RBI Repo Rate Cut, IAF Chopper Confession And Other Big Stories

The Times of India is leading with Reserve Bank of India's decision to lower the repo rate - the fifth successive time this year - in a bid to spur slowing economic growth. The latest cut, by a quarter percentage point, brought the benchmark repo rate (the rate at which RBI lends to banks) to a nine-year low of 5.15%. The daily also carries Supreme Court's decision on Ravidas temple.

The announcement on repo rate marks a 135 basis point reduction in the policy rate since August 2018, reports The Hindustan Times as it leads with the story. The paper is also carrying Indian Air Force admission that it shot the Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter by "mistake" on February 27. Six IAF personnel and a civilian were killed in the incident.

The Indian Express reports that the repo rate - the rate at which RBI lends money to banks - is the lowest since March 2010. The daily also carries a separate story on what forced the central bank to qualitatively change its outlook for the economy from being "optimistic" in April to expressing "concerns" in August.

The RBI's decision to cut repo rate has fanned fears that the Indian economy is headed for a meltdown this year and could register its slowest rate of growth since 2012-13, The Telegraph reports. The daily also carries a story on Indian Air force admission that it shot down its own Mi-17 helicopter in the post-Balakt dogfight on February 27.

The Asian Age is leading with a report on BJP-Shiv Sena tieup for the Maharashtra assembly elections later this month. The daily also reports on the Indian Air force admission on shooting down its own Mi-17 helicopter in the post-Balakt dogfight on February 27.