Here are some important reports from the biggest newspapers of India:
1. Babus proficient in Hindi stand to win Rs 10,000 from Modi sarkar
Proficiency in Hindi can now earn central government employees up to `10,000 each in prize money if they score at least 70% marks in the examination conducted at the completion of the `Parangat' course introduced by the Narendra Modi government last year to promote use of the official language among bureaucrats.
The home ministry, in a letter to all central ministries on Wednesday, proposed the payout as “encouragement“ for employees undertaking the government's toughest Hindi proficiency course. The ministry proposed that the employees scoring 60-69% marks be paid Rs 8,000 while those securing 5559% marks be paid Rs 6,000.
The government had introduced the 160-hour course in April 2015 after it found that many officers were unable to carry out official work in Hindi despite passing training courses offered by the Centre such as Prabodh, Praveen and Pragya, a report in the Economic Times said.
2. Cause for concern: Parrikar admits to cyber attacks on defence personnel
As the defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday admitted to cyber attacks on internet connections of defence personnel, cyber security experts feel the current measures in place to combat cyber threats are wanting.
"There have been cyber-attacks on some isolated internet connections of defence personnel. However, all computers employed for official work by the Defence forces are comprehensively isolated from the Internet to obviate any breach,“ said Parrikar.
However, officials in the armed force shared their concern with this method. “The so called air-gapped networks are oxy moronic terms and numerous methods have been highlighted by which these computers networks can be breached,“ an official told the Economic Times.
3. Law student may challenge new 66A in SC
Shreya Singhal, the law student who was instrumental in getting the controversial Section 66A of the Indian Information Technology Act struck down last year, will approach the Supreme Court again if a new provision drafted to replace it impedes freedom of speech and expression. Industry and civil society have also slammed the “closed-door" approach of the government in preparing the draft clause. “There is no new law needed there are enough provisions under the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act to tackle almost every situation, even terror activities,“ said Singhal, who is pursuing a degree in law from Delhi University.
She said that instead of reviving the section that led to several cases of misuse, the government should focus on developing deeper cyber forensics to combat terror online.
"Laws are unfortunately always misused. Our decision to challenge the new provision will be subject to what it says. If it impedes free speech, then we will definitely approach the court again,“ Singhal told the Economic Times. ET had reported on Thursday that an internal government committee has recommended a fresh provision to be included in the IT law after police and intelligence agencies claimed they are struggling to deal with cases of social media being used to undermine peace and national security.
4. Sedition case: Delhi Police transfer probe to unit that handles terror cases
The investigation into alleged 'anti-national' slogans raised at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus earlier this month has been transferred to the Delhi Police Special Cell. The move to transfer the case to the unit that probes terror cases came on the day three JNU students arrested so far were questioned together.
Police sources said the case was transferred to the Special Cell as it 'specialised in investigations' related to national security. "Joint questioning of the three persons was done by the Special Cell. And the report mentions that the accused are not cooperating with the investigation. There is involvement of people from other states as well in the whole incident," said a senior police officer, the Indian Express reported.
5. Housing sector awaits reforms for a strong foundation
The Central government is well into the second year of its rule. Now that it has settled down, the time is ripe for some bold changes to kickstart and revive the housing and real estate sector. Will the Budget 2016 live up to the expectations of the industry captains and the common consumer alike? There are a number of much-needed fiscal changes.
Investment in housing and real estate activity has multiple benefits; there are forward and backward linkages with as many as 270 industries. Any policy change in this sector in a positive direction is bound to affect business sentiment on a large scale.
According to a report in the Indian Express, the government has so far prepared the ground for the broad policy environment within which it proposes to bring a turnaround and place 'development' squarely and firmly on the agenda for growth. To achieve this, the government has announced several programmes such as the Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, HRIDAY, Swachh Bharat, Make in India, Digital India and so on.
6. A hotel that caters to the poor
At a time when the prices of foodgrain are becoming increasingly unaffordable, a hotel in Nizamabad of Telangana supplies breakfast, lunch and dinner at Rs 20.
Vanam Kiran Kumar, who has been successfully running the Indur Janata Bhojanalayam at Subash Nagar in Telangana, had been thinking for a long time to provide affordable food to the poor and those who cannot afford to spend much on it.
As per the Hindu, though there were a few takers when the food centre opened in December 2015, it slowly picked up. Now about 400 to 500 people, including students, employees, small-time businessmen and petty vendors, have food here every day. The unique feature here is that the food – jowar (sorghum) roti, rice and curries – are prepared on firewood oven and supplied in leafy plates. Water is supplied in small earthen pots and tumblers.
7. 'Cheating’ complaint against Ringing Bells
A BPO company on Friday filed a complaint against Ringing Bells Private Ltd, the Noida-based manufacturer of the world’s cheapest smartphone, accusing it of cheating and non-payment of dues, a Hindustan Times report said.
Ringing Bells CEO Mohit Kumar Goel had hired the BPO firm — Cyfuture — on February 16 to handle customer calls.
Stating that he has lodged a complaint with the Gautam Budh Nagar senior superintendent of police’s office at Sector 14-A, Cyfuture CEO Anuj Bairthi said: “I had gone to the Noida Phase-II police station the previous day to lodge an FIR against the Ringing Bells founder after it terminated our agreement without serving us a month’s notice. However, the police said the FIR can be filed only after receiving permission from the SSP or SP (crime). Therefore, I have submitted the complaint on Friday… my first move towards lodging an FIR."
8. No more waiting at toll plazas soon; NHAI plans e-tolling
The National Highways Authority of India has approached the National Payments Corporation of India to set up an interbank clearing house to enable e-tolling across 350 toll plazas in the country.
The move is expected to help the country save thousands of crores of rupees annually in fuel consumption and speed up freight. The measure will help reduce congestion at toll gates and curb malpractices.
"We have been approached by NHAI to build a trading house for ETC (electronic toll collection) payments," AP Hota, managing director of NPCI told the Economic Times.
9. 3-women cop panel will probe Murthal `rapes'
Haryana Police on Friday formed a three member, all-women committee to gather information about victims of the alleged sexual assault at Murthal in Sonipat district during the Jat quota stir, a day after the Punjab and Haryana high court had asked the survivors to come forward and file com plaints directly with chief judicial magistrates.
The Khattar government put the death toll during the violent agitation at 30. Another 200 people were injured, it said.
Haryana DGP Yash Pal Singhal told the Times of India that DIG Rajshree Singh would head the Murthal probe committee, which includes DSPs Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur. He said Sonipat SP Abhishek Garg on Friday collected some pieces of women's clothing from areas near NH 1 in Murthal.TOI had run detailed front page reports on Thursday and Friday , covering the allegations of rapes at Murthal.
10. Man tweets will kill CM if given gun
The chief minister's office has complained to the police about a possible threat to Arvind Kejriwal's life. The Delhi Police commissioner was informed about a Twitter post in which a person claimed that he would shoot the chief minister if given a gun.
Police said that a non-cognisable report (NCR) was filed based on the complaint and Twitter has been con tacted to give details of the offender.
In the complaint filed on February 19, CMO officials said that an emai was received on Kejriwal's official ID by one Akash Upadhyay who apprised them about a comment made on a Twitter video channel. In the com ments section, one Gaurav Kumar had replied to a comment by someone saying: "Someone give me a katta and I will shoot the chief minister." The matter was then referred to the north district police. Police said that a request has been made to Twitter to reveal the contact details of Gaurav Kumar. Sources said that an FIR will soon be registered.
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