Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the Payment System Report for December 2024, analyzing payment transaction trends over the last five years. Digital payment transactions increased 94 times in volume and 3.5 times in value since 2013. UPI transactions saw a 74.03% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in volume and 68.14% CAGR in value over the last five years. Credit card numbers doubled, while debit cards remained stable. India joined Project Nexus for cross-border retail payments linking ASEAN nations with India. Payment systems in India facilitate monetary and financial transaction settlements.

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The Union Minister for Labour & Employment launched State and Union Territory Microsites under the e-Shram initiative and the Occupational Shortage Index (OSI). e-Shram Microsites are state-specific platforms linked to the national e-Shram database, providing workers seamless access to welfare programs and employment opportunities. The microsites offer multilingual support, real-time updates, and data-driven insights for policy-making. The OSI uses real-time labour data to address job market demand-supply gaps, helping align skills with industry needs and support skill development and job matching.

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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released findings from the second Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES). The survey collects data on household spending on goods and services. It helps assess economic well-being, update the Consumer Price Index, and measure poverty and inequality. The Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) is the main indicator for analysis. Urban-rural consumption differences declined in 2023-24 across major states. MPCE increased for all household types in both rural and urban areas. Kerala has the lowest urban-rural MPCE gap, followed by Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar. Consumption inequality declined across almost all major states. The Gini coefficient fell to 0.237 (rural) and 0.284 (urban) in 2023-24.

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RBI released the Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) to measure the growth of digital transactions in India. Digital payments grew by 11.1% YoY as of September 2024. The RBI-DPI for September 2024 stood at 465.33, up from 445.50 in March 2024. The index tracks five key factors: Payment Enablers, Infrastructure (Demand & Supply), Payment Performance, and Consumer Centricity. UPI’s share in digital payments surged from 34% in 2019 to 83% in 2024, with a CAGR of 74%. UPI transactions grew from ₹5.86 lakh crore (2018) to ₹246.83 lakh crore (2024).

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The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) released the report titled “Leveraging Space Technology for Agricultural Development and Food Security.” It highlights how space technologies can improve agriculture and food security amid global challenges. The report aligns with discussions in the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). It promotes agriculture-space partnerships for sustainable development under the 2030 Agenda. The publication serves as a key resource for stakeholders aiming to use space technology for food security.

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The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the report “Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States – An Indicative Evidence-Based Ranking.” The Devolution Index analyzes decentralization progress across States and Union Territories. Top five states are Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh improved from 15th to 5th due to enhanced accountability, transparency initiatives, and anti-corruption measures.

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The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) released the Global Infrastructure Resilience Report, assessing disaster preparedness. The Global Infrastructure Risk Model and Resilience Index (GIRI) provides financial risk data for key sectors like transport, energy, telecom, water, and health. A $9.2 trillion annual investment is needed by 2050 to address infrastructure gaps and climate resilience. Infrastructure is vulnerable to disasters like earthquakes, cyclones, floods, and droughts. Many Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) face weak infrastructure governance. The report emphasizes data-driven risk assessment, economic benefits of resilience, nature-based solutions, informed policymaking, and global collaboration.

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The UNCCD released a report on Land Restoration for International Peace and Security. It highlights that cooperation in managing shared natural resources can help prevent conflicts and foster political agreements. Land degradation causes economic loss, pushing affected communities into criminal activities like smuggling and human trafficking. Food insecurity due to crop failures and inflation can trigger political and economic instability, as seen in Somalia. It increases migration and displacement. Marginalized groups face discrimination and inequality. Weak land governance can escalate conflicts, as seen in disputes over the Amazon rainforest between Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.

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India must grow at 7.8% annually until 2047 to reach high-income status, says the World Bank. World Bank released the report titled “Becoming a High-Income Economy in a Generation”. The report highlights the need for “accelerated reforms.” India’s growth averaged 7.2% in the past three years, but further policy action is required. Investment must rise to 40% of GDP by 2035, supported by ICT and physical capital. Key reforms include stronger financial regulations, easier credit for MSMEs, and simpler FDI policies. Female workforce participation should reach 55% by 2050. Growth-focused sectors include agro-processing, hospitality, transport, and care economy. Efficient land, labour, and capital allocation can boost productivity. A “business as usual” scenario would limit growth to 6.6% per year, making high-income status unattainable.

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has started work on its Seventh Assessment Report. It was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It has 195 member countries. The IPCC assesses scientific, technical, and socio-economic data on climate change, its impacts, and mitigation strategies. It provides scientific input for global climate policies but does not conduct new research. The Sixth Assessment Report was completed in 2023. IPCC reports play a key role in UN climate negotiations (UNFCCC).