Daily Excelsior

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: Reaffirming its strong commitment to road safety, public awareness and responsible mobility, a Republic Day road safety rally organized by the AM Group was held here today. The rally was organized in collaboration with AM Hyundai, AM Bajaj and the J&K Traffic Police. The rally was flagged off from Zorawar Singh Chowk, adjoining Bahu Plaza, Jammu and passed through Green Belt, Gurudwara Stretch, Gold Market and Nanak Nagar, before culminating at Hyundai Prom

Excelsior Correspondent BANI, Jan 21: A newly constructed OPD complex building, sanctioned under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of NHPC at a cost of Rs 1.80 crores, has been completed within the prescribed timeline and formally handed over to the Health Department. A statement said the General Manager of NHPC Mashka-II project handed over the facility to Block Medical Officer Bani, Dr Dev Raj Mishra. With this, the long-pending demand of the region for improved health infra

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: Ashish Gupta has been reelected as president of Lower Raghunath Bazaar Association. Dheeraj Pargal has been elected as secretary general. The new team pledged to focus on betterment of the market and association. The post Ashish reelected as LRBA president appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Sanitation, Spending, and Accountability Animesh Rohmetra animesh rohmetra1@gmail.com Jammu city, the winter capital of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, stands at a critical juncture in its urban governance and civic management. Despite repeated official claims of improved sanitation and visibility in national cleanliness surveys, data from government budget disclosures, academic studies, municipal records, and independent assessments indicate that road cleanliness, waste disposal effic

Brig Anil Gupta (retd) anil5457@gmail.com The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, stands as a premier nationalist organization in India, far beyond its social and cultural roles. Its disciplined cadre embodies patriotism, fostering national unity through selfless service during crises and nation-building efforts. RSS has significantly contributed to nation-building since Indias independence in 1947 through selfless service, social harmony, and terri

Dr. Reecha Gupta Dr. Mohit Gupta Prosthodontics is a dental specialty which deals with replacement of missing teeth, parts of teeth, and oral and maxillofacial tissues using artificial substitutes. The primary aim of prosthodontic treatment is to restore function, comfort, appearance, overall health and Quality of life. The specialty includes fixed prosthetics such as crowns and bridges, removable prosthetics like dentures, overdenture, implant-supported prostheses and maxillofacial prosthesis.

NAGPUR, Jan 21: Abhishek Sharmas pyrotechnics followed a now familiar script with India out-batting New Zealand by 48 runs in the opening T20 International here on Wednesday. Abhishek, who has made it a habit of lighting up the evenings in stadiums across the cricketing globe with his array of monstrous hits, smashed 84 off just 35 balls and was complemented well by Rinku Singh (44 not out off 20 balls) who applied the finishing touches in Indias commanding score of [] The post Abhisheks 84 guid

LG Address, SPV for Jhelum, JKPCC restructuring too on agenda JKAS officers promotion, relaxation for some batches may get nod Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Jan 21: The UT Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is meeting here tomorrow morning with annual Excise Policy for 2026-27 and signing of crucial extended Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Tourism Department with BRO/Project Beacon on behalf of J&K Government for completion of pending works on Shri Amarnath Ji yatra track, on agenda

NEW DELHI, Jan 21 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday extended greetings to the people of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura on their Statehood Day. In a series of posts on X, Shah conveyed his wishes to the three northeastern states, highlighting their cultural richness and contributions to the nation. Statehood Day greetings to our sisters and brothers of Manipur. Blessed with a vibrant culture and talented people, Manipur has always been our pride. May the state reach new [] The post Ami

DUBAI, Jan 21: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday rejected the request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to shift its teams T20 World Cup fixtures to Sri Lanka, saying the matches will proceed as scheduled since there was no credible threat to the safety of Bangladesh players, officials or fans at any of the tournament venues in India. The decision was taken at an ICC Board meeting held via video conference, which was convened to discuss the situation [] The post ICC Boar

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: Prof Neelu Rohmetra is the new President of University of Jammu Alumni Association (UJAA), which has elected its office bearers and members of Executive Committee. To honour the newly elected office bearers and Executive members, a felicitation function was organised at the University of Jammu, which was presided over by the Vice Chancellor JU, Prof Umesh Rai, who is also the Patron of UJAA. With Prof Neelu Rohmetra as President, the newly elected office be

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: For the second consecutive day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today held pre-budget consultations with several key departments to assess priorities, sectoral needs and development imperatives for the upcoming Budget Session of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly, scheduled to begin on February 2. The Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister, chaired extensive deliberations with the departments of Social Welfare, Health & Medical

NEW DELHI, Jan 21: The first Made in India C-295 military aircraft is expected to roll out of a factory before September, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday as he underlined New Delhis commitment to build resilient manufacturing capabilities. In his remarks at a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Jaishankar asserted that the world must display zero tolerance towards terrorism. The world order is clearly undergoing a profound change. It is more impera

Matter referred to Govt for allocation of supernumerary seats Nishikant Khajuria JAMMU, Jan 21: Fate of the MBBS students admitted in de-recognized Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) hangs in balance as the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) has ruled out fresh counselling for supernumerary seats. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp JKBOPEE is learnt to have informed the Health and Medical Education Department, Union T

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: Young tennis player Mayank Gupta from Jammu has earned a prestigious Wild Card entry from the All India Tennis Association (AITA) for the Asian Under-16 Tennis Tournament, scheduled to be held at Singha Sports Academy, Jalandhar, from January 26, 2026. With this Wild Card, Mayank has been placed directly into the main draw of the boys singles event, where he will compete against top junior players from across Asia. The selection is being seen [] The

*Rs 18.12 cr bank guarantee released Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has achieved a major institutional and financial success by finally securing a favourable outcome in a long-pending legal dispute that had remained unresolved for over three decades. As a result of the resolution of the dispute, Jammu & Kashmir Bank has released the bank guarantees with interest amounting Rs 18.12 crore in favour of JDA. The whole amount involved has been successfull

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Jan 21: Peoples Conference chairman and legislator, Sajad Lone, today supported the BJPs demand for a separate Jammu state and said that he prayed for it. I pray to God that separation becomes possible. It would be true liberation. But beware, the big crocodiles will invent new stories tomorrow. Still, despite everything, we hope this comes to pass, Lone, the MLA Handwara said in a statement. The former Minister was commenting on the demand from some BJP [] The

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: A joint team of the Army and Police today recovered a rusted mortar shell and grenades during routine patrolling in a river bed in Samba district. Official sources said that ahead of Republic Day celebrations, Army and police teams were conducting a routine patrol close to the border and found an abandoned sandbag in the river bed at the village Sangam in Basantar in Samba district. During the search, an old mortar shell and live [] The post Rusted shell, g

Excelsior Correspondent KARGIL, Jan 21: Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kargil, Imteeaz Kacho, today chaired a meeting to review the arrangements for the forthcoming Republic Day celebrations in Kargil. The meeting was attended by Executive Engineer, PDD, Feroz Ahmad; Chief Education Officer, Kargil, Sonam Wangchuk; Executive Engineer, PHE, Sadiq Gul; Assistant Director, Tourism, Mohd. Ali Tak; Dy.SP DAR, Tundup Dorjay; Assistant Director, Information, Raza Ali Abidi; Accounts Officer to D

DAVOS, Jan 21 : Gujarats policy-driven governance model and strong stability make it the best place for investment, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has said, as he made a strong pitch to global investors to set up data parks and advanced manufacturing and defence facilities in the state. Speaking to PTI here during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, he also said Dholera Smart City is the perfect place for data centres globally, while GIFT City has emerged as a [] The post Gujarats pol

Excelsior Correspondent BHADERWAH, Jan 21: Dressed in bridal attire, hundreds of women on Wednesday thronged different temples to celebrate ancient Nag Festival Kanchoth also known as Gouri Tritiya across the Chenab region especially in Bhaderwah valley. According to a local belief, the festival commemorates the marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati and is one of the revered events for the followers of Nag culture. The age-old festival is celebrated across the Chenab region as locals, main

LAHORE, Jan 21 : Pakistans Punjab government on Wednesday rejected criticism over lavish spending at the wedding of the ruling Sharif familys scion Junaid Safdar, saying everyone spends money on such occasions depending on their financial condition. Junaids second marriage to a ruling PML-N leaders granddaughter, Shanzeh Ali, was held last week at the palatial Jati Umra Raiwind, Lahore the residence of the Sharif family and came under severe criticism on social media for being a royal wedding.

DAVOS, Jan 21: Karnatakas Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil held discussions with ReNew Power, Xylem Inc and Octopus Energy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, focusing on investment opportunities in renewable energy, water infrastructure and power-sector modernisation. On the second day of the summit on Tuesday, ReNew Power, known for its solar, wind and hybrid power projects, briefed the Karnataka delegation on its proposed plans, while the state outlined its power grid infr

Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Jan 21: Chenani Police has rescued seven bovine animals by foiling a bovine smuggling bid and arresting an accused. Acting on reliable information regarding illegal transportation of bovine animals on foot from the Danhass area towards Kashmir via Chenani, a police team of Police Station Chenani led by SHO Raghuvir Singh apprehended one accused namely Mohd Sadeeq son of Saif Din of Mander Dursala, Tehsil Chenani. The accused was found illegally transporting seve

Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Jan 21: Police arrested two inter-district drug peddlers and recovered more than 51 grams of heroin from their possession, here today. Police team of Police Station Udhampur while conducting naka checking intercepted one car bearing registration number JK01AT-7571, coming from Jammu towards Srinagar for checking purpose. During questioning, two persons sitting in the vehicle disclosed their identities as Saqib Haneed Dar, son of Abdul Hameed Dar of Sheikhpora, S

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: An alleged drug peddler was arrested with over 5 grams of heroin-like substance from Akhnoor area here today, officials said. During routine patrolling-cum-naka checking near Old Bridge, Akhnoor, a police party led by PSI Aijaz-ul-Haq intercepted a motorcycle (JK02AN-5471) coming from Ambaran side towards Akhnoor, they said, adding that on seeing the police, the biker tried to escape. He was, however, overpowered by the alert personnel and put to search, re

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: Mission Shakti, District Hub for Empowerment of Women, Jammu, Department of Social Welfare, organised a Free Health Check up Camp at Nagrota in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital and JKNRLM to enhance access to quality healthcare, particularly for women. A specialised team of doctors from SMVDNS Hospital-Dr Ankita Sharma (Internal Medicine), Dr Anu Bala Chandel (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) and Dr Malvika Sharma (Ophtha

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 21: Activists of Rashtriya Bajrang Dal here today staged a protest demonstration against terrorist attack in Kishtwar. The protesters raised anti-Pakistan slogans and torched the flag of Pakistan. They were demanding strict action against the supporters of terrorists and their over ground workers. The government should activate more intelligence agencies so that the terrorist incidents can be averted, a protester said. Another protester demanded that the Lieute

Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Jan 21: District Police Udhampur has booked another violator for breaching the prohibitory orders issued by the District Magistrate, Udhampur, regarding the use of VPN services within the district. The accused has been identified as Rekha Devi, wife of Romesh Kumar of Mand East, tehsil Udhampur. She has been booked vide FIR Number 13/2026 under Section 223(a) BNS at Police Station Rehambal for violating District Magistrate Udhampur Order Number DMU/JC/1872 dated

Srinagar, Jan 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) has informed the Health and Medical Education Department that it is not empowered to conduct fresh counselling or allocate supernumerary MBBS seats for the academic session 202526. In an official communication addressed to the Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, JKBOPEE stated that the issue of allocation of MBBS students to medical colleges in J&K under supernumerary seat

Jammu, Jan 21: A delegation of Congress leaders led by the partys Jammu and Kashmir unit working president Raman Bhalla met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here and discussed with him broader issues of public concern. According to a party spokesperson, the delegation, also comprising chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, former minister Yogesh Sawhney and former MLCs Ved Mahajan and Balbir Singh, raised various issues which needed immediate attention. He said the delegation highlighted issues such as

NEW DELHI, Jan 21 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh today directed that Kaladi, the GI-tagged traditional dairy product of Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir, be upscaled for wider food applications and recipes, while strictly preserving its original flavour, texture, and nutritional identity. The Minister said that the focus should be on value addition and enhancement of shelf life, enabling Kaladi to reach national an

Shopian, Jan 21: Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat (IPS), on Wednesday chaired a high-level security review meeting at the District Police Office (DPO) Shopian to assess the prevailing security situation and review ongoing anti-terror operations, with a special focus on arrangements for Republic Day2026. Prabhat, chaired a comprehensive Security Review Meeting at the Conference Hall, District Police Office (DPO), Shopian, to assess the prevailing security scenario and

Jammu, Jan 21: Jammu Kashmir Lok Bhavan today celebrated the Statehood Day of Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya, at Jammu. The cultural evening, celebrating the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, brought together students, security personnel, and the people of Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur living in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha extended his heartiest greetings to be the people of Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur on the occasion. He paid tribu

SRINAGAR, Jan 21: Security forces on Wednesday diffused an improvised explosive device (IED) that they recovered from an orchard in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district, police said. According to officials, the IED weighing about 6 kg was recovered from an orchard in Awneera village of the south Kashmir district during a search operation ahead of the Republic Day. The IED was later destroyed in a controlled explosion, they added. The post Security Forces Diffuse IED Recovered From Orchard In J&Ks

Jammu, Jan 21: As Republic Day is nearing, safety protocols are being significantly tightened across Jammu, with security forces on Wednesday conducting house to house searches in a locality with a large concentration of Rohingya Muslims, officials said. They said additional Army troops were inducted in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district on day four of the ongoing search operation to flush out terrorists, who have escaped into deep forest after an encounter on Sunday. Police, assisted by th

DAVOS, Jan 21: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday asserted that India will definitely become the worlds third-largest economy over the next few years, with economist Gita Gopinath saying it can happen by 2028 or even earlier. Speaking in a World Economic Forum Annual Meeting session here, Vaishnaw said the only matter of concern is what will happen with the mountains of debt in the rich world and what could be the impact on India. Gopinath said the challenge for [] The post Vaishnaw sa

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Rajya Sabha member, author and philanthropist Sudha Murty on Wednesday cautioned against fake videos circulating online that falsely use her image and voice to promote financial schemes and investments. She said, these are deepfakes created without her knowledge or consent. I want to alert you to fake videos circulating online that falsely use my image and voice to promote financial schemes and investments. These are deepfakes created without my knowledge or consent, Murty sai

DAVOS, Jan 21: India will keep growing by 6-8 per cent in real terms and 10-13 per cent in nominal terms over the next five years, supported by moderate inflation and strong growth, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. Speaking here in a session on Bet on India Bank on the Future organised by CII in association with EY on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, Vaishnaw highlighted the importance of simplification of permissions [] The post India to keep gr

New Delhi, Jan 21: Eternal on Wednesday said Deepinder Goyal will step down as Group CEO and Managing Director with Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa set to succeed him as Group CEO from February 1. In a letter to shareholders, Goyal said he is stepping down from his current position to pursue new ideas and transition to the role of Vice Chairman. Eternal informed exchanges that the appointment of Goyal as Vice Chairman & Director on the board will be effective [] The post Deepinder Goyal to step dow

Karachi, Jan 21: Humayun Khan, Chief Fire officer in Pakistans Karachi, has seen several emergencies in his more than three decades long career but said on Wednesday the Gul Plaza tragedy that claimed 30 lives affected him deeply. This incident has shaken me deeply, Khan from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporations fire brigade, said as he monitored the rescue operations three days after the inferno almost brought down the multi-storey building. The fire broke out in the basement of the Gul [] The

New Delhi, Jan 21: Internal security and AI-based frauds are among the issues chosen by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs for examination in the coming year. The department-related Standing Committee has selected as many as eight subjects for detailed examination during the year 2025-26, a Lok Sabha bulletin said. The panel, headed by BJPs Rajya Sabha member Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, has also chosen to study matters related disaster management, challenges to internal security a

Jammu, Jan 21: Emphasising fiscal discipline, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday directed all departments to submit well-structured, need-based proposals consistent with the governments development roadmap. For the second consecutive day, Abdullah held consultations with several key departments to assess priorities, sectoral needs and development imperatives for the upcoming budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, scheduled to begin on February 2. The chief minis

Srinagar, Jan 21: Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone on Wednesday seconded the BJPs demand for a separate Jammu state and said that he prayed for it. In a statement, the MLA from Handwara in the Valley, said, I pray to God that separation becomes possible. It would be true liberation. But beware, the big crocodiles will invent new stories tomorrow. Still, despite everything, we hope this comes to pass. Lone was commenting on the demand from some BJP leaders, including [] The post I Pray For

JAMMU, Jan 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a committee to examine the issues related to fees charged by private schools, including the cost of books, uniforms, shoes and other items provided to students. See Order Copy Click Here. The post Govt Forms Committee To Examine Fee Structure Of Private Schools In J&K appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

JAMMU, Jan 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has accorded sanction for the delegation of Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) powers for 46 headless educational institutions and offices in both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions. See Order Copy Click Here. See Order Copy Click Here. The post J&K Govt Delegates DDO Powers for 46 Headless Education Offices appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Srinagar, Jan 21: Police have intensified security measures in Srinagar ahead of Republic Day to ensure smooth and incident-free celebrations, officials said on Wednesday. In preparation for the upcoming Republic Day festivities, the Srinagar police has heightened security and inspection protocols throughout the city to guarantee a peaceful and safe observance of this national event, police officials said. As part of the enhanced security framework, police personnel have been deployed at strateg

London, Jan 21 (AP) Prince Harry is set to begin giving evidence Wednesday in a London court in his privacy invasion case against the Daily Mail and its sister Sunday newspaper. Tens of millions of dollars are on the line in the case in which Harry, who is also known as the Duke of Sussex, is joined by Elton John, actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, and others who claim the publisher of the Mail hired private investigators to bug [] The post Prince Harry set to give evidence at Londons High

Jammu, Jan 21: For months, Rajesh Kumar and Bindiya from Punjabs Jalandhar are living between despair and acceptance, searching in Jammu for answers about their 22-year-old daughter and her friend, who went missing after a cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district in August last year. Another family from Jammu has lost eight members to the tragedy. The families say they are not asking for compensation but acknowledgement death certificates that would allow them to perform the rituals f

AYODHYA (UP), Jan 21: Ram Temple Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das was referred to a private hospital in Lucknow after his health deteriorated on Wednesday, his associates said. The 87-year-old seer has not taken any food for the past 36 hours and is suffering from continuous vomiting and diarrhoea, said his personal physician Dr S K Pathak. A close associate of the priest, Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, said the seers condition worsened, prompting doctors to refer him to Medanta [] The post Ram