Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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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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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 2nd edition of the Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024. The National Statistics Office (NSO), MoSPI conducted the first all-India TUS in 2019. The latest survey was conducted from January to December 2024. It analyzes how Indians allocate time to employment, caregiving, and leisure. A key finding is the rise in women’s participation in paid jobs, shifting from unpaid domestic work. This trend reflects economic and social changes, impacting India’s labor market dynamics.

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Government expenditure is crucial for economic growth, infrastructure, and public welfare. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) developed the Quality of Public Expenditure (QPE) Index. This index measures how efficiently the Centre and states use public funds. The latest RBI report shows India’s public expenditure quality is at its highest since 1991. The improvement is due to increased capital spending, fiscal discipline, and better resource allocation. The QPE Index helps assess the effectiveness of government spending.

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NITI Aayog launched the report “From Borrowers to Builders: Women’s Role in India’s Financial Growth Story.” The report, released by CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, highlights the rise in women’s financial awareness. By December 2024, 27 million women were monitoring their credit, a 42% increase from the previous year. The report was published by TransUnion CIBIL, NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), and MicroSave Consulting (MSC). WEP works on financial literacy, credit access, mentorship, and market linkages for women. Financing Women Collaborative (FWC) was formed to ensure inclusive financial access and seeks financial sector participation.

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The Financial Stability Report 2024 released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) highlights rising household debt, increasing from 36.6% of GDP in 2021 to 42.9% in 2024. Although lower than in other emerging economies, the rising debt-to-GDP ratio signals potential economic risks. A shift from borrowing for assets like homes to borrowing for consumption is seen, especially among lower-income groups. More loans are being taken by prime and super-prime borrowers for asset creation, while sub-prime borrowers use loans for consumption. Lower-income households are increasingly relying on credit cards and personal loans for daily expenses, leading to financial stress.

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India’s bioeconomy is valued at over $165 billion, contributing 4.2% of GDP, as per the India BioEconomy Report 2024. The sector is projected to grow to $300 billion by 2030 and $1 trillion by 2047. Bioeconomy involves using biological resources for industrial production, including biofuels, bioplastics, and pharmaceuticals. The industrial sector contributed $78 billion (47%), while pharma contributed 35%, led by vaccines. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh generated over two-thirds of bioeconomy value. Eastern and Northeastern regions contributed less than 6%. India BioEconomy Report 2024 is released by Department of Biotechnology.

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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released the report “Education and Nutrition: Learn to Eat Well” at the ‘Nutrition for Growth’ event in France on March 27-28, 2025. The report highlights poor nutritional quality in school meals and urges governments to improve food standards. In 2024, 47% of primary school students received school meals, but many lacked proper nutrition. In 2022, 27% of school meals were not designed with nutritionist input. Out of 187 countries, only 93 had school food policies, and 65% had cafeteria food standards. Childhood obesity has more than doubled since 1990, while food insecurity remains a challenge. UNESCO recommends fresh, locally sourced food over ultra-processed options.

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India ranked 10th globally in private investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2023, as per the 2025 Technology and Innovation Report. The report was released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). It focuses on key science, technology, and innovation issues relevant to developing countries, offering practical policy insights. The 2025 report is titled “Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for Development.” It aims to help governments understand the AI landscape and create inclusive policies for fair and balanced tech progress across society.

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The Amnesty International recently released the “Death Sentences and Executions 2024” Report. Amnesty International’s “Death Sentences and Executions 2024” report showed 1,518 recorded executions globally, the highest in nearly 10 years. This marked a 32% rise from 2023, and the highest total since 2015. Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for 91% of known executions. Iran executed at least 972 people, Saudi Arabia at least 345, and Iraq saw a jump from 16 to at least 63. China, North Korea, and Vietnam were not included due to lack of official data. The death penalty was reportedly used to silence protesters, minorities, and even individuals with mental disabilities.

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India has once again been placed on the ‘priority watch’ list in the Special 301 Report by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). It is an annual review published under the Trade Act of 1974. It identifies countries that do not provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) or fair access to US rights holders. The report has been released every year since 1989. It classifies countries as “priority foreign country”, “priority watch list”, or “watch list”. Countries on the priority watch list, like India, have serious IPR issues needing greater US attention.