Odisha Vigilance apprehended Alan Behera, a revenue inspector in Bolangir district, on Tuesday for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000. The bribe was sought to process a land conversion application from agricultural to homestead land. Behera was caught in a trap, and a case has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A 'Punjab Bandh' was observed on Thursday, leading to widespread closures of shops and private schools and road blockades across several districts, following the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa on Tuesday. Jhota was shot by a chemist owner for questioning the sale of addictive drugs. The incident has triggered significant political backlash against the Aam Aadmi Party government, with various organisations and opposition parties demanding accountability and a CBI probe.
The Supreme Court has granted a temporary relief to former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter, and son-in-law by staying for a week the investigation against them in the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) bribery case. The apex court permitted them to appeal a single judge's order before the Kerala High Court division bench and cautioned the Enforcement Directorate against exceeding its statutory limits.
ExlService Holdings, a data and AI company, announced its acquisition of AI data solutions firm iMerit for up to USD 310 million. This strategic move aims to accelerate AI innovation, deepen EXL's AI capabilities in model training and evaluation, and expand its market presence in high-growth AI tech sectors. The transaction is expected to conclude in Q3 2026.
Madhya Pradesh's Lokayukta police raided 15 premises linked to head constable Firoz Khan in Indore and Dewas, uncovering assets worth Rs 6.27 crore. This amount is more than three times his legitimate income over 24 years of service. Khan is accused of misusing his position in property dealings, and an FIR has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, with a woman associate also named as an accused.
IT services giant Wipro has launched an Applied AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, focusing on Anthropic's Claude models. This initiative aims to accelerate enterprise AI adoption, train 10,000 experts, and integrate AI into core business workflows and Wipro's internal operations.
GE Aerospace is set to significantly increase its supply chain spending in India, targeting USD 400 million by 2030, up from USD 200 million in 2025. This expansion reflects the company's commitment to India's burgeoning aviation market, driven by substantial aircraft orders and the strategic importance of its manufacturing and technology centres in Pune and Bengaluru.
A man's suicide attempt in Beed, Maharashtra, was thwarted when his wife alerted emergency helpline 112. Police swiftly responded, broke into the room, and rescued the man, who was then counselled.
A businessman in Ratlam was allegedly defrauded of Rs 55 lakh by cyber criminals posing as police officers. The fraudsters claimed his mobile number was linked to Pakistan's ISI and threatened legal action, coercing him to transfer funds. Three accused have been apprehended, and Rs 20 lakh of the defrauded amount has been blocked.
Air India has commenced construction of a new multi-facility Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. This nine-acre facility aims to centralise engineering and maintenance activities, enhancing fleet upkeep, improving reliability, and reducing aircraft ground time for the Tata Group-owned airline.
A 22-year-old man, Avdeep Singh, allegedly shot dead his 30-year-old stepfather, Navjot, at his car service centre in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. The murder, which occurred on October 10, was reportedly motivated by Avdeep's resentment over his 49-year-old mother Kamal Kaur's decision to remarry after her first husband's death. Avdeep, who had returned from New Zealand, conspired with his cousin Rajandeep Singh, 23. Both accused were arrested within 48 hours, and police recovered the car and weapons used in the crime.
Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, has urged for the expanded adoption of the Account Aggregator (AA) framework to facilitate formal credit access for self-employed individuals and gig workers. He highlighted its potential to enable cash-flow-based lending by leveraging diverse data streams, moving beyond traditional asset-based lending, and fostering a more inclusive digital financial infrastructure in India.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed lower for the fourth consecutive session, driven by a surge in crude oil prices above USD 114 per barrel due to escalating tensions in West Asia, coupled with broad-based selling and FII outflows.
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu is set to compete in the women's 53kg category at the IWF World Championships in Ningbo, China, marking her debut in this weight class. This move is strategic as her preferred 48kg/49kg categories will not feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While not expected to medal in this initial outing, the event serves as a crucial step in her Olympic qualification journey. Other Indian lifters, including Gyaneshwari Yadav and Lovepreet Singh, are also participating, aiming to improve their personal bests and earn ranking points for the upcoming Games.
HCLTech, India's third-largest IT services company, announced plans to establish a global technology centre and an AI-optimised data centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with a total investment of approximately Rs 15,000 crore, marking its entry into the AI infrastructure business.
An assistant professor at a Jodhpur university was sacked and arrested following multiple allegations of sexual harassment, including sending obscene messages, pressuring students for personal relationships, and using academic performance to coerce them. The university terminated his services, and police arrested him on Monday, securing two-day custody for questioning.
Mumbai Police have busted an alleged flesh trade racket operating under the guise of a spa centre in Borivali, arresting the cashier and rescuing four women. The accused has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Election Commission regarding a plea by TMC MP Dola Sen, who alleges unauthorised changes to Form 6 during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Sen claims the EC wrongly suggested the Supreme Court approved these changes. The EC, in its affidavit, defended the SIR process, stating no changes were made to the statutory Form 6 and that all decisions were unanimous. The court has given petitioners 10 days to respond to the EC's affidavit.
Wipro has launched its AI-Data Centre solution, integrating NVIDIA's AI Enterprise platform, to accelerate enterprise-scale AI adoption and modernise data centre environments.
Indian IT service providers face heightened competition from AI-native firms in the next three years, potentially eroding their revenue base unless they remain competitive and protect recurring businesses, according to a report by S&P Global Ratings.
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday questioned the state government's decision to order a preliminary enquiry into the alleged CMRL bribery case, despite information from the ED regarding corruption offences against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others. The court is hearing appeals from Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohamed Riyas, who argue they were not heard before an FIR was directed to be lodged. The ED alleges fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore were made to Veena's company.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced the state government's firm support for power employees, pledging to challenge the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission's (HERC) decision to grant a parallel electricity distribution licence to a private company for Gurugram and Nuh districts before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL). The government is appealing to unions to defer their planned three-day strike while making arrangements to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Microsoft has officially launched its fourth cloud region in India, located in Hyderabad, as part of its USD 20.5 billion investment in the country's digital and AI infrastructure. This new facility, which became available on August 6, features zero-water cooling technology and aims to enhance capacity and resilience for organisations in India and Asia, supporting the nation's rapid digital growth and projected increase in data centre capacity.
Indian IT stocks have seen a significant decline of up to 33 per cent year-to-date in 2026, largely due to artificial intelligence (AI) disrupting traditional outsourcing models, leading analysts to predict a challenging FY27 for the sector despite some cushion from rupee depreciation.
Mukesh Ambani fought back tears as his three children, Akash, Isha, and Anant Ambani, took the stage at the stock market listing of Jio Platforms Ltd, marking an emotional moment that signals the next generation's readiness to lead one of India's largest corporate empires.
'At the end of the day, it is just another technology produced by the human mind.'
The Karnataka cabinet has rejected the clemency plea of Shubha Shankar, who is serving life imprisonment for the 2003 murder of her fiancee, Girish. The cabinet also decided to challenge the High Court's ruling on enhanced reservation quotas for SCs and STs in the Supreme Court.
Industry leaders at MRAM Expo 2026 highlighted that India's maintenance economy has the potential to unlock a 1 per cent GDP opportunity. This growth can be achieved by addressing productivity losses from equipment breakdowns, unplanned downtime, and inefficient assets through smarter asset management practices. The NITI Aayog also supports AI-based predictive maintenance for resilient infrastructure, while the Indian Asset Performance Management market is projected for substantial growth by 2033.
Nagaland United Sports Club is set to make its historic debut in the Indian Football League on October 30, ending a 78-year wait for the state to have a club at this level. The club, founded in 2024, secured its place through a goodwill agreement with Aizawl FC and aims to honour the legacy of Talimeren Ao, India's first national team captain. This entry marks a significant milestone for football in Nagaland, fostering local talent and reflecting the sport's deep grassroots presence.
A POCSO court in Bhubaneswar has sentenced Dillip Bhoi to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping an eight-year-old girl near her school last year. The court also imposed a fine and ordered compensation for the victim.
A recent survey reveals that Artificial Intelligence is becoming a central focus in human resource management, with a majority of professionals identifying it as a top priority for improving efficiency, reducing costs, and optimising workforce planning across various HR functions.
Uttar Pradesh authorities have implemented extensive security and logistical measures for the annual Kanwar Yatra, which began on Thursday and concludes on August 11. These include AI-enabled surveillance, additional security personnel, medical camps, dedicated control rooms, and traffic diversions, all aimed at ensuring a "zero incidents and zero accidents" pilgrimage for lakhs of devotees.
Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has announced he will not contest for a position on the Indian Olympic Association's Executive Board, despite being on the list of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit eligible for the upcoming elections on December 5. Bindra also shared his views on India's performance at the recent Asian Games and the record-breaking success at the Asian Para Games.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has criticised the BJP government, posing 12 questions regarding the banking sector. He highlighted issues such as recurring bank charges, reduced interest rates, demonetisation's impact, missing locker valuables, and poor working conditions for bank employees, accusing the government of weakening banks and exploiting vulnerable communities.
'The government has to act as one unit since the threat from these newer models will soon scale up.'
Indian lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, currently in London on sexual assault charges, now faces accusations of rape and facilitating exploitation. His assistant and another individual are also implicated. Aggarwal, known for representing Mehul Choksi, was denied bail due to flight risk and concerns over a "sinister recruiting campaign." The trial is scheduled for March 2027.
A CII white paper released Thursday outlines a strategy for India's media and entertainment sector to achieve a USD 100 billion valuation by the early 2030s, requiring an annual growth rate of 15 per cent and significant policy reforms. The paper identifies key areas for growth, including broadcasting reform, anti-piracy measures, and investment in regional markets.
GenAI recorded the widest talent gap, followed by AI deployment engineering (72.4 per cent), AI governance (70 per cent), and MLOps (68 per cent).
Very heavy rains in Nilgiris district on Saturday caused multiple mudslides, leading to the death of a bus driver whose vehicle was buried. Over 100 students from Kerala narrowly escaped a similar fate. The incident disrupted traffic and prompted authorities to close tourist spots and advise against travel.
Bharti Airtel's homegrown cloud platform, Airtel Cloud, has acquired approximately 40 customers within a year of its launch, with a significant portion coming from the manufacturing sector. The platform, designed for Indian companies, offers sovereign, telco-grade cloud infrastructure, connectivity, and GenAI-based provisioning, addressing the growing demand for secure, India-hosted data solutions, particularly for sensitive workloads and regulated sectors.
