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India Pulse | February 4, 2026: Your Daily Digest of India's Governance, Progress, and Vision
The India Pulse Newsletter for February 4, 2026 covers Lok Sabha opposition maring proceedings over US-India trade deal and border issues with China, Jaishankar highlighting need for global cooperation on critical minerals, Amit Shah scheduled to launch Bharat Taxi, ECI hosting National Conference of State Election Commissioners, India joining BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies, Future Warfare Course 3.0 emphasising cognitive and cyber domains, INS Sudarshini's first port call in Oman, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs unveiling upgraded NYPS web portal, and PLASTINDIA 2026 expecting over 2,000 global exhibitors.
NEWS IN DETAIL
Lok Sabha: Opposition Marred Proceedings Over US-India Trade Deal, Border Issues With China
The proceedings in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday marred on the third consecutive day of the start of discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address to the joint sitting of the Parliament.
Opposition parties including Congress, DMK, TMC and others raised slogans against the government over the US-India trade deal and border issues with China. The Lok Sabha witnessed three adjournments before being finally adjourned for the day.
When the House assembled at 5 PM after the third adjournment, opposition parties including Congress, TMC and others trooped into the well raising slogans against the government. The Presiding Officer urged the protesting members to allow the House to function, but in vain.
Meanwhile, the House resumed discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s address. The Presiding Officer called PP Chaudhary to speak on the motion of thanks, but he could not complete his speech due to the opposition’s uproar. Amidst the pandemonium, the Chair adjourned the House for the day to meet again at 11 AM on Thursday.
Earlier, when the House assembled at 2 PM after the second adjournment, GM Balayogi of TDP supported the motion of thanks saying the President’s address presents a confident national roadmap rooted in reforms, inclusions and long term competitiveness. He said, the President’s address highlights the creation of 25 lakh jobs in the electronics manufacturing sector and the engagement of more than one crore Indians across the IT services and global capability centres.
Participating in the discussion, Nishikant Dubey of BJP supported the motion of thanks and raised the issue of corruption during the Congress rule. When he made reference about the books related to former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, the Presiding Officer asked Mr Dubey to speak only on motion of thanks as the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has given ruling in the matter. Amidst Opposition uproar, the Chair adjourned the House till 5 PM.
When the House assembled after the first adjournment at 12 noon, the opposition members again started sloganeering over the various issues and trooped into the well. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed concern over the behaviour of the protesting members and urged them to maintain the decorum of the House. He said, such behaviour will weaken the democracy and trust of the people.
Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal made a statement on India-US trade deal. He said, India has been able to successfully safeguard its interests in sensitive sectors particularly agriculture and dairy. Despite, Mr. Birla’s repeated appeal, the opposition members continued with their sloganeering following which the House was adjourned till 2 PM.
Earlier, when the House assembled for the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla took up Question Hour in which Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution Nimuben Bambhaniya tried to reply to a question on Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, but she could not complete her reply following opposition uproar.
Mr. Birla expressed concern over the conduct of the opposition members and appealed to allow the House to function. He urged members to maintain dignity and decorum in the House and allow other members to speak during Question Hour. The opposition members continued with their protest leading to the adjournment of the House till 12 noon.
Jaishankar Highlights Need For Global Cooperation On Critical Minerals
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has underlined the challenges of excessive concentration of critical minerals and the importance of de-risking supply chains through structured international cooperation.
Addressing the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC on Wednesday, Dr Jaishankar also conveyed India’s support to the FORGE initiative on critical minerals. He said this in a post on X.
In his address, he also highlighted India’s efforts towards greater resilience through initiatives including the National Critical Minerals Mission, Rare Earth Corridors and responsible commerce.
His remarks came as US Vice President J.D. Vance invited allies and partners to work together to reshape the global critical minerals market. Vance said modern economies still depended on real things and that critical minerals were as essential as oil and gas.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the importance of economic security through critical minerals and the need for allies to come together not only to rectify the mistakes of the past but to pool in collective talent and innovation to ensure diversity and affordability in supply chains.
Before the start of the ministerial meet, Dr Jaishankar met with several global counterparts, including Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Singapore’s Vivian Balakrishnan. He also interacted with his counterparts from the Netherlands, Italy, Malaysia, Bahrain, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Israel and Uzbekistan.
The United States hosted the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington DC, bringing together delegations from over 50 countries to advance collaboration on securing and diversifying global critical mineral supply chains.
Amit Shah To Launch Bharat Taxi
Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will launch Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, in New Delhi on Thursday.
It will be a significant milestone in strengthening the cooperative sector and promoting inclusive, citizen-centric mobility solutions in the country.
The Ministry of Cooperation said that the platform will place drivers, referred to as Sarathis, at the centre of ownership, operations, and value creation and will free them from exploitative aggregator-based models.
The platform will also operate on a zero-commission and surge-free pricing model, with direct distribution of profits to drivers.
The Ministry mentioned that Bharat Taxi prioritises social security for Sarathis through health insurance, accident insurance, retirement savings, and a dedicated driver support system. It added that initiatives such as Bike Didi are being implemented, under which over one hundred fifty women drivers have joined Bharat Taxi so far.
ECI To Host National Conference Of State Election Commissioners
Election Commission of India (ECI) will host a National Conference of the State Election Commissioners (SECs) on February 24, 2026.
State Election Commissioners of all the States/UTs of the country are expected to attend the Conference, which will be held at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The National SEC Conference is being held after a gap of over 25 years. The last such conference was held in the year 1999.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will chair the Conference along with Election Commissioners, Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi and address the State Election Commissioners at the inaugural ceremony.
State Election Commissioners will participate along with their legal experts and technical experts and present their views. Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of ECI of all 36 States/ UTs will also attend the National Conference.
The primary objective of the Conference is to build synergy in the functioning of ECI and SECs with respect to the electoral processes and logistics within their respective legal frameworks.
The participants will take part in discussion sessions on electoral laws on elector eligibility of the States/UTs, technological interventions spearheaded by the ECI such as the recently launched ECINET digital platform and EVMs amongst other topics.
ECI will also lend its expertise from its experience of preparation of Electoral Rolls and Conduct of Elections as per the Constitution of India and the legal framework of the nation.
India Joins BRICS Centre For Industrial Competencies
India joined the BRICS Centre for Industrial Competencies (BCIC) at an event organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The BCIC, launched in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), serves as a one-stop centre providing integrated support services to manufacturing companies and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across BRICS countries, with a focus on strengthening Industry 4.0 competencies.
On the occasion, a Trust Fund Agreement was signed between DPIIT and UNIDO. The Agreement was signed by Economic Adviser, DPIIT, Shri Agrim Kaushal, and Director, UNIDO, Dr. Cristiano Pasini, formalizing India’s participation in the BCIC framework.
The National Productivity Council (NPC) has been designated as the India Centre for BRICS Industrial Competencies. Under the policy guidance of DPIIT and with technical support from UNIDO, NPC will spearhead India’s engagement with BCIC and contribute to capacity building, productivity enhancement and adoption of advanced manufacturing practices.
Future Warfare Course 3.0 Emphasises Cognitive And Cyber Domains
The third edition of the Tri-Services Future Warfare Course (FWC‑3), being held from February 2, 2026 to February 25, 2026, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, entered its Cognitive and Cyber Warfare module on Wednesday, a segment critical to understanding emerging domains of conflict and the evolving character of warfare.
The module aligns with the overarching objective of the course, to equip officers with a comprehensive understanding of cyber, information, and cognitive warfare, and to foster operational foresight and adaptive thinking.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), in his address highlighted that the future conflicts will be increasingly shaped by cyber and cognitive dimensions, alongside conventional operations.
He emphasised that military decision-making, operational planning, and strategic advantage will increasingly hinge on the ability to navigate complex information environments, counter adversarial influence campaigns, and employ digital and cognitive tools effectively. He further stressed that India’s preparedness in these domains is central to maintaining credible deterrence and operational superiority.
The multi-disciplinary composition of participants including Army, Navy, and Air Force officers, DRDO scientists, academia, and representatives from technology and defence industry partners facilitated a dynamic exchange of ideas.
This environment encouraged participants to explore the integration of cognitive and cyber capabilities across multi-domain operations, and assess how emerging technologies such as AI, neural networks, and automated intelligence systems can be leveraged for operational advantage.
INS Sudarshini’s First Port Call In Oman
Indian Navy’s sail training ship INS Sudarshini has made her first port call at Salalah in Oman.
The Ministry of Defence informed that the deployment is aimed at showcasing the country’s rich maritime heritage and fostering international maritime cooperation. It added that the port call underscores the deep-rooted maritime ties and strategic partnership between India and Oman.
The ministry highlighted that during the three-day visit, a range of professional interactions and training engagements with the Royal Navy of Oman are planned. The ship will also be open to school children and local residents, promoting maritime awareness and people-to-people connections.
The development marks the first international port call of INS Sudarshini iconic transoceanic voyage named Lokayan 26. The ministry further said that the ongoing voyage of Lokayan 26 continues to serve as a symbol of the Navy’s enduring commitment to maritime diplomacy, goodwill, and international cooperation across the oceans.
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Unveils Upgraded NYPS Web Portal
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has unveiled an upgraded version of the National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) web portal, known as NYPS 2.0. In the previous version, participation was limited to recognized educational institutions only.
However, under NYPS 2.0, all the educational institutions, groups and even individual citizens across the country can participate through Institution Participation, Group Participation and Individual Participation respectively.
It enables participation of all the citizens regardless of gender, caste, creed, religion, race, region and place of residence in the country including rural areas, small institutions and groups in the state of Chhattisgarh. Further, to expand the outreach of the NYPS, the Ministry has written to all State Governments, Union Territory Administrations; Legislatures of States/UTs; various educational boards (CBSE, CISCE), and also a publicity video is broadcast from time to time on Sansad TV.
PLASTINDIA 2026 To See Participation Of Over 2,000 Global Exhibitors
PLASTINDIA 2026, one of the world’s premier plastics exhibitions, will commence in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers said that during the event, over two thousand international exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge innovations in machinery, raw materials, and circular economy solutions.
It said that the event will highlight India’s strength in Men, Material, Machine and Markets, while revolving around the strategic pillars of Trade, Technology, Talent, and Tourism. The Ministry further said that for the first time, PLASTINDIA is envisaged as a Zero Waste exhibition.
The theme of this global exhibition is BHARAT NEXT, aligning with the vision of Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The Ministry added that a dedicated space for youth, innovators, and start-ups will be set up, showcasing sustainable plastic solutions and recognising their role in the industry’s future. The exhibition will continue till 10th of this month.