Reports and Indices Current Affairs MCQs

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Despite the Union government’s environmental improvement claims, India ranks 176th out of 180 nations in the 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), slightly better than its 180th position in 2022. Compiled by Yale and Columbia researchers, the EPI assesses green performance across multiple parameters. Since 2012, India has consistently declined in this index, highlighting ongoing environmental challenges.

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India is ranked 63rd on the global Energy Transition Index 2024 by the World Economic Forum. The index monitors the global shift towards sustainable, secure, and accessible energy systems. Sweden tops the rankings, followed by Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, and France. Despite notable progress by emerging economies like Brazil and China, 83% of countries regressed in security, equity, or sustainability. The gap between advanced and developing economies is narrowing, despite disparities.

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Air pollution is the second leading global risk factor for death, per the 2024 State of Global Air (SoGA) report by the Health Effects Institute and UNICEF. It causes non-communicable diseases like heart disease and lung cancer, with 8.1 million deaths in 2021. India and China accounted for 54% of the global air pollution disease burden. In 2021, air pollution caused 1,69,400 child deaths in India and 2,37,000 COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) deaths.

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According to the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report, gas flaring reached 148 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2023, the highest since 2019. Gas flaring, the burning of natural gas during oil extraction, persists due to market constraints, regulatory issues, and political factors. Although flaring safely disposes of gas, it wastes a valuable resource that could be used for power generation or conservation.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has launched the AI Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard, ranking 174 countries on their readiness to adopt AI technologies. Categories include Low-Income Countries (LIC), Emerging Market Economies (EM), and Advanced Economies (AE). Singapore, Denmark, and the United States lead the AE category, while India, an EM, ranks 72nd with a score of 0.49. China ranks 31st with a score of 0.63, reflecting its higher readiness compared to neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

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The UN Trade and Development recently released the Digital Economy Report 2024. It emphasizes the need for sustainable digitalization strategies. Internet users grew from 1 billion in 2005 to 5.4 billion in 2023. The ICT sector’s global GHG emissions were 1.5-3.2% in 2020. Digital-related waste surged 30% from 2010 to 2022, reaching 10.5 million tonnes. Data centers consumed 460 terawatts hours in 2022, expected to double by 2026. Critical mineral demand may surge by 500% by 2050. Recommendations include adopting circular economy models, enforcing environmental standards, investing in renewable energy, and promoting sustainable business models.

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NITI Aayog has released the 4th edition of the SDG India Index 2023-24, assessing progress across 113 indicators for all States and Union Territories (UTs). India’s composite score improved from 66 in 2020-21 to 71 in 2023-24, with significant advancements in Goals 1, 8, and 13. Thirty-two States and UTs are classified as front-runners, while Uttarakhand and Kerala topped the list with scores of 79. Chandigarh is the leading Union Territory.

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The World Bank’s report “The Impact of Climate Change on Education” highlights how climate change intensifies extreme weather, disrupting schooling and causing learning losses and dropouts. Despite its significance, education remains overlooked in climate policy, with less than 1.3% of climate assistance allocated to it in 2020. Between 2005-2024, schools closed during 75% of extreme weather events, affecting over 5 million people. Over 99% of children globally face at least one major climate hazard. Rising temperatures negatively impact learning outcomes, with a 1°C increase reducing test scores. Climate change also threatens food security and economic stability, jeopardizing school enrollment and disproportionately affecting 4 million girls in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

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GAIN’s report, “The Case for Investment in Nutritious Foods Value Chains,” urges nutrition investments in the agri-food sector to reduce gender inequalities, boost productivity, and enhance business resilience. GAIN, a Swiss NGO launched at the UN in 2002, addresses malnutrition by supporting public-private partnerships to increase access to essential nutrients in diets.

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The Union Ministry of Law & Justice released a report highlighting infrastructural issues in the judicial system. Key findings include inadequate courtroom space for 37.7% of judicial officers, a shortage of trained personnel, and insufficient digital infrastructure in legal offices. The report recommends creating an independent IT department for courts, emphasizing electronic case management, and establishing separate civil and criminal courts with distinct judicial officers.