Bolivia
Context: Bolivia recently declared a 90-day state of emergency amid nationwide protests over austerity measures, fuel shortages and road blockades disrupting essential supplies.
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About Bolivia
- Bolivia is a landlocked country in central South America officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
- La Paz serves as the administrative capital, while Sucre is the constitutional and judicial capital.
Location: Bolivia lies in the heart of South America between the Andes Mountains and the Amazon Basin.-
- It covers an area of approximately 1.1 million square kilometres, making it one of South America’s largest countries.
- Borders: Bolivia is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Peru to the northwest, Chile to the southwest, Argentina borders Bolivia to the south, while Paraguay lies to the southeast.
- Climate: Bolivia exhibits diverse climatic conditions ranging from cold alpine climates in the Andes to tropical climates in the Amazon lowlands.
- Landforms:
- The Andes Mountains dominate western Bolivia and contain extensive mineral resources.
- Bolivia holds the largest estimated lithium reserves in the world.
- The Altiplano Plateau, one of the world’s highest inhabited plateaus, lies between the Andean ranges.
- Vegetation: Tropical rainforests cover much of northern and eastern Bolivia within the Amazon region.
- Eastern Bolivia consists of lowland plains, forests and savanna landscapes.
- Water Bodies: Lake Titicaca, shared with Peru, is the world’s highest navigable lake.
- Major river systems include the Madeira, Beni, Mamoré and Pilcomayo rivers.
- Most rivers drain into the Amazon Basin and the La Plata Basin.
- Highest Point: Nevado Sajama (6,542 m) is Bolivia’s highest peak and an extinct stratovolcano located in the western Andes.
Nirbhay Chetna
Context: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched ‘Nirbhay Chetna’ to sensitise over 17.5 lakh male elected representatives on women’s safety and gender equality.
About Nirbhay Chetna
- Nirbhay Chetna is a nationwide gender-sensitisation programme implemented through Panchayati Raj Institutions under the broader Nirbhay Raho Initiative.
- It aims to promote gender-responsive governance by building awareness, accountability and community leadership among male elected representatives.
- Key Features
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- Male Sensitisation and Gender Equality: The programme trains male elected representatives on women’s safety, dignity, leadership and gender-sensitive decision-making.
- It promotes positive masculinity and encourages community participation in preventing gender-based violence.
- Nationwide Capacity-Building Framework: The initiative follows a cascading training model through master trainers at State, district and block levels.
- Around 28,500 master trainers will train male elected representatives across Panchayats nationwide.
- Grassroots Governance Transformation: Panchayats are encouraged to integrate women’s safety concerns into local governance and development planning.
- The programme strengthens local institutions as first responders for legal awareness, support services and grievance redressal.
About Nirbhay Raho Initiative
- Nirbhay Raho is a comprehensive rural women’s safety and empowerment initiative launched in March 2026.
- It is funded through the Nirbhaya Fund and seeks to create safer, more inclusive and gender-responsive rural communities.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- Components
- Nirbhay Netri: Focuses on leadership development, legal awareness and capacity-building of elected women representatives.
- Nirbhay Chetna: Sensitises male elected representatives on gender equality, women’s rights and community responsibility.
- Nirbhay Drishti: Promotes installation of CCTV cameras and technology-enabled safety infrastructure in rural areas.
- Significance
- Grassroots Social Transformation: Targets over 32 lakh Panchayat representatives to challenge patriarchal norms and promote gender justice.
- Strengthened Local Support Systems: Enables Panchayat leaders to facilitate legal aid, cyber-safety awareness and access to support mechanisms.
- Inclusive Governance: Integrates gender perspectives into local planning and contributes to the vision of Viksit Bharat through women-led development.
NAFEX.in
Context: The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation launched NAFED’s auction platform, NAFEX.in.
About NAFEX.in
- It is a digital auction platform developed by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).
- Online Interface: Designed to streamline auction-related activities through an online interface.
- Objectives: Aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business in agricultural auctions.
- Beneficiaries: Benefits farmers, member institutions, and other stakeholders.
Other Initiatives Launched Alongside
- NAFED-KALYAN: Scholarship scheme for children of farmers.
- DRISHTI Portal: Inventory management system for pulses and oilseeds.
- ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Portal: Strengthens enterprise resource planning and operational management within NAFED.
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About NAFED
- NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.) is a central cooperative organisation established to promote the marketing and trade of agricultural produce for the benefit of farmers in India.
- It acts as a nodal agency for implementing price stabilisation measures under schemes like Operation Greens and PM-AASHA, contributing to the government’s goal of increasing farmers’ income
- Established: 1958.
- Legal Status: Registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act.
- Headquarters: New Delhi.
- Network: Has four regional offices (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata) and 28 zonal offices across state capitals and major cities.
Solicitor-General of India
Context: The Union Government has reappointed Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta for a further three-year term beginning from July 1, 2026.
About Solicitor-General of India (SGI)
- The Solicitor-General of India is the second-highest law officer of the Union Government and functions as the principal assistant to the Attorney General of India.
- Constitutional Provision: The Solicitor General is not mentioned in the Indian Constitution.
- It is an executive/statutory position governed by the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987 framed under the proviso to Article 309.
- Eligibility: No specific constitutional qualifications are prescribed for the office.
- By convention, eminent advocates with substantial experience before the Supreme Court are appointed.
- Appointment: The Solicitor-General is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister.
- Tenure: The tenure is generally three years, subject to the provisions of the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987.
- The incumbent is eligible for reappointment.
- Removal: The Solicitor-General holds office during the pleasure of the Government of India.
- The Central Government may terminate the appointment before the completion of tenure.
- The incumbent may also resign by submitting a resignation to the Government.
- Key Role
- The SGI advises the Union Government on legal issues referred by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
- The office represents the Government of India before the Supreme Court, High Courts and various tribunals.
- The SGI assists the Attorney General and appears in important constitutional, taxation, national security and Centre–State dispute cases.
- The SGI may represent the government in matters arising from Presidential References under Article 143.
Khurasani Imli (Baobab Fruit)
Context: Mandu’s Khurasani Imli, the fruit of the Baobab tree, has recently received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, enhancing its recognition and market potential.
About Khurasani Imli
- Khurasani Imli is the fruit of the Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata), found predominantly in the Mandu region of Madhya Pradesh.
- Key Features
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- Unique Origin and Distribution: The Baobab tree is native to Africa and is believed to have been introduced to Mandu nearly six centuries ago by Afghan and Arab traders.
- Mandu hosts India’s largest concentration of naturally occurring Baobab trees, with more than 1,000 trees spread across the region.
- Distinctive Botanical Characteristics: Baobab trees possess massive water-storing trunks giving it the name “Tree of Life” and unique branch patterns resembling an inverted tree.
- The species is highly adapted to dry conditions
- Nutritional and Medicinal Importance: Khurasani Imli is rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants and essential minerals, making it a nutritious fruit.
- Tribal communities traditionally use its pulp, juice, seeds and bark to treat digestive disorders, fatigue, fever and other ailments.
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About Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
- A Geographical Indication (GI) is an intellectual property right that identifies a product as originating from a specific geographical area possessing unique qualities or reputation.
- Provided By: GI registration in India is granted by the Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai, under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Legal Basis: The GI framework is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into force in 2003.
- Global Recognition: The GI system is recognized internationally under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
- Validity: A registered GI receives legal protection for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely for successive ten-year periods.
23 Jun 2026
