Daily Excelsior

New Delhi, Jan 20: The Central Information Commission has said that third-party evaluation reports prepared by the NITI Aayog on women safety schemes implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development should be placed in the public domain. The CIC said that these reports which evaluate the implementation, efficiency and effectiveness of such schemes are institutionally independent and evidence-based assessments intended for policy reforms, mid-course correction and improved governance.

New Delhi, Jan 20: Aviation watchdog DGCA on Tuesday said sustained regulatory oversight as well as corrective measures have helped stabilise operations at IndiGo, and the airline now has an adequate number of pilots to ensure compliance with the new flight duty norms without disruptions. Days after slapping penalties totalling Rs 22.20 crore on IndiGo for last months massive flight disruptions, the regulator also said it was closely monitoring the airlines operations with particular emphasis on

Bengaluru, Jan 20: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said he will travel to New Delhi if summoned by the Congress high command to discuss the leadership issue involving him and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. I will go if I am called by the Congress high command, Siddaramaiah told reporters when asked about the possibility of visiting Delhi. The leadership tussle in the ruling party has intensified amid speculation of a possible change in the chief ministership after [] The

JAMMU, Jan 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has directed all departments, PSUs and educational institutions to celebrate National Voters Day on January 25, 2026, with the theme My India, My Vote. As per the instructions issued by the General Administration Department, events such as debates, discussions and competitions including drawing, painting, essay writing and cultural activities will be organised in schools and colleges to promote voter awareness. The Election Commission of India has

Leh, Jan 20: Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta on Tuesday declared open the 6th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 at the state-of-the-art NDS ice hockey stadium here, marking another milestone in Ladakhs journey as Indias emerging hub for winter sports. The Games are being held over seven days and will conclude on January 26, coinciding with the celebration of Republic Day. Teams from 19 states comprising 1,060 participants including athletes, technical officials, support staff, and voluntee

New Delhi Jan 20: Jammu & Kashmir Bank on Tuesday reported a 11 per cent growth in net profit at Rs 589 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025. The bank had a net profit of Rs 531 crore in the October-December period of last fiscal. Total income rose to Rs 3,593 crore during Q3 of FY26, from Rs 3,448 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY25, J&K Bank said in a regulatory filing. The banks gross non-performing [] The post J&K Bank Q3 Net Profit Rises 11 Pc At Rs 589 Cr appeared fir

New Delhi, Jan 20: The Supreme Court has ruled that state police authorities can investigate and file a chargesheet against central government employees when it comes to the offences of bribery and corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The court has also made it clear that no prior permission from the CBI is required before registering a case against a central government employee by the state police. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Satish Chandra Sharma said [] The post State

Jammu, Jan 20: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and people of the Valley are eagerly awaiting their return. The former chief minister also suggested that reservation of two Assembly seats for Kashmiri Pandits would be preferable. Kashmiri Pandits must take their own decision. We are eagerly waiting for their return as the Valley is incomplete without them, Mehbooba told reporters at PDP headquarters in Gandhi Nagar h

New Delhi, Jan 20: Riding high on GST 2.0 revving up commercial vehicles demand, Tata Motors is looking to leverage the momentum with a new range of trucks across electric and internal combustion engine versions, according to its MD & CEO Girish Wagh. The company, which has been present in the electric last-mile delivery logistics segment, is now expanding its electric offering into heavier trucks, Wagh told PTI in an interview. Besides, he said, the companys new internal combustion engine [] Th

New Delhi, Jan 20: Ola Electric Mobility Ltd has appointed Deepak Rastogi as its Chief Financial Officer following the resignation of Harish Abichandani from the post, according to a regulatory filing by the company. The board of the company at its meeting held on January 19, 2025 approved the appointment of Deepak Rastogi as Chief Financial Officer, who would also be key managerial personnel and part of senior management personnel with effect from January 20, 2026, Ola Electric Mobility said. [

New Delhi, Jan 20: HDFC Bank on Tuesday said it plans to disburse Rs 20 crore under the FY26 edition of the Parivartan Startup Grants programme for supporting social impact-driven innovations. The programme will support 10 strategic initiatives across priority sectors including climate innovation, agriculture and sustainable livelihoods, manufacturing and MSME innovation, financial inclusion, and gender diversity and inclusion, along with emerging areas including AI and deep technology. It foll

New Delhi, Jan 20: The Ficci Manufacturing Index reached an all-time high in the third quarter, with 91 per cent of firms reporting steady or higher production, up from 87 per cent in the previous quarter, despite production costs remaining on the higher side. The Ficcis 68th edition of Quarterly Survey on Manufacturing (QSM) assessed the performance and sentiments of manufacturers for eight major sectors in the third quarter. These include auto components, capital goods, chemicals, fertilisers

New Delhi, Jan 20: Indias sugar production rose 22 per cent to 15.9 million tonnes by January 15 in the 2025-26 season from a year earlier, supported by higher cane supplies and better yields, industry body ISMA said on Tuesday. Output stood at 13 million tonnes in the same period last year, the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said in a statement. Around 518 mills were operational as of Jan 15, compared with 500 a year ago. The [] The post Indias sugar output jumps 22p

Kampala (Uganda), Jan 20: The health of jailed Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye is failing, his party said on Tuesday, after he was driven overnight to a medical facility in the capital Kampala. Besigyes health has reached a critical and deteriorating state, the Peoples Front for Freedom said in a statement that also demanded unrestricted access to Besigye by his personal doctors and family. Besigye, a veteran politician who was Ugandas most prominent opposition figure before the rise of

Kabul, Jan 20 (AP) The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an explosion at a Chinese restaurant in Afghanistans capital that killed at least seven people, including a Chinese national. The cause of the blast was still under investigation, authorities said Tuesday. The militant group said in a statement posted on its Aamaq news agency late Monday that a suicide bomber entered a restaurant frequented by Chinese nationals in the city and detonated an explosive vest during a gathering

Jerusalem, Jan 20 (AP) Israeli crews have begun bulldozing a United Nations headquarters in east Jerusalem as Israels government tightens restrictions on humanitarian groups that provide aid to Palestinians. UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, said on X that Israeli forces had confiscated staff devices and forced them out of their headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. This is an unprecedented attack not only against UNRWA and its premises. It constitutes a serious viola

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 20: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will not endorse elections in military-ruled Myanmar, Malaysias foreign minister said Tuesday, citing concerns over the lack of inclusive and free participation. Myanmars military-backed political party appeared headed for a parliamentary majority after the second round of voting earlier this month in the countrys first general election since the army ousted a civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The takeover t

MELBOURNE, Jan 20: Australias Parliament on Tuesday began debating draft anti-hate speech and gun laws proposed after two shooters killed 15 people at a Jewish festival in Sydney last month. The draft laws would create new restrictions on gun ownership and create a government-funded buyback scheme to compensate people forced to hand in their firearms. Anti-hate speech laws would enable hate groups that dont fit Australias definition of a terrorist organisation, such as Islamist group Hizb ut-Tah

Dhaka, Jan 20: Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) on Tuesday deferred for six days the scheduled verdict against eight policemen on charges of crimes against humanity over the killing of six people during the violent 2024 student-led protests. We are sorry. The verdict has not been prepared. The judgment in the case will be pronounced on January 26, chairman of the three-judge panel Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder said. The tribunal earlier fixed January 20 for delivering the verd

Srinagar, Jan 20: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday inaugurated the newly redeveloped Amira Kadal pedestrian bridge here, and said the project aims to blend the citys heritage with modern amenities to create a vibrant space. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the revamped pedestrian bridge, Sinha said the project, undertaken under the Srinagar Smart City, seeks to create cultural and vibrant public spaces by integrating the citys traditional character with modern

Davos, Jan 20: Bullish on the growth trajectory of India and Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said he would make Amaravati the best and the most beautiful city in the world and everyone is welcome to be a partner in this endeavour. Speaking at a breakfast session organised by his government along with industry chamber CII, he said every country is facing aging problem but India is continuing to reap the demographic benefits and that will [] The post Well make Amarava

Lucknow, Jan 20: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday claimed that the sharp rise in gold and silver prices was due to the corrupt BJPs new economic concept of converting ill-gotten gains in the form of cash into precious metals. In a post in Hindi on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, unlike normal economic principles, rising prices of these metals were leading to higher demand rather than curbing it, and termed it solidification of corruption under [] The post Akhilesh

Jammu, Jan 20: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that his party has faced bullets for India and is prepared to do so again if necessary, dismissing the BJPs claim that the NC seeks to revive stone-pelting and terrorism in the region. The former chief minister rejected calls for a fresh bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, labelling such demands as foolish and ignorant. He expressed hope that Ladakh, which was designated as a separate Union Territory in 2019, [] The post

Srinagar, Jan 20: The minimum temperature dropped at most places in Kashmir as the valley braces up for spells of rain and snow ahead this week, including the possibility of the first snowfall in the plains this winter, officials said on Tuesday. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius on Monday night, down from the minus 1.2 degrees Celsius the previous night. The tourist resort of Sonamarg in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district registered a low of minus 6.2 [] The post Mercury Dip

Srinagar, Jan 20: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday inaugurated the redeveloped Amira Kadal Bridge in Srinagar, terming it a symbol of the citys blend of heritage and modern infrastructure under the Srinagar Smart City Project. Speaking to reporters after the inauguration, LG Sinha said the historic bridge one of the oldest in the city has been completely rebuilt and equipped with modern amenities for the convenience of pedestrians. The Amira Kadal Bridge, which was reconstructed under

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New Delhi, Jan 20: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to examine whether the Enforcement Directorate can file a writ petition before high courts under Article 226 of the Constitution for enforcement of its rights as a juristic person. A juristic person is a non-human legal entity recognised by the law and entitled to rights and duties in the same way as a human being. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice to the agency [] The post SC Agrees To Examine If ED

NEW DELHI, Jan 20: Nitin Nabin was on Tuesday formally declared as the BJP national president, succeeding J P Nadda and beginning a new chapter for the party as it seeks to tighten its grip on politics in the country. K Laxman, Returning Officer for BJP organisational polls, declared the results of the organisational elections and handed over the certificate of election to 45-year-old Nabin, the youngest ever to occupy the top party post. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nadda, senior [] The post N

Amaravati, Jan 20: UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri on Tuesday agreed during a meeting with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to set up a food cluster in Andhra Pradesh. The meeting took place during the annual meet of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The UAE minister also assured to enable 40 companies to set up shop in the southern state. Al Marri agreed to set up a food cluster in Andhra [] The post DAVOS: UAE agrees to establish food cluster

United Nations, Jan 20: UN chief Antonio Guterres, who is currently in Switzerland, has cancelled his planned trip to the Swiss Alps town of Davos due to a bad cold, his spokesperson said. The Secretary-General is currently near Geneva, Switzerland, where he is meeting with his Special and Personal Representatives and Envoys. Following these meetings, he will return to New York and has cancelled his planned trip to Davos due to a bad cold, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the [] The post Gute

United Nations, Jan 20: With US President Donald Trumps Board of Peace on Gaza being seen as a rival, a United Nations spokesperson said the world body has coexisted alongside various global institutions and would wait to see what sort of relationship it has with the US-led initiative. The UN has coexisted alongside any number of organisations. There are regional organisations, subregional organisations, and various defence alliances around the world, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for UN Secre

New Delhi, Jan 20: Silver prices extended its record-setting surge on Tuesday, approaching the Rs 3.2 lakh per kilogram, while gold futures soared to a lifetime high of Rs 1.48 lakh per 10 grams, as investors flocked to safe-haven assets amid deepening global geopolitical uncertainties. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver futures for March delivery surged by Rs 9,674, or 3.2 per cent, to a lifetime high of Rs 3,19,949 per kilogram. The white metal had breached the Rs [] The post Silver

Online gaming has become a huge part of the broader gaming sector and one that has begun dominating a lot more in the 21st century. The appeal is clear to see. Players can access and play games with friends, competitors, and like-minded people from all around the world. The environment is often social, with gamers of all ilk seeing themselves as kindred spirits and part of one broad community. However, despite all these positive aspects of online gaming, there are [] The post Gaming Safety Check

Jammu, Jan 20: Army officers on Tuesday paid last tributes to Havildar Gajendra Singh, who laid down his life yesterday in the line of duty during a counter-terrorism operation in the Singhpora area of Chatroo in Kishtwar district. Havildar Gajendra Singh, a Special Forces soldier, was martyred while gallantly executing a counter-terror operation as part of the ongoing Operation Trashi-I on the intervening night of January 18 and 19. In a post on X, the White Knight Corps said, The [] The post A

Indian weddings come with drama, but these days, things feel bigger, bolder and way more personal. Bridal fashion in 2026 doesnt play by old rules. Brides arent stuck with the usual reds or the same old patterns anymore. Theyre picking textures that youll want to reach out and touch, shapes that will feel fresh and colors that tell their own story. Its all about elegance and confidence, but with a twist. If youre also looking for a showstopper this wedding [] The post All Eyes on the Bride: Brid

New Delhi, Jan 20: BJP president-elect Nitin Nabin has recently been granted top-category VIP security cover by the Centre, officials said on Tuesday. The VIP security wing of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been assigned to provide Z-category security for Nabin. A few weeks ago, the Union Home Ministry directed the CRPF to take charge of his security following his announcement as the new BJP party leader, officials said. Armed CRPF commandos will accompany him during his travels []

CHENNAI, Jan 20: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday declined to read out the DMK government prepared text as part of his customary address to the state Assembly due to inaccuracies, in it, the Lok Bhavan said. It also alleged his mic was switched off. Minutes after Ravi walked out of the 234-member House without delivering his address, the Lok Bhavan issued a 13-point explainer on why Ravi declined to read out the address. It alleged the Governors mic [] The post TN Assembly: Mic switched of

JAMMU, Jan 20: Several individuals were detained for questioning as a massive search operation to flush out terrorists entered the third day in the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district on Tuesday, officials said. The operation was launched in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt on Sunday, leading to a gunfight that left one paratrooper dead and seven others injured, primarily due to splinter injuries caused by a sudden grenade attack from the hiding terrori

BENGALURU, Jan 20: The Karnataka government has placed DGP (Civil Rights Enforcement) K Ramachandra Rao under suspension with immediate effect, citing conduct unbecoming of a government servant and causing embarrassment to the state administration. News channels beamed video on Monday purportedly showing Rao in compromising position with women. The video went viral in the social media as well. Rao sought to reject the videos outright terming them fabricated and false. In an official order issued

Srinagar, Jan 20: Security forces on Tuesday averted a tragedy with the timely detection of an improvised explosive device on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway, officials said. The IED was planted by suspected terrorists by the roadside at Takiya Tapper in the Pattani area of Baramulla district, officials added. They said the IED was detected by a patrol party of security forces. A bomb disposal squad has been rushed to the spot to neutralise the IED. The incident comes less than a [] The post Secu

NEW DELHI, Jan 20: Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said the Supreme Court missed a crucial chance to examine federalism in its extreme form in the Article 370 case after accepting the governments assurance on restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs full statehood. Speaking at the launch of two books by journalist-writer Bashir Assad, Kashmir: The Unfiltered Truth and House Without Witness, on Monday, Khurshid argued that while the Constitution speaks of fraternity, equality and liberty, federal

Jammu, Jan 20: Ahead of the beginning of the budget session of Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will begin chairing pre-budget consultations with different administrative departments from Tuesday. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Finance Minister of J&K, will hold pre-budget consultations with various departments starting today. According to the itinerary prepared by the Finance Department, the Chief Minister will hold consultations with 24 administrative departments, i

Excelsior Correspondent COLOMBO, Jan 19: Renowned poetess, ghazalkar and vyangyakar Dr Anila Singh Charak today was conferred with the prestigious Bharat Hindi Gaurav Samman at a grand literary function held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The award was conferred for her unmatched contributions to the field of literature. The award was presented by Ankuran Datta, Director, High Commission of India, Colombo, along with Dr Atila Kothwala, Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre and Dr Neeta Subhashin

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 19: Jammu & Kashmir Postal Circle today inaugurated its first N-Gen Post Office in Kashmir at the University of Kashmir campus. This is the second N-Gen Post Office in the J&K Circle, after AIIMS Vijaypur. The N-Gen Post Office was dedicated by Prof. Nilofer Khan, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, and D. S. V. R. Murthy, Chief Postmaster General, Jammu & Kashmir Circle, in the presence of Shri Adam Mohi-ud-Din, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Sr

NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Spy stories continue to attract readers, especially when written by those with real-life experience. This was evident at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026, where a well-attended discussion on the book Mukhbir by Brigadier Sushil Tanwar was held at the Theme Pavilion in Bharat Mandapam. The book was featured under the fairs central theme, Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @75, during the event held from January 10 to January 18. The panel discussion was [] The post Sp

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 19: After a grand success at Bahu Plaza in Gandhi Nagar area, Tealogy Caf has started its second outlet here in Roop Nagar after a formal inauguration on Monday. On the very first day after inauguration, the caf was thronged by large number of customers who relished a variety of eatables at the food point. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO Many well wishers also visited the caf and extended best wishes to the proprietor, Vasu Magotra. [] The post Tealogy Caf starts out

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 19: Protest demonstrations, public meetings, wearing of black badges and paying tributes to martyrs marked the observance of 37th Holocaust Day by Kashmiri Hindus across country today. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO Terming the Kashmiri Pandits the victims of genocide the leaders of various organisations of displaced Pandits today highlighted the pain and agony of community which they faced due to cross border terrorism. The Youth 4 Panun Kashmir which organised a p

Ziali Reen The demand for a separate statehood for Jammu Province has long been trivialised as emotional, reactionary, or politically motivated. Such characterisations, however, deliberately avoid engaging with the substantive realities that have shaped Jammus trajectory since 1947. When examined through the lenses of governance, development, political representation, fiscal justice, and demographic security, the argument for separate statehood emerges not as a political indulgence but as a str

Mission YUVA gains momentum with 95% Panchayat coverage *Timelines finalised for implementation of EoDB Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Jan 19: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a meeting of the Apex Committee of Mission YUVA, during which he reviewed the district-wise and panchayat-level performance of the flagship self-employment initiative across the Union Territory. The meeting besides Additional Chief Secretary, Planning; Principal Secretary, Finance; Managing Director, J&K Bank; a

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Jan 19: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday laid the foundation stone for Meerz Health Care Hospital in Srinagar. This will be 180-bedded super speciality hospital and boost medical infrastructure and enhance healthcare services for Srinagar city and nearby Districts. The Lieutenant Governor congratulated and extended his best wishes to the Meerz Group and everyone associated with the hospital. He highlighted that the private investment in healthcare infra