Here are some important reports from the biggest newspapers of India.
1. The monk who converted Babasaheb to Buddhism
Looked after by disciples, Bhadanta Pragyanand remains confined to his bed for most part of the day. The 90-year-old Buddhist monk communicates using sign language and sometimes pens his thoughts. But the mere mention of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar gives him strength to speak loud and clear, reported the Time of India daily.
Pragyanand is the only surviving monk among the seven priests who witnessed the spiritual makeover of Ambedkar on October 14, 1956. The Dalit icon embraced Buddhism at the historic Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur on that day.
2. DU rejects RTI plea for info on PM's BA degree
Delhi University has declined to give information related to PM Narendra Modi's bachelor of arts degree under RTI. The university cited inability to find information without a roll number as reason for the denial.
The plea was accepted by the central information commission (CIC) which has dismissed the case, reported the Times of India daily.
According to his election affidavit Modi completed a distance education course from DU in 1978. His subject is said to have been Political Science.
3. Sewer victims' kin come to Delhi seeking answers
Pinky from Varanasi lost her husband, a safai karamchari, to toxic fumes. But the government has still not paid her any compensation. With two daughters aged five and three, Pinky is struggling to stay afloat, reported the Times of India daily.
So, she came to Jantar Mantar to protest. Pinky was among the many participants of the 125-day Bhim Yatra that came to an end on Wednesday on the eve of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar. They raised slogans like `stop killing us' as they demanded answers from the government about the large number of deaths that happen each year in sewers and septic tanks.
Transport minister Gopal Rai attended the event and assured the people that his government would review the problem. “We will do everything in our power to help these people, even if it requires us to pass a new law.We have had a talk with SKA members and we will try to provide better solutions,“ Rai said.
4. Delhi HC admits transgender's plea for name change
The Delhi high court has decided to examine the plea of a city-based transsexual, seeking change of name and gender from male to female in official records.
According to a report in the Times of India daily, Justice Manmohan, last week, issued notice to Union ministry of social justice and empowerment and the Controller of Publications asking for their response to the allegations that the petitioner's fundamental rights have been violated due to refusal of the authorities to allow her to change name and gender and lead a dignified life.
In her plea filed through advocates Karan Sharma and Rohit Kaliyar, the petitioner informed the court that she was diagnosed with gender identity disorder in 2005 and has since been on guided hormone replacement therapy , living as a woman from the time she turned 19.
5. When netas are wilful defaulters, they cut across all party lines
If the Kingfisher Airlines loan default case unravels the alleged nexus between bankers and businessmen, a close look into the list of wilful defaulters disclosed by Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL) and banks spells out names of at least five politicians, across the political spectrum, who are directors in companies that owe around Rs 900 crore to Indian banks.
The Indian Express daily looked into cases where the default amount is in excess of Rs 50 crore for one individual.
A detailed questionnaire sent to the five individuals or their companies, seeking their responses over the defaults, went unanswered.
6. Government has 20,000-cr radial road plan to decongest city
Delhiites can look forward to a smoother drive and cleaner air. The radial roads will be 301 kilometres in total and elevated in certain stretches.
They will be a part of the Outer Ring Road and connect to the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways that are being built around the city to provide alternative routes for traffic not bound for Delhi. The two expressways are under construction and are expected to be completed by 2018, reported the Hindustan Times daily.
The radial road proposal has got an 'in principle' nod from Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was given a presentation on the plan when he called on Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday.
6. Both sexes are Hindu, SC says in Sabarimala row
Can a woman's age determine her right top ray, the Supreme Court asked the Sabarimala temple board on Wednesday, saying Hindu religion didn’t discriminate against women.
"In Hindu religion, there is no denomination of a Hindu male or female. A Hindu is a Hindu," a special three-judge bench headed by justice Dipak Misra said, stressing on gender equality, reported the Hindustan Times.
7. Backstage politics tries to pull curtains on dance bars
Despite repeated defeats in the Supreme Court over a decade, the Maharashtra government is determined to keep dance bars closed.
This is because the BJP-led state government does not want to be blamed for reopening bars that were shut during the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) regime for 10 years.
The state government banned dance bars in 2005 by passing an amendment to the Maharashtra Police Act. Former home minister and NCP leader, the late RR Patil, was largely credited for the imposition — the decision was reportedly received well by the people of the state, reported the Times of India.
8. 'India Remembers' flowers with marigold wreath
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge laid a wreath at India Gate on Monday to honour the 74,000 Indians who served and died in the First World War.
But there was something even more remarkable about the solemn gesture: it sounded the bugle on a grand national remembrance project called India Remembers, which is being helmed by the United Service Institution of India and partnered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Times of India daily was the first to report in March that the marigold would be adopted as India's symbol of remembrance, independent of the red poppy used by the rest of the Commonwealth.
9. Water shortage to affect industrial output: Experts
The ongoing water scarcity in several parts of India, especially in Maharashtra, one of the most industrialized states in the country, is expected to have a negative impact on industrial production in the next 2-3 months, reported the Times of India.
With civic bodies imposing cuts on water supplied to industrial belts across several states, the resultant shortage could pull down Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth by around 40-50 basis points, while the manufacturing sector alone could take a hit of about 50-75 basis points, economists said (100 bps = 1 percentage point), reported the Times of India.
10. Delhi government to spot, count businesses in the city
The Delhi government has started counting the traders in the city in order to ascertain the total number of traders under the tax net, and those outside it, reported the Times of India.
"As per the statutes, all traders with a turnover of over 20 lakh rupees have to mandatorily register with the tax department. The survey will create a databank of traders/ dealers. It will also help in identifying traders who are not registered as per the norms," a senior Delhi government official said.
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