24th June Current Affairs

1New GI Tag: The unique Khurasani Imli (the fruit of the iconic Baobab tree) from Mandu, Madhya Pradesh, officially received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

This fruit is linked to the historic town of Mandu in the Dhar district.

The GI recognition safeguards the authenticity of this fruit and the cultural, ecological, and historical legacy of the region.

What Is Khurasani Imli?

Despite its name, Khurasani Imli is not the common tamarind (Tamarindus indica). It is the fruit of the African Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata), one of the world’s most extraordinary tree species. The fruit has a distinctive sweet-sour taste with a cream-of-tartar flavour and is valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties.

The tree is also known as:

Mandu Imli

Gorilla Tamarind

Monkey Bread Tree

Upside-Down Tree

The Baobab is famous for its enormous bottle-shaped trunk and can survive harsh drought conditions by storing large quantities of water.

Key Features

Scientific Name: Adansonia digitata

Common Name: Khurasani Imli / Baobab Fruit

Tree Lifespan: Up to 2,000 years

Water Storage Capacity: Up to 120,000 litres.

2International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

celebrates the achievements of female diplomats worldwide while advocating for equal representation, inclusive leadership, and the elimination of structural barriers that hinder women in international relations

In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 24 June as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy

The day serves as a reminder that women play a crucial role in:

Peacebuilding and conflict resolution

International negotiations

Foreign policy formulation

Multilateral cooperation

Human rights advocacy

Sustainable development initiatives

India's Women in Diplomacy

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit - India’s First Global Diplomatic Icon: One of India’s earliest and most influential women diplomats, she led India’s delegation to the United Nations and became the first woman President of the UN General Assembly in 1953.

Muthamma, the First Woman IFS Officer: She became the first woman to join the Indian Foreign Service in 1949.

Nirupama Rao, India’s First Woman Foreign Secretary

Ruchira Kamboj,Indian Foreign Service officer, she became India’s first woman Permanent Representative to the UN in 2022.

3QS Global Future Skills Index 2027

India has been ranked 13th globally in the QS Global Future Skills Index for 2027.

India has achieved a record of 5th place in the 'Future of Work' category.

The world is taking note of what India's youth are really capable of; and the strategic thrust on scaled investment in our people and systemic reforms in the skilling ecosystem is showing results.