21st July 2015 Current Affair Updates | Daily GK Download

1. India and Russia signed an agreement in defence sector. In a move aimed at boosting India’s defence sector, 200 helicopters will be manufactured in the country with Russian collaboration as part of intensification and diversification of their strategic ties. According to Indian Ambassador to Russia P.S. Raghavan the agreement is one of the several new defence projects on which the two countries are working on, including under the ambit of ‘Make in India’ programme.

2. With bilateral trade extremely low, India and Russia have initiated steps to remove the hindrances and boost commerce by signing an agreement in the area of customs and moving to liberalize business visas. The bilateral trade during the last year was just $9.51 billion. The two countries have fixed a trade target of $30 billion to be achieved by 2025.

3. The Kerala Tourism has bagged this year's Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) award for its Muziris Heritage Project in the 'Heritage & Culture' category. The award, sponsored by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), went to the Muziris Heritage Project for its conservational efforts, uniqueness and impact on local community. The flagship project of the government of Kerala is one of the biggest heritage conservation projects of modern India.

21st July 2015 Current Affair Updates | Daily GK Download

4. French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi (25), who sustained serious head injuries at last year’s Japanese Grand Prix, passed away. He was in coma for last 9 months. He was racing for F1 team Marussia at this Grand Prix. He sustained critical head injuries in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka in October 2014.

5. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) retained its India GDP growth projection for FY 2015-16 at 7.8 percent and 8.2 percent in 2016-17, but cautioned that delay in reforms relating to land acquisition and GST could hamper growth. Indian economy grew 7.3 percent in 2014-15. ADB, however, has cut its growth forecast for developing Asia to 6.1 percent from the earlier 6.3 percent.

6. The French government has knighted veteran South African freedom fighter Ahmed Kathrada for his life-long service to the community. The award is part of the National Orders of the Legion of Honour established by Napoleon Bonaparte in May 1802. Kathrada, 85, became the confidante of anti-apartheid icon and former South African president Nelson Mandela.

7. Prashant Pathrabe was appointed as the new Director of Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) by the Union Govt. Prashant Pathrabe is the Director of National Film Archive of India (Pune) and he has been given the charge of FTII Director as additional charge. Pathrabe, an MBA from IIM, Ahmedabad joined the Indian Information Service in 1993. He replaced D.J. Narain.

8. An Indian-origin doctor has received the honorary fellowship by one of the leading British Universities for his contribution to the community as a general practitioner and medical educator. 77-year-old Shiv Pande has been awarded an honorary fellowship of the University of Central Lancashire.

9. The Reserve Bank of India signed a special currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka that will allow the latter to draw up to $1.1 billion. Under the arrangement, the Sri Lankan bank can draw up to $1.1 billion for a maximum period of six months. Earlier in March, RBI had signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for $400 million under the existing SAARC Currency Swap Framework within the overall limit of $2 billion.