Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), shows a 45% surge in terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan in 2024. Pakistan is now the second-most terrorism-affected country, moving up from fourth place. Terrorism deaths rose from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024, marking one of the highest global increases. Terrorist attacks more than doubled, from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024, crossing 1,000 for the first time. A recent attack on Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa killed five soldiers and 13 civilians. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) intensified operations, linked to the Afghan Taliban’s rise in Kabul.

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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released the Third Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SoW-PGRFA) on March 24, 2025. The report warned of high dependency on nine crops and threats to global plant genetic diversity. SoW-PGRFA is a global assessment of the conservation, use, and status of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The report guides global action plans to protect plant genetic diversity and ensure food security.

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India’s bioeconomy is valued at over $165 billion, contributing 4.2% of GDP, as per the India BioEconomy Report 2024. The sector is projected to grow to $300 billion by 2030 and $1 trillion by 2047. Bioeconomy involves using biological resources for industrial production, including biofuels, bioplastics, and pharmaceuticals. The industrial sector contributed $78 billion (47%), while pharma contributed 35%, led by vaccines. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh generated over two-thirds of bioeconomy value. Eastern and Northeastern regions contributed less than 6%. India BioEconomy Report 2024 is released by Department of Biotechnology.

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The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) by NITI Aayog assesses the fiscal health of Indian states. It covers 18 major states that contribute significantly to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), public expenditure, revenue, and fiscal stability. Odisha ranks first in the index, followed by Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, and Gujarat. As states handle two-thirds of public spending and one-third of total revenue, their fiscal health is crucial for national economic stability. The index uses data from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the financial year 2022-23 to compare and benchmark fiscal performance. It helps policymakers make informed decisions to improve fiscal sustainability and resilience. The index evaluates tax buoyancy, which measures how responsive a state’s tax revenue is to its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth. It assesses revenue generation, including own tax and non-tax receipts.

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India ranked 36th out of 170 countries in the 2025 Technology and Innovation Report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), improving from 48th in 2022. The Readiness for Frontier Technologies Index includes Information and Communication Technology (ICT), skills, Research and Development (R&D), industrial capacity, and finance access. The report shows countries like India, Brazil, China, and the Philippines are doing well despite lower incomes, and must adapt fast to tech changes.

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Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 26th edition of “Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data”. The report gives gender-based data on population, education, health, economic participation, and decision-making using official sources. Gender Parity Index (GPI) remains high in primary and higher secondary levels, while upper primary and elementary levels show near parity. Labour Participation Rate (LPFR) for ages 15+ improved from 49.8% in 2017–18 to 60.1% in 2023–24. Women own 39.2% of bank accounts and contribute 39.7% of deposits; rural women hold 42.2% of all accounts. DEMAT accounts grew from 33.26 million in 2021 to 143.02 million in 2024, showing rising stock market participation. Female DEMAT accounts increased from 6.67 million to 27.71 million, while male accounts rose from 26.59 million to 115.31 million. There is a steady rise in female-headed proprietary establishments in manufacturing, trade, and services. In 2024, female voter turnout surpassed male turnout, narrowing the gender gap in voting.

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India had the second highest maternal deaths in 2023, tied with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at 19,000, behind Nigeria with 75,000 deaths. The data comes from the Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000–2023 report by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), which includes World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Bank Group, and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). In 2023, 260,000 maternal deaths occurred worldwide, or 712 each day. India’s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) dropped from 362 in 2000 to 80 in 2023—a 78% decline.

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India launched its first Digital Threat Report 2024 to boost cybersecurity in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative. The report was released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and developed by Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-In), Cyber Security Incident Response Team – Financial Sector (CSIRT-Fin), and global cybersecurity firm SISA. It identifies key sector-wide security gaps, emerging cyber risks, and adversarial tactics threatening India’s financial systems.

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The Future of Jobs Report 2025, which analyzes global labor market trends for the period of 2025-2030, was published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025 stresses the need to align education with fast-changing global job demands. It highlights key forces shaping the job market by 2030, such as technology, demographics, green transition, and economic uncertainty. About 60% of employers see digital access and tech advancements as major change drivers. Nearly 50% of employers expect economic shifts to displace current jobs. Around 59 out of 100 workers will need training in tech skills, analytical thinking, and resilience. Demand will grow for roles like Artificial Intelligence (AI) engineers and Big Data specialists. The report calls for both technical and soft skills like adaptability, leadership, and emotional intelligence.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Global Financial Stability Report warned that high geopolitical risks may affect global financial and economic stability. It highlighted threats like conflicts, cyberattacks, and resource competition disrupting global supply chains. Shifts in global power, new trade alliances, and investment centers are changing traditional economic dynamics. The global tax system is becoming fragmented as some countries adopt a minimum global tax while others move away from shared tax rules. Workforce challenges such as ageing populations, low birth rates, cultural tensions, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration are also stressing economies and labour markets. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) releases the Global Financial Stability Report. This report, published twice a year in April and October, provides an assessment of the global financial system and markets, including emerging market financing.