NEW DELHI: Union MoS Nityanand Rai on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases across the country.According to the reply, the first phase will involve Houselisting and Housing Census, during which information on housing conditions, household particulars including the name and sex of the head of the household, as well as amenities and assets possessed by households will be collected. The sex of the head of household will be recorded under three categories: Male, Female and Transgender.The second phase, i.e., Population Enumeration will collect information on each individual, with the detailed questionnaire to be notified later.The government said that enumerators will undertake house-to-house visits across the entire enumeration area to collect census data and ensure that no household is excluded. In addition, respondents will have the option of self-enumeration, allowing them to submit their data online. The data will be later verified by enumerators before final submission.To ensure data accuracy, the self-enumeration portal will include FAQs, tool tips and validation checks, while enumerators and supervisors will receive adequate training for census work. Validation rules have also been built into the mobile application used for data collection and information gathered by enumerators will be monitored and verified by supervisors.The government further stated that all suitable measures have been taken to ensure data security during mobile data collection, transmission and storage at the server level.Earlier, Union home minister Amit Shah launched four digital platforms and two mascots: Pragati and Vikas for India’s first fully digital census exercise. The tools include a self-enumeration portal, houselisting operations mobile application, houselisting block creator application and a census management and monitoring system portal, developed by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing.The Census 2027 will be the world’s largest census exercise, with around 30 lakh enumerators and supervisors engaged in the data collection process. The first phase will be conducted between April and September 2026, while the second phase is expected in February 2027.

The Legends League Cricket 2026 marks the latest edition of the popular T20 tournament that brings together several retired international superstars for another exciting chapter of competitive cricket. Designed to celebrate the legacy of the game’s greatest players, the league offers fans a rare opportunity to watch iconic cricketers return to the field and relive some of the magic that defined their illustrious careers.

Scheduled to take place from March 11 to March 27, 2026, this season promises to be bigger and more engaging than ever before. The tournament will feature 19 matches, giving fans plenty of high-quality cricket action over the course of just over two weeks. One of the major highlights of this edition is its multi-city format, as matches will be staged across four distinctive Indian cities.

Participating teams

Six franchises are competing this year, having collectively spent over ₹30.56 crore in the player auction to secure 97 legendary cricketers. The six teams taking part this edition are:

• Southern Super Stars
• Mumbai Spartans
• India Tigers
• India Captains
• Konark Suryas Odisha
• Royal Riders Punjab

Legends to watch out for

The upcoming edition of LLC 2026 is set to feature several renowned and fan-favourite cricketers who have left a lasting impact on international cricket. The tournament will bring together a blend of explosive batters, crafty bowlers and experienced all-rounders, making it a treat for cricket enthusiasts.

Among the biggest names participating are Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, Robin Uthappa, Harbhajan Singh, Martin Guptill, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Hashim Amla, Ross Taylor, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara and Thisara Perera. These players have enjoyed illustrious careers at the highest level and are known for their match-winning abilities and leadership on the field.

Tournament format & venues

The 2026 season follows a single round-robin format followed by a standard playoff structure. In the league phase, each team plays the other five once (15 matches total). Then in the playoffs, the top four teams advance to Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Grand Final.

In a move to promote cricket in non-metro areas, matches will be played in:

• Haldwani: Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
• Coimbatore: Sri Ramakrishna College Ground
• Amritsar: Gandhi Sports Complex Ground
• Gwalior: Captain Roop Singh Stadium

Also READ: PCB unveils complete schedule for PSL 2026; Lahore Qalandars to face Hyderabad Kingsmen in the opener

LLC 2026 Squads

Mumbai Spartans: Carlos Brathwaite, S Sreesanth, Manan Sharma, Chadwick Walton, Isuru Udana, Bipul Sharma, Shoaib Khan, Bharath Chipli, Amit Verma, Subodh Bati, KC Cariappa, Asad Pathan, Faiz Fazal, Ishwar Choudhury, Jaykishan Kolsawala.
Captain: Suresh Raina

India Captains: Hashim Amla, Lahiru Thirimanne, Hamilton Masakadza, Parvinder Awana, Asela Gunaratne, Iqbal Abdullah, Shreevats Goswami, Diwesh Pathania, Baltej Singh Dhanda, Abhishek Sakuja, Priyank Panchal, Kuldeep Hooda, Robin Bist, Rajesh Bishnoi, Sheldon Jackson.
Captain: Irfan Pathan

Royal Riders Punjab: Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishi Dhawan, Angelo Perera, Chaturanga De Silva, Trevon Griffith, Seekkuge Prasanna, Asghar Afghan, Mark Deyal, William Perkins, Anureet Singh, Farman Ahmed, Ayaan Khan, M.S Shahzad, Pawan Suyal, Sarul Kanwar, Aftab Alam, Samiullah Shinwari.
Captain: Thisara Perera

Konark Suryas Odisha: Ben Dunk, Ross Taylor, Piyush Chawla, Chandrapal Hemraj, Miguel Cummins, Jermaine Blackwood, Lasith Lakshan, Kennar Lewis, Jesal Karia, Rayad Emrit, Ankit Singh Rajpoot, Surain Thakar, Akshay Wakhre, Imtiaz Ahmad, Vikas Tokas, Monu Kumar, Rituraj Rajeev Singh, Junaid Siddiqui, Malinda Pushpakumara, Chirag Gandhi.
Captain: Ravichandran Ashwin

India Tigers: Robin Uthappa, Tilakratne Dilshan, Pawan Negi, Amitoze Singh, Akalanka Ganegama, Samit Patel, Shahbaz Nadeem, Ambati Rayudu, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Kuldeep Hooda, Thilan Thushara, Abhimanyu Mithun, Shadab Jakati, Abu Nechim, Kirk Edwards, Kamau Leverock, Sumit Singh, Amit Paunikar.
Captain: Chris Gayle

Southern Super Stars: Martin Guptill, Dinesh Karthik, Saurabh Tiwary, Dilshan Munaweera, Waqarullah Ishaq, Hamid Hassan, Sarabjit Ladda, Sidharth Trivedi, Rahul Yadav, Sudeep Tyagi.
Captain: Harbhajan Singh

Also READ: Legend League Cricket 2026 Schedule, Broadcast and Live Streaming details: When and where to watch in India, Australia & USA

Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Abdul Samad, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi(c), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abrar Ahmed

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Das(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz(c), Towhid Hridoy, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana

As the war between Iran, the United States and Israel intensifies across the Middle East, attention has turned to the weapons that could shape the naval balance in the region. During the intial phase of ‘Operation Epic Fury’ the United States used its naval might including two aircraft carriers to target key sites across Iran. One report suggested that just days before the conflict escalated, Iran had been close to acquiring one of China’s most feared anti-ship weapons, a missile described as an “aircraft-carrier killer”.

According to reporting cited by the South China Morning Post, a deal involving the CM-302 anti-ship cruise missile, the export version of China’s YJ-12 was reportedly nearing completion before Beijing publicly rejected the claim. The report, originally published by Reuters, cited multiple sources who said the sale could have significantly strengthened Iran’s ability to threaten US naval forces in the Persian Gulf.China’s foreign ministry quickly denied the report, calling it “not true”. But the discussion has drawn renewed attention to the missile itself a supersonic weapon designed specifically to target large surface warships, including aircraft carriers.If Iran had acquired the missile and deployed it along its coastline, analysts say it could have changed the military balance in the narrow waters of the Gulf.

What is China’s YJ-12 ‘aircraft-carrier killer’?

The YJ-12 is a Chinese supersonic anti-ship cruise missile designed to strike large naval vessels at long range. Developed by the China, it entered service around 2015 and forms part of Beijing’s growing anti-ship strike capability.The missile is primarily air-launched, most notably from the Xian H-6K strategic bomber. Once released, the YJ-12 uses a booster and ramjet propulsion system to accelerate to speeds of up to Mach 3, allowing it to cover distances of roughly 400–500 km before striking its target. It carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead of about 500 kg and relies on inertial navigation combined with active radar homing for terminal guidance.One of the missile’s defining features is its ability to perform high-speed evasive manoeuvres during the final phase of flight, making interception more difficult. Variants such as the YJ-12A can be launched from naval platforms, while export versions like CM-302 and CM-400AKG offer similar capabilities for foreign buyers.Designed primarily to attack large naval targets, the missile travels at extremely high speeds, reaching roughly Mach 3 to Mach 4 depending on the variant. That velocity dramatically reduces the time available for enemy warships to detect and intercept it.The missile is powered by a rocket booster that accelerates it after launch before a ramjet engine takes over, pushing the weapon to sustained supersonic speeds. During the final stage of flight, the missile can descend to very low altitude and perform sharp manoeuvres, making interception difficult.Its warhead — typically around 200 kilograms of semi-armour-piercing explosives is designed to punch through the hulls of large warships before detonating. Combined with its speed and manoeuvrability, this capability is what earned the missile the label “carrier killer”.

The CM-302 export missile and why Iran wanted it

The weapon reportedly discussed with Iran was not the standard Chinese military version but its export variant, known as the CM-302 anti-ship cruise missile.To comply with international arms-control rules, the export model has a shorter range than the Chinese domestic system. While the YJ-12 can reportedly strike targets up to 400–500 kilometres away, the CM-302’s range is believed to be around 280–290 kilometres.

Could such missiles actually sink a US aircraft carrier?

The idea of a single missile destroying a modern aircraft carrier is often exaggerated. The United States’ newest carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), displaces about 100,000 tonnes and is designed with extensive damage-control systems and compartmentalised hull sections to prevent catastrophic flooding.Even powerful anti-ship missiles would be unlikely to sink such a vessel with a single strike. Modern carriers are built to absorb damage, contain fires and continue operating after an attack.

However, anti-ship missiles like the YJ-12 could still pose a serious threat. A successful hit might disable flight operations, damage radar systems or temporarily reduce combat capability. Military planners worry more about coordinated “saturation attacks”, where multiple missiles are launched simultaneously to overwhelm defences.US carriers rarely operate alone. They typically sail within a carrier strike group protected by destroyers, submarines and layered missile-defence systems designed to intercept incoming threats long before they reach the carrier itself.

After social media posts claimed that a QR code reportedly printed on the Class 12 Mathematics question paper directed students to a YouTube video, the Central Board of Secondary Education has issued a clarification. In a post on microblogging platform X, the board said that the “security of the question papers remains uncompromised”. “On 09.03.2026, examination of Mathematics was conducted for class 12. In a few question paper sets, it appears that when one of the given QR codes is scanned, it links to a YouTube video,” the board said. “While the concern about the veracity of the question papers is put to rest, the matter has been viewed seriously and necessary steps are being taken by the Board to ensure that such issues are not repeated in future,” it further added.

CBSE clarifies the need for QR codes on question papers

In the official statement, CBSE clarified that the board gives “many security features” on the question papers. One such feature is QR codes, which as per the board, helps “verify the genuineness of the question paper in case of suspected security breach”.

The board introduced QR codes on question papers in 2019 to help trace the origin of the leak as well as stop its spread. The CBSE Board Exam 2025 rules mandated unique QR codes on all answer sheets as well.

What CBSE said after QR code reportedly printed on the Class 12 Maths paper directed students to YouTube video

In social media posts, students claimed that scanning the QR code on Maths question paper led to the music video of “Never Gonna Give You Up” by British singer Rick Astley. Sharing the clarification on X, CBSE wrote: Many security features are provided on the Question Papers. These include QR codes to verify the genuineness of the question paper in case of suspected security breach. On 09.03.2026, examination of Mathematics was conducted for class 12. In a few question paper sets, it appears that when one of the given QR codes is scanned, it links to a YouTube video. It appears that this has raised concerns about the veracity of the question papers amongst concerned students and their parents. It is hereby confirmed by the Board that the question papers are genuine. The security of the question papers remains uncompromised. While the concern about the veracity of the question papers is put to rest, the matter has been viewed seriously and necessary steps are being taken by the Board to ensure that such issues are not repeated in future.

The upcoming three-match ODI series between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dhaka is more than just a bilateral contest. For Bangladesh, it marks the beginning of a crucial journey toward securing direct qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. While Pakistan will view the series as part of their rebuilding process, the stakes are significantly higher for the hosts, who are looking to improve their standing in the ICC ODI rankings before the qualification deadline.

For Bangladesh, every match in this series could have a direct impact on whether they qualify automatically for the tournament or face the uncertainty of the qualifying rounds.

Understanding the road to the 2027 Cricket World Cup

The 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will feature 14 teams. The qualification process is largely determined by the ICC ODI team rankings.

Under the current system, the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings as of March 31, 2027 will qualify automatically for the tournament. However, the situation becomes slightly more complex because two of the host nations – South Africa and Zimbabwe – are full ICC members and are guaranteed direct entry into the competition.

This creates an important scenario. If Zimbabwe does not finish inside the top eight of the rankings by the cut-off date, their automatic host qualification would effectively free up an extra spot for the next highest-ranked team.

Teams that do not secure direct qualification will have to compete in a global qualifying tournament, where only four additional spots for the World Cup will be available.

The current rankings highlight how intense the battle for those automatic qualification places has become. As of early March 2026, the standings around the crucial qualification zone look like this:

Rank	Team	Rating
6	South Africa	99
7	Afghanistan	95
8	England	88
9	West Indies	80
10	Bangladesh	77
11	Zimbabwe	54

These rankings show that the fight for the final automatic qualification spots is extremely tight.

Bangladesh’s urgent need to climb the ICC Team Rankings

For Bangladesh, the ODI series against Pakistan comes at a critical moment. Currently placed 10th in the rankings, Bangladesh is just behind West Indies and outside the automatic qualification bracket.

Their position becomes even more precarious when the host qualification factor is considered. Because Zimbabwe will automatically qualify as a co-host if they remain outside the top eight, Bangladesh effectively needs to move up to at least ninth place to stay on track for direct entry into the World Cup.

That makes every ODI in the upcoming series extremely important.

If Bangladesh fails to climb into the automatic qualification positions, they will have to compete in the qualifying tournament. That path is notoriously unpredictable and challenging. In fact, the West Indies failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup after stumbling in the qualifiers, highlighting how risky that route can be. For Bangladesh, avoiding that situation is a top priority.

The series also marks Bangladesh’s return to ODI cricket after a four-month gap. During that time, the team has been reflecting on recent struggles in the format. They lost four of their last five ODI series, which has contributed to their slide in the rankings.

Bangladesh will also be using this series to address key weaknesses in their ODI game. One area of focus is strengthening the middle-order batting, which has struggled to convert starts into big totals. Another priority is improving wicket-taking during the middle overs, a phase where Bangladesh has often struggled to control opposition innings.

To strengthen their batting depth, selectors have recalled Litton Das and Afif Hossain to the squad. Litton, in particular, is expected to play an important role against Pakistan’s spin attack, especially in familiar home conditions.

Also READ: BAN vs PAK 2026 – Broadcast and Live Streaming Details | When and where to watch in India, USA, Pakistan & other countries

Pakistan’s objective from the ODI series against Bangladesh

For Pakistan, the stakes are somewhat different. Currently ranked fourth in the ICC ODI rankings, they sit comfortably inside the automatic qualification zone with 100 rating points. Even a disappointing result in this series is unlikely to threaten their World Cup qualification prospects.

However, the series still holds importance for Pakistan as they look to rebuild and experiment following a disappointing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

The team is entering a period of transition, with several changes to the squad. Star batter Babar Azam has been left out due to recent form, while Mohammad Rizwan returns to the side. Pakistan will also be led by Shaheen Afridi, who is expected to guide the team through this transitional phase.

Also READ: Mike Hesson explains Babar Azam’s omission from Pakistan ODI squad for Bangladesh tour

 

 

India has purchased around 30 million barrels of unsold Russian crude after the United States issued a 30-day waiver allowing the country to buy shipments already stranded at sea, Bloomberg reported citing sources.According to the report, Indian refiners moved quickly to secure the available cargoes, many of which were already positioned in Asian waters, offering an immediate alternative as disruptions hit oil flows from the Middle East.

India had earlier scaled back purchases of Russian oil, replacing part of those supplies with crude from Saudi Arabia and Iraq. While New Delhi has never officially said it would stop buying Russian oil and a significant volume continues to flow. Though the overall import levels had declined in recent months.The widening conflict in the Middle East has since disrupted traditional supply routes, with shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz severely affected after US and Israeli strikes on Iran.Although the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes, only about 40% of India’s crude imports pass through the waterway. Still, the disruption has pushed Indian refiners to secure alternative crude supplies to maintain stable energy flows.

Indian refiners move quickly to secure cargoes

Following the waiver, Indian refiners including Indian Oil Corporation and Reliance Industries bought up nearly all available Russian cargoes in the spot market, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.Much of the crude had already been loaded onto tankers and was moving through Asian waters but had not yet been committed to buyers.Traders said Indian Oil purchased around 10 million barrels, while Reliance bought at least another 10 million barrels, with other Indian refiners taking the remaining volumes. Russian crude offered included a range of grades such as Urals, ESPO and Varandey. The prices were offered at premiums of $2 to $8 per barrel over London’s Dated Brent benchmark, a sharp shift from earlier months when Russian oil traded at discounts to the global marker.The surge in purchases comes amid major disruptions to global energy supplies caused by the escalating Middle East conflict. The Strait of Hormuz, which connects Gulf oil producers to global markets, has been effectively closed since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began, limiting access to Middle Eastern crude.The disruption has forced importers such as India to quickly secure alternative supplies.

Tankers change course toward India

Several oil tankers that had initially been sailing away from the subcontinent have reversed course toward India following the waiver.Among them are the vessels Maylo and Sarah, which recently changed their destination from Singapore and are now heading to Indian ports, according to shipping data cited by Bloomberg.India traditionally imported little Russian oil before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the purchase increased after Western sanctions forced Moscow to offer crude at steep discounts.At its peak in mid-2024, India’s imports of Russian oil exceeded 2 million barrels per day. However, purchases fell to about 1.06 million barrels per day in February, according to data from analytics firm Kpler, as India cut back under pressure from Washington.

US says waiver is temporary

The United States has earlier described the waiver as a temporary measure aimed at stabilising global energy markets during the ongoing Middle East crisis.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the move was intended to address short-term supply disruptions.Responding to a question about the waiver, Leavitt said, “They came to this decision because our allies in India have been good actors and have previously stopped buying sanctioned Russian oil,” she said. “So as we work to appease this temporary gap of oil supply around the world because of the Iranians, we have temporarily permitted them to accept that Russian oil and this Russian oil was already at sea,” she added.She noted that the shipments would not boost Russia’s revenue, stating that, “It was already out on the water. So this short term measure, we don’t believe it will provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government at this time.”

MUMBAI: The use of AI tools, hidden cameras, screen mirroring, smartwatches or any remote-access software during any CET conducted in the state may lead to canellation of candidature for the entire year and/or legal action under the new regulations aimed at preventing malpractice in examinations.For the first time, the Maharashtra State CET Cell has clearly defined what constitutes malpractice in the computer-based entrance tests it conducts, with particular emphasis on the misuse of technology and AI tools. The cell has also specified the punishment for 13 different forms of malpractice in the regulations released ahead of this year’s entrance exam season. Earlier, the rules were not clearly defined and mostly followed the provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices Act.

After an inebriated candidate created a ruckus last year, the CET Cell has introduced a clause providing for the immediate expulsion and cancellation of candidature for entering the examination centre under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.An official said that regulations for malpractices always existed, but they were generic and did not specify any measures for computer-based tests. Of the exams conducted by the CET Cell for 17 courses, 15 are in the CBT format, mentioned a note issued by the office. “The revised regulations will address malpractices carried out using digital, cyber and AI technology. There was a committee which looked into the aspects of malpractices during exams and they have come out with specific guidelines,” said the official.CET Cell commissioner Dileep Sardesai said the regulations were specified and published on the website well before the exams to ensure that the severity of the penalties acts as a deterrent, and to prevent students from claiming they were unaware of rules. He said some of the provisions are drawn from the regulations followed by some universities in the state, such as the Mumbai University.Even candidates found talking, giving signals, exchanging gestures or trying to communicate during an exam will call for the cancellation of their candidature for that exam. No legal action, though, will be initiated in such cases. Some of the rules that were specified in hall tickets earlier only mentioned prohibition on notebooks, calculators, pagers or mobile phones. While earlier rules specified that instances of providing incorrect information would amount to malpractice, now altering or falsifying biometric data has been included too.The CET cell also framed regulations for the examination centres and made it mandatory for them to install CCTV, conduct biometric verification and maintain strict vigilance, failing which their recognition could be temporarily or permanently revoked, or will also include suspension of staff and imposition of financial and administrative penalties.

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