Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The ‘State of Food and Nutrition in the World’ (SOFI) 2025 report was released by the United Nations on July 28, 2025. In 2024, 720 million people (8.2% of global population) were affected by hunger. Around 2.3 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2024. Hunger levels slightly improved from 8.5% in 2023 and 8.7% in 2022, but progress remained uneven. Asia had the most undernourished people (323 million), followed by Africa (307 million), and Latin America & the Caribbean (34 million). By 2030, 512 million people (6% of the global population) may remain chronically undernourished. It tracks global hunger, food security, and nutrition progress under SDG targets 2.1 and 2.2.

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NITI Aayog released a report titled ‘Unlocking a $200 Billion Opportunity: Electric Vehicles in India’ to accelerate India’s electric mobility shift. India aims for 30% electric vehicle (EV) share in total vehicle sales by 2030. EV sales in India rose from 50,000 in 2016 to 2.08 million in 2024. In contrast, global EV sales rose from 918,000 in 2016 to 18.78 million in 2024. India’s EV penetration grew from one-fifth of global levels in 2020 to over two-fifth in 2024, showing steady progress. The report was based on 7 stakeholder consultations held at NITI Aayog. It highlights key challenges, strategic unlocks, and next steps to fast-track EV adoption.

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India became the world’s 5th largest aviation market, handling 211 million passengers in 2024. This was reported by International Air Transport Association (IATA) in its World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) 2024. India’s passenger traffic grew by 11.1%, overtaking Japan with 205 million passengers. The United States topped the list with 876 million passengers, followed by China (741 mn), UK (261 mn), and Spain (241 mn). The Mumbai-Delhi route ranked 7th busiest globally, with 5.9 million passengers.

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India ranked 67th in the Numbeo Safety Index mid-2025 with a score of 55.8. Mangalore emerged as India’s safest city, ranked 49th globally with a safety index score of 74.2. Gujarat’s Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Surat followed with scores of 69.2, 68.2, and 66.6 respectively. New Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad were among India’s most unsafe cities with high crime index scores of 59.03, 55.1, and 58.44. Rankings were based on public perceptions of crimes like robbery, assault, harassment, and vandalism. Globally, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, led for the ninth year with a score of 88.8.

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The 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI) was released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), highlighting the world’s most peaceful countries. Iceland ranked first for the 18th consecutive year due to low crime, minimal militarisation, and strong community trust. Ireland secured second place, transforming from past conflicts through neutral military policies and strong social welfare. New Zealand rose to third, aided by strict gun laws, low terrorism, and Mori-rooted community spirit. India ranked 115th, facing challenges like regional disputes, urban crime, and internal tensions. The GPI highlights that India still needs to improve governance, social trust, and conflict resolution to achieve higher peace levels.

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The National Annual Report & Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025 was released by the National Commission for Women (NCW). The survey covered 12,770 women across 31 cities in India. The national safety score is 65%, meaning 40% of women feel unsafe despite government assurances. 60% of women reported feeling safe, while younger women under 24 reported harassment at 14%, double the national average. Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar and Mumbai are the safest cities. Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar and Ranchi are the least safe cities. The report frames women’s safety as a developmental issue, encompassing physical, psychological, financial, and digital security.

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India’s Crude Birth Rate (CBR) declined from 19.1 in 2022 to 18.4 in 2023, a fall of 0.7 points. Total Fertility Rate (TFR) fell for the first time in two years to 1.9 in 2023 from 2.0 in 2021–22. Bihar reported the highest CBR at 25.8, while Tamil Nadu had the lowest at 12. Bihar also had the highest TFR at 2.8, while Delhi reported the lowest at 1.2. 18 States and Union Territories (UTs) recorded TFR below the replacement level of 2.1. Northern States with above-replacement TFR include Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. Data comes from the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2023 released by the Registrar General of India.

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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 Global Digital Nomad Report 2025 by Global Citizen Solutions evaluated 64 countries using 15 indicators to rank the best countries for digital nomads. Digital nomadism is a lifestyle where people work remotely using technology while traveling to different countries or cities. Top 3 countries are Spain, Netherlands and Uruguay. India ranks 38th globally in the overall list.

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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.