NSE's Ahimsa Index Screens Nifty 500 for Cruelty-Free Stocks

NSE's index arm launched a new benchmark, the NSE Ahimsa Index, that picks companies from the Nifty 500 based on animal welfare and cruelty-free criteria. The index excludes firms involved in animal testing, animal-derived products, or other practices deemed harmful to animals.

The selection process starts with the Nifty 500 universe, then applies a multi-factor screen that includes environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scores, with a specific weight on animal rights. Companies that pass the screen are weighted by free-float market capitalization, capped at 5% per stock to avoid concentration.