New Delhi: Analysis of affidavits of 229 out of 233 Rajya Sabha MPs shows that 73 (32%) MPs have declared criminal cases against themselves and 31 (14%) are billionaires.At least 36 (16%) MPs have declared serious criminal cases. One MP has declared a murder case, four have declared attempt to murder cases, and three have declared cases related to crimes against women.Party-wise data shows that 27 out of 99 MPs of BJP (27%), 12 out of 28 (43) of Congress, four out of 13 (31) of Trinamool Congress, four out of 10 (40) of Aam Aadmi Party, all three MPs of CPM and three MPs of Bharat Rashtra Samithi have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. This number is two out of eight DMK MPs, two out of seven YSRCP MPs, two out of five AIADMK MPs, two out of four Samajwadi Party MPs and two out of three RJD MPs.In the report, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch have analyzed and updated the criminal, financial and other background details of 229 of the 233 Rajya Sabha MPs. In the present Rajya Sabha, one seat is vacant from Jharkhand. Three MPs were not analyzed because their affidavits were unavailable. The analysis includes 37 recently elected members.In terms of financial background, out of the 229 sitting Rajya Sabha MPs analysed, 31 (14%) are billionaires. Among major parties, six MPs from BJP, five from Congress, four from YSRCP, two from AAP, two from BRS and three from NCP have declared assets worth more than Rs 100 crore.While the total wealth of 229 sitting MPs is Rs 27,638 crore, the average wealth of sitting Rajya Sabha MPs is Rs 120.6 crore.BRS MP Bandi Partha Saradhi has the highest declared assets of over Rs 5,300 crore, followed by AAP’s Rajinder Gupta with over Rs 5,053 crore and YSRCP’s Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy with over Rs 2,577 crore.On the other hand, AAP MP Sant Balbir Singh is the poorest, with assets worth around Rs 3 lakh. He is followed by Manipur’s Maharaja Sanjaoba Leishemba, who has around Rs 5 lakh, and TMC’s Prakash Chik Badaik, who has around Rs 9 lakh.

New Delhi: Defense Minister -Rajnath Singh Thursday stressed the urgent need to create a drone production ecosystem in the country to ensure strategic autonomy, enhance defense preparedness and make the country self-reliant in the field in view of the current geopolitical uncertainties.“India must work in mission mode to emerge as a global hub of indigenous drone manufacturing in the next few years,” Rajnath said during the inaugural session of the National Defense Industry Conclave here.He said the ongoing conflicts ranging from Russia-Ukraine to tensions between Iran and Israel are proof that drone and counter-drone technologies will play an important role in future warfare and ‘self-reliance’ in drone manufacturing is essential not only at the product level, but also at the component level.“From the drone mold to its software, engines and batteries, everything must be manufactured in India. This is no easy task. In most countries where drones are manufactured, a significant number of critical components are currently imported from China,” he said.Rajnath said building the defense industrial ecosystem of any country depends on the contribution of large industries, MSMEs, startups and innovators, but it is also driven by a clear policy of the government to meet the specific defense needs of the country. While he called for active contribution from the private sector, he extended full support to the government to transform India into a global hub for indigenous drone manufacturing.The Minister described iDEX (Innovation for Defense Excellence) and ADITI (Accelerating Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX) as game-changer initiatives through which start-ups, innovators and MSMEs are provided the opportunity to develop novel solutions to meet the specific requirements of the Defense Forces.He said that “As of February 2026, 676 startups, MSMEs and individual innovators have joined the defense innovation ecosystem since the inception of iDEX in 2018. Overall, 548 contracts have been signed; and 566 challenges have been launched.” Of these, 58 prototypes have been approved for procurement, worth approximately Rs 3,853 crore, he said.Rajnath said, “Additionally, 45 procurement contracts worth approximately Rs 2,326 crore have already been signed. These figures demonstrate that innovation is gradually translating into tangible products and technologies, and the role played by our startups and MSMEs in this transformation is becoming increasingly strong.”

Delhi High Court According to the release, an interim order was issued on Thursday directing Tamil media outlet Nakkiran Media to remove the defamatory videos and articles published against Isha Foundation and Sadhguru.Isha Foundation welcomed the order and said that it will continue its efforts further. legal action Against those spreading false and malicious content.The case stems from a series of videos published by Nakkheeran that contained defamatory, obscene and pornographic content while attempting to damage the reputation of Isha Foundation and Sadhguru. In response, the Foundation filed a defamation suit before the Delhi High Court in 2024, seeking removal of such material and an injunction against publication of similar material in future.Isha filed an interim application in the case, seeking immediate removal of the material mentioned in the suit as well as the material published during the transfer petition before the Supreme Court and seeking a stay on further publication of such materials. The application was heard in December 2025, during which the Delhi High Court reserved the order after hearing the arguments of both the parties.The order was issued today, in which the court directed the removal of the controversial videos and articles published by Nakkiran in relation to Isha Foundation and Sadhguru.“We wholeheartedly welcome this interim order of the Honorable Delhi High Court. It is unfortunate that certain media outlets and individuals continue to propagate false and defamatory allegations without any evidence in a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” Isha Foundation said in its statement.“For over three decades, Isha Foundation has been deeply committed to large-scale social development and human welfare, impacting the lives of millions of people across the world. It is precisely this function that these coordinated attacks seek to disrupt. Isha will continue to take all appropriate legal action against those responsible. No amount of defamation or systematic misinformation will stop our efforts towards human welfare.“In March 2025, the Delhi High Court had directed YouTuber Shyam Mira Singh to remove a defamatory video containing false claims against Sadhguru and Isha Foundation. Following the court order, the misleading video was removed by the YouTuber.

New Delhi: Ukraine on Thursday called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the detention of six of its citizens in Mizoram, strongly rejecting any suggestion of their involvement in terrorist activities and accused Russia of trying to “drive a wedge between Ukraine and India”.“Ukrainian nationals were detained for allegedly entering Mizoram without permission and suspected illegal activities. An American citizen was also detained in connection with the case. According to reports, the individuals are accused of assisting certain entities in Myanmar that are believed to have links to anti-India insurgent groups.External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “There are certain areas that are restricted in India, and certain protected areas. So for those areas, you need permission to travel there, and whether they had this special permission or not, that is in the court now. It will be presented, and after that, we will know… I understand they would want some documents to travel to that part of India.“Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk recently met with Sibi George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and sought consular access to the detained citizens.Ukraine’s embassy said in a statement, “Ukraine firmly rejects any hint about the possible involvement of the Ukrainian state in supporting terrorist activities. Ukraine is a state that faces the consequences of Russian terrorism on a daily basis and, for that reason, takes a principled and uncompromising stance in countering all forms of terrorism.”The embassy also expressed “serious concern” over media reports that actions in the case were “motivated” by information from the Russian side, and described the situation as indicative of a “potentially planned and politically motivated nature”.Referring to relations with India, Ukraine said both countries have already reaffirmed their common position on combating terrorism. It cited the joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine on August 23, 2024, where both sides strongly condemned terrorism, said there can be no justification for it, and underlined the need for international cooperation in line with international law and the UN Charter.Building on this, Ukraine said any allegations related to terrorism should be rigorously investigated on the basis of verified facts, transparent processes and full intergovernmental cooperation. It also stressed the need for objectivity, transparency and impartiality in the investigation.

Ukraine expressed its readiness for “active cooperation” between its authorities and Indian counterparts, particularly under the bilateral treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, which provides for comprehensive cooperation through designated authorities.The statement also underlined that Ukraine has no interest in any activity that could jeopardize India’s security and alleged that “it is Russia, as an aggressor state, which seeks to create a rift between the friendly countries – Ukraine and India, under every circumstance.”Ukraine also warned that any attempt to use the case to defame it or create mistrust in India-Ukraine relations would be seen as a deliberate attempt to damage bilateral relations, which it said is continuously developing and has strong potential to further deteriorate.

Signing up for a race is often the moment when fitness ceases to be an afterthought and becomes a commitment. The date sits on the calendar, distance suddenly seems real, and preparations begin, sometimes carefully planned, sometimes spontaneous. While every runner’s journey is different, the way people prepare for their first race often follows a somewhat distinct pattern. From structured training plans to technology-driven routines, each approach reflects how individuals turn intention into action.with Times Internet Delhi Half Marathon Many first-time runners across the city are finding their own style of preparation for the event to be held at Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on March 29. Some train with precision, others rely on simple consistency, while many find inspiration through friends or digital tools. What they all share is the same starting point: the decision to show up on race day. register now And reserve your spot.structured plannerFor some runners, preparation starts with a detailed plan. These are the individuals who search for training programs as soon as they register. They go on weekly runs, track distances, and gradually increase their mileage in a disciplined progression.Structured planners often follow a clear routine: short runs during the week, longer endurance sessions on the weekends, and rest days to allow recovery. They monitor their pace, adjust their nutrition, and pay attention to sleep patterns as race day approaches.For them, preparation is a process of continuous improvement. Each completed run builds confidence, turning a once intimidating distance into a manageable challenge. By the time race day arrives, they have already practiced the effort several times.constantly casualNot everyone trains with spreadsheets and a strict schedule. Many runners prepare through something far simpler: consistency.These individuals do not focus on perfect speed or complex training programs. Instead, they focus on one principle, appearing regularly. Do a few runs during the week, a few longer runs on the weekend, and the routine slowly picks up pace.What starts as a casual commitment slowly turns into real progress. Without thinking much about the process, these runners develop endurance through repetition. The strength of this approach lies in its simplicity: small efforts repeated consistently often produce remarkable results.power of social accountabilityFor many first-time participants, running alone is the hardest part. That’s why social accountability has become one of the most powerful motivators in race preparation.Friends sign up together, coworkers form small groups, and weekend meetings become training sessions. What might have been missed on a tired morning becomes easier when there is someone else waiting at the starting point.Running with others also turns preparation into a shared experience. Conversations during training change the monotony of solo workouts, and progress becomes something people celebrate together. On race day, group dynamics often matter as much as the finish line. register now And reserve your spot.training with technologyIn recent years, technology has changed the way people prepare for races. The fitness watch tracks movement and heart rate. Mobile apps record distance, analyze performance and suggest training improvements. Online communities allow runners to compare progress, share achievements, and stay motivated.Technology-driven training provides instant feedback. A runner can see how much they have improved, how their speed has developed and how close they are to their target distance. For many beginners, these insights create a sense of measurable progress that keeps them engaged during the training process.Different paths, one finish lineWhat makes race preparation fascinating is that there is no one “right” method. Some runners follow structured programs with discipline, while others simply run whenever possible. Some people rely on friends for inspiration, while others rely on data from digital tools.Yet all of these approaches lead to the same destination: the starting line. But Times Internet Delhi Half Marathon On March 29, at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, runners from across the city will come together, each bringing their own journey of preparation. By the time they gather for the morning run, every training run, whether planned or spontaneous, will have contributed to that moment.However, not everyone considering attending will be there. With registration approaching capacity and the countdown already starting, the starting line is filling up fast, making this the last opportunity to be a part of this year’s race. Missing out doesn’t just mean giving up the race; This means waiting an entire year for the same experience.The first race is rarely about perfect performance. It’s about the experience of showing up, pushing personal limits, and discovering what body and mind can achieve together.

Almost eight years after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) introduced the first draft regulation related to Front of Pack Labeling (FOPL) of packaged food for comments and suggestions in 2018, the authority is yet to finalize the regulation.In an affidavit dated March 13 on the May 2024 petition in the Supreme Court, FSSAI sought six weeks’ time to submit a proposal on labeling of packaged foods containing high fat, sugar salt (HFSS), consumption of which causes non-communicable diseases.After holding five rounds of consultations with stakeholders, including the food industry, FSSAI informed the court that it is holding another consultation with stakeholders on March 19 on “the labels proposed to be issued”.“The question of front-of-pack labeling has already been the subject of extensive consultation and technical discussions for many years,” Nutrition Advocacy in the Public Interest (NAPI), a think tank of independent experts in epidemiology, nutrition and paediatrics, said in a letter to FSSAI. It said FSSAI should consider formulating the FOPL regulation based on extensive consultation, available evidence and SC orders, rather than reopening the matter through additional stakeholder consultations.The Supreme Court, in its February 10 order, had said that “…we are of the view that whatever exercise has been conducted so far has not yielded any positive or good results”. The court further explained that the PIL was filed to raise an important issue related to the right to health of the citizens.FSSAI had held a consultation in August 2018, followed by a consultation in February 2022 in which all 17 industry associations voted for the star-rating system, while all consumer organizations asked for warning labels.The revised draft of the Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations 2020 received over 14,000 comments and suggestions from the public and stakeholders after it was put in the public domain for objections and suggestions. FSSAI had constituted an expert committee to analyze all the comments. In May 2025, FSSAI conducted four stakeholder consultations with food business operators and others in Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad and Kolkata. In October 2025, the food industry had submitted 430 representations to the Ministry of Food Processing, raising “serious concerns over the draft notification”. The parliamentary committee, which is to bring forward a report on food labeling regulation in December 2025, also heard from various food industry associations and their representatives, along with other stakeholders. “How many consultations will it take? The process for regulation began in 2014, when FSSAI prepared guidelines that included front-of-pack labeling specifying how much fat, sugar or salt it contains. How long does it take to bring in a regulation to protect the public health interest? This is despite growing evidence of increased incidence of non-communicable diseases and obesity, even in children, due to the consumption of packaged foods high in fat, salt and sugar. ” NAPI member Dr. Arun Gupta asked.