Nifty500 Ahimsa Index (Economy)
3. Nifty500 Ahimsa Index (Economy)
Why In News: NSE Indices Limited, the index-services subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange, has launched the Nifty500 Ahimsa Index. The index tracks companies from the Nifty 500 universe whose businesses align with the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence). Source: The Indian Express, Page 13, 23 July 2026, 'NSE's Ahimsa index: Where love for mammals meets investing' How the Index Works Under the AIM framework, companies are classified into Green, Orange and Red categories based on their alignment with non-violence principles; only Green-category companies qualify for inclusion. The index currently comprises 326 companies selected from the Nifty 500, has a base date of 1 April 2016 and a base value of 1,000, and will be reconstituted semi-annually with weights based on free-float market capitalisation. Its launch follows the BSE's Saatvik 100 Index, introduced a month earlier, which similarly screens out companies linked to animal cruelty, addictive or toxic products, and other harmful activities. Why This Matters The index is expected to support new passive investment products such as ETFs and index funds built around ethical or values-based investing themes in India. It reflects a broader global trend of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and thematic investing. Key Facts for Prelims SEBI regulates index providers and mandates disclosure norms for benchmark methodology under its Index Providers Regulations. A thematic index differs from a broad market index like Nifty 50 or Nifty 500 in that it selects constituents based on a specific idea, sector or ethical screen rather than pure market capitalisation. National Stock Exchange was incorporated in 1992 and began operations in 1994. ○ Headquarters: Located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. ○ Regulatory Recognition: Recognized by SEBI in 1993. ○ Ownership Structure: Held by a mix of public and private financial institutions, including LIC, SBI, Temasek, and Morgan Stanley.