Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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India moved up to 9th position in the world for total forest area and retained 3rd spot for annual forest gains, according to the United Nations’ Global Forest Resource Assessment (GFRA) 2025. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav credited government conservation policies and state-led plantation efforts for this achievement. GFRA, released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), analysed 35 years of data (1990-2025) from 236 countries. India has 72.74 million hectares of forests, about 2% of global forest cover. Russia leads with 832.63 million hectares, followed by Brazil, Canada, and the US. India added approximately 191,000 hectares per year between 2015-2025, behind China (1.69 million) and Russia (942,000).

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The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the 2025 Adaptation Gap Report titled “Running on Empty” ahead of COP30 in Brazil. The report warns that wealthy nations have failed to meet their climate finance promises, leaving developing countries vulnerable. It highlights that adaptation finance needs of developing nations will reach US310–365 billion per year by 2035, while current flows are only US26 billion (2023). Adaptation aims to help countries adjust to climate impacts like floods, heatwaves, and rising seas. The report calls adaptation a lifeline, not a cost, as global climate risks intensify. India supports making COP30 the “COP of Adaptation,” stressing finance and technology sharing.

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The International Migration Outlook 2025 report was recently released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In 2023, about 2,25,000 Indian citizens acquired the nationality of OECD countries. India and China together accounted for one-third of all international students studying in OECD member countries. The report highlights India’s growing global mobility in terms of both citizenship acquisition and educational migration.

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The UN Environment Program (UNEP) released the “Emission Gap Report 2025: Off Target.” Even updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) pledges under the Paris Agreement may lead to 2.3–2.5 °C global warming this century. This exceeds the Paris Agreement goal of keeping warming well below 2 °C and striving for 1.5 °C. Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rose 2.3% in 2024, reaching 57.7 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent. To meet the 1.5 °C target, emissions must fall by 55% by 2035. India and China had the highest absolute GHG emission increases. India’s per capita GHG emissions remain below the world average.

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A joint report by the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) stated that India now has the world’s third-largest pipeline of clean industrial projects after China and the USA. The pipeline requires an estimated $150 billion in investment to become operational. This investment is almost double India’s total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in FY25. Most projects are greenfield facilities in chemicals, hydrogen, port infrastructure, and core industrial assets. These projects will boost Make in India, enhance domestic supply chains, and make India a global clean industrial hub. India’s growth in steel, cement, chemicals, aviation, and shipping sectors is driving industrial expansion and employment.

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In November 2025, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the India AI Governance Guidelines. The framework aims to advance AI innovation while mitigating risks and aligning with India’s societal and national priorities. A drafting committee, formed in July 2025, studied global models, laws, and literature to shape India’s AI governance structure. The guidelines are based on seven core principles and six key pillars — Infrastructure, Capacity Building, Policy & Regulation, Risk Mitigation, Accountability, and Institutions. It recommends expanding data and compute access, building AI skills, and ensuring balanced regulation and liability systems.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global TB Report 2025, India’s total tuberculosis (TB) cases have reduced by 21% in the last decade — nearly double the global average of 12%. TB cases in India dropped from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024. Mortality due to TB also declined from 28 per lakh in 2015 to 21 per lakh in 2024. The Health Ministry credited the progress to an improved case-finding approach that enhanced diagnosis and treatment coverage. There has been no significant rise in multidrug-resistant TB cases.

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The WHO released the Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025 (GLASS), highlighting that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in India remains one of the highest globally. The report revealed that one in three bacterial infections in India in 2023 was resistant to common antibiotics, far above the global average of one in six. Experts observed that India’s surveillance data—mainly from tertiary hospitals—overestimates national resistance levels, as primary and secondary care settings are underrepresented. The WHO urged India to expand nationwide surveillance and strengthen antibiotic stewardship. The report acknowledged India’s initiatives, including the National Programme on AMR Containment and Kerala’s AMRITH, which reduced over-the-counter antibiotic sales and showed early declines in AMR.

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NITI Aayog has released a Report on Water Budgeting for Aspiration Blocks, highlighting the need for efficient planning of water use in the recent context. Water budgeting gives a clear picture of how much water is available from all sources and how it is being used. It helps identify areas where there is water shortage or surplus to ensure better planning. It highlights the demand–supply gap in water and supports long-term water security. It promotes Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) for sustainable use of water. Water budgeting is a key activity under the Atal Bhujal Yojana, which aims to improve groundwater management.

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World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 Report was released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). Cities now host 45% of the global population, estimated at around 8.2 billion. The number of megacities has increased from eight in 1975 to thirty-three in 2025, where a megacity means a city with more than ten million people. Jakarta (Indonesia) is now the world’s most populous city, followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tokyo (Japan) and New Delhi. India has 44% of its population living in towns, showing rapid urban growth. India, along with six other countries, is projected to add over 500 million new urban residents between 2025 and 2050.