Current Context: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released the Human Development Report 2025 titled "A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI," ranking India 130th out of 193 countries. Relevant Data: HDI Value: India's Human Development Index (HDI) value improved to 0.685 from 0.676 in 2022. Life Expectancy: Increased to 72 years in 2023. Education: Average mean years of schooling reached 13 years. GNI per Capita: India's Gross National Income per capita rank is seven positions below its HDI rank. Gender Inequality: India ranks 102nd on the Gender Inequality Index, indicating significant gender disparities. Global....Read More

Current Context: Recently, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) reported a record addition of 117 GW in wind energy capacity in 2024, bringing the total global capacity to 1,136 GW. However, challenges such as policy instability, permitting delays, and inadequate grid infrastructure threaten future growth. Key Highlights: Record Installations: 117 GW added globally in 2024, marking the highest annual increase to date. Total Capacity: Global wind energy capacity reached 1,136 GW by the end of 2024. Top Contributor: China (79.8 GW); USA, Germany, and Brazil also performed strongly. Regional Growth: Africa (107%), Asia-Pacific (7%); decline in North America, Latin America,....Read More

Current Context: The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has retained India on the 'Priority Watch List' in its 2024 Special 301 Report, citing ongoing concerns over intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. About Special 301 Report: Purpose: An annual review by the USTR identifying countries that do not provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). Categories: Countries are designated as 'Priority Foreign Country', 'Priority Watch List', or 'Watch List' based on the severity of IPR issues. Designation as a priority foreign country initiates an investigation and possible application of sanctions on the foreign country, while designation on....Read More

Current Context: According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India’s military expenditure in 2024 rose to $86.1 billion, making it the fifth-largest military spender globally—and nearly nine times higher than Pakistan’s $10.2 billion. About Database Coverage: Military expenditure data from 1949 to 2024, updated annually Data Includes: Figures in local currency and US dollars (both current and constant) Military spending as a share of GDP and total government expenditure Per capita military expenditure Key Findings of the 2024 Report Global Military Spending: Reached an all-time high of $2,718 billion Global Military Burden: 2.5% of the world’s GDP Top....Read More

Current Context: India has achieved significant progress in reducing poverty, with extreme poverty levels dramatically decreasing over the past decade, according to the latest World Bank report. Key Highlights Poverty Reduction: 171 million people lifted above the poverty line between 2011 and 2023. Extreme poverty fell from 16.2% in 2011-12 to just 2.3% in 2022-23. Rural vs. Urban Poverty: Rural Areas: Poverty dropped from 4% to 2.8%. Urban Areas: Poverty decreased from 7% to 1.1%. Rural-Urban Gap: The gap narrowed from 7 to 1.7 percentage points. Transition to Lower-Middle-Income Status: India’s shift into the lower-middle-income category led to a reduction....Read More

Current Context: The World Social Report 2025 highlights rising economic insecurity and inequality, with over a third of the global population living on $2.15–$6.85 per day. Key Highlights Economic Vulnerability: 2.8 billion people are at risk of falling back into extreme poverty. Job Insecurity: 60% of people fear losing their jobs. Rising Inequality: Widening income gaps are harming social cohesion and trust. Public Distrust: Over half of the global population lacks trust in their governments, worsened by misinformation. Impact on SDGs: Economic divides threaten the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. About the Report Published by: United Nations....Read More

Current context: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts artificial intelligence (AI) will boost global GDP by 0.5% annually from 2025-2030, with growth surpassing the environmental costs of increased emissions from data centres. About Launched by: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Energy Consumption Surge: Global electricity demand may triple to 1,500 terawatt-hours (TWh) by 2030, increasing emissions by 1.2%. Environmental Implications: AI-related emissions could cost $50.7–66.3 billion, exacerbating climate concerns. Energy Efficiency Potential: AI could improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions with targeted policies and R&D (Research and Development). Role of Policy and Industry: Collaboration among governments, tech companies, and energy sectors....Read More

Current context: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based in Kathmandu, recently released the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)Snow Update Report 2025. Key Highlights: Decline in Snow Persistence: The Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra river basins have recorded significant declines in snow persistence, with reductions of -24.1%, -27.9%, and -27.9%, respectively. Impact on Water Supply: The decline in snowmelt threatens the water supply for nearly 300 million people, posing risks to agriculture, hydropower, and overall water availability during crucial summer months. Regional Sensitivity: The Tibetan Plateau's snow persistence has drastically fallen from Urgent Recommendations: ICIMOD calls for enhanced water management,....Read More

Current Context: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released its report titled “Trade and Development Foresights 2025 – Under Pressure: Uncertainty Reshapes Global Economic Prospects”, highlighting significant challenges to global economic stability.​ Key Highlights: Global Growth Outlook: Projected to decelerate to 2.3% in 2025, down from 2.8% in 2024, indicating a shift toward recessionary conditions. ​ Trade Dynamics: Late 2024 trade growth was driven by advance ordering before new tariffs; however, freight rates fell by 40% in early 2025, signaling a sharp decline in global trade activity. ​ Policy Uncertainty: The Economic Policy Uncertainty Index reached....Read More

Current Context: The World Trade Organization (WTO) has recently released reports indicating a significant slowdown in global economic growth for 2025.​ About Global Merchandise Trade Volume: Projected to decline by 0.2% in 2025, a sharp revision from earlier expectations of growth.​ Factors Contributing to Decline: S. Tariffs: Potential reciprocal tariffs could reduce global trade volume growth by 0.6 percentage points. Trade Policy Uncertainty: Widespread uncertainty may further decrease growth by 0.8 percentage point Worst-Case Scenario: If conditions worsen, trade could shrink by5% in 2025. ​Read More