Daily Current Affairs- 11th July 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 11th July 2026

NSE Launches Nifty500 Ahimsa Index

In the News: NSE Indices Limited launched the Nifty500 Ahimsa Index on 10 July 2026. The thematic index tracks companies from the Nifty 500 universe whose products, services and business practices follow the principle of Ahimsa, or non-violence. It was developed in collaboration with the Ahimsagain Foundation under its Ahimsa Investment Movement framework.

Key Points:

• Selection of Companies: The Ahimsagain Foundation classifies companies into Green, Orange and Red bands after evaluating their impact on animals. Only companies classified under the Green band are eligible, while those in the Orange and Red bands are excluded from the index.
• Number of Constituents: The index comprised 326 companies at the time of its launch. Its constituents are drawn from the Nifty 500, providing representation across sectors such as automobiles, capital goods, information technology, financial services and telecommunications.
• Index Methodology: Each constituent is weighted according to its free-float market capitalisation, which considers shares available for public trading. The index is calculated at the end of each trading day and is reconstituted on a semi-annual basis.
• Base Details: The index has a base date of 1 April 2016 and a base value of 1,000. It also has a Total Returns Index variant that takes dividend income into account while calculating overall returns.
• Major Constituents and Uses: Bharti Airtel was the largest constituent at launch, followed by Infosys, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Consultancy Services and Maruti Suzuki India. The index may be used for benchmarking and for developing exchange-traded funds, index funds and structured products.

Indian Air Force Ranked World’s 3rd Strongest Air Force in WDMMA 2026

In the News: The Indian Air Force was ranked the world’s third-strongest national air force in the WDMMA Global Air Powers Ranking 2026, behind the air forces of the United States and Russia. It remained ahead of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force. When the aviation branches of armies, navies and marine forces are counted separately, the IAF occupies sixth position overall.

Key Points:

• Overall Position: The United States Air Force ranked first, followed by the United States Navy, Russian Air Force, United States Army and United States Marine Corps. The IAF ranked sixth among all individual military air services but third among independent national air forces.
• Fleet Strength: WDMMA recorded an active IAF inventory of 1,716 aircraft. This included 542 combat and attack aircraft, 800 general-support aircraft and 374 pilot and crew-training aircraft.
• TruVal Rating: The IAF received a TruVal Rating of 69.4, compared with 63.8 for the Chinese Air Force. China possessed a larger numerical fleet of 3,733 aircraft, but WDMMA placed the IAF higher because its assessment considers factors beyond fleet size.
• Basis of Assessment: The TruVal Rating considers modernisation, logistical support, attack and defence capabilities, special-mission aircraft, training platforms, inventory balance and domestic aerospace capacity. WDMMA does not currently include unmanned aerial vehicles because reporting methods differ among countries.
• Future Procurement: WDMMA listed 349 aircraft under future procurement for the IAF. The ranking covered 103 countries, 129 military air services and 48,082 aircraft, although it is an independent assessment rather than an official intergovernmental ranking.

One Million Women Lose Aid Access Due to Funding Cuts, UN Women Reports

In the News: UN Women released the report “Beyond the Breaking Point” in July 2026, stating that at least one million women and girls had lost access to humanitarian and other critical support during the preceding 18 months. The decline was attributed to severe reductions in international humanitarian and development assistance.

Key Points:

• Coverage of the Survey: The report was based on responses from 855 women-led and women’s rights organisations operating across 52 crisis- and conflict-affected countries. These organisations provide healthcare, shelter, food assistance, legal support and services for survivors of gender-based violence.
• Increasing Demand: Around 84% of the surveyed organisations reported that demand for their services had increased since January 2025. Nearly nine in ten stated that they were no longer able to meet the existing level of need because of insufficient funding.
• Risk of Closure: Two in five organisations surveyed expected to close temporarily or permanently within the following year. Around 60% were reaching fewer women and girls than before January 2025, despite the rise in demand for humanitarian support.
• Reduction in Services: More than three-fourths of the organisations had reduced staff positions, while 65% reported that employees were working without pay. Half had introduced waiting lists or were turning away women and girls who required immediate assistance.
• Wider Humanitarian Situation: Approximately 120 million women and girls worldwide required humanitarian assistance and protection. The report also stated that conflict-related sexual violence doubled in 2025, while 62% of organisations reported that safe spaces had been reduced or were no longer available.

India and New Zealand Sign 10 Agreements, Launch Strategic Partnership Roadmap to 2030

In the News: India and New Zealand elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Auckland on 10-11 July 2026, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years. Prime Minister Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon endorsed the India–New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030. The official outcomes included ten signed documents and eight major announcements.

Key Points:

• Roadmap to 2030: The roadmap provides a four-year framework for cooperation in political engagement, defence and security, trade and economy, culture and sports, education and technology, and regional and multilateral affairs. It does not create legally binding obligations or automatic financial commitments.
• Defence and Maritime Cooperation: The signed documents included arrangements on maritime cooperation, hydrography and nautical cartography, and mutual logistics support between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force. The two countries also announced an annual Maritime Security Dialogue.
• Counter-Terrorism and Disaster Management: A Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism will promote information exchange and coordinated action against terrorism. India’s National Disaster Management Authority and New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency will cooperate on earthquake resilience, tsunami preparedness and emergency response.
• Bilateral Trade Target: The two countries set an aspirational target of doubling bilateral trade in goods and services to NZ$7 billion, approximately ₹35,000 crore, by 2030. They also agreed to work towards the early entry into force and effective implementation of the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
• Other Major Outcomes: Cooperation was expanded in tourism, sports, culture, animal husbandry, dairying, Antarctic research and food technology. Two Centres of Excellence for kiwifruit will be established in Nagaland and Uttarakhand, while New Zealand also joined the Global Biofuels Alliance.

3rd India-Australia Annual Leaders' Summit 2026

In the News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held the 3rd India–Australia Annual Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne on July 9, 2026. The summit took place during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Australia from July 8 to 10. Both leaders reviewed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and announced initiatives covering defence, trade, energy, technology, education and maritime security.

Key Points:

• Defence and Maritime Cooperation: The two countries announced a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation and established an Annual Defence Ministers’ Dialogue. They also adopted the India–Australia Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap and concluded an MoU between the Indian Coast Guard and Australia’s Maritime Border Command.
• Trade and Critical Minerals: India and Australia agreed to continue negotiations for a balanced Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, building on the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement. Cooperation in critical minerals will focus on investment, long-term supply arrangements, processing facilities and resilient supply chains.
• Technology and Space Partnership: The leaders announced the Australia–India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains, known as PACTS. Australia also confirmed continued support for the Gaganyaan programme through a temporary space-tracking terminal on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
• Energy and Nuclear Cooperation: An administrative arrangement was signed to enable long-term exports of Australian uranium to India exclusively for peaceful purposes under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Australia also reiterated its support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
•  Education, Sports and People-to-People Relations: Australia announced 10 million Australian dollars for Maitri grants, while Flinders University and Victoria University advanced plans for campuses in India. The India–Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap was also welcomed ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

JAXA Launches and Lands Reusable Rocket

In the News: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency successfully conducted the first flight test of its experimental reusable rocket, RV-X, on July 11, 2026. The prototype lifted off and landed vertically at the Noshiro Rocket Testing Center in Akita Prefecture. The test demonstrated technologies intended to reduce the cost of future Japanese space launches.

Key Points:

• RV-X Flight Test: The Reusable Vehicle eXperiment, known as RV-X, lifted off, hovered, moved horizontally and returned to the ground in an upright position. The entire experimental flight lasted less than one minute.
• Flight Performance: During the test, the rocket climbed to an altitude of approximately 11 metres and travelled horizontally for about 16 metres before landing safely. JAXA plans to conduct future tests at an altitude of around 100 metres.
• Rocket Specifications: RV-X is approximately 7.3 metres long and 1.8 metres in diameter. It has four shock-absorbing landing legs and a durable engine that had completed 165 combustion tests before the flight demonstration.
• Development Partnership: JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are jointly developing the experimental vehicle. Japan is also cooperating with France and Germany on reusable rocket technologies intended for future space transportation systems.
• Purpose of Reusable Technology: Reusable launch vehicles allow major rocket components to be recovered and flown again, lowering manufacturing and launch costs. The RV-X programme may contribute to the development of a reusable and less expensive successor to Japan’s expendable H3 launch vehicle.