Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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Total student enrollment dropped by over a crore in 2023-24, according to Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report. The ‘UDISE Plus’ Report was recently released by the Ministry of Education. UDISE+ is a large data system covering 14.72 lakh schools, 98.08 lakh teachers, and 24.8 crore students. It is an online portal managed by the Ministry of Education for school data on enrollment, infrastructure, and teachers. Boys’ enrollment fell by 4.87%, and girls’ by 4.48% from 2018-19 to 2023-24. States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra saw significant enrollment drops.

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Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) released a report titled “Comparative Study of School Education System” (SES). The report analyzes India’s school education system in comparison with countries like the USA, UK, China, Sweden, and Australia. It focuses on various aspects, including education structures, teaching methods, funding, assessments, and equity measures. India spends only 2.7-2.9% of GDP on education, stagnating over six years, while global benchmarks suggest 5-7%. Developed countries like Sweden allocate 6.7-6.9% and the UK 5.3-5.6%, while developing nations like Indonesia and Thailand allocate 3.7-4.3% and 4.0-4.3%, respectively. Australia increased education spending by 8%, and China by 2.4%, highlighting India’s underinvestment. The study calls for raising India’s education spending to 6% of GDP and implementing NEP 2020 reforms, focusing on vocational and digital education.

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The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry released the 6th edition of the “Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2024” report in New Delhi. It was initiated in 2018 by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. LEADS 2024 evaluates logistics performance across four pillars: Infrastructure, Services, Operating Environment, and Sustainable Logistics. The report highlights initiatives by States and UTs and identifies region-specific opportunities. It aims to enable informed decision-making and improve logistics efficiency nationwide.

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India’s passport ranking has dropped to 85th in the Henley Passport Index 2025, down from 80th in 2024. The index evaluates passports based on visa-free access to global destinations. India now allows visa-free travel to 57 countries. The top-ranking passport belongs to Singapore, which offers access to 195 destinations. Over the past two decades, India’s ranking has fluctuated significantly, peaking at 71st in 2006. The index relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess travel access.

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The World Economic Forum released the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report in collaboration with Accenture. It highlights how geopolitical tensions, emerging technologies, and cybercrime sophistication are reshaping cybersecurity. Geopolitical conflicts, like the Ukraine war, increase vulnerabilities in critical sectors such as energy and nuclear power. Two-thirds of organizations expect AI to impact cybersecurity, but only one-third have tools to manage AI-related risks. The cybersecurity workforce faces a 4.8 million professional gap, with only 14% of organizations having skilled teams. Supply chain complexities and third-party vulnerabilities hinder cyber resilience for over 50% of organizations. Generative AI is being used for advanced phishing and social engineering, with 42% of organizations facing such attacks in 2024.

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The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects Report highlights the rising influence of Emerging Market and Developing Economies (EMDEs), led by China, India, and Brazil. EMDEs have significantly increased their global economic share from 2000 to 2025, with India maintaining leadership as the fastest-growing economy. India’s growth rate is projected at 6.7% annually for FY26–FY27, driven by robust services and manufacturing sectors. Services expansion and increased exports are enhancing South Asia’s trade integration, while manufacturing benefits from improved logistics and tax reforms. Private consumption is rising due to a strong labor market, better credit access, and declining inflation.

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The World Economic Forum (WEF) released a report titled “Embracing the Quantum Economy: A Pathway for Business Leaders.” The report highlights the economic potential of quantum technologies and their transformative impact. WEF’s Quantum Economy Network (QEN) helps stakeholders prepare for the economic influence of quantum advancements.

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The International Labour Organization (ILO) released its fourth edition of Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers, highlighting their crucial role in global economic growth. In 2022, international migrants made up 7% of the global labor force, with 167.7 million workers, an increase of over 30 million since 2013. Migrants face a gender gap, with 38.7% of female migrants employed, compared to 60.8% of male migrants. Most migrants work in the services sector (68.4%), followed by industry (3%) and agriculture (4%). High-income countries host 4% of migrants, with Europe and Northern America as key destinations.

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Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has published the report on Sustainable Nitrogen Management in Agrifood systems. The report highlights the challenges of nitrogen use in agrifood systems. Humans add 150 teragrams (Tg) of reactive nitrogen annually through agriculture and industry, with climate change possibly increasing this to 600 Tg by 2100. Nitrogen loss occurs through ammonia, nitrogen oxides, nitrous oxide emissions, and nitrate leaching, harming ecosystems and contributing to air pollution. Livestock sectors, synthetic fertilizers, land-use changes, and manure emissions are key nitrogen polluters. Judicious nitrogen use boosts crop yields, while excess use worsens global warming and environmental degradation.

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India has been ranked as the 4th most powerful military in the world according to the Global Firepower Index 2025. The top 3 countries are United States of America, Russia and China. Bhutan ranked lowest at 145th, while Pakistan dropped from 9th to 12th position. The top four countries’ rankings remain unchanged from 2024. The Global Firepower Index compares 145 countries military power based on their war-making capabilities and excludes a country’s nuclear weapon capability.