Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
India submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), assessing progress toward 2030 global biodiversity goals. The report is the first full progress assessment since adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) 2022, which sets 23 global biodiversity targets. It was prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) with inputs from 33 ministries, National Biodiversity Authority, UNDP, and Wildlife Institute of India.

Notes:
Centre for Science and Environment released State of India’s Environment 2026 report, published yearly since 1982, reviewing floods, extreme weather, wildlife behaviour and air pollution in India. Report warns global temperature may cross 1.5°C, showing the world is nearing a climate tipping point. In 2025, extreme weather occurred on 99% of days, causing 4,419 deaths and damaging 17.41 million hectares crops. States like Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh experienced the highest number of extreme weather days. The report stresses the need to shift from disaster relief to climate-resilient planning and infrastructure.

Notes:
As per recent data, real estate investments in nine major Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets reached USD 71.9 billion in H1 2025, marking a 6% decline year-on-year due to global trade volatility and economic headwinds. The APAC markets covered include Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, and Taiwan. India ranked fourth globally for cross-border real estate investment, with USD 3 billion invested in H1 2025, reflecting a 15% decline from H1 2024, but investor interest remained strong. Foreign investments in India were USD 1.6 billion (52%), while domestic capital was USD 1.44 billion (48%), rising 53% year-on-year.

Notes:
NITI Aayog released the second annual Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2026 in New Delhi. The FHI provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of fiscal performance of Indian states to guide reforms and promote evidence-based policymaking. The 2026 edition includes all 18 major states plus 10 North-Eastern and Himalayan states, with separate evaluation for the latter to account for structural differences. The Index assesses fiscal soundness, revenue mobilisation, expenditure efficiency, debt management, and capital spending quality.

Notes:
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) entered the Top 100 in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for the first time, marking a major global achievement. QS World University Rankings are published annually by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a global higher education consultancy. Rankings assess universities using parameters like academic reputation, employer reputation, and employment outcomes. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and IIM Ahmedabad achieved India’s highest rank (21) globally.

Notes:
NITI Aayog released the 2nd edition of the report “From Borrowers to Builders: Women and India’s Evolving Credit Market” on 7 April 2026 in New Delhi. The report highlights that women borrowers in India hold a credit portfolio of ₹76 lakh crore, accounting for 26% of total system credit. Women’s credit exposure has grown 4.8 times since 2017, indicating a shift from basic access to deeper participation in the formal credit ecosystem. The number of credit-active women borrowers has grown at a CAGR of 9% (2017–2025), while credit penetration increased from 19% to 36%. Total outstanding credit to women rose from ₹16 lakh crore in 2017 to ₹76 lakh crore in 2025.

Notes:
Recently, the Extreme Heat and Agriculture Report was released jointly by Food and Agriculture Organization and World Meteorological Organization. It highlights that extreme heat is rising rapidly in frequency, intensity, and duration over the past 50 years. Extreme heat acts as a risk multiplier, worsening droughts, water stress, wildfires, and pest outbreaks. Labour productivity is declining, with up to 250 days/year becoming unsuitable for outdoor work in regions like South Asia. Crop yields (wheat, maize) decline 4–10% per 1°C rise, with extreme losses up to 50% in some regions. The report warns of serious threats to food security, livelihoods, and global agriculture systems.

Notes:
According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India is the 5th largest military spender in the world in 2025. India spent 92.1 billion on defence, marking an 8.9% increase from the previous year. It accounts for 3.2% of global military expenditure. The top four spenders are United States, China, Russia, and Germany. Global military spending reached a record 2,887 billion (2.5% of global GDP). India remains the second-largest arms importer despite a decline in imports.

Notes:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the 27th edition of “Women and Men in India 2025: Selected Indicators and Data” in Bhubaneswar. The report provides gender-disaggregated data on population, education, health, economy, decision-making, and violence. It includes 50 key indicators with metadata for better understanding of concepts and methods. The sex ratio at birth improved from 904 (2017–19) to 917 (2021–23). Infant mortality rate declined steadily for both males and females.

Notes:
India ranked 157th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2026. The index is published annually by Reporters Without Borders. India was placed in the “very serious” category for press freedom conditions. The rank shows a decline from 151 in 2025, though an improvement from 159 in 2024. The index evaluates countries based on factors like pluralism, media independence, legal framework, transparency, and safety. The 2026 report highlighted issues such as violence against journalists and media ownership concentration in India.