- The alpha feature `AnyVolumeDataSource` enables PersistentVolumeClaim objects to use the spec.dataSource field to reference a custom type as a data source ([#88636](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/88636), [@bswartz](https://github.com/bswartz)) [SIG Apps and Storage]

- The `ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy` feature graduates to Beta and enable by default, which enables the `internalTrafficPolicy` field of Service by default. ([#103462](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/103462), [@andrewsykim](https://github.com/andrewsykim))

### Beta

- The Image Locality priority function of the scheduler has been improved and is now enabled by default. With this feature enabled, nodes that have all or a partial set of images required for running a pod are preferred over other nodes, which improves pod start-up time.
- TaintNodeByCondition has been moved to Beta and is enabled by default.
- Scheduler throughput has been improved by ~50% in large clusters (>2000 nodes).

* The following alpha API groups were unintentionally enabled by default in previous releases, and will no longer be enabled by default in v1.8: ([#47690](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/47690), [@caesarxuchao](https://github.com/caesarxuchao))
    * rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1alpha1
    * settings.k8s.io/v1alpha1

- PersistentVolumeLastPhaseTransitionTime feature is stable and enabled by default. ([#124969](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/124969), [@RomanBednar](https://github.com/RomanBednar)) [SIG API Machinery, Apps, Storage and Testing]

* The following alpha API groups were unintentionally enabled by default in previous releases, and will no longer be enabled by default in v1.8: ([#47690](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/47690), [@caesarxuchao](https://github.com/caesarxuchao))

    * rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1alpha1

    * settings.k8s.io/v1alpha1

*   [alpha] Deletion of `PersistentVolumeClaim` objects that are in use by a pod no longer permitted (if alpha feature is enabled).
*   [alpha] Container Storage Interface
    *   New CSIVolumeSource enables Kubernetes to use external CSI drivers to provision, attach, and mount volumes.
*   [alpha] Raw block volumes

* kube-apiserver: the `Priority` admission plugin is now enabled by default when using `--enable-admission-plugins`. If using `--admission-control` to fully specify the set of admission plugins, the `Priority` admission plugin should be added if using the `PodPriority` feature, which is enabled by default in 1.11. ([#65739](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/65739), [@liggitt](https://github.com/liggitt))

- Introduced the `admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1beta1/MutatingAdmissionPolicy` API type. To enable, enable the `MutatingAdmissionPolicy` feature gate (which was off by default) and set `--runtime-config=admissionregistration.k8s.io/v1beta1=true` on the kube-apiserver.