Top 20 UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | July 20 to July 26, 2026

Every Monday, we bring you UPSC Current Affairs Pointers—a concise, exam-focused guide to help you stay ahead in your Prelims and Mains preparation.(FYI: The data provided in these reports can be used to substantiate your Mains answer and create a broad understanding of the topic.)— Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Odisha have emerged as top-performing states in NITI Aayog’s new Investment Friendliness Index 2026, which ranks states based on quality of infrastructure, business climate, government policy and regulatory ease among other parameters seen as key to attracting investment. — The index covers all 28 states and eight union territories (UTs) and evaluates what makes a state attractive for investors, as well as the challenges investors face. — The Index uses 8 pillars for ev