEW DELHI, Feb 24: SBI Research has projected that Indias real GDP growth for the third quarter of FY26 could exceed 8 per cent, with its nowcasting model estimating growth at 8.0-8.1 per cent year-on-year. As per the report, high-frequency indicators point to resilient economic activity during Q3 FY26. The report highlights strong rural consumption, supported by positive trends in farm and non-farm sectors, alongside a sustained uptick in urban consumption following the festive season. Despite

MUMBAI, Feb 24: The rupee traded in a narrow range on Tuesday and settled 6 paise lower at 90.95 (provisional) against the US dollar amid a firm greenback and higher crude oil prices. A sharp fall in domestic equity markets and uncertainties over the India-US trade deal further pressured the local unit, while foreign fund inflows lent some support, forex traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 90.91 and traded in a narrow range of 90.91-90.97 [] The post Rupee declin

SINGAPORE, Feb 24:The Uttar Pradesh Government on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding with AISATS to invest Rs 4,458 crore in two major aviation service projects at Noida International Airport, officials said. The agreement was signed during Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths ongoing visit to Singapore, marking a key investment outcome on the second day of the tour aimed at attracting global capital to Uttar Pradesh. Under the MoU, AISATS will develop an advanced cargo campus and a world-cl

KYIV, Feb 24: More than a dozen senior European officials arrived in the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday in a show of support on the fourth anniversary of Russias all-out invasion of Ukraine a grim anniversary in a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and put European leaders on edge about the scale of Moscows ambitions on the continent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country has withstood the onslaught by Russias bigger and better equipped army, [] The post European o

NEW DELHI, Feb 24: Senior bureaucrat Nidhi Chibber was on Tuesday given additional charge of Niti Aayogs chief executive officer. The 1994 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre is currently working as director general, development monitoring and evaluation office, NITI Aayog. The competent authority has approved the assignment of the additional charge of the post of chief executive officer, NlTl Aayog, to Chhibber, said an order issued by the Personnel Ministry.

New Delhi, Feb 24: Women may develop a risk of heart attack even at lower levels of plaque deposition in the arteries, according to a study. Women are known to typically have lower amounts of artery-clogging plaque compared to men. However, researchers, including those from Harvard Medical School in the US, said it is unknown how difference in plaque levels impacts ones risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event. Our findings underscore that women are not protected from coronary events [] The

New Delhi, Feb 24: The Rashtraiya Swayamsevak Sanghs highest decision-making body will deliberate on a range of issues and prepare its action plan for the year at a three-day annual meeting in Haryanas Samalkha town next month. RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat and General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale will preside over the meetings, starting March 13. The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will be held this year at Samalkha (Haryana) from March 13 to March 1

ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Pakistans incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan on early Tuesday was taken from jail to a hospital here for treatment of an eye ailment and later shifted back, officials said. Khan was diagnosed last month with right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) affecting his vision. He was brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a second dose of anti-VEGF intravitreal injection, a doctor at the hospital said. He had received treatment earlier on Janua

KATHMANDU, Feb 24: Nepals Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari on Monday said the results of the general elections scheduled for March 5 will be published within 24 hours of collecting the ballot boxes. A total of 18.9 million eligible voters will exercise their franchise to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives (HoR). While 165 lawmakers will be elected through direct voting, 110 will be elected under the proportional voting system that allows for the representatio

MOSCOW, Feb 24: European investors have funded two rapidly growing technology startups, Frankenburg Technologies and Tytan Technologies, which are developing low-cost air defense systems, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Tytan Technologies has secured 30 million euros ($35 million) in funding, including investments from the NATO Innovation Fund, the newspaper added. According to the report, the company will channel these funds toward increasing production capacity and expanding its produ

BEIJING, Feb 24: The first official trip to China by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz comes as his countrys manufacturers face increasing pressure from Chinese competitors and as US President Donald Trump shakes up a post-World War II global order that Europe has long depended on. Merz is set to arrive Wednesday for a two-day visit, the latest in a parade of world leaders to visit Beijing ahead of a trip by Trump in about five weeks. Besides Germanys growing trade [] The post Trade, Ukraine and

SRINAGAR, Feb 24: Security has been beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Vice President C P Radhakrishnans maiden visit to the Valley on February 26, officials said on Tuesday. The vice president is scheduled to attend the 21st convocation of the University of Kashmir here. Authorities have put in place a comprehensive, multi-layered security grid, particularly around the university campus in the Hazratbal area of the city and other vital installations, officials said. Elaborate arrangements have b

MELBOURNE, Feb 24: A wide-ranging federal inquiry began on Tuesday into a rise in antisemitism across Australia before two gunmen believed to be inspired by the Islamic State group allegedly killed 15 people at a Sydney Jewish festival in December. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced last month that Australias most powerful form of public inquiry, known as a royal commission, would investigate the Dec. 14 massacre at Bondi Beach. Alleged shooter Sajid Naveed was shot dead by police. His so

New Delhi, Feb 24: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday has approved a series of infrastructure and policy decisions, including major investments in railways, urban transport, and aviation, with a total financial outlay of Rs 12,236 crore. Additionally, the Cabinet took policy decisions on power sector reforms and approved the change of name from Kerala to Keralam. While announcing the Cabinet decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, Among the key approvals, the Cabinet cleared the doubling of th

New Delhi, Feb 24: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Tuesday approved the development of the civil enclave at the Srinagar airport for an estimated cost of Rs 1,677 crore. The civil enclave project will be spread across 73.18 acres, and the new terminal building will come up in 71,500 square meters, according to an official release. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the approval for the project at a briefing post the Cabinet meeting in the national [] Th

New Delhi, Feb 24: The Union government will soon launch a nationwide HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination programme targeting girls aged 14, official sources said. The Gardasil injection will be administered free of cost, they said. The quadrivalent HPV vaccine protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11, they said. Strong global and Indian scientific evidence confirms that a single dose provides robust and durable protection when administered

AMARAVATI, Feb 24: In a significant stride for lan energy and investment momentum, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has cleared a 200 MW Solar Power Park to be developed by Yashaswa Power LLP, a group company of Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Pvt Ltd, which is launching a Rs 3,100-crore mainboard IPO. The project, entailing an investment of Rs 1,200 crore, will set up a 200 MW AC/300 MWp DC solar park at Beechiganipalle and adjoining villages in Parigi Mandal [] The post IPO-bound CleanMax to

MUMBAI, Feb 24: Amid widespread concerns on jobs and the relevance of the nearly USD 300 billion India IT services sector, a key industry leader on Tuesday said the current transition will be painful because it involves humans. HCL Technologies Managing Director and Chief Executive C Vijayakumar, however, said this is not the time to write an obituary for the industry, underlining that the ability to manage complex enterprise technology architectures and domain understanding will ensure its rele

NEW DELHI, Feb 24: Nasdaq-listed MakeMyTrip on Tuesday said its gross bookings from the corporate travel segment crossed USD 1 billion in 2025, serving a base of more than 40 lakh employees. The Gurugram-headquartered firm said gross bookings across corporate platforms Quest2Travel, MyBiz, and Happay, breached the USD 1 billion mark, emerging as one of its growth drivers and now contributing over 10 per cent to the overall bookings. MakeMyTrip has a client base of 500 large enterprises, includi

NEW DELHI, Feb 24: India has installed nearly 5.5 crore smart electricity metres under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), which aims to digitise power distribution, Union Minister Shripad Yesso Naik said on Tuesday. In 2023, the government launched RDSS with an outlay of Rs 3,03,758 crore for the duration of 5 years from (FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26). Addressing PHDCCIs 4th Discom Conclave, the minister said under RDSS, the government has initiated reforms aimed at reducing AT&C losses, e

Jammu, Feb 24: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has designated the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE)/State School Standards Authority (SSSA) as the Nodal Agency for conducting the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) across the Union Territory, in compliance with the judgment of the Honble Supreme Court of India. As per Government Order No. 87-JK (Edu) of 2026, issued by the School Education Department, Civil Secretariat, J&K, the move follows detailed deliberations held under t

MUMBAI, Feb 24: Indian tech industry revenues for FY26 are set to grow 6.1 per cent to USD 315 billion, Nasscom said on Tuesday. The industry lobby grouping revised up its FY25 revenues number to USD 297 billion from USD 282.6 billion earlier. The revenue growth in FY26 increased marginally to 6.1 per cent in FY26 from 5.9 per cent in FY25 despite the headwinds, it said. Its President Rajesh Nambiar said the industry continues to be a net job [] The post Indian tech industry revenues to grow 6.1

JAMMU, Feb 24: More than 1,000 posts of doctors are currently vacant across Jammu and Kashmir, according to figures shared by the Health and Medical Education Department. Kashmir division accounts for 797 of these vacancies comprising 24 senior consultants, 253 consultants, 458 medical officers and 62 dental surgeons while Jammu division has 288 vacant consultant posts as on February 2026, The districts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are not facing an acute shortage of specialists

NEW DELHI, Feb 24: Delhi Police has arrested Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib as the main conspirator and mastermind of the shirtless protest staged by a group of youth wing members at the AI Impact Summit here last week, officials said on Tuesday. The arrest memo of Chib terms him the main conspirator and mastermind of the unlawful assembly at the Bharat Mandapam, where the protesters raised anti-national slogans and tried to incite a riot-like situation. A Delhi [] The post Shir

Jammu, Feb 24: Army canine soldier Tyson, a German Shepherd who took the first bullet while leading troops during Operation Trashi-I in Kishtwar district, is recovering well, officials said on Tuesday. The heroics of the four-legged soldier contributed to the killing of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander Saifullah and his two associates inside their hideout a mudhouse (dhok) in the foothills of a hill at Passerkut in the Chatroo belt on Sunday. In the recent operation Trashi-I at

SRINAGAR, Feb 24: A CRPF jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag district, officials said on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as constable Ajeet Singh of 96 battalion of the CRPF. He was posted as CRPF driver at SICOP area in Bijbehara in the south Kashmir district. (Agencies) The post CRPF Jawan Shoots Self Dead In J&Ks Anantnag appeared first on Daily Excelsior .