Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published the World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) 2024 report. It shows global trends in IP filings, highlighting growth in patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. India ranks in the global top 10 for patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. India had a 15.7% growth in patent applications in 2023, with 64,480 filings, marking a record in resident filings (55.2%). Industrial design applications grew by 36.4%, with textiles, tools, and health sectors leading. India ranks fourth globally in trademark filings, with a 6.1% increase, and holds the second-largest number of active trademark registrations globally.

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The World Energy Employment 2024 report by the International Energy Agency highlights global energy employment surpassing broader labor market trends in 2023. Clean energy remains the main driver of job growth. In India, energy jobs account for over 8.5 million, or 1.5% of the total employment (566 million) in 2023. India’s energy sector relies heavily on informal labor. The clean energy workforce in India is expected to grow further, supported by government initiatives that promote job creation.

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United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) published the State of the World’s Children 2024 (SOWC-2024) report. The report highlights that nearly 1 billion children face high risks from climate and environmental hazards. SOWC is UNICEF’s annual flagship report analyzing global issues affecting children, including conflict, child labour, and disabilities. The 2024 report, launched on World Children’s Day (November 20), focuses on “Listen to the Future,” amplifying children’s voices on their aspirations. By 2050, India, China, Nigeria, and Pakistan will account for over one-third of the global child population. India is projected to have 350 million children, the largest share globally, despite a 106 million decline.

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The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025 was released by Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, and Climate Action Network International. The first three spots were left empty, with Denmark ranking fourth. India secured the 10th position. CCPI evaluates progress on global greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policies. It covers 63 countries and the European Union, focusing on the world’s largest emitters.

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Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Mansukh Mandaviya launched the World Bank report ‘Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People’, covering six STARS states: Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. The report analyzes skills gaps, aligns school trades with local industries, and offers a roadmap to improve education and job linkages. It highlights embedding skill-based education from Classes 9-12, aligned with NEP 2020, targeting 50% skill education access by 2025. The initiative supports India’s vision to become a global skills hub and achieve high-income status by 2047 through market-linked, inclusive skill development.

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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published the Global Peatland Hotspot Atlas, 2024, building on the 2022 Global Peatlands Assessment and Global Peatland Map 2.0. The UNEP Global Peatlands Initiative was formed at the 2016 UNFCCC COP in Marrakech, Morocco. Peatlands are wetland ecosystems where waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing, leading to the accumulation of peat, which is dead and partially decomposed plant matter. Peatlands play a crucial role in organic matter production, with decomposition rates being slower than accumulation.

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International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Institute for Human Development (IHD) jointly published the India Employment Report 2024. The report shows an improved employment scenario in India. Global youth unemployment decreased from 15.6% in 2021 to 13.3% in 2023. India’s youth unemployment rate (ages 15-29) was 10.2% in 2023-24, lower than the global average. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for youth increased from 31.4% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24, indicating more employment.

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The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) released the ‘Smuggling in India – Report 2023-24’ highlighting major trends in illegal trade. Cocaine trafficking has surged in India, with 47 cases recorded in 2023-24, up from 21 the previous year, using direct routes from South America and African countries. Black cocaine, a chemically masked variant, evades standard detection methods, posing a new challenge. Hydroponic marijuana is being smuggled from countries like the US and Thailand. Gold smuggling from West Asia, including UAE and Saudi Arabia, is rising, using diverse couriers, including families and foreign nationals. Established in 1957, DRI tackles smuggling of narcotics, gold, wildlife products, arms, and more, while also addressing customs fraud.

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IIT Delhi has ranked first in India in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025, followed by IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay. These engineering institutions are recognized globally for their commitment to sustainability goals. The University of Toronto holds the top position for sustainability worldwide this year. The QS Sustainability Rankings highlight universities that prioritize environmental and social responsibility in their practices.

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The World Malaria Report 2024 is an annual publication by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It evaluates global progress and identifies gaps in the fight against malaria. Malaria cases in India dropped 69%, from 6.4 million in 2017 to 2 million in 2023, and deaths decreased by 68%, from 11,100 to 3,500. Globally, there were 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 deaths in 2023. Africa accounted for 94% of global cases and 95% of deaths, with children under 5 making up 76% of deaths. The WHO South-East Asia Region saw an 82.4% reduction in malaria cases since 2000.