Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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India has recently jumped eight places to rank 77th on the Henley Passport Index 2025, up from 85th in 2024. The number of visa-free countries for Indian passport holders has slightly increased to 59 from 57. The Philippines and Sri Lanka are the two new visa-free additions for Indian citizens. The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa. The data is compiled using statistics from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Singapore holds the top spot globally with visa-free access to 193 out of 227 locations.

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Bengaluru topped in India in the 2025 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) City Index, ranked 26th globally. It is the top AI hub in India, known for AI Research and Development (R&D) and data centers. Bengaluru attracts major foreign investment due to its strong startup ecosystem. Other top Indian cities include Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata. Indian cities need a clear AI roadmap and strong regulations to grow further. Globally, Singapore ranked 1st, followed by Seoul, Beijing, Dubai, and San Francisco. The 2025 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) City Index is released by Counterpoint Research, a global technology market research firm.

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The global economy is changing due to geopolitical tensions and financial volatility. Nations are redefining competition based on growth, stability, and adaptability. The latest International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) shows developed economies facing challenges. Switzerland remains the most competitive economy globally with strengths in economic, business, and governance factors. Singapore ranks second, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) is third. India dropped to 41st place in 2025 from 39th in 2024. India performs well in economic performance and business efficiency.

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According to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 12 out of 30 Chief Ministers (40%) in India have declared criminal cases against themselves. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has declared the highest number with 89 cases. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has declared 47 cases. Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrababu Naidu declared 19 cases, Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah 13, and Jharkhand’s Hemant Soren five. Maharashtra’s Devendra Fadnavis and Himachal Pradesh’s Sukhvinder Singh declared four each, Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan two, and Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann one. 10 Chief Ministers (33%) declared serious criminal cases like attempt to murder, kidnapping, bribery, and criminal intimidation.

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Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India reached a record low of 25 in 2023, down 37.5% from 40 in 2013, as per Sample Registration System (SRS) report by Registrar General of India. IMR measures deaths of children per 1,000 live births under one year; lower numbers indicate better health access. Highest IMR reported in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh at 37; lowest in Manipur at 3; Kerala at 5. Rural IMR dropped from 44 to 28; urban IMR from 27 to 18. Birth rate declined from 36.9 in 1971 to 18.4 in 2023; highest in Bihar at 25.8, lowest in Andaman & Nicobar at 10.1. Death rate decreased from 14.9 in 1971 to 6.4 in 2023; Chandigarh lowest at 4, Chhattisgarh highest at 8.3. Data highlights improvements in public health and narrowing rural-urban gaps.

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Swachh Vayu Survekshan (SVS) 2025 is an annual survey by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). It evaluates 130 cities on eight parameters like road dust, solid waste, vehicular and industrial emissions, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, public awareness, and particulate matter reduction. Indore topped million-plus-population cities, followed by Jabalpur and Agra/Surat. Navi Mumbai ranked 4th, Kanpur 5th, Bhopal 6th, Delhi 32nd, Bengaluru 36th, Kolkata 38th, and Chennai 41st. In 3–10 lakh category, Amravati ranked first; in under 3 lakh category, Dewas ranked first. PM10 levels reduced in 103 cities, with Mumbai showing the highest decline (44%), followed by Kolkata (37%), Hyderabad and Bengaluru (26%), Delhi (15%), and Chennai (12%).

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The World Trade Organization (WTO) released the World Trade Report 2025 highlighting the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on global trade. With proper enabling policies, AI could boost cross-border trade of goods and services by nearly 40% by 2040 through productivity gains and lower costs. Global trade is projected to rise by 34–37%, while global GDP may increase by 12–13% by 2040 under different scenarios. In 2023, global trade in AI-enabling goods like semiconductors and raw materials was worth USD 2.3 trillion. If low- and middle-income nations narrow their digital gap by 50%, their incomes could rise by 15% and 14% respectively. Report stresses bridging the digital divide, investing in skills, and ensuring open, predictable trade policies.

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Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the State of Global Water Resources 2024 report on 19 September 2025. It warns that the global water cycle is becoming highly erratic, swinging between floods and droughts. 2024 marked the third straight year of glacier loss worldwide. Many small-glacier regions have reached or are nearing “Peak Water Point,” after which runoff will decline due to glacier shrinkage. Two-thirds of global river basins had abnormal water levels, with only one-third showing normal conditions for the sixth consecutive year. The report calls for stronger global data sharing and investments to close monitoring gaps. Currently, 3.6 billion people lack adequate water at least one month per year, projected to rise to over 5 billion by 2050.

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Copenhagen, Denmark, is ranked the world’s happiest city in 2025 by the Institute for Quality of Life’s Happy City Index. Aarhus, Denmark, ranks 4th with high citizen score (233), robust governance (173), and environmental initiatives (170). European cities dominate the top 10: Antwerp (Belgium) 5th, Stockholm (Sweden) 7th, Munich (Germany), and Rotterdam (Netherlands). No city from the United States, United Kingdom, China, or India made it to the top 10.

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The ‘Solar PV Potential Assessment of India (Ground-Mounted)’ report was launched by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). The report provides a policy-linked, investment-ready framework to guide project siting, infrastructure development, and private sector participation in solar energy. India has crossed 250 GW of non-fossil fuel installed capacity and aims for 500 GW by 2030, energy independence by 2047, and net-zero emissions by 2070. It provides a policy-linked, investment-ready framework for project siting, infrastructure, and private sector participation.