Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The All India Home Price Index (HPI) is released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The Reserve Bank of India’s All-India Home Price Index (HPI) rose by 4.34%, reaching 322 in September 2024, compared to 308.6 in September 2023. Over the last decade, the HPI has increased by nearly 67%. The HPI tracks changes in residential property prices across cities and regions in India, offering insights into the housing market. All eight major cities reported an annual rise in housing prices. Delhi NCR recorded the highest increase at 32%, followed by Bengaluru with a 24% rise.

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The World Solar Report 2024 by the International Solar Alliance highlights rapid growth in global solar energy. Global solar capacity grew from 22 GW in 2000 to 1,419 GW by 2023, with a 36% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) . Solar energy now contributes 75% of renewable energy capacity additions. Emerging technologies include quantum dot solar cells (18.1% efficiency), self-healing solar panels, solar-powered phyto-mining, and solar paver blocks. Solar PV costs have declined, with utility-scale projects costing as low as $40/MWh. China leads global solar capacity (43%), and investments in solar energy are expected to exceed $500 billion by 2024.

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World Economic Forum published the report titled “Agritech for Women Farmers: A Business Case for Inclusive Growth”. The report emphasizes gender-inclusive AgriTech for empowering women farmers globally. In India, women represent nearly 50% of the workforce in agriculture value chains like cotton, tea, coffee, and cashews, but earn up to 60% less than men. Women face challenges such as limited access to finance, training, and technology despite their significant agricultural role. Gender-inclusive AgriTech can enhance production efficiency, reduce food loss, and strengthen supply chains. The report positions inclusive AgriTech as a strategic priority for private sector growth and resilience.

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the “Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2023-24” report. The report highlights the banking sector’s performance. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) showed improved profitability for the sixth consecutive year, with a 13-year low in Gross NPAs at 2.5%. The Capital-to-Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) for SCBs stood at 16.8%, exceeding regulatory requirements. Urban Co-operative Banks saw expansion, with improved asset quality. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) reported double-digit credit growth and reduced GNPA to 3.4%. Technological advancements like Unified Lending Interface (ULI) and Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) aim to improve credit access. The report highlights rising banking frauds, with cases surging to ₹21,367 crore in 2024.

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The Confederation of Indian Industry released a ‘Industry 4.0 adoption and strategic roadmap for Indian manufacturing Report’. Industry 4.0 refers to smart, connected production systems that interact with the physical world. Automotive, electronics, and pharmaceuticals are leading in adoption, while textiles, metals, and mining face challenges. Key drivers for Industry 4.0 in India include workforce up-skilling, digital infrastructure, and sustainability to meet global green manufacturing standards.

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Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) released a report titled “Comparative Study of School Education System” (SES). The report analyzes India’s school education system in comparison with countries like the USA, UK, China, Sweden, and Australia. It focuses on various aspects, including education structures, teaching methods, funding, assessments, and equity measures. India spends only 2.7-2.9% of GDP on education, stagnating over six years, while global benchmarks suggest 5-7%. Developed countries like Sweden allocate 6.7-6.9% and the UK 5.3-5.6%, while developing nations like Indonesia and Thailand allocate 3.7-4.3% and 4.0-4.3%, respectively. Australia increased education spending by 8%, and China by 2.4%, highlighting India’s underinvestment. The study calls for raising India’s education spending to 6% of GDP and implementing NEP 2020 reforms, focusing on vocational and digital education.

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The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025 predicts AI, big data, and security management specialists as the fastest-growing jobs. The report is based on data from over 1,000 global companies, covering 14 million workers in 22 sectors across 55 economies. The Future of Jobs Report 2025 was published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). By 2030, 170 million new jobs will be created, but 92 million jobs will be displaced, leading to a net increase of 78 million jobs. Drivers of change include technology, digital access, economic shifts, green transition, and demographic trends. Fastest-growing roles include FinTech engineers, software developers, and autonomous vehicle specialists. India focuses on AI, robotics, energy technologies, and semiconductors, with AI adoption surpassing the global average.

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The World Economic Forum released the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report in collaboration with Accenture. It highlights how geopolitical tensions, emerging technologies, and cybercrime sophistication are reshaping cybersecurity. Geopolitical conflicts, like the Ukraine war, increase vulnerabilities in critical sectors such as energy and nuclear power. Two-thirds of organizations expect AI to impact cybersecurity, but only one-third have tools to manage AI-related risks. The cybersecurity workforce faces a 4.8 million professional gap, with only 14% of organizations having skilled teams. Supply chain complexities and third-party vulnerabilities hinder cyber resilience for over 50% of organizations. Generative AI is being used for advanced phishing and social engineering, with 42% of organizations facing such attacks in 2024.

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Cabo Verde, an archipelago off West Africa, needs to invest $842 million from 2024-2030 ($140 million per year) to tackle climate and development challenges. The World Bank’s report, Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) 2025, launched on January 15, 2025, outlines these needs for enhancing climate resilience and sustainable development. World Bank released the Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) 2025. The CCDRs aim to integrate climate change considerations into development planning. These reports utilize extensive data and research to identify key climate vulnerabilities and potential pathways for action.

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International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released the World Employment and Social Outlook Report for 2025. The report highlights ongoing global labor market struggles due to geopolitical tensions, climate change costs, and unresolved debt issues. The global jobs gap in 2024 was 402 million, including 186 million unemployed, 137 million temporarily unavailable, and 79 million discouraged workers. The global unemployment rate stood at 5%, with youth unemployment at 12.6%. Low-income countries face challenges creating decent jobs, with informal work returning to pre-pandemic levels. Labour force participation declined in low-income nations but increased among older workers and women in high-income countries, though gender gaps persist.