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India Pulse | February 10, 2026: Your Daily Digest of India's Governance, Progress, and Vision
The India Pulse Newsletter for February 10, 2026 covers Amit Shah stating cyber security is linked to safety of country, India signing Social Security Agreement with UK and Northern Ireland, French President's three-day India visit starting February 17, Om Birla not attending House amid no-confidence motion, India-China reviewing positive bilateral ties, Department of Defence drafting DAP-2026 to propel jointness and Atmanirbharta, Jaishankar interacting with BRICS 2026 Sherpas and country representatives, DGCA starting safety audit of aircraft and helicopter operators post Baramati crash, Eastern Command investiture ceremony conferring 37 gallantry and service awards, and ECI issuing directions for officer transfers to ensure fair assembly polls.
NEWS IN DETAIL
Cyber Security Linked To Safety Of Country: Amit Shah
Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the National Conference on Tackling Cyber-Enabled Frauds and Dismantling the Ecosystem in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Addressing the occasion, Mr Shah said, Cyber security is now linked to the Safety of the country. He said, the government has started many initiatives to eliminate cybercrime in the country.
He said, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre-I4C, has become an important platform against cybercrime. Mr Shah stressed the need to spread more awareness about cybersecurity among countrymen.
Highlighting the usage of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and its reporting portal in the country, Home Minister said, As of November 30, 2025, 82 lakh cybercrime complaints have been filed, of which 1 lakh 84 thousand have been converted into FIRs, and numerous complaints have been resolved.
He said, it is the responsibility of all government departments to save the nation from the crisis of Cyber Crime and Cyber Fraud. He added that, as of now, 795 institutions, including banks, Fintech, NBFCs, and e-commerce platforms, have been established and are associated with I4C.
The Minister also inaugurated the New Cybercrime Branch of CBI and also launched the State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (S4C) Dashboard of I4C, Ministry of Home Affairs.
The primary objective of the two-day conference is to build a shared understanding of the scale, trends, and evolving nature of cyber-enabled fraud in India. The two-day conference was organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in collaboration with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs.
India Signs Social Security Agreement With UK, Northern Ireland
India has signed an agreement on social security relating to social security contributions with the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron signed the agreement in in New Delhi on Tuesday.
In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said the agreement seeks to avoid double social security contributions for employees of both countries on temporary assignments in each other’s territories for period of up to 36 months.
The agreement will support mobility and continued social security coverage of the employees on short-term overseas assignments. The Ministry further said that this agreement forms part of India’s trade deal with the UK and shall come into effect together with the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement.
Mr Misri also held the India-China Strategic Dialogue with Executive Vice Foreign Minister of China Ma Zhaoxu, who is in India to participate in the BRICS Sherpa Meeting.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the positive momentum in bilateral relations and discussed ways to further advance ties by enhancing people-to-people exchanges. They also exchanged views on the global and regional situation and multilateral issues.
French President’s Three-Day India Visit Starts On 17th
At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron will pay a three-day official visit to India, commencing on the 17th of this month.
President Macron will participate in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on 19th February. Ministry of External Affairs has said, during the visit, both leaders will hold discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas as enshrined in the Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
The leaders will discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The two leaders will also visit Mumbai to jointly inaugurate the India-France Year of Innovation, which will be celebrated throughout 2026 in both countries.
Mr Macron’s visit follows Prime Minister Modi’s visit to France in February last year. It reflects the mutual trust and depth of the India-France Strategic Partnership and shared commitment of the two countries to deepen it further.
Om Birla to Not Attend House Amid No-Confidence Motion
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has taken a significant decision not attend the House, citing high moral standards, after the opposition moved a no-confidence motion against him. He will not occupy the Speaker’s chair until the proceedings on the no-confidence motion are concluded.
As per parliamentary convention in the Lok Sabha, when a motion against the Speaker is under discussion, the Speaker does not preside over the House.
Going a step further, Om Birla has voluntarily decided to stay away from the House altogether until a final decision is taken on the matter.
India-China Review Positive Bilateral Ties
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held the India-China Strategic Dialogue with China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu. Mr. Ma is in India to participate in the BRICS Sherpa meeting.
During the dialogue, both sides reviewed the positive momentum in bilateral relations and discussed ways to further strengthen ties by enhancing people-to-people exchanges and addressing concerns on sensitive issues. They also exchanged views on the global and regional situation, as well as multilateral matters.
Department of Defence Drafts DAP-2026 To Propel Jointness And Atmanirbharta
The Department of Defence has prepared the draft Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2026 to propel Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Integration and Force Modernisation.
The Ministry of Defence has said the draft will enable speed of acquisition with scaling of production and lead to the growth and development of its ecosystem in the country. The proposed draft aims to align the country’s defence acquisition with the rapidly evolving geostrategic landscape, economic growth, human capital skilling, private defence industry growth and the technological imperatives of modern warfare in the country.
The Ministry added that the proposed draft will also ensure categorisation and procurement strategy based on technological availability and manufacturing readiness, procurement of major platforms, exploitation of modern technology before bulk procurement and utilisation of indigenous military material, among others. The DAP will boost defence manufacturing and exports along with restrictions on imports to domestically unavailable and critical equipment only. It intends to weave the security of the nation and technological growth in a single thread and create the canvas for Viksit Bharat-2047.
The Ministry further informed that it sought suggestions on the draft DAP-2026 from stakeholders latest by 3rd of the next month as per the prescribed format on its website. It said that Once approved, draft DAP-2026 will replace the Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020.
Jaishankar Interacts With BRICS 2026 Sherpas, Country Representatives
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar interacted with BRICS 2026 Sherpas and Country Representatives.
In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said that as BRICS completes 20 years, it stands as a valuable forum for international cooperation, consultation and coordination, taking forward its people-centric agenda.
The Minister added that he values the suggestions and perspectives brought in by different delegations to advance BRICS 2026 priorities of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
DGCA Starts Safety Audit of Aircraft, Helicopter Operators Post Baramati Crash
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is carrying out a special safety audit of non-scheduled operators to assess operational and safety aspects. The audit was ordered following the Baramati air crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, along with four others, was killed.
DGCA informed that the audit will be conducted in two phases and will cover both aircraft and helicopter operators.
In the first phase, which began on Monday, the audit will cover 14 operators, including charter companies and corporate operators. The audit will be carried out by three-member teams comprising one official each from the air safety, airworthiness, and flight operations sections.
The teams have been advised to submit their inspection reports within 10 days from the date of completion of the audit. DGCA also informed that an audit of VSR Aviation, whose Learjet 45 crashed in Baramati, is also underway.
The special audit of VSR Aviation is being carried out by a six-member team, which has been advised to submit its report by the 15th of this month.
Eastern Command Investiture Ceremony Held; 37 Gallantry And Service Awards Conferred On Bravehearts
The Eastern Command Investiture Ceremony 2026, an annual event celebrating exemplary courage, devotion to duty, and distinguished service in the Indian Army, was conducted with solemn pride on Tuesday at Umroi Military Station, Meghalaya.
The prestigious ceremony was presided over by Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command.
A total of 37 gallantry and distinguished service awards were presented, comprising 19 Sena Medals (Gallantry), 07 Sena Medals (Distinguished), 02 Yudh Seva Medals, 01 Bar to Vishisht Seva Medal, 07 Vishisht Seva Medals, and 01 Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak, in recognition of outstanding acts of valour, leadership, and selfless service.
In addition, 49 units and Army Public School, Kolkata were conferred with the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command Unit Appreciation, acknowledging their exceptional professionalism, operational excellence, and noteworthy achievements.
The ceremony was attended by senior officers from the Indian Defence Forces and the proud families of the award recipients, including Veer Naris, symbolising the nation’s profound respect and gratitude for its brave soldiers and their families.
Addressing the gathering, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief congratulated the awardees for their exemplary service and exhorted all ranks to continue upholding the highest traditions, values, and ethos of the Indian Army.
As a prelude to the investiture ceremony, a vibrant cultural programme titled “Shaurya Sandhya” was organised on 09 February 2026, showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage and celebrating the spirit of courage and sacrifice.
ECI Issues Directions For Officer Transfers To Ensure Fair Assembly Polls
The Election Commission of India has issued directions for the transfer and posting of officers connected with the conduct of Assembly elections in 2026 in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The terms of these present Legislative Assemblies are set to expire between May and June 2026, prompting preparatory administrative measures by the Commission.
The commission said that officers directly involved in election work will not be allowed to remain posted in their home districts or in districts where they have completed three years of service in the last four years.
It stated that the three-year tenure condition will be applicable if the officer has completed or will complete the tenure on or before 31 May 2026 for Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, and 30 June 2026 for Puducherry.
In a letter written to the chief secretaries and chief electoral officers of these states, the commission has directed that all transfers must be completed and compliance reports submitted February 27, 2026.