This is the current affairs of 20 & 21 July 2025. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and which European countries with the ‘European Free Trade Association’ (EFTA) will come into force from October 1, 2025?
a. Hungary, Ireland
b. Iceland, Liechtenstein
c. Norway, Switzerland
d. Both b and c
Answer: d. Both b and c (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
– Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has announced that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European group of four countries, EFTA, will come into effect from October 1.
– On March 10, 2024, India signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), a group of four countries — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
– These four countries are not part of the European Union (a group of 27 countries).
What is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?
FTA – Free Trade Agreement
– This agreement is used to simplify trade.
– Under an FTA, customs duties, regulatory laws, subsidies, and quotas on products imported and exported between two or more countries are simplified.
– Tariffs are either very low or completely removed. There are no restrictions on the import and export of products.
Why was the agreement signed?
– The goal of this agreement is to bring investments worth $100 billion (approximately ₹8.27 lakh crore) to India within 15 years and create up to 1 million jobs.
– This means that these four European countries will invest $100 billion in India.
– Several products, such as Swiss watches, chocolates, and cut and polished diamonds, will be allowed at reduced or zero tariffs.
– The agreement is aimed at boosting investments and exports in domestic service sectors like IT, audio-visual, and the movement of skilled professionals.
First-ever investment from EFTA countries in India
– Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that, for the first time in world history, India is signing an FTA with a binding commitment from EFTA countries to invest $100 billion in India.
Since when has the FTA been under discussion?
– Talks for this trade agreement began in 2008, but for certain reasons, discussions stalled by the end of 2013.
– After a gap of over a decade, talks resumed in 2023.
– Before the agreement was finalized, a total of 21 rounds of negotiations took place. The agreement was signed on March 10, 2024.
What will India gain?
– Among the four countries with which the agreement has been signed, Switzerland has the largest trade with India.
– For some time, India will reduce or remove customs duties on high-quality Swiss products such as Swiss watches, chocolates, and biscuits. India imposes 30% import duty on chocolates and 20% on watches.
– The global leadership of EFTA countries will open new doors of collaboration in many sectors such as digital trade, banking and financial services, transport and logistics, industrial machinery, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food processing, and clean energy.
– India also has a similar agreement with the UAE and Australia.
Iceland
– Iceland, a Nordic island nation, has volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and volcanoes.
– Capital: Reykjavik
– PM: Katrín Jakobsdóttir
– Currency: Icelandic krone
Norway
– Norway is a Nordic country surrounded by mountains, glaciers and deep coastlines.
– Capital: Oslo
– Monarch: Harald V
– Prime Minister: Jonas Gahr Støre
– Currency: Norwegian krone
Switzerland
– It is a country in Central Europe.
– Capital: Bern
– President: Karin Keller-Sutter
– Currency: Swiss franc
Liechtenstein
– It is a small landlocked country located in Europe.
– Capital: Vaduz
– Prime Minister: Brigitte Haas
– Currency: Swiss franc
– Area: 160 square kilometers (equal to the area of the Indian city of Jhansi)
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2. The world’s oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh passed away, how old was he?
a. 100 years
b. 111 years
c. 114 years
d. 112 years
Answer: c. 114 years
– Fauja Singh passed away on 14 July 2025.
– He was walking on a highway near his village Vyas Pind in Jalandhar, Punjab, when a truck hit him and fled.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to him through a tweet.
– Fauja Singh was fondly called “The Turbaned Tornado,” “Running Baba,” and “Sikh Superman” by his admirers.
Could not walk until the age of five
– He was physically weak during childhood.
– His legs were very thin, and because of this, children used to tease him by calling him “Stick.”
– Even after he started walking, due to his weak legs, he could not cover long distances.
– However, gradually he started running and would easily defeat his playmates!
– After the partition of India and Pakistan, Fauja Singh stopped running.
– In 1992, his wife and daughter passed away.
– In August 1994, his youngest son Kuldeep passed away.
– In 1990, he moved to England to live with his eldest son.
– At the age of 89, Fauja Singh began marathon training in England.
– In the year 2000, he ran his first marathon in London.
– His coach says that he would easily run 20 kilometers and would insist on running marathons.
– Actually, the marathon used to be 26 miles (42 kilometers). Fauja Singh thought it was the same as 26 kilometers.
– In 2004, when he completed the marathon in 6 hours and 54 minutes, he set a new record.
– For a runner over the age of 90, the previous record was 54 minutes longer.
Could not be entered into the Guinness World Records
– Fauja Singh did not have a birth certificate. In fact, when he was born, birth certificates were not issued in India.
– Therefore, his name is not recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
– However, Fauja Singh’s British passport mentions his birth year as 1911.
– For the Guinness Record, they were asked to consider the age mentioned on the passport, but it was not accepted.
– On Fauja Singh’s 100th birthday, Queen Elizabeth of Britain congratulated him.
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3. Who was honoured with the United Nations (UN) Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Award 2025?
a. Dr. Morisana Kouyaté
b. Brenda Reynolds
c. Kennedy Odede
d. Both b and c
Answer: d. Both b and c
– On 18 July 2025, on the occasion of Nelson Mandela Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres presented this award to Brenda and Kennedy.
Brenda Reynolds
– Brenda is an Indigenous social worker from Canada who works in the field of health and wellness.
– Brenda received this award for her work in the area of Indigenous peoples’ rights, mental health, and care for trauma-affected individuals.
– In 1988, Brenda supported 17 teenage girls in the first residential school sexual abuse case in Saskatchewan.
Kennedy Odede
– Odede is a Kenyan social entrepreneur who founded Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO).
– Having lived for 23 years in the Kibera slum of Kenya, Kennedy Odede rose from living on the streets at the age of 10 to gaining global recognition.
– He was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024.
– Odede is also a New York Times bestselling co-author and has played important roles with USAID, the World Economic Forum, the Obama Foundation, and the Clinton Global Initiative.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Award
– On the occasion of Mandela Day on 18 July, the United Nations presents the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Award every five years to individuals who have dedicated their lives to service and human rights.
– This award was established in the year 2014.
– Nelson Mandela International Day serves as a powerful reminder that everyone has the ability and responsibility to make the world a better place.
Nelson Mandela
– Nelson Mandela was the first Black former President of South Africa. Before becoming President, he was the President of the African National Congress and its armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, which opposed the centuries-old apartheid system in South Africa.
– Nelson Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
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4. According to the Global Wetland Outlook 2025, how many hectares of wetlands have been lost since 1970?
a. 41.2 crore hectares
b. 41.3 crore hectares
c. 40.2 crore hectares
d. 419 crore hectares
Answer: a. 41.2 crore hectares
– The United Nations-supported Global Wetland Outlook 2025, prepared by the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Convention on Wetlands.
– According to the report, since 1970 the world has lost 22% of its wetlands.
– These include peatlands, rivers, lakes, mangroves, and marshy areas.
– This area is much larger than the total landmass of India.
– This destruction is continuing at a rate of 0.52% per year.
– The damage amounts to more than 5.1 trillion dollars.
– Factors such as unplanned urbanization, pollution, agricultural expansion, and climate change are making the situation even more complex.
– If this trend continues, by the year 2050 we will lose ecological benefits worth 39 trillion dollars provided by these wetlands.
There will be a loss in terms of quality of life
– If these conditions persist, the loss will not be just financial but will also impact biodiversity, weather protection, and the quality of life.
– Wetlands are our greatest defensive shield against climate change.
– Mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses protect coastal areas from storms, while peatlands are the most effective at storing carbon.
– According to the journal Global Environmental Change, tropical wetlands save 4,620 lives every year across the world!
– And they avert potential economic losses worth ₹33.6 lakh crore.
– In India alone, these wetlands save 414 lives and ₹65,339.4 crore every year.
Wetlands
– Wetlands, or ārdra-bhūmi (marshlands), are areas where water covers the soil or is present near the surface.
– This creates a unique ecosystem. These areas can consist of freshwater, saltwater, or a mixture of both.
– Wetlands are considered the “kidneys of nature” because they play an important role in purifying water, controlling floods, and providing habitat for wildlife.
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5. Which Union Minister was honored with the Kalinga Ratna Award 2024 by President Draupadi Murmu?
a. Shivraj Singh Chouhan
b. Nitin Jairam Gadkari
c. Dharmendra Pradhan
d. Arjun Ram Meghwal
Answer: c. Dharmendra Pradhan
– On 15 July 2025, the President presented this award to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a program organized in Cuttack, Odisha.
– The ceremony was held during the 600th birth anniversary celebrations of the renowned 15th-century Odia poet, Adikavi Sarala Das, organized by Sarala Sahitya Sansad.
Kalinga Ratna Award 2024
– The award is presented annually by Sarala Sahitya Sansad to individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of education, literature, culture, or public service.
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6. Which African country has been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be trachoma free in July 2025?
a. Kenya
b. Congo
c. Ghana
d. Senegal
Answer: d. Senegal
– Senegal has become the ninth African country to be declared trachoma-free by the WHO.
– And it is the 25th country in the world.
– WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “I commend Senegal for freeing its population from this disease.”
– The fight against trachoma in Senegal began in the early 20th century, and by the 1980s, this disease had become recognized as a major cause of blindness.
– In 1998, the country joined WHO’s alliance for the global elimination of trachoma.
Trachoma
– It is a bacterial infectious disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.
– It primarily affects the eyes and is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness worldwide.
– The disease is common in poor and rural areas of Africa, Asia, the Americas, Australia, and the Middle East.
– It causes blindness or visual impairment in about 1.9 million people, which accounts for approximately 1.4 percent of global blindness cases.
Capital: Dakar
– President: Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye
– Prime Minister: Ousmane Sonko
– Population: 18 million
– Language: French
– Neighboring countries: Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia.
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7. When is International Nelson Mandela Day observed?
a. 19 July
b. 20 July
c. 18 July
d. 21 July
Answer: b. 20 July
– The International Chess Federation (FIDE) was established in Paris on 20 July 1924.
– Since then, International Chess Day is celebrated on 20 July.
– The United Nations also gave information about this.
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8. When is National Flag Day celebrated?
a. 19 July
b. 20 July
c. 22 July
d. 25 July
Answer: c. 22 July
– India’s National Flag Day is observed to commemorate the adoption of the Indian National Flag by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947, a few days before the country gained independence from the British (15 August 1947).
– On 22 July 1947, the Indian Constituent Assembly, under the chairmanship of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, adopted the National Flag.
– The National Flag is a symbol of national pride, unity, and the freedom struggle, as well as a tribute to the sacrifices of the freedom fighters.
– The hoisting, usage, and display of the Indian National Flag are governed by the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and the Indian Flag Code, 2002.
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9. Which two artists were appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as SVEEP icons for Bihar?
a. Akshay Kumar and Vijay Prakash
b. Neetu Chandra and Kranti Prakash Jha
c. Vineet Narayan and Nirahua
d. Nirahua and Prakash Jha
Answer: b. Neetu Chandra and Kranti Prakash Jha
– SVEEP : Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation
– Amid preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, the aim of involving these popular personalities among the public is to promote voter literacy and participation in creative ways.
– Earlier, Maithili folk singer Maithili Thakur was appointed for the same purpose in 2023.
Neetu Chandra
– A native of Patna, she has worked in several Indian languages as well as Hollywood films.
– She is also a trained martial artist, classical dancer, and sportsperson.
Kranti Prakash Jha
– A native of Bhagalpur, he has appeared in several films such as Batla House, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, and Samrat Prithviraj.
– Chief Election Commissioner: Gyanesh Kumar
– Election Commissioners: Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi
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10. Heavy rains led to flood-like conditions in Rajasthan in July 2025, according to the Meteorological Department, how much percent more rain than normal has occurred there.
a. 120%
b. 126%
c. 109%
d. 90%
Answer: b.126%
– According to the Meteorological Department, since the onset of the monsoon season on 1 June 2025, Rajasthan has received 126% more rainfall than normal.
– Officials provided this information on 19 July 2025, stating that due to the rainfall, flood-like situations have arisen in several cities including Ajmer, Pushkar, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, and Pali.
– Due to heavy rainfall, the overflowing of rivers, streams, and dams has cut off connectivity to several villages.
– Ajmer’s Ana Sagar Lake is overflowing, and local residents are using sandbags to control the flow of water.
– Radheshyam Sharma, Director of the Jaipur Meteorological Department, indicated that the depression formed over eastern Rajasthan will gradually move toward western Rajasthan.
– It will weaken and transform into a low-pressure area in the next few hours.
– Capital: Jaipur
– Chief Minister: Bhajanlal Sharma
– Governor: Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde
– Population: 68.5 million (2011)
– Language: Language
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