Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The 10th edition of the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction was released by United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction. The report states that the buildings and construction sector contributes around 11–13% of global GDP and provides employment to nearly 9% of the global workforce. The sector is responsible for 37% of global carbon emissions, 50% of material extraction, and 28% of global energy consumption. Between 2015 and 2024, global building floor space increased by 20%, while energy demand rose by 11%, indicating improvements in energy efficiency.

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Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2024 was released by the Office of the Registrar General of India. India’s Total Fertility Rate remained at 1.9, staying below the replacement level fertility rate of 2.1 for the fifth consecutive year. The Crude Death Rate stood at 6.4 in 2024, remaining higher than pre-pandemic levels. India’s Infant Mortality Rate declined to 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, while Kerala recorded the lowest IMR of 8. The Under-Five Mortality Rate stood at 28 per 1,000 live births.

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Global EV Outlook is an annual report published by the International Energy Agency that analyses global electric mobility trends. The report covers EV sales, battery demand, charging infrastructure, government policies, and market developments worldwide. According to the 2026 outlook, global EV sales are projected to reach 23 million units, making up 28% of global car sales. India recorded a 75% increase in EV sales in 2025, reaching around 165,000 units, though EVs still account for only about 4% of total car sales in the country.

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India ranked second in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region with 1.6 GW operational data center capacity, according to the Cushman and Wakefield Global Data Center Market Comparison 2026 report. India is also among the top three APAC markets in development pipeline, with 3.1 GW under construction and planned. Mumbai remains India’s primary data center hub and is expected to cross 1 GW operational capacity by the end of 2026. Hyderabad emerged as the top secondary data center market in APAC and ranked ninth globally.

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State of India’s Digital Economy 2026 reported that India has become the world’s fifth most digitalised economy. India ranked fourth on the CHIPS-AI Index, behind only the United States, China, and Singapore. The report highlighted that 72% of global AI users are now from developing countries, with India and China accounting for nearly two-fifths of worldwide AI adoption. India generated $328 billion in digitally delivered trade and has the world’s second-largest AI talent pool. India improved its global digital ranking from eighth in 2025 to fifth in 2026.

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The SIPRI Yearbook 2026 reported that India was the world’s 5th largest military spender in 2025. India’s military expenditure was $92.1 billion, an increase of 8.9% over the previous year. According to SIPRI, India possesses approximately 190 nuclear warheads as of January 2026. Pakistan’s estimated nuclear arsenal stands at 170 warheads. The report states that India is focusing on developing long-range weapons capable of reaching targets across China, while also maintaining deterrence against Pakistan. Globally, the United States remained the largest military spender, followed by China, Russia, Germany, and India. The report was released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which was founded in 1966.

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The Global Peace Index 2026 (GPI 2026) is published by the Institute for Economics and Peace. The index ranks 163 countries based on peacefulness, security, conflict, and militarization. Iceland remains the world’s safest country in 2026. India ranked 127th out of 163 countries. India’s ranking is influenced by internal conflicts and localized tensions, reflecting a broader decline in peacefulness in South Asia.

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The Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2026, launched at VivaTech in Paris on 17 June 2026, highlights Bengaluru as a major global tech hub. Bengaluru ranked 15th among the top 40 global startup ecosystems with an estimated ecosystem value of $153 billion. It is ranked 2nd in Asia for AI-native startup clusters, after Beijing, reflecting strong artificial intelligence-driven growth. The city has 606 AI-native startups, 30 unicorns, and around 600,000 AI/ML professionals, making it the world’s second-largest AI talent hub.

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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2026 report. India produced 9% of the world’s aquatic animals in 2024, making it the second-largest producer globally after China. India was the largest producer of inland water catches, with 2.2 million tonnes from rivers, lakes, and freshwater systems. In aquaculture, India ranked second globally, contributing 12% of global farmed aquatic animal production. India, China, Indonesia, Viet Nam, and Bangladesh together produced 82% of the world’s farmed aquatic animals.

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India has been ranked 13th globally in the QS World Future Skills Index 2027, which assesses how countries are prepared for AI-driven economic transformation. The report states that India has achieved “exceptional system scale” and is the strongest performer among lower-middle-income economies in future skills readiness. India has secured an overall score of 89.4 out of 100, indicating strong potential for AI-led growth and economic transformation. India has performed strongly in the Future of Work pillar, where it has been ranked 5th globally, showing high readiness for AI, digital, and green job transitions.