Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) projected India’s GDP growth at 7.2% for Q2 FY26 (July–September), driven by strong private consumption and a resilient services sector. India’s GDP grew 5.6% in Q2 FY25 and 7.8% in Q1 FY26, the fastest in five quarters. The National Statistical Office (NSO) will release official GDP data on November 28, 2025. Growth was supported by steady real income rise among both upper- and lower-income groups. From the supply side, growth came from a resilient services sector and manufacturing exports aided by a favourable base effect. Retail inflation eased faster than expected, boosting real wages and consumption.

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In the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2026, released by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network at UN COP30, India slipped 13 places to 23rd position with a score of 61.31. India fell from a high to a medium performer due to no coal-exit deadline and continued coal block auctions. CCPI notes medium performance in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, Climate Policy and Energy Use, and low in Renewable Energy. India shows strong intent with 50% non-fossil capacity achieved early, rising renewable auctions and work on green finance taxonomy and a national carbon market.

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NITI Aayog has released a Report on Water Budgeting for Aspiration Blocks, highlighting the need for efficient planning of water use in the recent context. Water budgeting gives a clear picture of how much water is available from all sources and how it is being used. It helps identify areas where there is water shortage or surplus to ensure better planning. It highlights the demand–supply gap in water and supports long-term water security. It promotes Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) for sustainable use of water. Water budgeting is a key activity under the Atal Bhujal Yojana, which aims to improve groundwater management.

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World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 Report was released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). Cities now host 45% of the global population, estimated at around 8.2 billion. The number of megacities has increased from eight in 1975 to thirty-three in 2025, where a megacity means a city with more than ten million people. Jakarta (Indonesia) is now the world’s most populous city, followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tokyo (Japan) and New Delhi. India has 44% of its population living in towns, showing rapid urban growth. India, along with six other countries, is projected to add over 500 million new urban residents between 2025 and 2050.

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The warning was released in the United Nations 2025 Asia-Pacific Disaster Report by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Cities like Delhi, Karachi, Shanghai, Dhaka, Manila, and Seoul may face an extra 2 to 7 degree Celsius rise due to the urban heat island effect. Even if global warming is limited to 1.5–2 degree Celsius, city temperatures will rise much higher locally. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh may face over 300 days above 35 degree Celsius heat index each year. A heat index above 41 degree Celsius poses extreme danger of heat stroke. The April–May 2024 Bangladesh heatwave affected 33 million people, while India lost about 700 lives.

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The Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025 was released by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. The report analysed around 15,000 groundwater samples collected across India in 2024. 13–15% of total samples showed uranium contamination, exceeding Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) drinking water limits. In Delhi, 24 out of 83 samples exceeded uranium parameters; contamination was above 30 parts per billion (PPB) in pre- and post-monsoon samples. Northwestern India—Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, parts of Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh—emerged as uranium contamination hotspots due to geogenic factors, groundwater depletion, and aquifer characteristics.

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FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) publishes The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW) 2025 every two years. SOLAW 2025 highlights the untapped potential of land, soil, and water to improve sustainable agricultural production, food security, ecosystem services, and resilience. By 2050, agriculture must produce 50% more food, feed, and fibre compared to 2012 and use 25% more freshwater, while expanding farmland is no longer feasible. More than 60% of human-induced land degradation occurs on agricultural lands. Agriculture accounts for more than 70% of global freshwater withdrawal. Intensive farming and excessive chemical use cause pollution and depletion of soil, land, and water resources.

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UHC Global Monitoring Report 2025 was jointly released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Bank Group. The report analyses global progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), tracking access to essential health services and financial protection. It highlights improvements in health service coverage and reductions in financial hardship due to out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenses since 2000. The report identifies persistent inequalities, with the poorest and most vulnerable populations facing the greatest barriers to UHC. It provides recommendations for governments, including expanding public health investments, reducing OOP costs, strengthening primary care, and promoting equitable access to essential services.

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The World Inequality Lab released the 3rd edition of the World Inequality Report (after 2018 and 2022). Globally, the top 1% control 37% of wealth and the top 10% hold 75%. In India, the top 1% own 40% of total wealth and the top 10% hold 65%. Globally, the top 10% earn 53% of income; in India, the top 1% earn 23% and the top 10% capture 58% of national income. Billionaire wealth has grown 8% annually since the 1990s—almost double the rate of the bottom 50%. The top 10% emit 77% of global carbon emissions, while the poorest 50% emit just 3%. The Global South transfers over 1% of world GDP to the Global North yearly through debt servicing and financial flows.

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India has been ranked third globally in the ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) Vibrancy’ index by Stanford University, following the US and China. The 2025 version of Stanford’s ‘Global AI Vibrancy Tool’ uses data up to 2024 and assesses countries’ preparedness for AI across seven pillars: Research & Development, Responsible AI, Economy, Talent, Policy & Governance, Public Opinion, and Infrastructure. The tool ranks 36 countries overall, with indicator-level data expanded to 67 countries in the AI Metrics Over Time category.