February 11, 2025

Indexes and Reports


Kuno National Park

The Cheetah family in Madhya Pradesh has grown, as two cubs were born to the cheetah Veera at Kuno National Park in Sheopur district on 4 February, with the addition of the cubs, the total number of cheetahs at Kuno has risen to 26. Kuno National Park is located in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district and spans 748 sq km. It was initially a wildlife sanctuary established in 1981 and was upgraded to a national park in 2018. The park is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests and provides an ideal habitat for cheetahs. Cheetahs in India were declared extinct....Read More

The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) for 2023-24, conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), provides key insights into India's consumption patterns. Key Findings: Average Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE): Rural Areas:₹4,122 Urban Areas:₹6,996 These figures exclude the value of items received free through social welfare programs. Impact of Social Welfare Programs: Including the imputed values of free items, the MPCE increases to: Rural Areas:₹4,247 Urban Areas:₹7,078 Urban-Rural Consumption Gap: The urban-rural MPCE gap has decreased to 70% in 2023-24, down from 84% in 2011-12, indicating a convergence in consumption patterns. Consumption Inequality: The Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality,....Read More

Fiscal Health Index

The Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025, launched by NITI Aayog, provides a comprehensive assessment of the fiscal health of 18 major Indian states. This annual publication aims to offer data-driven insights to inform state-level policy interventions, thereby enhancing overall fiscal governance, economic resilience, and national stability. Key Findings of FHI 2025: Top Performing States: Odisha leads with the highest overall index score, excelling in both the Debt Index and Debt Sustainability rankings. Revenue Mobilization Leaders: Goa, Telangana, and Odisha are at the forefront in generating revenue from their own sources. Capital Expenditure Allocation: States categorized as 'Achiever' and 'Front Runner'....Read More

Recently, RBI released the annual report for the Ombudsman scheme for the period 2023-24. The 2023-24 annual report showed a 33% increase in complaints compared to FY23. Loan-related complaints increased by 43%in FY24, constituting 29% of total grievances. Complaints related to mobile and internet banking also saw a rise due to greater digital adoption. The ombudsman resolved 67.8%of maintainable complaints, with 1% settled through mutual agreement and 40.8% rejected due to no service deficiencies. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)launched the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) in 2021 to streamline grievance redressal for RBI-regulated entities, implementing the "One Nation One Ombudsman" The scheme integrates three previous ombudsman schemes: the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006, the Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial....Read More

Recently, RBI released the annual report for the Ombudsman scheme for the period 2023-24. The 2023-24 annual report showed a 33% increase in complaints compared to FY23. Loan-related complaints increased by 43%in FY24, constituting 29% of total grievances. Complaints related to mobile and internet banking also saw a rise due to greater digital adoption. The ombudsman resolved 67.8%of maintainable complaints, with 1% settled through mutual agreement and 40.8% rejected due to no service deficiencies. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)launched the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) in 2021 to streamline grievance redressal for RBI-regulated entities, implementing the "One Nation One Ombudsman" The scheme integrates three previous ombudsman schemes: the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006, the Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial....Read More

India has been recognized as the second most prepared job market globally, following the United States, according to the QS World Future Skills Index 2025. India ranks 25th in the QS World Future Skills Index, recognized as a "future skills contender." It is the second most prepared job market globally, after the United States. India excels in the Future of Work category, scoring 99.1, just behind the US. In Academic Readiness, India ranks 26th, reflecting moderate alignment between education and industry needs. India ranks 37th in Skills Fit, indicating gaps between workforce skills and employer requirements. Economic Transformation ranking is....Read More

Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ)

The Karnataka Cabinet Sub-Committee has approved the declaration of four forest areas as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs): Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Bankapura Wolf Sanctuary, Uttaragudda Wildlife Sanctuary, and Arsikere Bear Sanctuary. ESZs are areas with unique environmental resources that require special conservation, as per the National Environment Policy (2006). ESZs are proposed by states based on MoEFCC 2011 guidelines. ESZs regulate local activities like agriculture and construction but do not prohibit them unless specifically stated. ESZs act as "shock absorbers" for ecosystems and serve as transition zones from high protection areas to areas with lesser protection.Read More

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released its World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2025 report, highlighting key global labor market trends and challenges. Global unemployment remains at 5% in 2024, showing stability but with high youth unemployment (12.4% for young men, 12.3% for young women). Global economic growth slowed to 2% in 2024, with a continued deceleration expected. Key challenges for labor markets: geopolitical tensions, rising climate change costs, and unresolved debt issues. The ILO, founded in 1919, is the only tripartite UN agency, with 187 member states, focused on labor standards, policy creation, and promoting decent work. The ILO's headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.Read More

The Union Minister has approved 56 new watershed development projects under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (PMKSY-WDC 2.0). Implemented by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). Projects will cover 10 states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim. Each project will cover around 5,000 hectares, with smaller areas in hilly regions. PMKSY-WDC 2.0 is a continuation of the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY 1.0, implemented from 2021 to 2026. The Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) started in 2009-10 and was....Read More

Pink Fire Retardant

Recent wildfires in Southern California have brought into light the use of pink fire retardant as authorities deploy aerial resources to combat the flames. Pink fire retardant is used to slow or extinguish wildfires, primarily made of ammonium phosphate-based slurry. The most common brand in the U.S. is Phos-Chek. The pink color aids visibility for firefighters in identifying treated areas. It includes salts like ammonium polyphosphate, which remain effective longer than water. It is deployed from aircraft like planes and helicopters for effective coverage.Read More

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