Daily Excelsior

*Haryana leads medal tally Excelsior Sports Correspondent LEH, Jan 22: Seventeen-year-old Gauri Rai from Haryana delivered a memorable performance at the first leg of the 2026 Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG), winning the gold medal in the advanced figure skating category at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan Stadium (NDS) here. Her triumph holds special significance as figure skating was included in the Khelo India Winter Games for the first time. A resident of Gurugram, Gauri etched her name into the hi

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: Jammu and Kashmir secured a spot in the semifinals of the 69th National School Games U-14 Boys Cricket Tournament by defeating Delhi by 16 runs in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter at Sikar, Rajasthan. The tournament is being organised by the Government of Rajasthan under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI). Earlier, J&K defeated Telangana by five wickets in the pre-quarterfinals and registered convincing wins over hosts Rajasth

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: The Jammu & Kashmir Kalarippayattu team put up an encouraging performance at the Khelo India National Kalarippayattu League 202526, held at the Indoor Sports Complex, LNCPE, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The national-level event was organized by the Sports Authority of India in association with the Indian Kalarippayattu Federation and witnessed participation from about 17 States and Union Territories. An eight-member J&K contingent represented the Unio

Col Satish Singh Lalotra slalotra4729@gmail.com India, as a nation has a long history of celebrations owing to religion, politics, elections and the ilk that reverberate through its sinews from Kashmir to Kanya kumari and Kuch to Kamakhya in manners befuddling an ordinary visitor to this country to no end. Leave alone foreigners even normal Indians may be astounded by the rich tapestry that these celebrations weave through the mental firmament of ours. But none evokes so much of awe than [] The

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: RK Chouhan Jewellers, one of the fastest-growing jewellery brands in Jammu, celebrated its third anniversary with great enthusiasm, in a function held here today. The showroom, located on Surinder Singh Road, Gandhi Nagar, has emerged as a trusted destination for Hallmarked gold and certified diamond jewellery. Though the present showroom completed three successful years, the legacy of RK Chouhan Jewellers dates back to 1982, when its foundation stone was l

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: AM Kia today launched the all-new Badass Seltos, prices starting at Rs 10.99 lakh (ex-showroom)* at its dealership on Akhnoor Road, in Jammu. The grand launch marked a significant milestone in the regions automotive landscape, introducing an SUV that set new benchmarks in design, technology, safety and performance. The prestigious event was graced by chief guest Jasmeet Singh, Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Jammu and guest of honour Parvinder Singh, chie

Harsha Kakar kakarharsha@gmail.com In recent days Islamabad has been pushing the narrative of increased global demand for the Pak-China manufactured JF17 aircraft. Pakistan and China both claim that their aircraft (JF10 and JF17) brought down a Rafale in Operation Sindoor, without an iota of evidence, with the intent of increasing their global sales. French intelligence reports mention of a joint Pak-China disinformation campaign to discredit the Rafale in favour of Chinese products, especially

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: Aimed to bring consumers a power-packed lineup of offers across electronics and home appliances, Reliance Digital today announced the return of its much-loved Digital India Sale. Starting today through January 26, 2026, customers can enjoy exceptional savings with up to Rs 26,000* instant bank discounts, up to Rs 30,000*cash back on consumer durable loans and a 5% unlimited discount on UPI payments*. Some of the blockbuster deals included, never-before seen

Excelsior Correspondent CHANDIGARH, Jan 22: A 17-day Collaborative Winter School on Urban Redevelopment, jointly organised by the Chitkara School of Planning and Architecture at Chitkara University (CU) and the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland was concluded here today. Held from January 5, the 17 day intensive international design studio brought together 10 students from the University of Maryland and 12 students from Chitkara University. The progra

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 22: The screening test for the J&K Junior Ball Badminton Boys & Girls Team was conducted at Polo Ground, Srinagar, ahead of the 70th Junior National Ball Badminton Championship 2025-26 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, from January 28 to February 1. As per handout issued the screened players had earlier participated in a Selection Trial on December 15, 2025, at Gindun Sports Stadium, Raj Bagh, followed by a 14-day Residential Coaching Camp from December 24, 2025,

NEW DELHI, Jan 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and asserted that close cooperation was vital for advancing shared interests of the Global South. The prime minister also said he was looking forward to welcoming the Brazilian president to India soon. Glad to speak with President Lula. We reviewed the strong momentum in the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership, which is poised to scale new heights in the year ahead, Modi [] The post

KATHMANDU, Jan 22: The Nepal government on Thursday extended by 20 days the tenure of a panel investigating the alleged excessive use of force during the Gen Z movement that led to the ouster of prime minister K P Sharma Oli. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Home Minister and government spokesperson Om Prakash Aryal said. The extension has been granted for the second time at the request of the Home Ministry, as preparations [] The post Probe panel on Gen Z movemen

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: The Indian Bodybuilding Federation (IBBF) has announced a selection trial for athletes aspiring to represent Jammu & Kashmir in various prestigious national-level bodybuilding and physique sports championships scheduled in 2026. The trial will be organized under the banner of the J&K Sports Council and will take place on January 25, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at International Gym, Rehari Colony, Jammu. The selection trial will be conducted to shor

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: On the third straight day today, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired series of pre-budget consultation meetings of Jal Shakti, Agriculture, Rural Development, Forest, Food & Civil Supplies, Youth Services and Sports, other key sectors to finalise the priorities and developmental plans in view of the forthcoming Budget Session of J&K Legislative Assembly. Deputy CM, Surinder Kumar Choudhary; Ministers Javid Ahmad Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma; Chi

NEW DELHI, Jan 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was deeply anguished over the death of army personnel in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district. An armoured vehicle of the Army carrying troops for an anti-terror operation plunged into a deep gorge in Doda district, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11 others, officials said. Deeply anguished by the mishap in Doda, in which we have lost our brave army personnel. Their service to the [] The post PM Modi deeply angui

DAVOS, Jan 22 : US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had a good meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin is that war has to end. Replying to media queries before leaving Davos, Trump said a US delegation will be meeting Putin today or tomorrow. I met President Zelenskyy here; the meeting was good. We (US delegation) are meeting President Putin today or tomorrow, he said. Asked what would be his [] The post War has to end:

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: A disciplined and incisive bowling performance by Jammu & Kashmir helped them bundle out hosts Puducherry for 233 runs in their first innings on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-D match at the Siechem Stadium, Puducherry today. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Puducherry suffered an early setback when skipper Neyan Kangayan was dismissed for 9. The left-arm medium pace of Sunil Kumar drew an edge, safely pouched by [] The post J&K

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today while assessing the implementation of road safety measures as recommended by the Supreme Court underscored the need for extensive use of GIS-based data to identify vulnerable and accident-prone road stretches across districts. He emphasized that such data-driven identification would enable focused technological and physical interventions to significantly reduce road accidents in the UT. The meeting was attended by Administ

NEW DELHI, Jan 22 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday again urged Naxals to shun the ideology of violence and join mainstream as he announced the success of security forces in Jharkhand where a top Maoist leader was neutralized in a joint operation of the CRPF and state police. Sixteen Maoists, including top leader Anal, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhands West Singhbhum district on Thursday. Reiterating the governments resolve to eradicate Naxalism from [] The p

Poonam I Kaushish What is it about yesterdays Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and todays Enforcement Directorate (ED) that it is always in the eye of the storm? Wherein, its fatal attraction for political cover-ups, clean chits, hit-ins and fool proof surety for law enforcers to become law breakers has earned it an ignominious nickname: Election Dhakosla. With the devil taking the hindmost! Last weeks drama in West Bengal bears this out when ED raided several locations in Kolkata [] The p

Suhail Bhat SRINAGAR, Jan 22: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti today said that the proposed Bijbehara-Pahalgam railway line threatens the fragile ecology of south Kashmir and the livelihood of thousands of farmers. Click here to watch video The PDP leader made these remarks while speaking to reporters during a protest at Wulurhama village in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district, one of the villages likely to be affected by the proposed railway alignment. Scores of residen

Searches in Akhnoor, other areas Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: After several days of lull, a fresh encounter broke out today between security forces and terrorists in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district as the ongoing anti-terror drive continues across other parts of Jammu ahead of Republic Day. The operation in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in Chatroo belt was launched on Sunday, leading to a gunfight in which one paratrooper was martyred and seven other soldiers injured. F

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: In a significant leap for healthcare accessibility and efficiency in the region, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (SMVDNSH) today announced the launch of a revolutionary diagnostic initiative-the Prevent 360 Century Package. Unveiled at a press conference today by Dr M M Mathavan, Facility Director, this groundbreaking package is designed to provide a comprehensive map of 100 vital health parameters with a guaranteed turnaround time

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: The Medical Pharmacology Society (MPS) of India has announced that Dr Pavan Malhotra, Director-Principal and Professor of Pharmacology at ASCOMS & Hospital, has been selected for the prestigious MPS Most Promising Senior MD Pharmacologist Award for 2026. The honour was unanimously recommended by the Scientific Committee of MPS in recognition of his outstanding contributions to pharmacological research, medical education and clinical leadership. Dr Malhotras

Shri Amarnath Yatra track works, Jhelum SPV get nod *Promotion, one-time relaxation of JKAS officers approved Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Jan 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet today cleared significant proposals including the Excise Policy for 2026-27, gave nod to signing of MoU by the Tourism Department with BRO/ Project Beacon for completion of pending crucial works on Shri Amarnath Ji yatra track and approved creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for undertaking Operation and Management (O&M)

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: A Pakistani prisoner, who was lodged in Central Jail Kot Bhalwal here, died due to some medical complications, officials said. Rafiq Mohammad, whose parentage and other details were not known, complained of stomach pain late night on January 21, they said. He was immediately taken to Government Medical College Jammu for treatment, where he breathed his last, officials said. The body has been shifted to the mortuary of the hospital for conducting the post-mo

NEW DELHI, Jan 22 : Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday urged the global investors to explore business opportunities in the domestic renewable energy space. At WEF 2026 in Davos, the Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) projected India as a stable, future-ready destination for clean energy investment, an official statement issued here said. Speaking across multiple sessions and investor meetings at the World Economic Forum, Joshi highlighted that India has already built 267 GW of no

Civilian flights in 6 to 7 months Avtar Bhat UDHAMPUR, Jan 22: Maintaining that Udhampur is rare town with multiple travel options by air, Vande Bharat and road, Union Minister in PMO, with Independent Charge of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Ministries, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that during last 12 years of Modi Government focused attention was paid to this region which was neglected by earlier Governments. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Talking to reporters here, []

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 22: MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi today organised a Janta Darbar at Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Bhawan, Kachi Chawni, here, and interacted directly with the public and listened to their grievances. The event witnessed the presence of Bajalta Mandal president, Shiv Sharma and East Mandal president, Adarsh Jathiar, along with several local party workers and residents. A large number of people from different localities participated in the Janta Darbar and raised issues

Jammu, Jan 22: A Pakistani man lodged in a prison here since 2024 for illegally crossing over to India died at the Government Medical College hospital on Thursday during treatment for medical complications, officials said. Mohd Rafiq was arrested after he illegally crossed the International Border into the Ramgarh sector of Samba district in 2024. He was lodged in high-security Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu, they said. Rafiq was facing trial under the Foreigners Act. He complained of intense stomach

Jammu, Jan 22: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday stressed that unity in diversity must continue to be Indias guiding principle if the country is to realise its aspiration of becoming a global power. Addressing a gathering in Naushera of Rajouri district on the 649th Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Ravidas Maharaj, he urged people to imbibe the values of love, compassion, peace, and harmony that are cherished by all religions and preached by seers throughout history. Preserving

Jammu, Jan 22: Northern Railways Jammu Division transported a 42-BCN goods rake loaded with rice to Anantnag from Sangrur (Punjab) in 24 hours, boosting freight movement in the valley, an official said on Thursday. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Jammu, Uchit Singhal said the successful arrival of the full rake of food grain wagons from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir. The first 42-BCN rake strengthens regional logistics capacity and is set to

New Delhi, Jan 22: Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, today met Honble Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and held a detailed discussion on the upcoming Assembly session, the prevailing political scenario, the security situation, and developmental priorities of Jammu & Kashmir. During the meeting, Sunil Sharma apprised the Home Minister of the ground-level political dynamics in J&K and conveyed the expectations and aspirations of the people from the forthcoming Assembly session. He emph

Srinagar, Jan 22: The Meteorological Department on Thursday forecast widespread rain and snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir over the next few days, with chances of heavy precipitation in several vulnerable regions, prompting an advisory for caution. Director MET Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said that Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness generally cloudy weather with light to moderate rain and snow at most places from January 22 to 23, with the possibility of heavy rain or snowfall over a few districts []

New Delhi, Jan 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was deeply anguished over the death of army personnel in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district. An armoured vehicle of the Army carrying troops for an anti-terror operation plunged into a deep gorge in Doda district, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11 others, officials said. Deeply anguished by the mishap in Doda, in which we have lost our brave army personnel. Their service to the [] The post PM Modi Deeply Angui

New Delhi, January 22: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday expressed her deep sorrow over the tragic death of 10 Indian Army soldiers in a road accident in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. The news of the death of Indian Army soldiers in a road accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, is extremely tragic. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of the injured soldiers, President Murmu posted on X. Himachal [] The post President Murmu Condoles

Poonch, Jan 22: In view of an impending fresh active western disturbance, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Poonch has issued a high alert across the district, directing all health institutions to remain fully prepared on a 247 basis. According to an official order issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, Poonch, the Meteorological Department has forecast that a fresh weather system is likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir, including adjoining areas of Poonch, from the evening of January []

Jammu, Jan 22: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday reviewed the progress of a project to start air services from Jammu and Kashmirs Udhampur, and announced that civilian flights will commence within the next seven months from an interim terminal building at the Air Force station. Chairing a high-level review meeting in Udhampur, the minister said a proposal for the acquisition of additional land is being pursued with the support of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government to enable

New Delhi, Jan 22: Regularly engaging in a variety of physical activity could be a good strategy for prolonging ones lifespan, according to a study. Findings published in the British Medical Journal suggest that a mix of physical activity, rather than doing more of the same, could be linked to a lower risk of death, regardless of total quantity an active lifestyle is however still important in its own right. The team, including researchers from the US Harvard Universitys [] The post Regularly e

New Delhi, Jan 22: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday expressed grief over the road accident in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir in which 10 Indian Army soldiers lost their lives. In a post on X in Hindi, Shah said he was deeply pained by the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the soldiers who were killed. I am deeply pained by the road accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir. I express my heartfelt condolences [] The post Amit Shah Condoles Loss Of Army Soldiers

NEW DELHI, Jan 22 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked IndiGo to file an affidavit on payment of refund for cancelled tickets and compensation to passengers who were stranded amid mass cancellation of its flights in December last year. The counsel for the low-cost air carrier told a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia that refund for the cancelled flights had been processed and compensation was also being offered in terms of the [] The post December flight chaos: Del

NEW DELHI, Jan 22: India was among the countries not present in Davos on Thursday when US President Donald Trump unveiled his Board of Peace that seeks to work towards bringing lasting peace to Gaza and possibly resolve global conflicts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among numerous global leaders that the US President has invited to join the board that was announced under the second phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip. France, the [] The post India Among

Dhaka, Jan 22: A defiant Bangladesh on Thursday refused to send its national cricket team for next months T20 World Cup in India after the ICC rejected its demand for a change of venue, effectively paving the way for Scotland to take the countrys place. Bangladesh had been served an ultimatum by the world body on Wednesday to either agree to travel to India or risk being replaced as there was no credible threat to the safety of their players, [] The post We Wont Play In India But Still Hopeful O

In many Indian households, having health insurance usually means a hospitalisation cover, often called a mediclaim policy. The problem is that hospitalisation insurance and critical illness insurance protect you in different ways. When families treat them as the same thing, claims of surprise follow. Hospitalisation insurance pays eligible treatment bills. Critical illness insurance pays a lump sum after a defined serious diagnosis, so you can manage the broader financial impact. In this article

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science are among the fastest-growing and most transformative domains in technology today, driving innovation across industries such as healthcare, finance, retail, manufacturing, and more. While foundational knowledge in these fields is essential, excelling in high-impact roles requires an integrated skill set that goes beyond isolated competencies, such as knowing a single programming language or understanding theory without real-world application. Professional

Bhaderwah/Jammu, Jan 22: An armoured vehicle of the Army carrying troops for an anti-terror operation plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district on Thursday, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11 others, officials said. The accident took place at the 9000-foot-high Khanni top along the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road around noon when the driver of the bulletproof vehicle, Casspir, lost control and the vehicle plunged into a 200-foot-deep gorge. The Casspir, also known as Casper

Jammu, Jan 22: Nearly 3,700 people have died and over 29,000 others were injured in more than 20,000 road accidents across Jammu and Kashmir since June 2022, a senior government official said here on Thursday. The majority of these fatalities and accidents occurred on major highways, in Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur and Rajouri districts, the official said. These details were shared during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to assess the implementation of road safety measures recommended

Chennai, Jan 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the NDAs poll campaign for the upcoming Assembly election in suburban Madurathakam on January 23. Ahead of his visit, BJP senior and Tamil Nadu election in-charge Piyush Goyal held a series of meetings with allies to ensure that they all present a picture of unity. The party succeeded in roping in AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran and PMK Anbumani faction. Other allies viz. G K Vasan-led TMC, and T [] The post PM Modi To Launch NDA

Lucknow, Jan 22: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address Uttar Pradesh Day celebrations in Lucknow as the chief guest on January 24, an official statement issued here on Thursday said. At the programme to be held at the Rashtra Prerna Sthal, Shah will launch the One District One Cuisine (ODOC) scheme. Under this scheme, the distinctive traditional cuisine of each district of Uttar Pradesh will be identified and linked with quality improvement, branding, and market access, so that local [] The

New Delhi, Jan 22: In a first, nine women Agniveer will be part of the Indian Air Forces band contingent that will march down the Kartavya Path during the 77th Republic Day Parade playing music, according to officials. At a briefing held here, the IAF also announced that Flt Lt Akshita Dhankar will unfurl the national flag alongside President Droupadi Murmu at the ceremonial parade on January 26. The IAF band, led by Sergeant Charles Antony Daniel, will complement the [] The post In a first, wom