The Economic Times

The Supreme Court upheld an NCLAT order concerning Grasim Industries. This decision set aside a significant penalty previously imposed by the CCI. The fair trade regulator must now rehear the Aditya Birla Group firm's case. The NCLAT found that Grasim was not given a proper opportunity to present arguments. The CCI had imposed the penalty for alleged dominance in the viscose staple fibre market.

Exiled author Taslima Nasreen returned to Kolkata after nineteen years, feeling an emotional homecoming. Her visit precedes a literary event which has acquired political significance. Nasreen was forced to leave the city in two thousand seven due to protests. She expressed joy and pain recalling her previous life in Kolkata. Her return signifies a voice against fundamentalism and freedom of expression.

August 2026 Festival Calendar: August 2026 presents a rich calendar of Hindu festivals and observances. Devotees will celebrate significant events like Hariyali Teej and Nag Panchami. The holy month of Shravan includes four important Somwar Vrats for Lord Shiva. Major celebrations such as Onam and Raksha Bandhan also occur. Two eclipses, a solar and a lunar, will be visible.

Pro-Kannada groups have called for a statewide bandh on August 13. This protest aims to oppose developments in the Cauvery water dispute. Farmers and several pro-Kannada organisations are expected to participate. The Karnataka government will review the law and order situation. Police will likely step up security arrangements to prevent incidents.

AI companies are buying, cutting apart and scanning millions of physical books to train chatbots, according to a Washington Post report based on newly unsealed court filings. The documents reveal Anthropic's secret Project Panama and shed light on similar book-acquisition efforts by Meta, OpenAI and Google, as the AI industry's race for high-quality training data fuels an escalating copyright battle.

YesMadam co-founder Aditya Arya shared his marriage's airport reunion reality. He and his wife Garima Sharma met for just ninety seconds. This encounter sparked widespread discussion on entrepreneurship's personal relationship costs. Sharma views these brief meetings as deeply romantic and worthwhile sacrifices. Their nine-year journey suggests their relationship is strengthening through shared dreams.

Sarvam AI plans a trillion-parameter model to rival global AI leaders. The company's existing voice AI is cost-effective and performs well. An office in the US will recruit Indian-origin AI researchers. Sarvam AI aims to manufacture intelligence and achieve technological self-reliance. New products and platforms were unveiled at their developer conference.

Every marathon has two timelines. One begins when the starting gun goes off. The other begins weeks earlier, in ordinary moments that rarely look like preparation at all. With 12 weeks to go until the Hyderabad edition of the Times Internet Half Marathon, the race has already begun.

The Road ministry said E20 petrol might hit your mileage by 2-6%, based on a study by ARAI, SIAM, and Indian Oil Corporation. The statement sparked a buzz because just a few days earlier, Petroleum ministry had given a different figure.

Family members of injured Delhi Police personnel shared their traumatic experiences from recent student protests. They recounted the painful moments when their loved ones returned home injured. Meanwhile, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the press conference's timing and affiliation. Political confrontations intensified as privilege motions were exchanged between parties. The events highlight ongoing tensions surrounding the student demonstrations and police actions.

India's public examination system increasingly relies on private firms for various operational aspects. These firms manage centers, infrastructure, security, and manpower for millions of candidates. A new handbook aims to establish standards for service providers and enhance independence. However, the fragmented structure complicates accountability when technical issues or irregularities arise. Concerns persist regarding undertrained staff and sophisticated malpractice methods impacting exam int

Former Oracle Bengaluru manager Pradeep Kannan left his safe corporate job at 33 and built The Falooda Shop from scratch. Now 40, he is starting again by building a D2C Falooda brand. Reflecting on his journey, Kannan shared five lessons: bet on yourself, prioritise customers, embrace small improvements, leave comfort behind and remember that every milestone is another starting point.

While having a diet rich in sugar is known to increase the risk for diabetes, some doctors on X explained that the relationship between sugar consumption and diabetes is not always so simple or cut and dried. Heres why.

IRDAI has expanded insurers' investment options by permitting investments in private limited companies, infrastructure SPV debt and repo, reverse repo and government securities lending transactions. The changes aim to improve investment flexibility and liquidity while setting exposure caps, eligibility criteria and disclosure requirements. The regulator has also revised limits for investments in promoter group companies.

Five dedicated fast-track courts have been ordered by the Calcutta High Court. These courts will exclusively try NEET paper leak cases to expedite proceedings. The move aims to address one of India's significant education scandal issues. This development follows nationwide student protests and a push for prosecution in exam fraud. The designated courts are expected to conclude trials within three months of charge-sheet filing.

Birbhum Police arrested Tullu Mondal's manager and brother-in-law after a large cash and gold recovery. Rs 28.5 crore in cash and 15 kg of gold were seized from the residence. The recovered gold included bars and biscuits valued at approximately Rs 21.5 crore. Tullu Mondal, a stone trader, has been absconding since the assembly poll results.

Neeraj Chopra's Rs 30 crore bungalow in Haryana's Panipat district is a three-storey property with a lush garden, a trophy room, and a garage that holds everything from a customised Rs 3 crore Audi RS Q8 to tractors, reflecting the Olympic champion's roots as much as his success.

The Travancore Devaswom Board president denied any board involvement in ghee supply irregularities. He stated the board decided not to procure outside ghee for this year's pilgrimage. All previous ghee consignments were cleared after laboratory testing by the Food Safety Department. The board entrusted procurement to Milma and ensured laboratory testing before acceptance. Devotees' ghee will be sufficient for this season's temple requirements.

Your brain anticipates waking by adjusting hormones and body temperature. This internal body clock, known as the circadian rhythm, regulates daily cycles. Cortisol levels rise naturally, preparing you for the upcoming day's demands. Consistent sleep schedules strengthen this internal timing mechanism significantly. Expectation also plays a role in training your brain for anticipated awakenings.

Novak Djokovic returns to the Cincinnati Open, aiming for match sharpness. He seeks his record 25th Grand Slam title at the upcoming US Open. Young rivals Alcaraz and Sinner have dominated recent major tournaments. Djokovic is carefully managing his schedule to preserve his body. This event serves as his final test before the year's last slam.

Indian hockey teams will wear saffron jerseys at the upcoming FIH World Cup. This change addresses visibility issues on modern blue synthetic pitches, which caused blending. Saffron was chosen for improved visibility and its representation of courage and national pride. The new kit incorporates cultural and national symbols, including the Ashoka Chakra. Hockey India stated that past jersey changes were also based on functional requirements.

A Bihar court acquitted Digvijaya Singh in a 14-year-old defamation case. The case involved alleged remarks made against Baba Ramdev in 2012. Singh attended the court proceedings via video conferencing for the final hearing. A former BJP leader had filed the complaint alleging objectionable remarks. The court pronounced its judgment after the final hearing concluded.

Nepal protests in the Madhesh region have intensified after deadly clashes, with PM Balen Shah facing criticism over his delayed response and handling of the crisis.

The ET SME Summit demonstrates how reputed editorial ecosystems help brands gain credibility, influence decision-makers and create lasting business impact across India's MSME landscape.

Three distinguished law firms have announced the formation of MNM Partners, a new alliance dedicated to addressing legal aspects of real estate, infrastructure, and dispute resolution. This innovative partnership enables the founding firms to keep their independence while collaboratively handling intricate cases. With rising client needs for unified legal guidance, MNM Partners seeks to harness shared expertise for promising growth opportunities ahead.

Avaada Group achieved financial closure for its renewable energy portfolio worth USD 1.3 billion for projects in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The portfolio includes hybrid renewable and utility-scale solar projects.

The Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day after Opposition members raised slogans. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was permitted to speak by the Chairman. However, no notices under Rule 267 were admitted for discussion. Opposition members protested paper leaks and alleged theft from the Ram Temple. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized the Opposition's sadak-chhap politics.

Model distillation, a technique that trains smaller AI models using outputs from more powerful systems, has become a key issue in the US-China AI rivalry. While it lowers AI costs and expands deployment, US companies allege some Chinese firms are using the method to extract capabilities from proprietary models without authorisation.

The Delhi High Court is requesting the response of the city police regarding Umar Khalid's latest bail plea, marking his third attempt since his September 2020 arrest. This application pertains to the 2020 Delhi riots case. The court will consider his request alongside that of co-accused Sharjeel Imam, as Khalid contests the earlier trial court ruling that denied his bail.

Ravichandran Ashwin supports Bhuvneshwar Kumar's inclusion in the 2027 World Cup. He believes the veteran pacer will be needed in South Africa. Ashwin also selected Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the squad. Several other players received his endorsement for the team. Some players were uncertain while others were excluded.

Assam floods have claimed eighty lives, affecting over two lakh people in eight districts. The state government announced a six-month loan moratorium for affected citizens. Multiple agencies are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations across the region. Significant crop areas and infrastructure have been submerged and damaged by the deluge. The Chief Minister has requested a central support package for rehabilitation efforts.

FIFA will continue consultations on private investment for its tournaments. Europe's football federation threatened a boycott over the proposed plan. Other confederations also issued strong rebukes against the proposal. FIFA stated it would not proceed without majority member association support. The organization aims to secure external investment for its events.

Chinese military researchers are using U.S. AI model outputs to advance defense capabilities. This technique allows them to train specialized domestic AI systems efficiently. Researchers are leveraging powerful U.S. models as a shortcut for their own development. This practice is being used for surveillance, cyber warfare, and tactical decision-making. The findings offer a rare glimpse into China's AI development strategies.

A novel system in Chinese school canteens processes leftover food into valuable resources. Students deposit food scraps into specialized machines after finishing their meals. The system extracts oil for biodiesel production and converts organic waste into compost. This innovative approach repurposes discarded food, reducing landfill waste significantly. The process creates a sustainable cycle from waste collection to resource conversion.

Capital Group bought a 1.49 percent stake in IIFL Finance for Rs 374 crore. This acquisition was made through open market transactions from Fairfax India's affiliate. US-based Capital Group purchased over 63 lakh shares at an average price of Rs 590. FIH Mauritius Investments, a Fairfax India subsidiary, sold an equal number of shares. Following this transaction, FIH Mauritius Investments' shareholding in IIFL Finance decreased.

L&T Energy Hydrocarbon Onshore has secured a significant six-year framework agreement. This partnership is with Oman's leading oil and gas company, Petroleum Development Oman. L&T will serve as one of four selected EPC contractors for upcoming projects. The company will leverage its global expertise and integrated engineering capabilities. This collaboration aims to support Oman's energy security and economic growth objectives.

India's festive shopping season is set to highlight the country's premiumisation boom despite global uncertainty triggered by the US-Iran war. Economists and industry executives say resilient consumer demand, rising household wealth and a rapidly expanding affluent class are driving spending on premium products, from smartphones and luxury homes to automobiles and branded goods, making premium consumption a defining theme of India's economy.

A Bengaluru-based CA and former KPMG and Deloitte employee warned against spending Rs 20 lakh on lavish weddings to impress relatives. She broke down how food, venue, entertainment, photography, decoration and other costs can make the money disappear within 48 hours. She argued that savings, investments, future goals and parents' retirement may bear the hidden cost. Instead, she suggested allocating 35% to the wedding, 25% to investments, 25% to a home and 15% to an emergency fund.

R Madhavan admitted he was dumb about money despite being academically qualified, revealing that he did not know what a balance sheet meant when he started earning. In a conversation with CA Sarthak Ahuja, he said he wished someone had taught him about financial basics and long-term health insurance at 24. Madhavan and Ahuja called for financial education in schools, arguing that young Indians need to understand money before they start earning significantly.

A committee is investigating irregularities in Chintpurni temple's paid 'Sugam Darshan' system. The system showed more transactions than actual entries after its launch. Police registered an FIR after the discrepancies came to light on July 19. A new team has replaced staff operating the system to ensure transparency. Steps are being taken to strengthen technical security and accountability for the system.

Ankur Warikoo shared 10 emotional letters he never wrote but should have for his children, Vidur and Uzma. He reflected on their childhood moments, from Vidur choosing his sister over a desperately wanted bicycle to Uzma dancing freely, reading before she could read and calling her brother dada. Warikoo's letters celebrate empathy, curiosity and family bonds while urging his children to remember their roots. His most striking message to Vidur was, Please don't become who we are, encouraging him

Spanish armed forces are being sent to Ceuta after thousands of migrants entered the territory. Local authorities stated the situation had spiralled out of control, overwhelming border police. The deployment follows a request for additional personnel to manage the crisis. This mass crossing occurred after days of smaller arrivals and at least three deaths at sea. Spain and Morocco agreed to work on returning unauthorized migrants as soon as possible.

Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah for their actions against student protesters. He alleged that the government is now filing FIRs and removing social media accounts of young individuals. Prime Minister Modi stated that comprehensive reforms are needed to address paper leaks in education. Parliament recently passed a bill with stricter punishments for paper leak offenses.

Ajinkya Rahane announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday. Rohit Sharma shared a heartfelt tribute to his teammate's career. Sharma acknowledged Rahane's immense effort and professionalism over many years. Rahane's career included significant contributions and an undefeated Test captaincy record. He achieved historic victories for India during his distinguished playing tenure.

NBCUniversal has recently named Christopher Halpin as its new chief finance officer as the company gears up for its split from Comcast. Halpin comes with extensive experience from his time at People Incorporated and the NFL. Meanwhile, Randy Culbertson, the current CFO, will move to a different role in the company. Post-separation, Mike Cavanagh will take on the role of chief executive for NBCUniversal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport on August 1. This new airport is expected to boost industrial growth and employment in North Andhra. The facility is designed to handle six million passengers annually in its first phase. It will also feature a cargo terminal with cold chain facilities for exports. The airport's development aims to position Visakhapatnam as a globally developed city.