Chinese AI startup DeepSeek announced plans for a significant price increase across its AI services in the near term. In a user notice, the Hangzhou-based company urged customers to plan usage accordingly, though it did not specify exact rates and dates. The decision comes shortly after DeepSeek launched its low-cost V4-Flash model, as surging demand strains compute infrastructure.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has dismissed claims that the government is planning to blend ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Calling the reports "completely false and irresponsible," he stated that "There is no such proposal." This comes after AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal claimed in a social media post that government was planning to introduce ethanol blending in ATF.

CCPA has penalised nine digital platforms over dark patterns. Zepto Marketplace was fined ₹7 lakh for initially displaying lower prices but later adding handling charges and membership fees. BookMyShow was directed to remove a pre-ticked ₹1 contribution to its charitable initiative. CCPA also acted on complaints about IndiGo's use of confirm shaming on its mobile application.

The August 31 deadline applies to ITR-3 and ITR-4 filers who aren't liable for a tax audit. It covers freelancers, independent professionals, consultants, small business owners, intraday and F&O traders, and taxpayers eligible for presumptive taxation scheme under Sections 44AD, 44ADA and 44AE. Salaried people earning additional freelance, F&O or intraday trading income must file by the deadline.

KKR said it will acquire Medicover India, the hospital business of Sweden-listed Medicover AB, in a deal valued at $1.4 billion (₹13,327 crore), marking one of its largest healthcare investments in India. Medicover AB, which holds a 66.1% stake, and its minority partners will fully exit the business. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

India's services sector growth slowed to its weakest pace in over four years in July, with the HSBC India Services PMI falling to 53.3. The slowdown was driven by weaker new business growth, softer international demand and declining business confidence. Despite easing input cost inflation, firms raised selling prices at the fastest pace in three months to offset higher costs.

Meta Platforms has launched Muse Code, an AI coding assistant powered by its new Muse Spark 1.2 model. The tool helps developers write, debug and verify code while managing complex projects and running multiple AI sub-agents simultaneously. Its launch intensifies competition with AI coding tools from Anthropic and OpenAI as companies race to monetise AI assistants.

Shiprocket will open its ₹1,617.5 crore IPO for public subscription on August 12. The issue includes a fresh share sale worth ₹885.5 crore and an offer-for-sale of ₹731.9 crore by existing shareholders, while the price band will be announced on August 6. The company has reduced the IPO size by 30% from the earlier proposed ₹2,342.3 crore.

OpenAI and its subsidiary Statsig will pay $3.2 million to settle US government claims that they discriminated against American job applicants while favouring foreign workers on temporary visas. The Justice Department alleged they discouraged US applicants by requiring paper applications, airing late-night radio job ads, and not listing openings on external websites.

CCPA has penalised nine digital platforms for deploying "dark patterns", or deceptive user interface designs that manipulate consumer choices. These include Zepto, IndiGo, PhysicsWallah, Anuj Jindal, FirstCry, PharmEasy, McAfee, BookMyShow and SpiceJet. It directed them to discontinue dark patterns ranging from hidden charges and forced subscriptions to misleading countdown timers.