Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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The International Energy Agency’s “Electricity 2024” report on India’s energy future reveals key trends: persistent coal reliance, a surge in renewable energy (44% of total capacity), and nuclear power’s promising growth. Despite India’s net-zero target by 2070, coal is projected to meet 68% of electricity demand by 2026. Renewable generation stabilizes with 21% in 2023, and hydropower faces a 15% fall due to changing weather. India aims to triple nuclear capacity by 2032, with 4 GW entering commercial operation by 2026, contributing to a global 10% increase.

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India’s logistics performance has shown significant improvement, ranking 38th out of 139 countries in the World Bank’s 2023 Logistics Performance Index, a climb of six places since 2018 and sixteen places since 2014. This data, shared by Union Minister Shri Som Parkash, highlights advancements in Customs, Infrastructure, Logistics Services, Shipment Arrangement, Tracking, and Timeliness. Initiatives like the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and the National Logistics Policy, along with digital reforms like the Unified Logistics Interface Platform, contribute to this positive trend.

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NITI Aayog and the Netherlands Embassy released the report ‘LNG as a transportation fuel in medium and heavy commercial vehicles’ during India Energy Week 2024 in Goa. The collaboration, initiated in 2020, focuses on energy transition. The report addresses LNG utilization in Indian commercial vehicles, examining coordination challenges and drawing insights from global practices. The Netherlands, a leader in green hydrogen, plans to aid India in achieving climate targets. The report outlines strategies for a 15% gas share in primary energy by 2070.

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The Assam government has launched the ‘Ten Cities Development Concept’ for sustainable urban development. Focused on ten cities including Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Tezpur, North-Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Silchar, Karimganj, Dhubri, and Haflong/Diphu, the initiative serves as ‘Lighthouses’ guiding other urban local bodies. It aims to enhance urban infrastructure, promote balanced development, and create economic opportunities, emphasizing the state’s commitment to inclusive growth in both urban and rural areas.

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The Consumer Affairs Secretary advocates the infusion of artificial intelligence into the ‘e-Jagriti’ portal to expedite consumer court case resolutions. The portal, under the Department of Consumer Affairs, streamlines consumer dispute redressal through features like online case filing, fee payment, and AI-driven smart search for archived complaints. It integrates various grievance platforms, utilizing AI and ML technologies for voice-to-text conversions, metadata creation, and a virtual court facility, aiming to enhance efficiency and accessibility in consumer complaint resolution.

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France leads the Henley Passport Index 2024 with visa-free access to 194 countries. European nations like Germany, Italy, and Spain, benefiting from EU influence, also rank high. India, now at 85th place, improved visa-free access to 62 countries but dropped one position. Maldives, India’s maritime neighbor, stands at 58th place with visa-free access to 96 countries, highlighting its global travel flexibility.

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The Global Waste Management Outlook 2024, co-published by UNEP and ISWA, highlights key trends. Predictions indicate municipal solid waste will surge from 2.3 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. The direct cost of global waste management, at USD 252 billion in 2020, is projected to nearly double by 2050 without immediate intervention. Barriers include insufficient urgency recognition, incomplete data, and climate impact underestimation, as well as gendered aspects, informal sector undervaluation, and inadequate legislation.

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Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW’s) report on used water management spotlights Haryana, Karnataka, and Punjab as leaders in the country. Urban water demand rises while groundwater levels dwindle. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) require enhanced treatment and reuse infrastructure. Financial constraints hinder 90% of ULBs. Merely 28% of 72,000 million liters of used water is treated. CEEW proposes a Municipal Used Water Management (MUWM) Index to prioritize treatment and reuse, aiming to address the pressing water crisis.

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India ascended to 134th place in the 2023/24 Global Human Development Index (HDI) by UNDP. Initiated in 1990, HDI assesses health, education, and standard of living. It highlights people’s well-being over mere economic metrics. Scores range from 0 to 1, with 1 indicating higher human development. Categories include Very High, High, Medium, and Low human development, emphasizing holistic progress beyond economic growth.

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According to the 2024 DHL Global Connectedness Report, India ranks 62nd out of 171 countries on the DHL Connectedness Index. This is a 5-position improvement from the previous year, when India ranked 67th. The report ranks countries based on their connectedness to the world through the flow of trade, capital, information, and people. The report also says that India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy, and that it will play an increasingly central role in the development of globalization over the coming decades.