News in Shorts: 11 February 2026

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya

Context: The Prime Minister paid tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his death anniversary, describing him as a guiding force for every generation of the nation.

About Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya

• Deendayal Upadhyay was a prominent Indian philosopher, politician, economist, journalist, and thinker.
• He is widely regarded as the ideological architect of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), the precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• Birth: Born in 1916 in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
• Association with RSS: Joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1937 and became a full-time pracharak (propagator).
  • Started the monthly publication Rashtra Dharma in the 1940s to promote Hindutva and national duties.
• Political Career: Played a key role in founding the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951 (along with Syama Prasad Mookerjee).
• Philosophy: Integral Humanism (Ektaatm Maanavvaad) His most significant contribution.
  • Drafted in 1965 as the official doctrine of the Jana Sangh (and later BJP).
  • It critiques both capitalism and communism, proposing an indigenous model centered on the human being.
• Core concepts:
  • Antyodaya: Upliftment of the poorest and last person in society as a true measure of progress.
  • Swadeshi and Self-Reliance: Economic policies rooted in Indian needs, promoting decentralization and village-based development.
  • Dharma-Centric: Society guided by moral order (dharma), not class conflict or individualism; draws from Vedanta, Gandhi’s sarvodaya, and four purusharthas (dharma, artha, kama, moksha).
  • Harmony over conflict: Rejects materialism; advocates cultural nationalism and human dignity.

World Defence Show 2026

Context: India showcased its growing indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities at the third edition of the World Defence Show 2026.

About the World Defence Show 2026

• Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Organizer: It is a biennial exhibition organised by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI).
• The 2026 theme: “The Future of Defence Integration“
• India’s Participation: India participated with a high-level delegation, showcasing indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities and inaugurating its first-ever India Pavilion.
  • Discussions were held to deepen India–Saudi defence cooperation and explore co-development opportunities.

India’s Doctor-Population Ratio

Context: In 2026, India’s doctor-population ratio improved to 1:811, surpassing the WHO benchmark of 1:1000, as informed in Parliament.

Key Highlights on India’s Healthcare Workforce

• Doctor Availability:
  • 13.88 lakh registered allopathic doctors.
  • 7.51 lakh AYUSH practitioners
  • Assuming 80% active service → effective ratio 1:811.
• Nursing Capacity: With 39.40 lakh registered nursing personnel and 5,310 nursing institutions, India produces nearly 3.82 lakh nurses annually.
• Role of National Health Mission (NHM): Under NHM, states receive financial and technical assistance through Programme Implementation Plans to bridge human resource gaps, especially in primary and secondary care facilities.

WHO Norms and Benchmarks

• Doctor-Population Ratio Standard: The WHO recommends a minimum doctor-population ratio of 1:1000 to ensure adequate healthcare access.
• Emphasis on Skilled Health Workforce: WHO underscores balanced availability of doctors, nurses and midwives as essential for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• Focus on Equitable Distribution: Beyond aggregate numbers, WHO stresses equitable rural-urban distribution and quality of care delivery.

Significance: Improved health workforce indicators strengthen India’s capacity to achieve Universal Health Coverage and enhance primary healthcare delivery.

BIOFACH 2026

Context: India has been designated ‘Country of the Year’ at BIOFACH 2026, Nuremberg, Germany.

About BIOFACH

• BIOFACH is the world’s premier international trade fair dedicated exclusively to certified organic food and agriculture.
• Organised By: It is organised annually by NürnbergMesse GmbH in Nuremberg, Germany, bringing together global producers, buyers, policymakers and certification bodies.
• Focus Areas: The event promotes organic farming, sustainable agriculture, global organic standards, fair trade practices and environmentally responsible consumption.

India’s Participation

• APEDA-Led Participation: India’s participation is being coordinated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) with an expanded national presence.
• India Pavilion Highlights: The 1,074 sq. m. India Pavilion features 67 co-exhibitors, including exporters, FPOs, cooperatives, laboratories, state agencies and commodity boards.
• Diverse Organic Showcase: Products include organic rice, oilseeds, spices, pulses, herbs, essential oils and GI-tagged rice varieties such as Gobindbhog and Chak Hao.
• Pan-India Representation: Exhibitors from over 20 states and Union Territories highlight India’s regional diversity in organic agriculture.

Significance

• Boost to Organic Exports: The designation enhances India’s global visibility and export potential in the fast-growing organic market.
• Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture: It reinforces India’s commitment to eco-friendly farming and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
• Strengthening Farmer Incomes: Greater global access benefits FPOs and small producers through improved market linkages and value realisation.

National Medicinal Plants Board

Context: The National Medicinal Plants Board will hold a Chintan Shivir in New Delhi.

About Chintan Shivir on Medicinal Plants

• The Chintan Shivir will be organised in New Delhi and inaugurated by the Union AYUSH Minister.
• Objectives: To deliberate on policy reforms, research priorities, innovation strategies and implementation challenges in the sector.
• Significance: The initiative seeks to strengthen institutional coordination, enhance scientific validation and boost India’s global leadership in traditional medicine and herbal trade.

National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB)

• NMPB was established in 2000 to promote coordinated development of the medicinal plants sector in India.
• Nodal Ministry:Ministry of AYUSH
• Role and Mandate: The Board supports conservation, cultivation, sustainable management and marketing of medicinal plants while strengthening supply chains and quality standards.
• Key Initiatives
  • National AYUSH Mission (NAM): Promotes market-driven cultivation of over 140 prioritized medicinal plant species with subsidies ranging from 30% to 75%.
  • e-CHARAK Portal: Facilitates online interaction between buyers and sellers of medicinal plants.
  • Ayush Aapke Dwar Campaign: Encourages distribution of medicinal plant saplings to households and institutions.
  • Raw Drug Repositories (RDRs): Establishes regional and national repositories to maintain authentic samples and standardize quality benchmarks.

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