News In Short 11-02-2026

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya

Syllabus: GS1/Personality in News

Context

• The Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his death anniversary (11 February).

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (1916–1968)

• Born on September 25, 1916, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was a political thinker, economist, and founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS).
• He studied in Kanpur and later joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), becoming a full-time pracharak in 1942.
• He was known for propounding the philosophy of Integral Humanism (Ekatma Manav Darshan), which emphasized harmony between material and spiritual development, decentralization, and a self-reliant village-based economy.
• He also contributed to ideological journalism through publications such as Rashtra Dharma (monthly), Panchajanya (weekly), and Swadesh (daily).

Legacy 

• He propounded the concept of Antyodaya, meaning the “rise of the last person,” focusing on uplifting the poorest and most marginalized sections of society.
  • Government schemes named after him include: Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY).

Source: PIB

India Records Highest-ever Tea Exports in 2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

Context

• India recorded its highest-ever tea exports in 2025, touching 280.40 million kg during January–December 2025,  marking a significant increase from 256.17 million kg in 2024.

About Tea

• India is the second largest tea exporter in the world.
• Types of tea exported: Primarily black tea (96%), with small quantities of regular, green, herbal, masala, and lemon tea.
• Key driver: Significant rise in shipments to West Asia, especially Iraq, UAE and Iran, now accounting for 20% of India’s tea exports.
  • Exports to China surged to 16.13 million kg in 2025, compared to just 6.24 million kg in 2024.
• India’s Export destinations: Over 25 countries, including UAE, Iraq, Iran, Russia, US, and UK.
• Prominent tea regions: Assam (Assam Valley, Cachar) and West Bengal (Dooars, Terai, Darjeeling).
• Global reputation: Indian teas, especially Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri, are renowned for their quality.
  • China is the largest tea producing country in the world followed by India.

Geographical Condition for Tea production

• The tea plant grows well in tropical and subtropical climates. Tea bushes require a warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year. 
• Soil: It requires deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter. 
• Temperature: The average annual temperature for tea plants to grow well is in the range of 15-23°C. 
• Precipitation: The rainfall needed is between 150-200 cm. Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.
• Major tea producing states are Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  • Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura are also tea-producing states in the country.

Source: BS

Network Readiness Index Report 2025

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance, GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• India is placed at 45th rank (with score 54.43 out of 100) as per the Network Readiness Index 2025 report released in 2026.

About

• The report has been prepared by the Portulans Institute, an independent, non-profit research and educational institute based in Washington DC.
• The report maps the network-based readiness landscape of 127 economies based on their performance in four pillars: Technology, People, Governance and Impact, covering a total of 53 indicators. 
• Top Three Nations: USA, Finland, Singapore
• The report states that India secured;
  • 1st rank in “Annual investment in telecommunication services”, “AI scientific publications”, “ICT services exports” and “E-commerce legislation”, 
  • 2nd rank in “FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions”, “Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country” and “International Internet bandwidth”, and 
  • 3rd rank in “Domestic market scale” and “Income Inequality”.
• India is ranked 2nd in the group of lower-middle-income countries.

Source: PIB

US–Bangladesh Trade Pact Dents India’s tariff edge in American Market

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• The US has signed a new trade pact with Bangladesh.

About 

• Under the US–Bangladesh pact, American tariffs on Bangladeshi exports have been reduced to 19% from 20%, significantly lower than the 37% rate imposed in 2025.
  • The agreement offers zero-duty access for certain apparel products, provided they are manufactured using US-origin cotton and man-made fibres.
• India’s Export: India exported $1.47 billion worth cotton yarn (570 million kg) to Bangladesh, which is the biggest destination for Indian yarn, in 2024-2025.
  • Almost 20% of Bangladesh’s garment exports and 26% of India’s cotton apparel exports are to the U.S.
• Concerns for India: The zero-duty clause for Bangladesh could neutralise India’s relative tariff advantage under the India–US deal, where the average textile tariff is expected to come down to around 18%.
  • Exports of Raw Cotton Material: More than 70 percent of India’s exports in this category are destined for Bangladesh.
    • A shift toward American cotton would therefore directly displace Indian shipments.

Source: TH 

Gold ETFs

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• In a first for India, investments in gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in January were greater than inflows into equity-oriented mutual funds.

About

• This underscores the surge in demand for the gold as an investment option, as gold prices continue to hit new highs. 
• Inflows into gold ETFs  more than doubled in January from December 2025 to an all-time high of Rs 24,040 crore.

Gold Exchange Traded Funds

• A gold ETF is a fund that invests in gold bullion and aims to track the performance of the price of gold.
• They are traded like shares on exchanges such as the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) through a demat and trading account.
• Value moves largely with international gold prices and rupee-dollar exchange rates.

Significance

• Easily bought/sold on stock exchanges and there is no need for physical storage or vaults.
• Gold generally has a low correlation with equity markets, helping diversify risk within a portfolio.

Difference between Gold ETFs and Digital Gold

• Regulation: Gold ETFs are regulated by SEBI, whereas Digital Gold is not regulated by any financial market regulator.
• Platform of Purchase: Gold ETFs are traded on stock exchanges, while Digital Gold is bought through online apps and platforms.
• Demat Requirement: Gold ETFs require a demat and trading account; Digital Gold does not.
• Pricing Mechanism: Gold ETF prices are market-linked and transparent; Digital Gold prices include platform-determined spreads.

Source: IE