Indexes & Reports

RBI's Financial Inclusion Index hits 67 in FY25

Context: The Reserve Bank of India’s Financial Inclusion Index (FI Index) improved to 67 in March 2025 from 64.2 in March 2024.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Financial Inclusion Index.

Financial Inclusion Index

Financial Inclusion Index (FI Index) captures the extent of financial inclusion across the country. The comprehensive index includes data from various sectors such as banking, investments, insurance, postal services, and pensions, making it a comprehensive measure of financial inclusion in the country.
The index captures information on various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value ranging between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 indicates full financial inclusion.
The FI Index comprises of three broad parameters:
- Access (having a weight of 35% in the index)
- Usage (weight 45%)
- Quality ( weight 20%). Quality parameter captures the quality aspect of financial inclusion as reflected by financial literacy, consumer protection, and inequalities and deficiencies in services.
The weight of each parameter comprises various dimensions, which are calculated based on a number of indicators.
The Index has been constructed without any base year and as such it reflects cumulative efforts of all stakeholders over the years towards financial inclusion.
RBI published the first FI index in 2021 for FY21 (FI Index 53.9).

Decoding the rise in FI Index

As per RBI, the improvement in FI Index in FY25 is largely due to usage and quality dimensions, reflecting deepening of financial inclusion, and sustained financial literacy initiatives.
India has made significant strides in expanding financial inclusion through initiatives like:
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: Under the scheme, over 558 million accounts have been opened in rural and semi-urban areas. Notably, 311 million of these accounts have been opened in the name of female beneficiaries.
- JAM Trinity: The pillar of financial inclusion is JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) trinity which has expanded the coverage of direct benefit transfers.
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS)
- Payments Banks; Business Correspondent Model
- Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
- Atal Pension Yojana
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
- Stand Up India Scheme
- Financial Literacy Programmes like Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan.

Also Read: Financial Inclusion

India's Nuclear Arsenal Increased: SIPRI Report 2025

Context: According to the latest Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) yearbook 2025, India has slightly expanded its nuclear stockpile in 2024, and continues developing new nuclear delivery systems.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about the SIPRI yearbook 2025

State of World Nuclear Arsenal

India had nuclear 172 warheads in 2024 and increased it to 180 in 2025. These warheads are in the country's stockpile, i.e., they are available to be deployed for operational use. India continues the development of new delivery systems, including canisterised missiles that may carry multiple warheads.
There are 12,241 nuke warheads globally, spread across nine nuclear-armed countries. The US and Russia own 90% of nuclear warheads. In comparison to India, China has 600 warheads and Pakistan has 170.
Nine nuclear-armed countries are the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel.

About Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research on conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament established in 1966.
It publishes reports on global arms transfers, tracking trends in arms imports and exports.
It aims to provide data-driven insights for policy-making in global security and military affairs.

India’s Nuclear Strategy

After conducting its second nuclear test in 1998, India adopted the 'no first use' policy. India's focus was on minimum credible deterrence, i.e. to have enough weapons that the enemy could suffer heavy losses in a counter-attack.
India’s growing stockpile is part of a maturing nuclear triad, a strategy involving delivery of nuclear weapons via aircraft, land-based missiles, and nuclear-powered submarines (SSBNs).
Traditionally, India has kept its warheads separate from launch systems during peacetime, but SIPRI suggests that the move toward canisterised missiles and sea-based patrols may indicate a shift in doctrine.

SIPRI’s Report cautions that if no new agreement is reached to cap nuclear stockpiles, the number of warheads deployed on strategic missiles might increase after the expiry of the bilateral 2010 Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) in 2026.

Global Gender Gap Index 2025: WEF

Context: India has been ranked 131 out of 148 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index 2025 with an overall gender parity score of 64.1%, a relative drop of two positions from 2024.

Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Global Gender Gap Index; Global Gender Gap Index 2025.

Global Gender Gap Index

The Global Gender Gap Index is released annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
It was first introduced in 2006 to benchmark the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions:
- Economic Participation and Opportunity
- Educational Attainment
- Health and Survival
- Political Empowerment
The index lies between 0 and 1, with 1 denoting complete parity. The gender gap is the distance from full parity.

Global Gender Gap Index 2025

The 19th edition of the Global Gender Gap Index was published by WEF in 2025.

Global Highlights:

The global gender gap is at 68.8% for 148 countries. Across all dimensions in 2024, the gender parity has risen. However, no country has yet achieved full gender parity.
The highest gap remains in Political Empowerment. Women represent 41.2% of the global workforce, but women only hold 28.8% of top leadership positions.
Iceland retains the world’s most gender-equal economy for the 16th consecutive year, closing 92.6% of the gender gap- the only economy to reach 90% parity, followed by Finland and Norway.
Among South Asia: Bangladesh (ranked 24), Bhutan (119), Nepal (125), Sri Lanka (130), India (131), and Pakistan (148).

India’s Performance

India has ranked 131 out of 148 countries, with a parity score of 64.1%.
The biggest gap in India too is in the political empowerment category.
- Representation of women in parliament declined from 14.7% to 13.8%.
- The share of women in ministerial positions fell from 6.5% to 5.6%.

Key Facts: Important Indices on Gender

Gender Inequality Index (GII):

Published by: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in their Human Development Report.
It measures gender inequalities in three key dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment, and labour market.
GII scores range from 0 (equality) to 1 (extreme inequality). India with a GII value of 0.403, ranked 102 out of 172 countries in 2023.

Gender Development Index (GDI):

Published by: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
GDI measures gender inequalities in achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and command over economic resources.
As per Human Development Report 2025, the 2023 female HDI value for India is 0.631 in contrast with 0.722 for males, resulting in a GDI value of 0.874.

There is a need for improvement in women’s participation in all areas, especially in economic activities. Without addressing its gender gaps in critical areas, India’s goal of being a truly developed nation will remain distant.

Food Waste Crisis

Context: Food Waste Index Report (FWIR) 2024 published by United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) highlights food wastage trends for the year 2022.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Food Waste Index Report.

Key Highlights of Food Waste Index Report

Food worth $1 trillion is wasted globally every year, even as 783 million people suffer from hunger. Over 1 billion tonnes of food was wasted globally, accounting for 20% of all available food.
Households contribute the majority of (60%) total food waste, followed by the food service sector and retail.

India ranks second globally in food wastage, after China. With an average of 55 kg food waste generated per capita annually by households, the total food waste generated is over 78 million tonnes in India.
Food waste forms 10%-12% of total municipal solid waste, significantly contributing to methane emissions from landfills.

What is Food Waste? How is it different from Food Loss?

Food Waste: Food and the associated inedible parts removed from the human food supply chain. Food discarded at retail and consumer levels.
Food Loss: Loss of edible crops and livestock products before they reach retail. Occurs earlier in the supply chain, mainly during production, harvesting, storage, transportation, and processing.

Impacts of Food Waste:

Environmental Impact:
- Resource wastage: Land, water, and energy used in food production go to waste.
- The UN Climate Change (2024) reports that food loss and waste generate 8%-10% of annual greenhouse gas emissions globally. In terms of country, food waste globally is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after China and the US.
- In India, food waste accounts for 10%-12% of total municipal waste, contributing significantly to methane emissions from landfills. .
Social Impact:
- Widespread wastage prevents food from reaching those who need it most, hindering progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12.3 (reduce food waste at retail and consumer levels).

Way Forward- Actions to Reduce Food Waste

Individual & Household Level: smart meal planning; efficient food storage; composting; donating surplus food.
Increased Investment in building more cold storage and transportation infrastructure.
Businesses should adopt sustainable practices such as redistributing unsold food.
Policymakers should subsidise innovative solutions such as food redistribution networks (Applications) and improved cold storage (providing subsidies for farmers to invest in refrigeration).
Raising awareness about responsible consumption. E.g., India’s “Save Food Share Food” programme.

India stands at a critical juncture, addressing food waste is essential for tackling carbon footprint, ensuring food security and reducing social inequality.

India is the second largest arms importer after Ukraine: SIPRI

Context: Ukraine, involved in a war with Russia for the past 4 years, has surpassed India to become the world’s largest arms importer as per Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Report: Key Trends.

About SIPRI

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent international institute dedicated to research on conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament established in 1966.
It publishes reports on global arms transfers, tracking trends in arms imports and exports.
It aims to provide data-driven insights for policy-making in global security and military affairs.

Major Highlights of the SIPRI Report (2025):

Ukraine became the largest importer of major arms in 2020-24, with a nearly 100-fold increase compared to 2015-19, due to the ongoing war with Russia.
India ranked as the second-largest importer of major arms, accounting for 8.3% of global imports. Indian arms imports declined by 9.3% from 2015-19 to 2020-24, primarily due to increasing domestic production.
Russia’s arms exports fell by 64%, reducing its share to 7.8%, making it the third-largest exporter after the US (43%) and France (9.6%).
Four Asian countries—India, Pakistan, Japan, and Australia—ranked among the top 10 importers of arms globally.
The US and French arms exports increased, while Russia, China, and Germany’s exports declined.
China dropped out of the top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1990-94, showcasing its growing domestic industrial base.

India’s position in global Arms Trade:

India was the top destination for arms exports from both Russia and France.
The largest share of Indian arms imports (36%) came from Russia. The share of Russian arms imports in India has declined significantly:
- 2010-14: 72%
- 2015-19: 55%
- 2020-24: 36%
India’s shift in suppliers is evident with increasing arms procurements from France, Israel, and the US.
Major defence deals with France:
- 36 Rafale jets (delivered)
- 6 Scorpene-class conventional submarines (P-75; all six submarines launched)
- 26 Rafale-M jets and 3 submarines (pending finalisation)

India’s Self-Reliance (Aatmanirbharta) in defence:

India’s defence production reached a record ₹1.27 trillion in 2023-24, marking a 17.25% growth—a seven-year high.
Since 2020-21, a large share of the capital acquisition budget has been allocated to domestic procurement.
2025-26 budget: ₹1.115 trillion (75% of total ₹1.49 trillion) earmarked for domestic acquisitions.
Increasing ability to design and produce indigenous weapons reduces reliance on imports.

The SIPRI report points to India reducing dependency on Russian arms, and France gaining prominence as India’s key supplier. Simultaneously, the rise of indigenous defence production in India aligns with the government’s push for self-reliance.

State of India’s Digital Economy Report 2025

Context: The third edition of the State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) 2025 report was released recently. It emphasises India’s rising stature in global digitalisation but also highlights significant gaps that need to be addressed to compete on the global AI stage.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key findings of State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) 2025 report.

State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) Report

Published by: Dutch investment firm Prosus and think tank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
The SIDE 2025 report uses the Connect-Harness-Innovate-Protect-Sustain(CHIPS) framework to measure the scale and depth of digitalisation in India and other countries.
- This framework emphasises not only the technological infrastructure but also the societal, economic, and policy-driven aspects of digital transformation.

Major Highlights of the Report

Global findings:

The global AI race is currently led by the US and China, with South Korea, Singapore, and the Netherlands being front-runners.

India-specific Findings:

Among 32 countries (comprising 17 developed and 15 developing nations), India has scored:
- 11th position in AI Research
- 16th position in AI Infrastructure

India is the world's third-largest digitised nation, following the United States and China.
When combining both country-level and user-level digitalisation scores, India’s ranking drops to 8th in the G32 group.
- This reflects that though India has a large number of users and high levels of digital engagement, the average user remains modestly digitalised.
- While digital services are increasingly accessible, their usage and impact are not yet widespread, across all segments of the population.

India has considerable potential to challenge the current dominance of the US and China in the AI race. With enhanced investment in AI research and infrastructure, coupled with targeted policies, India could significantly bolster its standing and build the scale necessary to compete with AI giants.

Climate Risk Index 2025

Context: The Climate Risk Index 2025 published by Germanwatch, an environmental think tank puts India in the top 10 countries most affected by climate change from 1993 to 2022.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Questions based on the findings of Climate Risk Index.

Key findings about the World

Extreme events: There have been more than 9,400 extreme events across the world from 1993-2022.
Life loss: Events like cyclones, droughts and heatwaves have claimed more than 7,65,000 lives in the past three decades.
Heatwave claimed the most i.e., 61,778 lives (83% fatalities) in the year 2022, followed by floods and droughts.
Droughts affected the most number of people in 2022, i.e., 59% of people in the past three decades. Maximum impact was witnessed in seven nations of Africa.
Economic loss: The extreme climate events have cost more than $4 trillion in the past three decades. Storms followed by floods claimed the highest economic loss in the world.

Key findings of the report about India:

India ranked 6th in the most affected nation by climate change, whereas, the Dominican Republic is 1st in the ranking, making it the most affected nation from climate change.
Risks to India: India has faced various incidents of extreme weather events, including floods, heat waves, cyclones and drought. Floods and landslides resulting from heavy monsoons displaced millions and damaged agriculture. Notable events include;
- 1998 Gujarat and 1999 Odisha cyclones.
- Cyclone Hudhud in 2014 and cyclone Amphan in 2020.
- Uttarakhand floods of 2013.
- Intense heat waves with temperatures around 50 degree celsius claimed many lives in 1998, 2002, 2003 and 2015.
Frequent extreme events: India witnessed more than 400 extreme events in the last three decades.
Economic loss: India has faced USD 180 billion loss due to these climate change induced extreme events.

ILO Report: Global Estimates on International Migrants

Context: The 4th edition of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers was released in December 2024. International Migrants not only address the labour market shortages in host nations but also send remittances to their home countries, thus making significant contributions to the world economic growth.

Relevance of the Topic Prelims: Organisation based questions on UN and ILO; Basic idea of trends of international migration and their contribution.

Major Highlights of Report:

Global migrant estimates: The report estimates approximately 169 million international migrant workers recorded in 2022.
- This accounts for 4.7% of the global workforce.
- Note: Global workforce stands for the number of people employed or unemployed, but are willing to work.
Incremental trend: The estimate of migrant workers has increased from previous years, i.e., 164 million in 2017 and 150 million in 2013.
Regional distribution: Over 68.4% of all migrants are in high-income nations like Europe, North America and Arab states.
Gender disparity: The report has highlighted the evident gender disparity in the migrant labour force
- Only 38.7% of female migrants are employed as compared to the 61.3% of male migrants.
- Females are predominantly employed in the service sector, that too in the sectors associated with the care economy.
Sectoral distribution of migrants: Migrant population dominates the service sector i.e., 68.4% migrants are employed in the service sector.
- Female migrants dominate the service sector 80.1% females as compared to 60.8% male counterparts.
Comparison with the non-migrants:
- The service sector is out-numbered by migrants.
- The manufacturing sector is marginally dominated by migrants.
- The agriculture sector is predominantly handled by non-migrants.

Challenges highlighted by the Report

Gender-bias: The data of the report highlights the gender based biases, as most female migrants are part of the care economy. Also, the unemployment rate is higher in females as compared to males.
Economic vulnerability: The report also highlights the low wages and exploitative conditions of laborers. Also, the lack of social security leaves the labour in distress during any negative event.
Barriers in employment: Qualification and skill deficit along with the language barriers hinders the labour to adjust in the country of migration.
Social isolation: Migrants often face Xenophobia, racism and social exclusion that further marginalises them in the host societies.
High cost of migration: Migrants often pay exorbitant fees to recruiters leading to debt and financial burdens due to which workers fall victim to trafficking and forced labour. E.g., the Kafala System of Arab nations.

About International Labour Organisation

International labour organisation (ILO) is a specialised United Nations agency that focuses on promoting social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights.
Objectives of ILO:
- Promote decent work for all
- Advance social and economic justice
- Establish international labor standards
- Advocate for workers’ rights, social protection and inclusive employment opportunities.
Major publications: World employment and social outlook; Global Wage Report; Global estimates on International Migrant Workers; Unemployment Rate Index.
India and ILO:
- ILO was established in 1919, where India was one of the original members. Narayan Malahar Joshi, founding member of All India Trade Union Congress, joined it. (Social Service League of 1911 is also associated with NM Joshi)
- ILO has eight core conventions, of which India has not-ratified two conventions:
  - No. 87: Freedom of Association and Protection of Rights to Organise Convention
  - No. 98: Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.
- In 2017, India ratified ILO Conventions No. 138 and 182, signaling its legal commitment to the elimination of child labour.

Food adulteration

Context: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a show-cause notice to a Tamil Nadu-based firm, which supplied ghee to the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, for allegedly providing substandard product to the temple.

About Food adulteration

It is the intentional or unintentional addition of substances to food that can make it harmful to consume. These substances, known as adulterants, can be added to increase the quantity, reduce the cost, or improve the appearance of food.

Common types of adulterants :

Milk is often adulterated with water, detergent, fat, and even urea.
Preservatives such as nitrites (used in cured meats)and benzoates (used in soft drinks and pickles), lead to digestive issues and long-term health problems.
Tea leaves are commonly mixed with similarly colored leaves, some of which are inedible.
Cornstarch, sawdust, and flour are used as fillers in spices.
Antibiotics and hormones such as estrogen and testosterone in meat and poultry to promote growth, but excessive consumption can lead to antibiotic resistance and hormone imbalances.
Khoya is adulterated with paper, refined oil, and skimmed milk powder.
Pesticides (like DDT and organophosphates) in fruits and vegetables, heavy metals like lead and mercury in seafood, and industrial pollutants in food packaging.
Foreign substances such as insects, dirt, or other foreign substances can accidentally contaminate food during processing or storage.
Arhar dal is usually adulterated with metanil yellow.

Reason behind ghee adulteration:

High price of milk fat: Milk-derived fats from cow and buffalo milk cost around Rs 460-470 per kg, with ghee production and packaging raising the price to Rs 485-495 per kg. This high cost incentivizes adulteration to cut production expenses.
Price differential between milk and vegetable fats: Vegetable fats, such as refined palm, soybean, sunflower, and rapeseed oils, are significantly cheaper, ranging from Rs 120-150 per kg. The vast price difference between milk fats and vegetable fats encourages manufacturers to mix the latter into ghee to increase profits.
Scarcity of milk fat: Milk fat is relatively scarce, as dairies prioritize selling liquid milk and producing other products like curd and lassi . Only limited availability of milk is available for the manufacture for production of ghee, further increases its value and drives adulteration.
Profit motive of dairies: Large dairy cooperatives and private players prefer selling ghee in retail consumer packs rather than in bulk, as it fetches higher profits. Some dairies also use milk fat for ice cream production, which offers better returns. This reluctance to sell ghee in bulk pushes organizations to seek cheaper, often adulterated, alternatives.
Lower demand and competition: Sales of ghee from companies like Patanjali have decreased significantly in recent years, putting additional pressure on manufacturers to cut costs, potentially through adulteration.

Laws deal with food adulteration:

Under Indian Constitution, the adulteration of foodstuffs and other items falls in the Concurrent List.
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: It is a comprehensive legislation dealing with various aspects with respect to the regulation of food safety.
- Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) is established under Section 4 of the Act to supervises and regulates food safety and standards.
- It prohibits any person to operate any food business without a license.
- The law prohibits producing, selling, and distributing contaminated or counterfeited foods.
- The Act also imposes a penalty for the possession of adulterant.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Impose penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for food adulteration, with stricter punishments for hazardous food practices.

State Food Safety Index 2024

Context: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu & Kashmir were ranked as the top three performers on the State Food Safety Index 2024.

Key findings of State Food Safety Index 2024:

Kerala has, for the second time in a row, topped the sixth State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2024 and has achieved more than 100 per cent of its inspections target in FY24, improved its food-testing infrastructure and organised special drives to increase the number of license-holders and registrations, among other achievements.
Tamil Nadu has got a “significant number of full-time designated food safety officers.
Jammu and Kashmir got third position in the Index while Gujarat secured fourth position in the Index.
Nagaland was given special acknowledgement among the northeastern states as the index said that the hilly state showed overall progress in improving the food safety ecosystem compared to the previous year.
Eat Right campaign, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, and the promotion of millets as important initiatives the centre took to ensure safe and good food.

About State Food Safety Index (SFSI):

Released by: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Released on: June 7 on the occasion of World Food Safety Day.
1^st report: Since 2019.
Parameters: Human resources and institutional data , compliance, food testing infrastructure, training and capacity building, and consumer empowerment. In the 2023 index, a new parameter ‘Improvement in SFSI Rank’ was added
Objective: To foster healthy competition and catalyse positive change in the food safety ecosystem throughout the country, ultimately ensuring the provision of safe and wholesome food to all residents.

About FSSAI:

Body: Statutory body has been established under Food Safety and Standards , 2006. It works as an independent authority and attained a special status. The FSS Act took 7 older acts into one umbrella.

Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
Fruit Products Order, 1955
Meat Food Products Order, 1973
Vegetable Oil Products (Control) Order, 1947
Edible Oils Packaging (Regulation) Order 1998
Solvent Extracted Oil, De- Oiled Meal and Edible Flour (Control) Order, 1967
Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, is the Administrative Ministry for the implementation.
Headed by: Non-executive chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary.
Objective: To establish a single reference point for all matters relating to food safety and standards, by moving from multi- level, multi- departmental control to a single line of command.
Function:
- Framing of regulations to lay down food safety standards
- Laying down guidelines for accreditation of laboratories for food testing
- Providing scientific advice and technical support to the Central Government
- Contributing to the development of international technical standards in food
- Collecting and collating data regarding food consumption, contamination, emerging risks, etc.
- Disseminating information and promoting awareness about food safety and nutrition in India.

ILO’s World Employment and Social Outlook Report

Context: Inequality is on the rise as the share of labour income has stagnated worldwide and a large share of youth remain out of employment, education, or training, according to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) World Employment and Social Outlook. A major reason for this fall in labour income, according to the report, is artificial intelligence or AI.

Key findings of the report

Rising inequality: Inequality is increasing globally as the share of labour income has stagnated, while a significant portion of youth remains out of employment, education, or training.
Impact of AI and technological innovations: The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological innovations over the past two decades has boosted productivity but reduced labour income shares. Automation-based technologies have been a key driver of this trend.
Decline in global labour income share: From 2019 to 2022, the global labour income share dropped by 0.6 percentage points, adding to a long-term downward trend. The decline was particularly pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 exacerbated inequalities: The pandemic contributed to nearly 40% of the reduction in labour income share between 2020 and 2022, further concentrating capital income among the wealthiest and hindering progress toward SDG 10 (reducing inequality).

Countries need policies that promote an equitable distribution of economic benefits, including freedom of association, collective bargaining and effective labour administration, to achieve inclusive growth, and build a path to sustainable development for all.

About the World Employment and Social Outlook Report:

It is a flagship publication of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
It provides a comprehensive analysis of global labour market trends, challenges, and opportunities.
The report offers valuable insights into various aspects of employment, including global labour market trends, regional disparities, social protection, youth employment, gender equality and impact of the informal economy on labour market dynamics.

Environmental Performance Index (EPI)- 2024 Released

Context: Environment Performance Index-2024 was released recently. The EPI highlighted that while many countries have made progress in declaring protected areas (both terrestrial and marine) abiding by the 30X30 target under the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. However, many of these protected areas are ‘paper parks.’ Many of the terrestrial protected areas have large parts where commercial activities such as mining, agriculture, building and construction activity are found and not natural ecosystems. The marine protected areas are affected by trawling and extensive fishing. Thus, the protected areas have failed to halt ecosystem loss, reduce environmentally destructive practices and suffer from shortages of funding and personnel, making enforcement difficult.

About Environmental Performance Index

EPI is a data driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world. EPI offers a scorecard to help countries assess how close they are to established environmental policy targets.
EPI ranks points to the leaders and laggards in different aspects of environmental performance and provides practical guidance for countries that aspire to move towards a sustainable future.
EPI indicators help spot problems, set targets, track trends, understand outcomes and identify best policy practices.
EPI helps government officials refine policy agenda, facilitates communication and maximize return on environmental investments.
Published by: Yale Centre for Environment Law & Policy (Yale University), Centre for International Earth Science Information Network (Columbia University).
Countries covered: 180 countries are scored.
Methodology of EPI 2024:
Ranks countries on their progress at (i) mitigating climate change, (ii) safeguarding ecosystem vitality and (iii) promoting environmental health. Three policy objectives for the objectives are – Ecosystem Vitality (45%), Climate Change (30%) & Environmental Health (25%) focusing on sub-components like:
- Ecosystem Vitality: Biodiversity & Habitat, Forests, Fisheries, Air Pollution, Agriculture & Water Resources.
- Climate Change: Climate change mitigation.
- Environmental Health: Air Quality, Sanitation & Drinking Water, Heavy Metal pollution and Waste Management.
It is a composite indicator that synthesizes data on 58 sustainability indicators across 11 environmental issues into one single metric of country level performance.
The indicators measure their growth rate or change in the last decade. Leading to challenges poor correlation between rank and absolute performance of the indicator and quality or productivity of ecosystem services has not been accounted.

Rankings in EPI 2024

Global Rankings: Estonia, Luxembourg and Germany are the three highest ranked countries.
India is one of the lowest rank countries in the world in EPI-2024. India has rank of 176 among 180 countries in the world. Only Myanmar, Laos, Pakistan and Vietnam are ranked below India.
Reasons for India’s poor rankings: Restricted public access to over 95% of the protected area data submitted to the World Database on Protected Areas.