Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 was released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The report revised India’s Gross Domestic Product growth forecast for Financial Year 2026–27 to 6.4 percent from the earlier estimate of 6.6 percent. The report was prepared by the Global Economic Monitoring Branch under the Economic Analysis and Policy Division of UNDESA. The downward revision was mainly attributed to global uncertainties and economic disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia crisis. India’s GDP growth forecast for Financial Year 2027–28 was also revised to 6.6 percent.

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Ease of Doing Research and Development in India Report was released by NITI Aayog. The report states that India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development stands at around 0.65% of GDP, lower than countries such as the United States, China, and the Republic of Korea. According to the Global Innovation Index 2025, India has only 262 full-time equivalent researchers per million population. The report identified major challenges including low R&D funding, excessive dependence on public funding, shortage of quality researchers, and weak technology commercialisation. It highlighted that around 64% of India’s R&D expenditure comes from the public sector, unlike leading economies where private sector participation is dominant.

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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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Recently, the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) for FY 2024–25 along with four major digital initiatives. Paradip Port Authority secured the top position in the Dry Bulk Cargo category handling more than 5 million tonnes. Sikka Port and Terminals Limited ranked first in the Liquid Bulk Cargo segment. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority secured the second position among major container ports in the same category. The LPPI aims to improve efficiency, competitiveness, and digital transformation in India’s port and logistics sector.

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According to the Neglected Displacement Crises Report 2025 published by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), many displacement crises receive inadequate international attention, funding, and political engagement despite their severity. The report evaluates crises based on funding, media coverage, political and diplomatic engagement, and the scale of displacement. Sudan was identified as the most neglected displacement crisis in 2025, with millions of displaced people and widespread food insecurity. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is the only country to have appeared in all ten editions of the report. The ten most neglected crises in 2025 are Sudan, DR Congo, Colombia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Honduras, Ecuador, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Mozambique.

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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 Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the SDG National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report 2026 and related publications on the 20th Statistics Day. The National Indicator Framework (NIF) 2026 contains 277 indicators to monitor India’s progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Social protection coverage increased from 22% (2016) to 65.3% (2026). Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined from 122 to 87 per 1 lakh live births. Sex Ratio at Birth improved from 896 to 918 females per 1,000 males, while the female-to-male ratio among professionals rose to 51.3%. Unemployment rate declined from 6.1% (2017–18) to 3.1% (2025).

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The World Bank Group (specifically through its Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership) released the “2026 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report”. These countries include Russia, Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Mexico, Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, and the United States. Global gas flaring increased for the third consecutive year, reaching 167 billion cubic metres in 2025. Gas flaring produces large emissions, contributing about 429 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, including methane emissions. The process involves burning associated natural gas during oil extraction instead of using it productively.

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Recently, the Ministry of Education released the Performance Grading Index for States/UTs (PGI-S) 2.0 and the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) for 2025–26. Performance Grading Index for States/UTs (PGI-S) evaluates the performance of States and Union Territories in school education. Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) assesses the performance of districts on common educational parameters. PGI-S has a total weightage of 1000 points across 70 indicators, while PGI-D has 600 points across 70 indicators. The framework uses data from UDISE+, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, PRABANDH, PM POSHAN, and Vidyanjali portals.