A roundup of the key current affairs for July 9, 2026, covering the items not taken up as separate deep-dive articles.
India, Australia and Canada Launch the ACITI Tech Partnership
🗞️ Why in News India, Australia and Canada launched the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation Partnership (ACITI) on July 9, 2026.
Key Points
- ACITI was first conceived on the margins of the G20 Johannesburg summit in November 2025 and covers artificial intelligence, clean and green energy technology, critical minerals and resilient supply chains.
- It is a trilateral partnership among three democracies, framed as a “tech triangle” to reduce dependence on dominant suppliers, an implicit hedge against Chinese control of rare-earth mining and processing.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
- ACITI: Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation Partnership, launched July 9, 2026.
- Focus areas: AI, clean and green energy, critical minerals, supply-chain resilience.
- Origin: conceived at the G20 Johannesburg summit, November 2025.
UNCTAD World Investment Report 2026: India FDI Up 44 Per Cent
🗞️ Why in News The UNCTAD World Investment Report 2026 showed that foreign direct investment into India rose sharply in 2025.
Key Points
- Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to India rose about 44 per cent in 2025 to around 39 billion dollars, moving India up to the 11th largest FDI recipient globally from 13th.
- The strength came from manufacturing, the digital economy and infrastructure, even as the report flagged a globally cautious investment cycle. The World Investment Report is published annually by UNCTAD (UN Trade and Development), headquartered in Geneva.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
- Report: UNCTAD World Investment Report 2026.
- India FDI: about 39 billion dollars in 2025, up about 44 per cent.
- Rank: India rose to the 11th largest FDI recipient (from 13th).
RBI Approves New Chief for South Indian Bank
🗞️ Why in News The Reserve Bank of India approved a new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for South Indian Bank.
Key Points
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Mahesh Muralidhar Pai as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of South Indian Bank for a three-year term.
- South Indian Bank is a private-sector bank headquartered at Thrissur, Kerala. The RBI regulates the appointment of private bank chief executives under Section 35B of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
- Appointment: Mahesh Muralidhar Pai as MD and CEO, South Indian Bank (three-year term).
- Bank: South Indian Bank, headquartered at Thrissur, Kerala.
- Legal base: Section 35B, Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
International Small Arms Destruction Day
🗞️ Why in News July 9 is observed each year as International Small Arms Destruction Day.
Key Points
- The day, marked on July 9, promotes the destruction of surplus, confiscated and illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) and raises awareness about their role in armed violence.
- It is linked to the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (UNPoA), 2001, the main global framework to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
- Observance: International Small Arms Destruction Day, July 9.
- Focus: destroying surplus and illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW).
- Framework: UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (UNPoA), 2001.
Jaipur Enters the Happy City Index 2026 Top 10
🗞️ Why in News Jaipur was reported among the top 10 cities in the Happy City Index 2026.
Key Points
- Jaipur was ranked around 6th in the Happy City Index 2026, reported as the only Indian city in the top 10.
- The index is published by the Institute for Quality of Life (London) and assesses cities across parameters such as governance, environment, economy, mobility and community.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
- City: Jaipur, around 6th in the Happy City Index 2026 (only Indian city in the top 10).
- Publisher: Institute for Quality of Life, London.
- Parameters: governance, environment, economy, mobility, community.
UPSC Relevance
These items span GS Paper 2 (international relations, institutions) and GS Paper 3 (economy, investment, internal and international security). Revise them as quick prelims pointers alongside the day’s deep-dive articles.
Facts Corner
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
- ACITI: India-Australia-Canada tech partnership; AI, clean energy, critical minerals, supply chains; launched July 9, 2026.
- UNCTAD WIR 2026: India FDI about 39 billion dollars, up 44 per cent; India now 11th largest recipient.
- South Indian Bank: Mahesh Muralidhar Pai approved as MD and CEO; bank headquartered at Thrissur, Kerala.
- Small Arms Destruction Day: July 9; linked to the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms, 2001.
- Happy City Index 2026: Jaipur around 6th, only Indian city in the top 10; published by the Institute for Quality of Life, London.
Sources: UN Trade and Development, Reserve Bank of India, United Nations, Ministry of External Affairs
Source: Current Affairs Today, July 9, 2026 — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
