Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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Finland is the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, as per the World Happiness Report 2025. Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden rank second, third, and fourth, respectively. Rankings are based on people’s self-assessment of their lives, in a study by the Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. India ranks 118th overall but performs well in benevolence measures: 10th in volunteering, 57th in donations, and 74th in helping strangers. Afghanistan is the unhappiest country (147th), while Nepal (92nd) and Pakistan (109th) rank ahead of India.

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India had the second highest maternal deaths in 2023, tied with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at 19,000, behind Nigeria with 75,000 deaths. The data comes from the Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000–2023 report by the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), which includes World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Bank Group, and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). In 2023, 260,000 maternal deaths occurred worldwide, or 712 each day. India’s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) dropped from 362 in 2000 to 80 in 2023—a 78% decline.

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The Future of Jobs Report 2025, which analyzes global labor market trends for the period of 2025-2030, was published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Future of Jobs Report 2025 stresses the need to align education with fast-changing global job demands. It highlights key forces shaping the job market by 2030, such as technology, demographics, green transition, and economic uncertainty. About 60% of employers see digital access and tech advancements as major change drivers. Nearly 50% of employers expect economic shifts to displace current jobs. Around 59 out of 100 workers will need training in tech skills, analytical thinking, and resilience. Demand will grow for roles like Artificial Intelligence (AI) engineers and Big Data specialists. The report calls for both technical and soft skills like adaptability, leadership, and emotional intelligence.

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The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) to measure the development of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) in line with Localized Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs). Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) assesses progress across nine themes like poverty-free, healthy, child-friendly, water-sufficient, clean and green, women-friendly, and well-governed Panchayats. Gujarat leads with 346 Front Runner Gram Panchayats, followed by Telangana with 270. Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2022–23 shows 699 GPs as Front Runners, 77,298 as Performers, 1,32,392 as Aspirants, and 5,896 at Beginner level. The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) uses 435 indicators aligned with the National Indicator Framework (NIF) by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

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NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) released a report titled “Automotive Industry: Powering India’s Participation in Global Value Chains”, highlighting India’s automotive strengths and roadmap to global leadership. India is the fourth-largest vehicle producer globally with 6 million vehicles produced annually, but holds only 3% share in global auto components trade worth USD 2 trillion. Challenges include high operational costs, low R&D investment, infrastructure gaps, and limited integration in Global Value Chains (GVCs). The report suggests fiscal support like Operational Expenditure (Opex) aid, Capital Expenditure (Capex) focus, skill development, and cluster-based R&D hubs.

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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.

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NITI Aayog released a report titled ‘Unlocking $25+ Billion Export Potential – India’s Hand & Power Tools Sector’. It highlights how the Hand and Power Tools sector can boost India’s economic growth. The global market for these tools is valued at $100 billion and may grow to $190 billion by 2035. India exports only $600 million in hand tools and $470 million in power tools, with very low market shares. The report suggests India can target $25 billion in exports and generate 35 lakh jobs by gaining 10% in power tools and 25% in hand tools. India can achieve this by encouraging innovation, supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and improving industrial infrastructure. The tools sector is a pillar of global manufacturing and can support India’s goal of becoming Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Growth in construction and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) markets can boost Make in India and expand India’s global footprint by $25 billion.

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The World Trade Organization (WTO) released the Global Trade Outlook and Statistics-2025. It predicts a 0.2% decline in world merchandise trade in 2025. The decline is expected to be most significant in North America, with exports forecasted to drop by 12.6%. The report highlights severe risks, such as reciprocal tariffs and broader policy uncertainty. For the first time, the report includes a forecast for services trade alongside merchandise trade. Services trade is expected to grow by 4.0% in 2025.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently released its “World Economic Outlook (WEO): A Critical Juncture Among Policy Shift” report. The report cuts the global growth forecast to 2.8% and India’s to 6.2% from the earlier January 2025 update. This downgrade is due to global trade tensions and policy uncertainty. The report highlights rapid population ageing as a key concern for economies worldwide.

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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.