Daily Excelsior News

Jammu, Dec 20: At least 35 school students were injured after a picnic bus ran over the divider and overturned on the Ring Road near Bishnah area of Jammu on Saturday, triggering panic among passengers and locals. Officials said that the bus, carrying students of a private school Prgwal Akhnoor returning from a picnic, lost control, crossed the divider and turned turtle. More than 35 students sustained injuries in the mishap, they said. They said that some of the injured [] The post Over 35 Stud

Rajouri, Dec 20: The Chief Education Officer (CEO) Rajouri has issued a circular directing teachers transferred under ATD-2025 and those detailed to staff-deficient schools to immediately join their new places of posting. According to the circular, several teachers have failed to report for duty, adversely affecting the academic interests of students due to disruption in teaching. To address the issue, the CEO has granted a final opportunity of three days from the issuance of the circular for al

SRINAGAR, Dec 20: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, has ordered the transfers and postings of 95 officials. See Order Copy Click Here The post Div Com Kashmir Transfers 95 Officials appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Katra/Jammu, Dec 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday defended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is battling allegations of meeting anti-India forces outside the country, saying it was no crime to go abroad and even the prime minister does it. Responding to the BJPs allegations, Abdullah questioned the premise that travelling abroad or interacting with foreign academics and institutions amounted to acting against national interests. He said opposition leaders, like thos

Cong hurt by govt removing Mahatma Gandhis name from rural employment bill: Khurshid Srinagar, Dec 20 : Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Saturday said that any differences among the INDIA bloc constituents will be resolved amongst themselves and batted for better conversation among the alliance partners on issues that are of a sensitive nature. Khurshid was replying to queries on ties with National Conference (NC) and the recent remarks by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR, Dec 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau today trapped and arrested a Patwari for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 for providing a favourable report in a land-related matter in Shopian district. An ACB official said the action followed a written complaint alleging that Ashiq Hussain Shah, Patwari, Patwar Halqa Pinjura Pehlipura, Shopian, sought illegal gratification for processing an application related to the equal distribution of ancestral property among sibli

Srinagar, Dec 20: Srinagar Police on Saturday attached a double-storey residential house measuring eight marlas at Wantpora Eidgah after investigators established that the property was acquired through proceeds of drug trafficking. The house belongs to Basit Bilal Dar, son of Bilal Ahmad Dar, an inhabitant of Wantpora Eidgah, and is valued at nearly one crore rupees. Police said the accused is involved in two narcotics related cases, including FIR 59 of 2024 under Sections 8 and 21 of the NDPS [

Jammu, Dec 20: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday launched an online verification portal, Kirayedar, to address gaps in tenant reporting that have persisted despite enforcement action, including FIRs against defaulting landlords. The web portal aims to ease compliance and streamline tenant verification, according to officials. Jammu SSP Joginder Singh launched the Kirayedar for general public here, expressing hope to witness a significant increase in tenant reporting and verification, which, h

New Delhi, Dec 20: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday accused the Modi government of bulldozing the MGNREGA, and asserted that the black law that seeks to repeal it will be defied by the lakhs of party workers across the country. In a video message, she said that by weakening MGNREGA, the Modi government had attacked the interests of crores of farmers, labourers, and landless across the country. She alleged that over the past 11 years, the Centre [] The post Modi G

Mumbai, Dec 20: In a bold move, the national selection committee on Saturday omitted out-of-form vice-captain Shubman Gill from the 15-member Indian squad picked for the home T20 World Cup. All-rounder Axar Patel was named the vice-captain of the squad which also saw the return of an in-form Ishan Kishan, who pipped Jitesh Sharma as the second wicketkeeper behind Sanju Samson. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar admitted that Gill has been dropped from the squad for lack of runs. Obviously [] The

New Delhi, Dec 20: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday said the RBI had issued a compounding order for Genpact India, against a one-time payment, resulting in termination of a FEMA against the technology major. The agency had filed a complaint against the company in October 2018 for alleged contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to the tune of about Rs 26 crore. It issued a show cause notice to the firm and its directors in the same month [] The post RBI has allowed comp

Kushinagar (UP), Dec 20: Jetsun Pema, the younger sister of Tibetan spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate the Dalai Lama, offered chivar to the statue of Lord Buddha at the Mahaparinirvana temple here on Saturday and prayed for world peace and human welfare. Chivar is a type of traditional robes for Buddhist monks. Pema, 85, arrived in Kushinagar from Shravasti on Friday along with her husband Tenpa La. They stayed at the Birla Dharamshala in Kushinagar and later departed [] The post U

New Delhi, Dec 20: A new collection of short stories by Sahitya Akademi-winning writer Gauri Shankar Raina seeks to capture the nuanced realities of contemporary Kashmiri society, navigating the complexities of environment, identity, social divides, and cultural memory. U-Turn and Other Stories unravels the lives of Kashmiri-speaking people, set against the socio-cultural backdrop of the land. They are stories that reflect the deteriorating environment of the valley, the plight of the minority c

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, today said that weight reducing or anti-obesity drugs, currently available, ought to be used very judiciously. The Minister, who is himself a noted Diabetologist and Professor of Medicine, said that obesity is a complex, chronic and relapsing disorder, and not merely a cosmetic or lifestyle concer

Jammu, Dec 20: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, at a high-level meeting on Saturday, reviewed the implementation and progress of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in the UT of Jammu Kashmir. The Lieutenant Governor reaffirmed the UT Administrations commitment to the national goal of tuberculosis elimination. He emphasised on conducting a deep analysis of TB-related cases, and treatment outcomes. He called for seamless inter-departmental coordination and a robust community-based support syst

Jammu, Dec 20: Jammu and Kashmir has completed a comprehensive security audit of all departmental websites and decommissioned 35 redundant portals as part of a major push to strengthen cybersecurity across government systems, a senior official said. Secretary, IT Department, Piyush Singla said Endpoint Detection and Response and Unified Endpoint Management solutions have been deployed across the Civil Secretariat complexes in Jammu and Srinagar, securing nearly 5,100 devices, while another 15,00

BANGLADESH, Dec 20: Authorities in Bangladesh have arrested seven individuals in connection with the brutal lynching of 25-year-old Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage across the nation. The interim government announced the arrests on Saturday following a swift and intense investigation into the attack that occurred Thursday in Mymensingh city. Dipu Chandra Das was viciously attacked by a mob over allegations of blasphemy. The violence escalated tragically

Cairo, Dec 19: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Friday that relations between Egypt and Russia have witnessed a tangible upward trajectory in recent years, reaching the level of a strategic partnership with clear frameworks on the ground. Abdelatty made the remarks at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Cairo. He welcomed Lavrov to Egypt, praising the historical and distinguished relations that bind the two countries and are based on solid foundat

TEGUCIGALPA (Honduras), Dec 20: The Trump administration restricted visas for two leftist Honduran election officials, citing interference in the Central American countrys special vote count. The US State Department said in a statement Friday it revoked the visa of Mario Morazn, a magistrate of the Electoral Justice Tribunal, and denied a visa application from Marlon Ochoa, a member of the National Electoral Council. Both belong to the leftist ruling LIBRE, or Liberty and Refoundation, party. T

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has categorically dismissed recent claims linking eggs to cancer risk, terming them misleading, scientifically unsupported and capable of creating unnecessary public alarm. In a statement issued on Saturday, the food safety regulator clarified that eggs available in the country are safe for human consumption and that reports alleging the presence of carcinogenic substances in eggs lack a scientific basis. The clarificat

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: NBFC firm IIFL Finance has appointed former RBI Deputy Governor B P Kanungo as non-executive chairman of the board. The board at its meeting held on Friday approved Kanungos appointment with immediate effect, underscoring its strong confidence in his leadership, independence, and deep regulatory and institutional expertise, IIFL Finance said in a regulatory filing on Friday. Kanungo brings with him over four decades of experience in central banking, monetary policy, and finan

NAGPUR, Dec 20:The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIM) and ONGC Green Limited on Saturday signed an agreement to collaborate on research, capacity building, and policy-driven initiatives in the field of green and future energy. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two institutions will jointly work on key areas such as environmental sustainability and ESG frameworks, renewable energy integration into power systems, carbon and green credit markets, energy storage, e-mobility

MUMBAI, Dec 20: With the evolving dynamics for those studying abroad, particularly in light of global economic factors and changing visa policies, a report has revealed that affordability and post-study work opportunities are some of the top priorities driving student decisions. The top priorities driving student decisions today are affordability, post-study work opportunities, and the impact of AI in education, said the report by Leap Scholar, an AI-powered study abroad ecosystem. The report,

NEW DELHI, Dec 19:State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman C S Setty on Saturday said that the bank will reassess its policy on construction finance for residential real estate, but stressed that accountability and transparency will be key factors in determining interest rates for such loans. At present, the bank has almost negligible presence in construction finance for housing projects, but it is slowly building a book on commercial real estate, especially office space. So how do we work [] The pos

Srinagar, Dec 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the amended MGNREGA bill is detrimental as the Centre has put the burden of the scheme on states. Speaking to reporters here, Abdullah also took a dig at the Centre over the name of the new bill Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill likening it to a Bollywood movie titled Ji Mummy Ji. Where did this name [] The post G RAM G Bill: CM Omar Abdullah Says Burdening States

Jammu, Dec 20: Security forces have intensified anti-terror operations across the Jammu region following intelligence inputs about a possible infiltration attempt by terrorists from across the border amid dense fog, officials said on Saturday. Search operations by police, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Army personnel are underway at various locations near the International Border (IB) in Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Rajouri districts, besides the Chatroo forest

Lucknow, Dec 20: Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday said young doctors can no longer complain about a lack of facilities or infrastructure in the country, urging them to utilise the institutions and resources available instead of blaming deficiencies while opting to go abroad. Addressing the 21st convocation ceremony of King Georges Medical University (KGMU) here, Nadda said those who wish to go overseas are free to do so, but should not say that facilities or infrastructure a

KOLKATA, Dec 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lashed out at the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, calling the states prevailing situation maha jungle raj and alleging that corruption, nepotism and appeasement of the ruling dispensation have prevented development in the state. Addressing a massive gathering at Taherpur in Nadia district over the phone from Kolkata, Modi urged the people to provide a chance to the BJP in the upcoming assembly polls to form a double engine government i

Jammu, Dec 20: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level review meeting of Subordinate Departments of Home Department, at Lok Bhavan, Jammu. The meeting discussed the Budget and Expenditure Position of Prisons, Prosecution, Home Guards/CD & SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Sainik Welfare, and Advisory Board under PSA in BE 2025-26. The Lieutenant Governor took a comprehensive review of progress achieved under vital ongoing projects including construction

New Delhi, Dec 19: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday questioned Jai Anmol Ambani, son of industrialist Anil Ambani, for the second consecutive day in a money laundering case linked to an alleged bank loan fraud, officials said. The statements of 34-year-old Anmol Ambai were recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for the first time on Friday, and the session is continuing on Saturday, they said. The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group did not respond to the developmen

Pune, Dec 20: The global economic and political pecking order has undergone a significant change and a number of centres of power and influence have emerged, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. No country, however powerful, can impose its will on all issues, Jaishankar said, addressing the 22nd convocation of the Symbiosis International (Deemed University) in Pune. Not just that, it also means now that there is a natural competition among nations in the world and that it []

Srinagar, Dec 20: Kashmir is likely to face a spell of wet weather, including moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches, even as the night temperature improved slightly a day ahead of the onset of Chillai-Kalan the 40-day harsh winter period, officials said on Saturday. The local meteorological department has forecast a spell of wet weather on December 20-21, coinciding with the onset of Chillai-Kalan, which begins on December 21 every year and ends on January 31. Moderate [] The post Sn

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Markets regulator Sebi is planning to constitute a working group to review the non-agricultural commodity derivatives segment, its chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Saturday. He added that the working group will be notified shortly. Speaking at the 11th International Convention of the Commodity & Capital Participants Association of India (CPAI), Pandey said Sebi is also engaging with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of I

KOLKATA, Dec 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modis helicopter failed to land at the Taherpur helipad in West Bengal owing to low visibility on account of dense fog in the area on Saturday, an official said. The PMs chopper made a U-turn after hovering over the helipad ground for a while and returned to the Kolkata airport, he said. Till reports last received, the Prime Minister was waiting at the airport for further updates on the weather situation. It wasnt immediately [] The post Low Visibility Pr

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Fortis Healthcare on Saturday said it has inked a pact to acquire Bengaluru-based People Tree Hospital for Rs 430 crore. The company has signed definitive agreements for the acquisition of the 125-bedded hospital in Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru, by way of a 100 per cent acquisition of TMI Healthcare Pvt Ltd, the entity under which the People Tree Hospital business operates. The said acquisition would be undertaken by Fortis wholly-owned subsidiary International Hospital Limited (I

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: After years of forecasts predicting an imminent peak in oil demand amid a swift shift to renewables, oil and gas made a quiet but unmistakable comeback, with India emerging as a central driver of global consumption. Major energy outlooks from BP and McKinsey to the IEA pushed peak oil into the 2030s and revised 2050 demand upward. And every forecaster said India will emerge as the epicentre of global demand growth, with its rise [] The post Oil makes a comeback amid transiti

DHAKA, Dec 20:Bangladesh is set to hold the funeral of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi on Saturday amid tight security following unrest in the country triggered by his death. The funeral prayer will be held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building at 2 pm, the press wing of the interim government of Bangladesh has announced. The country is also observing a day of state mourning following the death of Hadi, who was one of the prominent [] The post Bdesh to hold funeral of s

COLOMBO, Dec 20: The IMF has approved an emergency funding of USD 206 million under its rapid finance instrument to help Sri Lanka address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability. The cyclone caused widespread destruction in the island nation and left over 643 people dead. In a statement issued on Friday, the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the disaster has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, ge

Islamabad, Dec 20: A Pakistani accountability court on Saturday sentenced jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years imprisonment each in the Toshakhana 2 corruption case. The case is about alleged fraud in state gifts, which the former first couple received from the Saudi government in 2021. Special court judge Shahrukh Arjumand announced the judgment in the case in Rawalpindis high-security Adiala Jail. Khan and Bushra were awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonme

New Delhi, Dec 20: Aditya Dhars directorial Dhurandhar, featuring Ranveer Singh in the lead role, has crossed the mark of Rs 500 crore at the domestic box office, the makers said on Saturday. Released on December 5, the film also features Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan and Rakesh Bedi. It follows covert intelligence operations set against a backdrop of geopolitical and terror events like Kandahar plane hijack, 2001 Parliament Attack and 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Pr

Shopian, Dec 20: Police have arrested two persons during a night operation in Heerpora area of south Kashmirs Shopian district after recovering incriminating posters from their possession, sources said on Saturday. A police sources said that a police party from Police Station Heerpora duo from Heerpora village during the night hours. During subsequent searches, posters were recovered, prompting the registration of a case, sources said. Accordingly, FIR No. 73/2025 has been registered at Police S

Panaji, Dec 20: Goa Police have started the process to secure a Blue Corner Notice against British national Surinder Kumar Khosla, an accused in the December 6 nightclub fire that killed 25 people, through Central agencies, a senior officer said on Saturday. He said Khosla was in Goa when the incident occurred and fled to the UK, probably the next day. We have started the process to issue him a blue corner notice to bring him from the UK. Formalities [] The post Goa Nightclub Fire: Cops Initiate

Leh, Dec 20: Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta on Saturday extended his best wishes to the people on the occasion of Losar, a significant festival in the region that marks the beginning of the Tibetan New Year. The L-G conveyed his hopes for peace and harmony for everyone on this auspicious occasion. In a post on X, he said: On the auspicious occasion of Losar, the traditional New Year celebrated with devotion & joy across Ladakh, I extend my warmest [] The post May Losar Usher In Peace, Prosper

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SRINAGAR, Dec 20: Jammu and Kashmir continued to reel under cold weather conditions on Friday night as cloud cover and occasional rain prevailed across several areas, while the Meteorological Department has forecast snowfall in higher altitudes over the next few days. Despite a marginal rise in temperatures at some places, cold conditions persisted across Kashmir and parts of Jammu, while Ladakh recorded intense sub-zero temperatures. According to data compiled by Kashmir Weather, the Kashmir re

Srinagar, Dec 19: Cracking down on organised land fraud, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a charge sheet in a 50 lakh cheating case involving forged records and criminal conspiracy, naming four accused for duping a buyer by selling inaccessible wetland land under the guise of prime property in Srinagar. In a statement, The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a charge sheet in FIR No. 02/2025 under Sections 420 and [] The post 50 Lakh L

NAGAON/ GUWAHATI, Dec 20: Eight elephants were killed and one injured after a herd was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assams Hojai district in the wee hours of Saturday, a forest official said. Five coaches and the trains engine were derailed in the incident, though no injuries to passengers were reported, a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the New Delhi-bound train met with the accident around 2.17 am. Nagaon divisional forest officer S

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 19: A workshop on Stress Coping Management for the Universitys non-teaching officials, organized by the Directorate of Quality Assurance, in collaboration with the School of Business, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), was held here today. The workshop was conducted with the support of Bhartiya Yog Sansthan (BYS), an organisation guided by the principle Live and Let Live Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinam. The resource persons from BYS, Jia Lal Sharma, Shakti Kum

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 19: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu successfully hosted the International Conference on Sustainable Materials and Infrastructure (ICSMI-2025) from 16th to 18th December. The three-day international conference was organized by the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Jammu, in collaboration with the Indian Concrete Institute (ICI) Centre J&K and brought together leading academicians, researchers, industry experts, and practitioners from India and abro

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 19: In order to draw attention to key challenges faced by traders, MSMEs and industrial units across the Union Territory, Dr Sanjay Bansal, Board Member of the National Traders Welfare Board (NTWB), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and National President of the Federation of Trade & Industry of India (FTII) met with Vikram Jeet Singh, the Commissioner Secretary, Department of Industries & Commerce, Jammu & Kashmir. Bansal also submitted a