Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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Centre for Science and Environment released State of India’s Environment 2026 report, published yearly since 1982, reviewing floods, extreme weather, wildlife behaviour and air pollution in India. Report warns global temperature may cross 1.5°C, showing the world is nearing a climate tipping point. In 2025, extreme weather occurred on 99% of days, causing 4,419 deaths and damaging 17.41 million hectares crops. States like Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh experienced the highest number of extreme weather days. The report stresses the need to shift from disaster relief to climate-resilient planning and infrastructure.

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The U.N.-backed World Happiness Report 2026 was released on 18 March 2026, highlighting global well-being trends and ranking Finland as the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year. The report emphasizes that heavy social media use is harming young people’s well-being, prompting some countries to consider or implement legislative restrictions on social media for youth. Top 10 happiest countries are Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Israel, Luxembourg, Switzerland. Costa Rica achieved fourth place, marking the highest-ever ranking for a Latin American country. Among 147 countries, India ranks 116th, showing a slight improvement from 118th in 2025.

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The Consumer Justice Report 2026 has been released by the India Justice Report to assess the capacity and performance of consumer dispute redressal commissions in India. The report highlights a significant rise in pendency of cases, with total pending cases increasing by 21% between 2020 and 2024, despite improvements in disposal rates. Although 88.5% of the 7.64 lakh cases were disposed of in the post-pandemic period, the backlog continues to grow, indicating systemic inefficiencies. The report notes a decline in women’s representation in consumer commissions, with the share of women among presidents and members in 14 State Commissions falling from 35% in 2021 to 29% in 2025.

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The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released a report titled “Planet in Focus: Advancing Environmental Sustainability under the SDGs”. The report focuses on SDGs related to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), responsible consumption (SDG 12), climate action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14), and life on land (SDG 15). It highlights India’s progress in climate mitigation and adaptation, sustainable water management, biodiversity conservation, and responsible consumption practices. India achieved universal Open Defecation Free (ODF) status across all districts through the Swachh Bharat Mission.

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A report by UNESCO titled “2026 GEM Report (Global Education Monitoring Report)” highlights global education gaps. Around 273 million children and youth were out of school in 2024, with more in conflict regions. About 1 in 6 school-age children is excluded, and only 2/3 complete secondary education. Conflicts, especially in West Asia, have worsened school closures and learning loss. Access does not ensure learning due to poor infrastructure, lack of teachers, and resources. Girls, disabled, rural, and displaced children face major barriers. Low funding and poor allocation hinder progress, especially in low-income countries. Digital divide limits access to technology-based learning.

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The Food Price Index is released by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and measures the monthly changes in international prices of a basket of food commodities. It recorded a rise in March 2026, mainly due to higher energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict. The index is calculated as a weighted average of five commodity group price indices: cereals, vegetable oils, dairy, meat, and sugar. The weights are based on the average export shares of these commodities. The base period for the index is 2014–16.

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The International Labour Organization report “Universal social protection in changing labour markets: Protecting workers in all types of employment” stresses strengthening social protection for all workers. Social protection (social security: policies reducing poverty and vulnerability across life stages) includes nine areas like maternity, unemployment, health, old-age, disability, and survivors’ benefits. It must shift from poverty reduction to poverty prevention, ensuring support before vulnerability arises. Universal coverage is needed for all workers, including informal, temporary, part-time, and self-employed categories.

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India has become a global leader in adopting artificial intelligence in healthcare, with 85% of consumers using AI-powered tools, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group. The report highlights that India’s adoption rate is much higher than countries like the United States (50%), United Kingdom (43%), and Japan (34%). Globally, about 60% of people use AI for health purposes, but India stands out due to higher digital acceptance and rapid adoption.

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The NITI Aayog released the report “Moving Towards Effective City Government – A Framework for Million-plus Cities” at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The report highlights that urbanisation is key to achieving Viksit Bharat 2047 and a $30 trillion economy, but cities face issues like weak governance, low financial autonomy, and fragmented institutions. It stresses empowering city governments as engines of economic growth, innovation, and employment. It suggests integrating urban services (water, sanitation, transport) under city authorities for better coordination.

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According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India is the 5th largest military spender in the world in 2025. India spent 92.1 billion on defence, marking an 8.9% increase from the previous year. It accounts for 3.2% of global military expenditure. The top four spenders are United States, China, Russia, and Germany. Global military spending reached a record 2,887 billion (2.5% of global GDP). India remains the second-largest arms importer despite a decline in imports.