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OTHERS (MISC) Rankings

NITI Aayog Unveils Investment Friendliness Index to Rank States on Business Ecosystems

NITI Aayog has launched a new ranking system, the Investment Friendliness Index (IFI), to evaluate Indian States and Union Territories based on their core investment-related structures.
The evaluation categorizes regions into four performance brackets: Top Performers (scoring above 50), Frontrunners (45-50), Emerging Performers (40 to <45), and Aspiring States (below 40).
In the peer group analysis, Gujarat clinched the top spot among Large States, Uttarakhand led the Hilly and North-Eastern States, and Goa emerged on top among City States and UTs.
For candidates, understanding these indexes is essential as they reflect the policy reforms and business climate initiatives driving cooperative federalism.

Key Facts / Static GK

NITI Aayog Formed: January 1, 2015
NITI Aayog Headquarters: New Delhi
NITI Aayog Chairperson: Narendra Modi
NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson: Ashok Lahiri

Q Practice Quiz — 18 July 2026

1. On which railway section has India's first hydrogen-powered train been launched?

A Jind-Sonipat section
B Kalka-Shimla section
C Ambala-Delhi section
D Rohtak-Panipat section
E Hisar-Gurugram section

Explanation: India's first hydrogen-powered train will initially operate on the Jind-Sonipat section of the Northern Railway in Haryana.

2. Which state secured the first rank among the 'Large States' category in the newly released NITI Aayog Investment Friendliness Index?

A Maharashtra
B Tamil Nadu
C Gujarat
D Odisha
E Karnataka

Explanation: Among the Large States category, Gujarat secured the first rank in the NITI Aayog Investment Friendliness Index.

3. Who has succeeded Iqbal Singh Lalpura as the new Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM)?

A Harjit Singh Grewal
B Munawari Begum
C Taranjit Singh Sandhu
D Hardeep Singh Puri
E Iqbal Singh Chahal

Explanation: Harjit Singh Grewal has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, succeeding Iqbal Singh Lalpura whose tenure ended in April 2025.

4. GAIL has signed an MoU with which organization to collaborate on sourcing and securing strategic critical minerals?

A Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL)
B National Aluminium Company (NALCO)
C Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL)
D Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
E Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL)

Explanation: GAIL (India) Limited signed an MoU with Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) to strengthen collaboration in sourcing critical minerals.

5. At which location did the Indian Navy receive its 21st MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter from the United States?

A Kochi, Kerala
B Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
C Mumbai, Maharashtra
D Karwar, Karnataka
E Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Explanation: The 21st MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter was delivered to the Indian Navy at Kochi, Kerala.

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