Global Passport Index 2026

Context: The Global Passport Index 2026, released by Global Citizen Solutions, ranked India 125th among 199 countries and territories, down one position from 124th in 2025. 

Key Highlights of the Index

• Sweden topped the 2026 rankings, followed by Switzerland and Finland. Nine of the top ten positions were occupied by European countries, highlighting Europe's continued dominance in global mobility, quality of life, and economic indicators. 

• Singapore, ranked 10th, was the only non-European in the top 10. 

• India ranked 125th with an overall score of 45.1, its highest score in the last five years despite a marginal decline in rank. Indian passport holders currently enjoy visa-free access to 26 destinations. 

• Among India's neighbours, Bangladesh (166th) and Pakistan (188th) ranked below India, while China (104th) secured a significantly higher position. 

• India's Mobility Rank (135th) remained lower than its overall rank, indicating that its performance was supported by factors such as investment attractiveness (94th) and quality of life (118th) rather than travel freedom alone. 

About the Global Passport Index

• The Global Passport Index is published annually by Global Citizen Solutions and evaluates passports using a multidimensional framework rather than relying solely on visa-free travel access. 

• The index is based on three weighted indices: 

• Enhanced Mobility Index (50%) 
• Investment Index (25%) 
• Quality of Life Index (25%) 

• The methodology assesses factors such as global mobility, investment attractiveness, economic opportunities, personal freedoms, and living conditions to determine the overall value of a passport. 

• Unlike the Henley Passport Index, which primarily ranks passports based on the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa, the Global Passport Index incorporates investment and quality-of-life considerations in addition to travel mobility. 

DRDO Conducts Successful Flight-Test of Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket

Context: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently successfully conducted the flight-test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. 

Key Highlights of the Index

• The rocket was tested for a user-defined minimum range of 60 km and successfully executed all planned in-flight manoeuvres before striking the target with high precision along the predicted trajectory. 

• All deployed range instrumentation tracked the rocket throughout its flight, validating its guidance, navigation, and control performance. 

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the successful test as a major milestone in India's indigenous capability for long-range guided rocket systems. 

• The trial is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the precision-strike capability of the Pinaka weapon system, a key component of the Indian Army's artillery modernization programme. 

About the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR)

• Pinaka is an indigenously developed multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system of the Indian Army, designed to deliver rapid and concentrated firepower over large areas. 

• The Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) is a precision-guided variant of the Pinaka system, featuring enhanced range and accuracy compared to earlier versions. 

• The rocket was tested for a user-defined minimum range of 60 km. Earlier, the LRGR-120 variant had successfully demonstrated a maximum range of 120 km during its maiden flight test in December 2025. 

• The Pinaka LRGR rocket has been designed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). 

Pinaka Weapon System: Evolution

• Pinaka Mk-I: Unguided rocket system with a range of about 37–45 km. 

• Pinaka Guided Rocket: Precision-guided variant with a range of about 75 km and significantly improved accuracy. 

• Pinaka LRGR (Long Range Guided Rocket): Advanced guided variant capable of engaging targets up to 120 km; the latest test validated its performance at a user-defined minimum range of 60 km. 

Rettamalai Srinivasan Birth Anniversary

Context: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan paid floral tributes to eminent social reformer Rettamalai Srinivasan on his birth anniversary on 7th July.

About Rettamalai Srinivasan & His Legacy

• Rettamalai Srinivasan (7 July 1859/1860 – 18 September 1945) was a pioneering Dalit leader, social reformer, journalist, and political activist from present-day Tamil Nadu. He is regarded as one of the foremost leaders of the Depressed Classes movement in South India. 

• Born in Kozhiyalam village (present-day Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu), he pursued education despite severe social discrimination and emerged as one of the earliest educated leaders from the marginalized communities. 

• After moving to Madras (Chennai), he founded the Paraiyar Mahajana Sabha (1891), later known as the Adi-Dravida Mahajana Sabha, to promote the social, educational, and political rights of the Depressed Classes. 

• He also launched the Tamil journal Paraiyan (1893) to highlight caste discrimination and advocate social reform. 

• Along with Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, he represented the Depressed Classes at the First and Second Round Table Conferences (1930–31) and advocated political representation and civil rights for marginalized communities. 

• As a member of the Madras Legislative Council, he played a significant role in securing access for the Depressed Classes to public roads, wells, tanks, and other public spaces, becoming a pioneering voice against untouchability and caste discrimination.

INS Mahendragiri Commissioned into the Indian Navy

Context: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently commissioned INS Mahendragiri, an indigenous stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. 

About INS Mahendragiri

• INS Mahendragiri (F38) is the sixth Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) stealth guided-missile frigate to be commissioned into the Indian Navy. 

• Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the warship incorporates over 75% indigenous content, reflecting India's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing. 

• Designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau, it is named after Mahendragiri Peak in Odisha's Eastern Ghats. 

• The ship is about 149 metres long with a displacement of around 6,670 tonnes and incorporates advanced stealth features, Combined Diesel or Gas (CODAG) propulsion, an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), and advanced indigenous combat systems. 

• Equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, and electronic warfare systems, it is capable of anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare operations, enhancing the Indian Navy's multi-dimensional maritime combat capability and supporting India's vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). 

About Project 17A

• Project 17A is the follow-on programme to the Shivalik-class (Project 17) frigates, aimed at constructing advanced stealth frigates for the Indian Navy. 

• The project comprises seven frigates, being built by: 

• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai – 4 ships 
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata – 3 ships 

• With the commissioning of INS Mahendragiri, six Project 17A frigates—Nilgiri, Udaygiri, Himgiri, Taragiri, Dunagiri, and Mahendragiri—have entered service. INS Vindhyagiri is the only remaining ship yet to be commissioned. 

• Compared to Project 17 frigates, Project 17A ships feature enhanced stealth characteristics, advanced sensors and weapons, integrated platform management systems, and improved automation.

Indonesia Becomes First Foreign Buyer of Astra Missile

Context: India and Indonesia have signed a deal for the supply of Astra Mk-1 Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAMs), marking the first-ever export of the Astra missile system and a major milestone in India's defence-export journey. 

More on the News

• Indonesia becomes the first foreign customer of the Astra missile, which will be integrated with the Indonesian Air Force's Su-30 fighter aircraft. 

• The deal was concluded alongside Indonesia's acquisition of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, reflecting deepening India–Indonesia defence cooperation and strengthening strategic ties in the Indo-Pacific. 

• The export is significant because several countries in Asia and Africa operate Russian-origin Su-30 aircraft, potentially opening new export opportunities for India's indigenous air-to-air missile ecosystem.

About Astra Missile

• Astra is an indigenously developed Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) designed by DRDO for engaging enemy aircraft at long ranges beyond visual contact. 

• Astra Mk-1 has a range of about 80–110 km, can operate at altitudes up to 20 km, and travels at speeds of around Mach 4.5. 

• The missile uses inertial navigation with mid-course data-link updates and an active radar seeker for terminal guidance, enabling high-precision target engagement. 

• Astra has been integrated with the Su-30MKI and is planned for integration with platforms such as Tejas Mk-1A and other future combat aircraft. 

Significance of the Deal

• First Export of an Indigenous BVRAAM: The deal marks India's entry into the global market for advanced air-to-air missiles. 

• Boost to Defence Exports: It strengthens India's position as a defence exporter and supports the goal of expanding indigenous defence manufacturing under Aatmanirbhar Bharat. 

• Strategic Indo-Pacific Partnership: The Astra and BrahMos deals deepen defence cooperation with Indonesia, a key maritime partner located near critical sea lanes such as the Malacca Strait. 

• Potential Gateway to New Markets: Compatibility with widely used Su-30 aircraft could facilitate future exports to other countries operating similar fighter fleets.