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Current Affairs 18 July 2021
Daily Current Affairs 18 July 2021: This post contains the latest current affairs for 18 July 2021 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.
National
India’s first driverless pod taxis will connect Jewar international airport with Greater Noida
- The first-ever pod taxi service in India is soon to start running between the upcoming Noida International Greenfield Airport (or Jewar Airport) and Noida Film City in Greater Noida, having a distance of around 14 km.
- The driverless Pod taxis can accommodate four to six passengers per car, and will give a hassle-free travel experience to the commuters in addition to reducing the travel time.
- The estimated cost of the pod taxi project is about Rs 50-60 crore per kilometer.
- It will start running on the tracks as soon as flights start operating from the upcoming Noida Airport.
- The pod taxi service will be developed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
Zurich airport signs shareholder agreement with NIAL for development of Noida airport
- The Zurich Airport International has signed a shareholder agreement with the Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) in Lucknow for the development of the Noida International Airport at Jewar.
- As per the shareholder agreement, NIAL will hold one golden share in Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL) and the right to nominate two directors to the board.
- YIAPL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, incorporated as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop the greenfield Noida International Airport.
- The two directors who will be part of the board are Arun Vir Singh, chief executive of NIAL, and Vishak Iyer, Director Civil Aviation, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
- The Zurich Airport will design, develop and operate the new greenfield airport in Jewar under a 40-year concession.
Government launches Digital Platform ‘Kisan Sarathi’ to facilitate farmers to get ‘right information at right time’ in their desired language
- The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnav jointly launched a digital platform ‘Kisan Sarathi’ to help farmers in getting ‘right information at right time’ in their desired language.
- The platform was launched on July 16, 2021 during the foundation day celebration of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).
- Through the digital platform ‘Kisan Saarathi, the farmers can interact and avail personalised advisories on agriculture and allied areas directly from the respective scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs).
Annual Bonalu Festival Kicks-off in Telangana
- The annual state festival ‘Bonalu’ began on July 11, 2021 in Telangana. It is celebrated in the month of Ashada Masam which falls in July/August.
- The Hindu Festival is celebrated in Twin Cities Hyderabad, Secunderabad and other parts of Telangana to worship Goddess Mahakali.
- Bonam means Meal in Telugu, and denotes offering to the Mother Goddess as a form of thanksgiving after the fulfillment of vows.
- The traditional bonam (made from rice, jaggery and milk) is offered to the goddess Mahankali at 25 temples across the twin cities.
Defence
India, Sri Lanka and Maldives conduct virtual trilateral table top exercise ‘TTX-2021’ on maritime security
- A virtual trilateral table top exercise, TTX-2021, among the top defence officials from India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives was held from July 14 to July 15, 2021.
- During the two-day exercise they discussed best practices and procedures for countering common transnational maritime crime like curbing narcotics and assistance in maritime search and rescue.
- TTX-2021 was coordinated by the Maritime Warfare Centre, Mumbai.
United States Navy hands over first two MH-60R multi-role helicopters to Indian Navy
- The Indian Navy received the first two MH-60R Multi Role Helicopters (MRH) from the United States Navy on July 16, 2021, at Naval Air Station in North Island, San Diego.
- In February 2020, the Indian Navy and the US Navy had signed Rs 15,157 crore ($2.13 billion) deal to buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, under foreign military sales from the US government.
- The delivery of the first two MH-60R ‘Romeo’ helicopters to the Indian Navy marks the beginning of a new era of defence collaboration and partnership between the US and India.
- Further, the US Navy will support the Indian Naval Forces through capability upgrades and sustainment as the aircraft is inducted.
Obituary
Former Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain Passes Away at 80
- Former President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain has passed away after a prolonged illness. He was 80.
- He served as the 12th President of Pakistan between September 2013 and September 2018.
- Hussain was born in Agra in 1940 but migrated with his parents to Pakistan in 1947.
Days
Nelson Mandela International Day : 18 July
- Nelson Mandela International Day (also Mandela Day) is held every year on July 18 globally to honour the legacy of the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
- The day 18 July marks the birth anniversary of the great South African leader, who was born in 1918.
- United Nations officially declared July 18 as UN Mandela Day in November 2009.
- The first UN Mandela Day was held on 18 July 2010.
