Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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Swachh Vayu Survekshan (SVS) 2025 is an annual survey by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). It evaluates 130 cities on eight parameters like road dust, solid waste, vehicular and industrial emissions, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, public awareness, and particulate matter reduction. Indore topped million-plus-population cities, followed by Jabalpur and Agra/Surat. Navi Mumbai ranked 4th, Kanpur 5th, Bhopal 6th, Delhi 32nd, Bengaluru 36th, Kolkata 38th, and Chennai 41st. In 3–10 lakh category, Amravati ranked first; in under 3 lakh category, Dewas ranked first. PM10 levels reduced in 103 cities, with Mumbai showing the highest decline (44%), followed by Kolkata (37%), Hyderabad and Bengaluru (26%), Delhi (15%), and Chennai (12%).

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Switzerland retained the No.1 spot in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Talent Ranking (WTR) 2025 for the tenth consecutive year. Luxembourg rose to No.2, overtaking Singapore, which fell to No.7. Iceland improved from No.6 to No.3 in 2025. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) climbed five places to No.4, its highest ever ranking. India ranked 63rd with a score of 36.06, continuing a downward trend in global talent competitiveness. International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Talent Ranking (WTR) 2025 evaluates growth, retention, and attraction of highly-skilled workforce. Talent competitiveness is now key for long-term economic performance. Financial security drives global relocation more than pre-COVID-19 factors like lifestyle or language.

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The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) released the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025. Global Research and Development (R&D) growth slowed to 2.9% in 2024 and is projected to fall further to 2.3% in 2025, the lowest since the 2010 financial crisis. India has risen to 38th rank in 2025, improving from 48th in 2020. Switzerland ranks first, followed by Sweden, United States, South Korea, and Singapore. India performs best in Knowledge & Technology Outputs (22nd) and Market Sophistication (38th). Weak areas for India are Business Sophistication (64th), Infrastructure (61st), and Institutions (58th). India is first among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central and Southern Asia region.

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The International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report on September 16, 2025, titled The Implications of Oil and Gas Field Decline Rates. The report warns that global oil and gas fields are depleting faster, raising supply and price risks. Nearly 90% of upstream investment is now spent on offsetting natural declines, not on expanding supply. Without new investment, global oil output could shrink by 5.5 million barrels per day and gas by 270 billion cubic metres annually. India, which imports over 85% of crude oil and 45% of gas, faces heightened vulnerability. IEA urged India to diversify energy sources, expand reserves, explore domestically, and promote clean fuels like green hydrogen and biofuels. Long project timelines of nearly 20 years add further risk to future energy security.

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Copenhagen, Denmark, is ranked the world’s happiest city in 2025 by the Institute for Quality of Life’s Happy City Index. Aarhus, Denmark, ranks 4th with high citizen score (233), robust governance (173), and environmental initiatives (170). European cities dominate the top 10: Antwerp (Belgium) 5th, Stockholm (Sweden) 7th, Munich (Germany), and Rotterdam (Netherlands). No city from the United States, United Kingdom, China, or India made it to the top 10.

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In September 2025, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India released the report “State Finances – 2022-23: A Decadal Analysis.” Revenue receipts of 28 States in Financial Year 2022-23 (FY23) were ₹35.13 lakh crore which was 22.96% of combined Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of ₹259 lakh crore. Revenue Surplus was seen in 16 States with Uttar Pradesh ₹37,000 crore at the top. Other surplus states include Gujarat (₹19,865 crore), Odisha (₹19,456 crore), Jharkhand (₹13,564 crore), Karnataka (₹13,496 crore), Chhattisgarh (₹8,592 crore), Telangana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Goa Revenue Deficit was recorded in 12 States with Andhra Pradesh highest deficit. Revenue Deficit Grants were ₹86,201 crore with West Bengal getting the largest share. Some states boosted own tax and non-tax revenue with Haryana (80%) highest, followed by Telangana (79%), Maharashtra (73%) and Gujarat (72%).

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The ‘Solar PV Potential Assessment of India (Ground-Mounted)’ report was launched by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). The report provides a policy-linked, investment-ready framework to guide project siting, infrastructure development, and private sector participation in solar energy. India has crossed 250 GW of non-fossil fuel installed capacity and aims for 500 GW by 2030, energy independence by 2047, and net-zero emissions by 2070. It provides a policy-linked, investment-ready framework for project siting, infrastructure, and private sector participation.

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National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported 1,77,335 cases of crime against children in 2023, showing a 9.2% increase over 2022, which had 1,62,449 cases. The crime rate rose to 39.9 per one-lakh child population from 36.6 in 2022. Major crime heads were Kidnapping and Abduction of Children with 79,884 cases (45 percent) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act violations with 67,694 cases (38.2 percent). Madhya Pradesh topped the list with 22,393 cases of crime against children in 2023. Maharashtra followed closely with 22,390 cases and Uttar Pradesh reported 18,852 cases. Assam saw a sharp rise with 10,174 cases and Bihar had 9,906 cases. Delhi registered 7,769 cases while Andaman and Nicobar Islands had a high rate of 143.4 per one-lakh child population.

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Kolkata has again emerged as India’s safest city with the lowest number of cognisable offences per lakh population in 2023. Kolkata recorded 83.9 cognisable offences per lakh people, lowest among 19 cities with over 20 lakh population, as per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report 2023. Kochi was the worst performer with 3,192.4 offences per lakh, followed by Delhi (2,105.3) and Surat (1,377.1). Hyderabad (332.3), Pune (337.1), and Mumbai (355.4) were the next safest cities.

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The Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Ecological Connectivity and Land Restoration was launched at the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. The report was prepared by the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) and the CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals). It urges countries to integrate ecological connectivity in land, water, and infrastructure planning. Ecological connectivity means the unimpeded movement of species, connection of habitats, and flow of natural processes sustaining life. These processes include the flow of organisms, energy, nutrients, water, sediments, information, knowledge, and culture.