Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has started work on its Seventh Assessment Report. It was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It has 195 member countries. The IPCC assesses scientific, technical, and socio-economic data on climate change, its impacts, and mitigation strategies. It provides scientific input for global climate policies but does not conduct new research. The Sixth Assessment Report was completed in 2023. IPCC reports play a key role in UN climate negotiations (UNFCCC).

Notes:
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.

Notes:
The National Housing Bank (NHB) released the “Report on Trends and Progress of Housing in India, 2024” under Section 42 of the NHB Act, 1987. The report covers housing trends, price movements, government schemes, and the role of lending institutions. As of September 2024, Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG) hold 39% of housing loans, Middle-Income Groups (MIG) have 44%, and High-Income Groups (HIG) hold 17%. The Housing Price Index (NHB-RESIDEX) rose by 6.8% year-on-year. The report highlights regional credit disparities, climate risks, and growth opportunities through technology and digitization.

Notes:
The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) by NITI Aayog assesses the fiscal health of Indian states. It covers 18 major states that contribute significantly to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), public expenditure, revenue, and fiscal stability. Odisha ranks first in the index, followed by Chhattisgarh, Goa, Jharkhand, and Gujarat. As states handle two-thirds of public spending and one-third of total revenue, their fiscal health is crucial for national economic stability. The index uses data from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the financial year 2022-23 to compare and benchmark fiscal performance. It helps policymakers make informed decisions to improve fiscal sustainability and resilience. The index evaluates tax buoyancy, which measures how responsive a state’s tax revenue is to its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth. It assesses revenue generation, including own tax and non-tax receipts.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) released a report titled “How Does Climate Change Impact Women and Children Across Agroecological Zones”. The report shows that women and children face a higher risk of death during disasters than men due to existing social roles and responsibilities. It highlights the urgent need for gender-disaggregated data to create better disaster response and climate policies. India has 20 agroecological zones with varied climates, which affect the level of vulnerability differently across regions. States like Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh have five agroecosystems each, while zones like the North Eastern Hills (Region 17) and Western Coastal Plains (Region 19) span multiple states. This overlap calls for coordinated climate adaptation strategies across states for better protection of women and children.

Notes:
India ranked 36th out of 170 countries in the 2025 Technology and Innovation Report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), improving from 48th in 2022. The Readiness for Frontier Technologies Index includes Information and Communication Technology (ICT), skills, Research and Development (R&D), industrial capacity, and finance access. The report shows countries like India, Brazil, China, and the Philippines are doing well despite lower incomes, and must adapt fast to tech changes.

Notes:
India launched its first Digital Threat Report 2024 to boost cybersecurity in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiative. The report was released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and developed by Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-In), Cyber Security Incident Response Team – Financial Sector (CSIRT-Fin), and global cybersecurity firm SISA. It identifies key sector-wide security gaps, emerging cyber risks, and adversarial tactics threatening India’s financial systems.

Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Global Financial Stability Report warned that high geopolitical risks may affect global financial and economic stability. It highlighted threats like conflicts, cyberattacks, and resource competition disrupting global supply chains. Shifts in global power, new trade alliances, and investment centers are changing traditional economic dynamics. The global tax system is becoming fragmented as some countries adopt a minimum global tax while others move away from shared tax rules. Workforce challenges such as ageing populations, low birth rates, cultural tensions, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration are also stressing economies and labour markets. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) releases the Global Financial Stability Report. This report, published twice a year in April and October, provides an assessment of the global financial system and markets, including emerging market financing.

Notes:
The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples Report, released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), reveals that Indigenous people receive less than 1% of international climate funding and are often excluded from climate solutions. Indigenous economies, which depend on agriculture, fishing, and forestry, face growing uncertainty, undermining economic self-sufficiency and sustainability. Disruption of ancestral lands and ecosystems affects traditional land-based practices, threatening environmental stewardship and sovereignty. Indigenous people are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related health issues due to limited access to healthcare and traditional food sources. Climate change also threatens the preservation of Indigenous languages, traditions, and cultural identities.