mean achievement of students in Uttar Pradesh in language and mathematics is the highest in the country

TODAY'S NEWSPAPERS

 A record high voter turnout in the Punjab and Uttarakhand assembly polls dominates front page headlines. Writing that the high turn-out has given rise to speculation about a possible 'wave', the Times of India says "High turn out in Punjab, Uttarakhand fuels suspense".

Former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair's response to government order barring him and three other space scientists from holding government posts is widely reported. The Asian Age writes "Nair writes to PM, wants ban revoked". The Hindustan Times reports him as saying "Quash ban agaisnt me and probe deal".

With all the four accused in the murder of teenager Adnan Patravala in Mumbai in 2007 being acquitted by a Mumbai sessions court, the Mail Today with a hint of sarcasm says "No one murdered slain Mumbai boy". The Asian Age writes "Shoddy probe weakened Adnan case".

Most papers take note of the Supreme Court seeking replies from the Centre and telecom firms on a plea challenging the allocation of 2G spectrum beyond the entry level of 4.4 and 6.2 Mhz without charging an additional fee. "SC seeks govt's reply on additional spectrum plea" writes the Indian Express.

In a special front page story, the Indian Express reports of changes in the IIT entrance exams from 2013. The paper says that a common aptitude cum advanced knowledge test will replace the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) with test scores getting 60 percent weightage and school board exams 40 percent weigtage.

And finally, in some good news from the country's most populous state, in a comprehensive survey of learning achievement of class 5 students, the NCERT has found that the mean achievement of students in Uttar Pradesh in language and mathematics is the highest in the country.