Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The World Economic Forum (WEF) and McKinsey Health Institute released the “Blueprint to Close the Women’s Health Gap” report. A WEF report highlights that addressing women-specific health issues could boost global GDP by $400 billion annually by 2040. Women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared to men. Nine key health conditions affect women’s lifespan and health span, including maternal disorders, heart disease, cancer, menopause, and migraines. The Women’s Health Impact Tracking (WHIT) platform measures health disparities and promotes solutions. The report urges better data collection, increased research, tailored healthcare guidelines, and investment in women’s health to reduce disparities and improve outcomes, especially in low-income regions.

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The Ministry of Electronics and IT released a report titled “Estimation and Measurement of India’s Digital Economy.” India’s digital economy was 11.74% of national income in 2022-23, expected to rise to 13.42% by 2024-25. It may grow twice as fast as the overall economy, contributing nearly 20% of national income by 2029-30. The digital economy employed 14.67 million workers (2.55% of the workforce) in 2022-23. India is the second-largest market for 5G and mobile subscriptions globally. India led global contributions to AI projects (23%) on GitHub and had 1644 billion digital payments in FY 2023-24.

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The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 report by Pratham Foundation shows improved literacy and arithmetic in rural areas after the pandemic. The percentage of Class 3 students with basic arithmetic skills increased from 25.9 percent in 2022 to 7 percent in 2024 with more progress in government schools The percentage of Class 5 students reading at Class 2 level increased to 8 percent in 2024 from 38.5 percent in 2022 The National Education Policy 2020 played a key role in strengthening foundational skills in reading and arithmetic Government school enrollment has increased along with better student and teacher attendance Technology access has expanded with 90 percent of teenagers owning smartphones but only 57 percent using them for education Pre-primary enrollment is high in states like Karnataka Gujarat and Kerala

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World Economic Forum has published “Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network 2023-2024 Impact Report”. The report highlights key innovations tackling global challenges. It focuses on seven core areas, including AI, agriculture, health, biotechnology, and energy transition. Drones are being used to deliver healthcare in India. Autonomous mobility in Saudi Arabia has improved transport efficiency and safety. Alternative proteins, including plant-based and cultivated sources, are being developed for food security. The Saagu Baagu pilot in Telangana helped 7,000 chili farmers increase incomes and reduce agriculture’s environmental impact through agritech.

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India leads the global index in digital well-being with a score of 67 out of 100. 58% of Indians are satisfied with their digital experiences, the highest among major countries. India has the strongest support networks for youth, with 9-12 sources of guidance. 78% of Indian Gen Z sought support, up from 65% in 2023. Parental engagement increased, with 70% of parents monitoring teens’ online activities.

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The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Devolution Index Report on 13th February 2025 at Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi. The Index assesses decentralization progress across States and Union Territories. It evaluates six key dimensions: Framework, Functions, Finances, Functionaries, Capacity Building, and Accountability. It examines Panchayats’ autonomy in decision-making under Article 243G of the Constitution. The Index strengthens cooperative federalism and local governance. It aids citizens, representatives, and officials in tracking Panchayat performance. It aligns with Viksit Bharat, promoting rural transformation and sustainable development.

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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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International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released the report titled “India Financial System Stability Assessment”. IMF warns that stress in Non Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) may risk the financial system due to overexposure to power and infrastructure sectors. 63% of power sector loans in fiscal 2024 came from three major Infrastructure Financing Companies, up from 55% in 2019-20. 56% of NBFC lending was financed by market instruments, with the rest from bank borrowings. State-owned NBFCs like IREDA face higher risks. In a stagflation scenario, public sector banks (PSBs) may struggle to maintain a 9% capital adequacy ratio (CAR). IMF recommends equal regulation for state-owned and private NBFCs and better data sharing.

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Delhi remains the most polluted capital city in the world in 2024, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 μg/m³. India ranks as the 5th most polluted country, with an average AQI of 50.6 μg/m³, 10 times higher than WHO’s guideline. 13 of the 20 most polluted cities globally are in India, with Byrnihat (Assam-Meghalaya border) being the most polluted. Other highly polluted Indian cities include Faridabad, Loni, Gurgaon, Noida, and Central Delhi. The World Air Quality Report, published by Swiss organization IQAir, analyzed PM2.5 data from 8,954 cities in 138 countries.

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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.