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India Pulse | February 9, 2026: Your Daily Digest of India's Governance, Progress, and Vision
The India Pulse Newsletter for February 9, 2026 covers India and Greece strengthening defence ties with joint declaration and five-year roadmap, NITI Aayog releasing reports outlining roadmap to Viksit Bharat and Net Zero by 2070, India-US trade deal safeguarding interests of Indian farmers per Chouhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw meeting US Ambassador Sergio Gor, first BRICS Sherpa Meeting beginning in New Delhi under India's Chairship, CISF holding nationwide Vande Mataram Cyclothon 2026, ECI appointing Ashok Kumar as Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, and Sanjay Seth leading Indian delegation to World Defence Show in Riyadh.
NEWS IN DETAIL
India, Greece Strengthen Defence Ties with Joint Declaration, Five-Year Roadmap
India and Greece have decided to expand capacity of their respective indigenous defence industries through partnership between India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Hellenic defence reforms under Agenda 2030.
During the bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Greek Defence Minister Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias, a Joint Declaration of Intent on strengthening the defence industrial cooperation between both nations was signed which is a starting point for developing a five-year roadmap.
Both Leaders discussed various issues of regional peace and security and acknowledged deepening bilateral defence cooperation and strategic ties. A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026 was also exchanged, charting the course for military engagements between the Armed forces of both countries.
During the meeting, convergence between both the ancient sea faring nations on various key maritime issues was also highlighted. The Greek side announced the positioning of a Greek International Liaison Officer at Information Fusion Center-Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram.
Niti Aayog Releases Reports Outlining Roadmap to Viksit Bharat, Net Zero By 2070
Niti Aayog on Monday released three study reports on a scenario towards Viksit Bharat and net zero in New Delhi, focusing on an overall roadmap, macroeconomic implications and financing needs.
During the launch, Chief Economic Adviser Dr V Anantha Nageswaran described the reports as a crucial pathway towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat. He underlined that energy transition remains a key pillar of India’s long-term growth strategy, as highlighted in the Economic Survey 2025-26.
Dr Nageswaran noted that these reports will be the benchmark for future deliberations on the development of the country. He further highlighted the importance of strengthening manufacturing capabilities in line with the aspirations outlined in the Union Budget 2026-27.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Officer of Niti Ayog BVR Subrahmanyam said that India has the immense potential to emerge as a developed economy by leveraging green technologies.
Terming India’s growth journey as unprecedented, he added that the country seeks to achieve developed economic levels while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2070.
Mr Subrahmanyam said that India’s developmental model will set the trend for other developing countries in the Global South.
India-US Trade Deal Safeguard Interests Of Indian Farmers: Chouhan
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has said that the India-US trade deal is the best agreement in the national interest, in which the interests of farmers have been fully safeguarded.
Talking to media after Govardhan parikrama at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, the Agriculture Minister said, the trade agreement will give new wings to the dreams of India’s farmers, women, and youth, enabling them to soar to new heights of progress and development. He said that the diplomacy of the country is developing under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He claimed that major grains, including wheat and paddy, have been completely protected in this agreement.
Mr Chauhan also said that farmers’ interests have been fully protected in the recent agreement.
Ashwini Vaishnaw Meets US Ambassador Sergio Gor
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held a productive meeting with U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, focusing on strengthening strategic ties.
The talks centred on semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and strong U.S. participation in the AI Impact Summit 2026.
In a social media post on X, the Minister wrote, “Good meeting with Sergio Gor, U.S. Ambassador to India.
Discussed strengthening our strategic ties, with a focus on semiconductors, electronics manufacturing and supply chain resilience.
Look forward to strong participation from the U.S. in the AI Impact Summit 2026.”
First BRICS Sherpa Meeting Begins In New Delhi Under India’s Chairship
The first BRICS Sherpa Meeting commenced in New Delhi. Secretary for Economic Relations and India’s BRICS Sherpa Sudhakar Dalela highlighted key priorities of India’s Chairship based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a people-centric and humanity-first approach.
He also underlined the overall theme of Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
India will chair BRICS for the fourth time this year, having previously held the Chairship in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
CISF To Hold Nationwide ‘Vande Mataram Cyclothon 2026’
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is set to flag off the nationwide ‘Vande Mataram Cyclothon 2026’ Tuesday to create public awareness on coastal security.
The initiative marks 27 years of CISF service and 150 years of the song ‘Vande Mataram’. A team of 65 CISF cyclists is travelling across nine coastal states and four Union Territories as part of the campaign.
The cyclothon aims to sensitise coastal communities about threats such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling and explosives movement, while strengthening coordination between citizens and security agencies.
In Maharashtra, the cyclothon will be flagged off from the Tarapur CISF unit, and the state leg will conclude in Ratnagiri on 14th of this month, after which the team will proceed towards Goa.
ECI Appoints Ashok Kumar As Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi
The Election Commission of India has appointed Ashok Kumar as the new Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi.
He will assume the charge, replacing R Alice Vaz. In a letter to the Chief Secretary of Delhi, the Commission mentioned that Mr Ashok Kumar has to assume the charge of the office of the CEO, NCT of Delhi, immediately.
In January, the poll panel asked the Delhi government to furnish a panel of three IAS officers to select the CEO. Ashok Kumar was one of the three officers whose names were sent to the ECI by the Rekha Gupta government.
Sanjay Seth Leads Indian Delegation to World Defence Show in Riyadh
Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth led a high-level Indian delegation to Saudi Arabia to participate in the third World Defence Show in Riyadh on February 8 and 9. The delegation included senior officers from the Department of Defence Production and the armed forces.
Seth inaugurated the first-ever India pavilion at the show, covering 400 square meters. The pavilion highlighted India’s growing indigenous capabilities in defence manufacturing and technology, featuring nearly 25 defence enterprises.
On the sidelines of the event, Seth held a bilateral meeting with Saudi Assistant Minister of Defence Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari, focusing on deepening India-Saudi defence cooperation and enhancing engagement across services. He also met Ahmad bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, Governor of the Saudi General Authority for Military Industries, to discuss defence manufacturing, industrial collaboration, and opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The minister visited Indian defence industry stalls and engaged with industry leaders and participants, highlighting India’s expanding defence and aerospace ecosystem, driven by innovation, indigenization, and global partnerships-reinforcing the vision of “Make in India, Make for the World.”
Seth also toured the Saudi pavilion and met senior officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defence, Saudi Arabian Military Industries, and the General Authority for Military Industries to discuss capabilities, programmes, and future initiatives of the Saudi armed forces.
The World Defence Show is a biennial international defence exhibition hosted by Saudi Arabia. It serves as a vital platform for India to showcase indigenization initiatives, advanced technologies, and manufacturing capabilities while fostering international partnerships in the global defence ecosystem.