UT Admn, Hill Councils to get funds for development *Formal order expected anytime soon Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Dec 20: The Union Ministry of Finance headed by Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to undo the cut of Rs 976 crore imposed in budget of the Union Territory of Ladakh and a formal announcement in this regard is expected to be made anytime soon. This will help the UT administration to initiate more developmental works in the Himalayan region and will also [] The post Finance Ministry all set to

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh today conferred Hospital Administration Excellence Awards on distinguished Hospital Administrators and emphasised their role in integrating medical care. Dr. Jitendra Singh also emphasized the pivotal rol

Enhance J&K package from Rs 28400 cr to Rs 75000 cr * Dr Jitendra assists Jammu Chamber team Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: A delegation of Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industry led by its president Arun Gupta accompanied by Anil Gupta senior vice president and Rajesh Gupta, secretary met the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry in presence of Dr Jitendra Singh MoS in Prime Ministers office. During interaction Arun Gupta apprised [] T

ONOE bills referred to 39-member JSC NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Parliament was adjourned sine die on Friday, capping off a tumultuous session that saw a robust debate on the countrys Constitutional journey and the introduction of two landmark bills on simultaneous elections before plunging to a new low of political animosity over alleged insult of B R Ambedkar. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp As Parliament met on the last day of Winter Session, the overhang of mutual bitterness [] The pos

AGARTALA, Dec 20 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated a newly built residential complex for border guards at Agartala Integrated Check Post (ICP). The inauguration was done virtually from Siliguri in West Bengal, where Shah was attending the 61st Raising Day of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The facility, covering an area of 8,093 square feet, will house Border Security Force (BSF) and Customs personnel posted at the ICP, according to a release from the Press Information [] The

Good platform for discussions on tax reforms: Omar Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU/JAIPUR, Dec 20: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today held pre-budget consultations with representatives of States and Union Territories with Legislature including Jammu and Kashmir for the forthcoming 2024-25 budget at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, CMs of Goa, Haryana, Meghalaya and O

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: Ahead of Christmas festival, a grand and colourful procession was taken out in Jammu City by the enthusiastic Christian community, here today. Organized under the banner of J&K Joint Churches Fellowship, the procession began from Shahidi Chowk and passed through Residency Road, Raghunath Bazar, City Chowk, Shalamar Road, Parade, Library Chowk, Kachi Chawni, Panjtirthi, CPO Chowk, Jain Bazar, Link Road and Purani Mandi, before culminating back to the Shahidi

JAIPUR, Dec 20: An LPG tanker collided with a truck on Friday, sparking a massive fire that turned a stretch of the Jaipur-Ajmer highway into an inferno that killed 11 people and sent 37 vehicles up in flames. Twenty-eight people are admitted and many of them are in critical condition, an official said. A total of 11 people have died. Five were brought dead to SMS hospital. Five succumbed during treatment. One death was reported from Jaipuria hospital, Dr Deepak [] The post 11 dead in fire after

* FIR against LOP Rahul false: Karra Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20 : The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Tariq Hameed Karra along with working presidents Tara Chand and Raman Bhalla, led a protest today at Satwari Chowk in Jammu against the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, for his offensive and disrespectful remarks against Bharat Ratna Dr. BR Ambedkar. Speaking to the media persons during protest, PCC chief said that these remarks insult the unparalleled legacy of the

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: Jammu and Kashmir Police in Sopore destroyed narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances worth over Rs 1 crore. A police official said that the narcotics were destroyed by a District Drug Disposal Committee headed by SSP Sopore Divya D, SDPO Sopore Sarfaraz Bashir (Member) and DSP Dar Sopore (Member) in compliance to the directions of Special Court (NDPS) Baramulla. According to him, the consignments of drugs were seized in 21 different NDPS cases registere

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 20: Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader and former national general secretary BJP (Org), Ram Lal held a meeting with the activists of Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) here and discussed the activities of organisation with them in detail. The RSS leader took a complete feedback from the senior members of the organisation in Valley and also discussed prevailing situation in J&K with them. The steps being taken for further strengthening the base of MRM

Rekha asks workers to stay amidst people Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: To bolster the partys presence in Jammu South, Munish Sharma, BJP J&K State membership drive In charge and all Morchas Prabhari J&K and Rekha Mahajan, BJP district president Jammu South, conducted a crucial meeting with party functionaries. The meeting aimed to guide party workers and encourage them to continue their magnificent work regarding the BJPs active membership drive. Munish Sharma praised the efforts of BJP

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: Arvind Gupta, senior BJP leader and MLA Jammu West, today visited Ward 28 to take a firsthand look at the issues faced by the general public. During the visit, he interacted with the people and listened to their concerns regarding sanitation, lanes and drains and other essential services. Accompanied by key officials like Imran Bandey, Executive Engineer JMC, AEE JMC Wani, and Sameer Bali, Sanitation Officer, the MLA toured various parts of the Ward and []

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: The Alumni Cell of the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), University of Jammu, organized an enlightening guest lecture today on the theme Planning, Monitoring and Budgeting of State Resources as the inaugural session of its Meet your Alumni Lecture Series for their students under the purview of Centre for Internal Quality Assurance (CIQA). The event was graced by the presence of one of the Universitys distinguished alumni, Dr Jyoti Sharma (Joi

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: A five-day course on Investigation of Cyber Crime that began on December 16 at the S.K. Police Academy (SKPA), Udhampur, concluded today. The course attended by 11 officers from the J&K Police, aimed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of cybercrime investigation. A valedictory function was held to mark the conclusion of the course, with Rajinder Kumar Gupta, SSP, Deputy Director (Indoor) at SKPA Udhampur, gracing the occasion as the

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: BJP leader and MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi here today inaugurated a three-day artificial limbs camp organized by Shree Atam Vallabh Jain Clinic at Brahman Sabha Parade. During the camp, a total of 212 patients were served and aids including 67 lower limbs, 42 callipers, 12 hands, 13 tricycles, 8 wheelchairs and 38 hearing aids were given to deserving persons. Speaking on the occasion Yudhvir Sethi lauded the Jain community for their exemplary service to [

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu won the final round for Solar Mech works on Solar Thermal Technology as a standalone system that works on CHP (Concentrated Heat & Power), an innovation model mentored by the scientists of CSIR-IIIM, Jammu under CSIR Jigyasa Epic Hackathon-2024. Giving the detail of the contest, a spokesperson of the Institute said that a total of 960 submissions were received by CSIR from all the CSIR institutions

The Jammu-Akhnoor four-laning project envisioned as a cornerstone of infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir under the Prime Ministers Development Package of 2015, has become emblematic of delays, inefficiencies and lack of accountability. Despite its strategic importance as National Highway-144A, this 26.35 km stretch continues to miss deadlines, with the latest target of December 31, 2024, already appearing uncertain. This recurring failure is a testament to poor project management, in

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, declared open 37th Sub Junior National Softball Championship at MA Stadium, here today. The championship has brought together 38 teams from 24 States, with over 1,000 players and technical officials participating in this prestigious event. The event is being organised by the J&K Softball Association in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council under the aegis of Softball Association of India. The

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: CVPPL emerged victorious in the Maitri Cup 2024-25 T20 Cricket Tournament held at Jammu University Cricket Ground, here today. The final match saw a thrilling contest between CVPPL and NHPC, where CVPPL triumphed by 6 wickets. Ram Swaroop, Executive Director of NHPC Regional Office Jammu was the chief guest at the event and presented the winning trophy to the CVPPL team. He was accompanied by Chhotey Lal, GGM (Civil), Vasant Hurmade, GGM (E&C), Amrik

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: Tiny Tots Higher Secondary School organized a week-long Chess Championship, which concluded today with impressive participation from students across various classes. The event featured intense competition and strategic game play over six rounds. Mehtab Din, a student of Class 12, emerged as the champion after showcasing exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament. Naresh and Abhiraj were declared joint runners-up, demonstrating outs

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: PC Vaid Angles Dream Playway School, Akhnoor, celebrated its Annual Day with great enthusiasm today. Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma was the chief guest, while Prem Lata, Joint Director of the Municipal Corporation Jammu, was the guest of honour. The event began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Minister Satish Sharma, the schools founder Puran Chand Vaid, MD Sushil Sharma, Principal Lata Sharma, and Vice Principal Vandana Jamwal. The program comme

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: Vikram Randhawa, BJP MLA from Bahu constituency, inaugurated J&K UT Weightlifting Championship at Indoor Sports Complex in Bhagwati Nagar, here today. Yudhvir Singh, General Secretary of the Association, expressed gratitude to Randhawa for inspiring the youth with his presence. In his address, Randhawa commended Governments commitment to supporting youth development and strengthening communities through sports. He also emphasized the importance of mo

LONDON, Dec 20 : India has demonstrated significant progress in reducing malaria cases and associated mortality in the countrys high-endemic states, according to the findings of the World Health Organisations (WHO) World Malaria Report 2024. At a meeting in the UK Parliament complex this week, stakeholders gathered to reflect on the reports findings and make the case that investing in ending malaria is the economically smart thing to do. It was noted how community health workers in India, compri

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: The 8th edition of HIVER FEST 2024, organized by the Commerce and Economics students of Class 11 at KC Public School, concluded today. The fest was aimed at providing experiential learning in entrepreneurship, fund management and event organization as part of their Business Studies, Accountancy, and Economics curriculum. Under the guidance of Economics teacher Pooja Chaturvedi, students gained practical skills in fundraising and securing sponsorships. The e

MUMBAI, Dec 20 : The Bombay High Court on Friday upheld the tender awarded to an Adani Group firm by the Maharashtra government for the Dharavi slum redevelopment project in Mumbai, ruling there was no arbitrariness, unreasonableness or perversity in the decision. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar dismissed a petition filed by UAE-based Seclink Technologies Corporation challenging the state governments decision to award the project to Adani Properties Pvt Lt

MACAO, Dec 20 : Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the casino hub of Macao to diversify its economy as he swore in the former Portuguese colonys new government on Friday at an event marking the 25th anniversary of its handover to China. New Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai Macaos first leader born in mainland China vowed to address the territorys unbalanced and uncoordinated economic development. Since its 1999 handover, the city of 687,000 has transformed from a monopoly-driven [] The post Chinas

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 20: The J&K Ball Badminton Association is set to conduct selection trials and a 21-day Residential Coaching Camp for the upcoming 69th Junior National Ball Badminton Championship for Boys and Girls 2024-25. The championship is scheduled to take place in Nagpur (Maharashtra) from January 17 to 21, as announced by a spokesman of the association. The selection trials will be held at Gindun Sports Stadium, Raj Bagh, Srinagar, on December 24 at 11:30 am. The

Arun Srivastava The BJP is in hurry to appoint a new national president by December end. Electoral process for the election of the new president is underway. But the contentious issue whose candidate, either of the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat or of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will eventually occupy the office is still shrouded in the mystery. October meeting of the RSS national executive and later interaction of Bhagwat with some senior BJP leaders and also chief minister of [] The post No Cle

Dr Gyan Pathak Maharashtras Mahayuti, the ruling NDA in the state, is still struggling to overcome a deep political trouble from within. The most serious political development is that Shiv Sena believes BJP and NCP are hand in glove in clipping the wings of their party and leader Eknath Shinde. It is a serious concern for the BJP leadership, since many political leaders believe that BJP is pursuing downsizing its allies one by one to go ahead with its dream [] The post Cabinet Formation Delay in

RAJOURI/JAMMU, Dec 20: Police on Friday attached the property of a Pakistan-based terror handler in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district. The land, measuring 19 marlas and belonging to proclaimed offender Zia-ul-Rehman, was attached in the Samote village of Budhal, officials said. The action was carried out by a joint team of police and civil administration led by Superintendent of Police Kotranka, Wajahat Hussain, and Tehsildar Syed Sahil, they added. The property was attached on the orders of a

JAMMU, Dec 20:The government on Friday announced winter break for degree colleges of Kashmir division and winter zones of Jammu division from December 27. The government also announced winter break for colleges of summer zones of Jammu region from January 01 to January 10. All Government Degree Colleges of Kashmir division including those falling under winter zone of Jammu division shall observe winter vacations from December 27, 2024 to February 14, 2025. All Government Degree Colleges of Jammu

New Delhi, Dec 20: States have raised several demands in the pre-budget meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Jaisalmer on Friday evening. According to sources, some States asked the central government to bear a larger share of land acquisition costs for projects. Some have demanded before the Centre to increase allocation for 50-year interest-free loans. Some have also urged for an increase in borrowing limits to support fiscal activities, sources added. Among others, a request wa

KOLKATA, Dec 20: Bharti Airtel (Airtel) on Friday announced that it has entered into a partnership with Zee5 to offer exciting digital content to its WiFi customers. All customers on plans starting at Rs. 699 or higher will have Zee5 included as part of their Airtel WiFi plan at no additional cost. Following this partnership, Zee5s exclusive content, that includes original shows, chartbuster titles, OTT movies and series across multiple languages will now be available on Airtel WiFi for viewers,

DHAKA, Dec 20:Bangladesh has asked Pakistan to settle the issues of 1971 to help Dhaka move forward with its relationship with Islamabad once and for all for the future generations, state-run news agency has said. Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also discussed the revival of the SAARC and called for a strategic relationship between Dhaka and Islamabad. Yunus and Sharif met on the margins of the D-8 Summit at Cairo on Friday when [] The post Yun

ZAGREB (Croatia), Dec 20: A 7-year-old girl died and a teacher and five other students were wounded in a knife attack at a school in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, authorities said Friday. Police said the attack happened at 9:50 a.m. at the Precko Elementary School in the neighborhood of the same name. They described the attacker as a young male and said he had been detained. Health Minister Irena Hristic said the attacker was over 18, while media reported [] The post Croatian police say 7-year-

KYIV, Dec 20: A Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraines capital Kyiv early Friday killed at least one person and injured nine others, officials said. Moscow claimed it was in response to a Ukrainian strike on Russian soil using American-made weapons. At least three loud blasts were heard in Kyiv shortly before sunrise. Ukraines air force said it intercepted five Iskander short-range ballistic missiles fired at the city. The attack knocked out heating to 630 residential buildings, 16 medical

LONDON, Dec 20: Leaving Israel is easier, Shira Z. Carmel thinks, by saying its just for now. But she knows better. For the Israeli-born singer and an increasing number of relatively well-off Israelis, the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack shattered any sense of safety and along with it, Israels founding promise: to be the worlds safe haven for Jews. That day, thousands of Hamas militants blew past the countrys border defences, killed 1,200 people and dragged 250 more into [] The post For thousands of

New Delhi, Dec 20 : The Rajya Sabha on Friday adopted through voice vote a motion to nominate 12 of its members to the joint committee of Parliament that will scrutinise the two bills proposing simultaneous elections. Soon after the House met following an initial adjournment in the morning, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to move a motion to nominate members of the Rajya Sabha to the panel. Moving the motion, Meghwal said the Upper [] The post RS adopts motio

NEW DELHI, Dec 20: Pharma major Cipla Ltd on Friday said a fine of over Rs 1 crore has been imposed on the company by GST authority for alleged inadmissible credit claim. The company has received an order dated December 18, 2024 passed by the GST authority, imposing a penalty of Rs 1,11,94,324 under applicable provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, Cipla said in a regulatory filing. The order has been passed by GST Authority [] The post Cipla faces over Rs 1 crore penalty b

MUMBAI, Dec 20:Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty plunged about 1.5 per cent on Friday, taking their downtrend to the fifth straight session, due to risk aversion in the global markets after the hawkish stance of the US Federal Reserve. The 30-share BSE benchmark tumbled 1,176.46 points or 1.49 per cent to settle at 78,041.59. During the day, it slumped 1,343.46 points or 1.69 per cent to 77,874.59. The NSE Nifty tanked 364.20 points or 1.52 per cent to [] The post Bears tighten grip on

COLOMBO, Dec 20:Sri Lanka will soon formulate a national policy on allowing visits by foreign research vessels, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said here on Friday, amidst frequent docking requests from Chinese surveillance ships which raised concerns in India. Heraths comments came days after Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayakes visit to India. In January, Sri Lanka enforced a year-long moratorium on foreign marine scientific research survey vessels operating in its waters and the Ex

Managing finances and planning for loans can be a daunting task. Whether its for purchasing a car, a home, or funding a personal need, understanding the impact of a loan on your monthly budget is crucial. This is where an easy EMI calculator comes into play, making financial planning seamless and effective. In this article, well explore the benefits of using an EMI calculator and how it complements tools like a compound interest calculator to help you make smarter financial [] The post How Easy

One of the most important things in life is the wise management of money, but it does not come without challenges. That is where a financial planner comes in, who can take you through the complexity of saving, investing, and planning for the future. There are hundreds of professionals out there giving the best advice but it takes very few clear steps to find someone who shares your objectives and priorities. Here we will explore the factors to consider when [] The post How to Choose the Right Fi

PATNA, Dec 20:JK Lakshmi Cement, part of the JK Organisation, will invest Rs 500 crore in Bihar to set up a manufacturing plant at Madhubani district, said its President and Director Arun Shukla on Friday. The Bharat Hari Singhania family-promoted Rs 6,000 crore firm has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government for its proposed manufacturing unit. We are setting up a cement plant at Madhubani district in Bihar with an investment of Rs 500 crore, [] The post JK Lakshm

Sopore, 20 Dec : District Drug Disposal Committee headed by SSP Sopore Smt. Divya D-IPS, SDPO Sopore Shri. Sarfaraz Bashir-JKPS (Member) and DySP DAR Sopore (Member) in compliance to Honble Special Court (NDPS) Baramulla Order destroyed Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances worth over Rs. 1 crore. This consignment of Narcotic/Psychotropic Drugs were seized in 21 different NDPS Cases registered in different Police Stations of Police District Sopore. The destruction was done through incineratio

KOLKATA, Dec 20: Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) has joined hands with Canara Bank to promote the adoption of rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar Scheme. This collaboration aims to simplify access to solar energy solutions for households by providing attractive financing options, empowering citizens to transition to a more sustainable energy future, according to a media statement here on Friday. As part of the initiative, households can benefit from tailored financing optio

NEW DELHI, Dec 20:Maruti Suzuki India on Friday said it will introduce a comprehensive EV ecosystem, including charging stations and home charging solutions, alongside its first offering in the segment eVitara. The company plans to showcase production-ready eVitara at the upcoming Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The eVitara is a global model manufactured in India for the world, recently unveiled by Suzuki Motor Corporation in Milan, Italy. With decades of automotive expertise, we have combin

ATHENS, Dec 20:A speedboat carrying migrants capsized Friday morning off the eastern Greek island of Rhodes, leaving eight dead and 18 rescued, Greek authorities said. The coast guard said the incident occurred while the speedboat was carrying out dangerous maneuvers to try and evade a patrol vessel, causing migrants to fall into the sea. A rescue effort is underway involving coast guard vessels and a helicopter as it was unclear whether other passengers were missing, authorities said. Rhodes,

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20: Malaysias Government has agreed in principle to accept a second no find, no fee proposal from a US company to renew the hunt for flight MH370, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean more than 10 years ago, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Friday. Loke said Cabinet ministers gave the nod at their meeting last week for Texas-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity to continue the seabed search operation at a [] The post Malaysia agrees to resume