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All eyes - from those of the inflation-hit 'common man' to the country's stock markets, will be on Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today, reports the Asian Age. "Pranab walks the tight rope" headlines the Hindustan Times. "Raise in Income Tax exemption limit in the offing" highlights the Hindu, while the Times of India writes "Reeling under heavy losses, Dalal Street is desperate for a good budget."
The 2011 Cricket World Cup came alive in Bangaluru yesterday night. The Indian Express headlines, "1 record, 2 centuries, 18 wickets -- and a Tie". The Hindu carries a picture of the two 'cricketing wizards' of yesterday's dramatic match, Sachin Tendulkar and Andrew Strauss - who combined to orchestrate 'the match' of the 2011 World Cup. "The Mail Today writes "Top rated India gets wake-up call from England."
Photographs of relieved Indian evacuees from Libya arriving at India's New Delhi airport on Sunday are splashed on the front pages. "First evacuees tell of Libyan horror" - is the Hindustan Times front page headline. "It's been a trip from hell and back for the Indians rescued from Libya" - reports The Tribune.

In an exclusive the Hindustan Times writes - "MISUSE forces a review of Dowry Law". Following widespread complaints of the anti-dowry law being misused to lodge false cases, the government has decided to review the stringent provisions of the legislation, which deals with physical and mental cruelty by husbands and their relatives against wives-over dowry.
And finally, the Asian Age writes that mobile phone users in Indian may soon be able to watch television programmes on their handsets, as the Information and Broadcasting Ministry is likely to finalise the launch of Mobile Television in the coming fiscal year.

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The operation to evacuate Indian nationals from Libya is prominently noticed on the front pages today. "AI airlifts 2 batches out of Libya" reports the Asian Age. The Tribune says "First AI flight with 290 Indians lands in Delhi".
Another story that is significantly highlighted on the front pages is the disclosure made by the Income Tax department regarding some relatives of the former Chief Justice of India, K G Balakrishnan. "Ex-CJI's kin has black money, says IT dept" reports the Times of India. The Hindustan Times adds 'Dept mum on Balakrishnan but points finger at brother, sons-in-law'.
The Pioneer highlights the Economic Survey 2010-11 observation that '55% PDS food smuggled to market" as its front page lead.
The deliberations of the National Advisory Council headed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi are widely reported. "Sonia's NAC prevails over govt on RTI, forest rights" says the Times of India lead. The Hindu reports "NAC wont go back on its food bill : Job is to advise government and not be influenced by its predilections.'
In a special front page story the Tribune writes that the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council has discarded the Jammu and Kashmir state flag and state emblem and adopted the national emblem.
The recovery of a huge quantity of silver bricks from a `mutt' or monastery in Puri is noticed by most papers. "Silver bricks worth 90crore rupees seized in Puri' reports the Hindustan Times. The Indian Express writes that  this recovery was made after a person was arrested selling a  few such bricks in Dhenkanal.
In international news, the violent tactics being used by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to quell protests are widely reported. 'Gaddafi forces shooting from ambulances" says the Indian Express. The Times of India headline reads "Gaddafi trains anti-aircraft guns on protestors.'
And finally, The Asian age reports that in a major step towards integration of the erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India which became a unified carrier a few years ago, the IC code of the Indian Airlines will be replaced by AI for the unified carrier Air India.

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee presenting her third consecutive Rail Budget in Parliament is the top story in the papers today.
'Mamta rolls out poll express' says the Hindustan Times, while, in a similar vein, the lead in the Times of India reads--'More bucks for the Bong--Mamata drives the goodies train into poll bound Bengal', referring to the many projects rolled out for her home state, soon to face landmark elections. The Tribune calls it a 'please-all' budget. The Pioneer refers to it as 'people class'. The Hindu highlights Mamata sparing passengers for the 3rd year in a row with no fare hikes announced, while the Asian Age brings to notice the fact that Rail finances are in a mess. The Indian Express focuses on three new features of the budget--a new e-ticketing portal, a super AC Class with improved comfort and a 'Go-India' pan-India multi-purpose card.
The Economic Survey 2010-11 also tabled in Parliament yesterday, by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, is another front page story. 'All hunky dory, Survey sees India back on 9% growth path in Financial Year 2012' sums up the Economic Times, on the growth story intact despite problems.
Former Telecom Minister Arun Shourie appearing before the CBI in the 2G case and his call for A. Raja to turn approver is widely reported. The CMD of public sector NALCO, and his wife arrested by the CBI in a bribery scandal is also widely covered.
Papers also report the bizarre case of a passenger holding up a domestic flight, objecting to a woman as the pilot.
Both the Times of India and the Hindustan Times report on 14 Tihar jail inmates given job offers by companies, in a campus placement with a difference. 

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Prime Minister  Manmohan Singh's reply to the motion of thanks on President's address in Parliament on Thursday finds prominence in the Press. "Nothing we won't do to clean up public life: PM" is the headline in the Asian Age. "Singh admits to graft in CWG, 2G: Pledges to fight inflation", highlights the Financial Express.
The Mail Today writes that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dragged the NDA government into the controversy over S-Band spectrum in the Antrix-Devas deal, saying the first discussions were introduced in March 2003, when the Atal Bihari Vajpai government was in office. "NDA initiated Devas Deal : PM" headlines the Hindustan Times.
"Libya protestors gear up for the 'Battle of Tripoli' " reports the Tribune, as forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi launched a counter attack yesterday on anti-government militias. "3 warships on Libya rescue mission" report the Times of India. Three naval warship - INS Jalashwa and two Delhi-class destroyers will head for Libya to ferry around 9500 Indians from Tripoli and Benghazi.
"Sensex tanks on Libya"- headlines HT Business - the paper writes - it turned out to be a terrible Thursday as Indian Stock Market witnessed their worst fall in more than 18 months after the ugly political crisis in oil producer Libya  took world crude prices to a 30 month high of 120 dollars per barrel.
Hostage crisis ends - headlined the Indian Express. "Safe and healthy, collector returns to garlands, drumbeats and Zindabad". Freed collector R V Krishna says, "Scope for debate on development, but Tribals must benefits."
The Times of India reports - "With an eye on crucial polls in five states, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee appears set to appease the middle class with a likely increase in the income tax exemption limit, from Rs. 1.6 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh - as part of the Union Budget speech on Monday".
And finally, papers report of the death of the legendary Anant Pai at 81, whose beautifully illustrated and simply narrated stories of the Amar Chitra Katha Comics and Tinkle Magazine reintroduced India to young Indians in a fun way.

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

"JPC to have 30 members, 20 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha write the Asian Age, Pioneer and other papers on their front pages.
Brace for a Milk crisis this summer" is the Mail Today headline. The paper adds that the government expects an unprecedented shortage of Milk and Milk products in the next few months. Ministry sources have however said, that the strict regulation of exports and assistance to dairy farmers are measures that the government intends to take to stem the crisis.
The Financial Express reports that in the upcoming rail budget to be announced tomorrow, there is a likelihood of a rise in upper class fares and freight is  also going to cost more, with an exemption for grain and oil, to contain inflationary pressures on the economy. In a related story, The Times of India and The Indian Express write "Didi distracted, Railways in the Red, adding that the Indian Railways is staring at a huge financial crisis which Mamta Benarjee will struggle to hide as she eyes the West Bengal Elections in April . "Populist plan eating into rail profit for long" writes Mail Today
Plastics used in insulating power cables can be made to conduct electricity with the help of a thin metal film. Researchers at the University of New South Wales can now makes cheap, strong flexible and conductive plastics films. The new material can be easily produced with commonly used equipment. The Hindu, Times of India and Asian Age have reported this story.
And Finally, For Generations silver jewellery has been versatile, durable and cheaper than the preferred metal gold. But now with sky rocketing silver prices, improvisation with cheaper metals has becomes the norm. Five year ago silver rates were between 10,000 and 12,000 a kg. But today the rate of silver is 49,700 per kg reports The Times of India.  "Silver prices strong in 2011 as demand grows" writes the Financial Express.

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES
The Government's decision to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into the 2G spectrum allocation scam is the lead in most papers. 'UPA eats its winter words for JPC spring' is how the Indian Express puts it. 'BJP gracious, Sushma welcomes probe panel' writes Mail Today.
The Hindustan Times, The Hindu and the Tribune all show the file photo burnt of the coach of the Sabarmati Express at the Godhra station in Feb 2002. '31 convicted, 63 walk free in Godhra case' is the Hindustan Times headline. 'It was a pre-planned conspiracy, says special court' , writes the Hindu - 'Sentence on Feb 25', says the Tribune.
Most of the newspapers have reported the release of Malkangiri Collector Krishna and Junior Engineer Majhi. "All demands of Naxals accepted; writes the Asian Age.
The Times of India and the Asian Age show the wreckage as a massive earthquake struck Christ Church in New Zealand, killing 65 people.
'Jamia Millia declared minority institution' writes the Hindu. The Times of India explains the implication of this order- the university need not give quota to OBC's and Dalits, and can reserve upto 50% seats for Muslims.
Vis-a-Vis corruption in the Common Wealth Games, the Indian Express reports 'Shunghu panel now indicts CWG's bank Central Bank and its Chief too.

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

The Union Government's indication of a likely announcement of a JPC probe into the 2G scam is the lead story in many papers today. "Congress finally yields, agrees to JPC on 2G" writes the Tribune. "Winter freeze over, government thaws on JPC probe into 2G" says the Indian Express.
In another JPC demand, this time from a surprising corner, Hindustan Times writes "Kalmadi wants JPC to probe games scam", "Puts Congress in spot, says will quit, if corruption charge proved". The Asian Age questions, "Will CWG storm erupt in House"? and adds "With 2G JPC on track, Kalmadi jolt to government".
In another story, the Times of India says, "IT crackdown on politicians lying about their wealth." The paper elaborates writes, that for the first time, the income tax department has launched a drive to cleanse dirty money from politics, and initiated action against at least 300 high-net-worth politicians for alleged misreporting of wealth in their returns.
Hindustan Times in an exclusive  writes, "7 children go missing every hour". The paper goes on to say that with as many as 60,000 young ones below 18 reported missing in 2009, as compared to 44,000 in 2004, it is a jump of 35 per cent.
"Butcher of Libya", blazes the lead story in the Mail Today with a photograph of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's long time leader. Over 300 killed in brutal crackdown on protests against Gaddafi as even mourners gunned down to save regime, writes the paper. The Asian Age adds, "Indians safe in Libya: govt. says avoid travel there unless "essential" ".
And finally, the Times of India writes that in one of the  most ambitious and exciting projects in recent years, digitization of India's ancient manus has moved a step ahead, with the Delhi-based National Manu Mission creating digitization standards for close to 30 lakh  manus. 

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

The euphoria over India's victory over Bangladesh, in the inaugural Cricket World Cup match, is adequately reflected by headlines across major national dailies.  "Cup opener is Delhi boys' show" headlines The Times of India, referring to the performance of Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir.  The Pioneer refers to India's performance as "Impeccable India", while the headline in The Statesman says, "Bangladesh brutalised".  The Financial Express reports that the bookies are betting on another India-Australia final.
On the abduction in Orissa of the Malkangiri Collector, Krishna, and tribal junior engineer, Majhi, The Indian Express writes, "Maoists extend deadline, Government contacts mediators".  "Orissa working on a Kandahar-like swap?" asks The Times of India, referring to, what the paper calls, Orissa government's "hush-hush" plan to release several jailed Maoist leaders in exchange for Krishna and Majhi.  The Asian Age reports that Orissa government has agreed to release top Maoist leader, Ramakrishna's wife, Padma.
Hindustan Times, The Asian Age and The Times of India have carried on their front pages, the news of Pakistani singer, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, and his manager, detained by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence after the recovery of huge undeclared foreign currency from them, getting off the hook by paying a fine.
The top story in The Indian Express reports that the Prime Minister has referred to the CBI, the V K Shanglu Committee report, that indicted suspended Prasar Bharti chief, B S Lalli, and Doordarshan DG, Aruna Sharma, for the manner in which broadcasting rights of the Commonwealth Games were awarded.
Hindustan Times writes that a fallout of the allegations of corruption in the Commonwealth Games is the approval of a draft bill by the sports ministry, that stipulates the maximum number of terms, the age limit and other criteria for holding positions in national sports federations. 
The scrapping by the Maharashtra government of the notification for Mukesh Ambani's "dream project" - Reliance Industries Limited's special economic zone project - that had reserved 35,000 acres of land in Raigad district, is prominently reported in The Statesman and The Times of India.
The finally, the unrest sweeping the Arab world is reflected in front page articles in The Hindu and The Asian Age, which report that 84 people have been killed in Libya, in a crackdown on pro-democracy activists there by the regime.