Newspaper Headlines: RJD Releases Poll Manifesto & Other Top Stories

Hindustan Times: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) released its manifesto for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections on Saturday, reiterating its pledge to provide a million government jobs if elected to power even as it indicated that the BJP's promise of generating 1.9 million jobs was a strategy to "fool" voters. The RJD's 17-point manifesto, running into 20 pages, also announced the waiver of farm loans, higher minimum support price for farmers, better health care facilities, 22% of the state budget allocated for education (as compared to a little over 20%in 2020-21), regularisation of ad hoc workers in some sectors and plans to develop smart villages. A grouping of six political parties in Jammu and Kashmir chose National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah as its chairperson and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti his deputy, giving shape to an alliance that they have formed to demand the restoration of the erstwhile state's special status. More

The Asian Age: The Ministry of Finance has approved a scheme to provide relief in interest compounding to borrowers for the six-month loan moratorium period extended in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. This will come in form of the grant of ex-gratia payment of the difference between compound interest and simple interest for six months period from March 1 to August 31. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav, who has made unemployment in Bihar a major poll issue, released the party poll manifesto today reiterating his promise of 10 lakh jobs and better health infrastructure. He also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party for trying to "fool people". More

Deccan Chronicle: In a relief to borrowers at the onset of the festive season, the government on late Friday night announced waiver of interest on interest for loans up to Rs 2 crore irrespective of whether moratorium was availed or not. The Department of Financial Services came out with operational guidelines in the backdrop of Supreme Court''s direction to implement the interest waiver scheme, which is likely to cost the exchequer Rs 6,500 crore. More