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India Pulse | February 7-8, 2026: Your Weekend Digest of India's Governance, Progress, and Vision
The India Pulse Weekend Newsletter for February 7-8, 2026 covers India and Canada agreeing to strengthen cooperation on national security, law enforcement and cybersecurity, Amit Shah holding high-level meetings on anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, Seychelles President arriving in New Delhi, government inviting public comments on Draft Income-Tax Rules and Forms 2026, UIDAI completing over one crore biometric updates for schoolchildren across India, private aircraft making forced landing in Karnataka, and Central Water Commission holding workshop on flood forecasting services.
NEWS IN DETAIL
India, Canada To Strengthen Cooperation On National Security, Law Enforcement & Cybersecurity
India and Canada have agreed to formulate a shared work plan to guide cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues and to enable practical collaboration on respective priorities.
The decision was taken during a meeting between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin in Ottawa on Saturday.
Sharing details of the meeting, The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the two sides acknowledged the progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens.
The Ministry said that it was agreed that each country would establish security and law-enforcement liaison officers and that their respective agencies would build on working relationships. It added that this important step will help streamline bilateral communications and enable timely information sharing on issues of mutual concern to Canada and India such as the illegal flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl precursors, and transnational organised criminal networks.
The two sides also committed to formalising cooperation on cybersecurity policy and information sharing on cybersecurity issues, as well as continuing discussions on cooperation related to fraud and immigration enforcement, consistent with domestic laws and international obligations.
Amit Shah Holds High-Level Meetings On Anti-Naxal Operations In Chhattisgarh
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held two high-level meetings in Chhattisgarh’s capital on February 8, 2026, to review anti-Naxal operations and various development works.
In a message posted on social media, the Union Home Minister said that the security-centric strategy, strengthening of infrastructure, crackdown on Naxal financial networks, and the surrender policy have yielded positive results. Mr Shah reiterated that Naxalism is set to be completely eliminated before the thirty-first of March this year.
Mr Shah said, once a stronghold of Naxal violence, Chhattisgarh has now become a symbol of development under the BJP’s double-engine government. He added that the youth of the state are moving ahead by promoting sports, forensic and technical education, while also preserving their culture and traditions.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, senior officials of the police administration and Central security agencies attended the meetings.
Later, the Home Minister attended the National Conclave titled “Chhattisgarh @25: Shifting the Lens” in Nava Raipur as the Chief Guest.
Seychelles President Arrives In New Delhi
Seychelles President Patrick Herminie arrived in New Delhi on February 8, 2026, after productive engagements in Chennai and Mumbai.
In a social media post, the External Affairs Ministry informed that Earlier Seychelles President visited Chennai and Mumbai, where he met key stakeholders in the fields of governance, industry, coastal management and the health sector. President Herminie was received by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The five-day official trip of President Patrick Herminie coincides with the golden jubilee celebration of India’s diplomatic relationship. Seychelles is a key maritime neighbour of India and an important partner in the nation’s Vision MAHASAGAR and its commitment to the Global South.
Government Invites Public Comments On Draft Income-Tax Rules And Forms 2026
The Government has invited comments from the public and stakeholders on the Draft Income-tax Rules and Forms, 2026. Comments can be sent till the 22nd of this month on the official portal of Income Tax.
The income tax office informed that the draft rules are in the public domain. It said that this move aims to promote transparency and ensure a participative and effective rule-making process.
UIDAI Completes Over One Crore Biometric Updates For Schoolchildren Across India
Over one crore mandatory biometric updates (MBUs) for school-children have been completed by Unique Identification Authority of India-UIDAI. Ministry of Electronics and IT said, UIDAI Regional Offices and education departments of states worked in mission mode to hold MBU camps in 83 thousand schools in just five months.
In order to incentivise children to complete MBU and to make the service accessible to all, UIDAI had waived off the charges in the age group of 7-15, from 1st October 2025 to 30 September this year.
Private Aircraft Makes Forced Landing In Karnataka
A private training aircraft operated by Redbird Flight Training Academy made a forced landing in a field near Vijayapura in Karnataka on February 8, 2026.
The Civil Aviation Ministry informed that the aircraft made a forced landing following suspected fuel starvation. It said that the flight instructor and a trainee pilot who were on board are safe. It added that the aircraft was damaged due to the impact.
Central Water Commission To Hold Workshop On Flood Forecasting Services
The Central Water Commission (CWC) will organise a One-Day Stakeholders’ Workshop on Flood Forecasting Services and Guidelines for the preparation and Appraisal of Flood Management- Detailed Project Reports in New Delhi on February 9, 2026.
The Jal Shakti Ministry has informed that the workshop will focus on sharing the CWC’s existing services and new initiatives with all stakeholders and seeking their feedback to strengthen Centre-State coordination.
The ministry added that this coordination will help flood forecasting preparedness, flood management planning, and promote effective utilisation of CWCs’ forecasting and decision-support services. The workshop is expected to contribute to improving flood preparedness, better-quality flood management proposals, and strengthened institutional coordination.