Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2025 Report was released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI). Out of 6.3 billion people in 109 countries, 1.1 billion (18.3%) live in acute multidimensional poverty. 43.6% face severe poverty with deprivation in half or more MPI indicators. 83.2% of the poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa (565 million) and South Asia (390 million). In India, multidimensional poverty fell to 16.4% (2019–2021) from 55.1% (2005–06), lifting 414 million people out of poverty. Common deprivations include clean cooking fuel, housing, and sanitation, and over 80% live in climate hazard-prone areas.

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The State of Global Air (SoGA) 2025 report was released by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), United States. In 2023, India lost two million lives to air pollution-related diseases, a 43% increase from 1.4 million in 2000, according to the State of Global Air (SoGA) 2025 report. Nearly 89% of these deaths were due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia. Air pollution death rates in India are 186 per 100,000, over 10 times higher than high-income countries. The most affected states are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal.

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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 US$310–365 billion per year by 2035, while current flows are only US$26 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 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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The World Economic Forum (WEF) released a new report titled “Shaping the Deep-Tech Revolution in Agriculture” on November 7, 2025. The report was launched under WEF’s Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture Initiative (AI4AI), established in 2021 to promote inclusive and sustainable farming. It identifies seven deep-tech domains driving agri-transformation — Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer Vision, Robotics, Edge Internet of Things (IoT), Satellite-enabled Remote Sensing, CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats), and Nanotechnology. These technologies can transform how crops are grown, monitored, protected, and distributed, boosting productivity, resilience, and sustainability.

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India ranks 9th among the ten countries most affected by extreme weather events in the Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 by Germanwatch, released at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The index covers data from 1995 to 2024, showing India’s rising vulnerability to heat waves, floods, and cyclones. India faced nearly 430 extreme weather events, causing over 80,000 deaths, affecting 1.3 billion people, and inflicting $170 billion in losses. The report calls India a nation facing continuous climate threats with little recovery time between disasters. Floods, landslides, heat waves, and cyclones like Amphan (2020), Fani (2019), and Hudhud (2014) caused major destruction

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The International Cryosphere Climate Initiative released the State of the Cryosphere Report 2025. The report covers five key cryosphere components: Ice Sheets, Mountain Glaciers and Snow, Polar Oceans, Sea Ice, and Permafrost. Greenland and Antarctic losses have quadrupled since the 1990s, causing sea-level rise that threatens infrastructure, homes, farmland, and livelihoods in coastal areas. Rising greenhouse gases weaken heat and carbon absorption and slow Antarctic Overturning Circulation (AOC) and Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). 273 gigatons of ice lost per year (2000–2023), threatening water, food, and security for billions. Extent and thickness declined 40–60% since 1979, impacting Arctic amplification, species, weather, and ocean currents.

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In the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2026, released by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network at UN COP30, India slipped 13 places to 23rd position with a score of 61.31. India fell from a high to a medium performer due to no coal-exit deadline and continued coal block auctions. CCPI notes medium performance in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, Climate Policy and Energy Use, and low in Renewable Energy. India shows strong intent with 50% non-fossil capacity achieved early, rising renewable auctions and work on green finance taxonomy and a national carbon market.

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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.