Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has launched the AI Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard, ranking 174 countries on their readiness to adopt AI technologies. Categories include Low-Income Countries (LIC), Emerging Market Economies (EM), and Advanced Economies (AE). Singapore, Denmark, and the United States lead the AE category, while India, an EM, ranks 72nd with a score of 0.49. China ranks 31st with a score of 0.63, reflecting its higher readiness compared to neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

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The IUCN report “Planet on the Move: Reimagining Conservation” emphasizes the need for a new conservation approach amidst migration, environmental change, and conflict. It highlights the nexus between these factors, urging integrated policies for human and wildlife migration. Recommendations include addressing migration and development needs while preserving biodiversity, creating legal mechanisms to protect environmental migrants, and enhancing synergies between laws for intersecting migrations.

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NITI Aayog has released the 4th edition of the SDG India Index 2023-24, assessing progress across 113 indicators for all States and Union Territories (UTs). India’s composite score improved from 66 in 2020-21 to 71 in 2023-24, with significant advancements in Goals 1, 8, and 13. Thirty-two States and UTs are classified as front-runners, while Uttarakhand and Kerala topped the list with scores of 79. Chandigarh is the leading Union Territory.

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The World Economic Forum (WEF) released “The Future of Financial Advice” report, highlighting the importance of traditional financial advisors despite the rise of finfluencers. Finfluencers, who provide financial advice via social media, influence many individuals’ financial decisions. Key reasons for their popularity include social media accessibility (used by 60% of the global population), diverse and inclusive content, and engaging educational formats like short videos and memes.

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India Child Protection (ICP) released the “Towards Justice: Ending Child Marriage” report. ICP, part of the Child Rights and Multi-Faith Initiative, addresses child abuse, trafficking, digital exploitation, and child marriage. Key findings: Assam’s legal measures reduced child marriages by 81% from 2021-22 to 2023-24. Despite three girls marrying every minute (Census 2011), only three cases are reported daily. In 2023-24, 14,137 child marriages were prevented. With a 92% case backlog, clearing it could take 19 years.

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The Henley Passport Index 2024 ranks the Indian passport 82nd, providing visa-free access to 58 countries, including Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand. Singapore tops the index with visa-free entry to 195 countries, while France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Japan are second with 192 destinations. Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden share third place (191 countries), and the UK, New Zealand, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland are fourth (190 countries).

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The International Labour Organization released the “Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024” report, marking its 20th anniversary. The report highlights achievements, challenges, and future outlooks for youth employment. In 2023, the global youth unemployment rate dropped to 13%, the lowest in 15 years, with 64.9 million unemployed youth, the lowest since 2000. 20.4% of youth were classified as NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training), showing broad labor market exclusion. Two-thirds of young NEETs are women.

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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 25th issue of the ‘Women and Men in India 2023’ report, offering a comprehensive view of gender-related data. By 2036, India’s population is expected to reach 152.2 crore, with the female percentage increasing to 48.8%. The sex ratio is projected to rise from 943 (2011) to 952 (2036). The working-age population (15-59 years) is expected to grow from 60.7% to 64.9% by 2036. Life expectancy is projected to improve to 71.2 years for males and 74.7 years for females by 2031-36.

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NITI Aayog recently released a “Pathways and Strategies for Accelerating Growth in Edible Oils towards Goal of Atma Nirbharta” report. The report reviews the current state of the sector, its potential, and strategies to address challenges. Nine major oilseed crops cover 14.3% of the cropped area, contributing 12-13% to dietary energy and 8% to agricultural exports. Soybean leads in production, followed by rapeseed-mustard and groundnut. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are the top producers, with Gujarat and Maharashtra also significant contributors. Rising consumption has led to increased imports, with palm oil making up 59% of imports. Oilseed production and yield have been growing, with projections to reach 43 MT by 2030 and 55 MT by 2047.

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The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) released the 2nd Edition of the Ozone and UV Bulletin on World Ozone Day (16 September). This day celebrates the Montreal Protocol and its amendment, the Kigali Agreement. The theme for this year is “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Actions.” Key findings show the ozone layer is recovering, with ozone-depleting substances (ODS) decreasing. Full recovery is expected by 2066 over Antarctica, 2045 over the Arctic, and 2040 globally. The Kigali Amendment could reduce global warming by 0.5°C by 2100. Ozone depletion is mainly caused by ODS, especially in the Antarctic.