News of The Day – 23rd June 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-1: Art & Culture)

• Diplomatic gifts reflected India’s rich handicraft and cultural traditions.
• Kalamkari is a traditional hand-painted or block-printed textile art of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana; it holds a GI tag. 
• Kashmiri Carpets are renowned for intricate hand-knotting techniques and Persian influences; they also possess GI status.

• Bolivia is a landlocked country in central South America.
• It is bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru.
• Major geographical features include the Andes Mountains, Altiplano Plateau, Lake Titicaca (shared with Peru) and parts of the Amazon Basin.

• Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) contain two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients in a single dosage form.
• FDCs can improve patient compliance, reduce pill burden and enhance treatment outcomes when scientifically justified.
• Irrational FDCs may lead to adverse drug reactions, antimicrobial resistance and unnecessary healthcare costs.
• Regulation of FDCs in India is undertaken by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• The Collegium System governs appointments and transfers of judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• It comprises the Chief Justice of India and senior-most Supreme Court judges.
• The system evolved through the Three Judges Cases and is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
• Judicial independence, transparency and accountability remain key issues in debates on judicial appointments.

• The Solicitor General of India (SGI) is the second-highest law officer of the Union Government after the Attorney General. 
• The SGI assists the Attorney General and represents the Union Government before the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• The position is statutory rather than constitutional.
• Law officers are appointed by the Central Government and advise it on legal matters.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• Nirbhay Chetna is a national awareness initiative aimed at promoting gender sensitivity and preventing violence against women.
• The programme targets over 17.5 lakh male elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
• It seeks to strengthen community-level support for women’s safety, dignity and empowerment.
• The initiative complements government efforts under schemes such as Mission Shakti and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme.

(GS-3: Economy)

• Khurasani Imli (Baobab fruit) from Mandu in Madhya Pradesh has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• The Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) is native to Africa and is known as the “Tree of Life.” 
• The GI tag provides legal protection, enhances market value and supports local livelihoods.
• GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

(GS-3: Economy)

• NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.) was established in 1958.
• It is an apex cooperative organization under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• The auction portal aims to improve transparency, efficiency and price discovery in agricultural commodity transactions.
• It supports digital agricultural marketing and enhances farmers’ access to wider markets.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• The e-Civil List is an online database containing service-related information of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers.
• It includes details on cadre allocation, postings, promotions and service history.
• The digital platform enhances transparency, accessibility and administrative efficiency.
• It serves as an important human-resource management tool for the Government of India.

• India emerged as the world’s leading ship recycling nation, largely due to facilities at Alang Ship Breaking Yard in Gujarat.
• Ship recycling recovers steel and reusable materials from decommissioned vessels. 
• India has acceded to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009.
• The sector supports the circular economy, resource efficiency and employment generation.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• Researchers have developed techniques using ultra-fast laser pulses to manipulate atoms and quantum states.
• Such experiments contribute to the development of quantum computing and advanced information-processing technologies.
• Quantum systems exploit principles such as superposition and entanglement to perform complex computations.
• Advances could lead to faster computing, secure communications and breakthroughs in material science.

(GS-3:Disaster Management)

• Building fires are often linked to electrical faults, overcrowding, poor ventilation and non-compliance with safety norms.
• Fire safety standards are governed through the National Building Code (NBC) and state fire safety regulations.
• Educational institutions and hostels require mandatory fire audits, emergency exits and evacuation plans.
• The incident highlights the need for urban safety enforcement and disaster preparedness.